davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
THEY BURN ALL LETTERS.
InEH TO the Flames n Soon
as Read.

OF all the quaint industries which
furnish a livelihood for a corps of
workers there is none more worth y
of comment than the sacred furnace
of MOn-War, erected and supported
by the religious feryOr and rever-
entail sentiment with which the Chi
nese regard their letters and pa
pers. In every Chinatown, however
small, a building dedicated to Con
fucius can be found. and to every
Acknowledged celestial that building is
sacred-sacred from the inscription
over the door to the blue smoke that
curls up and mingles with the fog,
for it. is the oven wherein are in
cinerated all the letters, newspapers
and old books of the Chinese quar-
ter, says Leslie's Weekly.
Every scrap of paper upon which
a Chinese character has been written
or printed, when its purpose in thu
business or social world has beer
accomplished, is burned in i per
fumed blaze and the ashes are dis
posed of with reverential care.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
The Monument W.. a MIrnt.

A stately granite shaft had been
erected in the cemetery of a Massa-
chusetts town in memory of a man
whose life had been anything bui
praiseworthy. None the less the
monument was one of the sights to
be shown to a stranger, and one day
a former resident of the town who
had been away for many years re-
turned and was taken to see the
granite Obelisk. He was no stranger
to the faults and failings of the man
whom it eulogized with its gilded in.
scription, and after silent contempla-
ton of the shaft on all sides he said:
well, if it's for goodness it's too
big, and if it's for badness it's not
big enough. New Haven Chronicle.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
How Do They Down,

A story which will go straight TO
the hearts of shooting men is told
of a clerical gentleman who was in
vited to join a shooting party. In the
course of the day the host felt aim
self prOdded in the back, and, turning
round, found the amiable cleric polk
ing at him with the muzzle of his gun,
and his look of interrogation was met
with the remark: Can you tell me
how to let down these beastly things ?"
alluding to the hammer of the gun,
which was at full cock and loaded
London Mail.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
Entered at TIE Post Office at Chicago,
Ill, a. Seeond-elas Matter.
Plain Food on Royal Tables.


There is a considerable list of
nlustrious persons who have been
content with the simplest pleasures
of the table. It was not thought IN
dignihed at Windsor in Queen Vic
toria's time to serve apple tart for
luncheon, or the homeliest pudding.
The apple tart was served on silver
plate, but it remained apple tart for
all that. In India, however, such IN
affected dainties do not harmonic
with viceregal splendOr. It is re-
lated that the viceroy's eye lighted
one day upon a dish at which he
gazed for a moment with incredulity.
what is this?" he demanded at last.
A trembling retainer gasPed that it
was rice pudding. No less a person
age than the viceroy's consort had
ordered the humble pudding which
eminent statesmen may be seen eat
ing at their clubs with undisguised
enjoyment any day of the parlia-
mentary session. But the viceroy
frowned. Take it away" he said.
Never let me see such a thing
again" This Is how the orient diff
fers from the occident. Rice pud-
ding might have ruined the dignity
of the viceregal table in native opin-
ion.-London Chronicle.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
TESTS OF THE HUMAN VOICE.
Experiment Proves That Il Il Not Al
ways aS Recognizable ~ II
Commonly Believed.

Many persons imagine that the hu-
man voice is as easily recognizable as
the human countenance; they think
that they could never be mistaken IN
the voices of their friends; but in the
branch telephone exchange Of a big
business house the other day an expert
ment proved that this was not alto
gether true, says the Philadelphia
Record. One of the employees of the
house took MS place at the exchange,
and, as various persons called for vari-
Gus members, he guessed who was
speaking. Out of ten guesses, six were
wrong. He erred in the case of his
own brothers voice, installing it for
that Of the proprietor. He was sure
that he had detected fellow clerk on
account of the pronunciation of cof-
tee-"cawfee"-that he believed TO be
peculiar to this person, but the event
proved that there were others in the
building who also pronounced coffee in
that odd way. The girl atthe exchange
said that she never attempted to tell
people by their voices, especially over
the phone. when you make a mis-
take it is so embarrassing" she muir
INJURED. "a roguish voice SAYS: Do
you know who it is?' You answer;
Yes, it's Harry Whereupon the dis
appointed reply comes: No, it is Jack
That makes you feel small"
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28

A shrewd old farmer named Uncle
Harvey was approached by a bright,
breezy young man who was selling
incubatOrs. The salesman gave Uncle
Harvey the usual eloquent argu-
ments. There was not another such
incubator TO be found, the prices
were remarkably low, and so on.
Uncle Harvey did not respond. The
young man talked himself out and
made no impression. Finally he said:
eYou don't seem to appreciate these
incubators."
''No," said Uncle Harvey.
"But just think Of the time they
will savel"
Uncle Harvey gave him one cold
look and said: "What do you sup
pose care for a hens timer
Green Bag.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
u., I.tter and Her Answer,


would you be kind enough to re-
turn my photograph" she wrote. II
gave Il to you in q moment of girlish
folly, and 1 have since had occasion
to regret that was so thoughtless in
such matters"
Of course she pictured that photo
graph framed and hung up in his
room, and was inclined to think that
be would part with it with deep re-
greet. Just why she wanted il returned
Is immaterial. OF course he had Of
Tended her in some way, but il is IN
necessary to inquire how.
The answer to her note came the
following day.
81 regret" it read, that I am I'M
able at this late day to pick out your
photograph. However, send you
my entire collection, numbering lit
tie over 500, and would request that
you would return all except your own
by express at my exPense."-N. Y.
Times.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
GOSSIP OF 2EE eREENROOM.

The garden scene of .Faust' is 70
be acted in vaudeville.
Francesca da Rimini will be one -
the characters in London's "Dapts p
a Forthcoming Irving production.
An attempt to represent a burniD,
house on the stage Of the theater -
MarysbOrough, Victoria, ended in an
unexpected sensation. The sceperv
actually took fire, and before the
flames could be subdued manv Of tn
audience had tainted, and Others ba5
rushed for the doors, with the resul,
that several persons were injured.
Sarah Bernhardt frequently "cor,.
poses" the costumes which are usa5
in her theatrical productions. On the
eve of an important event of this
character she has a corps Of girls in
a workrOom pinning dress materials
lace materials and general trimmings
on manikins. Once in awhile madam
personally sUperintends these oper
atoms, and even the forewoman bows
to her opinion.
tragic little story Of theatrical
life comes from Hungary. JuIs
Pakey and Julius Bardos, both Amer.
lean players, were engaged to b..
married. The man broke the ENGAGE
ment. They were acting together in
a play in which the heroine shoots
the hero. The actress loaded The
revolver with bullets. and in the
scene of the play shot her faitbIass
lover, who was playing the hero
dead. The curtain was lowered i'm.
mediately. Before the other actors
could reach the stage. the murdress
had killed herself.
The fad for drama founded on Ian
anese and Chinese themes stiU con.
tinues. In England a new pIav. called
"The Heart of o Hama San" has inst
been produced. It tells of an Emo.
lishman living in Nagasaki with a
Japanese wife who was formerly
geisha girl. His uncle dies and he
comes into a title and estate. He
must go back to England and give ur
his japanese wife. She returns 10
the teahOuse. refusing his offered
money. and. during a dance for the
amusement Of the English guests.
falls dead from poison.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
THE UNITED KINGDOM.

London now has 81 1863 Iunatics. The
number has increased 5Oper cent. since
1891.
In ireland there are 211, 900 widows.
as compared with only $1,000 widow
ers.
London has 30 King streets and the
same number Of Queen streets OF
roads.
Six hundred and eighty thousand
acres Of Lincolnshire is land re
claimed from the sea.
Eighteen pounds ten shillings was
paid in London recently for a Charles
L pound piece coined at Oxford.
Two hundred insurance companies
do business in England Of these A
are fire, 81 life, IA industrial life, Is
marine, and A accident
The Bank Of England began Oper-
atoms on January 1. 1895, at GrOcers'
hall, Poultry. In 1896 Il stopped pay
ment altogether for a time. In IT4s
10 had to pay claims in sixPenees in
order to keep saoEt.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28

Religious services held in absolute
darkness are an experiment begun a
few weeks ago in London. The pur-
pose was not novelty or notOriety, but
a desire to answer the objection raised
by poorly dressed people against go
ing to any place where their shabby
clothes made them feel uncomfortable.
The experiment was made at ST.
James, in Clerkenwell. A large sheet
was hung across the eastern end of the
church, and upon this the words and
music of the hymns. the prayers and
responses were thrown by lime-light
lantern.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
FEW GRATE-FIRES IN HOTELS.
Patronage Of EnEIIshmen and
Canadians.

a clerk in a once fashionable hotel,
where nearly all distinguished Eng
fish visitors used TO go when they
came to New York, was talking the
other night about the falling of in
custom in many downtown hostel
Yies, reports the Times. Fer many
years." he said, "the downtown no.
tells kept up the CRATE fires, while
the more modern hotels uptown
abolished the CRATES and had moth
ing but steam heat. The EnglishmaD
will go every time where he can get
CRATE fire. Steam radiators are
an abomination to him. When the
downtown hotels began to make
improvements and did away with
CRATE fires they made a grand mis-
take. English and Canadian visitors
particularly. when they saw that it
was steam heat or nothing. went to
the larger hotels, where they could
see more people and get more for
their money than in the downtown
hotels. Steam heat Is, of course. very
much more convenient and less eX-
pensive for the hotel keeper. but
guests object to il for many rea-
sons, injury to health and noise from
changing pipes being the chief causes
of complaint"
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
All Mixed Up.

els it correct to say that Gen
Blazes received a reception"
"Er-no-wen it doesn't sound Just
right, but
"WeI, the citizens gave him one
didn't they?"
'Yes."
sand he received it. didn't hep"
"Well, he didn't refuse it, anyhow;
but, see here! He was received by the
citizens, wasn't hep"
yes"
How could he receive and be re-
ceived at the same time ?''
"Yes; but when they gave him the re-
ceptiOn he received them all and shook
hands with them, didn't hep"
''To be sure, and they received him
with a reception at which he received
them and accepted their congratula-
tons with a cordial reception-oh,
hang this language, anyhOw!"-Wash-
ingtOn Times.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
.tDOUBLE-oUIcK' LOANS.
Great Sans Often Raised By wall
Street Banks on very
Short Notice.

An interesting question often asked
in WaH street concerns the amount Of
capital that large bank could raise at
an hours notice. That is, how much
accommodation could a bank extend q
customer unexpectedly confronted
with pressing need, or for the purpose
Of financing a great deal A banker Of
international experience is authority
for the statement that Wall streets
facilities in this regard are superior
to London's, in that a large undertak.
ing could be financed here with much
greater dispatch than on the other side,
says the New York Post.
Said an officer of one of Wall streets
most important banks: lit is no
trouble at all nowadays to raise S.
100000 or 100000 within an hour.
have seen it done too often to think
for a moment that il would tax seri-
ously a large banks resources. Five
times that sum, say SOS, 900, can be
raised at "a hours notice. Ii has been
done. OF course, no one bank could do
IL, but the great Wall street institu-
tiOns are linked together in such way
as to provide almost unlimited re-
sources for the financing of any safe
deal The large banks think little Of
1000, 900 or s., OOO, 900 loans these days,
whereas in former years they attract
ed general attention, for such large
amounts were released only after con-
siderable negotiations. But that has
all ehanuad noyv
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
A WORKING EMPEROR.
Kaiser wilhelm Takes Matters Great
and Small Into His own Au-
tOcratIe Handa.

The world discovered long ago that
the emperor Of Germany is not a mere
figurehead. He takes matters Of state,
great and small, into his autOcratic
hands, and settles them in business
like fashion. A case in point is a story
told by a London N. A. P. Of an Eng
Hsh professor in a small German uni
versity, who fell into dispute with an
other professor. Finally the head Of
the department said:
I'VE must write to the kaiser about
f."
Surely, you would not trouble his
majesty about such a small matterI"
Indeed, viii, and he will settle it,
The Enghshman expected that one
OF the kaiser's secretaries would send
q formal and useless reply. But in a
few days the chief professor showed
the Englishman letter, written at the
laiser's dictation, saying that his maj
esty would in six weeks be visiting in
the neighbOrhood Of the university.
and would make a call on the profes-
sors and consult them about the dis.
pute.
At the time appointed the emperor
came. discussed the matter patiently
with great tact and judgments, and
finally settled Il 70 the satiEfactiOn Of
All parties.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
WeIrhInr Perfume.

An Italian physicist, Signor Sal
vioni, has devised a microbalance Of
such extreme delicacy that it clearly
demonstrates the loss of weight of
musk by volatilization. Thus the in
visible perfume floating OF in the air
is indirectly weighed. The essential
part of the apparatus is a very thin
thread of glass, fixed at one end and
extended horizontally. The micro
scopic objects to be weighed are
placed upon the glass thread near its
free end, and the amount of hexure
produced is observed with a micro
scope magnifying 100 diameters. A
mote weighing One-thOusandth Of a
milligram perceptibly bends the
thread.-Science Siftings.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
IN VARIOUS STATES.

Trackwalkers of certain Massachu.
sets railroads are now required to
wind a registering clock at certain
points every hour, and records are
kept, to be examined weekly by the
superintendent.
DIR. Barnett A. Elias, of Charles
ton, has begun an examination of the
state records of South Carolina with
a view to studying the part the jews
took in the early history of that
commonwealth.
Members of the Montana legisla.
ture are protesting because a rail.
road in that state issued passes TO
them good only for 90 days, the term
of the session, when each for the
most part does little travelling.
Delegate Rodey, of New Mexico,
has been astOnished to find that a
great many people in the eastern
states think that New Mexico is a
foreign country. A friend of his who
runs a big store in the territory was
in New York recently and went into
a wholesale house to purchase goods.
He told a lOrdly looking attendant
that the goods were for shipment to
New Mexico. 'The export department
is on the next floor" said the New
Yorker, which so enraged the would
be purchaser that he left the place
after giving the astonished attendant
q rather sulphurous lesson in geOg.
raphy.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
SET IN HIS WAYS.
Negro Farmer Who Had His own
Ideas About Crops and
stuck 10 Them.

"As an illustration of the need Of
new ideas in farming, and of the eff
feet which the long-continued cuItiya-
ton Of single crop has upon one, E"
says Booker I. Washington, in Every
body's Magazine, 81 remember that
some years ago called an old negro
farmer into my Office and explained to
him in detail how he could make $50
an acre on his land, if he would plant a
portion of it in sweet potatoes; where
as, if he planted cotton, as he had
been doing for years, at best he could
make only SIS per acre. ASH explained
the difference step by step, he agreed
with me at every point, and when /
came near to the end of my argument
began to congratulate myself that l
had converted at least one man from
the one-crop system to better methods.
Finally, with what fear was the air of
one who felt that he had won his case,
1 asked the farmer what he was going
to cultivate on his land the coming
year. The old fellow scratched his
head and said that as he was getting
old, and had been growing cotton all
his life, he reekoned he would grow it
to the end Of his few remaining years,
although he agreed with me that he
could double the product Of his land
by planting sweet potatoes on it."
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
How Elephants Are Caught.

Badly, this is the way these men will
work. The Chittagong beaters must
surround the herd stealthiIy, each of
the two parties making a wide, semi
circular detour, dropping two men
every so feet. When the divisions
meet beyond the game there will be a
ring, round about, of coolies posted
within shouting distance of each other.
1t is the duty of this ring to hem the
herd in for days by gunfre. and gong
beating and flames at night. Mean
while, a great log stOckRde is to be
built. Then the wild herd is to be
driven into it, with how much craft
and chance of failure only an elephant
catcher knows. Once in, the game is
won.-EverybOdy's Magazine.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
Uninsured Treasures.

It is startling to think that, while
almost any bridesmaids shop that
might be burned down is covered by
insurance, the British museum, if il
were burned down tomorrow, would
not cost the insurance companies
one half-Pennny. Neither would the
houses of parliament. They stand for
three millions sterling, but not one
single sovereign of this vast sum is
covered by insurance. Three thousand
pounds a year is spent on force Of
police and firemen TO protect the
houses Of parliament by day and night,
and the British museum pays the rent
of a fireman'S house in Coram street,
but that is the full cost Of the precau-
tionS against Gre in these places. The
British museum. believing that proven
tion is better than cure, has no artifi-
cial light on its innermost recesses.-
ST. James Gazette.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28

Representatives Of all the kings of
Europe marched in the funeral process
sion Of the late Baroness Won COhn-
Oppenheim, daughter Of the old EN-
peror Williams banker. The baroness
was a benefactress on grand scale and
did more for literature and art than all
the princes Of Germany together. Some
time ago, when a number of poor Peo-
pie lost money in a bank in which she
was interested, she paid their claims,
amounting to $1,000, 900, in FULTON
don Nail.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
In. Ptnrmirnn,. RIack raII.

One OF the most entertaining of re-
cent chapters in natural history is
that which relates to the many Curl
Gus means that birds and other ami
mails possess of deceiving the eyes of
their enemies. Mr.. F. Sandys, in writ
ing of upland game-birds, calls atten-
ton to a remarkable and beautiful
instance. When the ptarmigan puts on
its winter dress it has black tail. One
might suppose that this would at
tract attention TO the bird crouching
on the snow, but, in fact, it serves for
concealment. Every projection on a
snow field casts a dark shadow, and
that is what the tail of the motionless
ptarmigan looks like, the body of the
bird resembling a mere hump on the
white background.-Nature.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
stopped By suuIrreIn.

A half dozen men worked all one day
in a Greenwood me mill recently try-
ing to get it started, and two of them
continued the next day. In despair
they took the engine to pieces. Inside
the cylinder were several parts of
nuts, bits of bark and other fine stuff.
A squirrel had gone in through the
exhaust pipe and had discovered an
excellent place for a winter store
house.-N. Y. Sun.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
nc Raj nI.cuIt Chfnn.

One stormy day a vessel was load
ing potatoes. a cart from the coun-
try came alongside, and the driver
proceeded to empty his load.
When he had finished he was in
yited by the mate to warm and dry
himself by the galley fire, and to eat
a piece of pork and a ships biscuit,
the latter as hard as iron. The driv-
er ate the pork without touching the
biscuit. When he had finished he
handed back the biscuit to the mate
with the remark:
MANY thanks, sailor man; there's
your plate. cleveland Leader.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28

Mrs. Eextdoor-Your daughter has
improved wonderfully in her piano
playing.
Mrs. Homer-Fm glad to hear you
say soft you are really sincere.
''Why, what do you mean?"
'Well, you see, we didn't know
whether she was improving or wheth-
er we were merely getting used to
it."-Chicago Daily News.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
Not AccOrdInE TO Contract.

Station Master think some one
will get into trouble on account of
that train starting three minutes late.
Assistant-Why? Any of the pas
sengeFs complaining?
NO; but the restaurant man saws
II make it hot for whOeveri is respon-
sible. The passengers have had time
to eat what they paid for. STRAY StO-
ries.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
The Urefui Neurpnper.

Many claims have been made on be-
half of the modern newspaper. II is
now held forward as the only reason
able cure both Of cold and poverty.
II you stretch 81 over you at night, IT
is better than a warming pan, better
than an eiderdown quilt. If you rol'
It up into wet balls and put il on the
fire, Il does instead Of Goals.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
A New Occupation.

An enterprising draper in New York
employs an assistant who is particu-
larly expert in arranging cravats in the
most fashionable shapes. The assist
ant attends weddings and helps the
and best man to properly
adjust their ties for so suspicious an
occasion.-New York Sun.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
Enough Rage for the whole.

Il am afraid" said Maud, thought
fully, that Willie Wibbles will never
come here again"
Did he go away in a rage?" asked
Mamie.
We'll, some of him did. Just before
he started my dear little dachshund
bit piece out of him. STRAY Stories.
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
Narrow Escape.

Something went wrong with Alice
the other day and she raised her
hand as if to strike her mother.
Why, Alice!" her mother ex-
claimed. you weren't going to
strike me, were you?"
"Well," returned Alice, before 1
thought who you were, I was
Somerville Journal
The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1903-02-28
EnrInna,s Roast Re.f.

The widespread impression that
most Of the @rOast beef Of old Eng
land" is supplied from the shambles of
Chicago, may find a rude shock in
fresh English statistics, which show
that seven-tenfhs Of the beef con-
suned in England is produced on its
Acknowledgements News.