davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
The Harmless. Grass Snake.


The poor, harmless grass snake is the
subject of stories almost as wonderful
as those related of the adder. The
superstition that, however much you
may hammer it, 1t will not die till the
setting of the sun is widely held. A
fable not so generally held to is that
even at sundown it will not die If you
should neglect to tell some one of what
you have DONE The rule on seeing one
of these terrible creatures is to "hit 1t
and telP'-that is, give it good drub-
bing and run quickly and tell some one.
The best snake story is from Leigh
Sinton, near Malvern, according to a
London correspondent. A laborer
states that he had killed grass snake
and hung it on a tree. The blood
dripped down and a toad came and
swallowed some, dying instantly!
The fancy that makes this species
poisonous or even harmful is a wild
one, but how much more wild is that
which attributes violent toxic proper
ties to any chance drop of blood from
its body 1t might have been thought
that the other popular belief that poi
sonous things cannot be poisoned would
have saved the life of the poor toad
London Express.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
turtles Tenacious of Life.

The way cats cling to their proverbial
nine lives is well known, but the aver
age turtle will make a tougher stand
than nine ordinary cats. Perhaps boil
ing will kill a turtle at once, but any
other method seems hopeless.
The severed head of a swapping tur-
tie will bite for an hour after separa-
ton from the body. But more wonder
full is the Indifference of the green tur-
tie of the West Indies to mutilation
A party of naturalists lately returned
give an account of an experience which
proves beyond doubt that the green
turtles Indifference does not lie in its
head.
A green turtle found on the beach
turned and made for the water. One
of the party severed it's head with an
AK and turned the body around. The
headless turtle ran, then stopped and
turned toward the water again.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
HE CAUGHT THE HOUSE.
A Yell of Applause at a Critical
Point In a Play.


Point In a Play.
Edward Harrigan once said that the
most trying moment In his theatrical
rareer occurred in New Orleans soon
after the civil war. He had gone
south with bis company and, yielding
somewhat to popular request, put on
''The Blue and the Gray" The play
had been a success up north, but down
south, with the air still full of the bit
terness of the war, it was a dangerous
experiment. Tony Hart was to repre-
sent the Confederate gray. so he hunt
gers, and when he came marching on,
young, stalwart, handsome, the typical
soldier boy in the beloved uniform, the
house, men and women, cheered and
shouted and cried for all their heroes
embodied in this boy. Harrigan, stand
ing in the wings in his northern blue,
waiting to go on, had just one thought
They'll kill mep' Then he stepped
out, the embodiment of the enemy, and
a cold, dead silence fell upon the house
Not hand moved for him. The audi
ence was tense with emotion, and there
was only an instant to act if the play
was to be saved. Harrigan, big, kind
ly, good looking, came swiftly down
to the front and stepped over the foot
light gutter, leaning down to them
For the love Of heaven, won't you
give the Yankee hand?" he exclaim-
ed. At once the house was caught and
all the pent up feeling turned the right
way. There was a yell of applause
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
MeIba In a Temner.

When Nine. Melba first tasted the
sweets of fashionable life a Boston
woman of fashion captured her for a
dinner The Boston woman loaded her
guest with attentions, and after the
dinner she said to Melba, "You will
give us little song tonight, dear Nine.
Melba?" But the songstress refused.
The Boston woman pleaded and said
petulantly: 81 am quite sure my guests
will be disappointed. Really you are
quite unkind" This infuriated the
high spirited singer, and she answered:
"My terms as a dinner entertainer are
$4,000. You may see my manager if
you want me to sing for your guests" !"
Then Melba got her wraps and went
away in frenzy of anger.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
Curious Case of Mind Readinp

A very curious case is related in the
Annales Psychiques. A child of seven
years, in good health, lively and robust,
belonging to equally healthy parents,
showed a strange facility in learning
all that his mother taught him. He re-
cited the whole multiplication table at
the first trial, solved instantly compli-
Gated problems and made not single
mistake in his first spelling lesson. 1t
was soon realized that the child did not
calculate by himself and did not spell
of his own accord He was reading
his mothers mind, and he did this even
when his eyes were shut and his back
turned, provided only that she were
near him. One day she had the idea
of interpOsing q screen between her
and the child, and there was no more
calculation, no more spelling. The
screen was sufficient to prevent the
child from reading the mothers
thoughts.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
Light and Heat and Eyes.

Looking into the fire is very injurious
to the eye, particularly coal fire. The
stimulus of light and heat united soon
destroys the eyes. Looking at molten
iron will soon destroy the sight. Read
ing in the twilight is injurious to the
eyes, as they are obliged to make great
exertion. Reading or sewing with a
side light Injuries the eyes, as both eyes
should be exposed to an equal force of
light. Those who wish to preserve
their sight should preserve their gen
eraI health by correct habits of living
and give their eyes just work enough,
with a due degree of light
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
The TOWN OF YAFA.
Famous In History and the Most In
teresting Spot In Palestine.

teresting Spot In Palestine.
Yafa is a little town that was many
times destroyed alike by Jews, Assyr-
ians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and
Turks. 1t was to Yafa that Hiram,
king of Tyre, sent the cedar wood Gin
fotes" which from there were taken
to Jerusalem for Solomon's temple.
Jonah sailed from this little town to
Tarshish when fleeing from the face of
the Lord 1t was in Yafa that the
humble Dorcas lived her life of good
deeds and upon her dying was raised
to life by Peter To this shore the
great Richard Ceur de Lion swan,
girded in armor, fighting for Christen-
dom, and won a victory for the cru
saders over the Arab Bonaparte left
a memory of his cruelty here by his
massacre of several thousand prisoners
and the poisoning Of some persons af-
ficted with the plague. Simon the tan
ner's house, where Peter learned that
all nations were acceptable before
God, is one Of the few sights to be
seen in Yafa. In the courtyard there
is a large we'll Of spring water, and
from the roof of the house a most
beautiful view of the surrounding
country presents itself Another site
of interest in the tomb of Tabitha,
which stands in the garden of the
Greek monastery, close to an old foun-
tain, among the orange groves and
fruit orchards. OF all towns in Pales-
tine, Yafa is one of the most interesting
for its antiquity and its strange mix
ture of the oriental in its most primi-
tive form with European civilization
gradually admitted.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
What He Missed.

can old negro living in Carrollton,"
relates the Bosworth (Mo) Senti-
mel, was taken i'll and called in ply
sician of his race to prescribe for him.
But the old man did not seem to be
getting better, and finally white ply
sician was called. Soon after arriving
DR.. S. felt the darky's pulse for mo-
ment and then examined his tongue.
Did your other doctor take your tenn
peratureY he asked. 4 don't know,
sah,' he answered feebly; I hain't
missed anything but my watch as yit,
boss,'"
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
Temperature and Atmosphere.

That a body can acquire during the
night different temperature from
that of the surrounding atmosphere
has been demonstrated by an English
physicist. If a thermometer is taken
from the window, wrapped in cotton
and placed on the ground its mercury
will descend seven or eight degrees.
Vegetables similarly situated, and be-
ing bad conductors, may freeze at a
time. when the thermometer does not
mark the freezing point-proof that
the cold experienced by the plant may
be entirely different from the tempera-
ture of the surrounding air. This low
temperature of plants, however, only
occurs when the night is clear, since
at this time the plant sheds its heat
throughout space and becomes chilled,
whereas If the night is cloudy the
phenomenon does not occur This
gives rise to the popular superstition
that plants and buds are frozen by
moonlight.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
Deaf and Dumb Teachers.

Il suppose a deaf and dumb asylum
is the last place to which most persons
who wish to learn a language would
think Of going" said the principal of
one of those institutions. "Yet there
are several educated foreigners who
came here to take lessons in English.
''The reason is that a teacher in a
school for the deaf and dumb, having
to talk so her pupils can read her lips,
learns to enunciate clearly and distinct
ly and give each word its true value.
The foreigners say our teachers speak
so distinctly that they can acquire the
language in half the time they can
from ordinary instructors"
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
The stick insect of Borneo.

The longest known insect is undoubt-
edly the stick insect of Borneo. Speci-
mems thirteen inches in length have
been captured. 1t is an interesting ex-
ample of mimetic coloring. resembling
in remarkable manner piece of
rough stick On the bough of tree it
is extremely difficult TO distinguish be-
tween the insect and the bark. Borneo
is also the home of one of the largest
species of dragon fly. A specimen of
the subfamily, @schna measures six
inches and a half from wing to wing
and is endowed with a correspondingly
strong body.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
How the sculptor Cellini Was Cured.

How the Sculptor Cellini Was Cured.
Benvenuto Cellini, when about to
cast his famous statue of Perseus, now
in the Loggia DEF Lanzi at Florence,
was taken with sudden fever. In
the midst of his suffering one of his
workmen rushed into his sick chamber
and exclaimed: "Oh, Benvenutol Your
statue is spoiled, and there is no hope
whatever of saving itI' Cellini said
that when he heard this he gave a
howl and leaped from his bed. Dress
ing hastily, he rushed to his furnace
and found his metal "caked." He Or
dered dry oak wood and fired the fur
mace fiercely, working in a rain that
was falling, stirred the channels and
saved his metal. He continues the
story thus: "After all was over I turn
ed to plate of salad on bench there
and ate with a hearty appetite and
drank together with the whole crew.
Afterward I retired to my bed, healthy
and happy, for it was two hours be-
fore morning, and slept as sweetly as
If l had never felt a touch of illness" !"
His overpower1ng idea of saving his
statue not only drove the idea of i'll
ness from his mind, but also drove
away the physical condition and left
him well. 1t was triumph of mind.
Success
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
What Columbus Might Have Done

There are relatives of Columbus liy
ing in Spain at the present time. 1t is
said that gambling debts are keeping
them poor. These persons look to the
United States with wistful eyes, hoping
that some patriotic American will con-
fer on them a few millions in recogni-
ton of their distinguished ancestor.
This fact led a statistician to work his
brain, and he published the statement
that had Columbus placed 81 at COM
pound interest at per cent 400 years
ago his descendants today would pos
sess a sum amounting to more than
$S,600,0O0,000 When these figures were
published Lyman J. Gage was secre-
tary of the treasury. His attention
was called to the tremendous possibil-
ity of single dollar, and his comment
was either a sincere remark or a well
adapted pun. He said, Indeed, to me
this is story of great interest"
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
A Moving Sermon

81 once had a parishioner who was a
miser," said an English clergyman.
For this mans benefit 1 preached one
Sunday a strong sermon on the neces-
sity of charity, of philanthropy ser
mon on the duty and the joy of giving.
The miser, at whom I gazed often,
seemed impressed.
Next day 1 met him on the street.
We'll, john said, what do you
think of yesterdays sermon?'
att moved me deeply, SIR he an
swered. 1T brought home to me so
strongly the necessity of giving aims
that honestly, sir, I've a great mind to
turn beggar.'"
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
The BIRD of Paradise.

Probably no famous bird has small
er habitat than the bird of paradise,
whose beautiful feathers are so highly
priced in the millinery trade. No one
knows why the varieties Of this beauti-
full bird are confined to the island Of
New Guinea and the neighboring
coasts Of Australia There are many
other islands not far away where the
conditions would seem to be equally
favorable to their existence, but they
are not found among them.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
The VernacuIar.

InlS WAS Ine conversation DeIWeen
the girl with the gum in her mouth
and the other girl with the gum in her
mouth:
"Aincha hungryT
"Yeh."
80 my. Less go meet"
"WhereT
'Sleev go one places nuther"
$50 dy. Ika meet mo stennyware
Canchoo"
"Yeh. Gotcher money!
"Yeh."
$50 Wy. Gotcher aptite?"
"Yeh. GotchoorsY'
'Yeh. Howbout place crosstreet?'
''Nothin teet there. Lessgurround cor
ner"
"Thattledoo zwell zennyware. Mighta
thoughta that 'tfirst Getcher hat"
lima gettinit. Gotcher money!"
"Yeh. Didn'cheer me say 1 had it?
Already"
+'Yeh."
"K'mon."- Chicago Tribune.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
The Shorter Way.

81 understand that you have been
experimenting with a view to discov-
ering the philosophers stone?" said the
boyhood friend.
"Yes," said the intellectual man. "If
1 discover It, shall become rIch.'
''But what's the use of waiting so
long? Why don't you get stone
straight from the quarry and get rich
on paving and building contracts the
same as I did idP-Washington Star.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
Boston Could Stand 1t.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once made a
crushing reply to a man who asked
him whether the people in Boston did
not feel alarmed. Said Emerson,
"What about?" Said the man, "Why,
the world is coming to an end next
Monday" Emerson replied: 'T'm glad
of 1t. We can get along a great deal
better without it,
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
The Dinerence I'm seasons,

"Br'er Williams" said Brother Dick
ey, you all time talkin' bout wantin'
ter go ter glory in a chariot er fire.
How'd you like ter try it in de middle
er August?"
"Br'er Dickey," replied Brother Will
liams, "w'en I made dem remarks we
wuz deep in December en- de white
snow wuz all over de ground?'-At-
lanta Constitution.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30

SAFE DEPOSITS deposit boxes G.
rented from the Bank of Amador County a
small expense of 80 cents month, theret
curing you against any possible loss frol
or otherwise. Don't overlook this opport
of protecting your valuables.
. SAVE MONEY-Patronize home in,
ton. Send money away through the Ba
Amador County; you will save 10 per cen
upward over postoffice or express. Money
to all parts OF the United States and ais
parts of the world. We have the latest q
tions on foreign exchange.
SAVE MONEY-It doesn't cost anythi
deposit money in the Bank of Amador Co
They receive deposits from S. up. Comm
the new year by opening up bank accoun
man or woman with bank account
financial standing. Don't bury your M
when you die it can't be found and you ar
BILE to be robbed while alive
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
A Slight Fire.

81 say, Miss De Witt" remarked
young sapleigh, "youh wesplendent
beauty sets me bwain on fire, doncher
know?"
'Never mind, Mr.. Sapleigh," replied
Miss De Witt, "the confiagration will be
too insignificant to necessitate the call
ing out of the fire brigade"
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
1t Was a Draw.

Red Gulch Joe-Did you say that
thar fight between Scar Faced Sam an
Lasso Bill wuz a draw?
Birthstone Ike-Yes, an, unforchin-
lily fer Sam, Lasso Bill drawed fust-
Baltimore American.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
Rahid.

Noozey-I've heard a rumor that she
is to be married.
Oldbache-Yes.
Noozey-Who's the lucky one?
Oldbache- Neither of them, if they
only knew it.-Philadelphia Press.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
Wanted,

1 am looking for dishonest borrow
ers-yes, indeed fellows who will bor'
row my troubles and never pay them
back.-New Orleans Times-Democrat.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
Their Mutual Feryent Wish

Their Mutual Fervent Wish.
She-I trust, Jack, our marriage will
not be against your fathers will
Jack-Fm sure 1 hope not. 1t would
be mighty hard for us IL he should
change it.-Town and Country.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30

1t is a great evil as well as a mis-
fortune to be unable to utter prompt
and decided no.-Simmons.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
Plain Talk.

"Shave," said the crusty patron la
sonically.
"Close?" inquired the barber.
"No. I'm not close, but Pm not in
the habit of giving tips if that's what
you're driving at"
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30

Many seemingly yunaccountable friend
Ships hang upon golden image.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
Inconsiderate FeIIo,x.
"And still YOU refused ?,

"He said he'd die if 1 didn't marry
him"
"And still you refused?"
Eyes. 1 wished to find out before
promising whether he really loved me
as much as that or not. Oh, Harriet,
I'm p-p-perfectly miserablel He seems
to be wretchedly healthy, and l DIDO
love him so much?'-Chicago Record
Herald.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
BANK OF AMADOR COUN
Incorporated November, 1895

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Alfonso Ginocchio, S G. Spagnoli, John Str
Frederick Eudey and Alex Eudey of jack
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30

consequence of self abuse and excess p
ing the following symptoms Sallow G
nance dark spots under the eyes, pain
head, ringing in the ears, loss of conf,
d1ffdence in approaching strangers, palpi
OF the heart, weakness OF the limbs and
loss OF memory, pimples on the face, q
consumption, etc.
DIR. GIBBON has practiced in San Fra
over 40 years, and those troubled shou1
fail to consult him and receive the ber
his great skill and experience The
cures when others fail. Try him. Cures
anteed. Persons cured at home. Charges
enable. Call or write.
DR.. J. F. GIBBoN, 629 Kearney street
Francisco. Cal.
Amador ledger., 1903-10-30
JACKSON,
TO THE UNFORTUNA1
DIR. GIBB(

This old reliab
themost successf'
cialist in San FIR
co costillcontinues
all Sexual and Sc
Diseases, such as
orrhea, ,Gleet, Stri
Syphilis in all its
Skin Diseases, N,
De bility, Impo
Seminal Weaknel
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12

The northern people are pushing
their way to Mardi Gras at Pensa-
cola, Mobile and New Orlenas by the
train loads, though the carnivals do
not open before next week. Extra
coaches and sleepers are being carried
to accommodate the great number of
people from the northern states and
on the first day of the Mardi Gres
these cities will be crowded. Those
people know a good thing when they
see it affair, besides they want to get
away from the chilling blasts of the
north for few days and enjoy the
beautiful sunshine of the sunny
south.
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12

being recognized as field workers on
Que or the other side of the prohibit
ton question, and that class does not
propose 10 get down from off the fence
if they can avoid it. The same will
apply to candidates for governor and
for other offices. That the real senti-
ment which permeates the voters of
Mississippi the Herald believes to be
for local option, and that the coming
primary will so demonstrate. Biloxi
Herald.
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12
The Hattiesburg Progress is

The Hattiesburg Progress is view
ing the prohibition movement with a
critical eye, and predicts that it will
split the democratic party in Missis-
sippi. That it will do so ON the ques-
ton of prohibition there is not a
shadow of doubt, but whether the
division will extend to other public
matters or become of permanent
nature time alone will develop. The
Progress has put itself on record as
opposed TO the present prohibition
movement and every paper in the state
should declared itself one way or the
other. But will the editors do so?
1t is extremely doubtful. The Herald
fears that many of them propose to
pose as fence-riders in the place of
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12
Some Of the papers are a little

Some of the papers are little in
clined to criticise Richmond p Hob
son because he resigned Richmond
was only exercising a privilege, and
since he was not able, owing to de-
fective eyesight, to superintend ship
building and the fact that congress
would not retire him, there was
nothing wrong in his resigning. He
has honors enough left to last him
a long time If he does not enter the
lecture field.
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12
Forrest Runnels seems to be head

Forrest Runnels seems to be headed
for the Office of secretary of state and,
like calf, he will be hard to head
off. He has no opponent so far ex-
cetp Joe Power, a chip Of the old
block and mighty clever fellow.
But his canvass has rot taken on
much strength yet. While the Prog
ress would like to see him succeed
himself, it has kind of brotherly
love for Runnels end must accept him
as its choice.
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12

There is no need to warn the people
of Hattiesburg to keep out of the
middle of the road that runs from
Williamsburg to Augusta and which
forms Main street of the city. The
man who steps into the middle of
that part of the road that runs
through this city had better make his
will before he takes the step, for
nothing will be found of him but his
hat.
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12
Frank Prosser, who for a long

Frank Prosser, who for long time
was locomotive engineer on the Ala
bama and Vicksburg road, also on the
Northeastern, VISA killed in wreck
in Mexico the other day, his engine
having collision with the rear end
of n freight train All the railroad
men of the roads mentioned above
and many people of Meridian, where
the deceased lived, will remember
him
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12

The investigation Of the Goebel
killing is making good progress. 1t
has been learned that he had pistol
in his hand when shot and it can he
proved by ah eye witness who 1t
happenes just now, cannot be found,
saw Goebel when he shot himself.
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12

Candidates for governor are still
doundering around over the state, fol-
lowing up the circuit courts. The
number seems TO have been reduced
TO three, Vardaman, Noel and Critz.
Lieutenant Harrison does not seem to
be making any Roadway, if he is a
candidate at all, and Jim Neville
positively refuses to allow his name
to be used.
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12

A fast negro rider in Biloxi the
other day ran his horse over the son
Of Judge James Neville and frac-
tured his skull 1t would be very
pious idea to take up such negroes
and put them to work on the streets
when they would have no time nor
opportunity to run their horses over
white children.
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12

1t is about time our esteemed Jack
son contemporary, the ClariOn-Ledger,
was putting at the top of its editorial
column the name Of ". ]. Bryan for
president
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12

Our Anse may no the able to bring
Teddy to terms regarding the In
dianola postoffice, but the idea must
not get into ones head that he will
not stand mp and sloOk fierce.
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12

1t matters not how much Mr.. Bryan
paid for his new dwelling. What
the people are concerned in is to keep
him out of the white house at Wash
inyton.
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12

1t is understood that Mr.. Bryan Is
investigating the. past political record
Of Judge Parker. Now who can
guess what the verdict will be?
Hattiesburg daily progress. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 18??-1909, 1903-02-12

A man named Shell is running for
Office out west, and if he expects to
get in he must Shell ont.