davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10

chip Alabama has been lying safe IN
the bureau of navigation at Washing
ton, waiting 70 be claimed by the man
to whom it vas awarded by con-
gress.
Rusty, with its ribbon frayed and
moth-eaten. this medal has at last been
sent to its owner. who. after all these
years of silence. recently wrote TO the
navy department claiming the medal
Its existence had been forgotten until
the arrival few days ago Of a letter
from Muscoda. Grant county, Wis. from
man 20 years old. who wrote that he
had Just learned through the accidental
reading of an old navy 1eneral order.
dated 1864 that John Hayes. coxwain
OF the frigate Kearsarge. had been
awarded a medal of honor for distin-
guished conduct in battle.
He said in his letter to the DEPART
ment that he was the ONLY John HAYES
who served on the KearsarPe in the ia
nous battle with the Alabama. and that
1T must be he who is entitled to the
medal. He forwarded his enlistment
and discharge papers, which showed
conclusively that his claim was just.
An investigation was made BY the bu-
reau of navigation and the old medal
was found in the archives of the de-
partment. 1t was forwarded to Mr..
Hayes. with letter from the secre-
tary of the navy, saying that he is en-
titled TO 500 bounty. which he can
nave as soon as he forwards the prop
er affidavits. 1t is believed that this
money will be quite acceptable. as the
old sailor wrote in his letter that he
was physically unable to work. and de-
pended for his living solely on his PEN
sion of S12 month.
One of the most remarkable features
OF this case is the fact that Mr.. HAYES
enlistment papers were signed by the
late Rear Admiral Belknap. whose son
is now on duty in the bureau of navI-
cation, and his Discharge papers and
recommendation for the medal were
signed by the late Capt. John A. Wins
low, whose nephew is also on duty in
the bureau of navigation ard who signed
the letter forwarding the medal to the
naval veteran
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
THIS CORPSE WAS LIVELY.
IL Cost oily Soldier Weeks Pay
to Sc lare Himself for an
Absurd Joke

An old Veteran of Chicago tells this
story: / came very near getting killed
in camp once by two colored boys.
Four or five fellows on our skirmish
line had been shot during a sudden
raid by confederate cavalry. and their
bodies were brought in and laid right
In front Of the regimental hospital
tent My orderly sergeant discovered
two of our men among the killed. so I
directed him to have the bodies taken
to our company headquarters for burial.
He deputed two colored carriers at
tached to the relief corps to bring
them up, and while they went off for
stretcher I asked my lieutenant and
several other officers who stood by me
If they wanted to see some fun. OF
course they did. So I told them TO
watch me. and, running over to where
the Gead privates lay. I raised the
blanket and slipped in between them.
Nearly all the ,colored men attached
to the relief corps had great aversion
to handling corpses; in fact, IL is a
characteristic of the race. and, although
many OF overcome the feeling owing to a
forced familiarity, still the superstition
was always near the surface. When the
carriers returned with the stretcber I
lay stifT as a ramrod with my eyes closed.
/ heard one say, Look yah. jim. dey's
thee hyer, std O. two" Reckon we
can't TEX 'em all now; less tote this un
fust," said the other. So they picked UP
the body on my left and took it up to
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10

muzzle and he seemed IN now b,s
friends. Whenever one of them an
peared he AZ arceG acd rubbed his
nose against Their legs. The caress
tolu much. II told OF how "Blina
Nell had at last given AVA and how
sne was lying i'll IN some uncom-
portable spot. 1t told why the hand
organ was silent Il told that even n
mean, yellow cur was not without n
neart and that he alone stood betweep
the Old woman and starvation. Ana
'he caress touched many and therc
was heap of bright silver in the cuv
before the days work had begun in
the downtown dis.r
lie disappeared while the morning
was still young. His course was IN
Van Buren, street and down Wabash
avenue. All trace OF him was lost an
ne rounded the corner. but the meet
ING OF the old woman and the old dos
with cup OF silver must have been
a happy one
he was back at the corner when ths
shoppers began 10 arrive. The women
were touched by the story told on Tho
placard and they contributed freely.
AT noon the dog disappeared sgainl
he rested this time and perhaps tbs
OLD woman told him what great
friend he was, for it was almost inns
Tor the stores to close when he reached
the corner
There was another flow of PENNIES
nickels and dimes ana the cum was
ha1 1ulI when a tLief came along. Hs
stopped and patted the animal on the
oack and at the same time tried tn
empty the cup. But Blind NelPss
dog had learned to read men. and 4
growl warned the stranger that IA
would be unsafe for him to take AMI
OF the money. The dog disappeared
as darkness came and Blind NelIs
Will have all to eat that she wants foS
the next few days at least
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10

nave been talking recently about those
vessels of the Russian volunteer fleet.
One day our company, out scouting.
spied on distant ridge what was at
once pronounced a masked battery. 1t
seemed to me an ordinary Ohio back
woods brush heap. but men of more ex-
perience said il was a battery hidden by
innocent looking brushwood. and dis
positions we're made to attack il. We
opened fire at long range, but there was
no reply. Then we closed I'm, firing as we
ran forward.
Our blood was up and we were ready
for charge when there came from the
brushwood three large blacksnakes. or
mountain racers. There was confusion
in the ranks. and then wild chase after
the snakes. The masked battery was a
common brush heap. and the experience
Of that day raised the question If any
man In the regiment had ever seen a
masked battery. We asked the captain.
an old veteran. about t. lie said he had
seen lots OF masked batteries. In fact.
he said, it was the rule I'm defensive war
fare to hide battery or to place It where
It could not be seen by an approaching
enemy.
He showed us that our own battery at
the falls was masked and that our
howitzer battery on the mountain to our
rear was hidden I'm the brush. and finally
laughed the bupaboo out OF our minds.
A few days later he stationed us on eth
or side Of a mountain road TO ambush a
company OF confederate cavalry. and aft
er all was over asked If a masked battery
was more reprehensible than an ambush.
A month later we were moving along the
same defile, when there was a fash of
brass in the distant SUNLIGHT. and a solid
shot came blowing down the road in
front Of us.
THE theory among the boys was that
every cannon ball fired from a cannon
must necessarily kin somebody. and they
were inclined 70 stand and take their
medicine. But the old catpain shouted:
That's from your masked battery. BOYS.
Give il the road He hustled the men to
sheltered spots on the roadside, and they
watched 20 cannon balls rake the defile
without injuring a man. So we learned
two lessons IN war"
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10

now or hereafter touching this mat
ter; have you regard this woman to-
night as holy charge and treat her
with the reverence and respect you
should yield to your dead sister; and
never from this moment until the day
comes when | may release you--and
that may be near or far-would l have
you seek to discover her name or place
of living. BY your marriage contract
you obtain no rights whatever over the.
woman or her roperty-Nas YOU
she VIII claim nothing of yon-and
when the time comes for her TO ask an
honorable divorce at your hands-a
mere matter OF a few years, think
you are 10 grant il openly and freely.
More than this | may not tell YOU"
Somers had leaned forward upon
the table and was looking with deep
interest into the speakers face.
st sounds like an Elizabethan TO-
nance, or chapter from Don Caesar
de Bazan.' / am approaching par"
And then he added gravely: "You
have not forgotten that my mother
and yours were somehow cousins,
and
Il have not. Nor have l forgotten
that friends name and honor are
sacred whether he is or is not Of
kindred blood. And I have not for
gotten that the woman herself-this
woman of whom I speak-confers an
honor with her blind trust. There
has been my chief difficulty, Dick.
In these days it is hard to find .
man into whose hands you may place
young woman and say to her: Trust
him implicitly" Somers smiled
slightly.
My dear fellow, don't you see that
1t is you whom the woman will trust
in this instance, not me2 am only
to vindicate you"
Then you consent?"
why, of course! l have no ties TO
hinder me; and l shall never marry
with any serious intentions. AS you
know, my life chance passed from me
when l laid down my commission In
the army to become a wanderer. /
am here to-day TO sign for small
share in some property of my grand
mothers, and tomorrow 1 shall be
off again. 1 do not think 1 will be
Inconvenience much by the fact that
1 shall leave a bride in Richmond
whom have never seen nor am apt
to see; and since it helps you and
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
BEGS FOR MISTRESS.
GoNGREL DOG KEEPS WOLF
FROM BLIND NELL'S DOOR.
Did Woman Is Too Iii to Take Accus-
toned Place So Cur Holds Cup
TO Receive Pennies OF the
Charitable.

Blind Nell the organ grinder who
Tor years has gathered The penales and
the nicNels OF the charitable that pass
State and Van Buren streets, at Chi
cago, is i'll, but she placed her faith
IN a dog, anu The animal is now
earning the bread that means life for
both.
There are few people in the down
town district who do not know blind
Nell" There are few business men
who remember when she came. She
was on the southeast corner When
they were clerks in the stores thai
they now own. She was the link THAI
connected them with The day that had
been, and sometimes they paid her
we'll for the memory And the old
dog, yellow cur, was always at her
side
why do you keep him? He's get
ting old, isn't hep" inquired some of
the old business men.
Hes all that l have" was the an
swer.
So it wasn't strange that men
stopped and listened when they left
the elevated and the street cars the
other morning. Usually it was one
OF Blind Nell's" airs that told them
that they had reached the scene of
another days activity. Some of them
stood in the middle of the street and
waited for the familiar strains. But
the old hand organ was silent. They
crossed to Blind NelI's" corner and
there stood the dog, alone.
{ he no
have said that he was TRANSPORTED
1t seemed that he had shaken the
years from him and that he realized
his Importance. 1t was the placard
on his side that attracted everybody's
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
The Pyramid Linn

The pyramid limp is a disease that
usually attacks the tourist the second
or third day after his arrival in Cairo
To many visitors the pyramids are all
there is to see in Egypt. and once ar
rived there they proceed to make the
ascent. 1t is not an easy climb, as
these steps are so high that no one
ca:i reach the top without help from
before and behind, and the result Is
strained and famed muscles. Resi-
dents and habitues recognize the pyra-
mid limp in an instant, and the suf-
ferer is greeted with jeers whenever
he makes reference to his sufferings.-
n. Y. Times.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
WAITING FOR A sNIPE.

with the little black spaniel of Wards.
When only puppy he would chew cigar
stumps with relish, and now the habit
has so possessed him that he is never so
happy as when bit of tobacco is thrown
his way.
He will watch cigar smoker with
more eagerness than the 'stump-shoot'
ing" urchin, ready to dash for the dis
carded bit. Recently the dog has devel-
oped a taste for Turkish tobacco, and a
Turkish cigarette gives him exquisite
pleasure. The tobacco is not only
chewed, but also swallowed, yet no mat
ter how much is consumed the dog shows
no signs of Illness, and he is now a par
ticularly healthy canine.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10

KICKED SPOOL INTO THE GUTTER
once played on a woman. She was 4
chronic offender. Two or three times
week she would harass a half dozen
salesgirls an hour or more, and finally
buy, and order delivered, a paper of
needles or quarter of a yard of rib
bon.
so the man decided to make an ex-
ample Of her.
"One afternoon, after her usual
shopping excursion, there drove up to
her door huge dray, drawn by four
horses, and containing six brawny.
bare-armed laborers.
"a crowd collected. 1t was thought
an enormous safe was to be moved.
The woman stood at her front door.
The laborers laid heavy plank from
the wagon to the sidewalk, and then.
with many loud grunts of effort. they
rolled barrel fashion on to the plank
and thence down to the street a tiny
spool of cotton thread. They carried
the thread painfully to the woman's
doorstep, and there, after a desperate
struggle, they appended it
Then they departed. The woman
kicked the spool into the gutter imme-
diately, but this action on her part
only made more pleasing to the neigh
bors the little joke that had been
played on her"
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
CRANKY SHOPPER PUNISHED
a New York Incident Which the Gov
ernor of Washir gton RemeYn-
bers with Pleasure.

Henry Mcbride, TIE governor of
Washington. was falling about de.
partment stores.
department storekeeper in Sc
attic he said. com planned to me one
day about the people. in outlying sec
uons of the city. who were always hav-
ing delivered 10 their homes papers
OF pins. thimbles. finger RI IS ana sim
lar lnhnitesimai pac ages lie said
That sometimes two-horse team would
travel mile to carry home a half
dozen shoe buttons or q skein Of
silk
Then he described a trick that an
ola employer of his in New York had
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
ABoUT MASKED BATTERIES
In the Early Days of the Civil War
They We're Looked Upon as
a Bugaboo.

THE great bugaboo in the army in
1851 said the major to Chicago Inter
Ocean man. was the masked battery.
The boys seemed to believe, and the peo-
pie at home did believe. that to mask a
battery or to conceal it was contrary to
army regulations and the laws of war,
and was sneaking. contemplate pro-
ceeding. Characteristic of men working
to destroy the union
I'm April and May, 1861, there was
more news in the papers about masked
batteries than there was about Skin
mishes end marches The men in front
rarely made a forward movement with
out coming uron a diabolical masked
battery. Masked battery and the black
horse cavalry were like a nightmare to
the army in Virginia and the boys talked
as wildly about them as the Londoners
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
(To BIZ CoNTINUED.)
THIS DOG LIKES TOBACCO.
he Is a Black Spaniel and Recognized
as Champion Stump Shooter
of Philadelphia.

Every now and then a dog is heard OF
that has tastes in the way of beer or
other intoXicants. but the distinction of
owning a tobacco-loving dog belongs to
Ellis Ward, the veteran rowing coach Oh
the University Of Pennsylvania, says the
Philadelphia Record. Tobacco is as re-
pulsive 20 the average dogas Il is to some
people, and though they VIII stamp out
or bite ont lighted cigar, a little of the
leaf In their mouth causes a splutter OF
many minutes. But it isquite different
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10

your friend. why, 1 am positively
happy over the affair. Fact is, Frank,
1 am about up to par in this matter
now"
"You make me happy, Dick. True
as steel always, but always-always-
1 wish, old fellow. might find the
missing note in your life"
Satisfy my ambition, Frank, and
you have found it. My people were
of the army and navy. You remem-
Der Somers in Tripoli. epd-but this
Is idle. When that damnable villain
Holbin tempted me to embroil myself
with the authorities in an act of in
subordination the world was rose
ate"
"Holbin-Raymond Holbin ?"
why, yes. Had you forgotten the
circumstances? l used to rage over
it enough in Paris, God knows. Pass
the matches, please" Brodnar passed
them and moved quickly 10 the rear
of the speaker, lifting his right hand
in excitement, his features working
convulsively. cit did not help mat
tiers that they cashiered him for ras-
cahty and pusillanimity, for they had
let me resign, and my application for
reinstatement lies Enacted upon still.
Frank. there is the open grave In my
life, and the missing note is silent
weaA6 o." He wheeled his chair
about and looked up into his friends
face. "You would help it il you could.
L know; and bless you, my boy, for
your sympathy. What was it you
wanted me to do7 Oh, yes, the mar
riage. Let us get back to that. Am
to make a toilet? But of course"
"You will do as you are. It will be
in the dark. But, Dick, at this mo-
mont, for the first time, the full ex-
tent Of your friendship dawns upon
me and 1 see the generous heart beat
ing away so faithfully in my behalf.
Dick, there was a woman in the af-
fair between you and Holbin; you
have never told me Of her and I
don't ask you now, but II there is a
sacrifice in this for you it is not too
late"
'"Sacrifce2 Lead onl I am in the
hands of my friends. ! am not the
first to leap blindfolded into the sea
OF matrimony, nor shall be the last.
Life is a cycle and fools beget fools.
Besides, have in my religion some
of the fatalism of the casts That
which comes to US without our seeking
and seemeth right to do, is generally
the right thing to do. The falling
cocoanut that breaks the sleeping
robbers head feeds the starving pill
grim"
"Well said. And in this adventure,
my friend, 1 take it that you are
the cocoanut. L am old-fashioned
enough to believe in God, and with
His help you may break a villains
head indeed"
'But 1 shall be satisfied IL nv own
isn't broken. BY the way, my wife
should understand that il this ugly
rupture between the south and north
involves blows. she may hear of her
husband bearing arms against her"
"Fiddlesticksl There has been
more blood shed in my back Office
than you will see spilled between the
north and south. The people on the
streets and up yonder in the capitol
are temporarily insane. IT will end
in wind-my name for oratory."
Cheers in the street below followed
by the discharge OF cannon. shook
the windows. \ boy rushed past.
crying an extra.
"What does ne say?" asked Somers.
as Bruduar, WHO stood near the win
low. lifted his face.
Port Sumter lr> ,uryc.-E .rcd,"
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
Has Troubles of His ou,r

r. d. Urquhart, Of Lynchburg. Va
Is six feet six inches in height. and
weighs 80 pounds. While stopping AT
a hotel in North Carolina town he
put up in room which had four beds.
He was the only occupant of this
chamber. The first bed he crawled in-
to was crushed under his weight. Hs
tried each of the others in turn, and
the Stats of the three Others also coll
lapsed.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
Nursery Hint from Far East.

The native women Of the Himafaya
mountains have a singular way of put
ting their children to sleep in the middle
OF the day. The, child is put near a
stream of water, and by means of palm
leaf or tin scoop the water is DETECTED
SO as to run gently over the back of the
child's head. The water pouring over
the child's head apparently sends 1t to
sleep and keeps it so, while the mother
proceeds with her work in the fields.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
Still Pulling Hair.

Yeast-You say Easimarh is grow
ing a beard?
Crimscnbeak-Yes, you see. his wife
got all his hair out. and now she's
making him grow a beard so she can
handle him properly when she's dis
pleased at something.-Yo States
man.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
The Difficulty.

why don't you tell your candidate
to say something"
My dear sir" answered the politt-.
cal manager. lit is. as a rule. quits
easy to start a public man to talking.
The difficult thing is to stop him.
Washington Star.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
SQuirninp Out.

ooh, George" she exclaimed, bitterly,
81 heard you tell your friend that you
didn't love me any more. Boo hoo!"
Don't cry, dear" he whispered ten
derry, Il mean it as a compliment or
course couldn't love you any more than
l do now."-Chicago Daily News.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
Information Wanted

This" said the farmer, proudly, lis
the best layin' hen I've got"
Yes" replied the pressman, who was
on his vacation in the country, whats
her capacity per hour?"-Puadeluhi
Press.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
Simple Question.

May a man marry his widows sis
teri" was question put to prominent
lawyer.
Certainly he may" was the reply,
without a moments hesitation. Then
the lawyer had another think coming
Albany Journal.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
An Ethical Clash

What broke up your Browning
club?"
"Oh, strained relations between the
women who chew gum and the women
who don't Commercial
Tribune.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
Bullfrogs as sentries.

Pennsylvania fisherman has discov-
cred that bullfrogs act as sentries to
fish, and that it is useless to try to catch
bass when a deep-voiced. believing frog
Is watching
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
Pure Fiction.

Bill-You'Ve often heard about girR
screaming when man went to kiss
her? II
Jill--Yes J,
We'll, honest, now; did you ever
hear girl scream in your life when q
man did kiss her ?"-YOnkers States
man.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
CLAIMS MEDAL OF HONOR,
After a Lapse of Forty Years John
Hayes Sends 20 Washington
for Rare Decoration.

For nearly 40 years a United States
congressional medal of honor awarded
to one John Hayes for distinguished
services on the old frigate Kearsarge in
her historic battle with the confederate
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
New Far Western Industry

Men make five dollars day in the for
ests of western Washington. peelins
cascara bark. 1t sells for eight cents z
pound, and is used incidentally. Ons
pound of div bark mat es CROUCH Nuufd
extract to sell for two dollars at whole,
sale.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
Not Much niMarnnno

Tatterden Torem-Why is 1t so
many lovesick girls takes carbonc
acid?
Wayoack Boggs-Well, OATS de next
best ting ter takin' a husband. YER
know.-Judge.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
Old Friends Due.

The campaign is on with the issues thai
burn,
Each party is ready to lick;
PRO Bono Publico" VIII rush into print
And ''Veritas" answer him quick.
m Y Sun 49,
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
OF Course.

II wonder why Mrs. Poudery IS always
saying that her daughter is large for her
age"
That's because Mrs. Poudery wants
people to think she herself is young for
her age.-Chicago Tribune
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10

Quickly he answered ;Ec burIe call;
Was he "a soldier arcl auC born?
NO gcute reader. lie was not.
lie thought tEc thing was the dinner horn.
y oukcrs Statesman
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10
Compressed Paner Plates

Plates made Of compressed paper ara
used in some of the cheap restaurants IN.
Germany. Falling on the foor or other
rough usage. does not EARN paper plates
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-10

attention. 81 am Bind Nelrs' dog.
Blind Nell is sic&. can 6e trusted.
Please hep us both" it read
There was a cup fastened 10 his