davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-10-22

pearing Mr. Diggs' brother frozt
us solid. Yes indeed.
After the little game Mr.. Diggs
brother said he once more felt thai
he was going to sing. This time
he told in questionable melody all
about his love for some fair dam.
sci who was '.sweet sixteen" That
was the only part of the song the
rest of us knew and we came in
very heavy at the end, "When you
were sweet sixteen" The dining
room sounded like political rally
at 3 a. m. After the song Mr.,
Diggs' brother fell asleep.
"Let him Sleep" said Diggs,
"'tis better far than his singing
That's the cue for Diggs. When
ever he gets poetic look out. "'Tis
better far Huh! Diggs looked
very tired around the eyes, that's a
fact, but [ attributed it to being
up all night. Of course the bait
hadn't anything to do with it.
Jenkins said he'd 60 in the par
lor and watch the horses. Diggs
remembered some cigars in his
overcoat pocket in the hall. That
left me with the sleeping Mr..
Diggs' brother. No one would see
me, so I decided I'd just rest my
head on the card table for a few
minutes. It was delightful there,
so quiet. I awoke with a start
It was broad daylight; the gas was
burning with a CHASTITY yellow
glow. The sun shone brightly on
Mr.. Diggs' brother who snored
peacefully. The grin was still on
his face. When I realized where
I was I got up and went to the
front of the house. Seated in the
hall by the hall rack was Mr. Diggs
sound asleep. In the parlor Mr..
Jenkins lay stretched out on the
sofa. This was fine.
I awoke the bunch and then we
discovered that the teams we're
gone. We sent Mr.. Diggs' broth
er to telephone to the stable while
Jenkins went upstairs. He imme-
diately called down: "Same thing
up here, too. All dead to the
world Jenkins got mad with
Diggs; I was mad with Jenkins
and Diggs; they were both mad
with me, and the three of us were
mad with Mr.. Diggs' brother. Co.
ing home to breakfast Mrs. 81.
said she was so sleepy she rested
for a moment while Mrs. Jenkins
was dressing the children, expect
ing Mrs. Jenkins to awaken her,
but when she awoke of her own &C.
cord Mrs. Jenkins was asleep
kneeling by chair while the three
young Jenkinses lay, around in
different degrees of attire.
That afternoon Diggs called me
up and said the teams had been
found and were at the station
house. The livery man sent us
bill and we paid it rather than lose
the fishing tackle and other things
we left in the surries. All of which
goes to prove that when ''butt ms"
hover around it is best to knock
them and do it first. HARLEY.
Evilc 0f M0nOnOliAe
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-10-22

and complete control Of production.
There is no question but that the
trusts are powerful factors in po-
, litical affairs, and in many in
| stances have the politician wholly
within their grasp. I believe a
large part of the corrupt funds that
, are used to square the political
bosses in any party are furnished
by the industrial monopolists, and
any attempted reform will not
only be obliged to fight the con-
solidated interests of our large
trusts, but will also have to con-
tend with the corrupt politician
and political leaders.
i We might ask ourselves the
question: Why it is that the pres
ent tendency is for consolidating
the money and productive interests
of our country? In the first place,
we will all be obliged to admit that
the combination of interests is an
economy to the man of money,
and as they reach that point where
they can control all the production
they will also be able to fully con-
troll the purchase price of the arti-
Gle produced. They have had their
small beginnings. We have all
witnessed the consolidation of two
or more BUSINESS houses and have
watched them secure others. This
small beginning has steadily grown
until today we are in period of
com bination of combinations. Our
great railroad lines have been made
up by combining hundreds of
smaller lines that we're few
years ago competing lines, and I
honestly believe that should the
present tendencies continue anoth-
er quarter of a century we will see
all roads under one management.
There will be no competition. The
control of trade and commerce is
gradually concentrating around
one center, and companies that
were considered large and progress
sive Is years ago today are obliged
to 60 within the folds of trust or
close up their Offices and places of
business and retire from active
work. It has been estimated that
the Standard Oil Company alone
has secured by contract or by force
the business of ten thousand cor
porations and merchants in the
United States. What would have
been the state of affairs today if
these thousands of merchants and |
hundreds of small railroad lines were
all competing for business? In all
our cities the department stores
have crowded out the small mer-
chants and now the small stores are
vacant and crumbling. The large
department stores themselves are
gradually becoming subjected to
one central control. What would
the present conditions in our cit
les be if instead Of the large depart
ment stores we had the small mer-
chants contending for business?
These are questions for thought
and study.
The main question we must ask
ourselves is: What are we going to
about it? Is there any way in
which the present tendency of af-
fairs can be checked? Are our laws
adequate to check such growth?
I believe our laws are sufficient to
oppose the growth of monopoly. It
is claimed by some that the march
of the trusts could be checked if
our taxation laws were honestly
and rigidly enforced. Whether
taxation would have any direct ef-
feet upon their progress or not is
questionable. There are constitu-
tional provisions requiring that
direct taxation is to be uniform,
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-10-22

brother to 60, so as to fill the va.
cant seat. I told Mrs. FL. and she
said she'd just love to 60, but Of
course not with the four men. She
wondered if Mrs. Jenkins wouldn't
60 if she would. Things were get
ting interesting. I was sore that
Diggs had allowed Jenkins to go
along, and SO to make up for Diggs'
brother I decided Mrs. Fl. was
clearly eligible also.
After supper we went over to
Jenkins's. Mrs. j. said, "How love-
ly" Then the question how about
the three Jenkins kids. Mrs. Fl.
said we could crowd them In some
how. Then [ did some mathemat-
ical problems mentally. How shall
we arrange to put four men, two
ladies and three kids in two seats
each three feet in length? It
wouldn't figure right somehow.
There was only one thing to do
order another surrey. We went
home to get our lunch ready, leav-
ing Jenkins In delightful anticipa-
ton.
At 10 p. m I called Diggs to the
phone and told him what I'd done.
He said he was resigned to any
fate. His only consolation was
his surety of winning Jenkins ten
spot. The Jenkins family we're
told to be ready at 3 a. M, for the
surries would be at Diggs's at 2:3O
and come right down for us.
For once in it's life, our alarm
clock behaved very we'll. We were
ready at 2:45 and the surries came
along soon after. We proceeded
to Jenkins's house. It was bril-
liantly Illuminated. We went in
and Diggs introduced his brother,
a callow youth with tendency to
giggle on the slightest provocation.
Mrs. Jenkins was dressing the chill
dren and would be right down, SO
Jenkins said. Mrs. FL. went up
stairs to help and the four gentle
manly rufians sat around trying
to keep awake.
Finally Jenkins said in a stage
whisper that if we would adjourn
to the dining room we could sam
pie some of the bait he had sur
reptitiously bought. And we did.
Pretty fair, pretty fair. Nothing
extra, but still pretty feir.
No signs of the ladies coming.
We sat around again and then
Jenkins said he believed the other
brand of bait was better and should
we try that one? Mr.. Diggs' broth
er giggled audibly. The second
was better. "More mellow" said
Diggs. Jenkins called up the stairs:
"Annie, are you ever coming
down." ''In minute" said that
amiable lady.
When three samples of bait had
been inspected, Mr.. Diggs' brother
broke forth in high treble voice.
The song was something about
mother and home and sunny skies
in dear old Tennessee, etc. It was
quite pathetic. But the pathos
was partly lost, for Mr.. Diggs'
brothers face wore a stony grin at
the end Of the song.
All this time the two surries
with the four livery horses attached
stood at the curb outside patiently
waiting our arrival. Mrs. Jenkins
minutes were very long boys. But
after more sampling, Jenkins pro-
duced deck and said we could
deal few cold hands until the
ladies appeared. So off came our
coats and we were at it good and
hard. Mr.. Diggs' brother had
great difficulty in Distinguishing
kings from jacks but did very we'll
athoruisa The fam hands ctrau 70
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-10-22

II 4 ! n ~insd t ss9 try ; a a1 new
MHIA plan. IL formeryears
1 had saved all spring
eJAVHM to get the necessary
VSeII||dxaMIS| cash to enjoy a two
sg weeks splurge at
some ocean resort
but this particular year unforeseen
circumstances rendered it impera-
tive to curtail the prodigality OF
other seasons. Friends of mine
told of great sport to be had with
in easy reach Of the city, SO l
planned a series of one day trips
with another enthusiast.
Bill Diggs was no SLOUGH and he
was a boon companion. Bill would
rather fish than eat. He could get
more solid enjoyment out OF a
days fishing than most people
could out of whole months va
cation.
About nine miles from the city
was a fishing resort, on the banks
of the Patapsco River, and Bill
said that pike were biting. We
arranged to leave home at 3 a. m.
and go by carriage to Point OF
Rocks. I asked Bill what we should
take and he said he'd get the bait
and other fishing paraphernalia
and I should just bring a good big
lunch and myself.
Now, jenkins was regular
"Buttinsky." If he knew any one
had plan it was him with the
chisel. Jenkins broke into more
secret sessions than any four men
ought. And such a knocker. His
little old hammer worked overtime,
busy season or not. Just my luck
to get on the same car with him
the night before our proposed trip.
"Hello," he said, ''going away
this summer?"
NO." I replied, "that is, not far:
Diggs and I are going to take our
vacation on the installment plan"
And then in a burst of misplaced
confidence I told him of the NOR
row. He got busy at once. "Why,"
he said, eff you are going there I
don't mind going along, for I've
been there and know all about the
place. Down there last summer
me and Tompkins caught AZ pike.
But" he continued, you've got
to troll for them at low tide or you
won't get a nibble."
why" I exclaimed, ''Diggs says
high tide is when you catch them!'
mo, Diggs is wrong he an
swered.
That worried me because [ did
not want to get up in the dead of
night and then find out the pike
were "unpikeable" at such an un-
earthly hour. Jenkins lived around
the corner from me and we got off
at the drug store to telephone to
Diggs. Diggs said jenkins was
no fisherman and didn't know a
pike from a founder, unless some
old market woman told him where
in the difference lay. [ was con-
versing with Diggs and jenkins
stood by. He actually got hostile
when I told him Diggs said he
was mistaken. But his proclivi-
ties were not to be subdued by
man at the other end Of the wire,
so to make peace I gave the phone
over to Jenkins. Of course [ only
heard Jenkins end of the CONVEX
sation, but if Diggs was as hot as
he, the wire should have melted.
"Bet you ten dollars" Jenkins
yelled.
After while he again let out a
roar: Certainly I'll prove it, prove
it tomorrow He gained his orig
inal object which WAS to hntt into
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-10-22

forcing the small concerns, which
are obliged to fight the under
hand methods of the trusts, to pay
an unfair tax. This is great in
Justice and one writer giving his
opinion some time ago said that if
the rate of taxation on the first
hundred thousand was the rate on
the second and third, or the rate
on the first hundred thousand was
made very low and increased GER
tain per cent on every hundred
thousand involved, that it would
tend to a better state of affairs.
How long would the trusts oper-
ate under such system? It would
be as fair as the one in vogue at
the present time. How long would
the great railroads continue to
combine if there was United
States statute passed requiring the
present railroad rates to be cut in
two on all the lines where compe-
tition had been prevented by CON-
bination, merger or agreement?
[ do not look at trusts merely
as mercantile corporations or the
combination of railroads and steam
boats, but I believe that there are
trusts in labor that are leopard
izing the welfare of our country.
Does the right condition exist in
labor circles when two men have
such hold upon the laboring
classes in Chicago that by one word
they can tie up nearly every i'm
portant industry in that great city
inside of 4S hours and by their
management the masses of labor
ing people are obliged to pay from
40 to 100 per cent more for every
sort Of teaming than they did two
years ago? I hear some, one say
that they are forcing the railroads
and large corporations to pay them
their just compensation for their
services. In my opinion it is an
extra hardship imposed upon the
public, because they are the ones
that are compelled to pay all ex-
ira cost, not the corporations.
I do not believe that there are
any greater trusts in our country
today than the labor monopolies
of the cities of Chicago, New York
and San Francisco and whose
methods are any more underhand-
ed. But if consolidation or organ
ization is fair for one it is perfect
ly fair for the other. The trust
says to the small manufacturers
and merchants: "You come with
in our folds at our terms or we will
drive you out of business" The
unions say to workingmen: ''You
Join our association, produce a
certain amount per day, accept the
wage we tell you to accept, work
when and where we tell you, or we
will starve you and your family to
it," Labor is forced to organize
in order to protect itself against
capital, but labor will
be obliged to purify it's methods
IN order to gain the sympathy
and assistance of the public as a
whole. While it has become nee
essary for labor to organize, it is
lot necessary for it to say to the
nan who cannot think as it does:
You must join our association
md look for another job"
The main difference between
he capital and labor trusts is that
he capitalists are able to do their
lirty work secretly, but where
abor does some dirty work the
public soon hears of it. [ believe
hat if an artist was able to produce
IN canvas the spirit and methods
# the capital trusts and the labor
nonopolies, he would upon the
of his work be obliged
% blindfold himself and taking the
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-10-22

HEN my annual va
cation arrived a few
years ago, I deter
mined to try a new
plan. IL former years
I had saved all spring
to get the necessary
cash to enjoy a two
weeks splurge at
some ocean resort,
Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-03
WILL PLAY. IN THE BRONX.
American League Practically Decides to Place the New Club There.

American League Practically Decides
 to Place the New Club There.
 New York, Feb 3.--Indicatons point to the location of the new American league grounds in the, borough of the Bronx. President Johnson, who for a time believed that he had secured grounds at 143d street and Lenox ave nue, has practically decided, it is said, that for the present the new ball club will have to move north of the Harlem river. As has already been stated, the American league people have op- tions on three available sites in the Bronx, any one of which is convenient to. local baseball enthusiasts.
 Johnson, Somers and tilfoyle have gone over the ground thoroughly and in a few days it is said that they will close deal for a location which can be reached in thirty minutes from For ty-second street. The Third avenue elevated road, which was recently ex- tended to Bronx park, can run through trains from the city hall to St Johns college Fordham, in 57 minutes, in cluding all stops. It is believed that the American league grounds are with in a block of this line in the neighbor- hood of 145th street It is known that one of the grounds on which the Amer jean league has secured options is the old Fleetwood Driving park. which can be easily fitted up for baseball purposes in case of an emergel44 '. ->1 architect named Davis has already drawn the plans for the stands.
Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-03
Nerx ...rorr,n~ unrcu,r.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N. r., Feb. B. pacing circuit has been completed to be known as the Eastern New York Mile Track circuit, with the following dates: Glens Falls, July 21 to A, w. F. Bentley secretary; Island park, Alba ny, July 28 to 31, W. r. Brush secre- tary; Hudson River Driving park. Poughkeepsie, Aug, to ' possibly be- ginning on the 3d, H. N. Bain secre- tary. Uniform purses will be offered, and there will be meeting in Albany on Thursday to arrange them.
Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-03
DON'T FORGET HE DATE.
~ Mighty Oil Gnsher.

( VANSWERT, o., Feb, 3.--Lagt night the drill struck what appeared to be the biggest gusher ever found in north. western Ohio on the Joseph Agler farm, six miles from this city. As soon as pay sand was struck the greasy fluid dashed forth in solid stream high above the derrick. A large force of men was immediately put to work digging cisterns, but they had eventually to abandon the project, as the well flowed faster than cisterns could be made. Scores of farmers of the vicinity volun- teered their services, and finally large entertainments were thrown around the many cisterns to catch the overflow. For over twenty four hours it has been flowing without any signs of abating, and unless it is soon got under control the fluid will break its bounds and flood the community.
Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-03
WIDOW MET HER SON.
sience with q MatrimoRi News paper Advertisement.

Strange things that happen through matrimonial advertising are continu- ally coming to light. In most cases the persons who take this way of se- lecting life partner are no longer young, and when their schemes gang agiey" they receive only ridicule from friends and acquaintances. It would seem that large city is lonesome place for widow, as numbers of these seek a husband through matrimonial agencies and through personal adver- tisements in papers.
 A young and buxom widow of Ber- lin recently decided that it is not good
Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-03

for woman to be alone, and as she had mourned the conventional time for her deceased lord and no one came forward with an offer to replace him, she resorted to an advertisement, which seemed less indelicate than pro- posing.
 She received many replies and spent much time and thought before being able to reach a decision as to which gallant she preferred. By their let ters each was an extremely desirable party, and. she almost wished that she might select more than one. She final- ly fixed her choice on a letter purport- ing to come from prosperous coun- try merchant.
 She gave brief and dattering de- scription of herself, mentioned the style of the costume she would wear, hat, gloves, etc, and ended by saying that he could easily identify her, for she would have in her hand a bunch of red roses, and suggested that he wear a few violets as boutonnere.
 A few minutes before the appointed time, in fever of expectancy, she took her stand at rhe appointed trysting place with eyes eagerly scanning each man who entered the room. She was shortly rewarded by seeing a young and handsome man enter wearing on his lapel a dainty bunch of yiolets. He recognized the widow at once, but did not approach her. She also recognized him and was ashamed that he and she should meet in this manner.
 Why? She had discovered too late that the had made an appointments with Her own son. lad of IS years.
Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-03
Bnseball Committees.

NEW YORK, Feb. 3.-President Pull liam of the National league has written to President Johnson of the American league notifying him of the appoint ment of Barney Dreyfuss of Pittsburg, CharAes H. Ebbets of Brooklyn and James A. Hart of Chicago as the sched- ule committee and James A. Hart, Ed ward Hanlon of Brooklyn and Max Fleischmann of Cincinnati as the rules committee of the National league.
Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-03
Army omcer Caught In Canada.

MONTREAL, Fcp. 3.A former Unit ed States army officer, who gave his name as Alexander w., Waters, but who is believed to be William A. Will son, has been arrested here, charged with the embezzlement of $8,O00, the property of the United States govern ment. When arraigned, Waters said that he had no desire to fight extradi- ton proceedings, but was prepared to leave at once for Washington. Waters was disbursing officer of the bureau of coast guard and transportation at Ma nila.
Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-03
WITH THE WRESTLERS.
John E. Kelly Wrestles With Harvey
 Parker.

o oOAAAA AIs AACAAy- " -
 Parker.
 Tom Jenkins is not satisfied with the outcome of his contest with John Pie ming at Madison Square garden and wants another chance at the Butcher Boy" Jenkins is of the opinion that had,the affair been allowed to continue he would certainly have won. II don't know much about Graeco- Roman rules,'' said the ex-champion yesterday, "and, after the first hour l was certain that Fleming would not throw me. In previous matches of this kind did not hold out as long as this, and this fact alone gives me. the impression that had the bout pro- gressed ten minutes more l would have won" Jenkins has made arrange ments for his trip abroad and has set date for departure. He will sail the latter part of April. He will go, to London direct. where he is to meet George Hackenschmidt, the Russian Giant.'
 Mush interest is being taken in the finish match between Frank Herrick, assistant wrestling instructor of the New York A. O., and Clarence Bouldin, the Cuban Wonder" They are to have it out at catch-as-catch -can style at the New Polo A. O., best two in three falls to count
 New York, Feb 3.-Some exciting wrestling was seen at the Dewey the ter last night where Harvey Parker, the Little Demon,' 7 is meeting all com CTS this week. Parker had for an op- ponent Otto Kempner of the German American Athletic club, a protege of Eddie Daily, who "discovered'' and developed John Fleming. Kempner is tall an wiry and during the first five minutes showed skill. At the eighth minute Kempner got away from a dangerous hammerlock and his friends in the crowd cheered. But Kempner' S triumph was only short lived for at the next attempt Parker applied half Nelson. Kempner tried to tilt to one side and then bridge. Before he could do this, however, Parker corralled him with a crotch hold and put the local mans both shoulders to the mat. The time was II minutes.
 John Kelly of Waterbury faced Par ker at the matinee. For six miautes the work was as interesting as one would care to see. Kelly, however, be- came Oyer-confdent He made the mis- take of forcing Parker who is at home at this game. After missing far ther Nelson, Parker lapped his man for half-NeIson and slowly brought the Waterbury man to the mat. Kelly. however, kept tossing from one side to the other. Finally Harvey applied a firm hammerlock which Kelly was 11n- able to resist and the bout was oyer. The contest lasted 9 minutes and 12 seconds. Frank Richeimer acted as referee. Both matches were at catch as-catch-can style and limited to if teen minutes. Tonight Parker is scheduled to meet Ebarhard Halin. who recently met George Bothner. Halin will receive $25 if he stays out the time.