davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
KNOWING TOO MUCH.
Some Serious Drawbacks to the
Pleasures of Conversation.

Some Serious Drawbacks to the
Pleasures of Conversation.
One very serious drawback to our
pleasure in conversation with q too
well Informed person is the nervous
strain that is involved. We are always
wondering what will happen when he
comes to the end Of his resources. Aft
er listening to one who discourses with
surprising accuracy upon any particu-
lar topic we feel delicacy In CHANGING
the subject. 1t seems mean trick,
like suddenly removing the chair on
which a guest is about to sit down for
the evening. With one who is interest
ed in a great many things he knows
little about there is no such difficulty.
If lie has passed the first flush of
youth, it no longer embarrasses him to
be caught now and then in a mistake.
Indeed yoQr correction Is welcomed Ms
an aSreeaDle Intcrrup,,vu and serves
as starting point for a new series of
observations.
The pleasure of conversation Is en-
hanced if one feels assured not only of
wide margins of ignorance, but also Of
the absence of any uncanny quickness
Of mind.
l should not like to be a neighbor to
wit. 1t would be like being in prox-
unity to live wire. A certain insulat-
ing film Of kindly stupidity is needed
to give margin Of safety to human in
tercourse. There are certain minds
whose processes convey the impression
Of alternating currents of high voltage
on wire that is not quite large enough
for them. From such would with
draw myself.
One is freed from all such apprehen-
sions in the companionship of people
who make no pretensions to any kind
Of cleverness. 1.-THE laughter Of fools
is like the cracking of thorns under a
pot" What cheerful sounds-the crack
ling Of the dry thorns and the merry
bubbling of the potts. NJ. Crothers in
Atlantic.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
SAILOR AND HORSE.
How the Retired Sea Captain Made
q Purchase.

How the Retired Sea Captain Made
Purchase.
In Horses Nine" Sewell Ford tells
how retired sea captain bought a
horse. The story runsi AS one who In
spects an unfamiliar object Captain
Bean looked dazedly at Barnacles. At
the same time Barnacles inspected the
captain. With head lowered to knee
level, with ears cooked forward, nos
trils shifting and under lip twitching
almost as If he meant to laugh, Bar
nacles eyed his prospective owner.
Captain Bean squirmed under the
gaze of Barnacles' big, calm eye for a
moment, and then shifted his position.
What in time does he want any
way, jedi" demanded the captain.
Wants to git acquainted, that's all,
cap'n. Mighty knowin' hoss, he Is.
Now, some hosses don't take notice of
anything. They're Jest naturally dumb
Then ag'in you'll find bosses that seem
to know every blamed word .yoa soy.
Them's the kind of hosses that's wuth
havin'."
Il should say he did, cap'n. If there's
anything that boss amt done in his
day, don't know what It's. Near's
can find out he's tried every kind Of
work, in or out of traces, that you
could think Of"
Must be some old by your tell" sug-
gested the captain. "Sure his timbers
are all sound?"
Dunno bout his timbers, cap'n, but
as fer wind an limb you won't find a
sounder hoss Of his age in this county.
Course I'm not sellin' him fer four
year-old'
Again Captain Bean tried to look
critically at the white horse, but once
more he met that calm, curious gaze
and the attempt was hardly a success.
However, the captain squinted solemn
ly over Barnacles' withers and re-
marked:
Yes, he has got some good lines, as
you say, though you wouldn't hardly
call him clipper built Not much sheer
for'ard an leetle too much aft, ehr'
AT this criticism Jed snorted mirth-
fully.
"Oh, 1 s'pose he's all right" quickly
added the captain. "Fact is l amt
never paid much attention to horses,
bein' on the water so much. You're
sure he'll mind his helm, JedT
"Oh, he'll go where you pint him."
won't drag anchor, will hep
"Stand all day If you'll let him."
"Well, Jed, I'm ready to sign art-
cles, guess"
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
STARTING A TRADE.
The New England Peddler and the
Secret of His Success.

the New England PeddIer and the
Secret of His Success.
"Peddlin's great business. The So
tret OF 1t is that you must do a trade,
even IL 1t hurts your principles, when
there's possible chance. remember
aow l once managed with an old fell
low who wouldn't hev nothin' to do
with me. He was so confident an sure
he warnt goin' to trade that I made I'D
my mind he'd got to. I've got wooden
nutmegs, pocket sawmills,' says I, AN
horn gun f1ints, Eastwood hams, tin
bungholes, calico hog troughs, white
oak cheeses an various other articles
too numerous to mention, includin Of
cast Iron ratholes. an II any of them
amt big enough to answer I'll knock
the bottom out Of fryin' pan, an
thatll let any rat through that you've
got l guess. Whoopf says 1. I'm rom
way In the mountings of Hepzidam,
where the lion roarsth an the whang-
doodle saourneth fer her flrstbornr The
old man just looked on and shuk his
head. I'll take pewter, copper, zinc, iron,
rags-anything,' says I, 'exceptin' mon
ey an old maids But the old man on'y
shuk his head.
II just simply had to start trade.
l saw a pair Of old boots, an said
them was just what wanted. 'WhatP
he says. Dye buy old bootsr an 1
said them was my partickler speciality.
How much dye givef' he asks, an
says, Half cent pound, g long as
half cents is coined says 1. He didn't
take no heed Of my meanin', but begin
to rummag0 round and git out three
or four pair. They warn't no good to
Newton. but l was startin' a trade.
Now, hain't yer got some ragsT 1 says.
Them was what l asked fer first, an
the old miser said he didn't hev none,
but now, stirred up by the chanst of
gittin' somethin' fer his old boots, he
brought out seventeen pound of rags,
an we done brisk bit of tradin' fer
tinware. l left the old boots settin'
beside the gate when 1 druv away.
Them ii come in handy to start anoth-
erNtrade on next time I come 1 says"
Julian Ralph in Harper's Magazine.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
The wild Giraffe.

Perhaps the most difficult Of all wild
animals to capture is the giraffe. In
addition to being very rare giraffes are
exceedingly timid and are very swift
footed. There is no special way to cap
ture a giraffe, as almost every way has
been tried, and all have been almost
equally unsuccessful. The method which
has occasionally resulted in a capture
is by using long cord, at each end OF
which is a round weight. This cord is
thrown by the hunter in such manner
as to wind round the animals legs
either bringing it to the ground or rem
dering it incapable of escaping before
1t is made a prisoner. Most of the
giraffes in captivity have been caught
by chance when young.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
scandinavian Carving.

From earliest times carving has re-
ceived great attention In Scandinavia.
One sees evidence of this in many Swe-
dish churches, both in wood and stone,
dating back many centuries. In Stock
holm are many to be found, now safe
ly cared for In a well known museum.
Some Of these northern churches, nota-
bly, those Of Borgund and Hitterdal,
are quite covered with such quaint or
namentation. Beyond such public e1-
preston of painstaking labor one may
see In almost any comfortably furnish
ed house wooden forks, spoons, salt
boxes and platters, but still more at
tracting attention are huge wooden
tankards, and these will often bear
close study both in design and in exc
cutiOn.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
1.ox.makinxIn Mexico.

In northwest Mexico the courting Is
all done by the lady. The young people
meet at the feasts, and there the dam
sci who has fixed upon member OF
the opposite sex whom she wishes to
become her husband tries to attract his
attention by dancing before him, per
sistently keeping her back turned TO-
ward him. Eventually she may slt
down near him and pull his blanket
and sing to him in gentle, low voice
When she desires to bring matters to
focus, she begins to throw pebbles al
the chosen one. If he throws them
back at her, they are betrothed.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
An Old Rectpe.

Here is recipe for the bite Of mad
dog taken from the Universal Maga-
zine of Knowledge" published by John
Hinton at the Kings Arms in Newgate
street, London, May, 1853: Take the
youngest shoots Of the elder tree, peel
of the outside rind, then. scraping off
the green rind, take two handfuls of
It, which simmer a quarter of an hour
In five pints of ale. Strain 1t off and
when cold put 1t in bottles. Take
half pint, make warm the first thing
in the morning and the last at night
and be sure to keep yourself warm;
also bathe the part affected with some
of the liquor warmed, the dose to be
repeated the next new OF full moon
after the first. 1t is good for cattle as
well as the human species"
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
ORIGIN OF OLD SAYINGS.

The Honeymoon.-For thirty days
after wedding the ancient Teutons
had a custom Of drinking a mead made
of honey.
The Bridegroom.-In primitive times
the newly welded man had to wait
upon his bride and the guests on his
wedding day. He was their groom.
Si-l<.i., <.f -Ranf --Kipg- Cl.--1-r,I. .hn,
Ing greatly pleased with a roast loin OF
beef set before him, declared it good
enough to be knighted." It has ever
since been called Sir Loin.
A Spinster.-Women were prohibited
from marrying in olden times until
they had spun full set Of bed fur
nishings. on the spinning wheel; hence,
till married, they were spinsters.
Cabal.-This word was coined In
Charles Ills reign and applied to his
cabinet council. 1t was made out of
the initials of their names, which were:
Clifford, Arlington, Buckingham, Ash.
ley, Lauderdale.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
DRESDEN CHINA.
First offered For Sale mt the Fair
of Leipsic In 1921.

First offered For Sale mt the Fair
of Leipsic In 1921.
Dresden china began its reign at the
fair of Leipsic, 1921, where it was of
fered for public sale for the first time.
1t has had three periods Kings, Mar
collne and modern-and for all around
use 1t continues to be the most popular
ware of this day.
The factory marks traced on the bot
tom of each piece vary according to the
period-the oldest King's) being the
monogram A. r. and the wand of .Es-
culapius. The familiar crossed swords.
with the dot or circle between the ban
dies, were first used in 1921, and the
star took the place of the dot in the
Marcoline period. The modern mark is
the simple crossed swords. sometimes
accompanied by letters and numbers.
Although the methods of work are
still jealously guarded in all factories,
the essentials are an open secret, and
the following rough outline may salts
fly the lazily curious: The ingredients
of porcelain are kaolin feldspar, sand
and selenite. These are ground fine and
mixed In limewater. The paste is then
nodded into forms and fired in an oven
of moderate heat. When taken out, it
is in an opaque state and is then dipped
in the glaze. which is feldspar ground
fine, with little alkan. 1t is now sub
jected to a firing of great heat. which
results in the beautiful polished sur
face so familiar the world over.
This second firing is attended with
risk, for if the piece is allowed to re-
main beyond the exact proper moment
the whole melts together and is ruined
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Queer African Mask.

Grotesque masks are worn In many
parts of Africa during dances and reh-
gious ceremonies. The reason Is be-
cause a symbolic significance is at
tached to them and they are especially
supposed to possess the power Of pre-
serving those who wear them from the
influence of evil spirits.
The masks are generally made OF
wood, and some are carved with rare
skill. When a chief or the head OF q
family dies, he leaves his mask to his
successor, and the latter is bound to
wear it. In every village there Is an
artist who repairs masks and occasion
ally makes few new ones, and 1t is
said that no one does more thriving
business than he.
Ethnologists have been trying to find
out the exact time when these masks
first came into use, but all they have
learned as yet is that they have been
popular in Africa for many centuries.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
The Site OF the White House.

The site for the presidents palace,
as the first maps name it, was selected
by President Washington and Major
L'Enfant when they laid out the fed
eral city in 1902. They proposed to
have the presidents house and the cap
itol reciprocally close to the long vista
formed by Pennsylvania avenue, and
they also laid out parklike connection
between the two great buildings. The
plans for the house, selected by Wash
ington and Jefferson as the result Of a
competition in which L'Enfant took
part, were drawn by James Hoban, O
native Of Dublin and a medal man Of
the Society of Arts Of that city
Charles Moore in Century.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
The Cancels Rite.

The camel alone of all ruminants has
inclsor teeth in the upper jaw, which,
teeth, make his bite, the animals first
and main defense, most formidable
The skeleton of the camel is full of
proofs of design. Notice, for example,
the arched backbone, constructed in
such way as to sustain the greatest
weight in proportion to the span Of the
supports. A strong camel can bear a
thousand pounds weight, although the
usual load in Yemen is not more than
600 pounds.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Whfms of a Horse.

The better the horse the more spirit
he has. The disposition of an Arab
hunter is thus described by Sewell
Ford in Horses Nine:" No paragon,
however, was Pasha. He had tenn
per, and his whims were as many as
those of a schoolgirl. He was particu-
lar as to who put on his bride He had
notions concerning the manner in
which currycomb should be used. A
red ribbon or bandanna handkerchief
put him in rage, while green, the holy
color of the Mohammedan, soothed his
nerves. A lively pair of heels he had,
and he knew how to use his teeth.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
How a Glass Eye Acts.

A glass eye has never so free a range
of movement as the real one, and when
the owner turns his eyes strongly in
any direction the glass eye lags behind
the other, so producing squint. Then
the pupil Of the glass eye is Of course
of a fixed size, while the natural pupil
dilates and contracts not only with
varying amounts of light. but with
varying emotions. Then again the
white of the eye varies in tint greatly
from day to day, being slightly blood
shot during headaches and yellow dur
ing bilious attacks. The differences in
color between the two eyes caused by
these changes are even more easily no
dced than the differences in the pupils
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
px.. with Double Pupils.

Cicero says that "the glance OF all
women with the double pupil In the eye
is noxious, blighting and whitening.
Cadmus tells us that such persons
would not drown. Still others say that
If they did drown the body would new
er sink, neither would it decay. They
could cure the disease of the chest
consumption-by rubbing their perspi-
ration on the affected parts of the indi-
vidual, and in case the double pupils
were red instead of black they could
cure the lepers and the blind.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Animals In Fire

When Cyprus was the center of the
copper industry, it is asserted that a
four footed animal with wings lived in
the hottest furnaces among the fire and
rurrnermore tnar IL wouIu uIe IIsuuuuIy
upon being removed from its natural
element. the flames. The salamander
of old was also creature which did
not dread the fire. Some say that 1t
could eat fire and spit flames, others
that its breath would ignite all combus-
tibles. Pliny says, This animal is 30
intensely cold as to 'extinguish fire by
its contact in the same way that ice
doth"
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Red Flannel Currency.

A Scotch missionary to group of
small islands In the south Pacific a
great many years ago found bits of red
flannel circulating as money. This cur
rency came to them in curious man.
ner. The body of a shipwrecked sailor
had Tdrifted ashore, and to the untu-
tored savages, who had never before
seen clothing of any kind, his red fan
mel shirt was an object of wonder and
admiration. By common consent they
cut the garment into small pieces,
which thenceforth became the curren-
cy of the island.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
SCOtt'S
Emulsion

of Cod Liver Oil is the means
of life, and enjoyment of life to
thousands: men women and
children.
When appetite fails, it re-
stores it. When food is a
burden, it lifts the burden.
When youlose flesh, it brings
the plumpness of health. .
When work is hard and
duty is heavy, it makes life
bright.
It is the thin edge of the
wedge; the thick end is food.
But what is the use of food,
when you hate it, and can't di-
gest it?
SCOTS Emulsion of Cod
Liver Oil is thefood that makes
you forget your stomach.
free y4H sample. 1ee its aoa agTeeable taste viii
"scoTT + BOVINE. Chemists.
No SOC, sssaa and StsHsoso 81 i.oo; all arSssists.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
How a Boy Explained a Parable,

There is no saying how the average
small boy sometimes regards religious
truth. A London paper records that the
son of a well known bishop being
asked to explain the meaning Of the
parable Of the grain Of mustard seed
replied, "It means that little religion
goes a long way, and those who have
the least of 1t here Will be highest In
the kingdom of heaven."-Leslie's
Weekly.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Litigants' Requisites.

An old English solicitor used to say
a mans requirements for going to law
were ten In number, and he summed
them up as follows: First, plenty of
money; secondly, plenty Of patience;
thirdly, a good case; fourthly, good
solicitor; fifthly, plenty Of money;
sixthly, a good counsel; seventhly, a
good witness; eighthly, good jury;
ninthly, a good judge; tenthly, plenty
of money.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Produced the Desired Eject.

Kate, when two years old, was fond
of climbing. One day when her moth
er was in an adjoining room she called
excitedly:
"Oh, mamma, mamma, come quickl"
Her mother, thinking she was in dan
ger, fastened to her to find her stand.
ing quietly beside the table.
why did you call that way7" she
said. "I thought you were falling"
II wanted that cup, and 1 called you
that way so you would rry."-Little
Chronicle.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08

ture to the rule that beauty depends on
health.
Women who see their beauty waning
rarely associate the external change
with failure of the womanly health.
They do not understand the close rela-
ton of the general physical health to
the health of the delicate womanly Or
ganism, until after being cured of wom-
anly diseases by the use of DR.. Pierce's
Favorite Prescription they find the color
returning to the cheek and the flesh to
the body.
cFavorite Prescription establishes
regularity, dries weakening drains, heals
Inflammation and liberation and cures
female weakness.
uSeveral years ago was very poorly" writes
Mrs. Nav Kelley, Of Sylvia, Kans, vso weak
could hardly walk across the floor, and at times
suffered severely 1 took two bottles of DR..
Pierce's Favorite Prescription and got well and
hardy-gained twelve pounds in two months
and was the picture of health Your medicines
have cured me. Almost everybody meet says,
You look so much better than you have foc
several years you look well now'n
cFavorite Prescription" makes weak
women strong, sick women well. Ac-
cept no substitute for the medicine
which works wonders for weak women.
DR.. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets are q
lady's laxative. Nothing equals them
for gentleness and thoroughness.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Po1,ttctan and Statesman.

"Maw, what's de difference between
er politician and er statesman
"Well, honey, mushrooms good
amt it?"
Eyes, 'um."
"And toadstool is pizen, amt itP'
Eyes, 'um."
"And dey bof look alike%
Eyes, 'um."
"Des same difference from a states
man to q poliueian."-E1chapge,
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Badly BEHIND Time.

Charley, DEAR" said young Mrs. Tor
kins, isn't it pity that the morning
newspapers are so much behind time"
'In what respect?"
"Why, they never print the name Of
the winner Of horse race until the
next day. when 1t is too late to bet"
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Not Dangerous.

IT hear you want to sell your dog
Pat. They tell me he has pedigree.
"Shure. an OF niver noticed it, sor
Anyhow, he's nothin' but puppy yit
an OPm thinkin' as how he'll be afthel
outgrowin' 1t, sor."-Glasgow Times.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
why johnny went to Bed supper,

Why Johnny Went to Bed supper1ess
What is the matter with this horse
radish, MariaT" asked the father of the
family. at looks mussed up"
whats the reason they call it horse
radish. papa?" inquired Johnny. II Of
fered 1t to the horse little while ago
an he wouldn't touch it."-Chicago
Tribune.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08

There is no use growing excited when
a man calls you liar. If you are one,
you knew 1t before he told you, and If
you are not you know he is.-Baltimofe
American.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Cb.r,ty With a Free Hand.

Tramp-Is dis all yer kin gimme-er
cupful Nv cold waterf
Kind Lady-Of course not. You can
have as many cupfuls as you want
Chicago News.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08

A LII kinds of Blanks for U, S. Land Filings
IA Homestead, Timber and Mineral blanks
mortgages, mining locations, proof of labor
and other legal blanks kept for sale.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
N. E. Church Services

Preaching every Sunday at II a. m. and 1880
p. m. Sunday school, 2 p M; Senior Epworth
League, 6:45 p m; Midweek Prayer meetings,
Thursday, 7:30 m.
Rev g. H. Van Vliet, pastor.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Dissected.

Willie-Ma, can people leave parts OF
themselves in different placesf
Ma-No. Don't be ridiculous.
Willie-Well, Mr.. Jiggs said he was
going to the Adirondacks for his lungs.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08

There is no man easier to deceive
than he who has hopes, for he aids in
bis own deceit.-Bossuet.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08
Never Rushes the GrowIer.

"Do you drink pale beer. Miss Mil
waukee"
mo, indeed; papa buys our beer in
bottles."-Boston Christian Register.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08

The Sacramento Weekly Record
Union and Ledger for one year, only
$50 in advance.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08

The fixed capital in agriculture in the
United States is four times that IN
manufactures.
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08

Holding their end up in society is the
heaviest burden borne by the husbands
of ambitious Women.@Schoolma
Amador ledger., 1903-05-08

The FURNISHED plum
age of the peacock
owes its brilliancy and
splendor to a health
full condition. Let the
bird be sickly, and the
plumage droops and
grows dull: There is
The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-11-15
A GIGANTIC SCHEME
THE RoCKEFELLER-GoL HILL
 COMBINATION.
Alleged to Have Secured Control of the United States Steel Cor poration to Fight the
 Pennsylvania Railroad.

Pittsburg, Nov. 14.-The Post to-mor- row will publish a story to the effect that combination formed by John D. Rockefeller. George Gould. J. J. Hull and other capitalists has practically secured control of the United States Steel Cor poration; that the acquiring of the New York Central and its feeders by the Rockefeller-Gould interests is in further ance of a plan to secure all railroads from the west to the seaboard, includ- ing the Baltimore and Ohio and event. ually the Pennsylvania railroad.
 The scheme. 1t Is claimed, is plain business proposition in which the syndi- cate has undertaken to secure control of the greatest tonnage producer in the world (the United States Steel Corpora tion) and provide means for It's transpor- tation as well as for the immense ton mage made possible by the advent of the Wabash into the Pittsburg coal and coke producing districts.
 The article claims that the time Is no far distant when in It's fight against thu Pennsylvania railroad. the Rockefeller Gould syndicate will have at it's dis posaI the foremost tonnage in the United States Steel Corporation and of tn, Pittsburg Coal Company.