davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16
WEIRD !: FILIPINO BELIEF. !.
The Wok- Wok Most Dreaded of the islands pc
a BabOOn Ghost Runs Away al
Trial Ordeal Sti Prncticed-.- &c a Sick
Child Gifts o "a Gran ky SIP

of his spearsmen and ri6emen and
Dolomen without shot being fired,
but with very superior kind of magic,
| indeed.
He came away on one of the very
ships he might have sunk if he had
only pointed his barong. His people
waited on the beach eXpectant of some
| dreadful miracle and inspired by a
sort of savage pity for those ignorant
Americans. But the boat went cheer
fully sailing on until it disappeared
behind the sky line.
When Tungalon comes home again
he will find his warriors planting rice.
His graft will be gone with last years
monsoon. He will have to give up his
spirits and take to raising taploca, and
there will be seen OH the island of
Pata the sOrrowful spectacle of a
prophet without honor in his own
country
At Balabac there is famous haunted
rock called the Diamond Stone. There
is a tradition that long ago the English
Government offered Spain f1,000,O0O
sterling for it. But Spain refused to
sell.
1t is curious rock, Of n rough round
shape, about ten feet in diameter. 1t
is composed chiefly of quartz. but there
are no traces of metals of precious
stones about it. There is hole some
three inches deep in one side, where
man once started to drill with the pur.,
pose of blasting. The story goes that
he was Immediately made i'll by the
spirit that guards the rock, and that he
died three days later. No one has
dared to follow his example since.
There is, however, In BalaDac Il vast
deal of mineral wealth without the
dra wbaclls of evil spirits. In Il brief
ramble back into the hills found some
collaborating quartz, though l saw no
traces of gold. There were also rich
markings of copper, chiefly in the form
Of cupritC and of green hydrouS copper
| carbonate. There were traces, too,
traces of Il very poor form OF brown
coal, but it is reported that back in the
forests arc Spanish mines which in old
times furnished an excellent quality
of coal.
But over the copper ana coal of Bala-
baC as over all the forests and wealth
Of the Philippines, hangs a spirit more
deadly to development than all the
wokwoiS that ever cXiStcd-thc spirit
Of the laws of the islands, and the du.
ties the laws entail.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16

Snakes, according to the prevailing
popular notion, should be killed at
sight as utterly useless ana positively
dangerous creatures, but in Australia
they are now being Systematically
reared for the sake OF their skins,
which have a considerable CONNER
cial value in London Paris and New
York Snake skin is the most fashion.
able material for slippers, belts, bags.
purses, card cases jewel boxes, dress.
ing table accessories, etc. Rabbit
trappcrS supplement their means con
siderably by ch.,1ing young snakes
and extracting the poisonous fangs.
The blacks are also expert snake catch
crs. TO them the snake is an agree
able article of diet Kansas City Jour
nal.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16
Some Momen NyonId.

"The Chinese woman is rdiculed for
her small feet" she said
"True," he replied. "Civilizatlon does
not sanction foot binding"
"And the woman with large feet is
also ridiculed"
"True again"
con, dear" she sighed. "Woman
does have hard time in this world,
doesn't she? l wonder If she wouldn't
be better Off without feet"
Possibly" he replied, "but 1 can't
help thinking She would attract consld-
cradle unfavorable comment walking
on her hands, New York Press.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16

a Boston gentleman connected with
the National Tube Works, sends us the
following, for the truth Of which he
youchcs:
My friend was a ship-buildcr; his
shipyard was some miles from his
house, which distance he had to cover
on horseback. He had white horse
that had served him long and faith
fully in this capacity.
One day his horse fell for some cause
that | do not remember, and he was
thrown to the ground and severely
cut on the mead.
He was unconscious for some time,
and when he "camc to-" found the
horse standing by him.
After while he gathered himself
up and attempted to mount the horse,
but every time he tried fell back
Finally the horse walked to the side
OF q large rock which stood near. The
gentleman crawled along to it and
after hard work got OH the horse, and
then the horse walked slowly and
carefully home with him, the rider
being i'm semi-cOnscious condition.
The family removed him from the
horse on his arrival home and put him
to bed. He was a long while recover
ing from this accident. and one day
when convaleScing, the horse, being
brought to the window where the
gentleman sat, showed unmistakable
signs Of pleasure at seeing his master
once more. The gentleman is still
living and can cOrrobOrate this true
horse story.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16

Courts Of Europe, ana ii is certain,
within short time, to De Il topic Of
universal discussion, if not of serious
belief, throughout Japan. There Is no
question that the possibility Of Queen
Olga's command Of the Russian Navy
will receive more Crcdcncc In Japan
than i'm any other portion of the world;
for it is wCll-knOwn that already many
Japanese women have attempted to
go in disguise to the front; and n course
which Is natural with them will not
seem unnatural in a sovereign who,
by formal appointment, holds high
and definite rank rs n part OF the
lighting forces Of the Car.
Queen Olga enjoys the unique dis
tnction Of being the only woman Ad-
mral in the world. This high rank
was bestowed upon her by the late
CZar Of Russia. Sometimes royal titles
are distributed promscuously and
without regard TO the fitness of things;
but In this instance the honor is APP
propriate and meritcd. The present
Queen Of Greece appreciates and I'M
derstands the title. She loves the sea;
she takes practical interest in the
welfare Of sailors, and on recent
naval inspection made such thorough
examination Of one of the battleships
as to win the admiration Of some of
The naval experts of her own country.
This gifted woman, besides her other
accomplishments is diplomat of n
III Ugh order Her voice always is for
peace, and In the recent disturbance
between Greece and Turkey her adj
vice was potent at the council board
and at the conference that finally
healed up the differences caused by
the war
Queen Olga is the eldest daughter OF
the Grand Duke Constantine of Rus
sia, who was a brother of the late
Emperor Alexander II. She was mar
ricd to King George Of Greece in 1867,
when she was only sixteen years old.
New York Tribune.
The Introduction of electric traction
in the Tranvla Rural, city Of Bueuos
Ayres. Is contemplated
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16
Queer Name. For Children.

In some parts OF the Continent OF
late years the practice has increased
Of giving children fantastic names. a
little girl for instance, born in the
Eiffcl Tower. in Paris, not long since
was Christcned "Eiffelinc," and a Swiss
mother chose "May 1st" for child
born on that day The authorities
however. refused to sanction the lat
ter. and now the Swiss Government is
considering proposed laws for the pre-
vention OF such christening cccentrlci.
tics.-New York News.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16
Thirst For Wisdom.

"SNy, pop"
"Ycs?'
"Bald heads is funny things, amt
they, pop:"
"Um-I guess So"
Say, pop"
"Im busy reading, Tommy. Go
away"
"But, pop-what makes bald heads?"
Hard thinking, my SON"
"That what made you bald headed?"
"Yes."
"Why amt mamma bald headed,
thcnW
Go answer.)
Pop
"EhY
'Why ain't mamma bald headed?
Can't she think any?'
UncaSiness on part of pop)
Tommy, If you don't stop botherlng
me, I'll send you to bcdw
Gong silence. Pop thinks he has for
gotten IT'D
Pop
(No answer.)
Say, pop"
"WellY
"Bct our new baby iS great
thinker"
(NO answer)
Gle doesn't show it, though"
(Another silencc)
'Ceptin' by his bald head"
(NO answerD
Pop
Tommy, if you DON'T"
"But, pop-arc you sure bald head
is sign Of hard thinkin'?"
Yes why?"
"Because l heard Squire Wiggs ask
Judge Snibberly what made your head
so bald, and he said it was due to a
bad case of mattermony-"
(And out in the woodshed Tommy
lifted up his voice in anguish and bit
tcrly repentcd him that once more he
had brought down sorrow upo2 his
head through his insane craving after
W!SGom) Francisco Bullftin.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16
ono OF Those TeAts.

a Western newspaper springs this
headline upon an unsuspcctlng public:
Wait Weber WEEDS Wrinkle Wood
Wednesday, Chicago Journal.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16

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The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16
Tia o1AeR FELLOWS JOB.

I There's craze among MS mortals that Is
L. crucl hard 10 name,
tR Xheresoe'er you find human you will
INV find the case the same;
- on may seek among the worst OF men or
@ seek among the best,
- And you'll find That every person Is pre-
" ciscy like the rest.
" Each believes that his real calling is along
some other line
Than the one at which he's working-take,
for instance, yowS and mine;
From the weane~C 30 creature to
There y ths SaGss SnSsrs6 st * for othe other
fellows job" y
There are millions OF positions in the busy
word to-day,
Each drudge to nim who holds it, but to
him who doesn't pay;
Every farmers brokenhearted that in
yonth he missed his call,
While that same unhappy farmer is the
envy of us al.
Any task You care to mention seems a
vastly better lot
Than the one especial something which
you happen to have got.
There's but one sure way to smother envys
heartNche and her sob;
Keep too busy at yu0u own to want the
other fellow job"
-SSucccss.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16
The Only
w oman Admiral


11OE> lie remarkable contingency
I 1r1 that a woman Admiral
@ 8 may command the fleets of
4 4 Russia before the ending
9RoR& of the war with Japan has
presented itself to the minds of those
who are intimately acquainted with
the personal affairs of the rulers of the
Old World. Should all other Admirals
of the Russian Navy perish, it would
lie within the power and right of
Queen olga of Greece to claim COM
mand of the ships that remain TO that
Navy. Not only does she rank as full
Admiral of the naval forces of Russia,
but she is n good sailor and as thor
ough naval expert as are many Of
the Captains who are her subordinate
in rank.
The possibility of BoadicCa Of the
sea coming to the Succor Of the beaten
forces Of the powerful Empire of the
North. already has been the subject Of
more or less amused comment in the
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16

~AOE HE fifth floor was in q big
building, tcnanted by poor
8 n 5 qr{ists, bachelor girls and
mice. The flights of stairs
SQGR| were long aud narrow, and
the corridors dark and grewSome.
There Were Quner stories about the
housc, which might or might not be
explained, according to the crcdulity
OF the listeners. II had the reputation
of being hauntei.
The young woman who told me this
was one of the bachelor class referred
TO- Her room WAS at the extreme end
Of tile long corridor which traversed
the firth floor. Passage up the stairs
end through the corridors i'm the day
time was disagrccablc; in the night
it was Il journey fraught with peculiar
horror, for she was Il young person Of
many fears. She was afraid of acci-
dents Of sickness; She was afraid she
would fall in love ana afraid she would
not have the chance; afraid OF strange
dogs and OF the cars, afraid of the
dark and of the future. But all these
palod into insignilirance in comparison
with fear of the fifth door after twi-
light.
One night curiosity and loneliness
led her to accept an invitation to
party. As l. O'Clock struck the lamps
In the room were turned out and n dish
or burning salt was placed in the
centre OF the apartments about its
weird. blue flames ghost stories from
l"%ehu or experience were narrated in
'sepulrhral tones. Cold chills ran down
1n@ nnnr sI,9g%a ga.9 .9f,,dA@ ,,dA@ resident of the ffth
meIs6pposed to supl sUpg Irnl trjp p"' mn Tine 'he
seems to ihGGySSS IS"S '@ro"an To .2in 5ae 5ne
I. IN" .,torted to her door by |
roiiirking crowd. And then she was
alone in the dark hall. She felt for |
the candle and matches she had left |
EHnr the door; some constituencies |
lodScr had taken the whole box. and |
th"re was nothing to do but crouch |
in the corner until dawn or begin her !
pHrlIous trip. If She crouchcd some
thing might get her, and ut least if
she could reach her own room there
woold be LIGHT. for she had wisely |
left her light burning.
She crept 10 the stairs and listened |
TSi.cncc profound; then with footsteps !
which sounded wcirdly in the old place. |
she ran lightly up the first fight. not |
s,HRpng TO breathe until the landing |
was rrachcd, when the beating OF her
heart forced her TO wait
Something was in the dark with her:
she felt ii first, then she heard 1t. n |
s:caithy, indeSrrihable sound. n soft |
thud, pause, and then the thud again. |
II was unlike any sound She had ever
heard before; II was on The stairs back
f,,,. f..,,. L..
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16

SA0M> HE Zamboanga philippine
y Islands) correspondent to
q the New York Sun, writes:
n The wok-wok is a hairy
~9Q@HaD ghost devil. He is ba-
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16
THE GHOST ~
OF TAE FIFTH FLOoR.
/. =

ny Gertrude r. Lynch.
The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-16

s.r...'.'.'a'.'.'.". ! Da'o1.''.-y
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-08-03
In Cuse of Fire

The chief Of the Philadelphia fire de-
partment has published set of rules
'In Case Of Fire" They ought to be
learned by heart. like the multiplica-
tion table, so that when needed they
will spring automatically to the mind (:
First sound the alarm.
Close the door and open the win
dows. A closed door Is a wonderful
protection against flame; an open win
dow lets the heat and smoke out.
DO not fear thick smoke too much.
Go down on your hands an1 knees.
You will find no smoke near the floor
Nine times out of ten you can descend
stairway so. Many have been burn
ed to death because they thought a
smoke filed stairway meant an impas-
sable one. There is plenty Of pure
air to breathe near the floor.
Should the fire have gained such
headway that all exits are blocked.
shut yourself In front room and lean
far out of the window, so that the fire
men can see you. Once they see you.
1t IL reasonably sure they will rescue
you.
Above all, keep cool. The majority
Of deaths from fire would have been
averted II the victims had not lost
their heads.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-08-03
HelfOtrOnfau,.

Heliotropism is the peculiar property
shown by many plants, notably the
sunflower, Of always turning toward
the sun. In the case of seedlings the
phenomenon is especially marked. The
cells on the light side are apparently
retarded in growth, thus causing a
curvature toward that side Professor
Romanes experimental with an inter
mittent light, such as that Of an cleo
trio spark discharge, upon mustard
seedlings and found the heliotroplc
effect produced in this way far greater
than that caused by the sun or any
other form of light. Strange to say,
however, this abnormal influence is un-
accompanied by the generation of
phlorophyll, the green coloring matter
in plants which requires sunshine for
its proper production.-Pal Mall Ga
Yette.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-08-03
A VAMPIRE VINE.
Death Dealing swamp Plant That
Grows In Nicnragua.


Grows In Nicaragua.
Mr.. Dunstan, naturalist, who spent
nearly two years In Central America
In the study of the flora and fauna Of
the country, relates the finding of a
singular growth In one Of the swamps
which surround the great lakes of Nj
caragua. He was engaged In hunting
for botanical and chronological specl-
mems when he heard his Dig cry out,
as III In agony, from distance Run
ulng to the spot whence the animals
cries came, Mr.. Dunstan found him
enyeloped In perfect network of what
seemed TO be fine rope-l like tissue of
roots and fibers. The plant or vine
seemed composed entirely OF bare, In
terlacing stems resembling more than
anything else the branches OF the weep
Ing willow denuded of its foliage, but
OF dark, nearly black hue and COW
cred with n thick, viscld gum that ex-
uded from the pores.
Drawing his knife, Mr.. Dunstan en-
deavored to cut the animal free, but
1t was only with the greatest difficulty
that he succeeded in severing the
neshy muscular ilbers. TO his horror
and nmazement, the naturalist then
saw that the dogs body was blood
stained, while the skin appeared to
have been actually sucked or puckered
In spots. and the animal staggered as
IL from exhaustion. In cutting the
vine the twigs curled like living, sinu-
ous fingers about Mr.. Dunstan's hand,
ana 1t required no slight force to free
the member from Its clinging grasp,
which left the flesh red and blstered.
The gum exuding from the vine was
OF II grayish dark tlnge, remarkably
adhesive and of II dlsagreeable animal
odor. powerful and nauseating to In
hale
The native servants who accompa-
MED Mr.. Dunstan manifested the
greatest horror of the vine which they
call "the devils snare" and were full
Of stories of its death dealing powers.
He was able to discover very little
about the nature of the plant. owing to
tie difficulty of handling II, for its
grasp can only be torn away with the
loss of skin and even of flesh, but as
near ms Mr.. Dunstan could ascertain
Its power Of suction is contained In a
number of infinitesmal mouths or lit
tie suckers. which. ordinarily closed,
open for the reception of food. If the
substance Is animal the blood IL drawn
off and the carcass or refuse then
dropped. A hump of raw meat being
thrown It, in the short space Of FIVE
minutes the blood will be thoroughly
drunk or and the mass thrown aside
Its voracity is almost beyond belief.
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-08-03
SHIPS ANCHORS.
The Change From short, Straight
F1ukes 60 Curved Arms.

F1ukes 60 Curved Arms.
The ships anchors In general use up
to the beginning of the last century
consisted of n long. round Iron
shank, having two comparatively short
straight arms or Hukes. inclined to the
shank at an angle Of about forty de-
grees and meeting Il In a somewhat
sharp point at the crown. In large an.
chors the bulky wooden stock was built
up OF several pieces. hooped together,
the whole taperlpg outward to the ends,
especially on the nft or cable side
About the beginning of the last cen
tury clerk In the Plymouth navy
yard. Pering by name. suggested cer-
tain improvements. the uiost inpor.
tant Of which was making the arms
curved instead OF straight At first
sight this simple change may seem OF
little value. but consideration will show
this is not the case. The holding power
Of an anchor depends on two principal
onditions-namely. the extent of use
full holding surface and the amount of
vertical penetration. The latter uual.
ity IL necessary on account of the na-
ture of ordinary sea bottoms. the sur.
face layers of which are generally less
tenacious and resisting than Is thr
ground II short distance below.
In the year 1881 chain cables began
to supersede the hempen ones with the
result that the long shanked anchors
hitherto In vogue were no longer nee
essary, and anchors with shorter
shanks and with heavier and stronger
crowns gradually came into use. In
consequence Of these changes. COM
mission was appointed In the year 1883
to inquire into the holding power of
anchors and n principal result of its
labors was the adoption Of the so called
admiralty pattern anchor. which con-
tinued to be used In the British navy
up to the year 1850.
The invention of the steam hammer
In 1912 made the welding Of heavy
masses of iron comparatively easy
and reliable process. so that from this
time onward the strength Of anchors
fully kept pace with that Of the chain
cables, which had come into general
use. A number Of patents for anchors
were taken out prior to the great exhi-
biton Of 1851, and. public attention
having been called to the models there
shown In the following year. commit
tee was appointed by the admiralty to
report on the qualifications Of anchors
Of the various kinds.
Practical trials were then instituted
and, as result. some of the tests to
which the anchors were submitted
We're Of doubtful value-such. for In.
stance. as facility for sweeping"
Nowadays. however, at all events for
deep ships In shallow harbors. It Is
considered an advantage for an anchor
to offer as little obstruction as possible
above the ground.-Nautical Gazette
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-08-03

A farmer went to hear John Wesley
preach. Wesley said he would take up
three topics of thought. He was talk
ing chiefly about money. His first was,
"Get all you can" The farmer nudged
a neighbor and said: This is strange
preaching. l never heard the like be-
fore This Is very good" Then Wes-
ley discoursed on Industry" "Activi-
ty," Living to Purpose" and reached
his second division, Save all you can"
The farmer became more excited.
"Was there ever anything like thisY
he said. Wesley denounced thriftless
ness and waste, and he satirzed the
willful wickedness which lavishes in
luxury, and the farmer rubbed his
hands, and he thought, "All this I
have been taught from my youth up"
and what with getting and what with
boarding it seemed to him that sal
walton" had come to his house. But
Wesley advanced TO his third head.
which was "Give all you can" "Ah,
dear; ah, dear" said the farmer; "he
has gone and spoiled 1t all!'
The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-08-03
RLoTTlNG PAPER.
u Was Known and Used ms Far Hack
as the Year 1875.


There Is a pretty prevalent belief that
blotting paper Is modern invention:
that a hundred years ago IL was un-
known, white sand being used In Its
stead.
Blotting paper, as a matter of fact,
was a recognized convenience of the
writing desk as far back as 1915. In
that year there was issued book called
"Townsend's Preparative to Pleading"
n copy Of which is in the possession Of
Chicago sntiquary, and this volume
contains on page the following para
graph:
LET the busting or sanding in books
be avoided, rather using fine brown pa
per TO prevent blotting If time of the
inks drying cannot be allowed, for
sand takes away the good color of the
ink, and, getting into the backs OF
books, makes them break their bind
ing"
The sand that was used for blotting
in the past was, the Chicago antiquary
says, very clean and white and fine,
and 1t was called silver sand. 1t was
kept in cruet with perforated lid,
like a salt cruet. and thence II was
sifted over the wet writing. An odd
thing about il was that the ink never
seemed to stain IL. 1t could be used
over and over and IL remained to the
end as white as snow.