davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-27
GLOVES FROM RAT SKINS.
A Popular Notion Without Founda.
tion IN Fact.

xt0u aCSs
A report comes from Copenhagen
that great rat hunt has been organ
i2ed there, and that the skins of many
thousands Of the victims are to be
used in making gloves. II the rat
hunters in the Danish capital cherish
any such hopes they are doomed to
disappointment. Rat skins cannot be
made into gloves At for commerce.
The belief that valuable raw mater
ial is being neglected here survives
only in the minds Of the inexpert. The
glovemaker knows much better. A
Norwegian merchant once came to
glovemaker that he had collected over
100, 900 rat skins, and was prepared to
receive offers for them. He was full
ly convinced that the skins were suita-
BILE for glovemaking. But the manu-
facturer found that the largest skin
was only some six inches long, and he
held up a kid skin for the smallest
size Of glove. child's, which was
eight inches long, and asked how he
was to cut such a glove out Of a rat
skin. Then he took up the smallest kid
skin for lady's glove, eleven inches
long, and when he asked how that was
to be cut out Of rat skin the Nor
wegian merchant laughed at the idea
and went away disappointed. The
best offer he got for those skins, which
he had collected with SO much care.
was five shillings hundred weight
from a man who was willing to boil.
them down for glue. A famous glove
making firm has collection Of curl
osities relating to the trade, and one
Of them Is the largest pair Of gloves
ever made out Of rat skin. The be-
| lief that such skins could be made in
to gloves was laid before the managers
SO confidently that they resolved to
put it to the trial, and they ordered
a number Of the skins Of the largest
rats which could be found in Grimsby.
But the rat is fighting animal, and
bears the marks Of many battles on
his body, and 1t was found that the
skins were 80 SCARED and torn that 1t
was with the utmost difficulty that
pieces large enough for the purpose
could be obtained. In the end; after
ten skins had been used, pair OF
gloves was cut and made, and they are
retained in the collection to this day.
But they are so small that they would
only fit the smallest Of small boys.
Thus 1t was shown that, however,
cheaply rat skins might be obtained
they would offer no advantages to the
glovemaker. The rabbit skin is equal
Fly useless for this purpose, and hui
name people may also dismiss from
their minds the fear that the skins Of
pet dogs are made into gloves. The
l.dogskinA glove. Of. which. We used to
hear is made" Of nothing but the skin
of the Cape goat correspondence Of
London Pali-Mail Gazette.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-27

~ oVuV0 UfsU ~" "sS~ wv 'eS~o~~~'
Ing Anguish by the hand the other led
tie way straight to the spot where he
remembered seeing the door.
Boldly the two men began the breath
less ascent Of the stone steps. The top
was reached, and far ahead, down q
narrow hall, they saw the three men
and the dim light moving. Two OF
them wore uniforms Of guards. Keep
ing close to the wall. their followers
crept after them. Up another fight of
steps they went and then through a
spacious hall. The Americans had nc
time and no desire to inspect their sur.
roundings. The wide doors at the far
side of the room opened softly, and
here the trio paused. Down a great
marble hallway a dim red light shed
Its soft glow. 1t came from the lamp
at the foot Of the broad staircase.
The cook pointed to the steps and
then gave his thumb jerk toward the
left. Without the least sign Of feal
Geddos and Ostrom glided into the
hall and made for the staircase. The
watchers could not but feel thrill OF
admiration for these daring wretches
But now a new danger confronted
them. The cook remained standing ir
tea doorway watching his fellows IL
wine! How were they to pass htm2
There was no time to be lost. The
abductors were creeping up the steps
already, and the cook must be dis
posed of. He had blown out the light
which be carried and was now very
dim shadow. Lorry glided forward
and in an instant stood before the
amazed fellow. jamming pistol into
his face.
"a sound and you die" he hfssed.
Don't mover came another whis
per. and second revolver touched his
ear. The cook, perhaps, did not know
their language, but he certainly under
stood its meaning. He trembled and
would have fallen to the floor had no,
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-27
SNAKE HYPNoTIsM.
Experts say tho Power Of Fascinating
Prey Undoubtedly Exists.

Experts say tho Power Of Fascinating
Prey Undoubtedly Exists.
Graham Peck, q well-known author
ity on snakes, was asked his opinion
regarding snakes hypnotic powers.
His reply was as follows:
There is a certain power to fasci-
nate in snakes eyes and movements.
I saw only the other day typical IL
lustration of the power Of snake to
fascinate.
lover in the pine woods I saw
ground squirrel fascinated by black
goI her snake. The forked tongue DART
ed out of the snakes mouth almost as
regularly and rapidly as the needle OF
a sewing machine rises and faAs The
squirrel seemed to watch 1t spellbound
The snake crept slowly nearer. When
the gopher snake was within two or
three inches of the squirrel 1t gave
leap and threw three coils about the
SQUIRREL Instantly the spell was gone.
The fascination or charm there had
been over the little animal was no
doubt broken the very moment the SER
pent's coils were about the squirrel,
for the animal gave three convulsive,
terrified chirps and realized that Its
death moment had come.
Il believe implicitly that all snakes
have a certain degree Of power to fas-
cinate their victims to death. Black
snakes, gopher snakes and racers have
the power Of large degree. Rattle
snakes have the most fascinating pow
er among all the poisonous serpents IN
the southwest. The indications or
charming among poisonous snakes
are deceiving sometimes. Poisonous
snakes fang their prey once only.
The poison does not kill at once. The
victim f1utters to a branch, it may be,
or runs a short distance and stops.
The snake watches 1t. The poison
does it's deadly work, and the oird
falls. Any one who comes up, not haV-
ing seen the attack, might be readily
deceived into imagining that 1t was the
glance of the snake and not the pois-
on that caused the victim to fall."-
Detroit Free Fress
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-27

training for it by the time they enter
as freshmen. In most colleges juniors
only are eligible, although sophomores
often try for 1t. The local contest is
held in the spring. Then all the col
leges of the state that are In the or
ganization meet and hold a contest
in the fall. The winner of this Is the
state representative to the interstate.
"Beveridge' represented Indiana at
the contest of which I have spoken.
In the drawing Of lots for places on
the programme he was seventh. He
knew that both audience and judges
would be worn out by the flood of
eloquence long before he appeared, and
he determined that he must do some
thing to get attention. A visit was
paid by member Of the Indiana dele
CATION to the janitor Of the opera house
in which the speaking was to take
place. The janitor was persuaded to
lend himself to working out little
scheme.
spoke. Gradually, so imperceptibly
that it was noticed only by the Hoosier
delegation in the plot, the lights on
the stage were lowered. The audience
yawned and grew weary. By the time
the sixth speaker had finished the au-
ditorium was in semi darkness.
"Then Beveridge was announced.
Instantly the lights flashed up with
bright glare. The young Indianian
leaped to the centre Of the stage, and
every one in the audience sat up and
took notice. The effect Of this artiflce
was that Beveridge got closer atten-
ton than any other speaker, and he
won the prize."-New York Press.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-27

wall. Directly they heard sounds near
at hand. The abductors were binding
and chloroforming the guard at the ar
Dor. After waiting for some moments
they heard the party glide away In the
darkness and followed. The body OF
the guard was lying just outside the
mouth Of the arbor, and the odor OF
chloroform was almost overpowering.
Once inside the long arbor, the Ameri-
cans moved slowly and with greater
caution. There was dim light In a
basement window ahead. Toward the
front of the castle and In the second
story q faint glow came from another
window. They guessed it to be from
the princess room or from that Of the
countess.
At last they saw four figures steal
past the dim basement light. One OF
them halted near the window and three
crept away in the darkness. Presently
one Of them returned. and all activity
was at an end for the time being. How
near 1t was to 2 o'clock the watchers
could not tell. They only knew that
they were within twenty-five feet OF
Geddos and Ostrom and that they
would not have long to wait.
Soon q bright little blaze Of light
crossed the basement opening. Then
it returned. crossing a second time and
third. All was still again. The soft
shuttle Of q foot. the rustic Of arbor
vines. and the form Of man crawled
up to the window. With inconceivable
stealth and carefulness it glided
through the aperture. followed by a
companion.
Lorry and Anguish were at the open
ing a second or two later, lying fiat on
their stomachs and listening for sounds
from within. The dim light was still
there, the window was open and there
was q sound Of whispering. Lorry
raised his head and peered through,
taking calculations while the light
made it possible. He saw IN open door
on the opposite side Of the low room.
with steps beyond leading upward.
Between the window and the door there
were no obstacles. Up those steps
he saw three men creep, the leader
carrying the dim light. The door was
left open, doubtless to. afford unim.
peded exit from the building in case
Of emergency. Harry Anguish touched
Lorry's arm.
81 took the two pistols from that
Vienna man out there. We may need
them. Here is one for yourself. Go
first. Lorry." he whispered.
Lorry stuck the revolver in his coat
pocket and gently slid through the win
dow to the floor below. His friend fol.
lowed. and they paused to listen. TAX
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-27
THE scoLp's BalDI.E.
Brutal Punishment to Which Womer
Wore Once Subjected.


Wore Once Subjected.
The Drank, or scold's bride, or gos-
sips bride, was neither more nor less
than a muzzle. It was in general use
in Great Britain from the sixteenth to
the eighteenth century, and in Scot
land as well women were muzzled for
certain offenses, some at least Of them
more imaginary than real. The in
strument Of torture, even dog
leather muzzle, is uncomfortable how
much more the scold's muzzle? 1t
consisted, according to high author
ity, Mr.. w. levitt, Of kind Of crown
or framework Of iron, which was lock-
ed upon the head, and it was armed In
front with a gag, a plate or sharp
cutting knife or point, which was
placed in the poor woman's mouth so
as to prevent her moving her tongue,
or it was so placed that II she did
move it or attempt to speak it was cut
in a most frightful manner. With this
cage upon her head and with the gag
firmly pressed and locked against her
tongue the miserable creature. whose
sole offending perhaps was that she
raised her voice In defense Of her So
cial rights against brutal and besot-
ted husband or had spoken honest
truth Of some one high In office In her
town, was paraded through the
streets, led by a chain by the hand
Of a bellman, the beadle or the consta-
BILE or chained to the pillory, the whip
ping post or market cross, to be sub
jected to every conceivable insult and
degradation, without even the power
left her Of asking for mercy or OF
promising amendment for the future,
and when the punishment was over she
was turned out from the town hall or
the place where the brutal punishment
had been inflicted, manned, disflgured,
bleeding, faint and degraded, to be the
subject of comment and jeering among
her neighbors and to be reviled by her
persecutors.-Fire Magazine.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-27
FROM THE FIRST no GRAMMA.-John

FROM THE FIRST 10 GRAMMA.-Jchn-
ny never did like school. When his
mother told him he had better study
his lessons or his teacher would give
him a bad mark, he got sulky.
Blamed old teacher" he said, think
she knows it all. First she tells us
something and then, when we tell 1t
back, she says it's all wrong"
why. what's the matter Johnny
asked his uncle, who hasn't forgotten
he was a boy himself.
well, you see. Nunky, 1t was this
way. She told US that postpone meant
to put off. Then she asked me to write
a sentence containing the word"
"Well?'
II wrote, Boys postpone their
clothes when they go In swimming.
Keeping Tab.
Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-05-27
Marchinu Plants.

Several years ago attention was call
ed to the fact that the eastern plants
Of America were marching westward
across the continent. keeping step with
the advance Of human settlement, and
conquering the native plants as they
proceeded. It was predicted that In
time there would be return OF the
western plants sweeping eastward and
overcoming their conquerors, and 1t IL
noted that that return seems already
to have begun.
At present Australia presents per.
haps the best example Of this spread
ing and conquering tendency Of those
plants that follow the advance Of man
The weeds that have found their way
from Europe to Australia are crowd
ing out the native weeds In many
places, and especially in the more fer.
tile lands. In some Of the more rocky
soils the native plants have the ad.
vantage in the contest.
A curious fact, brought out by OBJ.
servation in Australia, Is that some
imported plants, particularly orna-
mental garden varieties, cling to the
neighborhood of their human friends
as II they felt themselves to be stran-
gers in a strange land, needing pro-
lection. Although they spring up Wig
orously within the limits Of the gar
dens, self-sown, year after year, yet
they never gain any footing outside.
But the Scotch thistle does not show
itself so tinnid. It has been introduced
into both Australia and Tasmania
in the latter island, it is said, by an
enthusiastic Scotchman, who wished
to see his national flower blooming
around him on the other side Of the
earth, and 1t has taken advantage OF
it's opportunities without fear and
without favor-New York Herald.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-09

300 p. M Platform temperance
rally, led by president Of w. G. T.sU.
800 p. m. Lecture by A. G. Rankin.
1880 p. m. Concert by Miss Farley
and male quartet
$3.50 p. Lecture, Take the. Sun
ny Side. by Lou J.. Beauchamp of
Ohio.
Sunday, August 9.
The orchestra, Miss Farley, male
quartet and a big chorus at all of the
meetings.
$3.50 a. m.-Love feast.
1890 a. m.-Sermon.
200 p. m.-Song and eyangelistic
service, conducted by Rev. F. A. Mil
Ter.
800 p. m.-Lecture, "The Age of the
Young Man." by Lou J. Beauchamp of
Ohio.
700 p. m.-Young peoples devotion
al meeting and closing service.
The assembly march and farewell.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-09

been stretched out relaxed and nerve
less, sat up, and said roughly: What's
that? A spent ball. oh, hell! Here get
out OF the way. Put me on my horse
/ would give all my years pay to lick
the man who hit me with spent ball
Once on his horse he rode away to the
front. The doctor, looking after him
said to the surprised hospital men: "a
little exercise will help him.. Taking
the hint, scrambled to my feet and
staggered up hill, but the doctor shout
ed after me. Hold on there, every step
wound more difficult
81 thought what was good for a brig.
adler was good for a sergeant and
struggled ON. The doctor thinking /
was crazed by pain rode after me.
When he came up to me held out my
hand with the musket ball in it, and
looking at the ball in his own hand he
said: see Two of you Take this
took swallow from his flask and
went on to my company, and when
told the boys Of my experience, Tom.
Dick and Buffer exclaimed as if with
one voice, Why in Sam Hill didn't you
take four swallows?' They didn't care
anything about the spent ball and I
got no sympathy on that score. The
spot where the confounded ball struck
however, is sore to this day and oc-
casionally | wake up in the night as
miserable as was on that day on
Lookout mountain. | don't brag about
being hit in that battle, but never was
harder hit in all my life. '-Atlanta
Constitution.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-09
SOUTH SIDE NEWS

From Tuesdays Daily.
Frank Baird, 213 South Willard
street, is on the sick list.
Earl Hathaway, Alb South Willard
street, who has been quite i'll, is much
improved today.
Mrs. B. w. Scott and daughter, Mil
re, l08 South Ward street, left this
western points.
Miss Clara Cooper of Blakesburg,
has returned to her home after visit
at the home of Mr.. and Mrs. William
Lindsay, 101 North Davis street.
Miss Stella DuAn Of Selma returned
to her home yesterday after a visit at
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. G. w. Miller
104 North Sheridan avenue.
Mrs. H. c. Moore of Tracy returned
to her home last evening after a visit
at the home of Mr.. and Mrs. VIM.
Brown, 106 North Ransom street.
This morning DR.. e. III. Arenschield
removed piece of cartridge from the
left leg of the little son of j. G. Hobbs
who resides in the Dain addition. The
little boy was cracking the shells on
stone Saturday evening and one
of the pieces flew into the flesh just
below the knee.
This morning at $50 o'clock the fire
department was called to the resi-
dence of Jarrett Warman, 201 North
Moore street. The fire was caused by
defective flue and was put out before
the arrival of the fire department. The
damage will amount to about $40,
which is fully covered by insurance.
From Thursdays Daily.
Chas. Mosena. 100 North Ward street, is
on the sick list
Miss Ramona Sylvester, of Competine
returned to her home today, after a visit
with friends in Ottumwa.
Mr., and Mrs. f. o. Pierson, of Lincoln,
Neb, who have been visiting ut the home
of Mrs. Margaret McNeal 401 Williams
street. have gone to Blakeshurg for a visit
with relatives and friends.
Dorcas Rebekah lodge, No, 1SS, held its
regular meeting last evening at Odd Eel
lows hall, on Church street, After all the
business had been transacted lodge closed
and social time was INDUCED in Ice
cream and waters We're served.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-09
HUNT IS AN low AN
MILLIONAIRE coREAN MINE OWN.
Err WAS ONCE PEDAGoGUE
AT MT. PLEASANT.
After Bringing the Schools In That
Town to High Standard He Be-
came Superintendent at Des Moines
and Later President of Ames College

Mt. Pleasant, June 9.-Leigh Hunt. !
formerly principal of the Mt, Pleasant I
schools, and now multi-millionair
reputed to be worth S15,000,000, is at
his old home at Columbia City, Ind on
a visit. Mr.. Hunt is now about forty
nine years of age. He has valuable !
mining interests in Corea, and is con-
sidered the right-hand man to the king
of that country. In 1880, when Hunt
first left his native city. he was owing
$4,000. Later on, in 1893, when the f.
nancial crash struck Seattle, where he
conducted a paper, he left, owing a /
big debt. He went to Corea and ne
gotiated loan with Russia for the
king of Corea. This at once put him in
favor with the king, who gave him a /
large tract of land, rich in gold and Sill
yer ore. Hunt organized q mining
company, and sold an interest in the
mines to the Rothschilds for SG,000,000. |
Later he returned to Seattle and adj
yertised that he would pay all debts
on a certain day, which he did. He al
so paid all of his $4,000 debt at Column
bia City, with compound interest.
Visiting Boyhood Home.
His health is poor at this time, and
he is located at Cairo, Egypt, with his
! family, and made a little run over to
this country to see his boyhood home.
In 1880, when he disappeared from Co.
lumhia City he went to Mount Pleas.
| ant.
Teaching at Mt. Pleasant.
| Senator Harlan was a member of
the school board at that time, and to
him Hunt appealed for position as
teacher. One of the requirements was
| that he should be a teacher of Ian
guages. ana he had not the education.
| He declined to pass an examination or
offer any letters of recommendation
simply saying that IL he was employed
he would make the school the best that
it had ever been.
Hunt was given the place, hired
| tutor, who instructed him in the
| languages at night. and the next day
the new principal gave to the pupils
1 the knowledge that he had gained the
night before. His wonderful executive
abilities brought about many changes.
| His institutions work became known
all over Iowa.
Woman Helped Him.
At that time he boarded with the
mother Of Frank Hatton, afterward
postmaster general of the United
States. and her advice and teaching
had much to do with his success. All
this time. the people of Columbia City
wondered if Leigh Hunt was dead or
alive.
Front Mount Pleasant Hunt was
appointed superintendent of the Des
Moines schools, and later was elected
president of Ames college.
Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-09
Removal Notice.

VIII remove to Chas. Sax's old
stand on Main street about August /.
In the meantime there is not an arti-
Gle in my store that you cannot buy
at a liberal discount All dinner sets
at from 20 per cent to SO 1-3 per cent
discount. w. C. Wyman.