davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-18
OLDEST LIVING THING.
A Cypress Tree In Mexico Over 5000
 Years of Age.

From the St. Louis Globe Democrat.
 A statement recently made that there are yews In England that are the oldest living things on this earth Is not cor rect.
 These yews are old, very. very old there Is no doubt about that Some of them were stalwart trees even before Caesar landed on those shores. There is one now standing in the churchyard at Fertingal, in Perthshire, which Decandole nearly a century ago proved to the sat isfaction of botanists to be over twenty five centuries old, and another at He'd sor in Buclas, which is 3,2i0 years old. How Decandole arrived at an apparent ly correct estimate of the enormous age of these living trees Is a simple thing, and the principle Is doubtless well known today to all. The yew, like most other trees adds one line (about one-tenth of an inch) to It's circumference each year. He proved this after an investigation ex- tending over several years. and we know now. 100 years later, that his deductions were correct. The old yew at Hedsor has a trunk twenty-seven feet in diam eter, proving It's great age, and 1t Is in a fiourshing, healthy condition now. like it's brother at Fortingal.
 Their years are few, though, compared with those of the trees I had in mind when I made my first assertion that the statement printed about them in a scien-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-18

latest A Cuban baptismal party would not think of walking to church. even though the building be next door.
 One of the curious social laws of Peru forbids women to attend funerals, and they do not appear at weddings except as one of the principals), unless they are very intimate friends of the contracting parties.
 Japan has 100000 registered eases of leprosy. There is no pity or compassion for the lepers. Man or woman. young or old, they are turned adrift in the highways, homeless wanderers, depend- ent for subsistence upon casual doles Of food thrown to them from afar
 The making of shoes for dogs has now developed into quite a big industry, and is especially fiourishing in Labrador. The dogs attached to sledges travel at great speed over the rough ice, and some pro- tection for the feet is necessary. The shoes are made of sealskin. Palestine Is a land of flowers Botan- ists tell us that there are 25O0 different kinds. The eastern sun gfves ,ne colors brightness they seldom have in our hazy cline. The wild flowers are some how localized, so that acres and in- deed, miles, take their hue from a single flower.
 Keeping a tobacco shop in France is a position greatly coveted by gentlewo- men in reduced circumstances. The sale of tobacco being a state monopoly the government generally bestows the right to keep a bureau de tabac on the widows and daughters of officers and govern ment officials.
 In Turkey a Moslem grave, when once
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-18

tihc journal was incorrect. In one chap. ter of his writings Humboldt refers to a gigantic baobab tree in Central Africa as the oldest organic monument" in the world. This tree has a trunk twenty nine feet In diameter, and Adanson, by series of careful measurements. dem onstrated concusively that 1t had lived for no less than 5.l50 years.
 Still 1t is not the oldest organic mon- ument in the world. as Humboldt de- clared, for now Mexican scientists have proved that q huge cypress tree, standing in chapultepec, with a trunk 1lS feet and 10 Inches In circumference Is older than it-older. too by more than a thousand years-for 1t has been shown as eonclu- sively as these things can be shown that it's age Is about 6260 years TO become impressed with wonder over this, one has only to dwell on that duration for a little while in thought
 Yet if Is not so remarkable when one stops for A moment to remember that, given favorable conditions for It's growth and substance. the average tree will never die of old age-lts death is merely an accident Other younger and more vigorous trees may spring up near it, and perhaps rob it's roots of their proper nourishment: insects may kill It., floods or winds may sweep It away. or it's roots may come in contact with rock and be- come so gnarled and twisted because they have not room to expand in their growth that they literally throttle the avenues of It's sustenance; but these are accidents. If such things do not happen tree may live on for century after cen tury, still robust, still fiourishing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-18

1t has been filled in, is never to be re- opened on any account. With view to remove the faintest chance of a grave being thus dehled, the Moslems plant cypress tree on every grave immediately after the burial, thus making their cem- eteries resemble forests.
 They have curious methods in Persia of insuring law and order. A failure of the crops has resulted in a dear loaf, which much enraged the popuace. In order to quell the tumult the shah or dered a number of bakers to receive several hundred strokes with a rod. be- sides a few minor little attentions, such as the amputation of an ear or two.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-18
Worlds Queer Customs.
m the Boston Herald .

From the Boston Herald.
 In Lapland the crime which Is pun ished most severely, next to murder, is the marrying of a girl against the ex- press wish of her parents.
 In Armenia, children are not allowed to play with dolls. It is feared that if this were permitted the little ones would learn to worship them as idols.
 Many old houses in Holland have a spe- cial door, which is never opened save on two occasions-when there is a marriage or a death in the family.
 A Cuban baby is baptized when it is two weeks and a day old at the very
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-18
The Polite Jap.

From Answers.
 The Japanese proprietor of tea shop in the east end of London has been much annoyed by the incessant bowling of his neighbours dog under his window while he was trying to sleep. There came night when his patience gave way. He raised the window, stuck his head out, and called to his neighbor In terms that indicated that his English en- yironment was gradually undermining his native politeness.
 Mist Jones'" he said, Twill you do the kindness for request the honorable dog that he stop his honorable bark? If you don't by gosh, I knock his head off"
 For scrofula in every form Hoods Sar- saparilla is a radical, reliable remedy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-18

will be in force (for Open list in Tuesdays News and
 PADS and EXCLUSIVE prepared to buy when you
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-18

TOMORROW londay) store will be closed account of Ready for Business Bright and Early Tuesday Morning
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03
Visitors to Mecca.

A recent writer on Arabia gives quite
list OF adventurous travellers who
have visited the holy city of Mecca.
which Is not open to any but true be-
levers In Mohammed. He SAYS: eve
can name Italians. Varthema and
Flnau; Germans, Wild. Seetzen and
Won Nathan; EnglIshmen, Pitts, Bur-
ton. keane: q Swiss. Burckhardt: a
Spaniard. Badia: Swede, wailin: a
Dutchman. Hurgronje; a Frenchman.
Courteiiemont. Niebuhr heard OF n
French surgeon and two Englishmen:
burton quotes an unnamed pilgrim;
Doughty heard OF more than one Frank
and himself met an Italian, calling
himself Ferrari. who was on his way
TO Mecca with the Persian hail: Pitts
found an Irishman In the town: Malt
Fan says that Leon Roches, French
consul In Tunis. had made the pilgrim
age. as had also an English sailor.
Varthema, Wild, Pitts, Seetxen. Burck-
hardt, Wallin. Burton and Keane Wis.,
tied Medina also" The Dutch Arabist
snouck Hurgronje. spent five months
In the holy city as late as 1886.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03

A Baltimorean fond OF arguing re.
ligious questions and OF 'pinninc
down" those with whom he came In
contact asked an east Baltimore min.
lister, TN the course OF a conversation
several days ago. II be believed "aIl OF
the Bible"
Il do" instantly replied the good
man.
Every bit OF it?' insisted the cues.
toner obviously.
Il most certainly do" was the pas.
tors reply.
DO you really believe the story
about BALKAN and the ASST" asked the
man with n slight smile.
Most assuredly do" responded the
clergyman unhesita tingly.
And you firmly believe" insisted the
inqulsitive friend. that the ass Ba.
laam rode under the tree spoke like n
persona"
Yes, 1 do" asserted the minister
with just the slightest suspicion OF
Irritation In hts voice.
WELL" asked the Questioner in an
Pve-got-you-now tone, ''can you tell me
how 1t could be possible under any
circumstances you can imagine for an
ass to talk like a person."
"Ah, that is easy" asserted the min
lister. laying his hand on the mans
shoulder. 1T Is just as easy, my
friend, for an ass to talk like q man as
1t is for a man to talk like an ass
The man had nothing more to say
Baltimore Sun.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03
A TransvaaI wedding Trip.

A johannesburg paper tells OF a mar.
rage at Lyndenburg. 1t says: 1.-THE
bride wore her travelling gown, and Inn.
mediately after the ceremony the mar.
riage trip or thirty-eight miles to Pill.
grim's Rest was begun in a cart drawn
by eight mules. When about half the
distance was made. It was found that
the Ohrigstad river was in food, aud
passage was impossible. The route
was retraced for about ten miles, and
temporary accommodation was secured
at q farmhouse. Next day, however.
the river proved just as impossible,
and thus for four days the honeymoon
coupe were held up by the elements.
On the third day traveller attempted
to cross with cart and two horses.
but the attempt proved disastrous. for
the horses and cart We're swept away
and were never seen again. The pas
senger probably owed his life to the
fact that he became entangled In a
barbed wire fence. Two DAYS after
this. the river having subsidized some
what, the help OF some transport drlv-
ers was requisitioned, and the cart and
team were fioated across, with the help
or strong ropes at the other side"
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03
AN INDIAN LEGEND.
The Shoshone shining shield an
It's Mysterious BriIlfpuev

AhG cho~honf >ntntnR Shield and
Its Mysterious BriIIinncy.
When n. III. Craig of Kansas City,
general superintendent OF the Bolen-
Darnell Coal company, finished iocat-
Ing a new shaft for the Sheridan Fuel
company. be probably had no idea that
he had accomplished anything else
than a preparation of the way for the
development of the largest coal mine
west OF the Mississippi But In reality
his work has brought TO light another
valuable mineral and has opened the
path TO greater wealth for the Kan
sas City and other owners OF the prop-
erty and has disclosed a pretty Indian
tradition.
Through the years which reach to
the days of Shoshone power and place.
amid the red tribes OF western plain
and mountain. still CLEANS the story
or the Shining Shield. This bright
particular star OF Shoshone song and
story was as mysterious as 1t was daz-
FLING. Every Shoshone brave wore a
shield as necessary and tribal Incl
dent OF his war equipment, and these
shields were cared for and polished un.
I'll they glowed again, but the Shining
Shleid needed neither care nor polish
and yet ever glittered immaculate.
Inc story OF the Shining Shield be-
gins with the captivity among the Sho-
snones OF white man brought to the
Shoshone tepees from the far south.
and presumably a Spaniard. This man.
known among the Shoshones as the
iron Beater, was cunning artifcer
In iron and steel, and the keen lance
heads. tomahawks, arrow points and
scalping knives OF his forge fires often
turned the tide OF battle in Shoshone
favor.
iron Beater was adopted into the
Shoshone tribe and lived contentedlv
and In high honor among his new PEG.
pie. An especial favorite of the iron
Iorger was young chieftain called
Floating Feather. and to this fortunate
warrior Iron Beaten one day gave the
Shining Shield. None but the maker
or the shield knew the secret of fits
permanent and phenomenal polish, and
tue secret was buried In Iron Beater's
grave,
The prowess of Floating Feather was
oquai 10 the ulster or the Shining
Shield, and he became a mighty war
chief. When. in the plenitude of his
sway and strength, Floating Feather
was gathered unto his red fathers.
there was buried with him, as an es-
pecial mark OF tribal esteem and re-
membrance. the Shining Shield. But
whence came the mysterious and mag
nihcent polish which made the Shining
Shield a marvel in Shoshone eyes and
which Is told in Shoshone story and
chanted In Shoshone song?
Generations after the shield itself
had passed forever from sight in the
grave or the great Floating Feather,
and when the very Shoshone nation
Itself Is finally passing. is read the
riddle OF the mystic shield In the late
discovery I'm the Sheridan vicinity OF
the rare and costly molybdenite-a
metal whose mission is the placing OF
an imperishable and lustrous polish
upon steel. The iron beaten was a
skilled metallurgist. as well as a cum
ming artisan, and with the mlrrorlike
molybdenum did he polish the Shining
Shield of the observation-disclosures City
Times
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03

tic possibilities in their arrangement
are well nigh limitless. Sharp,
harsh lines at the neck and wrist are
bad as well. Did you ever notice
that when a woman wears some soft
chiffon or something of that sort
about her neck the photograph is al
ways more pleasing than when she
wears a stiff collar or stock?
"All of these things 1 have men
toned help to give photograph
that quality which causes a woman
to say it isn't entirely satisfactory.
even though the features may be
excellent. Skilled photographers
know these things, and try to have
their customers avoid them, but Of
tentimes persuasion is useless, and
then comes the kick when proofs
are shown that there is something
about it l don't like st. Louis
Globe-Democrat.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03
MONTE CARLO GAMBLERS.
\ Side Light ON the Methods of the
Casino Managers.

Oastno Managers.
In Sir Hiram Maxim's book ON
Monte Carlo, just published In London.
he tells this story of how the mana
gers OF the great gambling establish
ment boom" things for the benefit of
their money making game. Referring
10 the methods OF the bank In its deal
ings with Lord Rosslyn OF the famous
System" and the late Sam Lewis. he
says:
Upon one occasion these two gem
uemcn approached n trente-et-quarante
table. and each staked a maximum
OF 1900 francs upon black. Black
came up. and the bank paid them
$4,000 francs. Again they staked the
maximum on black. and again black
came up. They continued stalking on
black till they had scored seven con-
secutive wins, when the bank was said
TO be broken. A bell was rung, and an
Official OF the bank approached with
considerable ceremony. A demand
was made, also with considera BILE
amount OF ceremony, for more money;
again, with considerable ceremony, II
was delivered, and the play went on,
black coming up every time.
The bank was again broken: more
money was sent for-more ceremony.
This time there was great excitement,
hundreds OF people were crowding
about the table, and everybody that
could stake louis staked on black, and
black continued to come up for seven
teen times.
Then, on the eighteenth coup, which
was red. Lord Rosslyn and Mr.. Lewis
each lost 10000 francs
"rThis.' says Sir Hiram, was the
longest run ever witnessed Mt Monte
Carlo. However. my suspicious were
aroused. did not believe for a mo-
ment that the bank had actually been
broken. knew that there had been
great deal Of play that day, and that
the winnings at this particular table
must have been heavy indeed.
81 therefore remained to see the
money taken from the table, when !
found that 1t was exactly as had ex-
peeted. There was at least a peck OF
large bank notes. 1t had not been
necessary for the hank to send for
money at all: this had only been done
for effect.
1T was telegraphed all over the
world that Lord Rosslyn and Mr.. Sam
Lewis had broken the bank three con-
secutive times In a single evening.
True, the bank had lost money, but
they turned 1t into a valuable adyer-
usement' NEW York Times.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03

rejecting wealth and its attendant
iuxuries to enter her chosen field OF
evangelistic work, Miss Mary II. Rob.
,ilsoh' daughter OF a millionaire Pitts
Durg railroad magnate. has gone to
chicago to speak of salvation from the
pulpit OF Bethlehem chapel. Miss Rob
ihsoh' who is worth 100000 I'm her
OWE right. was director Of a Pittsbure
rnurch chorus at large salary. The
postonians made her an offer OF S1O.-
vVo year to Join their opera company.
nut she refused. Soon afterward she
ierr home to enter evangelIstIc work.
her uncle. John G. Robinson. secretary
Oh the Pittsburg and Lake Erie rail,
way. and friends tried in vain to dis
suade her.-Scranton (Pa) Truth.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03
BEFORE THE CAMERA.
Row the Most Satisfactory Pictures
May Be Secured.

May Be Secured.
The sort Of clothes worn by |,
person when posing for a photo
graph has q great deal to do with
the success or failure of the photog
Fapher in securing a good picture
said a photographer.
Take q waist of silk, with a elis
tening or polished surface. Such &
garment cannot be made to take vel
In photograph, and will give a pc.
cullar effect to it that nine out Of
ten women will not like; yet, when
the fact Is pointed out to them, they
may refuse to believe it. Another
thing that does.not lend itself well
to Photographic purposes when made
up into garments are goods Of q
positive pattern, such as large plaids,
wide stripes, and so forth. Dresses
OF these goods may look well on the
wearer, and perhaps in a few cases
not detract from the effect in pho
tograph, but as a general PROPOSE
ton they ought to be tabooed by
women when having their pictures
taken by any Photographic process.
Sharp contrasts in pronounced col,
ors ought also to DO strictly avoid
ed, and Jet or other glistening or
glitteripg jewelry should not be
worn, for the light is reflected from
them sometimes in such a way as to
spoil almost completely the picture.
Stiff materials in dresses are also
apt to act as contributing cause
to an unsatisfactory photograph,
Goods that will fall into soft and
graceful folds are the best for q dress
to be photographed in, for the artis-
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03
Precocious.

ph. yes. we Were very young cou-
pte--mere children. in fact. / was but
O simpering schoolgirl In short skirts,
and George was just boy in jackets.
I remember how pleased he was when
he cast his first vote"
"But he didn't vote until he was
twenty-one?
George was very precocious. He
voted much earlier than they usually
do."-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03

Miss Edith ID. Lawrence. now a
teacher la missionary school &C Ia
brlx. Persia. writing 10 friends In Ok
iahoma aud telling or n shipment of
nooks' etc, received from home. said !:
l-ast night ! picked up uu American
history and found forty pages about
the Revolution torn out. They Will not
allow anything like that to pass
through. The snltan will not allow
such Sunday school lessons as Ahs,.
Ions rebellion to be studied. Instead
OF publishing such lessons they put In
lesson from u psalm"
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03
The Hc-dsehoH.

The hedgehog runs the roads In Eng
land freely. He is a quaint little Eel
low. our hedgehog, having far more
intelligence than people give him credit
FOR. 1t is curious. as you stand per.
fectly still in the middle OF the road, 70
see him come running along, then stop
ping TO sniff and whine and examine
the high, strange object that hardly
breathes lest he startle the little crea-
ture. Then, with n gentle grunt, he
Will pass you by. A very low yet de-
cided grunt he gives. and he whines as
well.-Blackwood's Magazine.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03
Visitors With Pets.

Hostesses who OF late years have
been confronted with the problem OF
housing motors and chauffeurs as well
as the Wallets. ladies' maids and leaders
belonging to their guests seem to be
suffering n good deal from the pets
which their visitors insist on taking
about with them everywhere. One lady
travels about with boa constructor
another is always accompanied by a
pair OF guinea pigs. and q third will
not be parted from her Siamcse cats,
not TO mention the small lap dogs
which are never separated from their
various owners.-Yanity Fair.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03
HeIt OF Calm at pac,nc End q, c.n.,

Beit Of Calm at Pacific End OF Canal
At the eastern extremity OF the canal
the difficulties which sailing vessel
may expect to encounter will arise
from a superabundance OF wind rather
than lack OF It. At the western ex-
tremity. on the other hand, these con-
ditions will be completely reversed.
Upon emerging from the canal into
the Pacific ocean n vessel will enter
m extensive belt OF calms aud light
airs. which render navigation by sail
more tedious than in any other fire.
quented portion OF the sea. The width
or this region varies-at some points
wide. at others narrow. In that Dor
ton OF the north Pacific included be-
tween the American coast and the me-
ridian or 120 degrees west Ii reaches
maximum. extending In latitude from
point one or two degrees north of the
equator to Cape San Lucas. the south
ern extremity OF Lower California. In
both approaching aud leaving Panama.
Irrespective OK the port from which or
toward which bound. a sailing vessel
must OF necessity navigate greater
or less width OF the belt OF caims. and
In estimating for a given voyage the
saving or time effected by the use OF
the canal the delay arising from this
cause must not be neglected National
Geographic Magazine.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03
shak,ps Haua. az rrench run.r.,

A most painful custom ut French
funerals Is the posting at the exit door
OF the church wherein the>ceremonies
take place OF the male head OF the de-
ceased persons family. the widower
or the eldest son or brother, whose
duty 1t is to shake hands with every
person who has been present at the OBJ
seQuies when once they are over and
people are going away. 1t is not eti-
Quette for the gentleman 10 speak to
anybody. but IL he is moved to tears
his weeping Is considered most ap-
propriate action.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03

past. both praised and unpraised: come
with yolr sacred memories and your
buried dead. Come. We Christian he
roes or the future. with your cradles
and unborn generations: come. We ma.
tons about to be born for Christ; come
all times and all millenniums. Down
In prayer and kneel to him who viii
yet be crowned King OF kings and Lord
of ALI Halleluiah. for the Lord God
omnipotent reigneth,
copyright 1904 by Louis KIopsch1
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-03

and cheerfulness soon
disappear when the kid
neys are out of order
or diseased.
Kidney trouble has
become so prevalent
that Il is not uncommon
for a child to be born
afflicted with weak kid
neys. II the child urin-
afAS fOo ofta,, 20 a.