davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
The Nest of the Kingfisher.

Our American belted alcyon, or COM
mon kingfisher, is an expert hole borer.
There is scarcely a clayey bank along
the streams of our middle and south
ern states but has its face cut by the
door of one of these gloomy looking
houses.
The hole is usually quite round and
goes directly into the bank, with a
slight upward slant to a distance of
from two to four feet, where it turns
nearly at right angles to one side or
the other, ending in large, jug shaped
pocket, where the eggs are laid. The
kingisher is my most cheerful COM
panion when am out for a days or a
weeks angling. 1t is an ever fresh de-
light to watch him swooping down into
the clear brook water with a melodious
plunge and coming forth sparkling like
a flake from a blue sea wave or a frag-
ment of turquoise. He rarely fails to
catch the minnow he strikes at, but his
appetite is unremitting and Unsuitable.
He eats from morning till night
Maurice Thompson.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

In the course of our lives there must
be many times when thoughtless
words are spoken by US which wound
the hearts of others, and there are also
many little occasions when the word
of cheer is needed from us and we are
silent
There are lives of wearisome monot
ony which a word of kindness can re-
lieve. There is suffering which words
of sympathy can make more endura-
BILE, and often even to the midst of
wealth and luxury there are those who
listen and long in vain for some express
sion of disinterested kindness.
Speak to those while they can hear
and be helped by you, for the day may
come when all our expressions of love
and appreciation may be unheard. In
agine yourself standing beside their
last resting place. Think of the things
you could have said of them and to
them while they were yet living. Then
go and tell them now.-Exchange.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
Birds and the Woman.

City Belief hope your stay in our
city will not be short, Mr.. De Science.
Mr.. De Science member of the Or
nithologists' union)-Thank you, but
my sojourn must be brief. l am here
attending the pathological convention
at the Museum of Natural History, and
the session will soon be over
what kind of convention did you
say?"
''Ornithological-about birds, you
know"
"Oh, yes, yes. How stupid of me!
Do you think they will be worn much
next season.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
DANGER IN POISON IVY.
How to Know the PiRnt-SimpIe
Remedies III Affected by 1t.

How to Know the PiRnt-Sin pie
Remedies il Affected by 1t.
IF one knows Eow the Rhus tOxico-
dendron-that is the scientific name
for poisonous ivy-looks," said a man
of the woods. ne can avoid it with
ease. Ii Is sometimes Il low shrub
about Il foot high. and it is also a
graceful vine, with stout, hairy stems.
This vine sends out horizontal branch
es. The bush and the vine do not look
alike, but both have coarse tOOthed.
Pval pointed leaves. These are always
three in a group, and the plant also
bears small greenish white berries
Poison Oat, otherwise Rhus radicanS,
and poison sumac, or Rhus vinenta,
are other plants to be avoided by Wis
itors to the woods The sumac has
groups of four leaflets. oval pointed in
form, arranged on a tapering stem. 1t
differs from the real sumac in so far
that its leaflets incline upward. In
the autumn the foliage is a brilliant
scarlet. The little berries look like
grayish white grapes.
A good antidote for ivy poisoning in
its first stages is solution of ordinary
baking soda. \ bottle containing a
pint of water and a heaping teaspoon
full of baking soda is carried by many
persons who take walks in the woods,
for, while some people may handle the
poison vines without danger others
are poisoned if they pass within twelve
feet of them.-New York Tribune.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
ChnrnCfer In Mechanics.

When Austria was only a dukedom,
there were three rulers who won for
themselves the respective titles Cath
Ollie" GLORIOUS" and "Warlil;e." The
first was perhaps religious man, like
Ferdinand the Catholic of Spain. The
second may have been like Lorenzo the
Magnificent and the third a great war
rior. And so from these titles or nick
names we have likewise some idea of
the conditions of the people while
these dukes ruled.
France has had a most wonderful as
sortnent of kings. One was the Little
and another the Bold. One was the
Stammerer, another Simple, while
third and fourth were lndolent and
Fair. These names are descriptive of
the kings themselves, but it is hardly
to be supposed that king who was in
dolent or simple did much to further
the interests of his subjects. But when
we find Robert II. called the Sage we
realize that he ruled wisely and that
the people were better off for it.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

eHE WAS TOO GOOD.
:. Is, .iid ncI' LiSc Lc:t the Whole
Cabin 40 Lis Vie.


One winter ia liz. Mountains Of
NCrlh Carolina ! m.l oia LIE Downs.
familiar character Of tu:r., hii,v.
TRUCKING forward town Via "a a;..su.v
.ie,; in a :ei iaudauna sizing over las
stopped shoulders.
''Gooi mor;.il..--. J:.cla Lie" said.
Mia V-nih'. I...>y." j.. 3. ...t-! taking
his lat from his i,inh.u s,l.,r crown.
Are you going away / asked.
''Itss;,m." lie answered, "yessUm."
where's Aunt IEootic: Is she going
too"
Nome; she amt gwine wifi me.
amt 10 fittin' cump'ry fer dat woman
nohow.'
why, what's the mat,or?" l asked,
amazed. Il always thought Hootie
was the best wife in the world.
''Yessum; dat's what she shorely is.
But a pore, missile sinnah laik me
KANT stan so much goodness. Dat
woman neyah did know &c power of
sin, an de parson hissclf KANT come
up to huh for preachin'. De hull cabin
shines wifi glory, but mel amt muffin
but black spot
why. Uncle Lige, you cannot leave
your wife because she's good J said.
THAT would be a strange cagse for
divorce"
"Deys lots of UNI does it, missy. l
amt no objections to huh bein good,
but when anybody gifts so good dat
dey amt got no feelin's for nobody,
what dey wants is a cabin to dere-
selves"
The "back spot moved down the
sun fecled road toward other blacker
spots that waited for him in the viii
lage.-EXchange.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
THE PLAY WAS STOPPED.
But 1t Was Not by the Orders of the
French President.

NJ. Sardou, the French playwright
once prohied by Il joke that General
Ladmirault. who WAS at the time gov
ernor of Paris. played on NJ THEIRS
SardOu had written "Rabagas," and
the play had been given its dress re,
hearsal in camera" 1t was displeas,
ing to Thiers, and lie undertook to stor
its public performance.
As General Ladmirault was dressing
for dinner. about & in the evening. al
officer entered his dressing room and
rendered Il dispatch. which. he said
had come direct from Versailles
The officer went out. and the general
continuing his toilet said TO himself
that he was certain that that dispatch
was the Introduction OF "Rabagas,' 50
and, having Il friendly feeling for the
author, the general left the dispatch
unopened when he left the room.
The next morning came a messenger
posthaste from Versailles. 'Rabagas'
was performed last night
"Without doubt" ncgligently replied
the general
but the dispatchF'
"What dispatch?"
"From NJ. Theirs, interdictirg the
performance"
Goodness mel" replied the general.
Il left it unopened on the table. See,
there it is, the seal unbroken. Still,
that makes little difference. Every
thing passed off well. They nearly
Kissed the play off the stage, and it
will be the same at every performance.
Tell NJ. Theirs that he has no cause
for alarm"
"Rabagas'' was withdrawn. but not
by the orders of NJ. THEIRS
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
Painless Deaths,

Probably the least painful death is
by means of an overdose of chloroform.
You begin with a pleasant sensation
and end in oblivion. Prussic acid acts
simultaneously. Presuming the agony
of anticipation avoided, some violent
deaths are quite painless, as they give
no time for feeling pain. Such are be-
ing blown to pieces by dynamite or by
a shell. Drowning is said to be lux
ury, and experts have recommended
opening a vein in hot bath. Lauda-
mum and other narcotics would run
chloroform and ether hard for first
place
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
Lishtning.s Affinity For oak.

Electricity in the clouds, like its COM
panion lower down, loves to seek the
earth, the great reservoir of all cleo
tricity, and it finds the most available
way to do so, choosing always the best
conductor, conspicuous among which
are the much maligned lightning rod,
the high trees or the elevated steeple. 1t
has its choice of trees as well as other
things and will leap over half an acre
of trees to find an oak, for which it ap-
pears to have special attraction, and
it will pass high point to find Il build
ing that has metal about It,
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
A Historic Tree,

The oak tree under whose branches
Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A.
Douglas held a political debate in 1858
is still standing in Bloomington, ILL.,
1t appears to be centuries old. In 1858
the tree marked an inclosure then
known as Henshaws pasture, former
public meeting place. George Hen
shaw, the owner, was Democrat. He
arranged to have the debate there, be-
ing an admirer of Douglas. The two
candidates for United States senator
had engaged in series of Debates
and the one held in Bloomington at
tracted voters from far and near. A
platform for the candidates was con-
structed directly under the boughs Of
this old oak. Its shade protected the
audience as well as the speakers.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
Hares That Swim.

| have many times seen hares, sever
al of them at time, cross stream to
feed on summer evenings and coolly
return in the same way back to the
woods, says writer in London News.
The act has been quite voluntary, but
one thing | have noticed-they invaria-
bly, sat up to see if they had time to
cross before any surprise came. For
instance, the movements of person
walking along a footpath in the dis
lance would be watched with some
anxiety before the plunge was made.
have also seen snakes swim across
streams in the same way, apparently
to bask on the sunny side.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
THEY GOT FREE SEATS.
An Order ThaV Was Promptly Hon
Ored at the Box Office.

Ored at the Box Office.
Once when Nat Goodwin was play
ing in Chicago two men approached
lobby of the theater, and introduced
themselves as a couple of actors. Their
names were entirely unknown to him.
and they had nothing to show that
they were what they claimed to be.
Accordingly he refused to give them
seats. but they were persistent. One
of the men in particular was offensive
Iy so. He shook his fist under the
managers nose and demanded who it
was that dared refuse him passes.
I'll see Nh Goodwin" he declared.
''I'll see if little whipper snapper
like you can refuse me seats. You don't
know who we are, Ell? Well, who are
you? Let's see your card. I'll see Mr..
Goodwin about it
The manager, who feared Il scene,
handed over one of his cards and told
the men he was responsible and quite
willing to take the consequences of re-
fusing to give them seats.
4 few minutes later the two men
came back to the theatcr One of them
had written Pass two on the man
ayers card. He presented the card at
the box office, and it was promptly
hOnored. Then they went in.
When. half an hour later, the man
ayers attention.. was called to what
had been done, was at first inclined
to take some severe action. but later
he saw the joke on himself.
Let them alone" he said. IF they've
got nerve enough TO do that, they are
entitled to seats. You had better send
an usher down and ask them if they
wouldn't like Il box. "-Chicago Trib-
une.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
RICHARD WILLIAM VAUGHAN
The First English Bank FOrger and
the story of His Fall.


The story of the first bank forger,
Richard William Vaughan, is little
known. Vaughan was the brother of a
Stafford lawyer and became clerk to a
solicitor in London. He wished 10
marry his masters daughter and prom
ised to produce the sum of E1,000
which, he said, his mother would pre-
sent to him, half of it to be settled on
his wife. On these terms the father
consented to the marriage, and Vaughan
obtained a months leave of absence.
He occupied this period in obtaining
engraved impressions in imitation of
twenty pound Bank of England notes,
which was not such a difficult matter
then, such things as forged notes be-
ing unknown. With fifty of these
sham notes he presented himself at the
appointed time, and his fiancee accept
ed her share in perfect good faith, and
the marriage preparations We're pro-
ceeded with
Unfortunately he wanted ready mon
ey and put two of his own forged
notes into circulation. They were chal-
lenged, when he became alarmed and
tried to get back the notes he had
given to the young lady, but she re-
fused to yield them up, suspecting
nothing of their true nature, and when
Vaughan was arrested next day she
would hardly believe even then that
she had been deceived.
The forger was tried at the Old Bal
ley on the 7th of April, 1853, spending
what was to have been his wedding
day in the condemned cell. -Four days
later he was hanged at Tyburn.-Lon-
don Standard.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
The Art of Working In Gold,

The Romans copied the Greek and
Etruscan goldsmiths' work, though
they also often used the ornaments
themselves taken from the ancient
tombs. Much of the art of the ancients
the nineteenth century, when Signor
Castellani found some of the Etruscan
methods still being employed by work
men in a village in a remote corner of
the Apennines.-London Times.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
The Daring Little Humminc Eird.

Courage has little or no relation to
bodily size. The humming bird is the
smallest of birds, but also one of the
most fearless and pugnacious He at
tacks kingbirds and hawks, and those
tyrannical creatures, though of mon
strous size in comparison, seem not at
all ashamed to fly from his onsets.
The fights of humming birds among
themselves are often fierce and pro-
tracted.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

The Rev. w. Tuckwell in Tongues
and Trees and Sermons In Stones"
says: The oldest living tree in the
world is said to be the Soma cypress of
Lombardy. 1t was a tree forty years
before the birth of Christ" But AL
phonse Karr in his Voyage Autour de
Mon Jardin" says of the baobab adam
sonia digitata), 1T is asserted that
some exist in Senegal that are 5000
years old."-NOtes and Queries.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
SuperstitiOn That Is Ancient.

In many parts of Great Britain the
superstition still survives that it is fol
ly or madness to save a drowning man,
as he will sooner or later do an injury
to the rescuer. The superstition comes
down from our ancestors, yet traces of
it exist among the Sioux and other In
dams, who seem to have inherited it
from aboriginal sources. The belief is
most prevalent In Cornwall and vari-
Gus parts of Scotland.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

Morse ana the LeIesraph operator
Immediately after the successful
completion Of the first transatlantic
cable and the consequent celebrations,
in which of course Cyrus w. Field
bore a prominent part, Professor Morse
had occasion to send Il telegram from
a small town in Ohio to his home in
New York. He wrote out his message,
presented it to the operator, who rap
idly checked it off with his pencil and
CURLY demanded Il dollar.
But" said the venerable inventor,
Il never pay for messages" and, see
ing an inquiring look in the operators
eyes, added, 81 am, in fact, the father
of the telegraph"
Then" said the operator, firmly con-
WINGED that he was being imposed up
on, why don't you sign your own
name. Cyrus W. Field"
Professor Morse when telling the
story used to say that he was too hui
inflated to answer.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

While Bichat, khe famous surgeon,
was dying of &hoid fever he turned
to an old collei hue who was sitting be-
side his bed said to him:
MY friendF am lost, but it is some
consolation 70 know that my case is
very curious. During the last few
days | have noticed some odd symp-
toms, and l am studying them care
fully"
ION, you may recover yet" said the
friend.
That is impossible" replied Bichat,
land if it were not for one thing 1
would be quite willing to die"
What is that" asked the friend.
Il am exceedingly sorry answered
Bichat, that | shall not have an op-
portunity TO perform an autopsy on
myself after my death, for know that
| would make some wonderful scien-
tific discovery
An hour later he was dead.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

Otto Lasins in his diary describes
walk he took one day with Bocklin, the
famous artist, near Zurich. Bocklin
was in requires over the colors Of the
autumn leaves, the blue sky, the
clouds. All, those are colors!' he ex-
claimed. IF we could have those on
our palettes! How weak are our means
in comparison with those Of nature!
White is our best light. and only by
means of clever contrasts can we Sc
cure effects approximating the natural
ones"
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

William Slimson, Jr.-Do you believe
in being kind to the sick, mamma?
Mrs. w. Slimson-Certainly, Willie,
you ask?
William-Because, mamma, | heard
the little boy on the next block had the
measles, and I've been visiting him all
the afternoon.-Earper's Bazaar.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

Mamma" she said. what preacher
do you think J. ought to have marry
Cecil and me? | feel as though Mr..
Goodman is so young, and, not being
married himself, he could hardly
"Oh, pshaw! Have DR.. Easleigh.
I've had him for four of mine, and he
always gave thorough satisfaction
Chicago Record Herald
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
Uncle Sans Recruits.

The following qualifications are re-
quired of every soldier selected as re-
cruit: He must not be under twenty or
over twenty-five years old, he must be
strong enough to lift 100 pound
weight with both hands to a position
level with his chest, he must be feet
S cNes in height and able to run a
courseNof seven miles in an hour, and
he must alse be of good character
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

PhOXy-I got a good square meal last
night, the first in several weeks, and
have you to thank for it.
Friend-Me to thank? Well, that's
news to me.
Phoxy-Yes. | know. | telephoned to
my wife Yesterday morning that you
were coming out to dinner with me-
Philadelphia Press.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
Econ nicaI.

There is "Reminiscences of Caleb Bal
derstone in the utterance of an econom-
ical Scotch butler who was lately wait
ing at an important dinner. He had
taken round plate of beef in vain.
After his last effort at persuasion had
failed he set it down in front of his
master with decision. "Ye maun TAX
that yerseI." he said. II Gamma get
any ither customer for it."
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

Clara-Is Mrs. FL tier good CONVEX
sationaliSt?
Dorothy-Yes, indeed. She makes
you think of lots of good things to
say, but talks so much that you don't
get a chance to say them.-Detroit
Free Press.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
where Accuracy Is Required.

why does Grimmer haunt the IL
brariesT"
He is writing historical novel,"
"Oh! Looking up the historical facts,
is hep
NO; the costumes" -Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
Hnwaii's Ripping Language.

The language of the Hawaiian Is
lands, as every one knows abOQnds in
vowels and therefore ripples delicious
ly in the mouth. 1t is only necessary
to pronounce such names as Honolulu,
Oahu. Kilauea, Hilo. Mauna Loa, Ka-
mahamaha and Liliuokalani to discov-
er this. \ young Presbyterian clergy
man of Brooklyn who visited the is
lands two or three years ago and pre-
pared lecture on them on his return
declared that there was only one place
on the islands which possessed a name
lacking in euphony. That place was
Spreckelsville This euphOny of the
Hawaiian tongue was productive of
one of the jokes of his lecture. The
first time he gave it he remarked Incl
dentally that he took the steamer
Wy-ally-ally to 90 to the town of Ma
willy-willy." \ laugh followed the re
mark, and thereafter he always in
Guided this phrase in his lecture. 1t
invariably produced the same result
when used-New York Tribune
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
The Poets Explanation.

what do you mean by 'embers of
the dying yearY" asked the poets
wife.
why, November and December, of
course, my dear" replied the long
naired one. with a fiendish grin.-Chi-
cago News.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

What, you back to work, Pete?
When l saw you fall off the building
yesterday, | never expected to see you
work again"
81 fought dat too, boss, but nah
wife done let nah accident assurance
eXpiah last week" indianapolis News.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
why Freddie scowIed.

Guest-Why do you scowl at me so,
Freddie?
Freddie-Cause you have eat all the
cake and haven't married either of my
sisters yet.-Lippincott's
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
An Offset.

Wealthy American Father-in-law-I
find. count, you did not tell me the
full extent of your debts.
Count Boylon de Bakkovisnek-Apd
you did not tell me. sare, re full extent
of mademoiselle's tempare. - Chicago
Tribune
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

May-Oh, | hate these magazine Sc
rails,
Edith-Why?
May-You can never tell how the
story ends until it is finished.-Town
and Country.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

DO you still rely on your burglar
alarm"
ooh, no. We have a baby now, you
know, and if any burglar can find
time during the night when some one
isn't up with the baby he's welcome to
all he can get."-Chiclgo Post.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

Did it ever occur to you that the
soles of your shoes so awfully fast
after the first break occurs? A man is
like a pair of soles in that respect
AtchisOn Globe.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

"Why should religion and science
quarrel?'
why. inceed?'
"Why not say that man is descended
from the monkey Eve made of Adam
and let il go at that?"--Puck.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

Miss Millyun-One can be very hap
by in this world with health and mon
ey.
Deadbroke-Then let's be made one.
l have the health and you have the
money !-IlIustrated Bits.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

She TomanticallyJ-W would you
do if we should meet in the hereafter?
He (earnestly)-Pd go through fire
for you.-Pittsburg Press.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

Burning the candle at both ends
gives big light, but it's mighty dark
when the light goes 'out.-Baltimor
News.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

If some men would reflect more, they
would be brighter; if some women
were brighter, they would reflect more.
Chicago News
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29
Long Time Between Meals.

IF you're a-stayin' fer dinner" said
the authors little boy, 'T'm afraid
you'll go hungry. We only eat on
Observation-Disclosures Constitution.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

Mrs. Giltedge-How do you like the
new butler?
Giltedge-He's peach! Made me
feel at home at once.-Life.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-10-29

Genius unexerted is no more genius
than a busheI of acorns is forest of
oaks.