davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
FIRST AMERICAN COINS.


The Treasurer of the United States
on May 6, 1903, redeemed two half
cent pieces. This is the first time
in the history of the country that
any such coins have been presented
for redemption. 1t is more than a
century since the first half-cent piece
was coined, and it is nearly fifty years
since the Government discontinued
minting them.
Possibly not one person in thou
sand now living in the United States
ever saw a halfcent piece.
The last annual report Of the Di-
rector of the Mint, page 80, shows
that 7,S95,222 of these coins, repre-
senting $39,476.11, were issued. For
almost half a century EACH annual
report of the Treasury department
has included them among the out
standing" obligations of the Govern
ment.
The half-cent piece was the coin OF
the smallest denomination ever made
in this country. 1t enjoys the dis
tinction also of being the first coin
issued and also the first whose de-
nomination was discontinued. The
United States Mint was established
in 1892, and copper halfcents and
cents were issued in 1893. Half the
total number of half-cents issued were
coined previous to 1910, after Which
year their coinage, with few eXcep-
tiOns, was limited. None was coined
for circulation from 1872 to 1924, nor
from 1886 to 1848. Finally, in 1857,
their coinage, with that Of the big
copper cent, was discontinued. On
account of their limited issue in the
last years of their coinage, they prac-
tically had disappeared from the
channels Of trade. al
The needs Of adopting the half-cent
as the lowest value-ccmputing fac
tor for a coin were made in the early
days of the Republic Colonial half
cents and British farthings of the
same commercial value were then in
circulation, and many articles were
priced and solf in half-cents. With
the progress Of the nation values
rose and the needs for a half-cent dis
appeared, and their use, following the
first decade Of the century, was al
most entirely confined to multiples.
While all other discontinued types
and denominations Of United States
coin have found oblivion, the half
cent is the only one of WHICH the
Treasury reports do not recoiE some
portion Of the issue redeemed. This
singular and unexplained fact has
been one CT frequent comment and in
quiry from mint and Treasury Off
Gals
Large quantities of halfcents are
to be found in the stocks of coin
dealers. The ccmmonest dates are
sold at good premium and the ex-
tremely rare ones are worth their
weight in gold
Ferran Zarbe, of st. Louis, was the
man who sent the two-halfcent pieces
to Washington for redemption. he
now prizes highly the little voucher
calling for "0ne cent" which was sent
to him with that amount of current
coin in exchange for the two half
cents he had forwarded.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
A PLACE OF SAFETY.

Don't you feel little nervous in
your new automobiIc?"
NO" answered the man whose
clothes smell Of gasoline, when | am
in that machine a sense Of perfect
security comes over me. l know 1
can't be run over. Washington Star.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
NO HARM DONE.

"They tell me that Noisely has sub
scribed $1,000 to the campaign fund" "
''He has. 1t is an annual occurrence
with him, affording him vast amount
of pleasure and not costing cent. =
Detroit Free Press.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
HAD A CLOSE CALL.

The Rabbit had a narrow escape
from being killed by an amateur
sportsman today.
The Grouse-Was he such a good
shot?
The Rabbit-No, but when the gun
kicked it knocked him over and he
almost sat on me.-Puck.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
HER POINT OF VIEW.

Mrs. Styles-Yes, dear, Mr.. Brief IS
considered a very good lawyer, indeed.
Mrs. Styles-Well, | don't think so.
Why, was a witness in case once,
and he wanted to do all the talking!
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
EASY RUNNING.

Gladys (sighing) dear, he
hasn't proposed yet.
Ethel-Wel, what can you expect
Of a chap who never runs his auto
over ten miles an hour?-Puck.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
HIS IMPRESSION.

Does your. wife insist on having
the last word?"
NO" answered Mr.. Meekton; when
Henrietta gets started there isn't
any last word. Washington Evening
Star.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
A FRIEND IN NEED.

Jaggles- Does he regret the time he
spent as waiter while working his
way through college?
yTaggles-I should say not! Since
he graduated it's the only thing that
has brought him in a liying.-Judge.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
LANGUAGE OF COIN.

Count Penniless finds New York
English easy to understand but hard
to speak"
Eyes, in New York money talks. -
Town Topics.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
UP TO DATE.

Nettie-Am l worth my weight in
gold to you, Ned?
Ned-More than that, dearest.
You're worth your weight in trading
stamps Chicago Chronicle.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
LOYAL.

Doesn't Miss Graduate look odd
with her cheeks painted red and the
rest of her face so white?"
eyes"
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
NO CHANCE FOR BUSINESS
TLJTp n
THERE.

Mrs. Knooliwed- Norah, what is
that loud-voiced man n the alley cal
ling out?
-"Rags an old iron"
mem.
Mrs. Knooliwed-Tel him we don't
want any.-Chicago Tribune.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11

Don't you suppose she knows that
people notice it?'
"Of course she does. Those are her
college colors. Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
NOT IN A GIvE-AwAY MOOD.

Kind Lady-How long since you
have done any work?
Hobo-Pardon me, mum, I'm sensi-
tive about my age.-Baltimore Ameri-
can.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
SUCCESSFUL CHARITY EXCUR-
SIONS.
SIONS.

"Was your charity excursion on the
boat a success, Mrs. Dasher?
Grand! We lost money, but all who
went say that they had a delightful
outing and feel at the same time that
their money went for good cause =
Detroit Free Press.
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11

CHIvALRY-OR JUST MEANNESS?
do you carry on a matrimonial
brokerage business?"
Eyes"
"Who pays your commissioning
bride or the bridegroom"
81 never tell that. That's a secret"
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
WHERE THE SPORT FAILS.

stubbs-After all, this shooting at
clay pigeons isn't so exciting as firing
at live ones.
Twist-No, there's little fun shoot
ing at things that can't feel it when
they are hit.-Boston Transcript.
OBJECTED TO SUCH A ROLE.
May-Why did you refuse him?
Gladys-He has a past.
May-But he can blot it out.
Gladys-Perhaps, but he can't use
me for a blotter.-Answers
The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1904-11-11
MIDNIGHT PHILOSOPHY.

There are some things wealth cannot
buy
Both physical and mental;
Tacks feel the same upon a rug
Ingram or Oriental.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11
WILL END TIE WAR.

As Port Arthur is sure to fall, il would
seem that with the capture of Kuropat-
kin's army or any considerable part of it.
the war will almost certainly come to an
end. The japanese have had wonderful
successes and shown the most astonishing
capacity for war, but they have also made
the most Herculean sacrifices and efforts.
and We all know that they are pretty near
the end of their bank account. Their
money is substantially all gone, and they
have had no success In negotiating q loan
in Europe, where feeling Is decidedly
averse TO the triumph of the Yellow Man.
They are coming to this country for a
loan, but it is hardly thought that they
will have much better luck than in Europe.
1t can therefore be expected that they will
not make too hard terms of peace when
negotiations are opened to that end. The
strain on Japan's commerce and industry
has been very severe, and patriotic as her
people may be, a relief from that strain
will be very welcome. On the other side.
Russia will have demonstrated to herself
her utter incapacity for prosecuting war
until her whole system is changed and q
different spirit infused into her army and
officials. She will be glad to make peace.
as she was after the Crimean War. With
her administration rotten to the core, she
can hope for nothing but increased humiii-
ton and disasters il the war is continued.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

THERE is a strong revival of the plan of
England to France. The passage by boat
over this narrow arm of the sea is usually
very disagreeable, and brings more sea-
sickness and discomfort than trip across
the ocean. The Straits are 20 miles wide,
and with our present enlarged engineering
facilities it is thought that it would not be
a work of extraordinary difficulty to build
a bridge across the Straits or dig a tunnel
Plans for bridge were made 80 years ago.
1t then involved 300 piers, but it is now
believed that - piers would be sufficient.
The cost of the bridge would be from 81 49,
100000 to $1SOOOO,OOO. The great OBJ
lection to bridge is its interference with
navigation. The tunnel will cost much
less-it is estimated to be from $15 ,0OO, 900
to Sj0,OOO,O00. The torres on both sides
are chalk. with a thick bed of gray chalk
at the bottom. The gray chalk is easy to
bore. but is firm and solid in its LAYERS.
Underneath the chalk is gray sandstone
and underneath this blue clay. The Straits
are about 165 feet deep; therefore, the tun-
mel will have to be 323 feet below the sur
face. This would require about six and a
half miles of approaches ON either side,
making the entire length about 33 miles.
Considering the wealth Of the two coun-
tries. which are in constant communion
tion. the cost of the enterprise would seem
trifing.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

THE beet sugar industry shows slow.
steady growth. The reports for the wear
1903 are now compiled, and they show a
total product Of 24O,6O4 tons as against
21S,4Oo tons for 1902, and 1S4,6O5 tons
for 1901. There are So factories now in
operation, against 43 the previous wears
The prices which farmers received ranged
from $3.50 to $500 per ton, the average
being nearly So. The average gross ra.
turns to the farmers were $3.50 per acre
The estimated cost of growing beets bv
irrigation is $40 per acre, and in sections
where irrigation is not necessary. $40.
farmer from Otero County, Colo, did the
best. He raised an acre Of beets at cos,
of $3.50; the yield was 33 tons, for which
he received $l5S, his net returns being
about $3.50. There has been a remarkable
increase in the percentage Of sugar IN
beets. A few years ago IL per cent. was
the standard. Last year the average was
from Is to 18 per cent.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11
enough Of his wounds yet to be out. You
can see him sitting over there at his

enough Of his wounds yet to be out. You
can see him sitting over there at his
window"
He pointed through the elms to large
plain brick house on the east side of
Lafayette Square.
There, see that man sitting at the win
dow, all covered with bandages, and with
crutch at his side? That's Secretary
Seward. And there's the Supreme Court"
continued the one-armed man, returning
to the stands across the street. That mag
niticent looking man sitting in front of all
the rest with the clean-shaven face. and
look Of no-end of wisdom. is Chief JUS
tice Chase My, but l wish had as many
dollars as he wants to he President. But
he'll never get there. Grants 10 be the
next President, and after him Sherman.
and George Meade, and Hancock. and
Phil Sheridan"
Look here. where does Pap Thomas
come in?" asked 81, firing up little. He
ought to be in there. next to Grant and
Sherman. There's where he belongs all the
time"
We'll. probably we'll have to let the
Republican Convention have something to
say about that" laughed the man. Gen.
Thomas would suit me clear down to the
ground, but I'd naturally like to have Gen.
Hancock get an early chance to show
whether he can run a country as well as
The National tribune., 1904-08-11
ANOTHER RUSSIAN DEFEAT.

The reverse which the Russians suf-
fered in the fighting at Simoucheng seems
to have been one Of the severest that they
have yet experienced. The japanese made
an attack upon two widely-separated
passes, covering the Russian left flank and
the approach to the railway. and after
two days succeeded in carrying both places
As usual the Russians were in strong posi-
tions. which they had fortified, but were
driven from them by direct and flank at
tacks. Apparently Gen. Kuropatkin had
notice of the likelihood Of this, because the
japanese had been advancing toward these
posts for several days, but he neglected
to reinforce them either before or during
the fighting. This implies inability to
make headway in any way against the
japanese advance. The reports, as usual,
reveal some features and discrepancies
that are difficult to understand. Both the
Russian and japanese reports say that the
positions were very difficult by nature, and
they were strongly fortified, and that
direct frontal attacks were made upon
them. The japanese report that their
casualties were $50, of which 1874 were
killed and 666 wounded. They buried 700
Of the enemy's dead and captured eight
field guns, many rifles, and considerable
amount Of ammunition and commissary
supplies. They also captured eight officers
and 149 men. 1t Is impossible for any
body familiar with war to understand how
the assailants, upon a fortified position.
escaped with loss of only 1914 killed and
666 wounded, while infiicting a loss of
700 upon their enemy. who were sheltered
behind intrenchments. The small number
of Russians captured is also astonishing
only 146-and is incomprehensible for an
engagement Of such magnitude, in which
the enemy was driven from his position.
There would have been that number cap
tured in the hospitals, to say nothing of
stragglers. There is only one explanation
of this that is, that the battle was fought
at such long distance that when the
Russians retreated the japanese could not
even come up with the stragglerS. This
victory makes the position of Gen.
Kuropatkin anywhere south of Mukden abb
solutely untenable, and increases the prob
ability that he will not be allowed to make
good his retreat to Mukden.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

EVEN il Manchuria becomes a japanese
province the conditions will be much more
favorable to American commercial enter
prise than under Russia. With all of
Russia's favorable, and specious talk.
American traders have always failed in
Russia. She has shut out trade with
us wherever she could in her possessions.
and has treated those whom she has in
vited to settle in Russia with conspicuous
harshness. American goods have mainly
gone into Russia as German or French
manufactures. Germany claims one-third
of all the imports into Russia but MANY
millions of these are of American origin
TIE official statistics for the fiscal wear
1902 give us only S9,O39, ,4G1 as the amount
of our exports 10 Rnssia. A conspicuous
illustration of the Russian treatment of
Americans is offered by the experience OF
the Westinghouse Airbrake Co. and the
Singer Sewing Machine Co. Both of these
were induced to put up large factories in
Russia. and sent over thousands of skilled
mechanics. Disregarding her promise
to them, Russia proceeded rs soon as i,
was cunning to do so, to make it so un.
pleasant to the Americans that they had
to leave their works. to be occupied and
run By Russians. To-day not a single
American Is employed in any Of their
works.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11
THE COMMISSIONER EMPHArIcALLY
DENIES

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: There are
newspapers that are circulating the fol-
lowing statement:
Commissioner Ware says that il it
were not Tor the widows OF old soldiers
the pension roll would shrink with pleas
ing regularity despite the operations of
Order No. 49,"
l have not time to notice all of the
mendacity that Is leveled at the Pension
Bureau. its operation and myself, but as
the foregoing is so exceedingly vicious |
take occasion to say that I never thought
or expressed any such sentiment.-E. T..
WARE, Commissioner.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11
RANK STUPIDITY.

The absolute unreasOn of public feel
ing in Russia is strikingly shown by a
leading editorial in the Moscow Gazette.
one of the most influential papers in the
Empire:
"Our great Gen. Suavaroff, when he
fought against the civilized French often
gave the order mo quarter to the troops.
This. which was not cruelty or barbarism
was a necessity. and now necessity forces
us in this war with the half savage, bar
barous nation to adhere to Suavaroff' S
rule of no quarter
In our war with Japan we are like a
to frighten it and leave it to hide in the
bush. 1t must be destroyed, and we must
do this without considering whether Eng
land and cosmopolitan plutocracy object
or not To burden Russia with thousands
of Japanese prisoners, spreading dysentery.
typhus, and cholera among the Russian
people. might perhaps be in accordance
be very unwiSe. NO quarter and no
prisoners should be our MOTTO"
Nothing could be more preposterous tha n
this. 1t shows that the Russians have
not advanced in any degree beyond, the
savage ideas of century ago, and can
not comprehend that such a course would
bring them the unmeasured denunciaton
of the whole Christian world, and place
them outside the pale of civilization.
Then in practical application mo quar-
ter" is a game that two can play at. The
prisoners taken so far have been aston
ishingly few on either side, but the jap
anese have apparently taken a great many
more than the Russians, and it is not i'm
probable that the bigger part of Kuropat-
kin's Army, as we'll as the whole of the
garrison at Port Arthur, will soon be in
the ha nds of the japanese
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

shanty stores made enormous profits on
the demands for blacking, brushes, sand
paper. emerypaper, oil, rotten stone, fine
woolen shirts. paper collars and cuffs. but
terfy neckties, white gloves, ETC., etc.
Harry and Alf made frequent excur-
sions to the other regiments, and returned
each time with budgets Of news
Here's couple Of Washington tail
ors.' said Harry, coming up with two
white-faced civilians, "whO've been alter
ing the set of the pantaloons for a COM
pany over there, and giving them the right
spring. They've got through, and will do
ours for . cents apiece"
"All right. Let them set to work." said
Monty.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

SOME feeling has developed in conse-
quence of a change in the management of
the Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphans
Home at Xenia. At the meeting of the
Board of Trustees Comrade James l..
Smith, of Cleveland, was elected Superin-
tendent to succeed Gen. Charles l.. Young,
who has held that position for a great
many years. Gen. J. Warren Keifer and
DIR. III. G. Houston were opposed to the
change, and upon its being made resigned
from the Board.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

This was not an astonishing preponder-
ance of forces to assault between 10000
and $4,000 men. the strongest works ever
constructed. and to head off and capture
them after leaving the works. The won
der is that SO small preponderance should
have cut of and forced to surrender as
many as they did.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

SCIENTISTS tell us that Great Salt Lake
is doomed. and that so years from now it
will be only a memory. 1t has been stead
lily diminishing since the arrival of the
white man. Its diminution in depth since
1886 has been IL y feet. In 1900, in spite
of great rainfalls, the lake went down
nearly four feet. 1t is now more than two
feet lower than it was this time last year.
Three causes are assigned for this dimi-
mutton. Each has its ardent advocates.
These causes are evaporation, irrigation
and a subterranean outlet. There are
many who support the subterranean outlet
theory, and think it probable, because of
the neighboring lakes which have under
ground outlets. A few years ago sail
ing vessel went down in the lake with 2O0
sheep on board, as though in a whirlpool
Nothing was seen of it or the sheep after
ward. The irrigation theory has much
evidence to produce that the fall in the
lake level is caused by the excessive use
of water in irrigation. A number of trib-
utaries have their water completely side
tracked.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

JUDGE PARKER has resigned his place
as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of
New York, and now, for the first time in
so years, is a private citizen. The step
was taken after a consultation with biz
colleagues ON the bench as to the ethics q
The situation.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11
NATIONAL TRIBUNE HEADQUARTERS
HOTEL vENDoME, BOSTON, MASS.

The National Tribune Headquarters dur
ing the National Encampment at Boston
will be in Rooms 80 and 81, Hotel Ven
dome The comrades may have their mail
sent from home to them and make ar
rangements for their friends to meet in
those rooms All are welcome.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

THE Car of Russia has vetoed the pro-
posal to have a responsible Cabinet, like
more advanced nations. The Car seems
one of those who find it impossible to
learn ANYTHING
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

RUssIA's officials announce that she has
$617 100000 of free gold still in her treas
ury, and does not need a loan. We could
have more confidence in this if the re-
membrance was not so fresh as to Russia S
official announcements of the number of
troops she had in Manchuria, and the
strength and preparedness of her battle
Shps at Port Arthur
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

THERE is something in name after all.
The name of Kuropatkin's right hand
man is Lieut.-Gen. Sloutcheffsky, which is
the RuSsianized form of the American
idea OF the whole outfit.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

THE Western game laws appear to be
taking on a vitality for which dealers and
hunters have not been prepared. In Min
nesota the Supreme Court has affirmed a
decision assessing $4,000 against two
dealers who were found to have 1000 wild
ducks in their possession. They had
brought these over from Iowa to ship to
Chicago. Other indictments are pending,
and there is trouble ahead for everybody
who d;sobeys the game laws.
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

FROM the way Mosby's men are dying
off in various parts of the country he must
have had about 10000
The National tribune., 1904-08-11

II IS lucky that Manchuria ID 20 big,
or Kuropatkin would bs limited in his
procliyity for retreating.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-06-04
TRUCK IN FINE CONDITION
ALONG THE S. A. L,

More Farmers Have Received $500
and $500 Checks This Year.
The truck farmers along the Sea-
board Air Line, north of Savannah,
have never had a more prosperous sea-
son than this. More $500 and $500
checks have been received than ever
before. While in other sections the
truck crops may have suffered, in this
section the farmers have had large
returns. One truck grower near Rim
con has made his second shipment of
cucumbers, grown without a drop of
rain, the heavy dews being all the
moisture the crop received.
In the last week the rains which
broke the drouth in other sections have
been heavy in South Carolina along
the Seaboard. At one point about fifty
miles north of Savannah, four inches
of rain fell last Monday night The
rains, of course, have helped the farm
ers and the crops will be large.
The truck growing interests along
the Seaboard Air Line have been in
creasing in the last two or three years
and the industry is becoming an i'm
portant one in that section. The ship
ments are made to the Northern mar
kets by rail.