davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22

To the American mind. the salient
feature of Oriental civilization is the
subsection of women. 1t is safe to
say that the fearful tales of midas
child-widows and the drowning OF
Chinas girl babies have done more
to finance American missions in the
far East than all other influences put
together.
Yet be it known to all women who
hold up club-going America as the
country where the most progressive
femininity is in evidence, that there
exists in the heart of Asia a race of
100000 souls among whom the wom-
en- are not only equal, but superior
to the men.
From the cradle to the grave, they
have the best of it. The girl weds
the man of her choice, and then pro-
ceeds to rule him as never an Amerf-
can man endured in his happiest days
of counting. She owns the house,
she holds the purse, and she divorces
her husband at pleasure. There is no
harem for her, and she enjoys what
ever educational facilities are offered
her race.
These people are the Laos and their
extremely ancient origin is the reason
of this feminine supremacy. 1t is a
survival of the primitive matriarchate,
once universal. The Laos, living in a
remote region cut off from the rest of
the world, have simply retained their
primitive ideas.
The Laos were in China before the
Chinese came. The invaders drove
them south, where the remnant of the
race, still lives in the northern part of
Siam.
Laos is a little world by itself, shut
in by towering mountains. and reach
ed only by the river, on which the
traveller must resign himself to live
six weeks while his boat is laboriously
poled up stream from Bangkok. No
white people live there except the mis-
sionaries of the American Presbyte-
rian Church. Rev. w. Clifton Dodd,
who has been at the head of this work
for many years, is now in America,
and brings interesting news of this
quaint people.
Since there are no fortunes to be
made, and a good bamboo house can
be secured for Is cents, nothing pre-
vents early marriages, which occur
at about sixteen.
Upon marriage the man relinquishes
every claim to his fathers property.
He cannot inherit a single fruit tree
or rice field. He goes to his wife's
house, and, though the family prop
erty is held in common by husband
and wife, she is recognized as the ac-
tual owner. She holds the joint earn
ings of both and has the deciding
voice as to their disposal.
In the dry season, the men often
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22
THE 0JIBWA BALL GAME.

Continued from Page Twenty-three.)
carry it to the "tah-win," or goal of
her side.
The girls, with their hair braided in
a long plat with gaily colored fea-
theirs, assemble in group and the ball
is thrown among their uplifted sticks.
The one which catches it, soon has it
torn from her by the stick of another
player, and so it is tossed about among
the playing sticks until a girl on the
outskirts of the group manages to get
1t and starts to run home with her
prize. The others are after her at
once, of course, and the game becomes
rough one, but the Indian, girls, be-
ing trained to an active life of outdoor
exercise, do not mind it bit. While
they are playing they keep up a gentle
cry of "Ain-goo." 1t sounds like the
cooling of a pigeon and that is what it
is intended to initiate. When the
maiden's ball play is in progress the
whole village assemblies to see the
sport and prizes of red cloth, beads,
ribbons, ETC., are given to the best
players.
Kah-ge- ga gah- bowh, whose white
mans name" was G. CONWAY, has left
on record the following story of how
his mother was once cured of a severe
sickness by seeing the girls play Pah-
pah-se-kah-way. He says:
II remember some winters before the
teachers of the pale face came to the
lodge of my father my mother was
very sick. Many thought she would
not recover her health. At this criti-
cal juncture she told my father that
IT was her wish to see the 'maiden's
ball play and gave as a-reason for
her request that. were she to see the
girls st play. IL would so enliven her
spirits with the "reminiscences of ear
ly days as to tend to her recovery.
The next day. at early dawn, the
'crier of my father went around TO in
form the village damsels that the ball
game would be played at the request
OF the chiefs wife. Two large spruce
trees were transported from the woods
10 holes in the ice 10 serve as goals,
ana In the afternoon all the people OF
the village were on the shores OF the
lake. Among them was my mother
wrapped up IN fuTs and blankets 70
Keep her from cold. ! scarcely Tec0l-
ieet anything equal 20 the sport Of that
day When u was over the players
stood IN circle 10 receive the rewards
ailotteaso each, and in a few minutes
J heard them in their wlgwams. testing
ana laughing a. the days sport
The chiefs wife WAS 81 enthusiastic
% any ~ the players, and ~ recover
80 hfF spirits THAI she got ~
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22

I ing over one shoulder and under the
other completes her toilet. But for
| festive occasions she puts wreath of
flowers upon her hair and even tucks
a flower through the hole pierced in
her ear. This hole, which is unusual
ly large, she also finds convenient
place to carry an extra cigar, for she
is an inveterate smoker. She brushes
her jet black hair back straight, and
coils it so cunningly that 1t needs no
pins to hold it in place.
Her skin is rich olive, her eyes
brown and lustrous. She has a voice
like music, and her mental and physi-
cad freedom have made her gay, bright
and witty. She does not kiss or shake
hands, but, instead. will rub her nose
against your check or neck, exclaim
ing How fragrant" If she wishes to
do you honor. she will fold her hands,
raise them to her forehead and bow
pretty gesture.
Like all her race, the Laos woman
is passionately fond of flowers and
music There is a garden or flower
pot at the poorest house, and on moon
light nights the air is full of the sweet
notes of the reed on which the people
blow. Many stringed instruments are
also used, and a young man sings the
praises of his sweetheart as he leaves
her house after his evening call. The
verses for this song he has composed
himself, perhaps writing them on
palm leaf with stylus.
The Laos are not an illiterate peo-
pie, and though they know naught of
printing, they have an ancient written
literature. Rolled palm leaf books may
be found in old Buddhists monasteries
and in many private houses, and trea-
sures of folklore probably await the
explorer.
But with all her freedom and her
few cares, a strange pail of supersti-
ton darkens the life of the Laos wo-
man. If all the ghost stories ever told
in America were implicitly believed,
some idea could be got of the thral-
dom of these women to superstition.
All sickness, death and misfortune
are credited to the spirits, and life is
burdened with efforts to propitiate them
The Laos mother makes regular Of
ferings before the little spirit house,
which stands on every veranda. She
keeps a lighted lantern on her house.
top at night so that wandering spirits
may see their way past and not stop.
She teachers her child to send off tiny,
lighted boats from the river banks to
please the water spirits. She hangs
charms over his cradle and around his
neck. And when the child falls sick,
the sHrit doctor draws tigers tooth
over the little body till it brings the
blood.
Whole companies of wretches are
continually being accused of witch
craft and driven into the wilderness.
Sometimes these outcasts gather to-
gather and form a village which is
stunned h. u. 1t is only when a mis-
sionary s. in such a village and es-
capes unframed, or when he exor-
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22
FANCY FROCKS BLOOM
DURING MID-LENT DAYS

During the PenitentaI Days, Fair Fingers Are Decorating
the Summer Waist and BodiceSpotess White in High
Favor for Shirt WaiStSRough Antique Laces for
LinensRaised Embroderies for Butchers Linen
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22

iaces neatly to the shirt stuff, ard ev-
cry art is employed to create UNIQUE
effects
The heavy butcher linens are truly
superb with the raised embroideries
used on them. The needlework IL
dore in course threads and invariably
II the same color
There are linen waists with contrast
ing enbloideries, but these are no.
styles approved by the modish world.
On the other hand, the bodies which
lays no claim to washing virtues may
indulge in many freaks of color, and
include several varieties of trimming
in its decoration. No garment fills so
many requirements as the odd bodice,
and for small Lenten functions it is
invaluable. Three with a single skirt
will accomplish as many changes of
costume, and the toilette be made to
express something either elaborate or
simple.
A trio of smart bodies lately turned
out display charming possibilities for
varia ton of costume. Made for house,
visiting and lecture wear, all combine
novel effects with the latest materials
Perhaps the prettiest of the three
is of ivory wool crash and is for in
formal dinner wear. The model. which
fastens at the back, is very loose in
effect, the bodice portion and puffed
sleeves hanging in full gathers. A
deep pointed yoke, with stitched
bands OF the crash, severely covers
the shoulders, close sleeve caps in
creasing the dropping look. The high
stock is unlined, and is in alternate
bands of the crash and fagotting. the
latter of which is made of ivory satin
bebe ribbon. The deep fiounces of the
sleeves are also edged with this.
White cloth is the material of the
second bodice. The blouse, fantasia
cally cut out at the neck. hangs loose
over a yoke. deepest at the front and
incrusted with Cluny lace in an ivory
tint. Suspender bands of black taft
feta. five inches in width likewise
show odd insertions of this rich lace,
and two square pieces widen them at
the shoulders with an epaulette effect
The sleeves, puffed into narrow cuff
bands, are Of the plain cloth.
Black velvet, with trimmings of
white silk embroidered with yellow, are
the materials of the third waist, whose
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22

sailed cod. Melt a tablespoonful of
butter in an agate saucepan. When
boiling hot but not brown. stir in a
rounded tablespoonful of sifted -four,
and when smooth. add slowly half a
pint of milk and cream. mixed in the
proportion of three-f0urths milk and
one-fourth cream Cook until smooth
in a double boiler. season to taste,
using either cayenne or white pepper,
and If the flavor is liked, add leaf
or so of the bay. The bay leaf should
be added to the cold milk brought to
a boil and then strained out. Add the
prawns to the sauce and serve in
shells.
To Serve Small Shrimps.-Spread
slices of brown bread with butter.
Have the shrimps cleaned and piled
on a plate garnished with parsley and
lemon. Each shrimp is then taken be-
tween the finger tips, the head and
she'll are discarded, and the succulent
morsel remaining is eaten with brown
bread sandwiches.
Deviled Oysters.-Drain the oysters,
chop rather fine and then drain again.
For two dozen oysters, rub together
tablespoonful of butter, two table,
spoonfuls of flour, and stir into one
nan pint OF DOlnnS cream. When thlck
remove from the fire. and stir the
mixture into the beaten yolks of two
eggs. Add salt and cayenne to taste.
Have the deep shells of the oyster
washed and ready. Fill with the mix
ture. sprinkle with egged bread crumbs
and add small dots of butter and fine
ly chopped parsley. Cook five min
utes. If not brown at the end of this
time, color to the right tint by hold
ing them over a red-hot shovel or
salamander. Cooked this way, they
will be tender and juicy. but if al
lowed to remain in the oven longer
than five minutes, they will be tough
and dry.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22
BEAUTY DON'TS
FOR THE OWNERS
OF PRETTY HANDS

Don't visit your manicure too often.
Too much manicuring is worse than
not enough.
Don't polish nails too highly; they
should have only a natural gloss. Too
much polishing makes them tender.
Don't polish nails without first rub
bling on a little rose-tinted paste. Use
the palm of the hand to polish.
Don't cut nails without first hold
ing them in warm water or sweet oil.
Don't cut them too often, or they
will become thick and ugly.
Don't cut the cuticle or any part of
the flesh around the nails.
Don't cut the nails in points, but let
them be carefully arched.
Don't use file or emery paper on
the fiat surface of the nail, but only
on the edge, to level it.
Don't dry the hands with a towel
but with a silk handkerchief, which
absorbs moisture more readily.
Don't neglect to press back the skin
around the nail after washing the
hands, so that the crescent, or half
moon, win show.
Don't use ammonia in the bath
without applying cold cream after
wards.
Don't use lemon juice too often on
the hands. Try white vinegar instead
Lemon juice shrivels and yellows the
surface.
Don't wear gloves every night or
the hands will become yellow. 6cca-
sional use of gloves. however, is ad-
visable.
Don't let the hands hang down, or
the blood will fill and stretch the
Veins
Don't forget that warm feet have
much to do with white hands. When
the feet are habitually cold, the hands
are ALWAYS red or blue.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22

both they and their clinging skirts
seem dashing.
But look out for the fatal defect, if
you buy such a. costume ready made.
The curving skirt seams, which so
many of them show, are not only hid
eously trying, but distinctly passe. The
seams of the correct skirt are perfectly
straight in every instance, and when
there are tucks, all must be run with
an eye to making the hips as small as
possible.
So faulty are many of the ready
made models in the little points which
make or mar a perfect whole that one
wonders what material disorder has
fallen upon designers. They have the
disease of overtrimming very badly,
and any complaint of this is met with
the information that fair America likes
fixiness.
Such is life. The minority must pay
for the sins of the majority.
Mary Dean.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22

all-over variety, cut to shape a wide
skirt border and bodice trimmings.
The skirt band, deeply blocked at the
top. traces the line of a graduated
founce. A becoming collar with
epaulette and stole drops is made of
the lace, a waved band Stimulating an
Elton effect just below the bust. Be
tween the collar and this band the
baby waist is in fine tucks. Below the
band ii ends in section or white
NULL which increases the Elton look
An united cravat of narrow olack
velvet ribbon, with fringed ehos.
hangs at the front of the bodice. and
everywhere the lace trimmings are
edged with pipings of velvet over oth-
ers Of white silk.
Cream band lace is used on the sec
ond gown. which is of brown ana
white silk in invisible check pattern
The model of this little frock, which
seems fine enough for any service al
fects a girlish simplicity. The straight
skirt displays A single lace oand OF
modest width and is tucked at the top
to meet a plain hip yoke. A superb
lace yoke. with the material cut away
underneath, is the most striking fea-
ture of the bodice, which Is in blouse
style with puffed sleeves. 1t tastens
at the left shoulder and under the LETT
arm, and is girdled into the waist with
a crush belt of brown panne.
This dainty little frock has been de-
signed for smart Lenten luncheon,
but also with an eye to late spring use.
The hat which will accompany IT is
a rolling shape of brown paper straw,
with brim folds of white and brown
net. Two big knots of closely massed
crush roses-one white. one yellow
are it's only other trimmings.
New costumes for more practical
wear are leaning toward the old tailor
plainness, which fashion has avoided
this long while. Trig models in
checked woods have quite sporting
air They are made with perfectly
plain skirts and long tailed coats,
some of which are on the Norfolk
and Newmarket order. The half fit
ting coats are the newest of these
two styles, and on the right figure
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22
A NICKEL IN AN EGG.
Was Dropped Into the she'll While
Egg Was i'm n Basket,
From the indianapolis News.

From the indianapolis News.
Frankfort. Ind. March 16-Mrs.
Fred Kennedy, a young matron. had a
queer experience with an egg a few
evenings ago. She was making cake.
and when she broke one of the eggs
into a dish. the contents went into the
receptacle with a peculiar pluck 3"
She investigated and found a nickel
tifat had been In the egg.
Mrs. Kennedy examined the shell
and found the secret OF the phenom-
enon. The shell on one side was crack
ed open just the width Of the coin
IL was evident that the coin had drop
ped into "a basket Of eggs. and had
struck this particular one. making "a
clean break IN the shell. The skin"
~ the egg had brought the edges Of
the fracture together again. and the
properties of the white Of the egg had
sealed II.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22

cises an evil spirit by a dose of quiz
nine, that the people first admit that
the Jesus God" may be stronger than
the ancient gods of Laos.
Harriet HaSkins.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-22
AMAZING PRIVILEGES
OF ASIA'S NEW WOMAN

Race of Women Who Not Only Rule Their Husbands. but
Divorce Them at WiIl-They Rise Above the Law--Mar-
rage Makes the Laos Woman Head Of the House and
All the Property Is Virtually Hers
New-York tribune., 1903-06-07
TYPHOID AT PALO ALTO.

Stanford University did not have alarming
experience with typhoid did Cornell There were
fewer cases. and the relative mortality was much
lower. Still the outbreak few weeks ago attract
ed wide attention. and the brief account given in
Science possesses interest for all college towns
and medical men. The most important point is that
the origin of the trouble was accurately ascer-
tanned.
A dairy has been in operation about four miles
from Palo Alto. II leased last winter 10
Portuguese family Two of the three houses stand
brook. from which wooden channel conveys
water the trough in which the dairymen washed
their cans and pals. The excretum from the houses
was thrown the ground. Rain washed II
into the brook, and of the poison found its
way to the trough death from typhoid occurred
in the darynan's family in March. and about April
several cases of fever appeared in Palo Alto.
Suspicion rested the milk Immediately, because
the water OF the town came from driven wells.
meteorological examination showed baci in the
milk and April the authorities suspended the
milk service. Already however, the germs had
been widely scattered. Within three weeks 80
cases developed. so of them being students In the
university. Altogether 10 students sick. Only
four deaths were reported At last accounts the
trouble under control. At time, IL s a.
serted there panic
New-York tribune., 1903-06-07

he eyes peerfng in at the wlndoW' no" n7
heard stifed breathing in the room and soIt IooI-
steps, which ceased as as he cried out. VINO
there?' Sometimes, after calling out In TINS way
he would hold his breath and listen; and IN these
moments amid a deathlike silence, he could hear
the faint breathing of some invisible being standing
in the black darkness just at the foot or his oeo
and by its awful silence conveying an unutteraDie
terror to him.
Finally the young student could endure IT no
longer. One day he left college, saying that the
spirit Of Divinity 13" upon him
He boarded a steamer for the South that after
noon, and late at night the watchnan on deck saw
him fall the railing into the sea-
The watchman, in telling the story later, said
how the young seemed to be laborins under
spell supernatural power; for he wrung
his hands repeating over and over again the word
Thirteen Finally he gave a wild shriek-"It IS
the spirit Of Divinity 49, he cried. and before the
watchnan could hinder him had fallen forward
into the waves.
The young mans friends. however, believe that
he suffering from mental arrangement, for
since then occupant OF the room has been hoo
dooed' in any way.
New-York tribune., 1903-06-07

out More recently NJ Leduc, of France. has been
conducting experiments the use of the electric
current as n anasthetic which experiments We're
performed upon himself. He employed a maximum
of 50 volts The electrodes which consisted of cot
ton pads moistened with a saline solution, ap
piled over his kidneys and upon his forehead, re-
spectiveIy The current increased gradually
until it reached the maximum in five minutes Sen
sation he found was suspended gradually, the
faculty of speech being first suspended, and after
ward the remainder of the motor system. This
suspense ton of sensation began with numbness OF
the limbs The only unpleasant feeling he expert
enced during the application of the current and ac-
companying the suspension of the faculties was
he sensation nightmare. When the current IS
broken consciousness is instantly restored, and
there Is sense of invigoration. The breathing Is
more or less obstructed the heart is not at all
affected notwithstanding the apparent harmless
ness of this of the electric current, a feeling
of apprehension raised by NJ. Leduc's rather
ominous remark, In describing his experiments to
effect that danger to life is prevented by
switching off the current Immediately the breath
ing shows indications of ceasing.
New-York tribune., 1903-06-07

were able to take good care of them. There's
many genuine Stradivarius scarcely worth
having because it has been badly used and
too often repaired. More than thousand were
made by Stradivari during his long career, but
large majority of those still in existence are
wrecks Ii is also with the other famous
makers of Cremona and of Bresci, and even of
the great Partisan copyists, especially of Vui-
laume. whose violins the best copies Of
Stradivaris models ever made. some almost
equaIling in tone the genuine.
This little Kocian episode has brought me no
end of trouble. I have received hundreds of
letters In some ] was criticised for demanding
the return of the Guarnerius; in others I was
advised what l ought to DO very much as if 1
We're a schooboy who did not know anything
about human affairs. to say nothing of fiddles,
and in still others / abused like a pick
pocket One class of writers. however. sympa-
thized with me to an extent that almost made
life a bed Of roses-with many thorns They
were women who had learrfed through the news
papers that I widower. The number Of
direct and indirect proposals of marriage have
received is simply astonishing, / have divided
1903 by + about seven hundred and fifty times.
TO be that it not leap year. but the
proofs that il is keep pouring in. am going to
the country or to Europe. somewhere else.
before the end Of the week. and l shall leave in
structions behind to burn. unopened, all letters
that come to my hotel while l away. OF
course. / shall inform my friends of my where
abouts. so nothing / really ought get will go
into the furnace. This experience has taught
me that there are In the world lot OF ''cranks'
besides fiddle collectors"
As Mr. Clopton uttered the last words of his
story three entered the lobby of the EN-
pire Hotel One was a slight, boyish looking
figure, with light hair and mustache and as his
languid eyes rested on the collector of violins
they lighted up amazingly. A warmer greeting
between two never witnessed and the