davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03

n NoEE AhAbL1 aSSOCAdLeu Win the
present British Court of India. iden-
titled with wheat by a memorable
coup which came near cornering
that commodity. the name Letter
plays no little part in the doings and
happenings of the day.
Joe Letters wheat deal, now drama
TIED in THE Pit" and Mary Letters
ascendence to Vieereine of India. as
Lady Curzon, are stories known where
ever newspapers are, printed But
beyond the exploits Of these remark
able eldest children. little has been said
of the Letter family.
The well-knowr1 children of unknown
parents are exemplihed in this instance.
Thrifty Holland is the home of the
Letter family. From time immemorial
il has been prosperous and prominent
in the land Of dykes and windmills.
What impelled James Van Letter to
leave Amsterdam for America in 1760
no one knows. He landed at Baltimore
and purchased a large and beautiful
tract Of land in the western part of
Maryland from Lord Craven. Twenty
thousand dollars was the confederation,
no insignificant sum for that day.
Henceforward Slipton-on-C Craven was
known as Leitersburg. Flour mills
were erected and each subsequent gen7
Grafton has maintained the industry.
The ruins of the original mills form a
picturesque addition to the scenery Of
the present day. The famous Burnside
bridge, where the bloody battle Of An
t,etam was fought, is within the boun-
diaries of the original tract Of land
In the old days each of the Letters
retired 70 the life Of a country gentle
man early in his career, the life which
the colonial days had firmly impressed
upon the South; the life of luxury made
possible by slavery. Fox hunts and
good cheer were the order of the day.
No more prosperous community could
be found in the land than that of Lett
ersburg.
The parents of Levi Z. Letter were
the only exceptions to the family pros
perity, the only members of the family
that didn't own property The house
In which the father of Lady Curzon was
born Is scarcely more than a hut. The
contrast between this lowly home and
the Letter Palace on Dupont Circle,
washington. should be an encourage
ment TO American youth for all time.
Levi Z. Letters name is not of Jew
ish origin, as many think. The name
conceals a family romance.
a young aunt, Barbara Zeigler.
loved Levi Jordan, a young farmer of
Leitersburg. They were engaged to be
married. Ere the date set arrived,
Barbara Zeigler was so far gone in
consumption that the impossibility Of
the ceremony was apparent to all
One Of the last requests was for per-
mission 10 name her sisters child.
This was willingly granted, and in her
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-03

In March he had to borrow S, 100000
and on April I. with May wheat selling
at Sl.15 a bushel, Mr.. Letter found il
necessary to call upon his father for
money to assist in supporting the load
which was crushing him.
His father raised 100000 for him. and
wheat sold at S1-65. Mr.. Letter was held
responsible by some for the bread riots
in Italy. and he was always referred to
as the youngest of the NapoIeons of the
wheat pit.
With the public generally believing
that he was rolling up great profits. his
iiZtimates knew that he was carrying
load Of wheat which he did not dare TO
hold and which he did not dare to let
go. Late in May it was announced that
he had closed out and at a great profit.
Two weeks later it became known that
ne had been unable to get out, and had
been compelled to compromise with his
opponents. The wheat market collapsed
ami the Letter family was out OF pocket
a sum estimated by many at 100000
math OF this exploit echoed in financial
circles when certain New York and
Chicago brokers whom Levi Letter had
considered rather too pressing in their
demands at the time OF the original
compromise are said TO have been Of
fered twenty cents on the dollar to sur
render the remaining $4,000 of claims
outstanding against Joseph Letter.
The younger Letter at that time had
entered into business again, and desired :
to free himself Of all possible financia!
membranes to escape all chance Of
annoyance for the future. It has been
said by his friends that the brokers who
held the last $4,000 worth Of his paper
would otherwise not have received even
their twenty cents on the dollar. as his
father believed they had made an at
tempt to fatten of him when the first
settlement of liabilities was effected.
The Press., 1904-02-11
THIRTY YEARS AGO.


Charles e. Hoyle from Webster,
Mass, is fitting up the basement of
Col. Warren's block preparatory to
opening a dining room and coufection-
cry and fruit store.
The Stafford Springs Book club
have organized for the year by choos-
ing O. f. HARDWOOD secretary, and
Misses Emma Wolcott, Ella L. Penn
Der, Emily Thrall, Mrs. r. s. Hicks
and Mrs. W. H. Smith executive COM
mittee.
Names of scholars in the primary
department, district No. 2, who were
neither tardy nor absent during the
month commencing Jan. 18th: Mary
Longtime, Albino Jones, Celia Jones,
Myra Fenton, Lizzie Sharm, Sadie
Comins, Martin Mccoy, BERTHE Com.
ins, Jasper Hyde, George Fentou.
James Simth, Napoleon Bolieau, Err.
nest Cushman, John Little.
District school committees for 1874
Furnace Hollow, J. G. Gross Springs,
James Mclaughlin; Foxville, @. W.
Eaton; Street, J. b. Larned; Stat
fordville, Sidney Smith, Julius Pin
ney, John NJ. Chaffee; washburn, l.
s. Goodrich; Works, Frank Orcutt
Rockwell Hill, s. Jones; Hall, IrI
Broadway; Village, Milton Leonard
Hydeville, Allen Willis; Square Pond
Ralph Wiers; Center. T. ID. Johnson
Grow Hill, VIM. Cummings; LulI
Gardner Lull; Patten, David Davis
Kent Hollow, Zina W. Ellis.
The Press., 1904-02-11

'There is nothing l admire in cat
SO much as her absolute independ-
ence." said man as he watched big
Angora sweep haughtily around the
room. you are bound to treat cat
kindly. II you abuse her or i'll treat
her she cares nothing more for you.
Now, a dog will lick the hand that
beats him. but cat will have only the
utmost contempt for you. This tenden-
cy Of dog to love it's master even aft
err it has been kicked may appeal to
some. but I like the cats high, proud
spirit better. This Independent spirit
of the cat crops out in many ways
You may slap her for stealing milk.
but the next time she gets a. chance
she will steal milk. She will appro-
pirate the best chair in the room and
endure with supercilious air your po-
lite hints or stern commands to her to
get down. But she will never bulge
until the spirit moves her or you re-
move her by force. If she is crazy to
get in the window and you open it for
her. she takes her time, stops to sniff
bit and does not allow you to think
for one instant that she was at all con-
cerned over the opening Of that win
dow. They are beautiful animals, and
they know it. and If you don't like
them they don't care a hang."-New
York Times
The Press., 1904-02-11
on az she held the sleeping child.

ten as she held the sleeping child.
half hour passed. an hour. Alan
Campbell suddenly opened pair OF
questioning blue eyes. Startled by
the strange face. he cried: Where's
NV muvver? l want my muvver!
His little body shook with sobs.
Rudely aroused from her dream.
Elizabeth felt quick pang of jeal-
ousy. Yes. she was jealous OF the wo-
man whose hold on the child even
death was powerlcss to break. Silent
" she put on her wraps. gathered Alan
Campbell, sObs and all. into her arms
and hurried down to the til street
cars.
PlumIey alley proved to be neat
tagged court and No. 10 Il tiny white
house with green shutters. little OLD
man. whose eyes were swollen with
weeping, came to answer her ring.
Alan Campbell called ''Huddo Gram
nv" The poor old fellow tried in vain
to control his grief. The girl shook the
trembling old hand and turned away.
unable to express her sympathy. Alan
Campbell smiled after her like sun
beam.
Elizabeth closed her studio door with
n shiyer. Never had it looked more
beautiful, more orderly or more cold
and still.
81 want my muvver." little voice
kept sounding in her ear. All. these
mothers she had been plying. how she
envied them now! 1t was ridiculous to
feel so, and yet. and yet she knew her
arms would always be empty and her
whole body hungry for the presence.
the caresses of little child, something
of her own, her very own. to love.
There was hardly time to arrange
her hair and light the spirit lamp be-
fore Phil knocked. Hoping that he
would not notice her red eyelids. she
concentrated her attention on the tea
things. She thought she was succeed
ing until Phil said. What's up, Eliza
bethY .. .- .-..... e-.....
ooh" she replied. II saw frightful
accident this morning. l can't seem to
forget it," Tears rolled down her
cheeks.
Phil longed to take the sensitive girl
into his arms. but he only said cheer
ingly: ...~. .-
"There are many cruel things in this
world. We can't help them. Try to
forget all this. Put on your hat and
come out to dinner with me. I'll tell
you what-we1l go and see Wilson in
The Matador;' make you laugh; do you
good"
She only sobbed.
Phil knelt beside her chair and took
her hand.
'Please don't cry. 1t hurts me to see
it," .
1t was very un-Elizabeth-like. but
somehow she let her head droop on his
shoulder and closed her eyes. as Alan
Campbell had done. 1t was so good to
feel some one near some one who was
strong and who loved her. Phil could
not understand, but was grateful for
the miracle which had made the girl
he loved seek his arms like a child.
He spoke low and tenderly.
Dear, won't you let me be your con-
voler always?" .-..........
He bent his head to her tear stained
cheek and her little word of reply was
not so loud as the glad beating of his
heart.
"Only," said Elizabeth, when she
had recovered something of her usual
spirit. don't flatter yourself it was
your conquest. 1t was nothing at all
but the eternal feminine ....
The Press., 1904-02-11

-
There is more dust in the places IL
Illuminated by the suns rays than In
those which we call shady.
If you look along a beam of light as
1t streams through window or a chink
In the door, you will see innumerable
dust particles dancing about in the
light You will be told by most per-
sons that there is just as much dust in
the noniiluminated parts of the room
as in the more favored spaces, but you
cannot see the particles because the
rays do not fall directly upon them.
You will think that this is eminently
plausible. but 1t is not the case.
The sun falling upon the air creates
irregular currents. and these currents
stir up the dust and collect it in lay
ers along the line of light; hence there
is more dust where the sun shines than
elsewhere.
A curious experience in a museum
gave proof of this. 1t was noticed that
there was always more dust on the
glass cases exposed to the sunbeams
than on those which were never touch
ed by the rays of the great orb, and
this led to an inquiry, with the above
result. ..-...... .....s
1t will generally be found that it
takes longer to clean the sunny parts
of large room than it does to wipe.
up the dust particles from the shady
hooks
The Press., 1904-02-11

1 stopped to get a glass of milk the
other day at New Jersey farmhouse,
said the commuter, and the female
head of the establishment, who had
six children playing around, was in
clined to repine at her hard luck in
having so much work to do.
81 run this whole farm" she re-
marked in a tone which indicated that
she was ready to resign. ...z..sr
"How, many acres have you?" 1 in.
quired.
"a hundred and forty"
Got any stock?' ST.
'aTen head of cattle, two cows, six
hogs and work horses for the place."
And you run the whole business?'
l asked.
Indeed, 1 do; every hide and hair of
it." she sighed
Don't you hire some help?"
"Of course. but faint hired help that
takes the load often ones body" There
was some philosophy in that, and I
paused a minute. sa
Haven't you got husband?" then
asked sympathetically.
EYES," she said sternly, "but, you see,
l have to run him too."-New York
Mail and Express.
The Press., 1904-02-11
A Bret Harte Story.

Bret Harte was once asked in Lon
don if he did not exaggerate some of
his western character creations. He de-
clared that he did not and told this
true story, which he had always fear
ed to put into print: A well known des-
perado came into a saloon, and Of
course those who knew him had bust
ness elsewhere at once. An English
tenderfoot remained, and the bad man
invited him to drink. The Britisher
innocently said he did not care to do
SO, a dangerous remark to make in
those days. whereupon the desperate
YEARLY reached for his gun and said
in a tired sort of way, Cant l ever
have drink without killing a MANI"
The Press., 1904-02-11

or something.
Cadet Lieutenant Sims was doing un-
military things with his arms and say
ing anything but the platitudes he
would be expected to utter on first ac-
quaintance with a pretty young wom-
an.
"It's only little joke Of mine. and
Mrs. Butler helped me out" Bess was
saying in strangely smothered tones
81 knew what fun 1t would be to see
you when you came here for the strange
girl and found me. Yes, I'll admit It
was the fact of papa's losing a little
money that suggested it all. l could
not resist it, You had your little joke;
I had mine"
"But yours was cruel, wasn't it-just
a little, dear? YOU Rufus stopped
suddenly, and Bess became interested
In large painting of the lieutenant
commander.
You seem to be getting acquainted
very quickly" laughed Mrs Butler In
the doorway. But our cadets have a
reputation In that direction"
The Press., 1904-02-11

1T was the genius and foresight of
Henry 1. that saw the necessity of ere
ating a close connection between the
central kings court and the local
courts up and down the land 1t was
Norman and wandering, going where
the king went. They were Saxon and
stationary; hence, to link them togeth-
er, in 1924 a special deputation of
judges was for the first time sent on
circuit in the country. of whom it is
recorded that they changed so many
thieves as never was before, being in
that little while altogether forty-four
men," ed.
This vigorous administration Of JUS
tice by royal authority gained for Hen
ry the title of "the lion of Justice and
paved the way for the permanent insti-
tuition in his grandson's reign. These
travelling judges were called justices
in-eyre-i e., in itinere, on journey.
Their head. the justiciar, is still seen in
our title, the lord chief justice.
Henry II. in 1173 fixed these circuits
at six the home, midland, eastern,
western, northeastern and northern,
which correspond roughly with those
that still exist.-London Standard.
The Press., 1904-02-11

The attendants In the art gallery Of
a department store in Brooklyn were
startled the other day to see man de-
liberately destroy two pictures that he
had just purchased at a cost of SAT.
The man is wealthy and aims to have
a collection of art objects that have no
duplicates. He had purchased In the
art gallery that was the scene OF his
vandalism a painting for which he
paid $1,000 After it was sent home he
was showing it to a friend who. know
ing the collectors weakness. told him
he had seen two reproductions of the
painting i'm tile same gallery. one priced
at 500. the other at $40.
go and buy them for me-" said the
collector. land when you get them
break them up. I'll give you a check
for SAT before you 20 home"
The friend declined the task: so the
collector went to the store himself,
pointed out the two pictures. and after
he had paid for them destroyed them
on the spot.
This same man ordered table with
a carved top. for which he paid 5000,
and after it had been finished he went
to the artist who had designed ii and
stood by him while he destroyed the
original drawing for the table That
was part of the contract, and he
meant to see 1t carried out.
The Press., 1904-02-11
Trouble For Henry.

81 see," said Mrs Henpeck, ''that
Chicago man refused to give his wife
up after she had secured divorce from
him."
'WelI, well.' he answered, for the
moment forgetting himself, Il thought
woman couldn't get divorce from a
crazy man."-Exchange.
TENDENCY OF THE TIMEs.-The tend
ency of medical science is toward pre-
ventive measures. The best thought of
the world is being given to the subject.
1t is easier and better to prevent than to
cure 1t has been fully demonstrated
that pneumonia, one of the most danger
GUS diseases that medical men have to
contend with, can be prevented by tire
use use of Cham berlain's Cough Remedy
Pneumonia always results from a cold or
from an attack of influenza (grip), and 1t
has been observed tt at this remedy coun
teracts any tendency of these diseases to-
ward pneumonia. This has been fully
proven In many thousands of cases In
which this remedy has been used during
the great prevale nee of colds and grip in
recent years, and can be relied upon with
implicit confidence. Pneumonia often re-
suits from a slight cold when no danger
is apprehended until IL Is suddenly discov-
ere d that there is fever and difficulty In
breathing and pains In the chest, and
then 1t Is announced that the patient has
pneumons,. Be on the safe side and tax Q
Chamberlain's Cough Remedy as soon as
the cold Is contracted. 1t always cures.
For sale by E. K. Taft, II. F. Cadv,
Stafford; g. Hall, Jr., & Co., South Will
linQtOn ..
The Press., 1904-02-11

A CURE FIR EozEMA.--My baby hs d
E'zsma so b I'd that t. head was q solid
MACS If scabs, and its hair all came ont.
tried many remedies. but none seem~d
to do any p-rmansnt good until used
DsWitt's Witch II zh Salve. The &c
2 ma IL cured, the scabs are gore. and
ths little ones scalp is p-rf-efly clean
and h, a thy, and It's hair is growing beau
tifully again. | cannot give too much
praise to D~Witt's Witch III z4I SaIve -
Frank Farmer 81 n City. XIV In huv
ing Witch w. I'll save look out for cou~-
tSIfs e. D-Wttt'- 10 the r Rinal ard
the only ore C, n'aininx ppre Witch Han 4
The nsms Z. T.. DEWITT Il 70 IL IN every
box. Sold by w. ID H-aId.
The Press., 1904-02-11
A KING. warp, Dath.

When King Edward II. of England
was among his tOrturers, who hurried
him to and fro that no man should
know where he was, they set him down
upon a bank and the more to disguise
his face shaved him and washed him
with cold water from ditch. The king
said, well, yet will have warm wa
ter for my beard" and so shed album
dance of tears
The Press., 1904-02-11

Worse than an alarm Of fire nj night -
the brsssy cough of group. which sou7fs
ike the chiIdreb's death kpell. ami ff
means death uni. as srmstking is done
quick1e. Foley Honey ard Tar never
fsIIs to give instant relief n ! quickls
cures the ~o-at form OF rrnrp Mrs. r.
l. Cordier, Of ManninVte n. Ky writes !:
My three year-t II Rirl b severe case
OF crop: the doctor said he could MT
live. l got bolt of Foiey's Honey
and Tar. The fret doae gave quick e
lief and saved her life " Rrfua. subs.i
tutes Sold by E X. Taf., druggist.
The Press., 1904-02-11
she Settled II.

Sir" began the youth, II have come
to ask for your daughters hand in
mo, sirr' snorted her father. You
can't have her! What could possibly
have prompted you to ask
"Why-er-she did, STRIP
"Oh, that's different! Also, that set
ties itT'-Philadelphia Press.
The Press., 1904-02-11
A DOG OF UTILITY.
The Pointers Evolution From the
B;UOdh ound type.


B;OOdh ound type.
The evolution of the pointer from
what may be described as the blood
hound type to the modern English
foXhound kind has taken, perhaps,
close ON $50 years. He is essentially,
above all others, dog of utiii y, ami
as the pointer has always been looked
upon as one of the chief helpmates of
the man who loves to take his pleasure
behind a well broken brace of dogs, a
pair of barrels and straight powder, it
stands to reason that that man has
called in all his ingenuity and all his
knowledge of breeding to provide him.
self with Il sporting dog that is best
adapted for the sport that is provided
for him. Therefore i'll some places in
America, where the plains are so vast,
a very fast and wide ranging pointer
is reQuired-one, too, with bird sense"
Where true ranging. good nose and
Stanchness on game are to be found
embodied i'm one single dog. there. per
haps, have we found tie perfect ami
mall and retrieving pointer at that.
AS in other breeds of dogs. there are
all sizes and sorts of pointers. The
short headed, cloddy shCuldered and
often weak thighed and COW hooked
pointer has gone by the board. 1t
stands TO reason that, although the
cart horse can gallop. lie cannot gallop
with the thoroughbred, the clean neck
ed, oblique shouldered. deep hammt Il.
live racing machine. Half day of
real going will knock up the heavy
headed, loose throatcd pointer. He has
had to give way to the more elegant
quantity; but even such as he should
not 0e too small.-Illustrated Sporting
News
The Press., 1904-02-11
Unfortunate in HIS EuIoEist.

The orator of the corner store was
giving forth his views of a popular
congressman whose death had been
chronicled in the evening paper.
81 tell you" he said. locking gloomily
away from his audience into the depths
of the stove. hes going to be loss to
his country. to his friends. to all that
have known him or known of him. He
has died. as he has lived. unanimously
regretted
The Press., 1904-02-11
Music the Kernel of welsh Natu,

Music the Kernel of Welsh Nature.
Music Is the very soul and kernel of
the Welsh nature. A musical ear is the
national birthright. Every Welsh
preacher who migrates to an English
church finds the greatest difficulty in
abstaining from that weird, peculiar
information Of his sermon which is
known as the hwyl and which is often
strange and Objectionable to English
ears.
A remarkable and subtle fact which
will be interesting to English readers
and at the same time significant of the
sensitiveness of the Welsh musical ear
is that it is positive discord to many
among the Welsh congregations if the
minister, in giving out the first verse
Of the hymn, does not so pitch his voice
that it shall be in harmony with the
key in which the tune has prelimina-
rily been played by the instrumentalist.
Westminster Review.
The Press., 1904-02-11
On the wrone Tack.

A young man in New York was deep
" impressed with the beauties of Free
masonry and after considerable effort,
mental and otherwise, had fitted HIM
self for the ceremony of initiation into
the order. He had heard of the ''goat"
and the 'gridiron'' and many other
things connected with the first degree
and was prepared to be surprised at
nothing. In the course of his first even
ing at the lodge he stepped on a tack.
which stuck into his foot and gave him
considerable pain. He said nothing
and made no effort to remove it, pain
full though it was. Two hours later,
when it seemed to him that there was
nothing more to come in the way of
initiation, he asked if he might take
the tack out of his foot His sufferings
were not ameliorated when he was
told that the tack had nothing to do
with the ceremonies-New York Post,
The Press., 1904-02-11

RELIEF IN ONE MINUTE One Minute
Cough Cure gives relief In one minute,
because 1t kills the microbe which tickl, Q
the mucous mem rane, causing he cough,
and at the same time clears the phlsgm.
draws out the II flammation and heals
and soothes the affected parts. One Min
ute Cough Cure strengthens the lungs,
wards off pneumonia, and Is hsrmlef 8
and never failing cure In all durable cases
of Coughs, Colds and Group. One Miu-
ute Cough Cure Is pleas ant to take, harm
less and good alike for young and old.
Sold by W. D. Heald.
The Press., 1904-02-11

wANTED-FAITHFUL PERSON TO TRAv-
Ell for well established house In few coun-
ties, calling on retail merchants and agents
Local territory. Salary s2so0 per week with
expenses additional, all payable In cash each
each week. Money for expenses advanced Po-
sitton permanent. Business successful and rush
Ing. Standard House, $40 Dearborn st., Chicago
The Press., 1904-02-11

HAVE You INDIGRsTIoN?-If you have
Indigestion, Kodol Dyspepsia Cure will
cure you 1t has cured thousands. H. is
curing people every day-everv hour. Ynn
owe 1t t, yours elf to give II trial. You
will continue to suffer until you do try 1t.
There is no other combination IF digest
ants that digest and rebuild at the same
time. Kodol does both. Kodol cures,
STRENGTHENS and rebuilds Sod by W..
n Hoold