davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04

teal cession in rerpetuity of the strip to
the United States for canal purposes and
Incidental police control aud protection
Of the canal right of way. The treaty
goes to the Senate for ratifcs ton.
The estimated cost % completing the
Panama canal is $144 233 1858. The total
length of the Nicaragua canal route is
1896 miles; that of Panama 1900. 1t
will take a steamship of the average
size and speed twelve hours to pass
through the Pislama canal if one with
locks is constructed. or four hours if the
canal is at sea level.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04
FRETTING DOES NO GOOD.

BY Rev. L. a. CraudaH.
The psalmist did not undertake to
write a don't worry book, he said.
He had trouble and did not hesitate to
say so We cannot imagine him 60
ing around with wooden smile on
his face d. claring thar night Is day
and that there is no such thing as evil.
What he did advise was that we
should not fret ourselves because Of
the prosperity of the wicked. He does
not undertake TO give all of the rea-
sons for abstinence from fretting, but
contents himself with saying that the
wicked shall be cut off from the earth.
Out of our own experience we can
add to the argument by declaring that
it does not do any good TO fret. The
prosperity of the wicked is not de-
creased nor our prosperity Increased
by fretting. We eXpend nervous force
for nothing when we fume and worry
about the success of bad people.
Then David advances a little and
tells us to trust in God and do good
No apologist for laziness is David. He
does not propose that man shall lie
down and do nothing in the name of
trust in God. The man that has real
faith in God will bestir himself; will
put his hand to the work of life by
which his fellow men are helped. In
this doing of Gods work he viii find
delight in God. Happiness does Ilt
come from that which the world calls
success. 1t is to be found in living as
God would have us, in helping to make
the world better. The man who pa
tiently works to cheer the faint-heart-
ed. to help the weak, to make life more
worthy, win have neither time nor in
clination for fretting.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04
1I57[SIz = POPULAR
KfN y PULPIT

on the farm. Walk through the place
and you may see beauty; go into the
garde5l and you will see the spot made
attractive by the farmers best work.
If the garden OF Gods universe is
more beautiful than the mountains
and stars and oceans of this world,
there is attraction for me in the para
disc of God,
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04
New York Was Third.

New York was not always the first
city of America. In 1870 Philadelphia
had population of 1900; Boston,
11.500, and New York 5000. Twerty
years later Philadelphia's population
had risen to $4,000, Bcston's to 1900
and New York's to 10000. In 1890
the Quaker city still led with 44,000
New York had jumped into second
place with $4,000, while Boston stood
at 5000.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04
AID There Are Ofhers.

Swiggs Somehow ! have failed to
meet with any success in my under
takings.
Briggs easily accounted for.
Swiggs Well. what's the answer?
Brlggs-Too many bars In your way.
Chicago News.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04
Beware of Oiutments for Catarrh that
fanfaFn

rs mercury will surely destroy the sense Of
smell and completely derange the whole system
when entering 1t through the mucous surfaces.
Such articles should never be used except on
prescriptions from reputable physicians. as the
damage they will do Is tenfold to the good you
can possibly derive from them. Halls Catarrh
Cure, manufactured by +. j. Cheney & Co, Tole-
do, g contains no mercury. and Is taken inter-
nally, acting directly upon the blood and mu-
couS surfaces of the system. In buying Halls
CatarFh Cure be sure you get the genuine. II Is
taken internally. and made in Toledo, Ohio. BY
F. j. Cheney & Co. Testimonials free.
e9y~Sold BY Druggists. price 75e. per botHs .
Halfs Family Pills are the best.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04
Refnre and Amor Mnrrinee.

when a fellow is in love with a
girl. observes IL cynical bachelor
''he says: / could listen to you for.
ever. After he marries her he has 10. 50
philadelphia Re- ord
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04
Po,.er from an Artesian Well

At ST. Augustine, Fla. is the only mill
in the world that getl its power direct
from an artesiau well.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04

Talking your enthusiasm to some
people is ike holding II under the
pump.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04
Hire You
Perfectly WeIl?

ARNOLD & DAVIS, with desire to give
his patrons the most reliable remedy, with the most
potent power of action and benefit, has secured
the agency for
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-02-04
Sick
BIO Od

Feed pale girls on SCOTS
Emulsion.
We do not need to give all
the reasons why SCOTS
Emulsion restores the strength
and flesh and color of good
health to those who suffer
from sick blood.
The fact that it is the best
preparation of Cod Liver Oil,
rich in nutrition, full of healthy
stimulation is a suggestion as
to why it does what it does.
SCOTS Emulsion presents
Cod Liver Oil at its best,
fullest in strength, least in
taste.
Young women in their
"teens are permanently cured
Of the peculiar disease of the
blood which shows itself in
paleness, weakness andnervous-
ness, by regular treatment
with SCOTS Emulsion.
1t is a true blood food and
is naturally adapted to the cure
of the blood sickness from
which so many Young women
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22

stftutton which firmly united the states
and made them q nation.
He was a member of the Episcopal
church, and evidently a great believer
at one time in prayer, as is evidenced
by numerous messages. One was:
The blessing and protection of heaven
are at all times necessary, but espe-
cially so in time Of public danger and
distress" He also said: Though l am
a member of the Church of England,
have no exclusive partialities." His
seat in the old church at Alexandria is
familiar to all visitors.
He died a little after II o'clock on
the night Of Saturday, Dec. IA, 1899,
from the effects of a cold caught
couple of days before while out riding
1t was a throat or lung trouble, vari-
ously named. The end was no doubt
fastened by the doctors bleeding him.
His last words were instructions not
to put his body in the vault for three
days. He was sixty seven years, nine
months and twenty-five days of age.
Singularly it was the last year of the
century, the last month of the year, the
last day Of the week, and the last hour
of the day.
AS man of letters his writings ap-.
pear in ''Maxims," published in 1895,
and in Transcripts of Revolutionary
Correspondence" published in 1834-7.
Ills 4lAc was NIIlleu ny sparks (IZ
vols.), Marshall 6 vols.). Irving 6
vols.), Lodge e vols.), Edmonds e
voIs.). Paulding e vols), Schroeder G
vols.), Upham q vols.) and single vol
ume histories by Bancroft, Abbott, Ev-
erett, Habberton, Ramsey (admired by
Lincoln when he was a boy). HeadIey
Sparks. Henley, Scudder, Townsend,
Irelan Cecil, Stoddard, Hale and Ford.
Weems wrote the first life and made
him Of superhuman excellence. Vari-
GUS volumes and numerous articles de-
voted to the Washington family's ca
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22

"A History of the Life and
Death, Virtues and Exploits of
General George Washington, DIED.
icated to Mrs. Washington, and
containing a great many curious
and valuable Anecdotes tending to
throw much light on the private
as we'll as Public Life and Char
acter of that Very Extraordinary
Man, the whole happily caLcu-
lated to furnish Feast of true
Washingtonian Entertainment and
Improvement, both to ourselves
and our children. Printed for the
Few. M. L. Weems."
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22

dedication which has been accredited
to him by the early writer's.
In this age of the iconoclaSt there
has been a revolt against this false,
unreasonable, and unscientific method
of writing the story OF one who was
the foremost man of his day, but not
a god. John Bach McMaster, in his
history of the United States, said:
Gen. Washington is known to us, and
President Washington; but George
Washington is an unknown man."
This was the Keynote, and so there
has been an, unWinding of the wrap
pings of wholesale eulogy, which has
find out his human side His latest
volumes), Edward Everett Hale and
to do this, and in a measure have sue
ceeded in revealing the home side OF
Washington And in so doing they
have shown his real greatness What
a man can. accomplish limited by the
infirmities of human nature, is a far
greater example to his countrymen
than if he possessed no such infirmi-
ties and was fashioned in perfection
even from BIRTH
The most famous story in Weems'
history is that of the cherry tree in
cident. Father Washington, seeking
to inspire George with an early love
of truth, told him that he would glad
ly assist in mailing him up in his little
coffin rather than to have hiT grow
up a boy who is given to lying. Here
is the original story, which is repro
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22
Photograph of Washington Relic Possession of Minnesota
Historical Society.

/ ones which so marred his expression
and gave rise to the universally ac-
cepted report that he never smiled.
The false teeth made him speak hollow
and indiStinctly.
When congress was discussing a til
tie for the first president a number OF
high flowing ones were proposed viz:
His Patriotic Majesty His Serene
Highness," etc. 1t is said Washington
favored His High Mightiness which
was the Hhrasef used by the stakeholder
of Holland. No official title was adopt
ed. but by common consent the presi-
dent is addressed as His ExceIlency."
During the constitutional conven~
ton, when a standing army was being
discussed, a member made a motion
that congress should be restricted to
an army not exceeding 5000 at any one
time. He, being chairman, could not
offer motion, and whispered to a
member near him to amend the motion
by providing that no foreign enemy
should invade the United States at any
one time with more than 1000 troops.
On July 8, 1899, he signed and dated
his will. To five Of his nephews he
left his swords, saying: These
swords are accompanied with the in
junction not to unsheath them for the
purpose of shedding blood, except il
be in self-defense or in the defense Of
your country and it's rights, and in the
latter case to keep them unsheathed,
and prefer falling with them in your
hands to the REIMBURSEMENT thereof
His orderly book at Morristown, dat
ed May 26, 1T77. has this order: Let
vice and immortality of every kind be
discouraged as much as possible, and
as a chaplain is allowed to each regi-
ment, see that the men regularly at
tend divine service. Gaming of every
kind is expressly forbidden, as being
the foundation of evil and the cause Of
many brave and gallant officers ruin.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22

Wefs' or Wash" meant a creek or
swallow river, setting in from the sea
Ing, meadow or low ground, and
tom for dun, hall or town, or the
town on the wash or salt river"
On his official visits to the meetings
OF congress he rode in a cream-coIoref1
coach ornamented with flowers and
Il2ures of Cupids supporting festcons
On ordinary occasions the coach was
Drawn by four horses; on great occa-
sions, as to congress, by six, and on
sundays by two. The driver and pos
lLlons wore liveries of white and
scarlet.
lie had four brothers and two sis
tefs, besides two brothers It
was one of the latter, Lawrence. by
VIII, that left the fine Mount Vernon
estate to George. 1t was with Law
renee that George had his only chance
10 leaVe the country by taking a trip
to the Barbados. Lawrence after
wards served as a captain in the Brit
iSh navy
As to public appointments, he wrote
In lls6: Il have never made an ap-
pointment from a desire to serve a
friend or relative"-an unselfishness
which John Adams criticised as as
Washington's hyper superlative pub
lie virtue and about which later sue
cessors had not the same scrupIes by
which the first president was distin
guished
From his sixteenth to his nineteenth
year he was surveyor. He was
only nineteen years of age W!Sn he
was appointed adjutant general, with
the rank of major, to inspect and ex-
ercfse the militia in one of the districts
into which Virginia was divided, in
view of the French encroachments and
indian depredations with which the
frontiers were threatened.
He is said to have had an inordihate
fondne5s for sweets, and it may have
been this indulgence that caused the
early loss of his teeth and the conse-
quent replacement by the clumsy false
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22

Games of exercise for amusement may
not only be permitted, but encour-
aged"
On May %, 1882, at Newburg, N. Y,
to Col. Lewis Nicolas suggestion that
he should take advantage Of the dis
content in the army and the dilatory
action OF congress and assume the
crown of America he sent stern and
indignant rebuke. concluding with:
Let me conjure you, if you have any
regard for your country, concern for
yourself or posterity, or respect for me-
to Danish these thoughts from youE
mind, and never communicate a senti-
ment of the like nature"
On Feb. II, 1888, he wrote from
Mount Vernon to Alexander Spotts-
wood. friend, saying among other
things: "The life of a huSbandman Of
all Others is the most delectable 1t is
honorable. it is amusing and with iu-
dIclous management, it is profitable
To see plants rise from the earth and
flourish by the supreme skill and boun-
ty OF the laborer fills the contemplative
mind with ideas which are more easy
to be conceived than expressed"
For time he wanted to be sailor,
and midshipman'S warrant was OBJ
tanned for him in his fourteenth year
to enter the British navy. His mother
so warmly opposed the project that he
ueClucu not 10 go. II is lQIe 10 con-
lecture what might or might not have
happened had he entered the British
navy. 1t is, however, quite safe to as
sumo that had he done so he would
never have been known as the Father
of His Country
His political party was known as
Federalfsts, and advocated in 1889
tariff; in 1870, internal revenue, a
United States bank, funding of the
public debt, assumption of state debts
and military organizations; in 1898,
sympathy with England. The Federal
lists brought about the change from the
articles of confederation which feebly
held together the states to the con-
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22
WEEMS' VERSION
OF RATCHET STORY
Parson 5 History Tells of
the Cherry Tree In
cid INT.

No public man was ever made
more complete saint of than Washing
ton. This was principally due to his
first biographers, the chief culprits Be
ing Weems and Sparks They had no
critical judgment and magnif1ed fairy
stories to make a perfect man of their
hero and subject. 1t was Rev. Mason
Locke Weems who created the ideal
Washington. Weems was born in Viz
ginia in 1852 and died in South Caro-
lima in 1925 He was educated for the
Episcopal ministry and preached oc
casionally at Powhick church, which
Washington attended. His main Occu-
patton was selling books, and he
preached and read prayers whenever
he had a chance. He could preach or
play the fiddle with equal satisfaction
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22

feer have been written, no less than
three by B. j. Losing.
1here are thirteen words on his cof-
m plate: Gen. George Washington.
Departed this life on the 14th Decem-
Der, 1899. Act, 68" He left a great
mass of manuscripts, in the form of
field notes, journals of daily doings and
correspondence, he having preserved
copies OF all important letters written
to others, which took much labor
Amont the earliest papers found in the
archives at Mount Vernon were les
sons written during his boyhood youth
Ihese are chiefly confined to exercises
IN arithmetic and geometry and are
remarkable for the neatness of the
handwriting, beautiful method, accu-
racy In the drawing of the geometricaI
h8ufes' altogether indicating a strong
preference for mathematical studies.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22

The book passed through many edf-
lions, first appearing as a pamphlet of
eighty-two pages, but it grew into a
bound volume of over 200 pages.
Weems had previously written a small
book of religious anecdotes, said to
have been mildly commended" by
Cen Washington, who always treated
the parson with kindness, entertaining
him at Mount Vernon when his travels
brought Weems into the neighbOrhood
Of his old home. His second venture
was the life of Washington, and it was
followed by lives of Franklin, Marion.
Penn, and by other volumes, most of
them religious.
On the title page Of his most noted
history Is a paragraph of testimony
from H. Lee, major general, army
\. 3, stating that the author has
treated this great subject with admir-
able success in a new way. He turns
all the actions of Washington to the
encouragement of virtue, by a careful
application of numerous eXemplifica-
lions drawn from the conduct of the
founder of our republic from his ear
Hest life"
The first anecdotes of Washington
after the episode of the cherry tree
are those relating to his feats Of
strength. He could stand on one bank
OF the Rappahannock and throw
stone across to the other-a feat which
has never since been surpassed. He
particularly delighted in breaking in
the most unruly horses, and it is told
or one whose heart he broke at the
same time by causing it to break a
pIood vessel in the violence of it's eX-
eftlonS. In wrestling and pitching
quo1ts he surpassed his companions
ana he carved his name high up on
the rock at the natural bridge 1t is
SAID, also, that he could-and fire.
quently did-lift a cask of cider bv
the chimes and drink out of the bung
hole These and like stories are fig
ments of Mr.. Weems' imagination. If
wing, in his life of Washington. cour-
teously designates Weems as the rev
erend historiographer," but whose
stories he studiously ignores.
The next offender in hiding the hu-
man side Of Washington was DR.. Jared
Sparks, once president of Harvard col
lege. He edited and published the
writings Of WaShington-who left a
vast quantity-and wrote his biog-
raphy, the whole filling twelve volumes.
Sparks however, had so little sense of
responsibility that he deliberately
amended such letters of Washington's
as he thought not good enough for a
perfect man, and in so doing changed
their meaning and thus DESTROYED their
value But it made washington from,
lbs youth to his last day perfect
man. Nor We're Marshall Give VOL
umes), irving Give volumes) and Ev-
erett Give VolumeS) less reluctant To
keep their hero on the pedestal IN
which he had been elevated They did
not, OF course, relate the silly stories
OF Weems. but they did not see anv
lmperfection in Washington's acts and
character, and to large degree the
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22
Facsimile of an Autograph Letter Writss.en in 1874

to plant the British flag upon the
smoking ruins of Fort Duquesne, Pitts
burg, Pa. This was the last active
service he performed as a British Off
Ger.
His remains lie by the side of his
wife, in vault at Mount Vernon, six,
teen miles down the Potomac from
Washington city. The structure is a
modest one and familiar in pictures to
most readers
His first inaugural address contained
1900 words, and the letter ~ appear.
ed twenty times. The second inaugu-
raj address contained 134 words, the
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22

to his hearers, and whenever the news
reached him that the people were as
sembling for fair or a revival service,
thither would Weems HE himself, with
his saddle bags full of books and his
violin over his neck. During his trav-
els in Virginia he heard stories Of
Washingtons early life and when
Washington died he Immediately in
corporated these and some others of
his own invention into a biography,
which was ISSUED by Matthew Carey,
the Philadelphia publisher, on Feb. %,
1900, little more than two months
after Washington's death. The title
of the volume was as follows:
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22

ton. son of John Augustine, Georges
youngest brother.
He was a STAKEHOLDER. owning at his
death 124 black people, who were to
become free at the death of his wife.
His favorfte was Billy Lee. his body
servant during the war. BILLY APP
pears in the family group painted by
Savage. He was disabled permanent
ly by an accident and could not join
his master during the presidency.
The name of Washington was de-
rived from Wessyngton or De Wes-
syngton, manor place of that name in
the county of Durham, England
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-22
How George Chopped the Tree.

How George Chopped the Tree.
"'Pa (sald George, very serious
iy), do I ever tell Iies?'
"'No, George, ! thank God you
do not, my son; I rejoice In the
hope you never will. At least you
shall never, from me, have cause
to be guilty of so shameful a thing.
Many parents, indeed. even COM
pei their children to this vile prac-
tice, by barbarousiy beating them
for every fault, hence, OF the next
offense, the little terrified creature
slips out lie just to escape the
rod. But as to yourself, George,
you know ! have always told you,
and now tell you again, that when
ever by accident you do anything
wrong, which must often be the
case, as you are but poor little
boy yet without experience or
knowledge, never tell faIsehood
to conceal 1t, but come bravely up,
my son, like little man, and tell
me of it; and instead of beating
you, George, | will but the more
honor and love you for it, my
dear
good seed! Yes, It was; and the
crop, thank God, was. as | believe
1t ever Will be, where a man acts
the true parent. that Is, the
Guardian Angel, by his child.
The following anecdote is
to be lost, and too true to be
doubted; for 1t was communicated
to me by the same excellent lady
to whom am indebted for the
last.
("An aged lady who was a dis
spent much of her time In the
famiIy.)
"'Wfnen George said she, was
about six years old, he was made
; the wealthy master OF Ratchet,
of which, like most little boys, he
was immoderateIy fond, and was
constantly going about chopping
everything that came in his way.
) One day, In the garden, where
he so often amused himself hack
; unluckiIy tried the edge of his
) Ratchet on the body of a beauti-
full young English cherry tree,
) which he barked so terribly that
] don't believe the tree ever got
) the better OF it.. The next morn
what had befaIIen his tree, which,
; by the by, was great favorite,
came Into the house. and with
much warmth asked fer the mis-
; chieVous author, declaring at the
same time that he would not have
body could tell him anything about
1t. Presently George and his
Ratchet made their appearance.
George said the father, do you
know who killed that beautiful lit
tie cherry tree yonder in the gar
denP This was a tough question,
and George staggered under 1t for
a moment, but quickly recovered
himself, and, looking at his father
with the sweet face of youth
frightened With the fnexpresslbIe
charm of aII-conquering truth, he
braVeIy cried out, 4 can't tell a
lie, pa, you know can't tell a lie.
| did it with my Ratchet run to
my arms, you dearest boy cried
his father In transports, run to
my arms; glad am |, George, that
you killed my tree; for you have
paid me for 1t thousand fold.
Such an act of s1eroIsm In my son
} Is worth more than a thousand
} trees, though biossomed with sill
yer, and their fruits of purest
SIT was In this way, by interesting
at once both his heart and head,
} that Mr.. Washington conducted
} George with great ease and pleas
ure along the happy paths of
} virtue"