davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-10
Rube on Flies.
Mr.. Edutor,

Mr.. Edutor,
Deer Sur
Whoop! There goes another one.
By the Twin twist if this hain t
the fourth button. I've LATED off
my vest jest thinkin' bout that
jay that signs his writin's ''Observ-
err" People say, laff and get fat,
but it didn't make me fat; it only
give me pane in the head tryin'
to think how that fellow thought
he was whitewashin' that family
paper of yours black.
You no I've got that chap all
photographed in my Imagination
and I will bet my collar button
gainst your necktie, Mr.. Edutor,
that that jay has got ears SO gull
durn large that he is obliged to
wear cap the hull year round SO
as not to run the danger Of gettin'
his brains Topped to peaces. You
no I have seen a nawful lot of fys,
but durn if I Good ever here them
sayin' a word Then agin that
writer of yourn must have eyes in
his face like the he'd Its of an in
jine to see all he sees. Blame if
flies do all look the same to me.
Yes they do.
But that hain't all, cause he
seems to understand them. Yes
he does. I never newed before
that fys Good talk and study 81
ence, but they must or that scribe
of yourn wood never have been
able to get it down on paper SO |
Good understand it. It must be
mighty interestin' to listen to an
old fly tell the rest of her folks all
she noes bout a Teller, and what
you spring from, and so forth. II
piers to me it was an embarrasin'
place to be in and have Lady Fly
tell her children what she thot OF
him.
Now that chap of yourn may
have herd that fly talk, but I don't
think he did. IF the State Medi.
cal Board made a close examina.
ton Of him they wood find that he
had ben induljin in the condemned
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-10

ings and teachings Of loving
parent, but who perhaps now and
then visit the grog- houses, gam
bling places, to you l say, beware
of the living hell extending its
fattering welcome. regardless of
persons or character. You are
lingering carelessly about the edges
of an abrupt precipice whose in
cline, when once descended, is al
most insurmountable.
G. FL. W.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-10
Panorama of Finance and the
Markets.

As one would expect Of great
metropolitan newspaper having
the facilities Of the Chicago
Record Herald, that paper always
covers the market and financial
and commercial intelligence on a
scale of exceptional fullness; cover
ing two entire pages of each issue.
The quotations on live stock, grain
and provisions, stocks and bonds,
and in fact every commercial and
financial market in which the peo-
pie of the Northwest are interested,
are thoroughly complete and satls-
factory.
Special cables tell the story Of
finance abroad The Speculative
Gossip" "Wall Street Talks and
"LaSalle Street Notes are features
of the Record Herald market page
that interest spectators from the
Pacific to the Atlantic coast. They
tell of the Inducements in the
grain and security markets. They
relate personal gossip of the pit,
in its way as important as the
humdrum and routine part of the
days story of speculation. The
Wall street letter of John Cham
bers summarizes the daily history
of Gotham's money market in a
most entertaining and instructive
fashion. Examine the market page
of any issue and see for yourself.
-Adv.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-10
Where the Birds Thrive.

The birds are not forgotten by
the Swedish peasantry. At the
door of every farmers house is
erected pole to the top of which
is bound a large, full sheaf Of grain.
There is not q peasant In all Sweden
who will sit down with his children
to dinner until he has first raised
q meal for the birds. Elk.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-10
The Power Of Music.

It is said, and said with justice,
too, that there is nothing SO en-
nobling, or anything that appeals
to mans inner feeling and his very
nature, as does the power of music.
A celebrated philosopher of an
cient times made the claim that
music was the mother Of Creation.
Nearly everyone Of US is willing to
dispute that assertion, but none
can deny that an air from one of
the great composers, or one of our
own national songs, we'll rendered
by individual, band, or orchestra,
can create new thoughts and feel
ing within us.
Take the masterpieces of some
great composer, say Hayden, for
instance. No one can listen to his
Creation" or ''The Seasons"
without having his feelings stirred
within him. The listener may
then perhaps pause in his thoughts
and wonder what sublime mean
ing there is in the power of music.
There is no class Of music that
has or ever will appeal to the peo-
pie of this country as our own ma
tional airs. They are not only al
ways popular, but are appropriate
formost any occasion. The hymn
like strains Of some, perhaps, put
us in mind of home, friends and
different surroundings; while the
quick, inspiring music of others
cheer our hearts with pleasure
and the hope that we, too, can
march out some day to conquer,
not in war and strife, but as good,
useful citizens.
It is said that some melodies
have SO inspired the men that
fought and bled for our country
with courage and patriotism that
they have won decisive battles.
Just think what role plain cyan
kee Doodle played in the Revolu-
ton, or in Sherman's march to the
sea during the Rebellion, to say
nothing Of others. When music
creates such a feeling in time of
war, it is safe to believe that it can
inspire us as individuals, in time
of peace, to do goods and worthy
deeds.
Good, wholesome music not only
creates feeling of pleasure and
enjoyment for the time being, but
it also has a good moralizing infu-
ence, as it tends to uplift the in
tellect SO that it can comprehend
all that is good, noble, and grand
within us; and the officials who
were instrumental in the formation
of the band and orchestra for the
diversion Of the inmates Of this in
stitution, have not only made a
success of their undertaking, but
have given us something that will
influence our moral characters for
the best as we'll.
B. BEARD.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-10
n Y! Did you ever go fishing?
Y Not with jointed bamboo or

way SO dear to boyish hearts and
to those Of mature years.
Reading an article upon the fish
ing industries of the Pacific coast,
in magazine Of recent date, car
, ried lue bAck to boyhood days.
How well do [ remember attend
ing the village school and listen
ing to the irresistible voice OF Ma
ture calling through the open win
~dows, laden with the sweet smell
of budding trees and flowers.
Listening until | could not with
stand the temptation longer; steal
ing out of the room while the
watchful eye of the teacher was
occupied in more important work
than watching a restless urchin;
making a stealthy visit to the cur
rant patch in the old home garden,
where the fat angleworm was
patiently awaiting to be released
Nby the four tined potato fork and
pEsced in discarded tomato can,
well filed with dirt. Then speed
ang down the street that led to the
road upon which an hours hard
walking would bring me to the
pretty little river fed by many
springs of cold water Then with
a watchful eye search for a nice,
long, straight sapling, to be hewed
down with the laborious cuts OF a
broken iackknife; tie on the line. full
of snarls and knots from previous
fishing excursions, impale a wrig-
Cling worm on the rusty hook,
spit on the bait and cast out into
1.-The stream and wait for bite.
DO you remember the JOY OF
watching the cork float going bob
a-bob, then deep down out of sight
and when you gave pull as if you
were member of tug-of-war
team, throwing the line among the
branches overhead, and upon in
vestigation find you had "treed" a
great, foping black bass or may
be homely-snouted sucker?
After climbing the tree and releas-
ing the line and it's slippery vic
tim, search your pocket for a piece
of Irvine, which tied to two short
sticks made splendid ''stringer. !"
After placing fish number one
on the "stringer,' place it into the
water to keep it fresh, and care
fully wind the other end of the
sestringer" around bush near the
water.
After I had fished in that par
1icular hole [ would travel on until
I found the well-remembered fiat
rock overhanging deep pool and
placed between two stately pines.
Creeping noiselessly upon the rock
/ would carefully drop my line into
the water, when ker-chug would
go the float, down, down, until it
seemed as if pole, boy and all
would follow in it's wake, and up
ION pulling up find a great, two or
three pound speckled beauty fight
Jug for life and liberty. Well do
4 remember one day fishing from
that same rock with every nerve
tingling in anticipation of bite,
when whist! rattling noise was
heard upon the hillside at my back
and looking around [ espied q
snake, which to my startled vision
seemed some twenty feet in length
with sinuous body, waving head
and darling tongue, coming straight
for poor me. Up! and away! with
the speed of a deer, as if verify
Mephistopheles himself was at my
heels, cold chills running down my
spinal column and hair standing
erect, crashing and slipping ovel
bushes and stones until exhausted
but at the same time keeping {
.deathlike grip upon pole and fish
But I lost my precious can o.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-10

evening. And gladly would / give
all I shall ever be worth to be q
boy again and go fishing.
1877.
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-10
Assisting Evils Of
Moral Destruction

=
but for lack of confidence in
my ability to SO express my
thoughts as to attract the atten-
ton of a perusing public, | have
thus far delayed my endeavors.
Not that my ability Of expression
has increased or developed, but
because my desire to say and dc
something as preventative OF
moral destruction, have I allowed
confidence, perhaps, to predomi-
nate ability.
As it is we'll understood by all
can ounce of prevention is of
more value than a pound Of cure. "
[ will first address my thoughts to
those of my readers who have not
yet been seriously stigmatized by
existing evils; but who are perhaps
slightly inclined that way. Name
ly, those Of you, who at intervals
make compulsory visitations to our
county jaiis, because of petty Of
fences.
The more we learn of human
nature, the more do we perceive it's
initiative tendencies. Therefore,
the most available antidote to my
mind is the discreet selection Of
environments, which, if properly
attended to, would not only dis
courage evil, but also give to NOR
atty it's due respect and honor.
ooh, yesp' you say, Il have been
searching for honest morals in So
ciety until l have been disguised,
and as final result lost confidence
in all that pretends to be upright
and square" That assertion, my
friend, I will not dispute, because
you may have done what you
judged to be your utmost duty.
But L will say this, through some
inconceivable cause you have
failed, and perhaps still worse, you
have allowed that failure to cause
rehabilitation of the manhood
you at one time possessed, thus
unconsciously permitting yourself
to be classed with the scum and
and dross. Forgive me, if in your
estimation, [ am harsh; as it is to
your welfare that l Chew to the line,
let the chips fall where they may"
While speaking of the scum and
dross. don't suppose that | refer to
the poor and unfortunate slaves of
the lower elements, who endeavor
to satisfy the cravings Of the brute.
Their degeneracy is mostly due to
their ignorance and inability of
detecting the intricate snares spun
and layed for them by others, who
seek only to profit, even at their
victims ruin or degradation.
Pure morality is not found in
covetous and notoriety- seeking
minds. There it Is utilized as a
garb, and even worse, shamefully
abused in order to cover and pro-
tectintrinsic selfishness, malice and
deceit, thus assisting them to so
blindfold their movements as to
give them an undue unanimous
appreciation. Fame thus gained
will not stand the test OF time.
"You can fool all the people part
of the time, part of the people all
the time, but not all the people all
the time,'' said Lincoln. When
we peruse the lives of Lincoln,
Gladstone, and Miss Francis Will
lard, including a multitude OF
others, we can't help but observe
pure and undefiled morality aff1u-
emit in every act. Therefore have
L
their names and deeds not only
been established as invaluable ex-
amples, but have also left printed
upon the pages Of history a never
dying fame.
To those of my readers who
have as yet been saved from yield.
L
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-11-10
FISHING

line, without bait? After looking,
without success, under several
rocks for worms or bugs, | saw
some grasshoppers, and bowled
over several Of them with my hat.
Crawling through wire fence,
surrounding hog pasture and
through which ran the old mill
race, / reached a favorite fishing
hole. Luck attended me here and
in short space of time I added
several handsome bass to my
string. While busily engaged in
depicting the mill race of it's fnny
population, I heard loud grunt
I quickly turned and there stood
several hogs, belonging to the
miller, greedily devouring my pre-
cious string Of fish. With shout
I made for them and belaboring
them with my pole, caused them
to desist. Tearfully looking over
my string I found they had sue
ceeded in getting away with sever
al of my bass. How I hoped the
spiny backs of the fish would kill
them.
Hunger began to attack me about
this time, and it being near the
noon hour, 1 walked up to the
miller's house and asked for drink
OF water, my heart beating high
with hope that his wife would in
vite me to dinner. My hopes were
fully realized and the manner in
which [ slowed away the good
things, including generous piece
of apple pie, would put to shame
the gastronomic stunts of a certain
first grade man. After eating my
dinner and thanking the miller
and his wife for the same, [ made
my way down stream to place
where the river ran between sever
al high bluffs. There [ had added
several more beauties to my already
heavy string, when deep rumbling
noise was heard and upon looking
up [ discovered that the sun was
hidden by heavy clouds. The
thunder rumbled and crashed like
a thousand cannon and soon the
rain began to fall in torrents and
the lightning flashed so fercely L
picked up my fish and "hiked" for
home where I could hide under
bed with my yellow pup. Taking
off my shoes to save them from the,
mud and water, 1 splashed and
slipped along the road, slowly COW
erlng what now seemed i'm
measurable miles between me and
home.
But at last [ could discern
through the gloom the church
spires and I knew I was nearing
my haven of rest. Before reach
ing home, however, the sun broke
out through the clouds and my de-
sire to crawl under the bed was
past. I quietly slipped through
the gate and found place behind
the woodpile for [ knew the hour
of retributlon for my truancy was
drawing nigh. Soon my mother
discovered me and led me into the
house to partake of the supper she
had kept nice and warm for me.
After eating supper, father called
me into the woodshed, where an
interesting interview was held.
Believing in the old adage, s'spare
the rod and spoil the child" he
firmly grasped me by the collar
with one hand and industriously
applied neatly trimmed plum
branch with the other, while I
side-stepped, double-shufied, and
amid demoniacal yells that would
have done credit to Comanche
warrior, promised ''honest-cross-
my-heart, hope-to-die" l would
never do it again.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-12-30

A grizzled, sun-tanned, hard-featured
man, whose face bore the stamp OF
hardship and adventure, was sitting
in the smoking room of a New YORK
hotel. He happened to glance at
calendar and saw that the day was
Dec. 81.
by Jove!" he exclaimed $50 to-
morrow is New Years day. Unless
something happens before then, 1t will
be the quietest New Year I've spent IN
twenty-three years.
I'm all that time I have never been
so near my old home in Scotland as |
am now. Often I've tried to get home,
but somehow or other New Year has
always found me in tight corner IN
some out-of-the-way part of the world"
This mans experience is typical OF
that of many of the globe-trotters in
this age. when people are so fond of
"gOing to and fro in the earth and
walking up and down in it" like GER
tain parsonage in the Book of Job.
New Years day, 1897, found one
Englishman facing death from hunger
and thirst on board a life raft 800
miles southeast of Madagascar.
His ship foundered seven days be-
fore in hurricane. The boats were
smashed by the fury of the waves and
some of the crew washed overheard.
The rest made a raft out of plankS and
spars, but during the night high seas
swept over the frail structure and car
RED away most Of the water and food.
"All we had left" said the man who
went through this terrible experience,
"were a few tins of pOtted meat, a
small barrel of biscuit anrd the small
est Of the water casks. That was all
we had to keep life in twenty-five hun
CRY men.
1--WE made it last as long as we
could, but in four days everything was
gone. Some of the men fell into de-
spair and talked about throwing them
selves overheard. Perhaps they would
have done so, but during the night OF
the fourth day half dozen big sharks
swan around the raft in circles. The
sea was phosphorescent and we could
see them plainly in the waves of livid
fire which they stirred up as they
swan around. Even the half-crazed
men who had talked about drowning
themselves shrank from death in g
sharks NAV and stayed upon the raft
Next morning I saw by pocket
diary which carried that the day was
Dec. 90 To keep up the mems spirits
I told them I haG dreamed we were
going to be rescued on New Years
day. That appealed to the supersti
ton inherent more or less in all sail
ors, so l kept on telling them a shiE
would come along and pick us up or
that day sure, until began to believe
It myself. We even discussed grave
" whether the sail would heave in
sight in the morning or the afternoon
and one man who said he guessed il
would be toward evening became quite
unpopular.
New Years morning broke with 8
dead calm on the oily, blistering sea
and blazing sky that aggravated oul
thirst tenfold. There was not a shiI
in sight all morning-nothing except
that CLASSY sheet Of water and thai
cruel, cloudless sky above us. 1t was
the same in the afternoon, and oul
hopes fell as the sun sank slowly to
ward the western horizon.
Gust as we were beginning to de
spair, one Of the men screamed hyster
Iically and pointed to thin trail O.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-12-30

GLOBE TROTTERS NEW YEARS
of Adventure Has Landed Many Men in Positions
of Discomfort Danger.


smoke on the sky line. 1t was New
Zealand liner headed straight for our
raft. In a couple of hours her doctor
was giving us a hearty dinner and
Slops and weak brandy and water"
This same man spent another New
Years day off Cape Horn. He sailed
from Valparaiso in a British wind
jammer," expecting to reach his Scot
fish home in time to spend his first
Christmas there for many years. But
Gains delayed her for weeks in the
South Pacific ocean, and when she got
off Cape Horn she ran into tearing
gale, which brought her mizZen top
mast down on deck and ripped out all
her sails. For days she drifted help
lessly, exposed to the full fury of the
western gale.
The crew labored industriously at
rigging up spare and bending new
sails. 1t was a task of tremendous
difficulty. for giant combers rolled
over the forecastle head continually,
filing the vessel amidships with green
seas.
Suddenly in the midst of this toll an
apprentice piped out:
Il say, fellers. this is New Years
day. Have you all forgotten it,"
Delay your tongue" retorted the
gruff old mate. There won't be any
New Year dinner to-day, except your
usual whack Of lobscouse."
The skipper was experimenting the
work from the poop rail and heard the
conversation.
Cook" he bawled out. Lay aft
here!"
The cook came out of his galley and
the captain asked what he could give
them for fancy dinner.
"Ncthin' but split peas. sir, an salt
horse and marmalade. There amt no
turkeys in my store.room, sir" he said.
Lets catch one O them birds,
suggested an old tar, pointing to sew
eral addresses which were circling
about the wake Of the ship. we'll
stretch point this day and be for
given for it. | guess"
After several attempts an albatross
was captured with big f1shhook bait
ed with salt pork and dragged aboard
triumphantly. Served up nice and
| brown and swimming in gravy, II
looked so much like a real turkey that
1t warmed up the mems hearts and
made them think Of the holidays they
had spent at home. But when they
tasted it the resemblance ceased. II
was fishy and tough. The meat was
like knotted rope yarn and the gravy
suggested tar. However, it was a
New Year dinner all the same, and II
was enjoyed as keenly as the, finest
feast ashore that day.
An American traveller, who is vel
known commercially in the West In
dies, was mixed up in one Of the peren
NAL revolutions Of Hayti in his hot
and foolish youth. Unhappily, he al
lied himself with the weaker side. and
one New Years eve found himself one
of small band of desperadoes de
Tending the stockaded town Of Mira
goane against a government army
which outnumbered them by more
than 100 to l.
During the night the government
soldiers forced their way into the town
Only about thirty of the defender:
were left alive.
STAND them up in a line and shoe
them," commanded Gen. Manigat.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-12-30
THE NE w We A X
NE DITA ITO Ms

Upon the threshold of the year
EXpeCtantly we stand.
And as old Janus did Of yOre,
O'erloOk the year at hand.
And wonder what its joys will be.
Its sorrows, pain and care.
That 1t will bring US pleasures great,
Is e'er our earnest prayer.
Then gazing back DER vanished years,
TO which we say goodbye,
We think of all the joys now Gown,
And give a longing sigh
While wondering if future years
Will bring so many joys.
We will not be 50 light of heart,
AS happy girls and boys.
Although perchanCe. some deeper joys
Will come into our hearts;
Perhaps it may be loves sweet charm
Which Ger sweet peace imparts
1t may be, Oh so many things
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-12-30
Leander Masons Building Hall.

Leander, Texas: The Masonic lodge
at this place began Monday the cree
lion OF hall for lodge purposes. 1t
Is expected that the building will be
completed and ready for occupancy
oy the twenty-t1fth Of January.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-12-30
Send in your Subscription.
Kirby Deed Filed.

Lake Charles, La: A deed has been
filed for record in Cameron parish.
whereby John H. Kirby conveys S4O..
900 acres of land to the Houston Oil
Company. Most of the land is in Tex
as. but some is in Cameron parish.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-12-30
Marlin to Remember the Needy.

Marlin. Texas: A committee rep.
resea:ing the mems prayer meeting
ass asking the citizens of Marlin for
donations as Christmas gift for de.
serving people who are needy.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1904-12-30
Divine Healer Arrested.

San Marcos, Texas. John Barnes,
colored divine healer" is in Jail
mere, charged with incesA his victim
oelng his 13-year.old daughter.