davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22
"MOTHERING sunday AND SlMNEL CAKES.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
names. 1t has been variously known and
suitably celebrated by our English fore
bears as Dominica Refectionis (Refresb
ment Sunday. from the Gospel for the day,
which describes the miraculous feeding of
the multitude: Mid-Lent Sunday, from its
place in the pentential season; from a mar
velous cake that was ore Of the features
pasty of figs. also popular. and most COM
monty as "Mothering Sunday" or a day Of
home reunion and feasting.
This custom was the outgrowth of the
more ancient practice Of visiting and wor-
Shipping in the mother church. but like
many other festivals increased in popularity
as It left spiritual things for the more tenn
poral and easily comprehended delights of
abundant eating and drinking.
The servant or apprentice who was not
allowed to go "a motherlng" to eat fru-
mehty this day felt that his lines had in
deed fallen in grievous places. so deep an
affection did II inspire for its keeping
among the common folk.
While frumenty, dish of hulled wheat.
boiled in milk and spiced. was dear to the
heart of youth. the true glory Of the day
appeared in the simnel cake. a concoction
made of fine flour and water, spices galore.
candied lemon peel and currants. the whole
ccolored with saffron to golden yellow high
iy approved. At first thin and round In
shape, they gradually developed into such
piethoric proportions that they were some
times mistaken for foot stools
There Is a great round of social ca11,np
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22

This raises the question: Who determines
whether the 2-cent postage stamp will be a
daily torment or a delight?
Who sees that Government bonds shall
not offend the esthctic sense of the fortu-
nate coucoa-cutting classes. and that the
paper money shall be both appropriate and
artistic in design?
In former years the manufacture OF
postage stamps given out by contract
to the lowest bidder: but for nearly ten
years stamps. like bonds and paper cur
rency. have been the work of the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing. the head designer
of which draws n yearly salary OF 5000
Upon the merits of a postage stamp de-
sign the Postmaster General norninally de-
cides but the rea, arbter Is the Third As
sistant Postmaster General. To this per-
sons Willingness to stand convicted of
mistake we are to owe the new and i'm
proved 2-cent stamp which. We are told, Is
to be worthy of the unfortunate Mr. Doc
ley's companions Of different denomina-
ton, In the same issue-an issue upon
which the Post Office Department prides IT.
self.
A much more complicated question than
that Of stamps is the designing of paper
money.
A stamp must be appropriate and artistic
in plan. A note must be this. and muc,,
more, II bill Is crowded with printing, It
rapidly becomes smeared and dirty by
handling; so one important requisite of the
design Is the proper dimension of the blank
space. Another practical question concerns
the canceling of notes.
BY this process the bill is cut in halves.
one OF which is sent to the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing. the other kept by the
treasury. Each half must, of course. be
readily recognized, and this easy identihca-
ton must be provided for by the picture.
The Secretary of the Treasury Is officially
responsible for the designs on bonds and
paper money. Practically. he receives the
assistance OF subordinate officers.
When new certificates are needed, the
Secretary Of the Treasury calls for n design
from the chief engraver of the Bureau vi
Engraving and Printing. The design Is then
criticised by the Secretary. Assistant Sec
rotary, Treasurer. Chief of Secret Service
and Chief of Loans and Currency: changes
are suggested, and the printed bill IS thrown
upon the critical mercies Of the public
sometimes with unforeseen resultA
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22

charge Of it from the moment the funeral
| is ordered to the moment(I return and I
always clean up my hearse and take care
Of my horses after I return. When vas
younger than l am now / helped care for
the dead.
During the rage Of the cholera IN 1865 I
, buried from two to four victims every
night There was a regular hearse fam
Inc then, and we carried of the dead N
| spring wagons and delivery vehicles. I
helped load them into the wagon and some-
times even prepared them for burial at tie
height of the epidemic. when there wac q
| shortage of undertakers.
II did the same thing during several
smallpox epidemics. The last time I was
very busy was after the cyclone.
"A hearse driver. you know. is expected
to exercise double care, for it would be ter
rible for the mourners to have anything
happen to the hearse. / have been mighty
lucky In that respect. for never in all my
experience have 1 had an accident. More
than twenty years of continuous and four
teen years of frequent, hearse driving has
made me an expert at the business
In the many years that Mr.. Schmidt has
put In driving hearses with their silent
passengers he has visited every cemetery
in and about St Louis. He has driven to
BelIeville and ct. Charles. to Ptcket's. So.
Peter and Pauls. Bellefontalne and Cal
vary innumerable times. No matter what
the weather. even in stormy sea5uus when
horses drawing q corpse seem more nerv-
GUS than those hftched to the accompany
ing carriages. the oldest hesrse driver Of
st. Louis has gotten Off without the slight
est mishap.
A hearse driver cannot take liberties with
his team. especially on bad roads, for the
balance Of hearse is never the same as
that of ordinary vehicles. The best results
are obtained when hearse teams are driven
by one man all the time. The all-black or
all-white hearse teams are generally used
only for hearse driving, and one driver in
most beneficial to them.
At the establishment Of Adolph Meyer
Sons the elder and the younger Schmidt are
known as John and Johnny. Johnny
Schmidt is two heads taller than his father,
but no broader than the stocky. vigorous
older man.
Last Sundays St. Patricks parade was
the first one Mr.. Schmidt, the elder, has
ever missed. AS long as there has been a
st. Patrick's parade in ST. Louis the old
hearse driver has either driven a carriage,
an omnibus or a float. Last Sunday he
was prevented. It was not sickness, nor
desire to lay of. but his singularly ex-
elusive occupation-driving hearse-that
Kept him away. There was a funeral at
the time, and he had to drive the hearse.
Other stables seem to have the same re-
gard for Mr.. Schmidt's expert hearse drfv-
ing. for he is frequently sent for to do tho
offices for persons outside of his own baili-
wick.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
Driving never less than 500 corpses a year
to their Inst resting place has been the con-
slant occupation of John Schmidt Of No 90
Hickory street for the last thirty years.
Nine thousand funerals of which he was
the driver of the hearse is the record OF this
man. who is known as the Oldest hearse
driver in ST. Louis.
While his fellow-wcrkmen prepare for
weddings and tie the white snood to their
whips John Schmidt gets out the funeral
trappngs. Side by side they work. one to
usher in festivity, the other to close the
book after the last chapter.
In spite of his sorlber calling Mr.. Schmidt
is as lively as his younger and more cheer
fully employed companions at the undertake
ing and livery establishment on Park ave-
nue and Seventh street. one of the Oldest
concerns in the. CITY.
Twenty eight years ago John Schmidt
came 10 them for the exclusive purpose Of
driving hearses. Even at that time he had
a record Of fourteen years as the most care
full hearse driver in the south end of the
city. for those fourteen years he had been
with Brockman & Scheele, with whom he
began his career fortytwo years ago.
John Schmidt Is now s. years Of age. He
is rather understood in stature. but spry
and hale and alert. and, as he says, one
funeral dav. year in year out. has
ncr given him the blues one single moment.
He Is the father of five sons and three
very pretty daughters. Only ore of his sons
follows the occupation of his father. and
he. too. has been with the, Meyers for TWEEN
ty years as head carriage driver He. how
ever. drives all the wedding parties. leav-
ing the doleful hearse duties to his father.
II was born in Posen. Germahy," said
Mr.. Schmidt TO the Sunday Republic, land
when was years old my parents came to
America, locating in Milwaukee. where I
was raised In 1861 came to st. Louis and
1 have been here ever since
My father taught me to drive and handle
horses and I've never done anything else.
In all the years that 1 have been q hearse
driver, 1 have driven the rich and poor
alike. but to save my life I can't remem-
Der their names. A man quits remember
ing names when he drives one dead man
after another
up to eight to ten years ago the persons
who desired a big funeral always had four
horses to the hearse, but that extrava-
gance has gone out of fashion now. Schuet-
way and Barry street, was one of the last
ones 1 drove to the cemetery with four
horses. Yes, 1t costs just twice as much as
for two horses. but It used to be a matter
of pride with the people to go to the grave
In spendor. 1t isn't easy driving. either; a
fellow has to be doubly careful.
''FO- the last twenty years / have con-
fined myself to driving q hearse alone
This includes. of course, the care of the
horses and the vehicle. 1 take complete
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22


/, go. -. 49, ~ .s.r,na.lo., s,,o;rn -,
,,,,,.,. % .S,.,,, ~ $50 ',,,. e..
| mar the r..sr snnniv apd tn tho summer
| n,anv ~ ths ii,tIe rlsc.. are h.dden behind
| ruaav rank. ~ ho,ixhocss and s,arine s,,n-
a.s., Va 0' N ee sun
M NJ. ,oo,,,>,o .,onr
or ,rtIrn ISMpSINn
~
ine mouse occupied Dy Inc woman VINO
, Neeu; Is ony par y. MS. WEES, stahq y.
On tne CORNER OF ientn ana mn streets, A.
oeah ioohins ooniicle' anu irohn witn-
w. carries out one ioeas oi what MIs.
wisess nome snouia De Up narrow ilisht
~ ., ~, one eoes " 'he iooiHs "heie 'io
I'LL 49, ,,,s -..,..
m.ei E,inoeu .hese stahs WIN so ~
E,.s @ nc iou oeei "oi nv 'na. ~, 20
....s ~ vas conceiiihs very sois seoJst.
SO. - III, LII "n nc ., NE
nai.hh,rs s.r.,ts, =. ~. 80. 20 ,,..io
store acro.s ths street nd ",o;tsd .,r,o,,si,,
10 note the n,,too,,,a -, ~. ,s,. W., W
smer,sa 90 a. srn,,, ~. ,.an,, si. .,,ns
across the thorouehfare with alghs of re-
LIEF and questioned him eagerly as to his re-
'epuon
a.. HnoSA u. .ne ooor' OUT OF wnicn came
hns, ha,;,.s. ,,.., 'ne nt,ie goioen haired
s,.,.,s s,,ss,.,e,,.'.. oah "ao eyeo .ne
L..
sha-.as q, mss muen Iurroweo put
suo"eu Is quiA.cai expression OF the I'M
Ss nuos. anu sun more uncon-
ss.oS ,is is ohe was eiaa IN oar.
sS, u qualn.' oio-Iasnioneo
VI uansuiaF cut plhheo ABOUT her
sa ~
an. am .rom .he aeralo, pesan the visit
OF. Win no nope OF coneealing his Identity
~.u . Issoite 70 pe very frank
Amsosateiy ING oio iaoy grew riSlo sne
poln.eo one tnin hano to the door. and with
mapping eyes sne repheo: linen there's
the door, and the sooner you get out
through 1t the better.
Inns reception was met with smile In
tended to disarm hostility.
And, went on the woman angrily, ITS
Just a. well for you my son Jimmy's not
mere, because he told me this mornin he'd
/ Jet blood out of the next newspaper editor
that came here"
Not knowing 'Jimmy's" hours. this was
not reassuring. and was less so when she
went on: Jimmy may happen in any time,
and If he catches you here 1t will be mighty
bad for you"
JIMMY" WAS NOT
REMEBERED AS REpRF.sENTED
IT..
c.hhs aion .he sehiai MIS- wigs OF the
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22
Man Who Accepted
"Dooley' Stamp Design.
He Is the Third Assistant Postmaster
General and Declines to Alter the
misunderstanding of Bonds and
BANK Bills.

Those imaginative persons who see in
the portrait OF the father of his country.
on the new 2-cent postage stamp. a likeness
to Mr.. Dooley. and who congratulate them
selves that their timely ridicule has irfIu-
enced the Post Office Department TO with
draw the stamp. rejoice too soon.
1t Is true that new design is to be SUBJ
stituted for the old one; but 1t Is the inten-
ton Of the Post Office Department. while
aiming at more clearly engraved plate.
and less crowded design. to retain the
portrait, Dooley or no Dooley.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
Pun the rhyming invitations to one of the
new ideas for entertaining at home-a no.
menclature party.
The invitation promises jolly game, and
the invitee who accepts with that expecta-
tion is not disappointed. OF course, any day
and date may be substituted for those used
in the rhyme.
Each guest on arriving, is given little
homemade blank book covered with channels
and having the title Nomenclature: A
Treatise by -" embroidered upon 1t In
scarlet floss. This book is used in some OF
the contests and is retained when the games
are over as a souvenir.
For the first contest all players draw their
chairs together, forming ring. and each
person in the company is asked TO give his
or her Christian name.
Each competitor writes down in his note
book the Christian names Of all those pres
ent, including his own. He then writes OPP
posite each name its meaning. If this Is
known to him. Thus:
Georgia. husbandman.
Margaret-A pearl, a daisy.
Susanne-A lily
Robert-Bright in fame.
While this puz.ling il going on among
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22

arrest was such an unusual occurrence that
1t caused no little commotion.
The Jimmy of the story is a fictitious
name, and the model for Mrs. Wiggs tod
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-22
A NOMENCLATURE PARTY LENTEN
GAME THAT WILL BE FOUND DiVERTING.

Fray let US see You, hale and hearty,
Next Thursday at our Naming Party.
The Twenty Fifth. at half-past eight
We hope you're free that hour and date
Name. name, What's in a name?
AT least We hope a Jolly game.
Come and try 1t. Don't forget.
Rainy, shiny. dry or wet
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-06
WOULD DIE BY COCAINE.
". FL. Uniting Tries to HurJ Him
self from WindOzC.

William H whiting who has lived for the last
few months at the Putnam House. No. 81 Fourth
ave, tried to commit suicide yesterday morning by
taking cocaine and then by throwing himself from
a window.
Whiting went to his the top floor OF the
Putnam House yesterday and took a great quantity
of cocaine It at once crazed him and according
TO the police, into the corridor. frantical
ly stabbing himself in the face with the hypodermc
needle. His cries attracted of the porters, who
called in a policeman.
When Whiting the officer he to the end
OF the corridor and tried to jump out of the win
dow. As he half way out the policeman
seized him by the right arm, but, not until the
porter to his aid. could he pull the drug
crazed man back. While the porter held Whiting
his bed Silverbauer called ambulance from
Bellevue. A doctor responded, and succeeded in
counteracting the effects OF the poison. The po-
liceman found a bottle half full of cocaine in
Writings He said that Whiting admitted
having used the cocaine and declared he wished
die. whiting removed to the prison ward
at Bellevue The doctor says that he undoubtedly
saved his own life by his ruShes Up ami down the
hall and his struggles with the porter and patrol
man, his violence overcoming the influence OF the
drug.
At the hospital Whiting said that he was the
the Racquet and Tennis Club No q West Forty
third-st. 1t said there last night that he was
out. although it was admitted that be had been
there Wednesday. At the Schuyler apartment
house. No. 81 West FortY-tifth-st., where Arthur
Whiting had apartments, il said that he had
left that place some time ago, and was thought TO
be out of town with his family.
Whiting reported last night not in
dangerous condition The doctors at Bellevue said
it seldom drives a man to such violent actions the
first time il is used.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-06
ACCUSED OF OPENING LETTERS.
Retired School Teacher Said to Have Driven
Out Doctors Wife.

Miss Rosa Moore. a retired school teacher. sixty
years old, appeared before Magistrate Crane in the
Harlem police court yesterday. in answer to a sum-
mons secured by the young wife of Dr.. Walter II.
Maynard, OF No. 20 West Fifty-hfth-st. Mrs
Maynard alleged that Miss Moore opened her let
ters She also declared that the old had
hypnotized her husband and had run the house
with such high hand that she was forced to leave
it and 60 TO her mother. at No. 427 East One-hun-
dred-and-t twenty irst-st
i went 10 the house several times to get my
mail" she said. land found that my letters had
been opened, I suspected that Miss Moore opened
them. l consulted my lawyer. and he advised me
to write a decoy letter. He then wrote it for me
and mailed it,
Mrs. Maynard showed the letter TO Magistrate
crane II read: When you open this you will be
caught"
Il went to the house early the next morning"
continued Mrs Maynard, and got to my old room
without being detected. When the postman
he delivered the letter Miss Moore took il. When
the postman had gone she went down into the
basement. I had slippers on. and followed her.
rushed IN and grabbed the letter"
MISS Moore denied having opened the letter in
Maynard,
I always put them the manteIpiece so she
could get them; declared Miss Moore.
4 believe Mrs. Maynards statement that you
opened this letter" said Magistrate Crane. You
trouble wherever you went. You have no business
TO open other peoples mail I going TO place
you in charge Of my probation officer for two
months 10 see II you can't behave yourself"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-06
GRIEvED OVER SONS ARREST.
Father Dies Because of Worry Over 1t, 1t
Is Declared.

Thomas Redmond. ST.. died yesterday in his home,
No. 64 Prospect-st., Brooklyn, and it is thought
his death was due to grief and worry over the
rest Of his son. Thomas Redmond. jr., who was
taken in custody by the police suspicion that he
might have been implicated in the death of Gustave
Brown, who lived in Bridge-st
Young Redmond. James Murray and Charles Hob
bin, who live at No "a PrOspect-st., arrested
on Sunday night after it was found that Brown
had died from a fractured skull. Brown had been
drinking a little Saturday night. He found
midnight at Adams and Sands SITS, apparently
under the influence of liquor, but. learned
afterward, suffering from fracture of the
skull lie was locked up in the Fulton-sJ station,
and in the Adams-st. court. Brooklyn in the morn
ing. sentence was suspended. He went to Manhat-
tan and collapsed He removed TO the Hudson
Street Hospital. where he died Sunday night.
1t then discovered that he had died from a
fractured skull.
The police of the Fulton-st station heard that
Brown had been knocked down, and the three
young men were arrested on suspicion. They denied
that they had been seen in Browns company but
were committed to Raymond Street Jail in default
of bail. Magistrate Tighe, in committing them, said
that unless some evidence connecting them with
Browns death was presented by to-day, he would
discharge them.
his father whose favorite he was. and he declared
to neighbors that It crime to accuse his son
of so foul and offence as murder. lie knew, he
declared. that his innocent. On Tuesday
night placing his hand over his heart, he said
had an intense pain. and thought his days
numbered. He fell from the chair and his head
struck the edge Of the stove cutting his fore
head slightly. Yesterday morning his condition be-
came serious. and he died before the arrival of
ambulance from the Brooklyn Hospital An hour
later his son, who had been bailed out, walked
into the house. to find his father dead and the
family around his bedside praying The young
collapsed or hearing the news
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-06
MAD CAT TEARS woMAN's FACE.
Policeman Kills Animal After a Lively
Chase in House

A mad Maltese cat made life interesting and full
of excitement for half hour for Mr. and Mrs.
George Wolf, of No 252 West Sixteenth-st.. last
evening
Mr.. Wolf who is a butcher had finished his sup
per and started 20 read the evening papers in the
front of his home Mrs Wolf sat on the
opposite side of the centre table. mending some
garments. The cry of the cat reached the ears of
Mrs. Wolf and she arose. saying that the cat had
been acting strangely all day, and it might be
hungry.
Mrs. Wolf left the room and got saucer of milk
for the cat and brought it into the dining room.
the rear of the room where she had been sitting
A scream from his wife. yeowl from the cat and
the sound of the saucer SCATTERING on the hardwood
In the dining room he found his wife vainly trying
to remove the cat from her face. The animals
claws were sunk in her cheeks and the cat was
tearing at her face with its teeth. Mr. Wolf
grasped the cat by the back of the neck. and
carrying it the door of the kitchen adjoining the
dining room hurled it 10 the floor at the other side
of the
ering with fury. darted back through the dining
into the front room. 4 lively chase followed
at the close of which the cat driven into and
locked in the kitchen. Policeman Joseph Hellman
OF the West Ihrtieth-st. station, summoned
and cautiously opening the door OF the kitchen
After the first shot the animal sprang al the pO-
liCemans face. He interpOsed his arm and the cat
ripped MS coat sleeve The policeman gripped the
cat by the neck and threw 1t against the wall
Wolfs had their wounds cauterzed by a local ply
stefan