davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-02-26
coWRidHT lso4-.
BY WR.HKAR~5T,..
GREAT bRlThlE-.j
RIGHTS RESEEaEn

nothing. She waited for the whisper of
supernatural voices calling her to repent
ance. and no sound penetrated her con-
seriousness. Therefore,, she bemoaned her
fate as one of the lost. 1t never occurred
to her that when she spent long vigils by
the bedside of some sufferer, or divided
out of her poverty with one needier than
herself, or that the very falthfulness Of
her daily service could be counted unto
her for righteousness. These things were
as nothing to her faith. She was one
standing accurst, outside of the gate,
waiting patiently and despairingly for a
Sign that she might enter, and no one
babe her come within. What miracle was
TO happen to her, what the Sign was to
be, she did not even venture to guess. All
that she knew was that no wonder Of
sight or sound had been vouchsafed her,
so that she might know that she had been
called to grace.
At Little Canaan the protracted meeting
went on from year to year without cessa-
ton. Winter and summer the yellow lights
lared out from its ~unshuttered windows
across the fields, and travellers passing by
heard the hoarse shouts of the mourners
and the shrill cry of the preacher as he
eXhorted sinners to repentance. Now and
then a woman's hysterical scream, would
cut the air like a knife, and a mans
voice would break out with a deep ejacu-
%latlon, BLESS Cord, OATS SOL Come.
now, Lord Jesus!' followed by q wild
chorus of Amen" as the exhorter's voice
stirred some sympathetic chord.
Around the rude pulpit was a circular
bench, on which huddled the Seekers"
and about It circled the deacons and
friends, singing, shouting, gesticulating,
praying in a rapt frenzy. Every now and
then a wild and disheveled figure would
spring up, and with sodden face and toss
ing arms and waving hands cry, II lone
come through! I done made my peace!"
and then a dense swaying throng would
close in about 1t with loud hallelujahs;
somewhere In the crowd a voice would
break into a ringing hymn tina would be
caught up by he entire congregations;
another, and yet another of the mourners
would join their cry Of wailing or ~rejoic-
Ing to the tumult of emotion; sometimes
a child cried out in terror, sometimes a
woman tainted. No one noticed. For the
time being all were caught up in a frenzy
OF religious excitement that rendered
them oblivious of all else.
Alone, unmoved, in the very heart Of
this orgy sat Sis Hannah
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-02-26

"oh, my po' los Sister, don't you love
de Lawd?" asked one Of the deacons.
bending over as she sat apart.
IL aint got nothin' agin Him." re-
piled Sis Hannah, and then, while the
congregation shouted and n she crept
out into the night, silent and ashamed. an
outcast and an alien, for her, to her alone.
had been given no call.
Time and again had Brer Jenkins la
bored with her. 1t is not in the heart of
man to judge harshly a woman who is
the best cook in the neighborhood, and
there were times when Brer Jenkins sat
at the corner of Sis Hannah's clean kitch-
en- table and partook Of fricaseed chicken
and eaten biscuit, when he felt that there
might be possibilities in the wilderness of
Divine mercy for a cook with such a
knack of seasoning, but when he went his
way, and the soothing effects of the din
ner waned, he could deal with the sub
ject with the justice 1t demanded.
Sis Hannah sholy Is in a iubous
state he would remark oracularly, IAN
furdemo,' It's a case where you don't
know zactly what to do. 'Cose Sis Han
nah is a sinner, but dere's sinners and
sinners. De sinner whut done stold an
been in de chain gang, you knows where
ne Is, but a sinner LAX Sis Hannah
what's de best woman in de country,
where is she?'
1t was beyond Brer Jenkins philosophy
to answer, but at last Sis Hannah,s
long seeking was to have an end, and the
peace she courted was to be hers. She
tell i'll OF a low fever, and what with the
malady and the long brooding over enc
subject there came to her at length the
vision fer which she had waited so long.
During the weeks of convalescence she
was Visited continually by her friends.
and to them she told over and over the
blessed story.
One night" she said, II was alayin'
here on my bed, jest as ca'm an sati'ied,
an 1t seemed to me like I could hear de
wash Of the river Of death, but seemed
like I wasn't no ways afraid or Uneasy.
L jest say:
"'Lawd, der old nigger's time is done
come, an you amt sent her no sign, nor
give her no call. dough all de years she
was just wearyin' an waitin' for 1t. Yer
Jest lief her to stumble along In de dark,
an she couldn't see nc furder dan Jest a
day or maybe an hour. or a minute befo'
her, an all dat Ext could do was to Jest
do de fus' thing that come to her hand.
Maybe it was cooktn,, or maybe wash
in; but ole Hannah's clothes was always
de whitest. an her rolls de lightest, an,
her chicken de TASTES In de neighbor-
mood. 1t amt no ways suitable for me to
say Y. but-LawG you'll forgive ole Han
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-02-26
FT16e MIR
ft'!HITTLERNAAN
By DopOzgYDN <'s,.,,,-
WUamWYUN

To this day no one has ever questioned
h miracle at Little Canaan, and that Of
itself in this skeptical age Is a marvel.
Out of the mouths OF a thousand people
was its genuineness confirmed. They had
witnessed it in the broad light Of day,
eheir every sense alert, and by nightfall
through that mysterious means of COM
Rrunication that exists among southern
uegroes who use neither telegraph nor
telephone the news had spread through
alI the countryside that the congregation
sit Little Canaan had been privileged to
witness one of those strange, ~tural
phenomena for which they had hungered
and thirsted SO long. -.
Blu wonderful as the miracle was, still
more wonderful was the fact that Sis
EIannah had been the humble instrument
chosen for it's manifestation, for she was
mo Mother in lsreal. whose long service
IN the cause of Righteousness might have
entitled her to some special dispensation
of grace, but a sinner who had just been
gathered into the fold-a brand snatched,
as 1t were, from the burning.
"De reason dat Sis Hannah was picked
an chosen as de vessel for dis merracle,"
said Brer jenkins, who had long consid-
cred himself as spokesman for the AL
mighty, is DIES as plain as de nose on
your face. When de Lord starts out to
do a merracle He amt huntin' for none
AS-S u NuSS Jo'o "htN L Sdll w WIZ
Ills Ief' ham. No., sir. He don't say, III
tranchlate ole Aisly. wbut's been de prop
OF de amen corner and walked de straight
{ and narrow way FOR fifty years, case He
knows we done see ole Aisly's pin feath-
,ers a sproutin' in her angel wings. No,
sir. He says, IN work a real first class
snerracle dat will wake up dc onbelievers
down dere at Little Canaan, and dereupon
He gives Sis Hannah. whut's jest got her
first holt on de throne of grace, fishes
feet so she can walk de waters"
1t was even as Brer Jenkins had said.
In the long years preceding the miracle
Sis Hannah had been the only one Of her
race and color in the neighborhood who
had not been a member of Little Canaan
church, and this had made her a marked
figure IN the community. This was, in
deed, no fault of her own. She was no
scornful inddel or unbending agnostic,
but an umbl seeker after truth and
Righteousness who somehow lacked a
guiding star, but nonetheless 1t was felt
that the gay bandana handkerchief that
covered her black brow concealed the very
mark of Cain, and that forfall her blame
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-02-26

less life ana good deeds she was a
doomed creature.
""De trubble wild me, Sis May Jane"
SHE would say to the friend who came to
talk with her, de trubble wild me Is dat I
aint, had no call, an de SPIRIT amt move
me. Dere's Sis Dilsey, she done gone off
In a trance an seed sights an heered
sounds, but me, l aint had no sp%eriunce
by. day. nor seed no vision by night dat I
couldn't trace plum back to eating gumbo
FOR supper"
Yer got to tromple der Ole Boy under
2oQt." remarked Sis May Jane, diplomat
fcaHy and vaguely.
"Yassum, dat you is" agreed Sis Han
nah, with added gloom, and then she
went on with increasing melancholy. IAN,
sGurdermo,' l is mighty given up to de
vanities of dis worl'. Seems to me when
II satto chu'ch l can't take my mind off
de set of my new puff sleeves, an 1 knows
dattde ~onrighteous pride 1 takes in de up
,sstaYldin'' of de fedder in my bonnet has
well-nigh sont my soul to hell. An dat
.alSn't all, Sis May Jane, Use a cook. 1
spends my time a-ministerin' to, an
Uomperin' up of de carnal appetite, as
Ksrer Jenkins says, an so far from repent
Irssof my cose / jest glories in 1t, an
cooks better ar better every day, an
lays a heavier hand upon the seasoning"
Sis May Jane could offer no other reply
lho AHlS reNeldlloH except a nOllOW SrOan,
and when she departed Sis Hannah flung
.zner blue checked apron over her head
and rocked back and forth In speechless
misery.
1t was. indeed The tragedy of a lost
soul. In the distorted ideal OF religion
that Sis Hannah shared in common with
Aler race, she believed that Christianity
consisted not in a matter of daily life, b u
OF feeling. What society, with its amuse-
naents--its theaters and balls and operas
is to the white man, the church is to the
negro. For the colored race, except in
cities, life is one continued and monoto-
nous round OF mechanical duties. Theyare
forever planting cotton, and hoeing cot
t2ny and picking cotton, washing, and
sweeping, and baking, in an endless round
OF toll that has no feature to break the
dead level of the commonplace. 1t is no
Sysndef than in thisa arid desert the starved
imagination of those who are but a few
iseaeiations removed from picturesque
sss,Kageiy cries out for at.vent, II this
the i.eer finds in religion. With him it
Is not often a seeking after Infinite per;ec-
rsasI. or even always common honesty and
snGraiity. 1t is companionship, movement.
s.ssststt;aent. something that stirs the blood
NOS :sss the heart-it is dra ma.
70 Sis Haanan, as to her fellows. re-
ElaIon meant emotion, and shA had felt
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-02-26
The Caspian Sea.

London Telegraph: One of the most re-
markable physical features of the globe Is
The deep and wide depression in the hol-
low of which stand the Caspian sea, and
bear to 1T the Sea of Aral. The Caspian Is
nearly as large as France, and it's surfce
IS eighty-four feet below the level of the
Black sea. The Sea of Aral Is nearly as
large as Ireland, and is very little over
the sea level. Within recent geological
tlmes the vast eXpanse in which these
fakes are found was sea. It's floor has
been gradually raised, and the waters
llllng the depressions are all that Is left
pr an ancient Mediterranean. A strange
feature Of both bodies of water is that.
although they receive large rivers, espe-
claliy the Caspian, into which the Volga,
the Ural river and scores of streams from
the Caucasus flow. both have for many
years been getting shalloWer. Evapora-
tlon, Tor they have no outlet, exceeded the
lnnoW. But, for some climatic reason
probably. Lake Aral and its neighbor.
Lake Balkhash, have since 1891 been in.
creas!ng in depth. Nature reports that
NJ. Berg visited Lake Balkhash lac SIM
mer and found that the level was rising
with comparative rapidity. Whereas the
Caspian, like the Dead sea, Is very sail.
owing to the rate Of evaporation. Aral
and Balkhash are brackish only. These
mnant of what was once a great sea
opening into the ocean,, as the Med:ter-
ranean does now, still contain marine fish
and seals. Some Of the latter SURVIVE In
The Aral and Baikal lakes, having esadu-
ally become fitted for their habitat
though 1t is no longer salt, but merely
brackish, and in the case of Baikal actn.
ally fresh water.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-02-26
Would Be Too Bad.

Cleveland Plain Dealer: William, now
h you have made o property over
to me I can do as / please with II,
can't II"
law gives me a third interest in the real
estate while j live"
You wouldn't be mean enough to insist
on that. would you. Wiiiams'
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-02-26
EnthraHinn Music.

Puck: Blanche-Jack is deeply in
terested in the opera.
Louise-We mustn't be too hard on
him-thc mSt time 1 attended a per-
Torrance of this opera I. too, forgot
myself.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-02-26

The area under control by the citv
council at Johannesburg, Transvaal, is
seVenty-hye miles and the valuation
Cape Town.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-02-26

Horses, giraffes and ostriches have
the largest eyes Of land animals; cut.
fetish Of sea creatures.
The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-02-26
There Are others.

Judge: What kind of a char is
he?"
"Oh, his conversation consist of s2s
worth of talking to every nickeIs
worth of horse sense"
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-31
oKLAHoMAN TALKS STATEHOOD.
A. n. Geisser Stops Here Enroute to
Home in Carmen.

!. II. Ceissler Of Carmen. O. T, stopped
over in Wichita yesterday on his way
home from Washington, where he has
been for the last three weeks in the in
terest Of the statehood bill. He says:
The prospects for statehood are good.
and there is no question but that Okla
hpma will be admitted at this session of
congress if the people of Oklahoma con
tinue To urge their claims.
Most Of the members of the committee
on territories are in favor of giving Ok
lahoma statehood. but there is a differ
ence of opinion among members of both
houss as to the kind. Party considera-
lions control with some members and sec
tiona considerations have weight with
others many of the eastern congressman
and senators being anxious to keep down
the representation of the west IN the L.
s. senate Under the treaties with the
five civilized tribes. Indian Territory can
not become arstate or part before 1906.
Therefore If Oklahoma becomes Il state
before 1905 it viii be admitted with the
present boundal1es either with or withouF
a prOYiso that 5the Indian Territory may
be added whenever congress considers
that it is ready for statehood.
The advocates of statehood are hoping
for the early recovery of senator Quay
who is now in Florida because of i'll
health. He is expected to return in April
and to resume his fight for the admission
of the territories, Senator Quay is on
record as favoring immediate statehood
for Oklahoma with a proviso that Indian
Territory be attached when it is ready.
"A number of senators have Informed
.Ir Quay that they would vote for
measure admitting both territories at one
time. He prepared and introduced for
their consideration bill providing fo~
the admission Of the two territories as one
state in 1906 on condition that the consti-
tutional convention OF the proposed state
shall by ordinance irrevocabIy guarantee
that the colored people shall never be dis
franchised by means of educational tests.
This is taken to mean that Senator Quay
will consent to simultaneous admission
Of The two territories only on the cOndi
ton stated Ii is understood that there
will be considerable opposition To this
plan of statehood particularly by sen
ators from the south.
Oklahoma will have new but power
ful champion in the upper house in The
person of Senator Long. Already familiar
with oklahoma. her people her resources
and her claims, he is studying the state
hood problem with his characteristic
thorouEhRess and when the bill comes up
in the senate Mr. Longs influence will
be felt"
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-31
The best Of all medicines for all humors.

begins at o'clock, is an interesting one
and is in charge of Mrs. Hess-Burr.
1t is quite the thing now for hostess
20 ask some musician in whose judgment
she has entire confidence, to arrange her
entertainment. 1t saves her all the trou-
BILE of writing letters and attending to
details for which she has often neither
time nor taste. Mrs Hess-Burr has asked
Francis Campbell, the barytone who has
appeared several times this winter with
marked success, to sing, and also Helen
McGrew. a Titian-haired soprano with
brown eyes. who is as pleasing to look
upon as 10 listen TO. Mr.. Campbell has
varied repertoire which invariably gives
pleasure TO his hearers. Among Miss Nc
Crews songs viii be one the music OF
which was written by a Chicag go girl Miss
Louise Llewellyn. pupil of CAM. 1t is
called Lament Of a Kiss The words
are those Of the Rev. Andrew +, Under
hill. one of the candidates fof Grace
church at the time that the Rev Ernest
Stires left. Mr. Underhill is now pastor
of q fashionable Episcopal church i'll
Yonkers-on-H Hudson. The verses are Il
relic Of his college days, when he pub
lished a small volume more or less senti-
mental, which much have appealed TO
Miss Llewellyn, as she mas set to music
another poem, If You Were the Spider
and I Were the Fly"
THE Lament of Kiss has been trans
lated into French by Mrs. Henry New
man Of Chicago and viii be heard at the
next meeting Of The Alliance Franchise
Miss Llewellyn, who is daughter of the
late L. D. Llewellyn, once governor or
Kansas. has written charming song,
Ny Sunnower Girl which will be sung
at Topeka during the semi-centennial in
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-31
FIGHT is ON OVER
LOCATION OF BRIDGE
Petition Signed by 200 Asks
for Structure.
AT FOOT OF MORRIS STREET
Matter viii Come up Monday
at Council.
AT FOOT OF MORRIS STREET

According to all appearances there Is a
fight on between the owners of property
in the vicinity of the Arkansas river near
Morris and Harry streets in the south
part of the city.
At The last session or tne c--y council
there was a petition read that had been
signed by residents near Harry street
asking for a new bridge over the Arkah-
sas- The county commissioners had made
4 survey Of the site and the city engineer
was requested TO make a like report.
Yesterday petition signed by POO names
and led by that Of John Mccormick, way
filed with the city clerk, requesting that
instead of a new bridge being built al
Harry street one be placed at the foot of
Morris street which would connect with
what is known as Mccormick street on
the opposite side. The reasons for build
ing a bridge at this place instead of at
Harry street are numerous and good, ac-
cording to the property owners. Morri,
street is a half mile below the Lewis,
street bridge.
IN the first place if is said that bridge
at the foot Of Morris street would be
more convenient TO every one. Harry
street is out of line with the bulk of the
travel. Second, a structure could be builc
on Morris street much cheaper than ~
Harry. The river is not so wide. Third.
where the Harry street bridge has 10 be
built at an angle to connect with The road
on the opposite side. at Morris it could be
built straight. Fourth. the ground being
lower on one side of the river at Harry
both sides survey the same at Morris.
Thus it would not require nearly so much
work nor so much expense to put in a
bridge at Morris as it would at Harry
street.
Although many OF those who signed the
first petition We're then in favor of hav-
ing the bridge at Harry street, it is said
that they have now decided that it would
be better all around TO have it located ut
Morris street. The matter will come up
again Monday night at regular meeting
IF the city council.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-31
He LIKES WICHITA.
Chief Clerk Reed Returned From Kan
sas City Yesterday.

Chief Clerk Reed of the railway mail
service has returned from few days
absence during which time he was IN
Kansas City. He was holding some spe-
cial examinations for the mail service
but incidentally took note of other things
He sens to think that Wichita is COM
ing right up in every respect In TACT
Mr. Reed would any day prefer living in
Wichita than any where else. He gives
a great many reasons for being in love
with the Peerless Princess, the principal
one Of which is that lit is the best place
in Kansas
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-31
HAVE MOVED HERE.
Oklshoman Thinks Wichita Is the
Proper Place.

Nj and Mrs John W. Foster have
moved from Ava. o. r. 70 this city and
intend % make this their permanent home.
They have lived in Alva for several years
and like that country very well. bur they
express thmseIvsS as being much better
pleased with the Sunflower state
Nr. Foster has many praises for Okla
h0ma and Mrs. Foster also Joins in be-
slowing compliments on the land Of the
fair God Mr.. Foster Is "a special agent
for the Fidelity Life Insurance company.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-31
JACOB ALLEN BUYS
BIG GOLD BRICK
Wealthy Sumner County Man
Gives Up $4,000
FOR A BRASS CASTING
Swindle Is on Display in Mos
baCherS Window.

Jacob Allen Is the name Of the Yelling
ton man VINO paid $1,000 for a gold brick
which is at present on display in a win
dow of Charles Moshacher's jewelry
store on North Main street. Allen went
flo his homo in Wellington Immediately
! after learning that his purchase was not
gold as represented without even re-
porting the safe TO the chief of police
That official was notified of the affair
through a friend of AlIens $. Bedford
Wood WAS detailed to go to the Hotel
Manhattan where the sale took place and
where the brick was found in room .
formerly occupied 10y man named J.
Armstrong. OF whom Allen bought it
The brick was enclosed in a small
steamer trunk and was packed with cot
ton. Tt was learned last evening that
Allen had also called on Mr.. Moshbacher
pnd asked lim 90 go 10 the hotel with
him for The purpose Of examining the
brick He told Allen that he was busy
and asked him To bring the brick there.
He said it was in a trunk said Mr..
AIoshbacher land that ii was too heavy
to carry" I should say that it is. The
police said they weighed it and that it
tipped the scales at Is pounds In trying
10 lift II, however. "a person "ou-u lhiiiA
that IT weighed nearer -"' lt Is 50 heaVy
that 1t cannot be Hfteo any heleAI WIN
out the use OF TWO h@'dS.
Although the supposed gold is called
brick. il does not resemble one in the
slightest. In fact IL looks more like d
piece Of machnerE. 1t is nothing more
than a CASTING. said Mr.. Mospacher'
and it Is solid brass The surface IS
painted with several coats OF GIT Which
cost about - cents If the thing were
solid gold ] should judge II TO be worth
about 5000"
The brick IS round and ABOUT ioui
inches thick. In the center there Is a
small hole Ii Is probably one foot IN
diameter. Several holes have been boFed
in the brick and where acid was placed
on II the brass turned "a dark green color.
One hole bored and not tested with acld
showed the brass 10 look ike gold
Although the men who interested Alien
IN the gold brick and who, without any
= doubt whatever, intended to sell II to MIN
If possible, it is said that the subject OF
buying it was never even preached TO
Allen.
The man Armstrong met Allen In Wen
ington and made his acquaintance. He
represented himself as being the owne'
of mines. He said that he had Just re-
turned from "A mining country and thal
ne had solid gold blck WHICH ne III .
tended taking to Wichita for the purpose
Of having q. government assayer exam
Inc it. As Alien had shown much interest,"
In mines Armstrong invited him 10 take
tho trip 10 Wichita while he-had the bfack
examined. If the gold turned out 10 DC
all right as he said it was Armstrong
told Allen that he was going 10 sell It.
Upon the arrival Of the two men IN
Wichita Armstrong was the only one VINO
registered at the ttotel Manhattan ne
took Allen to the same room win MN
They visited the Hamilton "heIe 'neS
found the assayer, whose name was sup
posed To be PROF stone aHu hdu MN