davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
Harper's Weekly. :.

Harper weekly
Book criticism has become very prev
alent vice. Everyone does it-even the
football game reporter. Naturally enough,
as for all things universally manufactured,
easy methods have been invented. The
very easiest is to write the review with
out reading the book. Doubtless this
method has been in vogue longer than we
realize, but certainly some ten years ago
so established critic as Mr.. Andrew
Lang dealt with his book by saying: II
have not read -. Being repealed by
the exceedingly ugly design on the covers,
did not open them" The covers in this
instance CHANGED to have been designed
by Mr.. Aubrey Beardsley, and one can
fancy the amazed disgust which these
drawings at first excited. 1t must have
equalIed the popular feeling about Blake.
In England, where the fault Of the aver
age man is that of taking himself and his
business too seriously, Mr.. Langs airy
reputation of anything verging upon a
sense Of responsibility must have amount
ed almost to witticism. In this country
it would be found to have less potent
charm, because so entirely in the manner
Of the young girl just out of school, who
feels that nothing matters now, SO long as
she has amusement enough. Here this
method lacks novelty.
An equally interesting way of dealing
with an author is that adopted recently
by reviewer in one of our own best re-
views, in dealing with a book of serious
art criticism The reviewer says simply:
1--WE are obliged to confess that lacking
the required knowledge S. and SYM
pathy, 1t may be - much OF. -. book
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
GEORGE AIDES LITERARY LIFE

b. .-% . e
1898 1 ran up against the fable Of the old
serio-comic form. I had learned from
writing my department that all people,
and especially women, are more or less
fondsof parlor slang. In cold blood be-
gan writing the fables to make my de-
partment go. but I had no idea that those
fantastic things would catch on as they
have My first one was The Blonde Girl
Who Married a Bucket Shop Man. Soon
other papers asked permission to copy the
fables, and then to share them with the
Record, and by and by publisher col
lected them and made up a copyrighted
book. There you have the whole thing in
nutshell
The fables were then syndicated among
number of Sunday papers-one paper in
each of dozen large cities. At the end
of certain period Mr.. AIDES publisher
gathers them, adds a few new ones and
issues them In book form. They are al
ways sure of a profitable sale. Herbert s.
Stone Of Chicago was his first publisher,
and is to be credited with the discovery
of the excellence of Artie Blanchard, and.
consequently, with the publication Of
"Artie,'' Pink Marsh Doc Horne
Fables in Slang" and More Fables
the authors first books. r. H. Russell is
the publisher of his latest book, People
You Know"
In the last few years Mr. AIDE has given
part of his time to musical comedy. The
words Of THE Sultan Of Sulu and Of
Peggy from Paris are his work FIX
cursions to Europe and to the Philippines
have helped him to introduce what is
lesques.
Mr.. AIDE is unmarried and he divides his
time and residence between Chicago and
New York.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
Books and Authors
WHY THEY SELL


A New York publishing house recently
published a thousand replies from book
buyers telling why they bought certain
book adjudge a success. OF these, 126
stated that they bought the book on the
books sellers representations; SO bought 1t
because they saw it advertised; 40, be-
cause they had read reviews Of it; %
were attracted by the title; u were caught
by the colored Illustrations, and two only
were induced to buy thru the general at
tractiveness of the makeup of the book.
These represent only 273 out of the one
thousand replies and nothing is said about
the others. Such statements are mlslead-
ing. 1t is probable that a very large num-
bery of books deemed successes are sold
thru the commentator of people who
have first read them, to their friends.
Haven't you read so and so?" in a tone
Of surprise or reproach, sells many copies.
Oft-repeated advertising display Of the
title, If 1t is ai"catchy'' one, is effective,
and a book notice which does not give too
much Of the book away, but judiciously
hints and stimulates curiosity has de-
cided weight. General attractiveness
goes with a considerable number Of
people, but it has no effect whatever upon
another considerable number. Why some
books sell well is a mystery to their pub
fishers themselves sometimes.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
Significant Census Figures.

W. R. Merriam, in valuable paper
in The Century on Noteworthy Results
of the Twelfth Census" seems to con-
tention of some scientific observers in
the Popular Science Monthly, that there
are evidences Of decided falling off in the
number Of native whites Of native par
entage. Mr.. Merriam shows that the
white population is constantly recruited
by immigration from foreign countries.
and that, by excluding from the native
white population in 1900 children born in
this country since 1890, both Of whose
parents are foreign, the increase of the
native white population Of continental
United States is reduced from 1855, 9SS
to 7,379.192. the percentage of increase be-
ing reduced from % to 16, the latter rep
than the rate of increase of the negro
population. Mr.. Merriam thinks that
without the stream of white irnmigra-
ton, the white population could not main
tain its present numerical superiority over
the negro race.
The negroes III 1900 numbered s,s4o,7s9,
or over one-tenth Of the population.
Their rate Of increase in the decade 1890
1900 was 49, per cent, while the rate Of
increase for native whites Of native par
entage was 1873 per cent, certainly a
very small excess, and, according to the
census figures, diminishing. With white
| immigration materially reduced, the me-
gro race would ultimately dominate.
| After the civil war, when negro NOR
tally was heavy in the south owing to
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
BOOK CRITICISM AS A VICE

is inconprehensible to US This way in
candid and Straightforward, and might
even be serviceable as a self-revela ton II
only the authors name were signed but
alas! 1t is not. Otherwise we might set
down ,on the tablets of memory Mr.
OF the staff of -, knows moth
ing of art and admits It; skip his art criti-
cisms henceforth.' But only to know that
an unknown reviewer knows nothing OF
art and says so is waste knowledge
A third method of book criticism is to
rely entirely upon the interest of ones
personality. This Is method readily
learned and much in vogue. A well-known
contributor who makes it his business
to know of English books deals thus with
Miss Keats last volume: ct must be my
fault. but can't read the book with any
pleasure. Her stories are to me tiresome
and unattractiv / mention this not be-
cause it is of the slightest consequences
whether 1 like Miss Keats stories or
whether do not. but simply because Of
the fact that while to many they seem
exceptionally good, cannot read them"
The value of this sort of book reviewing
must rest entirely upon our reverence
for the reviewer. Robert Louis Stevenson,
by a chance sentence has taught many
mortal to delight in the choruses Of
Samson Agonistes. How many Of us
would have really loved Coleridge, outside
1.-THE Ancient Mariner and "Kubla
Khan,'' but for Pater or known our Gray
without Arnold's help? Symonds; Pater.
Arnold, Swinburne, Saintsbury, have, by
criticisms, opened many fields for ex-
ploration; their book criticisms are still
books of criticism.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
Renewed Gold Production

The department Of commerce at Wash
1ngton has received information of a de-
clded revival in the gold mining indus
try In the Transvaal district of South
Africa. During the last six months the
value of the product was $27,153, 756,
which points to the years product, ac-
cording to the expert estimates, of about
S6o,0o0,Ooo, as compared with s7S,O7s, 6s3
in 1888. The Anglo Boer war caused a
drop in production to $7,O93,s19 in 1900,
from which in 1902 there was revival
to s35.37s,s 900
THESE figures refer, of course, to the
great Witwatersrand district of the
Transvaal, which, during the fourteen
years between the first opening and the
outbreak of the Boer war, produced gold
Of the value Of $685. O5, 1865, representing
21,456,0s2 fine ounces. The war put
Africa, as a gold producer, in a very in
ferior position, as operations were almost
entirely suspended when the war broke
out making quite a gap in the gold pro-
duction of the world, the first backset In
SUCH pFoductlon since 1851 Inc gold
production Of the world fell from 1914
63o23S in 1890 to s95s,4s5.1 1853 in 1900, but
the procuring cause is well known as
stated above.
Gold production in our own countr,
keeps up steadily and has increased from
ss4. asa. 900 in 1898, to 1892, 500 in 1902
and new discoveries every now and Their
demonstrate that there is no immediate
danger of exhausting the supply, and MOI
having gold enough to go round 2 as oul
eminent silver monometalist friends used
to predict. For instance, a telegram from
the City OF Mexico this morning, an.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26

{ IS Il +
the changed conditions from slavery. I'M
to look after the health Of
their negroes, many observers of the sit
uation predicted that the negroes would.
Idle OUT Instead of dying out. they
have multiplied. as better conditions OBJ
tanned.
Mr.. Merriam shows that, since 1860,
up to 1900, the decrease Of negroes in
per cent to. 1913 per cent, and the increase
in other states from 5.4 per cent to 1911
per cent. In the lower southern states
during the period the negro population
has increased from 46.1 per cent to 81. s
per cent while it has fallen off in the
upper southern states from 48.5 per cent
to 37,4 per cent. There is a distinct
migration Of upper southern state negroes
to the lower southern states. In Mis-
sissippi, Alabama, Florida, Arkansas, Ok
lahoma and West Virginia the negroes
in 1900 formed a larger percentage of the
total negro population than they did in
1890. The figures, however, show that in
all the southern states, except Georgia,
the white population gained on the ne
groes.
The disposition of the bulk Of the negro
race to remain in the southern states is
| the obstinate fact which defeats all
schemes for migration or deportation to
Africa. The negro, by a large majority
prefers to stay in what has become his
~ at ro1
lions for him. Liberia is practically q
failure. The native Africans of the
i limited land are encroachingt upon the
Black Republic. The increase of the race
in this country, which is practically nat
ural increase, indicates that there is nc
4 The negroes are here and are likely te
stay, as We cannot either massacre then
! or deport them In the wholesale way a:
proposed in some quarters. The censu:
! figures are memorable as to the probable
numerical increase. The pressing problem
is to eliminate effectively the tendency O.
the negro to the peculiar form of Grim,
which has brought him specially unde
the ban Of the lawless, who are foolish
enough to believe that one form Of law
lessness can be wiped out by anothe
form Of lawlessness. The immediate dut.
of Americans who want to maintain tn
integrity of their country is to max
lawlessness of all degrees as rare a.
human laws enforced with absolute con
scientiousness can make it. One year o
punctilious and conscientious work Of thi
kind will enormously minimize the crime
Of rape and lynching.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
The Steel Trusts --latest Move.

The purchase by the steel trust of the
largest tract of iron ore in Minnesota,
hitherto in independent hands, is remind
ing the press Of the country Of the wisdom
with which the great corporation is pro-
tecting itself in the enjoyment Of momcp-
oily. The Philadelphia Record says that
while the time may come when the voters
of the United States will take the tariff off
the steel trusts products, it will not be
easy to disturb the trusts practical mo-
nopoly Of raw material.
1t Is not iron only that the trust is
buying whenever the opportunity presents.
1t is everywhere laying its hands on valu-
able coal fields A new coal field is hardly
discovered before a representative of the
trust Is on the ground to determine
whether It would be advisable for the big
corporation to buy some or all Of it. Even
| If a grinding monopoly be not contem-
plated, it is the part Of wisdom for such
vast corporation to take long look into
the future and insure itself the materials
| of cheap production as far as is possible.
| With the passing Of each year iron and
|
the cost Of the raw materials Of steel man
ufacture will advance. But it is more than
probable that the steel trust hopes to fol-
low the successful course Of the Standard
Oil company in monopolizing the supply OF
| raw material.
! In a way, tho, the trust, by seeking a
natural raw material monopoly, will
| H. a., ~
people will refuse to tax themselves for
its benefit, for the moment the realization
has percoated thru the callous public hide
that a trust that owns practically all Of the
available raw material also enjoys pro-
lection against foreign competition, the
protection will vanish as chalk mark be-
fore a sponge.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26

Some of our hyphenated' Americans are
coming back from trips to their old homes
with a good deal more attachment to
what .precedes than to what follows the
hyphen. Former State Treasurer Koerner
has just returned from Saxony, congrat-
ulating himself that he is an American
citizen instead of German subject The
other day., Mr.. Patrick Kennedy, a prom
inent Minneapolis merchant, returned
from Ireland quite content to view the
Emerald! isle from the distance hereafter.
1t is good to recall these facts when we
are turned toward pessinism by some of
the tough problems our republic is facing
to-day. -s
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
Judge Simpsons decision yesterdav

Judge Simpsons decision yesterday in
the Western Union taxation case will con-
tribute something to check the tendency
Of corporations doing an interstate bust
ness to evade local duties and burdens,
by overworking the privileges that be-
long to them as interstate corpora TONS
This decision illustrates, too, the import
ance Of having the right sort Of men in
judicial Offices. A judge less democratic
than Judge Simpson and less devoted to
the public good could have decided the
question the other way and have made
about good show of being technical
ly right as Judge Simpson has
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
PLAYWRIGHT ARRIVES
Contemporary Review.

1t is related that in 1891, the year before
M. de CurePs first play was performed,
Andre Antoine the founder Of the Theater
Libre, carried off batch Of plays to read
at leisure at the seaside during his sum :
mer vacation. Out of the number he
chose three which he decided to put on at
once He wrote to the three authors ac-
cepting the plays, and to his establishment
received in reply letter from the VII
comte de Curel. who confessed that he had
sent him the three plays signed by three
different names, and had dispatched them
from different addresses in the hope Of
getting each Of them read more easily.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26

RE Nationism and the deep blue egg.
Dr. Metchnikoff, the head Of the Paris
Pasteur institute, has started new cure
for obesity that bids fair to capture the
gay capital The cure is to run certain
distance every day. One may begin by
trotting quarter of an hour leisurely In
the morning and for similar length OF
time in the evening, increasing the time
gradually every day. The advice has been
accepted with enthusiasm by certain
number of people of corpulent tendencies,
who may be seen every morning chasing
themselves on the lawns and in the alleys
of the Bots de Boulogne. Nothing is more
certain than the spread of the fad to
America for it is simple, and, If persisted
in, is sure. You should be prepared not
| to be astonished If you see Fatty chas-
| ing hastily around the block In the fresh
morning air. He is reducing his em-
| bonpoint
| An addenda to the treatment and one
that might be recommended with happy
results is that of climbing a tree. If the
| fat man will run around the block and
| then climb good stout tree. we feel al
'most like stalking our professional repu-
tation on his cure. Besides that, there
| is certain element of graceful agility
acquired in e, course of tree climbing that
| you never get in simple running. Sup
pose a cross calf's ancestor is after you.
Running in this case would be mere en-
/ tertainment- to the animal. But should
you surge up a tree the incident would
give the beast pause. Tree climbing thus
becomes valuable in more ways than one.
Let US keep little closer to nature.
/ May Goe1et is back at Newport from her
| trip abroad. When we saw May yester-
day her gown was a smart affair Of pale
! blue linen The coat was cut In the fash
ionable three quarter length and had re-
4 vers of white lace. The sleeves had deep
frills Of lace falling from them and end
ing below the elbows. The hat which she
wore with this gown was picture crea-
ton of light blue straw, trimmed simply
| with white wings. which were arranged
fiat against the rolled brin1. We remarked:
| How are you, May"
| And she replied:
i ''Sick. abed.'' "A. j. r.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
WHY THEsWlDowER LOVED HER
Philadelphia Telegram.


A lady from Alexandria, Va. visiting in
Philadelphia quite recently, told an anec-
dote of her retiring cook which is good
enough to be told again.
Myra, the colored cook, gave notice to
Mrs. Richardson Of her intention to leave
at the end Of the week Mrs. R. highly
priced the cooks abilities in the culinary
line, and proceeded to interview her In an
effort to learn the reason for her de-
parture. The following conversation en-
sued:
"Myra, are you not satisfied with the
wages and the home I give syou?"
Yes, Mis- Richardson, allus bin happy
wiz you ALL
well, why do you leave
Say, Mis- Richardson, don't you all
member dat funl in de mex block las
Friday?"
yes. But what Of that?"
well, I don't gwine to tell you all de
whole trufe. rs gwine to marry de hus-
band Of de corpse. He low as was de
life OBJ the fun'l.''
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
WEDNESDAY EVENING,

nounces that rich gold fields have been
discovered in the state of oaxaca, the
assay Of the ore being reported at the
somewhat astounding figures Of $4,000
a ton.
This Mexican discovery will prove use
full to the Mexican government. which has
been considering the placing of her dis
ordered silver currency on the gold basis
as a business necessity. At least, 1t is
maintain a fixed value to the Mexican
dollar, which, during the recent slump In
silver, which reached the lowest point
recorded in the worlds history, got down
to SO and 35 cents
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
A MATTER OF DOCTRINE
New York Times.

convincingly, "does yo' believe in de doc
trines OBJ .Arminianism and Calvanism, or
is yo a Baptist?"
..whah's dem doctrines annyhov2' said
the offending brother skeptically.
"Whah is dey? Why, Calyinism Is de
doctrine Of lection; and Armenianism am
de belief in backshding from grace"
'I doan see It, said the other, stub
borr,ly. "whah's de real 'stinction2"
WELL it, dis hear way. De Methodis'
know he got hol' of salvation, but he pow
erful ,fraid gwine lose it; de. Presbyterian
he knows he cayn't lose it, but he mortal
feared he amt got it; but de Baptis'-he
know he got 1t, an he know he cyan't lose
1T; and he knew where to git it again e1
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26

The Rev. Athaliah Judson, a character
well known about the various camp meet
ing grounds of the fro-Baptist League
of western Pennsylvania, was trying to
make plain to a hard headed, sad-visaged
brother the error Of his ways insattending
other camp meetings in the neighbour
hood.
''Whahs de mattah with EN-? Amt
dey Christian?'' demanded the erring one.
"Yeth, deh's Christian: but dehs Meth
odis' Christian and Presbyterian Christian;
we all belongs to de Baptist Christians.
Dahs de difference.
II dont.see de 'stinction," said the dea-
con, so1emnly
Why. look hyar, said Brother Judson,
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
THE NONPAREIL MAN

Of the cigar protruding from his mouth The
young lady painfully burned. Smoking in
the presence of ladies should be prohibited, both
as an act of courtesy to the fair sex and to pre-.
vent accidents.
The man who would attempt to kiss
girl with a stogy in his mouth ought
to request to be fatally kicked by some
of his friends.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26
VERY PLEASANT ELEcTloNEERlNo
London Chronicle.

In South Australia female suffrage has
been In operation for some time. A mem
Der Of the commonwealth parliament, anx-
ious to ascertain the best mode of APP.
preaching the women voters in his con-
stituency, sought the advice of an expert
enced South Australian legislator. How
do YOU please them? Do you kiss the
baby 2, No, sir. was the candid reply
'.we kiss the elector.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26

son, publisher Of the st. Paul Dispatch, OF
criminal libel, but the proceedings in the
justice court did not prove anything in
particular, except that there were wide
differences of opinion as to what consti-
tuted libelous matter. The Dispatch
claims that its article was not libeious,
and will hinge It's case On that point when
the question comes up for appeal before
Judge Powers The truth Of the story
was not an issue.
Charles B. Cheney.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-26

FL Paso, Tex, objected to negro excur-
sions, and the railways stopped running
them And now up rises a negro editor
CT Texas to say that 1t was we'll to abolish
negro excursions. what the negro
needs he says, "is six days work in
every week, in fifty-two weeks in every
year, and stick to it. Fiddling and drink
ing and riding are not things to make a..
great people" 80 eEn