davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-09-15

the amount of dues that has been paid by the labor
err There is no indemnity for loss Of life All three
branches Of the workingmens insurance are liberal
ly subsidized by the government
Dr. Kestner says that as a result OF the insur-
ance there are fewer accidents than formery there
is marked improvement in the national health;
more money is saved by laborers; and the latter
are made partners in the enterprise they learn bust
ness administration and business habits. The sys-
tenn is universally popular in the Fatherland
THIS is the age of fairs, big and little. Poor
indeed is the country which in each decade does not
support one mammoth exposition, one huge inter-
national market day. AS every man desires to know
what his neighbor is doing and to show his neigh
Dor what he has accomplished, SO every nation wish
es to see the work Of other nations and to display its
work to them America has gone into the fair bust
ness heart and soul. Within dozen years we have
had the Columbian the Trans Mississippi, the Pan
American, and the Louisiana Purchase expositions-
all shows of international Importance Next year
we are to have the Lewis and Clark exposition We
also have in each state annual state, county, city
and village fairs, which they are considered in
structve as we'll as entertaining, are all we'll pat
ronized.
Then there is the street fair, or carnival, So
popular and which is such godsend to saloon and
resaurant-keepers So rapidly has the for this
form of amusement spread that altho the idea is
young in America the street fair already supports
thriving industry, hundreds of organized showmen
and hucksters entirely depending upon it for liv-
ing 1t is lugubrious Or licentlous business a
rule; the great American public is still too sef-con-
scious to enter heartily into the genuine carnival
spirit. And this despite the growing cosmopolitan
ism of the country
Financially fairs great and small are not sue
cesses. They stimulate local trade for short time,
to be sure but this stimulus is than counter
balanced by the inevitable reaction. Socially, how
ever, they are Of great value. They bring people
from different parts Of the country different
parts of the world in touch with each other broad
ening their views and enlightening their minds The
bearing of the average American toward strangers is
snobbish. He has inherited the traditional British,
hidebound conservatism, cardinal tenet of which
that all except those in his Immediate set "out-
sders" who should be snubbed. Fairs, carnivas and
other Publications where all classes meet and mix
discriminatory tend to break down the artificial bar
rers Of caste and to promote better understanding
between all sorts and conditions of men, This is
probably one of the principal reasons that fairs are
popular
Mr.. EDWARD GRUBB M. A.. secretary OF the
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-09-15
FL0TSAM AND JETSAM.
BY s. D.

BY
Nobody knows what electricity
is in it's essence. Nobody knows
what life is. How life began on
this earth has never been dis
covered. Even if we could find
some living thing spontaneously
generated, we should know moth
ing about the impulse from which
it's life originated.
Most Americans know that Lon
don, England, is an aggregation of
small cities joined through the in
crease of population and through
building. But few are aware that
in the very center of England is
a provincial London known as
The Potteries. There are ten towns
as closely joined as Fargo and
Moorhead, covering forty miles,
and having population of, ap-
proximately, 1900, 900. What
Minneapolis is to the -four trade,
The Potteries is to crockery. You
cannot visit any spot in the CIV
ilized world without finding the
product of this curious elongated
English city. Most of the dishes
used in this institution were man.
ufactured there.
The late Judge Anderson, of Eng
land, was nicknamed the Hanging
judge" in consequence of the num-
Der of death sentences he had
passed more than any two judges
in the last century. On one occa-
sion, at dinner of the bar and
bench, he asked the noted criminal
barrister, w. Ballentyne, who was
further down the table, if "that
was hung beef alongside of him."
81 can't say" replied the barrister;
you have not tried it, my lord.''
The same barrister is said to be
the only man who ever came out
victorious in a word encounter
with Judge Anderson. The latter
was presiding at trial in which
Ballentyne appeared. The prose
cutting attorney made a remark
and Ballentyne arose to reply,
whereupon the judge called out:
"One fool at a time; one fool at a
time!' Later on, as the judge was
summing up the case to the jury,
a donkey just outside the court
room commenced loud braying.
Ballentyne Immediately arose, and
bowling to the judge, said: "One
at time, my lord, please
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-09-15

Dr. FRITZ KEsTNER contributes to the current
number of the North american Re0eaV a very inter-
esting article workingmea's insurance in Ger
many a subject that has received considerable at
tention in this country Of late years The time is
past when it is possible even in undeveoped Amer
lea, for every workman to earn enough to enjoy a
competence in his old age or to provide him.
self with the necessares of life during prolonged ILL
ness; and as the workman the of all wealth.
it is generally admitted that he is entitled to living
outside the walls Of the poorhouse when through old
age illness, or accident he is unable to perform fur
Their labor. OF course if he received fair wage
during the fat years of his fe he could look after
himself in the lean ones but he seldom does receive
fair wage, and SO it is more than right that the
state should interest itself in his behalf.
In Germany all agricultural and industrial la
borers are insured against accident, sickness and
invalidity by the government. The accident nsur-
ance is paid by the employers. The injured laborer
receives medical attendance free, and during the
time he is unable to work. is paid pension equal to
two.thirds of his regular wages. There is a fixed
compensation for the loss of limbs and other injuries
of permanent nature. Laborers insured against
Illness as are also their under certain con-
ditions In this insurance the employee contrib
utes two-thirds of the premium, and the en-
ployer one-third The insurance against invahdity
consists of cash pension which varies according to
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-09-15

The degeneration of words is an
Interesting subject for study. In
course of time some words, origi-
nally above reproach, take on sin
lister meanings, and when once
started on the downward path seem
to be irreclaimable. The word
"cunning," for instance, was origi-
nally synonymous with "knowl-
edge in the highest sense of the
latter word, but it now means
quickness in matters more or less
shady. And ''knowledge' does
not mean now as it once did, sim
ply desirable wisdom; it is fire.
quently applied to one who 'knows
things" or is knowing" and such
a description is not altogether COM
plimentary.
Notorious is another word
which has fallen into disrepute,
tho persons who do not draw nice
distinctions confuse 1t with "nota-
able" term which carries with it
nothing of opprobrium. "Holi-
day" is an adoption of 'holy day.
or sacred day. the difference in
spelling having been introduced
at comparatively recent date SO
that the two words might not be
confused. The word Suggestive, "
which might correctly be applied
to a lecture or a book that opens
up train of thought. is getting
to be associated with suggestions
of doubtful nature. The feast
of Saturnalia was originally time
The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-09-15

pamphlet entitled methods of Penal Administration
in the United States" copy Of which has lately
been received by The MIRROR. When in America
last winter Mr. Grubb visited some of the jails prs-
ons, and reformatories in few of the Eastern Md
die, Central, and Southern states. Being limited as
to time and having large territory to cover the
suits of his Investigations necessarily somewhat
superfcal but as he is trained observer, his pam
phlet is certain to be read with profit by many per-
sons interested in penology
Mr. Grubb finds much to commend in the man.
agement and discipline Of the Northern prisons and
reformatories. AS whole, they orderly and SAN
itary and are credit to the country The prisoners
are humanely treated; surprisingly So evidently, as
Mr. Grubb says cit is characteristic of American life
that the relations between officers and prisoners are,
as rule more human than in English prisons.
And these human relations ifdisclpline is main
tanned, appear to me to be wholly good.'
The old, heart rending story is retold of South
ern prisons and convict camps. In Georgia and
Alabama Mr. Grubb visited several of these lazaret-
toes, both state and county. The former are bad;
the latter worse. AS many Of the county camps are
situated in isolated localities far removed from pos
sible inspection at inOppOrtune moments, IN them
are done deeds vile beyond words. They worked
for revenue only. When prisoner is sick, he may
de- and be damned to him. His labor is let by
tract, and the contractor appoints the officers and
guards, taking care, doubt, to choose men after
his own heart-they are 'free to use the prisoners
much they choose, unchecked by any authority
No attempt is made to segregate the sexes Men,
women and children are herded together. Mr.. Grubb
was told that the prisoners twill keep having
babiesr' The authorities anxious to put end
to these conditions but owing to private influence
it has been hitherto impossible to the
sary legislation.
Mr. Grubb's pamphlet deserves more compre-
hensive review than able to give it. It is the
work of intelligent and outspoken but withal con-
sentative man, and will doubtless be productive of
good.
The Washington times., 1904-01-15
NEW WAY TO COLLECT BILL.

A duke. marquis and a shirtmake-
have had a lively row in the trades
mans shop near the Champs Elysees.
The marquis has little outstanding
bill at the establishment. AS he was
walking down TO his club with his
friend the duke. ii occurred 10 him that
he might look in on the tradesman and
give him 800 on account. His friend
went with him TO the shop, where the
shirtmaker was wreathed in smiles to
receive them. But the bridesmaids
amiability vanished when he heard that
ne was only to have portion of his
due, which is considerably more than
800. He became not only chilly, but
distinctly dtsagreeable. and walking 10
the shop door, shut II, pulled out the re-
movable handle, and put IL in his pocket
prisoners. He was not going TO let
them out until the latter had signed
note OF hand for the amount owing
and the former had become security for
the bill The duke and the marquis
both refused to be Coerced, and demand
ed their freedom. But though they
Stormed and threatened and hammered
with their sticks on the shop door the
shirtmaker kept the latter shut. a
crowd collected outside, and the i'm
prisoned noblemen made known their
pnght by animated dumb show. At
last policeman strolled up, This
time the tradesman had to open his
the policeman took down his name and
address with view TO summOning him
for "sequestrating the two noblemen.
from whom he did not even get the
$lOO which the marquis had originally
onered hlm--London Telegraph
The Washington times., 1904-01-15
BALL ESTATE HEIRS
MEET IN WASHINGTON
Will Take Steps to Settle Pending
Litigeton.

The heirs Of Joseph Ball. of Philadel-
phia. who reside in Washington. mot
last night at the home of Mrs Laura
Fitzhugh. 1916 NJ Street northwest. 20
take steps looking to the settlement of
the Ball estate Joseph Ball died in
Philadelphia April %. 1871. and left an
estate which is now worth about s1Oe,-
O000 900
His heirs some time ago formed an
organization, which is known as the
District of Columbia Ball Heirs Asso-
citation. and Charles l.. Brayton was
chosen manager. Mr.. Brayton was in
structed TO consult Attorney A A
Hoehling, jr.. in relation 10 the interests
Of the members Of the association in the
Ball estate.
The principal part of the estate of
Joseph Ball consists of property known
as Hope farm. containing 300 acres. adj
tacent to the Cramp Shipyards, near
philadelphia.
About sixty OF the washington heirs
Of Joseph Ball were present at the
meeting last night Mrs. Charles Z.
Brayton was chosen chairman. r. w.
Medkirk treasurer. and Edward MCGEE
secretary
The Washington times., 1904-01-15
A CONTINUAL DRAG
The Exact Term.

Only those who have experienced the
pain and suffering incident to Piles or
Hemorrhoids can know what a drag and
handicap this complaint IS; how even
the mildest forms hinder the patient
from putting forth his or her best ef-
forts. while those afflicted with bleeding
and protruding piles realize ALI the zor-
lures of the Inquisition.
IL may surprise the reader to know
that there is sure. permanent cure for
this disease. as the following testimony
from Mr.. +. a. Leonard. an American
resident In the City OF Mexico. viii
show:
For twenty years I suffered with
piles. sometimes being confined 20 my
bed for days az time. The relief
received from doctors, both in the
United States and Mexico, was tom
porary. and more frequently I received
no relief; other medicines had no efect
II was a continual drag 1 was AT for
nothing. / finally tried Pyramid pile
Cure: first application was magical: I
could not believe I was awake NEXT
morning; 1 experienced a relief that I
had not known for twenty years. One
box cured me; but not believing myself
cured. 1 bought two more. but they are
still IN my trunk. / first used the remedy
In July. 1902; have had no occasion to use
II since. The world should know OF
Pyramid Pile Cure. 1 have no words
to express it's merits
Pyramid Pile Cure is in the form Of a
suppository, which is admitted BY an
physicians to be the best preparation
for treating plies: II comes in direct
contact with the painful tumors and
does its work quickly and painlessly.
1t Is sold by druggists generally for
80 cents a package, and there Is no
other remedy Just as good"
Write Pyramid Drug Co. Marshall
Mich. for their little book on the causes
and cure Of piles which Is sent free for
the asking
The Washington times., 1904-01-15
DOMESTICS DEMAND
USE OF THE PIANO
Servants Union of Orange, N. j., Goes in for Spe-
cial Privileges, Culture, and High Pay.

NEW YORK. Jan. 15.--h union of ser
want girls-maids. domestics. as you
please-is forming at Orange. n. J. Miss
Margaret Walsh. a labor organizer. has
banded 100 servant giris for mutual
protection and dsfsEse against the
Orange lady-of-the- hci:se generally. Miss
Walsh. the president Of tae union. con-
fdently expects that mary more wait
resses. ladies' maids. laundresses. cooks
and chambermaids will Join the organi-
cation.
It's meeting place is in East Orange.
and Miss Walsh has tried 70 throw
mysterious secrecy around it's doings
and purposes. But much has been learn
ed of it from policemen. icemen. and
milkmen who are more or less in the
confidence of some of it's members.
1t is certain the union is the direct
result Of plan. not entirely altruistic.
recently formed by the Woman's Club of
Orange. to which belong many forcefuI
as well as fashionable women. At a
meeting Of the club the members de-
termined to build up ar organization
which would at once protect employers
and educate young women in the prin-
ciples Of domestic science
The clubwomen declare now with al
most pitiful emphasis that their purpose
was far from antagonizing servants. So.
plainly, they are misunderstood by the
members of the new union, one of whom
said yesterday:
If you tell my name I will lose my
place without character. l don't
want to go away from here because
shes doing just as / tell her. and he
seems to like me.
The Washington times., 1904-01-15

AS soon as our union is strong
enough we will demand:
Smallest wages to be SIS per month.
Eight hours days work.
Half day off Thursday and all day
Sunday
The use of the parlor three nights a
week.
The use OF the piano for practice be.
tween 10 and IL a. m.
"Family's breakfast to be served AT ~
o'clock, luncheon at 2 o'clock, and dinner
when it is ready.
NO nOn-union food to be handled. no
remnants Of meals to be saved.
s'One servant TO be employed for every
three members of the household.
THE woman not to receive moro than
four callers I'm one afternoon, or, II she
does. she must answer the doorbell her
self"
Mrs. Henry P. Bailey. president Of
the Womans Club. seemed to dread
that trouble was brewing IN her own
kitchen when she learned of the union 8
formation.
why. our club has taken no stand
inimical to servants" exclaimed Mrs
Bailey. Our object is to help good
girls get good places. We want TO
create a training school for girls where
they Will be taught domestic science
and made to feel that they can enter
domestic service with perfect self-re-
spect"
Mrs. Albert o. Field, OF East Orange.
a prominent member of the Woman s
Club. declared the present status of the
servant girl problem to be intolerable.
The Washington times., 1904-01-15
BIG BEAM OF CONCRETE
HOLDS THEATER BALCONY
Novelty in Construction Successfully
Stands Severest Kind of Test.

Wednesday afternoon at the new
Lyric Theater occurred a test of a
comparatively new style of beam which
has been placed in the theater for the
support Of the baloncy, the test being
witnessed by a large number Of inter
ested architects. and builders. who were
attracted by the announcement that
the supreme test would be administ
TO the beam
The feature of the beam is that in
stead Of being constructed of steel as
Is usually the case. ii is constructed
almost wholly Of concrete and for the
purpose of bracing 1t. a number OF steel
ropes 121z inches in diameter were scat
tered through the beam: some the
entire length. some four-fifths the
length and some only through the cen
trail portion. The beam is hfty-f1ve feet
long and supports the entire balcony of
the theater without n column in the
center to obstruct the sight of the peo-
pie who may happen to sit at the rear
Of the first floor. 1t is five feet deep ard
twelve inches in width and by means of
bolts driven into the concrete when the
material was soft the wooden flooring
and Orders are held I'm their proper DO
sitions
The test was a pronounced success in
every way and proved the practicability
Of the system OF concrete construction.
The contract under which the beam
was constructed called for a test of
seventy-five tons on the entire length
OF the beam and by means of a chain
swing and a heavy wooden platform, y
weight OF over forty-four tons was
swung on n space in the center seven
feet in length.
With this enormous weight. the de-
Election Of the beam. calculated by mi
mute measurements. was but nineteen
thirty-seconds OF an inch, a detection
OF over an inch and a half being neces-
sary before the outward condition would
give evidence OF the strain The beam
rests on its own foundation and is sup
ported at each end by its own columns
making It's construction such that the
entire building could be removed from
about Il and the beam would still re-
main standing. The weight placed on
II yesterday was I'm the form OF pips Of
iron, and constituted a load equal 10
:, 544 pounds per lineal foot. The weight
of the largest locomotive used on the
railroads running into Cleveland is but
$500 pounds per lineal foot. affordinR
comparison by which to estimate the
great strain the beam was under.
The building OF concrete beams Of the
character Of that just completed has
been almost unknown. and the one in
the Lyric Theater is, so far as known,
the largest In the United States The
architects who were present and the
members OF the board of management
of the theater expressed themselves as
very well pleased with the test. The
n re- hffecf Of the then tar 4. n-oao-f-t.
William NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Plain
Dealer.
The Washington times., 1904-01-15
GENERAL GORDON WAS
A BOLD CAMPAIGNER
Interesting Incidents of Political Warfare in Georgia in
Which He Took an Active Part

That was the beginning Of the end.
From that time on. although the cam
paign was hot one, Gordon gained
steadily.
In making his canvass Gordon fol-
lowed hard upon the heels OF a friend
Of his opponent, who had more words
than he knew what to do with. In the
heat Of his oratory he abused Gordon
and the Confederate veterans roundly.
His speech was printed in the papers.
and two days after Gordon spoke from
the same platform. Some one in the
crowd called out the name OF the youth
full orator who had attacked Gordon,
and asked the old soldier what he had
TO say for himself
THE talk that boy made here reminds
me of what happened in the course of
the war when we were going through
the mountains of Virginia. We We're
advancing along the road. and on the
top Of hill I'm front of us stood a little
cabin. Out of this cabin rushed a little
yellow cur. He ran at US. and, crawl
ing under the fence, started a terrible
barking. Presently a great big noun
tain woman came to the door of the
cabin and called the dog Come back
here. Fido Don't bite the whole army
Il III iiOA dAidAA Va WHAT AileiN sOhAA5 man
viii do to me-" continued General Cor
don. but I'm afraid he'll eat up the
whole State of Georgia"
Only once in the campaign did Gordon
lose his temper. He wears a saber cut
across one cheek that he got in an en-
gagement. Some one of the opposition
said Gordon was running for governor
on that one scar.
IF / Lad been there when that dirty
cur made that remark" said Gordon
from the stage OF a packed theater in
Atlanta, The would be wearing raw hide
scars across his back
1t is not generally known, although
General Gordon tells of the incident in
his recently published memoirs, that
the last order from a Confederate gem
eral to his men was carried by a lieu
tenant of the Federal army. 1t was at
just after the surrender.
and some of General Gordon's men were
firing on the Federals. He looked
around for a courier by whom to send
to them a message to stop. The only
man at hand was Lieut.. Vanderbilt
Allen. of the Federal army. who was
with General Grant. General Gordon
asked him to take the order. and he
says. Il had to send a ragged Confed-
crate private with him to insure his
safety" The order was safely delivered
and the firing ceased.