davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
A Ben Franklin Story.

When Benjamin Franklin was on his
famous mission in Paris he and Silas
Deane were n day discussing the
numerous errors they found in Able
Reynal's "Histoire des Deux hides"
when the author Of that work happened
to come in upon them, They told the
good man the subject of their conversa-
ton and the able Immediately denied
that there were any errors in his his
tory.
His attention was called to the story
OF a certain Polly Baker and an eloquent
address which h cable credited her with
making before @ Massachusetts court.
The able insisted that II was a true story
but admitted that he could not remem
Der his authority for 1t. DR.. Franklin
was shaking with laughter during the
protestations of the learned French
man.
At last he said: II will tell you, able,
the origin of that story. When I was
a printer and editor Of q newspaper we
were sometimes slack of news and TO
amuse our customers l used to all up
our vacant columns with anecdotes ard
fables and fancies of my own, and this
tale OF Polly Baker is one Of my max
ing"
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
THE PEASANTS HATE WAR.
Though Russian Press Claims That
They Volunteer Willingly, Rus
tics Seem Averse,

Count Tolstoi," said s. Osgood pell
recently at Saratoga. N. Y, lis right
In his statement that the Russian
peasants are averse to war. and 20
70 war unwillingly. If these peasants
could have had their way, there would
nave been no trouble with Japan. The
Russian press, of course, claims that
the plain people are supporting the
government heartily, and that on every
hand enthusiastic volunteers pour in.
But that Is not true. A friend Of mine
IN Moscow wrote me the other day of
a joke that is being quietly circulated.
M this joke shows pretty clearly the
different views that the
and the common people take of the
Two men, according to the story.
were out walking. when they saw a
crowd i~ostling and showing, while from
the crowd came loud sobs. cries Of
pain, oaths and blows.
"'What on earth Is the matters,
the first man.
oh said his companion. indifrer-
1t is only a government officer
forcing a peasant to turn yolunteer,n
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29

dawn, although the first chapter Of the
serial never finished unit. Ie OF II al
niBht-to be continued Ia % UgIL
! went 10 sec Daa.uru al Gbout 3 20.
and imagined that the performance hao
just commenced. Al the Ug9T was per-
mitted TO pass into my box without tab
inE OFF my boots. The eager NATIVES
were eEcitcGly Kicking Of their high
clogs, for which they received a little
wooden ticket. A smiling attendant
scuttled on In front o. my party aHa
bowed us into our iWEr0Miu looking box.
where four chairs had been arranged for
the august stranger instead o. the Gus
tomary fiat cushions on the floor. But
the tobacco box and the cups Of O-Cba
honorable teaj were not wanting, ana
the programme, which We could not read
was az charming as q huudre1lh night
souvenir AT any American playhouse.
Our un~subStartial little box vas raised
up on bamboo supports, which made d
sort Of gallery. divided into boxes BY
mating. all the auditorium /
must confess that found more pleasure
IN watching the funny little families
down below who had mostly either
brought their days provisions along
with their house servants and babies. or
were being served 10 tea and cake and
strengthening foods by walters from
the tea houses near the thester ia Jap.
anese theatef. HE a temple, Ia always
surrounded by tea houses and fairsl.
than In following the marvellous acting
and facial expressions Of the greatest o,
japanese uaEe14auF
The house was full OF gally-dregsed
nlousmees and scarlet obfd babies. for
che play was one OF the historical dramas
from which youthful Japan luIbibes the
heroic spirit Of The samura ase, but,
although there Ma plenty Of bloodshed
end realistic hoffors ia the piece. did
U0S n0tlc@ many Of the moBSmees getir.
ing 10 thu 'teaf.rODm. which Is pro.
siGeo for The use OF emotional ladies
u was. 81 course. 4 . pical mlddle-cIaSs
audience. for tbeater-going IN Japan has
Always been TIE taEOrlte amusement Of
The people; the great mobiles and families
OF the upper classes had classical dramas
performed in their own palaces or
houses. Indeed. uEtil lately actors were
soOked upon as social outcasts aud were
compelled to wear a distinctive costume
in public places. 1t Is entirely owing To
The present emperor raising their posi-
ton that to-day the best actors are In
yited to the houses OF the broader-m!nd.
&c people.
Why the drama in Japan became so
popular with the people 1t is not difficult
TO understand for duty aud passionate
loyalty are the %keynotes of the japanese
plays AS they are Of japanese sentiment.
Their popularity is u~nGeniable. MIR. Ed
wards says that an actor like Daniuro
a earn an income of s25, 900 a wear.
There are two sorts of dramas. the his
torical play. jidia- mono, and the comedy
OF manners. Sewa-mono.
In the gods" or driven in-places''
as the gallery is called, the poor people
who cannot AFFORD to pay for the whole
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29

He Has Risen from a Telegraph Appren-
tice to the Top in the Railroad World
Central railroad, the palladium of the
railway world.
AS soon as he had become proficient
at the telegrapher's key Brown was given
a position with the st. Paul road, with
headquarters at a water tank in Wiscon-
sin, says the Daily News. Next he be-
came assistant train dispatcher. When
his chief was promoted he took his
chiefs old place, and soon he was made
division superintendent. The other
roads wanted him and in 1880 he went
to the Chicago, Burlington G Quincy
railroad, where he worked SO earnestly
that l6 years later he was chosen gen.
eral manager. He held this position un-
til 1901, when he was elected vice-pres-
ident and general manager OF the Lake
Shore & Michigan Southern.
Mr.. Browns new headquarters were
in Cleveland, but his home was In Chi
cago. Without moving his household
effects to the Ohio city, he went into the
new field and worked there until he was
made vice-president of the New York
Central, when, still holding his position
with the Lake Shore line, he removed
to New York, where he lived at The
Netherlands hotel, almost within a
stones throw of the great Vanderbilt
mansion. Then he returned to Chicago,
but again has been transferred to New
York, where within a short time, we'll
informed railroad men say before the
first OF the year, he is to occupy the
presidents chair Of the New York Cen
trail railroad company in place of Pres
ident Newman, who, gossip declares, is
to be made chairman of the consolidated
board of directors of the New York Cen
trail and the Lake Shore.
The consolidation Of these two boards
of directors is looked upon as one of the
most important steps in railroad circles
in recent years, as it will bring under
one roof, practically, two immense prop
critics and foreshadows still further ac-
ton Of unity-the taking in of the Chi
cago & Northwestern system, which is
already owned by the Vanderbilts. This
will give the Vanderbilt system
a direct, uninterrupted transcontinental
line.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
A Balloon on a Switch Tender

Until quite recently there was a ba-
boon acting as switch tender on one Of
the railroads in South Africa. He was
a powerful animal, nicknamed Geese,
and was the property of a native SWITCH
man. He had been taught to turn the
switch at points while his master looked
on, but he soon showed such intelligence
in the work that he came to do II alone.
locking the rod and other details rs we'll
as a man. The engineers did not object
to his min~istrations and had great conf
dence in his ability. He would often
Jump on the shifting engine as il passed
its way to move cars about the yard.
but only after he had opened the switch
for 1t. But as soon as the story OF the
balloons work came to the ears Of the
officials they we're forced to BOUNCE
Geese for fear of popular indignation
among the patrons of the road, who
might object to their safety being in tas
hands Of . balboa
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
YOUR FOOD YOUR MEDICINE
Eat the Right Thing at the Right
Time and Doctors Will Not
Be Needed.

The garden is a great medicine chest.
Be your own doctor and look to your own
slight ailments. says the Philadelphia
Inquirer.
II you are wakeful, eat lettuce.
For affections Of the skin and for ye!-
low skin eat onions. Onions are also
good for colds, coughs, scrofula.
For a torpid liver, eat freely of aspar-
agus.
For malaria and general breakdown,
eat cranberries.
If nervous and irritable, eat plenty Of
celery.
For constipation, cat fruits, ripe and
healthy fruits. Fresh fruits are good:
% are figs and dates. Raisins are bene-
fetal.
When the body is in good condition
keep 1t in good condition by denying tho
appetite what has once injured the body.
One can do everything for himself by
eating the right thing and not too much
OF 1t, and by leaving alone the wrong
thing and all OF 1t, He can do more than
the doctors can do for him when he is
fat on his back in bed.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29

tAfA,eT Ola two T.aUks raised over tic
heads nt The sQuarUng audience Lao
DO iaea that a. thls pom, an art was
Finished yf thar the '~.gowtr-aalf " as II
Is called was .hn sectors unly means Of
ext Imagined il was al IDEA OF his
own 10 ALLOW ihp people TO sae him more
closely and TO riyF them q better chance
Of PfitlEE HIN WITH their oHer.rgs oil
lobANro pouches pipes poems and even
movers and hatp.ns from the Ga.nty
ata4E o. e-rapture5 nous nees,
During tie short Interval between the
acts the little children In the audience
got Up on the 'apaer-waik' and TOD
cleo on 70 the stage. whore they were
greeted wlth enthusiasm by some Of the
actors who were hanging about
As everyone knows. SAGA Yacco was
the hrst woman who ever acted with ner
IN Japan. In taking this brave step she
hac 10 face the sryrH and dIsaDproyalo NJ
the women Of Der own country who had
been taught 70 look upon acting as a
profession Tor mer only: religious
canoes and flower ballets being reserved
for women. Yet. strangely epouFb two
women were The founders OF the new
Japanese trama. comparatively new
t&sl az 20 say Tor the ancient drama was
suuTeiY oeroted 70 NEUROLOGICAL and re.
iEIoUs plays which must. with their
mashed actors and chOruses. and fal.
Fetto voices, have borne a marked re.
semblance 10 the plays Of the ancient
preehE Mr. Edwards says that the new
national drama began It's career In Japan
about the same time as the national
drama did in England In the veal
1875. "
To the ordinary person a theater
without actresses does not sound VERY
exciting, but ! must confess that had !
not known that women never acted IN
/ should not have dreamt thai
Danjuro, in his magnificent trailing
klnonos Of the richest brocades and col
ors, was not an extremely elegant and
feminine woman, His facial expres.
sion was certainly wonderful. and as
there IL very little difference in tho
everyday dress worn by men and won.
en- in Japan, there was none of the awk-
OF movement which one 80
1'ten sees when a man Is acting a WON.
7F part In America Since the reyolu.
ton 1t Is only on the stage in Japan that
one has any chance Of seeing the rich
brocades and emb.oideries which used
be the envy and pride OF the women
at the old Daimio courts; and Il IL only
on the stage that one can learn anything
the customs Of the old feudal Jspan
the Japan Of the heroes OF the Two
Swords, whose children we're taught to
mako their obelssance before the family |
sword-rack every night and morning.
As this article relates to theater-roIns
have not touched upon the fascinating
subject Of eheIsha-gIrls or temple
dancers, for the Feisha have nothing
to do with the theater. al.
though the pretty e~eisha-glrl is the
equivalent In the hearts OF the japanese
OF our ballet girl.
DOUGLAS sLADEN.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
THE RUSSIAN NELSON
ADMIRAL WREN, AT PORT AR
THUR, Is so CONSIDERED.
By Dash and Efficiency He Has
Won His Way Into the Hearts
of His Brother Officers
of the Fleet.

St. Petersburg - Admiral Robert
Wren. to whom the command of the
remnant of the Russian feet at Port
Arthur has now been intrusted, is one of
the most remarkable men of his OWE or
any other navy; for hundreds of Russian
~bluejackets believe that he is Nelson
born again as a Russian. And thou
sands OF others who draw the line at this
are convinced that he Is a man with
q destiny.
In person he is short and spare OF
build, with a slight wiry mustache, and
light curly hair now turning gray. His
eyes are perhaps his most remarkable
feature, quizzicaI blue eyes that laugh
gently. but which upon occasion can
COW the most mutinous sailor into child
like faith and obedience. Personal mag
netism is his to an extraordinary degree
the gift of making men believe in him
and trust him. If any man can extricate
the Russian feet from its plight and
peril, Admiral Wren, till lately Junior
captain in the Russian navy, is the mar
to do it. The odds against him are enor-
nous, the material at command hope
lessly inadequate, but the Russians will
have in him a leader that all trust,
During the war his name has been be-
fore the public continually as captain
Of the cruiser Bayan, the one Russian
that has steadily distinguished her
self, the one ship that was ready when
he war came.
Though idolized by his men, Admiral
Wren was by no means a popular figure
with his brother officers in the Russian
till the wal came along. Muir
ierers preferred" was his nickname in
Russian wardrooms, a title bestowed
Ipon him because he applied to the ad-
for the bad lots of the fleet to be
ent him. In the Bayan he had the
hottest possible collection of s~coundrels
nd cutthroats whom he had TRAITS +
ormed into smart, self-respecting blue
ackets, whose highest ideal of reward
vas to row in the captains boat! With
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
OLD ENGLISH INN C N
The Strange origination of One In
Derbyshire That Is Decidedly
Peculiar.

London.-In driving through the
lovely villages of old England one oc-
casionally comes across quaint old inn
signs which are strlkingly picturesque
and interesting in comparison with
your hotel titles.
The n here shown, for instance,
the writer found In the tiny hamlet OF
Earl Sterndale in Derbyshire. One
realizes the force Of the motto over the
picture: "a soft answer turneth away
wrath"-when looking at the headless
woman, but this particular sign is said
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
HEADS "STALWART" TICKET.
Ex-Gov. Edward Scofield Now In the
Race for the Wisconsin
Governorship.

Milwaukee.-Edward Scofield, Of
Oconto, who has been selected by the
state committee of the stalwart repub
licans to make the race for governor
in the place of Cook, has already
served two terms as governor. He was
born In Clearfield county, Pennsyl-
vania, March Is, 1912. He received a
common school education. BY occupa.
ton he Is a lumberman. He came to
Wisconsin in 1868 and settled at Ocon-
He served through the civil war,
enlisting in company K, Eleventh
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29

to have originated as follows: In
years long gone by the %innkeeper's
wife here was N of the nagging sort,
and n night her spouse coming home
unusually late feared the consequences,
Siding UP to the door he first of all
Ventured to throw in his cap, to sea
how the land lay so to speak, and, hear.
ing or seeing nothing for some time
and thinking the coast was clear, he
stepped inside, but, alas! the storm i'm.
m~ediately burst in all its fury In 3
plucky moment, however, the old
chaps spirit was reused, and he vowed
that If he could. not have a silent won.
an inside his house at any rate he
would have one outside, and so had the
picture painted and fixed, as seen. II
is to be hoped 1t had the desired effect.
but, be that as II may, there the silent
woman stands to this day.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29

~N'6 5~oI-
Tawney is a young man, while Speaker
Cannon is nearing the 10 mark. and
that the ex-blacksmith can WELD a
gavel as well as he used to swing a
sledge. Tawney and Cannon are warm
friends and the Minnesota representa-
tive helped to line up the delegation
from his state when Uncle Joe" first
sought the speakership.
Tawney was born near Gettysburg,
Pa. When he was Is years old-that
was in 1S70-he entered the blacksmith
shop of his father as an apprentice.
He subsequently learned the machin-
lists trade, and in 1877 struck out for
the west, locating at Winona, Mimi.
where he has lived ever since. He
worked at his trade until 1881, when
he began to study law. In 1882 he
gained admission to the bar. After
ward he took a course at the law
school of the University of Wisconsin,
which was the only school he attended
after the age Of IA.
After serving a term in the Mime
sofa senate he was elected to congress,
and is now serving his twelfth year.
AS his district 10 1000 republican, he
Is running no chances by absenting
himself from home while on duty at
the Chicago headquarters. Mr.. Tawney
is a member of the committee on ways
and means and is one of the most in
fluential men in congress.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
Rising on His Own Merits

More than one young American has
found 1t difficult to obtain credit for
whatever brilliancy he may possess
while under the shadow cast BY the per-
sonality OF a great father. Cbauncey
Depew, Jr., knows somewhat of the per.
lis OF such a situation, but he has NOT
been conquered by the conditions. Ii
New York he is already attracting at
tention on his intrinsic merits. Among
his personal friends he Is known az
Buster a nickname Indicative OF the
modest ood-fellowship Of the youne
man. He is as much a companion as 4
son 70 Senator Depew, and is YER like
his father facially. physically and men
tally. There are some who predict thai
be VIII step into the elder Chauucey,s
shoes "a an after-dinner speaker some
day.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
For Rheuma .ic Hands.

Knitting, rs a helpful exercise for
hands that are stiifened by rheuma.
ism, is the prescription OF one physi.
ian, who thinks 1t llmbers up the
hands Of sufferers wonderfully. Not
only does this old-time art give the
hands a healthy little exercise, but 1t
furnishes a sedatiye form OF activity
TO nerves that are shaky from insom-
mia or debility, Chicago Daily News,
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
Stand for the Best.

What a subtle kind Of heartache we
give others by simply not being at our
best and highest, when they have to
make allowances for us, when the dark
side is uppermost In our minds and wa
take their sunlight and courage away,
by ven our unspoken thoughts. our at
mosphere of h%eaviness! oh, to stand all
ways and externally for sunlight and life
and cheerl-souLhern Churehman.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29

Pennsylvania reserves, June 7, 1861. He
participated in all the battles and
marches of his regiment up to the bat
tie OF the Wilderness. May s, 1864,
Where be was taken prisoner. He was
reported dead and mourned by his
friends. SO that he had the privilege OF
reading his W obituary. For ten
months he was q prisoner and during
that time he was hcarcerated In I.
different southern prisons. He was re-
leased March l. 1866, at Wilmington,
N, c., and II days later he was breyet-
ed major. Maj. Scofeld was elected
state senator in 1886. He was elected
governor In 1896. when he received
votes. the largest number ever
for a candidate for governor in
Wisconsin. and having a plurality of
more than $4,000. He was reelected
in 1898.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
W. C. BROWNS RAPID RISE
Western Railroad Manager, Favored
by the vanderbilts, Now in
Limelight Of Success.

Chicago-While cutting cordwood "A
years ago. ". c. Brown crippled his len
hand. Mourning his misfortune, which
entailed inability to pursue manual Ia
Dor. the boy Of 16 years sought other
employment and studied telegraphy. He
liked chopping wood better, but fate had
closed that occupation to him, and that
is how Mr.. Brown began his railroad
which, railroad men predict, ia
to be crowned before the first of the yea
with the presidency Of the New York
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
Not Easy Going.

They say that he is an e~asy-going
IMAM" said Emmy Lou.
But be isn't said Mary Louise.
"How do you know"
because, when he was here last. pa
invited him to breakfast, wound up the
clock and did all those clever things.
aud he wouldn't bulge until 11:45."--
Cleveland Leader.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29

The Malays have a strange way of
recording the hours. In a bucket
hlled with water. they place q cocoa
nut shell having a small perforat.on.
through which, by slow degrees, the
water finds Its way inside. THIS
opening is so proportioned that II
takes just n hour for the shell to
NIL and sink. Then q watchman calls
out. and MAKES q record; the shell 10
emptied and the process Is begSD
again.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
FROM FORCE TO CAPITOL.
Congressman Tawney, Who Began
Life as a Blacksmith, Is Now
Leader Among Lawmakers.

Chicago-Congressman James A.
Ta~ney, OF Minnesota, chief of the
speakers bureau at the Chicago repub-
lican national headquarters, whose
friends expect to see him speaker OF
congress some day. worked as a black
smith for IL years. before he studied
law and got into politics. Mr.. Tawney
advises his well-wishers that he has
no intention Of running against Uncle
Joe" Cannon, but they answer that
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29

But, fatherl" began the boy, who
saw conviction staring them In the
face II the truth was told.
But Eothing, my boy" broke in the
parent you tell the truth, | say! The
lawyer will do lying enough for ali Of
usl"-Yonkers Statesman,
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
Molnssss Far Grass Stains

One OF the most difficult stains to re-
m~oye-grass staln-can usually be re-
moved with molasses. Rub the molasses
we'll into the fabric where the stains ap-
pear, and after several hours rinse the
garment thoroughly.-Household.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
Not In His Lima.

i don't know what is the matter with
me, doctor" said the parson. 81 can't
lie on either side"
"of course not, parson," replied the
pill dispenser. Only q lawyer ca, A,
that"--Chicago Daily News.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29

She-Do you think that a woman
can truly leve but once.
He-Well. II that's the only chancs
she has--yesl-Detroi. Tree Press.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
Good Thing.

Lets ask Easymark to sit in with
US at our next game"
why, | didn't know he could play
pokerY"
"Hs can't"-Houston Post
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-10-29
An Opinion Of Lawyara.

NOW. Jimmie. when you're on the
witness stand be sure and tell the
sruth.' said the father to his son, be-
Fore the trial.
The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-06-14

hicles Of various classes though in
other lines Of manufacture the de-
mand is also very great. The rapic
growth in the use Of this article OF
manufacture in the United States is
illustrated in the fact that the total
value OF India rubber and sutta.percha
imported in 1870 was less than IA
million dollars. in 1850 1-2 millions,
in 1880 IS millions, in 1900 81 millions,
and in 1904 will be fully 40 millions
The increase in quantity has not been
quite so rapid as the increase in value,
owing to the fact that prices have ad-
vanced materially by reason Of the
greatly increased demand OF the vari-
Gus manufacturing sections Of the
world. especially the United States.