davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

probable that that man really believes
his own statement that he was bewitched.
In his own mind he probably has a very
definite idea who .bewitched him, but he
is not likely toedeclare the faith that is
in him for the unbe1iever to make
mock of.
" First Tried the Bible
Still more recently, near Durham, N. c.,
a respectable, middle aged negro, named
Lipscombe, deliberately killed an old
darky, named Merritt, who he believed
had cast spell upon his wife. Some time
previous the two men had a difficulty
over trif1ing account. A little after
that Merritt went to Lipscombes wife
and told her he had drove up a nail in
her" and that she would be dead in three
weeks. She believed him and worried
herself sick. Lipscombe saw his wife
apparently dying before his eyes and
went over to Merritts house with his
Bible under one arm and his shotgun
under the other. He tried the Bible first
as means of breaking the spell, and
finally, believing it the only way, blew
Merritt's head off. He made no at
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

and he is reported to have said that he
was content to let Mr.. Depew be the
vox, being himself the populi
This report Is utterly without foun-
dation in fact. Senator Platt has toe
high a regard for his colleague to in
dulge in any such disparaging jest at
his expense. His real reason he has
frequently summed up in private con-
versation with me on the. subject.
"As president of the United States
Express company" he has repeatedly
said, IF have any views to express
I'll express 'enn. over my own routes
abhor the dragging of shop into official
life.'
1t is a plain, simple reason. simply
and straightforwardly set forth, and
shows with what vigorous care at least
one member of congress at Washing
ton keeps his official and his private
interests separate. It would be well if
there were many more equally solic-
itouS.
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

What they really believe it is very hard
for stranger to find out. Addressed in
English they answer all questions quite
cheerfully and apparently friendly-wise
with All don'd kno-ow.' They absolute
Aly "don'd kno-ow'' anything. But talk
to them in their own tongue, or even in
decent German, and they know every
thing, and imagine a whole lot more. They
will tell tales of witches and spells and
incantations and charms till ones
blood runs cold, of the harm wrought by
the evil eye, of the pain killed by a pow
WOW, of a miraculous cure by a seventh
son.
Then, again, there are any number Of
the farmer folk who believe that while
there are no witches nowadays, there were
witches in their grandfather's day; most
certainly there were. Judge G. Henning,
of Pottsville, himself of Pennsylvania
German stock, tells of meeting an old
Schuylkill country farmer. and, by adj
dressing him in his own tongue, getting
him to declare the faith that was in him
on the subject Of witches and witchcraft.
They sat on a fallen tree by the roadside
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

tempt to escape, went quietly home, and
waited for the officers to come and ar
rest him, and went with them without
protest.
Down in Cumberland county, Pennsyl-
vania, there Is a degenerate class Of
Pennsylvania Dutch,'' who have both
negro and Indian blood in their veins,
and have grated on their own super
stitions those Of the Indian conjure man
and the negro voodoo until the air is
thick with spells and no mans life is safe
unless guarded by lnnumerable charms
against these unseen powers of evil, whom
an enemy will, of course, invoke.
Found In the Country
AS rule, these beliefs are only to be
found in the rural districts, and are care
fully guarded from the profane eyes of
a foreigner" In the isolated farming
districts of Berks, Schuylkill and Ian
caster counties, Pennsylvania, the belief
in witches, in pow-wows, in seventh sons
and in the evil eye is well nigh as strong
today as it was 200 years ago. Is man
apparently marked for misfortune; has
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12


he what. out West, or even in New Eng
land. would be called "a run of bad
luck" do his crops fail, his buildings
burn, his animals, or perchance, his chill
dren, sicken and die; 1t Is a spell. Some
one has bewitched him, and he generally
has pretty distinct idea who this some
one is. Naturally he retaliates In kind
He does not take the matter to court,
seeking damages or legal redress. He
finds some one who can cast q stronger
spell, and fights his adversary with his
own weapons, witcheraft with witch
craft.
There is probably no other people in the
country as tenacious Of the beliefs of
their fathers as the Pennsylvania Dutch
Or more properly the Pennsylvania Ger
mans. for their ancestors were not HoI-
landers, but Germans, and they remain to-
day, after having been in America for
more than two centuries, of almost un-
diluted German blood, with all their Ger
man characteristics unchanged and speak
ing corrupt German patois among them
selves, and English only when they have
to. and then with decided accent.
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12
The Senators
From Massachusetts

Two more able men than Senators
Hoar and Lodge I have seldom
encountered, writes Father Time in his
chapter on Senators I Have Met
Both are essentially brilliant men, and
between them manage to represent the
various shades of opinion which go to
make up their constituency, which has
wittily been referred to as 1.-The state
of mind"
They differ radically on momentous
questions of public policy, but that is
characteristic of strong men every
where, and it does not in any wise af-
feet their personal regard for each
other. Indeed, both express the high
est admiration Of each others talents,
even when pitted against each other on
questions of imperialism or expansion.
The nearest approach to stinging criti-
cism of the other that / ever heard
pass either was Senator Hoar's obser-
vation to me that he preferred the
poets conception of Mr.. Lodge to his
colleagues own.
Mr.. Lodge" said he, believes him
self great senator, but would pre-
fer him in the other capacity
Which is what?'' l demanded.
"A lodge in some vast Wilderness
replied Mr.. Hoar.
Even this, knowing the venerable
gentleman's kindliness of heart, be-
lieve to be not so much in criticism of
his colleagues work as a senator as
an indirect reference to his qualifca-
ton for the governorship of Min
danao.
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12
AS THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH
CAROLINA SAID TO THE GOV
ERNOR OF NOQTH CAROLINA,

We'll omit consideration of the third
for the present" he concluded, with
that chaste smile which is so beloved
of his friends and feared by his enc
mics.
Il did not know that you were an
inventor" said L
''Yes-Pve joined the Marconis, and
am now at work on a machine that
works on the wireless principle. Wire
less politics, Father Time, are the
great need of the day. Without wires
there is no need to pull them, and in
its ultimate result, which is now in
plain sight, I think it will prove win
ner.''
And what is this result of wireless
politics to which you refer?" / asked,
highly interested.
"A speechless candidate replied my
sagacious friend.
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

linois. A sixty-year acquaintance with
the gentleman enables me to speak
>authoritatively of his equipment for
that high office. He amply fulf1lls
every requirement of the position, and
in my Judgment is the living embodi-
ment of the ideal speaker as described
in Tennyson's famous lines:
Cannon to right of them,
Cannon to left of them,
Cannon behind them,
Volley'd and thun6er'd.
Stormed at by fist and mouth,
- East, West and North and South;
Into the jaws of he'll
Hammered his strong gav-ell,
And never blundered.
1t is not generally known that this
truly eminent man has repeatedly re-
fused high cabinet positions under
various presidents of the United
States. This is nevertheless the truth,
as 1 happen to know from having seen
his correspondence with several chief
magistrates on the subject. His un-
usual keenness of mind has operated
often to preclude the possibility of his
assuming an Office, even though 1t
were in the line of his ambition, for
which he felt himself not quite suited
One of these declinations / recall 1t
was ELECTED by an offer of the war
portfolio under. President Harrison, to
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12
Side Light on
Senator PEaff

\ S a still, silent worker. Senator
"A Platt, of New York, is without
superior in the history of the upper
chamber of the United States con-
gress. Reticence to singular degree
has been characteristic of this states
mans career, although the opportunity
to make himself heard by word of
mouth has by no means been lacking.
1t has been said by some that his fail
ure to express himself and his views
at certain psychological moments on
the floor Of the senate has been due to
his conviction that he and his col
league, Senator Depew, represent the
vox popuh of the state of New York,
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

Y = s-S S1k-U-EI Q-UTQ-A
They had some trifling dispute, and one
of them. walking into the farmhouse,
brought out his gun and deliberately shot
his two brothers dead. At a preliminary
examination, when asked why he did it,
his only answer, given apparently in per-
feet seriousness and good faith, was: II
must have been bewitched." At present
he is in Jail awaiting trial, but unless his
lawyer prevents he will certainly urge at
his trial that he was not responsible; that
some one had cast a spell over him It
is a plea which IN the district where he
has lived would be accepted as seriously
as 1t was made. Even in the county seat,
where the trial must be held, 1t is prob
able that more than one of the jury will
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

M ITCHCRAFT is not dead in Amer
EE lea, nor did the last of the
witches burn during the DAYS of
lne salem witchcraft. In the Businesses
"a tne PENNSYLVANIA mountains, and in
Ile farming districts, the homes of the
Fennsylvania Dutch, bordering the great
anthraclte region, spells are as powerful
To-Day as they were 200 years ago. and as
implicitly believed in. The belief in
Wltchcraft which was burned out of New
England survives in Pennsylvania. That
a man was bewitched is a common excuse
Tor crime there.
Only q, month or two ago a farmer
named Weisinger shot and killed two of
MS brothers. The men had lived together
all their days in peace and brotherly love.
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

in the shadow of Blue mountain and the
old fellow said:
No More Real Witches
"No, have never seen witch;i and /
don't believe there are any witches now
adays-not real witches Some people say
they have power to powwow still. and
don't know. perhaps they have. But they
are not real witches. In my grandmoth-
er's day there were real witches She
often told me about them when I was
a boy. She knew some of them well.
There was Peter Klein, he was a real
witch man, and he could change himself
into animals and trees and things You've
heard of Peter Klein, surely? No? Why,
Klein was a great man in his day
BY the way, Judge Henning says that
Klein really did live in the neighborhood
in colonial times and really was credited
with supernatural powers by half the
country side.
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12
Anecd0fe OF
Speaker Cannon

IT is not often, writes Father Time
l. in his "Recollections of Men of the
Hour that an Office in search of
man is so clearly successful in it's
quest as was the speakership of the
United States when 1t overlook and
captured Mr.. Joseph G.. Cannon, of IL
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

which the speaker replied that while
he appreciated the high honor which
the president had done him in placing
the Office at his disposal he was con-
strained to refuse.
In case Of war, Mr.. President" he
wrote, "the war portfolio requires the
utmost clearness of vision and sobrie-
ty of action. should hence be useless,
since in the face of an enemy it be-
hOoves every Cannon to be continually
loaded"
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

"A MONG the distinguished Amer
"a lean statesmen 1 have had the
honor to know with some de-
gree OF intimacy, must not forget to
mention Hon. David Bennett Hill. the
sage of Wolfert's Roost. From his
earnest infancy, when he acquired the
goVernorship of the nursery by sheer
1orce of his sagacity. until the present
have regarded his career as one of
the most promising in sight in Amer
lean life. There are those who lament
that 1t has been more promising than
1ulhIling, but it is sufficient answer
TO them to note that the gentleman
yet survives and gives evidence of be-
ing still in the ring.
Had Julius Caesar possessed as
many political lives as Senator Hill. I
am inclined to think that he would
have survived the crisis which laid
MIN low In the days of Brutus and
Casslus. He has read his political
obituary a dozen times in the last
twelve years, but is still adding 20 it
In paragraphs of voluminous bulk, with
a number of counties still unheard
from.
In figure Senator Hill has a tendency
toward shortness, but viewed from
above, with his hat off, he more nearly
resembles a snow clad Alp than anv
other man in public life today, due no
doubt to the sparseness of the foliage
on his topmost peak and the coolness
OF the brain, with the dangerous Gre
vases that lie beneath the surface.
The last time 1 had the pleasure of
meeting my old friend was in March.
1904, when, one blustery night, pass
Ing by the windows of his home at Al
bany, peeped in at his study window
along about midnight, when much to
my surprise 1 found him hard at work
upon diagram of some mysterious
interest.
He looked up as 1 peered in upon
him, and with a warm greeting. invit-
ed me to rest few minutes in his
sanctum.
Still at work. eh?'' said 1, accepting
the invitation.
Yes" said he, Il am always still at
work. 1 have no use for men who
fritter away a. third of their DAYS with
sleep. Sleep is rapidly becoming one
OF the vices of this land, and as for
myself, have given it up. My day is
divided into three parts of eight hours
each. One part is devoted to the prac-
tlce Of the law, one part to the per
Iectlon of my new invention and the
Here he paused.
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12
Gov. OdeIT'S
Alleged Goodness

The foregoing anecdote of Senator
Platt brings to my mind certain
allegations that his enemies delight in
bringing against Mr.. B. B. Odell Jr.,
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12

When in doubt as to how your money
should be invested, read ''The Globes
Paying Wants"
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12
HERE IS THE LIST OF PRIZES
In addition 10 the foregoing prizes the following
SPECIAL PRIZES FOR EARLY ESTIMATES will be pald;

For the nearest correct guess received be-
-, fore July 1st $4,000
For the nearest correct guess received on or
z after M July lst and before July 18TH. 10000
For the nearest correct guess received on or
after July 18th and before August 1st. -. 10000
For the nearest correct guess received or
~ after f august 1st and before August 18th 10000
after August 18th and before Sept. 1st.. 10000
For the nearest correct guess received on or
after Sept lst and before Sept, 16th..... 10000
For the nearest correct guess received on
after Sept. 18th and before Oct 1st. ..... 10000
For the nearest correct guess received on or
after Oct. 1st and before Oct. 18TH. 10000
Total 500 prizes. amounting to.......... 100000
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12
Gen. Niles and
the PrOE7ibffjOnEsfS

CANNOT share with those who OBJ
= ject to them the view that Gen.
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12
Conditions Of This Great Contest

% s. @ gusscsooE c2ags only S0
ow
o secea
s. you nary fgri the
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12
" " " :" ;" :" X * x & S-6f-o q q q q q q q q q
WitChCraft Still Believed
In by PennsyIvanians

-3-p-sot u q q q q q q q 3
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-06-12


ceved
the office President
dnterested
the
the winners addition
subscriptions All
have chance special a
sends in
money with which the prizes
such prize will be equally
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-15
Revolution Ancestors.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In reply
10 Martha Z. Hanna's inquiry relative to
establishing ancestral line for membership
in the Daughters of the American Revo-
luton, i would suggest that the names of
parents Of heroes are not essential.
Ii military service is beyond question
and lineal descent from soldier can be
traced. nothing further is required
Write to the Military Secretary Of the
War Department, giving full name, prob
able place of enlistment, the officers under
whom he served, if known, and request a
search.
Also, il pension was received, write to
the Commissioner of Pensions, giving
name of soldier and his wife, place Of resi-
dence when application for pension was
hled, and such data relative to service as
may be at command. Ask for history of
service as shown therefrom and number
of claim.
A record from either Of the above will.
af hled with application, establish eligibii-
ty for membership in the d. A. RI. b.
s.. member Of u. A. r.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-15
That Affair at Independence.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In The
National Tribune of Aug. Is Serg't 8. b.
Nelson, Co. A, Merrill's Horse, in correct
ing w. III. Hickman, 4th Iowa, is right.
On the day of the charge at Independence,
McNeil's Brigade was in the lead. Just
before we got to Independence the rebels
made a stand east of the town, in the
woods. The 18th Mo. was dismounted as
skirmishers, the fourth man taking care
of the horses. Our Major (Mazo) was
wounded on the skirmish line by piece of
shell. When we got through the woods
we were at the mouth of lane quarter
of mile east of town. Our horses were
there waiting for us. Gen. Mcneil rode
up and ordered our Colonel, Il. G. Gather
ward. to take his regiment or Or. seven ven
18th, and charge the town. The
Colonel rode up to the Captain tenn
porarily commanding Co. X and asked him
to lead the charge. We formed in col
umn of tours. There was a macadamized
road leading into town, and our hsrses'
feet made the fire fly. We raised the yell
and went for them. We took south the
south part of town; then west where we
captured the two pieces of artillery, at
the southwest corner of the town. l was
surprised at the 4th Iowa men, in a
former article, saying: ''No Merril's
Horse. no 18th Mo. there" do not
think he was there, or he would have
known more about it. In the issue Of
Aug. 25, Comrade III. j. McBrazer gives
his version of it. He misses the mark
wide. The charge was made late in the
evening; he has it in the morning, and
has McPherson's Cavalry in place of
Pleasonton's Cavalry. The list Mo. COM
rade talks about fighting all day at In
dependence. In fact, the charge the 18th
Mo. made was all the fighting that was
done in the town. The two pieces of cam
non captured were long 24-pounder brass
guns.
After the capture of the town and the
cannon we halted in the town, and Gen,
Browns Brigade, if 1 mistake not, was
sent to the front and engaged the enemy
the next morning.-JoHN B. GRADY, Ser
geant, Co. X, 18th Mo. Cav.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-15
At Santa Clara, Cal.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Wallace
Reynolds Post is one of the live Posts
of California; has a membership of 80;
is in perfect harmony, and united in all
things that benefit the old soldiers. The
Post meets on the first and third Thurs
days in each month /; the attendance aver
ages about 40.
The w. X. Q. has membership of Is,
and is an active, working corps. The
membership is comprised of the very best
ladies of the city, and they study to be
true support to the Post A short time
ago they presented the Post with $50.
The second meeting of the Post in each
month is an open one, to which all old
soldiers and their families are invited.
At each public meeting the hall is we'll
filled, and joyous time Is had. The pro-
grams are musical, literary and remini-
scent, and never fail to furnish a pleas
ant evening. The Relief Corps usually
furnishes the program, and never has given
us poor one yet l do not think it a
boast whens say there is an. unusual
amount of talent in the Corps Their
policy is to utilize the children and young
people in furnishing entertainment for
those assembled.
Both the Post and Corps regularly OBJ
serve all patriotic holidays with public
exercises. Last Memorial Day q vast
crowd OF people gathered to pay respect
to the memory of deceased Union soldiers.
The exercises were of a high order and in
tensely patriotic. A battalion Of the Naval
Reserves conducted the firing and made the
bugle calls. One hundred and nine graves
were decorated; fine dinner was served
and patriotic services were rendered at
the armory, which was packed with peo-
pie.
The Post and Corps work together, and
have the respect of the people of the city.
Set Wallace-Reynolds Post and Corps
down as two live and active patriotic
bodies. Among the most active and eff.
Gent members Of the Corps is Mrs.
Wright, the wife of Virginia Confeder-
are as earnest and Jealous in behalf OF
the Union veterans as any Of us, and they
are as welcome and respected as any one
who come to our Campfres.-W. v,
Lucas. Post Commander, Wallace Rey-
nolds Post.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-15
The Homogeneous American Ostrich.
(Sunset Magazine.l

The encyclopedias describe the ostrich
rs poiygamous; in California, however. he
adopts American institutions and chooses
but one wife. A shallow hole scooped out
an the ground serves as a nest, where ey-
cry alternate day an egg is laid. Such
an egg! Half a yard around the longer
way and tipping the scales at 81 pounds !,
a single egg would bs a breakfast for a
large family, though by no means an
economical one. From IL to IS eggs are
laid. then the 4O-day sitting begins, in
which the male assists; taking his shifts
at night, visitors seldom see him engaged
IN this feminine occupation. Having
many enemies in their wild estate, Nature
with unerring foresight has decreed that
the hen brooding by day should match
the sand; while the partner who takes her
place when the shades Of evening are
drawn is the color Of the night. When
q week old the chicks are worth S25
apiece. and q pair of four-year-oJd
ostriches, $500. This il no wonder. for
the hen. forgetting the seasons ia a land
pt perpetual sunshine, lays all the wear
Found instead Of twice year as in Africa.
zach bird produces every nine months a
crop OF feathers worth about $50: while
tne tourists who pay to see them. and
barry on, their expensive plumage as SOU
xenlrs. form the largest crop Of all.
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-15
Reunion OF the 55th Ohio.

The Both Annual Reunion of the 55th
Ohio will be held Sept. q and %, at
Bellevue, as the Secretary, Capt. r. w.
Pool says in his official circular: 1.-TWO
solid days of reminiscent comradeship.
Full program. Rousing Campfire on the
evening Of the first day." In the after
noon of the second day the Association
BILE. The Association is preparing to pub
lish a detailed history of the regiment,
written, to be written, revised and re-
vised. by men of the regiment, to assure
fits absolute accuracy and make it indubi-
table history
The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-09-15
National Headquarters.

Commander-in-Chief Blackmar, in Gen
erai Orders No. /, announces that Ma
tional Headquarters, G. A. r., will be at
% Milk ST.. Boston, and all communica-
tions designed for the Commanderin-Ch Chief
should be sent there, addressed to the Ad-
jutant- General. acquisitions must be sent
there, addressed to the Adjutant-General,
not to the uartermaster-General; but re-
mittances, il in checks. drafts or other
forms of exchange, must be payable to the
order of the Quartermaster General.
The staff appointments announced are
John Il. Gilman. Adjutant- General; Chas.
Burrows. General; j.
Henry Holcomb, Assistant Quartermaster-
General and Custodian of Records; E. B.
Stillings, Assistant Adjutant-General.