davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-12-08

suitable books cultivated and
strengthened, their characters ora
strongly tinctured and influenced Nv
what they read. If their minds oro
thus filed up with such stimuIatino
thought material, and their svmno,
thies and interests awakened and cnl-
tivated by such enrolling thoughts
the better side of character has .
deep, rich soil into which it NAV
strike its roots. So profound has
been the conviction of leading edn-
Gators upon the value of the reading
matter of the schools for the best
purposes of true education that the
whole plan of study, and the whole
method of treatment and discussion.
as touching these materials, have
been reorganized with a view to put
ting all children into possession Of
this great birthright-Charles A,
McMurry.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-12-08
Slow Reading.

If you were to travel across an
interesting land, would you prefer to
go through on a limited express, or
to walk through, with plenty of time
for side excursions and sightseeing?
And yet-surely the moral is obvious.
Some young readers find in a good
book about a dozen times as much
treasure as others carry away from
it; and you are fortunate if you are
like a young girl who said: II can't
read a good book fast. 1 can't under
stand it if I read it fast" She is
likely to become we'll read in spite of
herself. How many generations of
men have been at work upon Shake
speare, Dante, and Homer, without
any danger of exhausting the mind
of wealth these offer! And the Bible!
it is as exhaustless as eternity. No
one ever will come to the end of the
riches in that great library Of every
species of literature. Every wise man
who has ever made a list Of the great
est books in the world has put the
Bible first. It is said that young
people are reading the Bible less than
they once did; if it be true, it is
sure they are employing their read
ing hours to less advantage. Do all
of you know the beautiful little
reading editions" now being pub
lished Books and Authors IN
December st. Nicholas.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-12-08

The Light'OOd Fire.

When wintry days are dark and
drear
And all the forest ways grow still,
When gray snow-laden clouds appear
Along the bleak horizon hill,
When cattle all are snugly penned
And sheep go budding close to-
gether,
When steady streams of smoke
ascend
From farmhouse chimneys-in
such weather
Give me old Cardinals own,
A great log house, a great
hearthstone,
A cheering pipe of cob or briar
And a red, leaping light'ood fire.
When dreary day draws to a close
And all the silent land is dark,
When Boreas down the chimney
blows
And sparks fly from the cracking
bark,
When limbs are bent with snow or
sleet
And owls boot from the hollow
tree,
With hounds asleep about your feet,
Then is the time for reverie.
Give me old Cardinals own,
A hospitable wide hearthstone,
A cheering pipe of cob OF briar
And a red, rousing light'ood fire.
John Henry Boner.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-12-08
The child's Literary Right.

The child that by the age of four
teen has not read Robinson Crusoe,
Hiawatha, Pilgrims Progress, The
Stories of Greek Heroes, by Kingsley
and Hawthorne; The Lays of Anci-
ent Rome, Paul Revere's Ride, GULL
ver's Travels The Arabian Nights,
Sleepy Hollow, Rip Van Wrinkle, The
Tales of the White Hills, The Court
ship of Miles Standish, SCOTS Tales
of a Grandfather, Marmion, and
Lady of the Lake, the story of
Ulysses and the Trojan War of
Siegfried; William Tell, Alfred, and
John Smith, of Columbus, Washing
ton, and Lincoln-the boy or girl who
has grown up to the age of fourteen
without a chance to read and thor
oughly enjoy these books has been
robbed of a great fundamental right ;
a right which can never be made good
by any subsequent privileges or
grants. 1t IS moi a question OF learn
ing how to read-an children who go
to school learn that; it is vastly
greater question of approaching and
enjoying the best things which are
worth reading. Judged on this stand
ard of worth, the reading exercises
of our schools have acquired a ten
fold significance, and all teachers
who have looked into the matter
have felt a new enthusiasm for the
grand opportunities of common
school education. There is no doubt,
whatever, among intelligent people,
that good literature is a powerful in
strument of education. It is by no
means the whole education, but when
the reading habits of children are
properly directed, their interest In
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-12-08
Happiness in Labor.

Three things Ruskin considered
necessary to that harniness in work
which is the right as well as the priv
ilege of every human being: "They
linen and women must be fit for it;
they must not do too much of it, and
they must have a m of success in
it-not a doubtful sense such as
needs some testimony of other people
for its confirmation, but a sure sense,
or, rather, knowledge, that so much
work has been done well, and fruit
fully done, whatever the world may
say or think about it."
Nc man is original, prolific, or
strong, unless his heart gives full
consent to what he is doing, and he
feels a glow of content and satisfac-
ton in every days well-done work.
Ifyou are in love with your work,
and dead in earnest in your efforts
to do it as well as it can be done;
if you are so enthusiastic about it
that you fairly begrudge the time
taken from it for your meals and
recreation, you will never be bored
by it; the drudgery which others
feel, you will never know.
What are years of waiting and
hardship and disarDointment and in
scessant toll to an inspired artist ?
What cares the writer whose heart is
in his work, for money or fame com
pared with the joy of creation?
What are long courses of seeming
drudgery to the poor student work
ing his way through college, if his
heart is afame with desire for
knowledge, and his soul is athirst for
wisdom? What does it matter how
long a man works if his work, even
humble, is a credit to him?
In the production of the best
work, the cooperation of heart and
head is necessary. It's quantity, as
well as quality, will be measured by
the amount of love that is put into
it.-Success.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-12-08

The New York World, after relat-
ing several incidents of President
Roosevelt, describes his personal
characteristics as they appear to the
writer. 1t says:
The President takes more physical
exercise than any other man in Wash
ington. His favorite enjoyment Is
to go horseback-riding and to get
somebody to go with him. IF the
friend can't ride very well, the Presi-
dent is fond of dropping back a bit
and then riding up at a hard gallop
and shouting a cowboy "Whoopee!"
at the top of his voice. He does this
to Senator Lodge very often, and
Lodge hangs grimly to the pommel
of the saddle while the President
laughs.
The President is very sensitive to
newspaper criticism. Helectures re-
porters severely when they print any
thing he does not like. He thinks
nothing should be printed in Admis-
tration papers that is in any way in
compatible with his dignity, whether
the story is true or not. He has had
two reporters removed from their
assignments within the last two
years for printing things he did not
like. He wrote personal letters to
the editors about these reporters, too.
and both of them had printed true
stories. Similarly the President IS
fond of praise. He likes to read nice
sentiments about himself in the news
papers. He is not so great a news
paper reader as President Mckinley
was, but he ~patronizes the press-clip-
ping bureaus and pores over the clip
pings every day. President Roose-
welt is generous with his condolences.
He will tell his friends anything.
and hen bind them not to reveal
what he has said. This makes it in
convenient sometimes for newspaper
men who go to see him, for the Presi-
dent tells the same thing to every
body, and often the story gets out
when the man to whom it was told
originally must hold it in confidence
or break his word.
The President gets angry easily.
He says harsh thing to those who run
afoul of him. When he gets excited
he can use triangular words with any
body. When he isn't excited his ia
vorite words of emphasis are "By
Godfrey" and "By JoveF" The
President is a very hearty eater. His
appetite is prodigious. He likes a
bottle of white wine with his dinner.
He drinks very little besides that.
The President says he is delighted"
fifty times a day. He is "de-light-ed"
to see you, "de-light-ed" to hear you
are well, and "d~e-light-ed" everything
else. He uses many superlatives.
Everything to him is the best or the
worst ever.
Mr.. Roosevelt always starts his
speeches the same way. He says:
Tadies and gentlemen. and Won.
The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1903-12-08

"This ia No. 8 OF a series OF Twenty-Five
North Carolina Poems selected especially for
The Progressive Farmer by the Editor.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

bought and sold like merchandise.
When business was dun these repre-.
s~entatiyes of the people would send
one of their number to start the
''drift-wood" down the legislative
stream. They would be delighted 10
receive a message from. their ennis
sary, River rising fast; drift-wood
coming down; be there tomorrow"
"Drift-wood' was their word for
bride money. Yet these officials CON
sidered themselves honest.
1t is related of a senator that he
sold his vote on a pending measure
for $500, receiving the bribe in ane
bill. He took the train on his way
home. Having to ride all night, he
engaged a sleeping ear. While he was
asleep the porter stole his purse con-
tanning the $500 bride money. When
the senator awoke the next morning
and discovered his loss he was indig-
nant. Suspecting the porter, he had
that person called before him and ac-
cused of the larceny. The porter be-
came frightened, confessed and re-
turned the money. The senator hand
ed the porter a IS bill, saying, II
could send you to the penitentiary
for this, but | will not do so. Instead,
| give you this advice, which you
should keep in mind the rest of your
life, wherever you may he, under any
and all circumstances, remember that
honesty is the best policy" These
are only a few instances of corrup-
ton. | can not in this brief adddess
than give a faint idea of the
real %rottenness that existed. The
story of corruption in st. Louis and
in Missouri, as revealed by sworn tes-
would fill volumes.
These revelations should bring the
of shame 10 honest citizens for
permitted such a state of af-
to exist. Where will the end
be? win the people rule, or will they
supinely permit themselves to be fur
her feeced until the time comes
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

more right 10 use their official pow.
ers for personal gain, or. to repay
personal obligations, than they would
have TO put their hands into The pub
lie treasury TO pay a private debt. !
hope to see the day come in Missouri;
and all over this land of ours, when
otficialintegrity will be held as sacred
us female virtue, and as zealously
guarded.
There are some wL.O depIore the
of corruption ON the
ground that Ia Injuries the city OF
state. No community can he hurt
by the enforcement of law. Cor
ruFtion can not be cured by hiding
II. There is no secret remedy known
for IL. Exposure and punishment
of public p~Iunderers is n states
homer, not its shame. III disgrace
IN In tolerance, not IN correction.
II IL more honorable to correct
evils than TO bear them In ignobIe
silence. The only way to stamp out
corruption IL to strike II hard
whenever and wherever Ii rears Its
ugly head. II IL of course humiIiat-
ing to know SO much corruption bns
gone ON va long without hindrance.
hut Ii IL mOre patriotic to apply the
knife of the law to the -cer
growth, than by tolerance to allow
IL to eat Into and destroy civic
life.
The issues are made up in the case
of the state of Missouri against pub
lie p~lunderers. The defendants are
powerful and well organized They re-
sort 10 every subterfuge to stay or
turn aside the wrath of the people.
Their allies do not dare come out in
the open and defend corruption, but
on n pretext or another they seek
to accomplish the same purpose. They
cry out, "Slandering Missouri Did
any n ever claim that the exposure
and punishment of murder, arson or
other crimes slandered the state.
Why are they SO sensitive about Off |
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

with it will be too late TO protest?
st. Louis and Missouri are but two
types Of what some other cities and
states are, if they were exposed as
corruption has been laid bare here.
There ARE many problems con-
fronting the American people to-
day, but there IL none more serious
than. the subject of the eradication
Of bribery. other questions con-
Germ the functions of government,
while bribery undermined the foun-
dalton of government itself. Under
our form of government all authori-
~ 10 vested in the people, an. nv
then delegated to those who repre-
sent them. Every power possessed
by nm official belongs not TO him.
but TO the people who gave 1t I'm
trust, TO be administered for
public good. not for private gain. II
there be an oGense great than all
others, IL IL that of him In whom
such "a sacred trust has been re-
passed, who sells II for HIS own gain
N"s hf rs "orte imam
the thief, for he not only plumbers,
but violates his trust. He is worse
than a murderer, for the murderer
takes the life of an Individual.
while the corrupt oHic.aI aims at
the assassination Of the MINOR
wealth.
bribery, IL allowed to 20 on.
would he fatal I'd the civic life of
any people.
No government can long exist
where IL Is tolerated. II all ofBeiaI
acts were for sale, then we would
have not "A government of and for
the people, bat n government Of and
for h few with wealth enough to
purchase official favors.
Other ~offenses violate the law, while
bribery strikes at the foundation of
all law. The givers and takers of
brides are the enemies of the repub-
lie, the greatest enemies we have to
deal with to-day. for when legislation
becomes a commodity the liberties of
the people viii be lost. Officials are
trustees of an express trust, to be
administered for the public good. Too
many otficeholders do not realize they
are the agents of the people, acting
in a fduciary capacity; they have no
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

For q hundred years, maybe, IL has
been the rule of the treasury depart
ment that IL a corporation received q
government check or warrant, that
warrant must be Endorsed by some
person specifically authorized by the
board of directors of the corporation
to indorse it before the treasury
would pay it. Any bank in the coun-
try, IL not in the world, win accept
the usual Endorsement Of any corpora
ton, but in the ease of the treasury
warrants it was held that the person
making the Endorsement must have
direct and specific authorization from
the board Of directors, and proof of
this authorization had to be filed at
the treasury department. The com
panies doing business with the depart
ment have been kicking about this
trif1e for years-it made an endless
amount of trouble. Finally Secretary
Shaw heard about it. lie ordered it
stopped.
But" protested some Of the treas
ury people, this rule has been in
force a hundred years here"
That's long enough for any rule,
especially a foolish one, to be in ex-
istence," said Mr.. Shaw. stop it, and
if the government losses any money
by its being stopped, / will pay the
loss out of my W pocket"
The rule was dropped and a chorus
OF approval went up from the people
doing business with the treasury
n. Y. Times.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

wise provision of the city charter for.
bidding unconditional alienation.
Then their gIoating eyes fell on the
Old courthouse with the gilded dome.
They thought If selling that. They
hoped to obtain $4,000 apiece for
their votes on this. They were going
TO give the courthouse away; that is,
the city was TO get nothing for il ex-
cept two top stories free Of rent in
a large office building to be erected
on its site. This failed by reason of
the title to the ground limiting the
use to courthouse purposes, else 10
revert to the original owners.
Then they concluded to sell the
Union market. but the market men
had considerable political influence.
With this and the sum Of $4,000 they
raised and paid the members they
succeeded In stopping the sale. Then
came the exposure. Now some III
these representatives are fugitives
from justice in foreign countries;
others have turned states evidence;
the remainder have faced iurie.,
and eighteen of these givers and
takers of brides have received SEN
fences ranging from two to seven
years in the pe~nitentiary.
Doesn't II seem strange that a free
people should elect thieves to be the
makers of their laws. If these things
had taken place in the medieval ages
we would have marveled at il. What
must we think when we reflect that
all this occurred in the great metrop-
oils of our own state-in our own
time. Such is the city,.
Have you in the country done much
better in selecting your representa-
tives? The lieutenant governor of the
state has confessed to more boodlinc
than it was thought possible for one
mar to commit. The homer of the
state has been peddled around by the
seekers of brides in return for Off
eial influence. The lieutenant gov
ernor himself distributed bride money
amongst certain senators. Thou.
sand-dollar bills have been caught
sight of here and there, with sena-
tors in hot pursuit. law makers have
confessed to boodling extending
through a period of twelve years. in
dicating that legislation has been
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

The stairs leading to the rear of the
court room, in the northeast corner OF
the court house, are being taken down
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

the old rate is charged for packages
sent from one town In this State to.
another; il sent to any point outside
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06
FOLKS FIRST SPEECH.
Given a Rousing Reception by Fiji
teen Thousand People of Mont
gomery and Surrounding
Counties.

Tbey Were In Attendance on the
Old settlers Reunion nj New
Florence, and Listened with In
terest 20 ,he Words Of ST. Louis,
Circuit Attorney.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

The man who lives the longest does
not always live the most.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

N. Barnes, business agent; J. N.
Stephens, sergeant-at-arms; Jacob
Stumpf, member Of executive COM
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

ested in the prosperity Of the city and
are men who will make the light Just
as cheap as possible because they are
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

Styles change, but good
are the same every day.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

II you want to so to the right place,
take the right road.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

AIuVu, IHIO aud low
their claim on US. All
add;
sgTruth happities lif|
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

Will De eIecueu ny JIIe IaIgvSu naaJViavs
in the history of the State.
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

Miss Leila sallee is home from a
Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-08-06

Every good citizen has a work to do.
Duty done in private life is as credita-
BILE as the faithful carrying out of
official obligations in the public serv-
ice. Do your own thinking, and be-
come a missionary in the cause of civ
ic honor among your fellow-eitizens.
You will be opposed only by the
prejudice of ignorance or the preju-
dice of interest. The prejudice of ig-
norance can be overcome, for it is
from the heart. The prejudice of in
terest can not be changed, for II is
self-willed.
Elect to your general assembly only
men of known integrity. Men not
passively honest, but aggressively
honest. Many men can be honest i'm
actively, but we need in Legislative af-
fairs men who can be honest in ac-
ton. Select representatives who will
not tolerate a corrupt lobby; men
pledged to stamp cut bribery from
public Office; men who will not allow
the touch of the unelean dollar to
contaminate Legislative halls; men
who are brave enough to speak out
and denounee corruption; men who
will expose venality, not conceal it.
Men whom the lust of gold does not kill;
Men whom the spells of office can not
buy;
Men who nave opinions and a will;
Men who have honor; men who will not
lie.
Missouri is on trial before the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-24
FUNERAL OF S. M. BRYAN.
Former President Of Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company.


The death of Samuel M. Bryan. formerly
president Of the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company and for many years
resident Of Washington. occurred yesterday
morning at his residence in Ruxton Bal
tinore county. Md, as stated in The
Star. Death was due to cirrhosis Of the
liver. Mr. Bryan had been in poor health
for over month. and about two weeks
ago he became seriously ill., Funeral serv-
Ices will be held Monday at his late resi-
dence in Ruxton. and the body viii be
brought to this city for interment
Samuel Magill Bryan was born about
fifty-fve years ago In Cadiz, Ohio He
served throughout the civil war in the
Union army. and at the close of the strug
gle while still young man. he came to
Washington and entered business. Later
he removed to Japan. where he was en-
gagged in business for eleven years. On
returning to this city he became promi-
nent in the organization of the Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company. and
from the beginning of that enterprise he
was for years its general manager. In
recognition of his administrative abilities
he was made president of the company
which position he occupied for sixteen
years. retiring about five years ago. Since
then he has not been actively engaged in
business Of any kind, but has resided at
his home in Ruxton.
Mr.. Bryan was very active in business
and had a large acquaintance among. the
prominent men Of Maryland. Mr.. Charles
E. Bryan. son of the deceased is now
connected with the Baltimore branch of
the telephone company. In addition TO
this son MIR. Bryan is survived by a widow,
formerly Miss Shipley of this city, and
three other children-Miss Helen c. Bryan,
who makes her home in Boston, Mass
Mr.. Frederick A. Bryan and Mr.. Edgar A.
Bryan.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-24
LEE STATUE BILL ENGRossED.
Virginia Legislators Believe There
Will Be No Objection Outside.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star
RICHMOND, Va. January 24.-The bill
to provide for statue by the state of Vir-
ginia to Gen. Robert Edward Lee, to be
placed in Statuary Hall at Washington,
was ordered engrossed and made the spe-
cial order for February g. 1903. The bill
will pass without dissenting voice.
There is a question here among some of
the legislators as to whether the act Of
Congress will allow the state to place the
statue in Washington. the act having been
passed during the civil war, when Virginia
was struggling to maintain the position Of
having left the Union Now it Is being
asked If the act was intended to include
the states Of the confederacy? The ablest
lawyers of the legislature are firm in the
belief that the act permits the erection of
the statue contending that the failure Of
the cause of the confederacy and the claim
that the state could not leave the Union is
in accordance with the expressions Of mem
bers of Congress. who denied the right Of
the state to secede 1t is not believed that
any question will ever be raised on that
score, and the monument will be provided.