davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25
A Chinese Post Office

Mrs. H. T. Ford of the China Inland
Mission at Tai-kang, in the central
province of Honan, in a letter to her
family, has some amusing things to
tell about the establishment of the
Chinese Imperial Post in the pro-
vince, which is some weeks journey
from the coast. She says:
I'VE have got the Chinese Imperial
Post here now. At Kai-feng, when
they first got it, the post office clerks
had fight with some men who bought
stamps and wanted the clerks to lick
them and put them on the letters for
them. They said the clerks were
there to lick the stamps, and paid for
the business, and they wouldn't lick
them. But the clerks wouldn't agree
to lick them, so they came to blows
and the police had to come in and sep
arate them.
Here at Tai-kang, the man who has
got the post office has begun Wei
Harry was in his shop when the first
customer came for a stamp. 1t took
him nearly FIVE minutes to find the
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

key and get the stamp box open, and
when he gave it to the man he said
in a very decided wey: Now lick
it and put it just there The Gus
toner was foolish Cor wise) enough
to do so and now custom has been
established in Tai-kang that all pur-
chasers of stamps must lick them
and stick them on. There was a
great row at the Kai-feng Post Of
fee one day because an address on a
letter could not be found and the let
ter was brought back
"The sender wanted his money back
because the letter had not been de-
livered, but the clerk refused to give
it to him, contending that they had,
had more trouble over it than If it
had been delivered. Another man,
was determined to get the post office
clerks into trouble because he had.
sent letter some time ago and re-.
ceived no answer. This was clear
proof, he said, that the letter had.
never been sent. The service here.
is somewhat irregular yet"
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25
Prevents Nal de Mer

the powders. Ten minutes afterward
took another, and the nausea disap-
peared. 1t came on again later on,
but soon vanished before those magic
powders. Whenever there was the
least sign of it's return l took a pow
der, and thus prevented what might
otherwise have been to me a very I'M
pleasant trip. Several children who
were in my charge at the time, were
successfully treated in the same way.
Only recently a lady and gentleman
whom l had supplied with a number
Of these petroleum powders to take
with them on a voyage, on their re-
turn spoke in the highest terms Of
them, and stated that they were quite
satisfied that seasickness could be-
prevented, as on other occasions they
had always suffered from that mall
ady.-London Doctor.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25
Knockers for Rsdrnon nA0..

No late corners to breakfast win.
able to make excuse that they +
not hear themselves called" in tbs /
ture, and housemaids' knuckles I,
escape a sore trial at the hand,
unwilling risers. for door-knocken 4
now fastened to up-to-date bedwv
doors.
They are not only exceedingly .
full, but very quaint and ornament
being exact replicas in brass n
smaller size of the famous Durlu
sanctuary knocker.
This knocker with its gargr,
head dates from the Norman trs
when it was the privilege Of b
church to protect fugitives at her b
tails. The fugitive had only to knO.
and at any hour of the day or nd
the door would be opened to him
the porter who dwelt in rooms abcV.
The moment he was within the chma
a bell would announce that some a
had taken sanctuary. He was rod
in black cloth gown with St. Cut
bert's yellow cross upon the left shc.
Ter, and was taken to a room, vhsi
re was kept in safety for thirtySg
en- days.-London Mail.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25
Mlsauotatlon.

Two Bible students were discus5,.
the number of quotations often attn
uted to the scriptures which really d
taken from secular works One
them had just related the story Of y
wash woman who found so much coa
fort in the verse, Grin and bear 4
which she declared was from Y
Bible, when the other replied:
We'll, there are other people ID
are supposed to know more about Y
Bible than the wash woman did W
make just as ridiculous mistaEa
Just last week | heard a missions
from the Italian quarters of this q
address a woman's home mission :
ciety. After relating some Of y
trials, she said that she could 4
see that the situation is growing mud
better.
But she concluded, the BID
tells us that ;"They also serve W
only stand and wait"-and that's vhS
I'm doing
Nov, those words are not in y
New Testament at all. They are
direct quotation from Millions sonlss
On His Blindness PhiladelpA
Press.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

An Australian correspondent of the
Homeopathic World makes mention
of petroleum as a safe and reliable
remedy for the prevention of seasick-
ness, and one which he can back up
by personal experience. "a few years
ago." he writes, 81 had occasion to
take trip from Sydney to the
Hawkesbury river in the steamer
Newcastle. AS had never been out
side Of Sydney Heads before l deter
mined to guard against unpleasant ac-
cidents by providing myself with a
preventive against seasickness. / de-
cided upon petroleum, Ok trituration,
in 2-grain powders. When the yes
sci got outside the heads the fun
commenced. began to feel a bit
queer, and a peculiar nausea began
to steal over me. Down went one of
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25
Some Facts About Glass.

=
The Oldest specimens of glass y
traced back from 1900 to 1900 yea'
before Christ. These are of EgypuI
origin. Transparent glass is belie.S
to have been first used about "
years before the Christian era
Phoenicians were supposed BY u
ancients to have been Responsible N
the invention, and the story VIII 1
recalled of the Phoenician merchaDa
who, resting their cooking pots u
blocks of natron, or subcarbonaN |.
soda, found that the union, uD',
heat, of the alkali and the sand I
the shore produced glass. -,
There is little doubt, however ~
the art of glass making origlnss
with the Egyptians. 1t was lDu.
duced into Rome in the time OF CiO8J
and reached a remarkable degree
perfection among the Romans WI
produced some of the most admnsDJ
specimens of glass ever manuI
tured; an instance is the famous fUS
land vase in the British museuI
Glass was not used for windows u''
about A. d. 300.-Harper's Weekp'
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

Foley was the unluckiest cuss in
the colony; this was the verdict OF
the street which the boys stood ready
to prove with any number of pic
turesque facts. SIS Foley in this
deal?" they would ask, cause If he
is, it let's me out. He's Jonah, he
is" Jest though it was, it began to
have its effect on Foley. He grew
discouraged and low-spirited. Now,
when a man loses faith in himself,
he's in very bad way. Courage to
dare and do are born of confidence.
One day something wonderful hap
pened. Dick Foley "struck" the lot
terry and won the capital prize.
The news went the rounds OF can
tinas, hotels and restaurants, the boys
telling 1t with thrilling detail.
Where did he get the price?" Not
even Stanley, his best friend, could
answer this. Yet it was Stanley, next
to Dick, himself, who could tell most
about it.
At the hour when the big lottery
building caught the blaze of the mid
day sun, Stanley, sauntering by on
the shady side of the street, spied
Foley. He seemed faint, and was
leaning heavily against one of the
pillars.
Hello, Dick!" he called out jovial-
ly, don't you know better than to
stand in sun like this?"
Then catching sight of Foley's white
face, why, man, you look as if you'd
seen a ghost!"
$50 l have" said Dick, land it's
brought me 100000"
Look here, old chap, believe
you're light-headed. This sun and
too many copitas will do it, sure"
For answer, Foley put into stanley's
hand ticket.
Read this, and that" pointing to
the figures on the board opposite.
Nov tell me if the worlds topsy-
turvy and I've lost my head entirely"
Stanley looked at the ticket, then
at the board; again he read the tick
ct.
by the Lord Harry, you've struck
it, Foley, Shake, old chap, and tell
me how you did it,"
The boys were disappointed in
Foley. 1t was the unanimous opinion
that he didn't behave at all like a man
just snatched from poverty. Not a
dinner had he given to celebrate the
nor, strangest of all, had he
taken up any of the "dead-sure" prop
ositions that had been literary thrown
at his feet.
Dick Foley, with all his hard luck,
still retained a conscience. This
prize ticket had come to him in such
an unusual way that he was quietly
making an effort to find the rightful
owner. For three weeks there had
appeared in all the Spanish papers a
carefully-worded notice inquiring for
a party who had lost a lottery ticket.
"If the boys only knew" he chuck.
ed, that | am indebted to a lady for
my fortune!" Yet that is exactly
what had happened. Just how. he
was not altogether sure, himself.
He had pushed his way into a
crowded street car, dimly conscious
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25
Puzzles for Uncle Sam

1t is supposed that captains of in
coming vessels often play mean jokes
on Uncle Sam when they have any
particularly worthless cur or other
forecastle pet that they want to get
rid of. They might, of course, throw
1t overheard, but that would be miss
ing a chance of giving the United
States lot of trouble. Instead of the
simple way of disposing of the beast
they enter the animal on their mani
fest and tag 1t as addressed to some
fictitious person at some non-existent
place. 1t is then taken in charge by
the customs officials, and the nom
existent consignee notified. OF course
he does not appear to claim his prop
erty, and the ex-mascot becomes
perishable unclaimed merchandise,
and as such becomes the subject of
much official correspondence. The
collector is notified that the merchan-
disc must be sold, or it may deteri-
crate in value, and after all the forms
are gone through 1t is advertised for
sale. At the sale 1t may bring the
price of the postage stamps that
would have been wasted on 1t, If
the treasury department mail were
not frankej, and then a bill is pre-
scented by the livery stable keeper,
who has been bestowing on 1t for a
month or two care and attention that
many dog show prize-winner never
receives.
Sometimes the line which divides
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25
A Ballade of Gardens

The first was Eden. Through the storm
of cares
Rinss still the echo of its early knell
The fair Hesperides, beset with snares
Were sacked by one whose snirit
naught might queil.
All! Joy to know the ancients' hydro
mel,
Their flowers and fruitsi And yet not
II / could
Would / for all their gold and nectar
sell
My summer garden in It's poppyhood.
OF Babylon the marvellous parterres
Long since to blight and dusty barrens
fell, HS
And where the lovely queen that raised
them fares Su
There, is no scroll nor scribe to sootblv
tell, tAiy
But in this far off year the olden snail
Brews us nepenthes sweet and strpns
and 9dohS
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

at this day, it is difficult to convince
some otherwise very intelligent bank
ers, directors and managers that the
public has right to knowledge. A
case occurred within a month that
illustrates very well the point Of
view obtaining in some circles Of the
financial community. A certain cor
poration undertook to make an issue
OF securities. This fact was develop.
ed and published. A financial writer
called on one Of the directors, showed
him the news as published, and asked
If 1t were true.
YES" said the director, at is true
but 1t is pretty hard that two or three
gentlemen cannot discuss their pri.
vate affairs without reporter break.
ing in."-The July Worlds Work.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25
Good Work OF Press

1t may be said that nothing has
done more to lift the moral tone of
business than the healthful criticism
of the press. Twenty years ago, the
state of financial journalism-not
merely the purely financial press, but
also that portion of the daily press
devoted to finance-was not extreme
ly good. Such journalism was mark.
ed by much ignorance, with, unfor-
tunately, at least some dishonesty.
Apart from this, the theory upon
which 1t was mainly based was not
sound. The people who made" most
of the financial news seemed to think
that they we're entitled to control, in
large measure, its publication, both
as to matter, time, and manner. Even
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

the classification Of goods, and which
means thousands of dollars to the
importers, is very narrow. A story
is told of the decision by the supreme
court of case which involved the
question of whether a certain article
was a sauce or fish, the rates on
which were widely different. The
judges could not agree, and one night
the chief justice took one of the
sample bottles home to his wife.
"Of course that's sauce" she said.
and sauce it was decided to be, much
to the benefit of the importers.
Some of the most puzzling matters
which come before the appraisers and
the courts are caused by the importa-
ton of strange articles of food for
the use of foreign-born members of
Uncle Sans large family. Just now
the courts are wrestling with the
question of how sake, the favorite
alcoholic drink of Japan, should be
classified. Large quantities of it are
imported at Honolulu for the use of
the Japanese laborers there. The
question is whether 1t should pay
duty as wine or a beer, and from
the testimony, it seems to partake of
the nature of both. In order that
the best legal talent could be obtain
ed to argue the case, without making
1t necessary for the lawyers to go
all the way to Honolulu, an importa-
ton was arranged at New York, and
the case will be fought out in the
courts.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

And closes never blossomed to excel
MY summer garden in its poppyhood.
bears
tapes like wound. 1 hear tha
bursting shell zig
AT red Sedan, and see in spectral airs
asphodel. va
Then, ,weariful and sad, I come to
Beneath the grooming elms that sentI-
mel so' sehu-
MY summer garden in its poppyhood.
For rest and pleasant dreams. dear Isa-
full wood; M Foice-
Your bourne is here WHARF low.
thriveth we'll 'o0'
MY summer garden in its poppyhood.
coward w. Barnard. Jr.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

Illness had prevented her 4,
swering his advertisement so Ion
thanked him for the trouh,'
taken to return that which ae
him by accident. but ienoroa .ans
that she had placed the ticl.ue
lap. The numter of tbe N',
the name of the car upon WA,
incident had occurred. wosa
with other details, which as,.,N
her Identity beyond "a donh,
adding: II shall come for N lll
on the 18th" This was the ~, aa
Foley's bad quarter of ..
lasted all night. Every kind =, ~
came to him with suggestIors ues
he might keep the money " .
self-respect at the same time %
the end his sturdy conscIa,. nV
umphed. OF course, he must y.
up. That was what he mean, sN
all the time; else why had ny =
so much trouble to find the ov. 4l
When the morning of tbo
dawned, Stanley, who had hoo.
all the circumstance of tbo '. -
was as much excited as Foley. ny
no one came to claim tbe
Three, six, ten days passed
Dick declared the suspense mn,,
He would find the little subnrh
which the letter had been son,
make inquiries concerning the y.
A long search through the rau,.
village was at last rewarded :
portero who answered the snm.
looked shocked when asked II hasT
ora de Leon lived there. Hss
the senores heard that sbs h
twelve days ago? By dint N
questioning Foley learned tbst /
lady was without relatives and ,,s
eccentric-sufficient explanatIon
the unusual way fortune hao con.
him.
Its yours" said Stanley, euD,,
cally, as they left the old house h,
have any more qualms of copscs.
on that point. But-may | neye, !,
another cocktail II it isn't str,,,
than digging for the treasure n \
Montezumas!"
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

many hard knocks fortune had recent
ly dealt him.
Suddenly he looked up, to find a
pair of dark eyes regarding him earn
estly. His lack of discretion annoy
ed him. Then glancing at her dress
he felt treasured.
"Of course" he thought, she does
not understand word I've said"
The lady rose to leave the car. AS
she passed Foley, a piece Of paper
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

The landlord of an Illinois hotel
tasted twenty days to cure stomach
trouble. He has taken no patent or
copyright on his method, and it is
understood that guests at his hostelry
will be allowed 20 use the cure with.
out extra charge.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25
Remuneration.

Do right. sweetheart and persey,ss,,s.
With steadfast eye and brow aus"
Apart our ways forever liei
we must remember--you and i ,as
30 shall we keep our conscience y"
And then, without reproach or rear
Wen drift asunder, year by year,
But, once-hefore we say gooupN
Do write. sweetheart.
or course, in such exalted spheH
DO not care fond words to near
Yet in my heart is just one ~
. For one dear name before l ule'
30 In the letter-O. my dear.
DO write sweetheart a.
Carolyn Wells. In smart
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

A millionaire prohibitionist in his
will cuts OFF any child who INDUCES in
liquor. This may be an incentive to
temperance and then again It may be
an incentive to family blind pig.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

1t is claimed that a new kind of
bread has been discovered which is
an excellent substitute for beef.
There's no use shouting about it,
though. If it's as good as they say It
is some trust will get it.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

"You hoped that would never come
fell, as if by accident, from her hand
into his lap. He called to her. but
she was hurrying through the car
When he finally reached the platform
she was out of sight, and no one could
tell him in which direction she had
gone.
He looked at the paper; it was a
whole ticket in the lottery drawing
Tor the next day. At one time Dick
mad squandered a lot of money on
these "fimsy fakes" as he called.
For all that this will ever brire
me might as we'll throw it into tbe
street now" Two days later he ston.
ped to read the drawing 1t was then
Stanley had found him.
Foley's 100000 was safely deposited
in the bank.
Dong him powerful lot Of good. .
grumbled Stanley. Some folks don't
know when they are lucky"
Four weeks had passed since the
drawing, No one had answered the
inquiry in the papers. Foley began
TO feel as If it was already his. A few
aays later, in writing to a friend be
hlnted that brighter prospects were
ahead-"best not say too mucb"-
then added aloud, "but tell Won
wnat IL is, my lady. I'll give you lust
tWenty-four hours more; if Won DOM
come forward then, you must forever
mold your peace; every centavo win
go into the best copper proposition
in this republic"
AT that moment there came sor
Tie rap on the door. It was onened
anu anu tnere stood before him the mys.
ferrous lady. The room swan. he
GIutched the table to keep from falling
ne tried to speak; his voice wos
hoarse and faint. Surely Fate could
not nave dealt man a crueler bIou,
ne DARK eyes seemed to read his
secret thoughts. When she smoke ~
was In English with a decided snan.
You hoped that | would navor
come do not blame you. When
reau your notice in the paper I knew
was right In taking you for an hon.
est man. heard all You said 20
your friend in the street car. ana A.It
sudden impulse to help Won Tha
ticket was all l had. conId o.ie
nope that 1t would win a prize. Later
might have given you a lot of trou.
Die. Now | never shall II 60 ou
yours DO with it as you wish"
The knocking ceased, and starIa~,.
som. Tue Tsn-
heres a letter, II you'll wake nm
long enough to read It."
Dick rubbed his eyes. stretchea "a.
lohg arms above his head, and pron,
ca MS way to the door. Still rnSar
inc influence OF that strangely raaI,n
nc dream, he reached out a besitot,ns
hand for the letter.
NO need now to shake himself r,,h
nis eyes and look at Stanley 10 raai,
p, 'hat this, at least, was no dreona
NOT was It necessary TO read ~ -.
Ter !. over again and again. He knew
y oy heart at the first reading Tha
writer began by saying that a ssrions
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

A San Francisco girl has begun suit
for divorce on the ground that she
was tricked into marrying. But, hon
estly, that is what happens to most
girls who marry.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

A New York man, aged 1903, boasts
that he has never used soap during
his lifetime, but that he drinks lager
beer. It seems he prefers his "suds" to
be applied internally instead of exter.
nally.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

Probably more girls would take the
advice of Gov. Warfield of Maryland
and delay marriage until they are 90
If they only felt absolutely sure they
could get married then.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

An immense quantity of castor oil
mas been destroyed by fire in Boston.
what squeal Of delight should ema-
nate from the nurseries all over the
land2
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

Wilson Barrett died from the effects
of a surgical operation which was
thoroughly successful" What would
have happened il the operation had
been a failure?
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

Young Mr.. Tiffany complains that
he cannot live on the $4,000 year
he draws from his fathers estate. For
$1,000 of 1t he could hire some good
man to show him how to save money
on $4,000 year.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

Such are the resources of modern
science that the failure of the Span.
ish olive crop will have no effect what.
ever upon the supply of pure olive
oil.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

Pugilists shake hands before and
after the fight. Oh that some way
could be devised for injecting some of
the chivalry Of the ring into politics!
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

While the automobilist is liable to
locomotor ataMa, the man who ven
lures to crots the street is liable to
sudden attack of rigor mortis.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

AS King Peter of Servia puts on his
chilled steel nightshirt and then looks
under the bed for bombs, prior to re-
firing for the night, he reflects that
there are, after all, some disadvan-
tages in holding job as the bene-
ficiary of assassination.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

II Mrs, Maybrick has read the
american newspapers all these years
she must be used to being released by
this time.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

A Pittsburg man has been fined $50
In Canada for catching fourteen more
black bass than the law allowed. Still.
he win probably find 1t hard to get
people to believe his fish stories.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

The young queen OF Holland, the
queen Of Italy and the crown princess
OF Gutenberg are all awaiting the
expected news from the palace at
Peterhof with a special sympathetic
interest.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

Some people will complain of the
Panama canal commissions extensive
purchase Of mosquito netting while
New Jersey remains unfortifed.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

The cry has gone up throughout
the country to save Niagara Falls.
They are certainly unsurpassed for
scenery and suicide.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

Both England and France seem to
dread the idea of touching toes, so to
speak, through a tunnel under the
English channel.
The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-10-25

Won Plehve's predecessor was as
sass,nated little over two years ago.
They have rotation in that office all
right.