davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Lacemakin1.

The birth Of lacemaking dates back
to the days Of Greek maidens who
watched the spider make it's web and
copied the pattern with fine threads Of
fax. The art has developed to the
point of producing brussels point.
which is SO delicate in texture that the
dryness Of the air makes the threads
brittle; therefore the makers Of the
finest kinds have to work in damp Gel
lars, using magnifying glasses, On the
altar: cloths and vestments Of the
church will be seen the most beautiful
Of the old rose point as it was made by
the nuns in their convent cells and ded-
fcated to the use of the church. Every
one is familiar with the painting sof
"Queen Bess. the Dress Lover" which
shows her with high, ruff1es: embroid-
cred with seed pearls. The portraits Of
Queen Charlotte display this keenest of
lace lovers in hoops of balloon-lik
founces of her priceless lace. Queen
Victoria preferred to lay away in laven-
der boxes the piles Of inherited laces..
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Parnell's Eyes.

"Anent your allusion to the color OF
Parnells eyes," writes a lady CORE.
spondent, many years ago a young
girl passed a man on the staircase of
the Railway hotel, Westport. Ireland
There was tragedy written all over
him. So uncommon were the mans
eyes that they made clear to the girl a
phrase in Shakespeare she had never
before understood, Eyes like carbun.
cles.' The girl joined her friends dhd
said, 4 have seen a man with eyes
the color of a solid mounted carbuncie.'
The late Captain Boycott, who was one
Of the party, said, Then you have seen
Parnell, for he is the only man I know
with eyes that answer to that. and it is
not likely to be he. for if he were in
this neighborhood he would be at New
port House. The party Travelled to
Dublin by the evenings mail train.
At Mullingar Parnell got into the same
carriage and sat opposite the writer,
who wrote on the margin Of the paper
she was reading, The man 1 saw in
the hotel and passed it to Captain
Boycott, who returned it with the add
ed words, 1T is Parnell.' "-London M.
A, P,
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
4 stranne Pirate atoirx,

In the museum at Kingston, Jamai-
ca, there are some tattered ships pa.
pers, brown with age and salt water,
and small tin canister. These articles
attest the truth of the strangest pirate
story ever told. # St s:55. .ss1
In 1899 the crew Of the Nancy brig
were apparently honest traders, but
did some piracy now and then on the
side. One day they found it necessary
to 60 into Kingston for supplies. Be
fore doing So they naturally removed
all traces of their buccaneering trade.
Among other things they threw over.
board this tin canister stuffed with pa.
pers taken from ships they had sunk,
with comments written on the margin
by the pirate captain. ..~... -
Later in the day a British frigate was
becalmed near the spot. and the sailors
spent their leisure catching sharks.
Presently they hauled up a big fellow,
cut him open and found the tin case
with the papers inside. These were
taken to the captain, who as soon as a
breeze sprung up sailed into Kingston
harbor, found the Nancy brig there and
had the crew tried, convicted and
hanged in chains at Port Royal.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
A Swinburne story.

<'Algernon Charles Swinburne, the
poet, tells how when a schoolboy at
Elton he found himself once in the same
railway carriage with the head master,
DR.. Goodford, who was grimly reading
a newspaper. Mr.. Swinburne's father,
who did not know the peculiar shrink
ing Of august head masters from
strange parents, interfered with the
reading by asking DR.. Goodford's opin-
ion Of Algernon Charles. Now" con-
tinues Mr.. Swinburne. "as a matter Of
fact DR.. Goodford had never set eyes
on me and probably did not even know
Of my existence: but, enraged, l sup
pose, at my fathers rather unconven-
tional interruption, which he no doubt
considered slight on his dignity, he
glanced down at me with scarlet face
and said deliberately, Your boy, sir
your boy is one of the very worst in
SCHOOL,! and then intrenched himself
once more behind his newspaper" It
was no use for Algernon Charles to pro-
test that DR.. Goodford did not even
know him by sight. "Do you think"
retorted Swinburne senior, that l am
going to take your word before that of
your head master?" So there were no
junketings for Swinburne junior in the
Christmas holidays.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
French Leave.

The origin Of the phrase French
leave" is traced back to- q custom be,
gun in France and Initiated ia Eng
land, common enough In the eight
&eenth century, Of going away from a
social gathering without taking formal
leave Of host and hostess. :
This is abundantly clear from two
extracts written in Its. The first is
from Chesterfeld's principles Of Po-
likeness" ''As the taking what Is call
ed French leave was introduced that
on one persons leaving the company
the rest may not be disturbed, looking
at your watch does what that piece of
politeness was designed to prevent"
So also Jekyll: French etiquettes
are precise to degree. I will allow
that taking French leave is easy and
natural; but, on the contrary, there is
more formality in entering one assem-
bly, here than in taking the round of
routs for whole winter in London"
AS disclaimer to this derivation the
French, on their part, have the phrase,
use retirer a PAnglaise''-"to take Eng
lish leave'-with the same significance.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
A Treuhlesome Ant

In the state of Colombia there is a
large ant (Atta cephalotes) which
causes a great deal of injury to planta-
tons. 1t attacks and carries of indis-
criminately all kinds Of foliage, and no
sort of vegetation seems to come amiss
to it. The quantity Of foliage carried
off by these ants is immense. A natu-
ralist recently investigated the uses to
which the ants put this mass Of vege-
table matter, and he ascertained that
they employ it to make hotbeds upon
which their eggs are deposited to be
hatched by the heat produced by the
fermentation of the leaves. The ants do
not eat these portions for food, and the
larva are fed upon a carefully selected
diet. Once the brood is Matched the
ants clear: away the hotbed, carrying
out Of their nest all the decomposed
vegetable matter. This is thrown out
in heaps apart, and in the large ant
hills these heaps will contain bushels
and upward. :~ =
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Provisions From Trees.

There is a tree which grows in Su-
matra. Algeria and China which is
known as the vegetable tallow tree
From its fruit large quantities of oil
and tallow are extracted. and the fruit
is gathered in November or December.
when all the leaves have fallen. Excel
lent candles are made from the berries
of tree which grows in some parts of
South Africa and the Azores.
At Sierra Leone is found the cream
fruit tree, the fruit of which is very
agreeable in taste. In Ceylon there is
the breadfruit tree, from which a food
is made in the same way that we make
bread. 1t is said to be equally good
and nutritious. In South America we
find the milk tree.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
A Costly Cure.

The hydrinus, or serpentine, called in
Italy ranocchia, or frogskin. from its
mottled appearance, stone Of a rich,
dark green color, with shades and spots
resem bling a serpent's skin, is popular
ly believed to be a specific for rheuma-
tisn.
Camille Leonardo. one of the earliest
authorities to describe carefully the
virtues of precious stones, thus quaint
ly speaks Of it: 1T restores such suffer-
ers to health if they will stand in the
sun. holding 1t in the hand for three
hours, as it causes the discharge Of all
the poisonous moisture in the body"
Great care, however, must be taken, he
warns us, in using it, as it tends at the
same time to abstract the natural mois-
ture of the body.
Ground to powder and taken in
wardly, it is said to cure the stone and
venomous bites, and in particular it is
potent charm to drive away serpents
of all sorts.
Though soft enough to be easily cut
or turned, serpentine admits Of high
polish and Is much priced for orna-
mental purposes.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Profits Of a Blockade Runner.

ErOutS Oh n 04OCka0e Hunner.
Hobart Pasha during his adventurous
career took part in the American civil
war under the name of Captain Rob-
erts as blockade runner. He had an
exciting time, and many of his escapes
were truly marvellous. as described in
his book, ''Never Caught" According
to his statement, forty ships were cap
tured out Of sixty-six that left England
and New York to run the blockade
during the war. Some idea of the prof
it's may be formed from the fact that
women's stays bought in England for
13 pence sold in Wilmington. one of the
principal blockade running ports. for II
shillings, and cotton bought at two
pence pound in Wilmington sold for
half crown pound. The number of
ships captured does not give an ade-
quate idea = of the loss sustained, as
many were burned, sunk or run ashore
to prevent them from falling into the
hands of. the cruisers.-Chambers' Jour
Il
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Tartans of Scotch Clans

Many Scotch clans have several tar
tans, such as common tartan. hunt
ing tartan and full dress tartan. Ear
ly in the day highlander of position
dons a kilt Of plain tartan. and in the
evening for dinner he puts on his full
dress tartan, with sporran and richly
jeweled dirk. For example, the Mac
pherson dress tartan is black and
white, with a narrow red line, and the
hunting Macpherson is small blue
and black and red check. The Stuarts
have three tartans, and the design Of
their hunting: tartan in dark blue and
green is particularly fine. Each clan
has it's own badge. The Duff men wear
holly. the Gordons an ivy leaf, the
Stuarts an oak leaf. and so on.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
A Welsh LeHend.

In Wales there is legend of Irish
smugglers who arrived at Llanddona
many years ago in boat without rud-
der or oars. They we're looked upon.
according to the Irish custom of send
ing malefactors to a sea doom in this
plight, as outlaws. However, they had
been allowed to land. and a spring of
water bursting forth in the sand at the
place was taken as a sign Of their right
to refuge. But they i'll repaid the
Welsh. The men lived by smuggling,
the women by witchcraft. 1t was not
possible to overcome the smugglers in a
fray. for each carried about with him
black fly tied in a knot of his ker-
chief. and the moment the knot was
undone the fly flew at the eyes Of the
opponents and blinded them. If the
Llanddona witches attended a market
and bid for anything no one ventured
to bid against them.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Breton and Welsh.

Proof that the people Of Wales and
the people Of Brittany, in France come
from the same parent stock is given ev-
cry autumn when Breton boys go over
to England to sell onions from their
home fields. In Cornwall and Wales
their native speech is readily under
stood. Armorican, the old language of
Brittany, the ancient Cornish and
Welsh-and for that matter Erse and
Gaelic-are all closely allied languages.
members Of the Celtic group. Breton
and Welsh are very much alike.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30

A Crash Of Colors,

II can stand lot" said the artist,
"but there are times when my patience
is'sorely tried.
"The other evening went into a res
taurant where the walls are tinted a
soft red, most pleasing to the eye. It is
place frequent not so much because
the cooking Is good as that it has a
most restful color scheme. I had been
having hard time at the studio, and !
felt the need Of little relaxation. The
band was playing seductive air, and
I was feeling at peace with the world
when CHANGED to look across the
room. and my evening was spoiled fol-
me completely.
There against the red background
was a woman in glaring blue waist
slipping a creme de menthe Of vivid
green under hat of a most assertive
shade Of yellow!'-New York Press.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Daniel Webster's Wit

When a lad Daniel Webster was one
day called up by the teacher for pun.
ishment. His hands happened to be
very dirty. Knowing this, he wet the
palm Of his right hand, wiping it off or
the side Of his pantaloons. ''Give me
your hand" said the teacher very stern.
~. Out went the right hand partially
cleansed. The teacher looked at it a
moment and said, Daniel, if you will
find another hand in this room as soiled
as that l will let you off this time" In.
stantly came from behind his back his
left hand. "Here it ISL was the ready
reply. ''That will do," said the teacher
For this time you can take your seat
sir!'
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
The First English Slave Trader

The First English Slave Trader,
Sir John Hawkins was the first Eng
lish slave trader. He formed a COM
pany composed of the leading men of
London and fitted out three small ships,
which sailed in 1862. Later Queen
Elizabeth lent Hawkins Jesus, a large
ship Of her own Of 700 tons, and took
shares in the second African company.
She not only equipped the ship, but put
100 soldiers on board to provide for
contingencies. On the second voyage
Hawkins bought 400 negroes and had
a narrow escape from losing them ow-
ing to the lack OF water when he was
near the equator. But, as he piously
recorded in his log, "The Almighty God
would not suffer his elect to perish and
sent breeze which carried them safe
to Dominica" This was the beginning
Of the slave trade, which lasted for
more than two centuries before it was
finally suppressed.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
A Curious Wedding Present.

Among: the Brass river tribes of
west Africa when a young couple get
married it is the custom for the old
est member Of the brides family to
present the bride with a plot of ground
six feet long. This is for the grave
Of her family and herself when they
die.
The first member Of the new family
who dies is buried about twenty feet
below ground and the next one almost
sixteen feet, and this goes on until all
the family die and are buried. The
grave holds them all, and this. they
think, prevents them from being sep.
arated.
This grewsome wedding present is
the one most valued by the bride. the
favorite native saying being, "When
all other things are gone this re.
MAINS"
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Beauty and the Beast,

There was as much truth as boasting
in the statement Of John Wilkes, the
famous London alderman, "Ugly as
am, if I can have but quarter of an
hours start will get the better of any
man, however good looking, in the
graces of any woman"
OF Wilkes abnormal ugliness there
was never any question. "The children
in the street ran away affrighted at the
sight Of him.
And yet his powers Of fascination
were so great that women of beauty
and fashion wed with each other for
his notice, while handsome men of all
courtly graces were neglected.
1t was said that there were few beau-
ties of the day whose hand Wilkes
might not have confidently hoped to
win. He married one of the richest
and loveliest women Of his time
Beauty and the beast, they call US"
Wilkes once said to friend, land I
cannot honestly find fault with the de-
scripton."
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Quaint Holland CuatAma.

They have quaint customs in Hol-
land. One of these is placing the laun-
dry at the top of the house. The
clothes are sent away to be washed
and bleached. and when they are re.
turned they. are drawn up to the laun,
dry by means Of pulley and dangle
for time right in the drawing room
windows, to the infinite delectation of
the guests. But, as an offset to this
peculiarity, the bathroom-when there
is a bathroom, which is not often-is
placed in the cellar. 1t is the dry Gel
lar, where potatoes and such things
are stored, and the tub is an immense
iron thing. with cover that is di-
vided into halves.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Fran1xlin's Fate Pref1cured.

The fate of Franklin, the explorer
was unwittingly prefgured, and on
the eve of his starting on his last voy-
age. at the hands of his own devoted
wife. AS he lay doing on sofa Lady
Franklin threw something over his
feet,5,on which he awoke in consterna,
ton saying: *'N'hy. there's a flag
thrown over me: Don't you know that
they lay the union jack over q corpse Y'
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
The Barcelona Family.

Tne bareOOne Family.
The celebrated name Of Praise God
Barebone was borne by a member of
the Cromwell parliament called togeth-
er after the dissolution Of the Long par
lament In 1853. The royalists called
the assembly "Barebones' parliament" !"
At the time when General Monk was in
London Barebone headed the mob that
presented a petition to parliament
against the recall Of Charles II. OF the
Barebone family there were three
brothers. each Of whom had a sentence
for a name-Praise God Barebone,
Observation-Disclosures we Bare
bone and If-Christ-had not. .died-thou-
hadst-been-damned Barehone. 49,.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Pascal's Early Observation,

Blaise Pascal, who wrote a remark.
able treatise on the laws Of sound. was
constantly observing the familiar oc.
currences about him even as a boy
When he was only ten years old he sal
at the dinner table one day striking
his plate with his knife and then listen
ing to the sound.
"What are you doing with that plate
Blaise?" asked his sister.
"See," he replied. when l strike
the plate with my knife it rings
Harkv'
Again he called forth the sound.
when I grasp it with my hand so,'
he continued, "the sound ceases.
wonder why it is."
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Ii Century
We publish during the opening
year asdaring and unique piece
Of historical writing, namely
The Youth of Washington
Told in the form Of an
Autobiography by =5
DR.. 5. Weir Mitchell. IL. D.
Author of s'Hugh Wynne."

Dr. Mitchell, in whose famous "Hugh
Wynne" General Washington appeared
as character Of the novel, with gen.
erai m acceptation, and whose address in
Philadelphia on February %, 1903.
showed strong imaginative sympathy
with his subject, has made an exhaus-
tive study of the heredity, circum-
stances, and events which fitted the
son of q Virginia planter for one of
the greatest careers in history. DR..
Mitchell imagines Washington sitting
down at Mount Vernon in his old age
and recording, solely for his own eve,
the story of his youthful life and the
Influences that affected it for good or
ILL.," The author has so fully entered
into the habit of9mind of Washington
that it is impossible for the ordinary
reader to separate, in the text the pas
sages taken out of his actual writings
from those which DR.. Mitchell imax-
ines him to write. N o one can read
this record without obtaining a new
and vivid sense of the personality of
ashington and of the remarkable ex-
Perlences which made him the man for
the hour and for all time.
"The tinted illustrations testify. to
the steady progress of an art With
must IN the end make the magazine of
more permanent and vital interest,""
10 New York Bookseller, Newsdealer
and Stationery.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
The Largest Domes.

Some of the largest domes in the
world are the Pantheon at Rome,e 142
feet diamater, 143 high; baths of Cara
Gala, Rome, ~112 feet diameter, 116 feet
high; st. Sophia, Constantinople. lis
feet diameter, POI feet high; st. Maria
delle Fure, Florence, 139 feet diameter,
$40 feet high; st. Peters, Rome, 139
feet dian1ster. $50 feet .high:SSt. Paurs,
London, E112 feet diameter, 215 feet
high. ~.r-
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Mark Twain and Whistler

Mark Twain and Whistler.
Mark Twain thus described his first
meeting with James MacNeill Whistler:
II was introduced to Mr.. Whistler"
he said, lin his studio in London. l
had heard that the painter was an in
corrigible joker. and was determined
to get the better of him if possible So
at once I put on my most hopelessly
stupid air, and I drew near the canvas
that MIR. Whistler was completing.
"That amt bad,' l said-'it amt
bad; only here in this corner'-and l
made as If to rub out a cloud effect
with my 6nger-'1'd do away with that
cloud if was you
"Whistler cried nervously:
"'Gad, sir, be careful there! Don't
you see the paint is not dry?'
"'Oh, that don't matter said I. I've
got my gloves on
"We got on we'll together after that
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Michael ANGELO.

Michael Angelo, while painting ''The
Last Judgment" fell from his scaffold
and received painful injury in the
leg. He shut himself up and would not
see any one. Bacio Rontini. a cele-
brated physician, came by accident to
see him. He found all the doors closed.
No one responding, he went into the
cellar and came upstairs. He found
Michael Angelo in his room, resolved
to die. His friend the physician would
not leave him. He brought him out of
the peculiar frame Of mind into which
he had fallen.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
A GIud Caller.

G1ud Caller.
Mistress-Did any one call while 1
was out, Jane?
Jane-Yis. mum. Wan gintlemin wus
afther calm, mum. r~
Mistress-What was his name?
Jane-Moike O'Rafrerty,: mum, an he
wus as glad to foind yez out as he wus
to foind me in, Orm thinkin', num-
Philadelphia Telegraph.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Her Modest wish.

Sometimes, >" said the poet. 81 al
most get to thinking, would rather
have been born rich than genius.
"Oh, dear. w. his wife replied, II don't
60 to such extrayagant extremes. II
you'd only been born with a longing
to- 80 out and get job somewhere I'd
be satisfied" Chicago Record Herald
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
The Price OF Experience.

The Price of Experience.
What did you buy with that money
your uncle left your ~. &, IT,
II bought experience" was the rue
full reply. ...-
Spend it all for that?'' Il,
my dear sir, l never was much on
bargain day affairs, and the ordinary
price Of experience is all that you've
got."-Chicago Post. ~'-% ~""e..,
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
A Substitute.

Pardon me, gentlemen" said the in.
divldual who had just moved into the
little town as he entered the grocery
store, but is there a chicken raiser
hereT' - 81. 81. H.. >s..,..- - III. /,
Why don't you take an ak: asked
the village Talleyrand. "A razor will
lose it's edge If you use it on chicken >
Judge. ~ I'D u. -. 4 5r4l3a% s
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Deeds, Not Words.

Deeds, Not Words.
I. Father (sternly)-Didn,t I tell you II
any Of the other boys said anything to
make. you angry you should count
twenty before you said anythingl
Tommy-Yes, sir, but didn't need to
say anything. Before I'd counted
twelve the other boy yelled "Enoug ghw
- philadelphia Press. II, XII sfs
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30

The Story Needed Con aynlation. s& M
George. did YOU know that / was
going to marry your sister?' r. H Is Z,
3s We'll, Wei, heard her say so. bat she's
3t had that h idea about-se many other fell
lers that didn't feel shres about 1t till
yeu told nae. -Brook klyn Life
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Business View Of Health.

"Old fellow. you ought to eat, more
{ fruit: .,, It's 9 cheaper than paying doctor
But ! don't have to pay any doctor
bills as It is. am never sick" +< .:...> ".
That may be, but If you'd eat more
fruit you would be able to draw diyi-
dends on your, health. Chicago Trib-
une. -'-~ $50 ~ +
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Their ,First Falline Ont.

The speeding trains came together
with dull, sickening thud. A moment
later the happy pair sat facing each
other in the cornfield far away.
"Well, what are you crying for?'
asked the man. The lady wept anew.
: "It-it. is our first falling out" she
ssobbed.-Cincinnati Commercial Trib-
rno H.r'r. >" b.
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
TryinT Them On

Tr11n6 Them On. . y !
my new play is sure. to make a hit =,
said al the emiaent actress. TT gives md
an opportunity to show twenty superb
gowas.'' =. .'szg,.:.....$$ tnS'
Gracious. how many scenes do you
appear imp @stt %s.y -: <<$F.'.., q
... Only five, but ene of. thens a scene
at the dressmakef s:''Esy@ y K K: .ts.t.... N
Mower County transcript., 1903-12-30
Brazilian Coffee.

Brazillans are great coffee drinkers.
Numerous cups are drunk each day by
the average man and woman. The
beverage is. made very strong and very
sweet. 1t produces an exhilaration of
a more intense and lasting kind than
beer. Those addicted to this habit be.
come very restless and scarcely able
to sit still or stand still even for a mo-
ment