davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17

of human nature. and simply looked
upon the whole world as bad At the
end of the next block he came to an
unfinished dwelling, and he was look
ing about at the work of the builders
when a rough voice accosted him with:
mo use, old man. as I've got my
eye on you
You are evidently a Waterman %
Queried Mr.. Bowser as a man came
out from behind a lot of lumber with
a club in his hand.
II am, sir, and if you have come
back to steal more boards you'll have
a hot time doing it
HAS some one stolen boards from
hereY
Last night, and the children said 1t
was a fat, bald-headed man. Keep your
hands of the material or it will be the
worse for you
My dear sir. take a good look at my
face"
do 1 look like an honest man or a
rascal?"
you look to be either one. The man
who stole my watch one day last sum-
mer had just such a fatherly grin on
that there's anything wrong with you.
but I don't take it that a bland smile
means an honest man
Mr.. Bowser had hung on to himself
wonderfully well, but a crisis was near
at hand. A peddler of green stuff had
had an accident to his wagon as he
was making for the stable, and some
one had stolen a basket of potatoes
while he was busy. In searching for the
man he turned the corner and came
upon the guileless man and seized him
at once and cried out:
Here's the old thief who stole the
'taters, and now you'll pay for EN- or
go to the stationl"
You fooII" shouted Mr. Rowser as
he wrenched himself free do I look
as if I had to steal potatoes?'
You doI'
You are a liar!"
The man uttered three or four whoops
and the next moment three of his
friends came running to his assist him.
There was but one thing to do. and
Mr.. Bowser did it He made a Decline
for home and put on steam, and he got
inside his front door just as the fore
most pursuer reached the foot of the
steps. Mrs. Bowser sat reading, and the
cat lay on the lounge asleep.
We'll, you are home again? was the
query
Il seem to be-"
Il wish you had come ten minutes
earlier. The stranger who was in the
back yard this afternoon returned a
few minutes ago"
"Oh, he did? And L suppose you are
now convicted that he is a thorough
paced villain2''
No. He must be an honest man. All
he did was to shoulder the lawn now
er and lug it off, and you will have to
cut the grass with your jackknife af-
tire this-''-(Copyright, 1904. by T. C.
Mcclure
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17

however, when the householder appear
ed in the door and briskly demanded:
well, sir, is this a mistake, or do
you wish to see anybody"
II just thought I'd sit down for
q minute was the reply, accompanied
with 3 bland smile.
Have you no home, or have you
met with an accident?
yes, have a home, and I have not
met with an accident You are not
suspicious of me- are you? I don't
look like man who'd steal doormats,
do I?''
Il don't know that you do, but you
had better move on I've known of
men with a more innocent look than
yours to steal everything in sight"
Il was having an argument a little
while ago with"
Never mind your argument If you
don't move on I shall get policeman
to assist YOU.
Mr.. Bowser moved. His first ex-
pertinent was a failure. but he was
not discouraged The man was prob
ably nearsighted and didn't get a fair
look into his guiIeless face Down on
the next block he found a man at his
gate and stopped to say good evening
and ask what he thought of politics.
made, and he gave Mr.. Bowser such a
sharp looking over that the guileless
one finally laughingly said:
you don't think I have villainous
designs on tndt HdAhIACSAs 10 YOU
Il was wondering when had seen
you before was the reply. IAN in
nocent looking old coon like you pick
ed my pocket on the street car yester-
day, and I'm not trusting anybody"
But can't you tell an honest face
when you see one ?"
IT don't trust to faces You may be
all rfghe, and yet you may be all
wrong. II you had any little game to
work here you'll get left
Mr.. Bowser passed on. It was plain
to him that the man was no student
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17

or somebody VINO was thinking of buy
ing property. The chances are ninety
nine TO one that he was all right, and
that between you and the cook you
have hurt his feelings. If he returns l
shall certainly go out and apologize I
wish you to get rid of that suspicious
nature OF yours / might enter a dozen
yards and no one would call for the
police. Most people instinctively recog-
nize an honest man.
IF you went saunterfng around as ne
did somebody would demand to know
your business pretty soon- A man may
look honest and yet steal the bell of
the front door"
DO you mean to insinuate that any
human being would be suspicious of
me?" demanded Mr.. Bowser as he be-
gan to flush up
You look honest and innocent, but
but
a rascal. Ell? Mrs Bowser, some of
your arguments are detestable. You
know as much about the world as if
you had been shut up in cave all your
life Never in this world, even if 1
were found in a strange house at mid
night, would any person look upon me
with suspicion
She said no more. though as soon as
dinner was finished she kept an eye on
the back yard and hoped the stranger
would show up again Mr.. Bowser sat
down to his evening paper and cigar,
but he was not placid Mrs. BowSerS
WORDS Ednk1eu, anu ne Caught the Gdl
looking at him distrustfully, and at the
end of half an hour he flung away his
paper and said to Mrs. BowSre:
Il am one who has not lost faith in
my feIlow-man, and I don't believe he
has in me-"
"WiH we go for a ride on the open
cars?' she Queried. wishing to get his
mind of the subject
mo, ma'am, we will not You have
made certain statements which I pro-
pose to disproye. If there are people
in this world who will take me for an
old villain on sight 1 want to know it,
1 have all along dattered myself that I
had an innocent look
And so you have" she interrupted.
But il 1 should enter strangers
yard I'd at once become an object of
suspicion
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17

the father he insisted that it was part
of the bargain that 1 should go in
and read them to Jed 1 found the
young man lying in what seemed to
be a comatose state, but I stood at
4he head of his bed and began to
read. He opened his eyes at the end
of the first verse; he drew up one
leg at the end OF the second; L heard
his teeth gritting at the end of the
third. and when the last line of the
last verse had been detained with
the proper dramatic gestures, he
Ieaped out of bed with . yell and as
saulted me with the bolster of the bed.
When I got out of the house he was
hunting around for his clothes to
dress, and the father accompanied me
to the gate and chuckled and slapped
his leg and said:
'tAbe, them ten acres is yours any
time I'll go in and read the verses to
Jed over agin, and If he amt workin'
in the cornfield before noon I'm no
prophet. Think of it, Abel While
Shakespeare and Byron kill folks with
their poetry, you bring others back
to life with yours. No wonder the
United States can't git along without
-(Copyright, 1904, by T. c. Nc
Clure.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17
HONEST ABE, Q. S. A.
There Is a Steady Demand for His
Poetry.

I had been told that Farmer Thomp-
sons oldest girl, Mary, was going to
marry Jim Henderson. the nog and cat
tie buyer, but had paid no attention to
the gossip. When rode up to Thomp-
sons the other day. however, to leave
two newspapers and a circular, he was
waiting for me with gloomy face, and
as soon as we had passed the time of
day he said:
ABE, 1 s'pose you've head the news
about Mary and Jirn?''
Il heard they were engaged, 1 be-
lieve-''
Yes. they was: but what dye think
Jim has done? He's gone and married
a gal over beyond ScottsviIle and given
Mary the mitten-''
You don't mean it
'Yes.I do. He courted Mary up to
the last mint. and when the blow fell
it nearly killed her. We had to sit up
all night with her that night or she's
have committed suicide. There's dan
ger of il yet She goes nopin' around
like a cow with one horn knocked of,
and we've had to hide the elothesIines
and the paris green She says there's
nothing more in life for her. I'd like
you to come in and talk to her"
I went I'm and found Mary lying on
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17

What ma and the hired man saw
was Jed sailin' through the air and
back over the fence, and when he came
down it seemed to jar the hull farm.
for the doctor, but up to the present
time we can't find out whether's he's
goin' to live or die. All his bones may
be broken or none at all. He may
maxim a fool of himself or he may be
on the pint of dyin'. Anyhow, he lays
there a-lookin' up at the ceilin' and
Sayin' nuthin, and as I caught sight
of you comm down the road it give
me an idea"
We'll. what's the idea?" L asked.
II want you to write piece of poe
try on him. Write sunthin' teIIin' how
he made a fool of himself and If that
don't rouse him up 1 shall think he's
goin' to die Jed is purity sensitive and
hates to be made fun of. If you are
the means of savin' his life Abe, and
kinder think you will be, I'll deed you
ten acres of this farm any time you
come around
I had a few minutes to spare, and
retiring to the barn, where I should be
undisturbed, I dashed off the follow
ing:
Jed Smith he was farmers son.
A farmers son was he;
And that same farmer owned a bull
Which beloved on the lea
Jed had a case of swell-head, and
The bull he had another,
And so twas bound to come about
That they should get together.
lone morning as the bovine ragged,
Jed felt his dander rising,
And he prepared himself to show
A trick that was surprising.
His mother and the nfred man.
Full softly did entreat him:
But Jed he Swore a whopping oath
That nothing should defeat him.
He climbed the fence to twist the neck
OF that ERE bull a-bluff7ng,
But something allied his twister and
Poor Jed he lost his stufang.'
After the verses had been read to
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17
F4ourishing Game.

GAS to the cause of education said
the Montana man, ST am glad to say
that IT is fiourishing with u.s."
PLENTY of schools. Ell ?''was queried.
We'll, one every few miles or SO,
but I was referring more to the
schoolma ans than the schools
In what way?"
f'Why, we've had fourteen in our
district in the last two years. and every
one of EN- has got married and Is liv-
ing as happy as g clam. We are be-
midland in something's. but when il
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17

Il did not mean that"
Don't try to wriggle out of it, Mrs
Bowser. In the sight OF my fellow-man
I'm either gufleless or an old villain
propose to find out which If you are
correct then III trade OF my face. I'm
going to stroll around for an hour or so
and test the matter. and you and the
cat and the cook can watch for the IN
hung scoundrel in the back yard
Mr.. Bowser put on his hat and Saun-
tered down the street, and he hadn't
gone three blocks when he saw a good
chance to test his theory. A family
that had bene sitting on the front steps
had gone into dinner, leaving several
cushions behind and the front door open
and he turned In the at the gate and sat
down as cooE1y as IL he owned the place.
He hadn't held IL over two minutes.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17

manuscript and they will publish it this
fall under the title of The Little Giant
and other Wonder Tales" The book will
be illustrated by Lucy Fitch Perkins, well
known for her pictures in Mrs. Carter
Harrison's fairy book
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17
Seeing Things

The great secret OF success said the
prosperous man, sis the ability to see an
opportunity
Yes" answered the less fortunate
friend. but the trouble is that SO many
opportunities turn out to be optical illu-
Observation-Disclosures Star
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17

comes to the cause of education we
give schoolma' am her pick OF a
dozen candidates, and il she can't ind
one to suit her as q husband We know
she amt up on geography and nth
metic and let her Co."
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-17
The Kansas Wesleyan Business College

lege west of the Mississippi; highest
standard, national reputation. Seventeen
professional teachers. Positions guaran-
bookkeepers from our school Graduates
sent to all parts of the world Tuition
low Board cheap. For Journal address
L. w. ROACH, Supt., Salina, Kans-
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-17
LANDED BIG SWOROfISH.
YOUNG WOMAN FROM CITY.

Yesterday afternoon Miss Annie G..
Prior. one of the prominent young bellies
OF the north end while out on a fishing
trip at Mlock Island, had a struggle with
n swordhsh that will linger long in her
memory.
She. with some others OF party stop
ping at the Adrian. chartered n launch
and went out for an afternoon OF pleas
ure. The party reached the fishing
grounds and all made ready for the sport
but for some reason there was not a
nibble 10 mar the quietude OF the spot.
The young men were Just about to give
up the attempt TO snare any OF the finny
tribe when Miss Prior gave n little
scream and nearly fell out OF the boat
She managed TO cling to the pole. how
ever. while the reel went buzzing with
yards OF line running out to set. Re-
ceiving encouraging advice from other
members OF the party she clung to the
pole and by slowly drawing I'm the line
the fish was brought near enough to the
boat to be speared.
When landed IL weighed In the hun
dreds OF pounds and Miss Prior IL sending
her friends I'm the city samples Of the
monster. She will keep the sword as
her souvenir OF the occasion.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-17
NOT TOWNS
LEGAL
ADVISER

Today Assistant Attorney General
Greenough replied to communication
received from Medical Examiner j. How
ard Morgan OF Westerly. concerning the
coroner vacancy in that town. There was
found at one of the hotels a few days
ago the body OF a child under such cdr
cumstances the medical examiner believes
that death might be due 10 the act or
neglect OF some unknown person.
The medical examiner couldn't say,
however, that the child ever breathed
but there are no marks OF violence on the
body. AS the person last elected coroner
did not qualify, the medical examiner
asked the attorney generals department
what could be done about an inquest.
Assistant Attorney General Greenough
holds that he is not the legal adviser OF
the town OF Westerly. but suggests that
an easy way out OF the difficulty would be
for the town council to meet and elect
a coroner.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-17
W0MAN'S
RELIEF
CORPS

Boston, Aug 1.-THE first session OF
mems Relief corps was called TO order at
$3.50 a. m. by the national president,
Mrs. Sarah ID. Winans OF Troy, in Con-
verse hall fremont temple.
The room was profusely decorated In
the national colors The convention was
opened with prayer by the national chap
lain. Mrs. Mary l.. Reynolds OF Ken
tucky Those upon The stage were the
national officers and the following past
national presidents: Mrs. Elizabeth Dear
ey Of California; Mrs. Emma Stark
Hampton. of Michigan Mrs. Margaret
Ray Wallace. OF Illinois; Mrs, LiZbeth
A. Turner. OF Massachusetts,; Mrs. Agnes
Hit. OF Indiana; Florence Jamison Miller.
OF Illinois; Mrs Harriet j. Bodge OF
Connecticut; Mrs. Mary L. Carr. of Colo
rado; Mrs. c. r. Jones, OF Vermont and
Mrs. Lodusky J. Taylor OF Minneapolis,
MINI
There is great interest in the contest
for national president Mrs. Fannie T..
Minot OF New Hampshire is considered
the leading candidate. although Mrs.
Julia @. Sine OF Illinois is prominently
mentioned. as well as Mrs. Mary r. Hart
well OF California Mrs. Clara Sparklin
OF Missouri and Mrs. Mary n. Farr of
South Dakota are candidates for senior
vice president There are no contests
for the other important offices.
The president in her address said:
Patriotic instruction has been the dom
inant work OF the year, Never before
I'm the history OF the world have so many
flags fioated to the breeze.
That the relief corps continue to CO.
operate with the Grand Army in patriotic
teaching. as in all other lines of work
and so fulfill In letter and spirit our obli-
cations as defined In the rules and reI.n-
lations OF our order and set forth I'm the
decision OF the Goth national convention.
That humane teaching and peace and
arbitration continue 10 be a part OF pa
triotic teaching which the United States
is so nobly leading among the nations
of the earth.
My official stan have been kind and
courteous and the secretary and treasurer
upon whom the burdens OF office fall
heaviest loyal and loving in the discharge
OF all their duties
To these and all others who have sent
helpful thoughts and fraternal cheer, my
heart goes forth In gratitude. No better
boon can crown the work OF my successor
and for this and all other blessings upon
our beloved order my fervent prayers
go forth.
There were number Of presentations
to prominent members of the organiza-
tiops during the forenoon. The national
body was entertained at luncheon by the
state w. II. g. at noon.
The Ladies' Aid society. auxiliary 10
the Sons of Veterans met in Gilbert hall
fremont Temple for their annual session
today Mrs. Ada NJ. Wallace OF Indian
apolis. national president presided. Vari-
Gus reports were presented at the fore
noon session.
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-17
21ST HEALTH REPORT.
Or. Chaplin Has Been Superintendent Of
Health for a Score Of Years.

The report OF DIR. Charles v. Chaplin.
superintendent OF health. just issued. is
the 21st issued by the city the first hav-
ing been prepared by DR.. Snow back in '5i
or thereabouts.
There was no other tin Or. Chaplin was
In office. and 90 years ago he prepared
his first one which was the second one
for the city. He has kept up the practice
ard his tables and statistics with which
the book is filed are OF great value as
we'll as OF considerable general interest
The volume this year has ll9 pages.
being somewhat larger than last year as
there are a number OF tables giving n
resume OF the work OF the past % years
I'm which Dr. Chaplin has been at the head
OF the health department.
The contagious disease report shows
that there was n larger number OF deaths
from them last year compared 10 tho pre-
ceding year. There were ~ more from
diarrhoeal diseases. the total being 3s9. l6
more deaths from scarlet fever: ono more
from typhoid. and II more from diph-
theria. the total being a.
There were no deaths from smallpox.
against eight Of 1892; 37l deaths from
phthisis. three less than in 1902. There
were but six deaths from malarial
diseases one less than I'm 1872
The report also calls attention to the
need OF n hospital for contagious diseases
In the city and gives a brief history of
the manner in which such cases have been
cared FOR In the past
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-17
METAL TAG
LEADS TO
DETECTION

Detective Ahearn arrested a man last
watch, on the. case OF which the initials
ID. "" were engraved
When searched at headquarters there
was found in the mans possession
metal Identification tag issued 20 mem
bers Of the Masonic fraternity only, by
The number was 1s,462.
Captain Cameron today ascertained
that that particular tag was issued TO
Robert Mulholland. of Walnut avenue,
Stoughton, Mass.
He called up Chief OF Police Van Stone
and aske dthe latter II he could do the
Providence police department a favor
Guess I can" was the answer.
We'll" said Capt Cannon. I'VE have
fellow under suspicion here who has
n Masonic tag belonging 20 Robert Null
holland Of your place and watch
marked ID. " which"
Hold on. hold on there. The burned
cuss stole that watch from my sister.
who is Mulhollands wife. tn burned
cuss stole two other watches here. en-
YOU hold him till l en- get there with a
warrant"
Sure thing" replied Capt. Cannon.
Then the prisoner was interviewed
again. He insisted that tho watch be-
longed TO his wife and that he purchased
10 in Portland, Me.
Yep! But how about the three watches
you lifted In Stoughton yesterday"
The prisoner fell up against the side OF
the cell. gave a gasp. exclaimed: We'll:
I'm be glggered. How did you find that
out?"
Seeing that he was cornerd he said that
his name wac Morris Sheehan; that he be-
longed In Rockland. Me that ne took the
watches yesterday. and that he would go
back to Stoughton without making any
fuss
And a little metal tag did the whole
trick tor Morris
The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-17
THE NOTIFICATION.

Mr.. Williams set the keynote OF his
speech when he said he would entitle II A
Brief Historical Disquisition Upon Some
OF the Blunders OF Our Ancestors as
Viewed From the Standpoint of the Wis
dom OF Republican Statesmen Who Have
Embraced the Strenuous Life" Then fol-
lowed long dissertation remarkable
chiefly for its fiabby wit and false con-
clusions.
In the part OF the address actually
making the notification Mr.. Williams said
1T has been "A pleasure 10 US TO do our
duty, 10 notify you OF your nomination.
This has been a pleasure notwithstand-
Ing the fact that you had already been
In manner notified by Hon. Elihu Root,
who. while pretendedly notifying Senator
you as the darkies say. and whose
speech consisted principally In saying
Go 10, thou art an old man. and be-
moaning the fact that you might possibly
die before you got TO BE- president. SO
might he for that matter
That would be bad enough. but not as
bad as case know of-the case OF a man
who was once elected vice president, and
who, becoming president later. 'tickled
the ears Of the groundlings. but made
the tudicious 10 grieve.' Mr.. Root forgot
that Democratic presidents are never
killed and that they never die while hold
Ing offico. although some OF them do af-
terwarsis.
I'm further comment upon Hon. Elihu
Roots notification OF your nomination, /
Will hazard the remark in reply to one
OF exceeding good taste on his part, that
II IL better TO run the risk OF incurring
as In due course of the flesh we all must
physical inability than to have been
borr with that peculiar mental inability
for any possible task In life. which con-
sists OF taking ourselves too seriously and
nobody else with respect or reverence.
I'm real conclusion. Mr. Davis. IL Is a
sincere pleasure indeed TO know and TO
be able TO help TO place In high position
man OF your character and sense and
.modesty. man who. az the result OF
life OF confluence. temperance, self con-
tafnment and useful and honest industry,
presents a picture, In virile, though ad-
vanced. age OF mems sana in corpore
eano. which Is a delight TO the eye, a
satisfaction to the soul and was taught
by wise ancients To be the summum
bonum OF individual earthly existence"
There was loud applause as Mr.. VIII
liams concluded and after another selec-
tion by the band former Senator Davis
grose and said.