davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28
Some Masters Of Christmas Fiction and Their
The Pioneer Genius Of This Kind

his ghosts, by the way, are the ghosts
of a mortal who has once had so great
faith in them that no lapse of time or
stress of circumstance can shatter that
belief. Critics cavil over Dickens NOR
tails, but no one has presumed to doubt
his ghosts. They are seldom insignifi-
cant and never supernumerary; they
are provided with presence which is
never wanting. They live even though
they be dead.
When Bret Harte wrote that exqui-
site inspiration Dickens In Camp he
did not know that the great master of
Christmas fiction, then gone to his
long rest, had ever looked upon any
scrap of his literary handiwork. He did
not know until long afterward that
shortly before his death the generous
English novelist spoke admiringly of
the gifted young far westerner and de-
clared to those about him that Harte
had caught his own manner to turn,
and his Christmas manner at that.
Harte always preserved his fondness
for the Christmas season and, accord
ing to his biographer, kept up to the
last the fond and foolish custom of
sending presents to his friends" How
Santa Claus Came to Simpsons Bar"
is one of the most dainty holiday idyls
ever penned.
Nathaniel Hawthorne's christmas
Banquet and Mary Russell Mitford's
christmas Party" are as disSimilar
both in plan and in treatment as two
holiday compositions well could be. Like
Dickens, Hawthorne was constrained
by his artistic sense of justice from ex
Guiding ghosts from his Christmas fes-
tivities. But his apparitions and pres
ences are not the CHEEKY and well be-
haved spooks who came obedient to
the call of the English magician. They
are of the psychological and creepy or
der, requiring counter influences to re-
pei them, and they have retained abso-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

a scheme which involved the president
and many other notables, and it mis-
carried. The bogus princess was ex-
posed and sentenced to a term of i'm
prisonment at hard labor.
The career of Georgina Weldon, an
American woman with a shiftless hus-
band whom she supported for awhile by
teaching music, was unique in its du-
plicity. Weary of her marital bondage
and the starvation results of her labor,
she sat down one day in her dismal
home and devised a scheme which for
originality and holiness of conception
is not surpassed in the record of female
swindlers. She sold everything she
possessed and with the proceeds paid
her way to Paris, which she had select
ed as the field of her operations At
THAT time Charles Gounod was the most
famous composer in the world and was
at the zenith of his reputation as a nu-
sician. Mrs. Weldon's plan took cog
nizance of this fact, and she presented
herself at the masters house and
craved the great mans advice in refer
ence to her wish to establish a studio in
Paris. She was so deferentiaI and SO
modest in her manner that Gounod was
completely disarmed. In a few weeks
she obtained from the maestro a letter
in which he stated that Mrs. WeIdon's
method of voice culture was the best
he mad ever known. Fortified with this.
the adventures flew to Gladstone and
in short time succeeded in extractine,
a similar autograph opinion from him.
Returning to Paris armed with these
powerful credentials, she opened a nu-
steal salon which soon became the talk
of the continent. Her influence over
Gounod became so pronounced that he
yielded himself unreservedly to all of
her plans for securing the immense
sums of money which went into her ex-
travagant establishment She finally
captured him bodily and kept him, now
grown old and mentally enfeebled. a
prisoner. At last his fam
lily obtained possession of him, and she
brought suit against the composer for
$4,000. Strangest of all, she won her
suit. A few years later Mrs Weldon
lived in a squalid quarter and sold
newspapers for a livelihood
ARTHUR K. JACKSON.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28
PosToEEIcE PUZZLES.

The ease with which mistake can be
made by British postofice sorters can
be illustrated by mentioning the num-
Der of places bearing similar names to
post towns. For instance, there are
thirty-two Kingstons in seventeen diff
ferent counties, fifty-nine Newtons sit
uated in nearly as many counties, six
teen Newports, thirteen Bradfords,
nineteen Holywells, seventeen BridS-
ends, six Newmarkets, thirty-six Red
hills, thirteen Southends, twenty eight
Stonehouses, forty-seven Suttons, etc.
This was in the evidence given before
the committee inquiring into postoffice
wages.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

finance campaign with a series of mag
azine articles, the first of which was
published last July. In his introduction
he promised to throw light upon the in
side workings of Amalgamated Copper
Following these articles, which have
been largely read and commented upon,
numerous advertisements have appear
ed in the newspapers from time to time
advising everybody to buy this stock
1t was affirmed that the stock would
reach 100.
Then his tactics underwent a change.
He began to flood the papers with let
tiers and advertisements declaring that
the copper trust was fraudulent in it's
conception and that the Standard Oil
people had bought the concern for $780,
100000 and sold it to the public at a
fabulous advance. He gave it as his
honest opinion that the company was
certain to come to grief and speedily.
He advised everybody to sell and at
whatever figure could be obtained. He
is said to have intimated that he would
ask for the appointment of receiver
to wind up the affairs of the concern.
1t was mastery achievement, but it
smacks of the methods of the plunger.
EBERT o. WOODSON.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

Ilutely nothing mortal in their makeup.
OF course they are genuine ghosts, but
they do not fit into the holiday scheme.
Miss Milford did not deal with the
supernatural. She found her inspira-
ton in the things that are, and she
concocted a very dainty and appetizing
Christmas feast out of life's ever pres
ent and most apparent realities. Even
now her delicate imagery is fair and
very sweet, but it is the fragrance of
the faded lavender which lies in the
long disused cabinet of her literary
gems. JAMES L. TREVATHAN.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

E.I,s7F..I1sa-.A ME impression prevails
!: !: ] !" ! ]"
in many well in
aH.-Va formed household that
Charles Dickens was
the inventor of that
- Ek delectable literary va
ErTT4S-7TT TTFTTTn5 RANT, the Christmas
@-@------ story. Master of this
species of composition that he was. the
creator of Pickwick was by no means
first in the field. Like so many other
good things, the earliest distinctively
Christmas English written story came
from the fertile brain of an American.
In 1919 1.-The Sketch Book of Godfrey
Crayon. Gent" appeared in New York,
and few months later it was repro
duced in London by John Murray, the
dean of British publishers. 1t went into
numerous editions and was translated
into many languages The name of
washington Irving became known in
all civilized countries, and the demand
for a successor to THE Sketch Book
was unmistakable. Mr.. Irving, howev-
er, was not a writer whose inspiration
was subject to popular demand; he
waited three years before publishing
'Bracebridge Hail." When it came it
met every expectation. There was no
falling off, and it was conceived in the
same vein of tender good humor and
genial companionship that distinguish
ed his earlier work. The chapter enti-
tied Christmas Eve at Bracebridge
Hall is the gem of the collection, and
it passed speedily to first place in hol-
iday literature.
1t is characteristic of literary gen.
fuses to ascribe their popularity to
some effort little known to the public
Thackeray declared that he owed his
reputation to the fact that he had writ
ten the Christmas tale entitled Mrs
Perkins Ball" This is an especially
amusing example of literary obtuse-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

L 4
UA VI sums of money upon
&NNN $4,000 900 alleged Sc
curities, makes her life history. a sin
gularly complete record of criminal du-
plicity, of timely interest.
Elizabeth Bigley, who is alleged to be
the present Mrs Chadwick, was born in
the early hfties in the province of Onta-
rio. Her father was a poor farmer, and
she was one of eight children. She was
bright. but not pretty, and on account
of her peculiar ways was not liked. She
had a mania for spending money and
acquired a wonderful ability in obtain
ing goods under false pretenses. When
still a young girl she forged a note and
was tried for the offense, but was ac-
quilted on the ground of insanity She
was next heard from as the bride of a
DR.. w. S Springsteen in Cleveland, o.
She had been posing for a few weeks
as an Irish heiress and capitalist and
the doctor was fascinated by the COM
bination- On the night of the wedding
installment men came in, carried off all
the furnishings of her elegant apart
ment and the doctor forsook her.
For several years after this she trav-
eled under various aliases, practicing
clairvoyancy and obtaining large sums
of money from a number of specious
schemes. At the end of the eighties
she sent word to her relatives that she
had married an elderly man, c. L. Hoo
yer, who died soon afterward, leaving
her wealthy widow with a SON. In
1888, according to a woman who claims
to be her sister, she reappeared at
Toledo, o., as Nine. De We're, clairvoy-
ant Here she came to grief, was tried.
for forgery and was sentenced to nine
and a half years in the Ohio peniten-
tiary- serving three and a half and then
being paroled by Governor Mckinley
Some years later Mrs. Hoover reap
peared in Cleveland with her old make
shift of clairvOyant and masseuse In
the latter capacity she was employed by
DR.. Leroy Shipper Chadwick, a wealthy
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

IN. = lHE prominence attained
:" J =: !: !:
80 by Thomas w. Law
SKt[s@ son of Boston in the
fSZ r.: recent financial up
EN2<Al::: heavaI in Wall street,
T/NZ the especial feature of
which was a well or
ganized and persistent raid upon the
property known as Amalgamated Cop
per and which resulted in a notable de-
probation of many other securities,
makes the history of his connection
with the copper trust of public interest.
During a somewhat varied career in
the speculative world Mr.. Lawson had
become familiar with the enormous
profits made in "coppers''-that is, the
securities of Lake Superior and other
copper mines held in Boston. He had
occasionally dabbled a little in these
stocks, but his real entry into the cop
per investment field was the result of
fortuitous circumstance which is worth
relating.
One day about ten years ago while
standing at the ticker in his office in
Boston a newspaper man who was
particular friend of Lawson dropped in
and remarked in an offhand way: tom,
Butte and Boston mine is going to shut
down. Tackle it and sell short, and
you'n win" without further urging
Lawson stepped to the telephone and
gave heavy orders to sell Butte short
His raid made a stir at once. The cop
per company denounced him and the
story of the shutdown. Nevertheless
the mine did suspend operations. Law
son sold the stock from SIS down to rs
cents share. Then he bought until he
had a controlling interest in 100000
shares of the common stock
With this influence he was prepared
to force a reorganization. He did So
and from that time he has been a power
in "coppers.' Four years ago his stock
was worth $116 a share, and it formed
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

invalid with a home on Euclid avenue.
He married her, and they lived hand
somely and to all appearance happily
in the beautiful house. For several
years this peaceful condition prevailed,
and the Chadwicks led a life which was
most perfect semblance of refined and
felicitous domesticity. Mrs. Chadwick
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

ews of the dead man came to her with a
will of the same date as hers, but divid
ing the estate into three equal parts
one for each of the nephews and one
for Thereses younger sister, Marie, on
condition that the young men place in
France a sum sufficient to produce life
annuity of 100000 francs for Therese
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

availed herself of the opportunity and
made numerous friends among infiuen-
tial business men. But her genius for
deception could not sleep. The story of
her eliminating series of operations is
the proof of that
The only other adventures of the
present decade whose swindling opera
tions surpass in magnitude and dura-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

liens of the holiday world. His Christ
mas cheer is the actual joyousness of
the holy season, and his Christmas sor
row is not a whit less real. Even his
Christmas ghosts are like the disem-
bodied spirits of no other season. And
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

fiction would at once be condemned by
the critics as an impossibility. Yet it
was so plausible in the hands of Mime.
Humbert that she was successful in
keeping intact its framework of decep-
ton for almost a natural lifetime.
Born Therese d'Aurignac, she adopt
ed the profession of nurse and, accord
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

ton those of Mrs. Chadwick is the IA
nous Nine Therese Humbert, who is
now an inmate of a French peniten-
tiary. This clever woman, endowed
with scant personal attractions and oc-
cupying humble position in her earlier
life, invented a scheme whereby she
was able to deceive the most capable
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

financiers in France. Her operations
were conducted upon such a scale of
financial eminence that judges, courts
and even high government officials were
concerned in their development. The
exact details of this unprecedented Sc
ries of forgeries and misrepresen tations
if found within the pages of the most
pronounced and most imaginative of
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

The nephews, it was reported, were
most considerable. They did not need
the money, and they were willing to
conform to their uncle's desire to unite
the families by marriage. One of the
brothers proposed to Therese, but she
persuaded him to transfer his affections
to her sister Marie, which he obligingly
did. Then the brothers went away and
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

is charming bit of holiday fiction, but
it is dwarfed into comparative insig-
nificance by the magnitude of the other
work.
Although Charles Dickens was not
the originator of the Christmas story,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

ing to her own story, was employed in
that capacity to attend Mr.. Henry
Robert Crawford, an American who
had been taken desperately i'll at Nice
After his death she produced a will in
which she was named as sole heiress to
the Crawford estate of $20.000,000. Be
fore she had been put in actual pos
session of the fortune two young neph-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

he was certainly most successful fol-
lower of the delightful art of construct
ing them. No other story writer has
shown an equal capacity to produce the
real Yuletide atmosphere at will and
fill it with the er-to-be- doubted den
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

ness. for VANITY Fair" had just been
published. Nevertheless it may be true,
for Thackeray had so little faith in
that novel that he applied for a small
position Immediately after
it was published. Mrs. Perkins Bali
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

ers, he has an excellent opinion of his
own inherent good qualities. Hear
him:
Men say advertise myself; they are
wrong. l have nothing to sell. l am
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

cheerfully hated, and there are those
who owe everything to his kindness.
He is a fighter, but he has shown more
than once that he is not merciless.
Without depreciating the merits of 9TH
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

not in the business of making money,
but of spending it. Making money is
the easiest thing 1 can do, but 1 must
keep on making it, millions of it, for 1
have many dependent on me, and 1 am
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-28

he recent exposure of
the unique career of
Mrs Cassie L. Chad
wick, who for the
past few years has
been obtaining large
sums of money upon
$5,O0O,OOO alleged Sc
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-30

a-..s.seA So s. . ~nNtsi
Ecuador, tells a good story about The
difficulties he has had 90 Keep a mon
key on the consulate premises because
OF the Expectations u the boa con.
stnctors. aud these agile little pets
must keep a constant lookout Tor them.
II Jocko drops into q doze he is likely
10 wake up dead
on the ocrcas.on with which the
story deals a monkeys lie was saved
rs the picture Of the American eagle.
The consulate sign an over the world
il a ane reproduction % the klng Of
binls ia fuN color aud with outspread
wings 4 new sign had Just been re-
ecIvel and was waiting on a chair In
side the morn \ biz boa constructor
chased Tie house monkey across the yard
and through Tie opcn window Jocko
Wasmaknga so@lmcc. but . l0s, ~ one
he was 10 Tho corner, quakius win fear
AMI very near deaths door. when bis
pursaer confronted the picture OF the
eagle iu is menaclng attitude 4 snake
trars eagles even mor than Il graves
monkeys ard that particular reptile
mrued iai. and went out of The win.
dow ~ quickly as II the devil was
IL Tia, monkey was e smart
monkey. and now whenever u wants
70 take a nAp 70 goes TO neost over
the plcture % tie eagle Mexican Her.
AID.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-30

The human mind cannot comprehend
what Is meant by the four little words
In the expression 'the sea OF space"
IL the volume of space included with
In u solar system which Is perhaps
hut q single train OF planets among
hundreds Of millions OF u similar kind
were occupied by one single globe
a.Gn,ooo.ts0 miles In diameter II would
be but ms n feather In the marvel
ous spread of vacancy surrounding
1t. In fact. IL las been calculated that
In the space occupied by our solar sys
TEN =. 100 sa1 0to, 600 900 globes the
sire Of our earth could revoiye, each
Ut a distance Of 100000 miles from the
other,
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-30
why the Hosse reii Down.

An English traveller on his way from
Morocco tells OF q curious experience
be had while making q trip by camel
inland from Mogad0r.
I'VE had built q hut Of waffle branch.
es 10 shelter US from the wind In the
middle % the night ! dreamed that |
was shooting rabbits in the bracken OF
Essex and suddenly awcke. 10 tpd ny
self covered with vegetable matter.
Every u has experienced the curious
feeling OF hopeless bewiiderment which
comes over a man when be wakes in
the dark moug strange surroundings.
found that one OF our camels had III.
orally eaten US out OF house aud home,
for be had broken his t..her In tho
a- ~
hight walked over and. desSpr~~a the
wa,,Td branches Of our hut TO such an
extect that the sides and roof collapsed
upon vsfr sseepfng forms"
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-30

There Is n curious provision In the
British bread acts OF 49,. and 1886,
which are stli in force. 10 the effect
that every person who shall make
for sale or sell or expose for sale any
bread made wholly or partially OF peas
or beans or potatoes or OF any sort OF
corn or grain other than wheat shall
cause all such bread TO be marked
with a large Roman M" II would
thus appear that the baker who chooses
10 put potatoes in his bread couid
escape the charge OF adulteration by
marking the loaf with this letter 10 the
manner described.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-30
Greatest Orchard in the World.

John Chisum was only one OF the
~crsry'' men VINO have succeeded In
making tie southwest a home country
]. J. Hagernnan, Of Colorado mining
fame, is probably the ~craziest' oil
them all. Mr.. Hagerman has prob
ably made and lost more colossal for
tunes than any other mar In the
southwest and the changes he has
wrought In tine Pecess Valley have
made portions Of Il look like fairy.
Ian amid impossible surroundings
He followed Cn-sam into the valley
In asS4 ana be has EAST gold hi sea
d ! apples as they hung on the
trees u she largest apple orchard IN
the world for sizg.1o cash To me.
the apple orchard Of j. j. Hagerman.
dropped as biz magic In the midst OF
AZ apparen; desert, furnishes one q
the most wonderful superla;ives IN
.Aa southwest. III there is such a
thing as the aestheticism Of nature
ii In 10 be found in Hagegman's apple
orchard when In full bloom. Imagine
II goa can 5000 acres Of fragrant and
delicate apple blossoms surrounded
hy vast stretches Of arid sandy plains
which without irrigation bear little
save sage brush and cacii. Nearly
nine sections Of land covered with
apple trees whose perfume in bloom
time sIis the sir for miles around
ek,eS1 apple trees whose product Top
ped the London market in 1902 and
1905. Blen Andrrs
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-30
WUNUFK [ANU.
Chicago Writer Smitten
With the Charm of
the Pecos Valley.

The following is from the Ch'ca'
so RecordHerald and Is CHARACTERS
Tic Of the manner in which the great
Southwest is viewed in thSeast The
writer got his figures ana facts mix.
ed but ueriye 4 for what IL IS worth.
THE erea, southwest Is a land of
superlatiyes a place 81 big an3efiak'
inrs Ii l. 3 place where thc iatoxs-
catsoa a eternal sunshine Aac MOAB
tain-brsa air gels into the veins anf'
then ii seems Impossible TO to AiIie
things ii 4 business sense. Seeming
l-nposssblitles become the most nAtuF-
a. things to 90 and when done they
usually prove Tia, wisdom dictated
thsr..
The southwest Is fall a grand sue
cess which az their inception seem.
ed The dreams az crazy or i&natical
people. II this statement seems fan
cifaI recall The late John Chisnm,
formerly az Kentncsy. and his seem.
fnsly villa venture in The Fecos Val
lev az New Mexico. John Chisum
h-ea;hea :As ar q. the valley and
rssr rsuuysst irto The depths az a
wilderness every asi rs fornidding Of
asr~ezs a. ,he painted desert Of All
rcs-x and sH miles from the nearest
rxslrvsaa point he secured u;le TO T..
hFe acres q land. dug irrigation
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-30

Siraffes are the most difficult OF all
animals TO take by surprise. No mat.
ter from what direction you may APP
proach The giraffe is sure to discover
Yea. II has been called the original
'rubberneck.' II Is not generally
known that nature, because OF the
height OF its eyes from the ground,
has supplied ii with a talent peculiar
ly It's own for making observations. As
a matter Of fact, a giraffe can see In
all directions at the same time with
out moving Its head. The eyes are
large and prominent and so placed III
the side OF the head that, bulging ou'
as they do. they r capable OF seeinI
backward as welt as forward.
Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-09-30

The Australian atorlgInc when weary
Of q single life iooss about for .
partner. and. finding one To has liking,
stalks Der. and. watching his oppor-
run.;y. siuas Der with q heavy blow
and carries her al. 10 her new home.
where II Is & lie hoped. on her return
10 conseiauSasss. his after tenderness
makes sasa~ at0nesEeni for bis soue
~haf rough aaa ready way Of ~coiag