davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-05
ONE WIFE AND THREE QUEENS.
Little Game Got Married Man In
Lot of Trouble.

Little Game Got Married Man In a
Lot of Trouble.
A story is told on Rochester down
town man who loves a quiet game
OF draw poker. Being advised over
the phone the other afternoon that
five of his friends were about to open
a Jackpot, he 'phoned back: Glow
much will it cost me to come in?
Seven dollars? All right; let some
one who is not playing draw cards for
me. I'll stand for it,
Soon one of the outsiders called
him up and informed him that he had
three queens. The business man
chuckled and waited for the betting
to reach him.
Ting-a-ling, rang the telephone.
"Well?" asked the wire player.
II called YOU" began a voice.
Sorry" cried the business man,
"for I've got three queens"
"Why, George, this is Mary!" ex-
planned the voice.
It was his wife. He is now trying
to explain away those three queens
New York Times.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-05
A Notorious Criminal.

In Sweden there is a man named
I.oefdahl who is said to be in one
respect the most notorious criminal
on record. He has been charged with
no less than 1907 different crimes. He
began his career as forger and did
not stop until he had forged 1900
documents. Then he decided to make
money by setting houses on fire ano
he had burned seven dwellings before
he was caught. Most of the docu
ments which he forged were receipts
for salaries of railroad employees, an6
for every house which he burned he
obtained the full value from an insur
ancc company.
1t is estimated that if the full pen
atty of the law were to be imposed
for each offense Loefdahl would have
to spend several centuries in prison.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-05
Endowinu Two Chairs.

A struggling western college was
making an heroic effort to secure
permanent endowment fund for the in.
stitution. The college president had
spent several months in the field with
but little returns when he received tho
following communication:
Lone Tree, c., April 10, 1908.
president NJ: Can you preach
at Lone Tree church the last Sunday
in April and then go home with me to
dinner? Mother and me wants to en-.
dow two chairs in your college.
Every truly, JONAS SMITH"
Joyfully the invitation was accepted
and the date impatiently waited for.
In the meantime it was ascertained
that Jonas Smith was wealthy farm.
er, without kith or kin, and that to
properly endow two chairs would
mean little financial sacrifice to him.
The eventful day came. and after
the sermon the college president found
himself with other guests at the home
CT Mr.. and Mrs. Jonas Smith, enjoying
the hospitality OF the farm, but think.
ing all the time of the handsome gift
the college was to receive from his
host and hostess.
Immediately after dinner Brother
Smith launched into a conversation on
the endowment project and brought
his subject to close with this start
ling proposition: Nov, l know you
can buy good, strong, stout chair for
81 cents. but we want to do more chan
that for the college, and mother and
me have decided that we are willing
tc give IS cents each to endow two
chairs, one for mother AID one for
me."-Eva Pierce Finch. in Lippin-
colts.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-05
TO CONTROL THE FLoor.
Twe Million Dollar Project Launched
c+ St. Lcuic


.* St. Lcuic.
There took place in ST. Louis few
days ago an important meeting of the
business men of the city and represen.
tativeS OF the railroads and other Ger.
porations, in an endeavor TO secure
the aid of the government to carry out
a 100000 scheme by which it is
hoped to prevent a recurrence of the
recent floods which did serious dam.
age to the city and threatened to de.
stroy it entirely. A committee was ap.
pointed to raise by subscription from
$4,000 to 100000 for making a pre-.
liminary survey and getting up a map
ct plans for reducing the Mississippi
river from the Missouri river to the
southern limits of ST. Louis to uni.
form width.
When the plans are all drawn up and
the matter is thoroughly in hand a
committee of SO representative bust.
ness men will visit Washington in an
effort to induce the government to ap.
propriate whatever money is needed
for the work, which is now estimated
at $2,000,0C0 Major Julius Pitzman.
civil engineer and city surveyor of st.
Louis, was present and explained in
detail what he considered the most
practical method of proper drainage
and flood protection within the limits
described.
Major PitZman explained that if tho
river were made of a uniform width,
the bottom of the river would scour
and deepen the channel. The flood
line, he stated, opposite Granite City
this year rose nearly five feet above
the line it would have reached had
the river not been contracted at st,
Louis. The contraction OF the river
in front OF St. Louis is necessary in
order that transfer boats may run
from shore to shore in low water and
not ground On sand bars. The only
plan left, according to Mr.. Pitzman, is
to similarly narrow the river above,
and this it is proposed to accomplish
by dredging and by building dikcs
and levees along the east shore.
Mr. Pitzman he's bee, delegated to
attend the meeting OF the Mississippi
River Levee improvement association
at New Orleans. He will explain to
that meeting the East st. Louis sit
uation and its needs, and will offer
fer adoption by the association reso
luton asking congress to appropriate
100000 for the work suggested.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-05
Pride va. Progress.

Without humility religious progress is
impossible. Pride is the destruction Of
the principle Of progress; it whispers to
be desired, or it points our attention to
high positions and ambitious efforts be-
yond the scope of other men. Yet the true
growth OF the soul is not to be measured
by our. attempting many extraordinary
duties, but by our power of doing simple
duties well, and humility, when It reigns
IN the soul, carries this principle into prac'
cially whatever may be to us hard or dis.
tasteful work, by doing it as a matter of
principle. 1t enriches common acts of
neighborly and social kindness with that
intensity of moral effort which is due to
every act of which the deepest moving
power is the love of God.-F. D. Hunting.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-05
" Keepinc StiJl.0

Many man whose life has had In it
good deal of trouble and opposition would
have saved much if he had learned in his
childhood the lesson of keeping still" II
the hard word hurts it will not make it
easier to make an angry reply. If you do
not answer at all, it stops right there; if
knows what the result may be. Patience
sometimes serves a man better than cour.
age. You will find again and again that
the way to keep out of trouble is to keep
stili.-The Christian.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-05
IIonoring the Father.

I saw beautiful thing not long ago. It
was a brilliant, successful man, widely
known, paying honor and giving loving at
tenton to his father. The father had al.
ways been a man of humble parts; he had
never. been known as brilliant or partic.
ularlIy successful man. But he has been
that the son has come to honor, there is
nothing that he can do too good to show
his gratitude to and respect for his
father. It is beautiful sight.-Sunday.
School Times.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-05
Great Letter Writers.

Lord Salisbury would write many
letters rather than see man whom
he knew slightly, even though the ia.
tigue of writing was infinitely greater
than that of brief conversation.
Here he belonged to the age of Mr..
Gladstone, who left behind him some
10000 selected letters to and from
himself for the special attention of
his biographers, let alone an incredi-
lie number of minor Importance.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-05
Tea Ra;s,ng in India.

The half million acres cultivated IN
tea in India produces 190.000,000 pounds
the investment beng about $100 an
acre. The labor required is thirteen
persons to the acre. One pound of In
dia tea will produce 71a gallons Of
tea of given strength, while the tea
of China will produce but five gallons.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1903-12-05
Home Made Tether Ball.

This is a good time of year to play
tether ball, and it is not hard to make
all the things needed to play it with
in case you have not got the money to
buy them ready made. Even il you
have. it's good thing to leaEn to
make things once and a while, just
to knew how.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02

fortunates, was packed back to China,
In Picking he soon attracted the at
tentlon Of the leading spirits OF the for
eign office, and when an interpreter was
wanted at Washington for Minister
Chang Yin Ho0n (afterward beheaded
for opposlrG the big Boxer revolt Lang
was selected. When his superior re-
turned to China, Llang went with him.
He continued In favor with the powers
that were and became one OF the Sec
retarles TO the peace commission when
negotiations looking to the termination
OF the war with China We're in progress.
He performed his duties In this connec-
ton so satisfactorily that he was sent
as secretary with the ENJOYS to the
coronation OF King Edward VII. OF
England, Next he was secretary Of the
Won Ketteler expIatory commission and
later was the principal secretary OF
Prince Chen, the son OF Prince Ching,
the head Of the Chinese foreign Office
Sir LANG Is wealthy man. HIS fad
is the collection of rich silks and other
fabrics and rare Jewels. OF the latter
he is said to have a magnificent collec-
ton, and II need not be mentioned that
poor man would not be able to indulge
this fancy II he had Il, How did LANG
make his money? That Is a question
which must never be asked concerning
prominent Cinnamon. All prominent
Cinnamon are wealthy, and 1t is no.
bodys business how they happened to
get their money II sufllces that they
Invariably know how to get It and 1t
must be admitted, how to spend II aft
or II has been got, But 1t Is rumored
that LANG is connected with some vast
enterprises In China and that he has
even thought of establishing a great
trading company having for It's object
the elimination Of the middleman or
broker In China, TO whom, says LANG,
the high price OF American goods and
their consequent comparatively infre-
Quent Use are attributable
No man who follows Wa Ting Fang
al Washington Is going to have an easy
time to live up to the formers reputa-
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02

edge the authority Of the head circle In
Palermo. and the sign is accepted all
over me world From a comparatively
innocent beginning. ne Malta speedily
degenefated into a body which used Us
power to attain It's ends making
threats when fair means failed and
eventually rcs0rtlng to violent meas
ures But for a long time actual muir
der was moi countenanoed. When, how
ever the italian government traced
most Of the abuses for which Sicily had
long been iustly infamous TO the work.
lngs Of the Malta through its controlling
force IN Palermo and inaugurated a
vigorous campaign for its extermina-
ton murder was resorted 10. the most
prominent Official 10 Sicily being thrown
from rapidly moving train.
II was not until this time that the
italian government suspected how
widespread was the influence Of the
Ma6a, but It was then found that little
branches existed IN nearly every CONF
munity Of the peninsula. Strength was
lent 10 these bodies by an alliance with
the brigands, who protected the Malta
when necessary by force OF arms. and
who IN turn were protected by members
Of the Mada serving on iurles when the
brlnnds were brought mp for trial
The Malta In this country got It's
start from persons driven out OF Sicily
for crimes committed in such manner
thar there was no hope OF escaping con-
yictlon. Naturally these outlaws. hay-
ms Interests iu common and finding
that many Of their compatriots had pre-
ceded them 20 tails country organized
themselves into branches OF the Malta.
and equally naturally the scope Of the
home body, desplcable and villainous as
II was was broadcned to meet the new
conditions.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02
0be Malta, Dangerous Importation From >/iciy
find It's Dastardly Methods In the United Afates

by some Of the most prominent men Of
the city, men who had been members Of
the committee OF safety and who had
up to that time counseled moderation
the crowd proceeded to the parish prls.
on and lynched eleven of the men whose
connection with the murder Of Hen.
messy seemed indlsputable. II Is posi-.
Bile that one or two of the victims had
nothing to do with that particular mur.
der, but the mob was determined 10 Al
a terrible days work. and II ala q
Since that day New Orleans has bean
singularly free from crimes which An.
pear like the work Of the Malta.
In most Of the murders OF the Nass
what is known as the Maha gun 4
used This deadly weapon Is made nv
saving off the barrel OF an ordInar,
shotgun and reducing the length OF ths
stock, which is also hinged 50 that Inc
whole thing may be folded up and car.
ried under the coat II IS also A ~
markable fact that the Mafia also an
card their weapons as soon as thev
have committed a murder This 3
doubtless because the possession y,
such an unusual gun would furnish
rather strong presumptiye evidence
against its possessor. But, aside from
these guns, the Malta use a large w.
riety Of knives, many Of them hama
made.
The recent Maha murder in New Yo,k
city and the fact that on the person a,
each OF the men detained merely on
suspicion there was found knife Of
this description. as well as revolver
has aroused the police Of the large eli.
les Of this country. and In most places
a vigorous campaign Is TO bt wat,d
against every one who violates the a.
BY carrying concealed weapons
KERMIT w. JA1sEx
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02

which made II certain that the Malta
would experience great difficulty In
committing crimes without the prac-
teal certainty Of detection. Naturally
therefore Hennessy was viclously hated
by those OF the Malta who had not been
concerned In giving away the secrets Of
the workings Of their organization, and
II was decided that he was too danger
Gus 10 them to be permitted 10 live. A
house was hired opposite to that Of the
superintendent Of police, and from that
vantage point his movements were
closely watched, Finally IN october,
1890, Hennessy was murdered almost at
the door Of his residence, his approach
having been heralded by boy who ran
ahead and gave the peculiar signal
whistle Of the Mafia. This boy was the
son Of one OF the prime eonspirators.
This daring crime OF the Malta set
the city OF New Orleans ablaze, and II
was recognized that only heroic meas
ures could avert a temporary reign of
terror. Mayor Shakespeare appointed
a committee Of safety. aud II was large
ly through the influence OF this commit
tee that a desperate campaign OF ami
hilatlon against the Sicilians was pre-
vented.
There were many arrests, and finally
nineteen men were held for completely
or actual participation In the murder
Of Hennessy On April 10, 1891, the jury
acquitted six Of the nine men then on
trial and disagreed with reference 70
the other three. Then all respect for
the law vanished for It was alleged
that the Jury had been tempered with
through the influence of a private de-
tectiye named Dominiok O'Malley. A
call was Issued for a mass meeting the
next morning A large mob assembled
in 'front.' % The Clay statue whsnea LED
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02
Chenung Lang Cheng the New Chinese Minister,
The Brainy Successor of the Popular WI Ting Fang

ton WI was a Jolly good fellow, the
most popular Chinaman that ever VS.
tied this country. and despite the TACT
that many Of his witty sayings would
In an ordinary person have been re-
garded as rank. unadulterated imperti-
nences, which they were, he left host
Of friends behind PIN In this city He
was a scholarly man, too, and, unlike
most Chinese. was an excellent speaker
From the standpoint of brain and cd
ucation II ls not likely that Llang will
suffer by comparison with his predeces-
s0r In the matter Of broadness OF view
he Is at least his equal, and In his thor
ough sympathy with western methods
and the ability to separate the worthy
from the unworthy when the question
OF applying them TO his own country
is under discussion he Is undoubtedly
Wu's superior. But Wa was an ex-
cellent speaker and Lang is said not
to be. In the matter of our language
Liang's knowledge Of II Is vastly supe-
rior to Wu's both rs regards fiuency
and accuracy.
Sir l.iang Is more than six feet tall
and weighs about 200 pounds. His attn
letic experiences ut Andoyer and AM
hers, have apparently served to keep
this bulk firm and hard, for he is still
very strong man, with as great a
fondness for outdoor exercises and
sports, though Of a different sort per-
haps, as President Roosevelt and his
two old horseback riding chums, Ger
man Minister Speck Won Stcrnburg and
British Ambassador Herbert. Sir LANG
is genial 10 the last degree and Is an eS-
cellent listener. lie Is widower Of
about two years standing. lie has sew
en- children, but only three Of them are
with him In this city-two little boys
and very pretty daughter Of sixteen
who will go into society next winter
Finally Minister Llang denies emphat-
lcaly the widely published report that
he is shortly to wed the daughter Of the
present Chinese minister TO France
JAMES l.. KERGAND
Washington.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02

@ AMUEL NJ. JONES, mayor Of To.
y ledo, apostle Of municipal own.
ershlp, socialist, millionaire,
phlanthropist, maker Of sucker rods
and advocate OF the Golden Rule, is
a picturesque character. When he
was making a fortune out Of sucker
rods for OF wells, he was called
"Suoker Rod" Jones, but now his pet
sobrlquet is Golden Rule" Jones. A
man without a party, he has been
elected mayor Of Toledo four times.
His salary is $500 a year, and he
gives away several times that amount
annually. He is a lover OF the Bible,
Wait Whitman and physical culture
and can kick six footer's hat of.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02

CETH Low, mayor Of Greater New
~ York, es.mayor Of Brooklyn ex.
president Of Columbia univer.
sity, eN.tea importer, phianthropst
and millionaire, Is a native Of Brook.
Ign and is fifty-four years old. His
father left about s15,o00,000, and the
mayors path has always been smooth
except through political fields. In
1881 and 1888 he was elected mayor Of
Brooklyn, In 1899 he became Colum.
bias president and gave the university
over 100000, and In 1897 he ran for
mayor OF New York but was beaten.
Renomnated in 1901, he was elected,
As mayor he rules sos square miles Of
city and 3,500,ooO people.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02

N !. J. !. Il: !. !: e. :. !. !. !.
"a OW that II is an accepted fact
M that the murdered man whose
EWH body was recently found ia
NJ barrel In New York city was
NJ n victim OF the Maha atten-
tion Is once more directed to
that society which has FOR IFS
object the assassination Of men inimical
to is interests or TO the interests Of its
leading members Practically every
large city Ia the United States contains
branches OF the Malta, and many cities
OF very moderate size have been terror
ized by the workings OF these detesta-
bic bodies In most cases II is true that
the victims are usually their fellow
countrymen. and Il Is matter OF court
record that the records Of The courts
show that the number Of convictions
obtained Is absurdly out OF proportion
10 the number Of murders committed
This Is due 10 the fact that friends %
the murdered men usually refuse to tell
what they know Of the suspected perpe-
traitors, preferring TO take the law into
their own hands, with the result that
there are two or more murders instead
Of one. But difficult Of detection as are
these crimes, they are ridiculously sim
pie OF solution IN comparison with those
committed by the Malta against out
siders. Then the sicilians are closely
bound together by the oath Of their So
ciety. the violation OF which would IN
eyitably mean death
The Malta as II Is known IN this
country. does not live UP to its orig
inal purpose. Il Is quite an old organ
ization formed in Sicily for the purpose
OF fghting the italian government in a
political way The subordinate branch
es are 10 all intents and purposes inde-
pendent, though all Of them aeknewl.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02

DATRlck A. COLLINS, mayor Of
Boston, native Of County Cork,
Ireland, ex.eoa miner, ex.uphol.
sterer, ex-senator Of Massachusetts,
exFenian, es-eongressman and ex.con.
sui general to London, became Dos.
tonlsn at the age Of four and began
earning his living at twelve. Working
with his hands by day and studying al
night, he finally became lawyer and
later a very successful politician. A
self made man, he has risen steadily to
prominence, has held numerous Offices
Of importance, Is an ardent lover Of
walking is fond Of books and dislkes
being called General because he won
the title on a governors staff.
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02

been completed It was found that the
German statesman had been outwitted
by Secretary Liang,
1t Is not surprising that Sir Lang
should have advanced Views nor that
those views should include warm adj
mlratlon for the United states for It
was here, at phlllips-Andover academy
and later at Amherst college. that he
received his education. II S a matter
Of record that LANG was one OF the
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02

T>oM [. JOHNSON, mayor Of cleve-
land, champion Of municipal
ownership Of public franchises,
single taxer, advocate Of three cent
fares, philanthropist and millionaire,
has been called "the great American
paradox" because he has made millions
out Of the special privileges he de-
nounoes and is spending part Of the
money TO have them abolished, His
favorlte method Of campaigning Is
with a red automobile, a circus tent
and a brass band Just at present he
has one eye on the eoyernorship Of
Ohio and the other on the White
House. "Politios," he says, us my
steam yacht"
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02

T UeENE F. scHMlTz, mayor Of
T. San Francisco, trades unionist,
viollnlst, ex.orohestra leader
and employer Of men, is popularity
known as the Labor mayor because
he was elected on the Union Labor
ticket. He was born In San Fran.
cisco thirty.elpht years ago, is six
feet tall and Of athletic build. During
the coal strike he played a violin solo
at a benefit for the miners and raised
$4,000. He has given up music as a
vocation and Is now a manufacturer
OF gas engines. When he ran for
mayor in 1901, his opponents Iikened
him TO Nero fiddlng while Rome
burned but Frisco Is still standing,
Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-05-02

rank among his fellow students Llang
then went to Amherst college, where his
progress was really remarkably rapid,
and II became certain that he would
graduate with high honors. But this
was not to be. The home authorities
persuaded the emperor that his throne
would be ultimately undermined by the
liberal teachings which the young men
were getting In the United States, SO
Liang, along with the rest Of the un-