davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
The First Hats.

Discoursing on the subject of hats an
antiquary expressed the opinion that
the hat was first used quite as much
for decoration as for protection. The
ancestor of all hats he considers 10
have been the fillet. or band, around the
hair worn by the ancient Greeks,
among others. Probably the first hint
gained by men regarding head orna-
ments was through observing the
crests, plumes and antlers Of various
birds and beasts. The eastern races,
with their fondness for ceremony and
display, afford the most notable in
stances Of the use Of hats as signs of
rank and authority.A Thus in Bud
dhist countries the gods are represent
ed as wearing elaborate forms Of head
gear. In Korea the fashion attains it's
height, no fewer than fifty kinds OF
hats being worn by the natives as indi-
cations Of their social position.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
A Colossal Harp.

The largest harp ever made, so far
al Is known, was that invented and
constructed by NJ. Veritan, provost Of
Burkl, near Basel. 1t was known az
the gigantic meteorological Eolian
harp. 1t was 32O feet in length and
was erected In the garden of its invent
or in 1857. This harp consisted of If
teen iron wires, 32O feet in length,
stretched between two poles. The wires
were from two to three inches apart,
the largest being one-sixth of an inch
in thickness and the smallest one
twelfth Of an inch. They were placed
in the direction Of north and south and
inclined in such a manner as to form
an angle Of from twenty to thirty de-
grees with the horizon. being stretched
by means Of rollers properly disposed
for the purpose. Whenever the wealth
er changed the wires sounded with
such loudness that it was impossible to
go on with concert in the house. The
sound sometimes represented the hiss.
ing noise Of water in rapid ebullition,
sometimes that Of harmonicon and
sometimes that of distant chimes or an
organ. ...; .:'.s.. "
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
He Had References.

In her book "a Southern Girl In '61"
Mrs. D. Giraud Wright tells capital
story about General John G. Breckin-
ridge Of Kentucky. He was invited by
a certain lady Of rank In London to
luncheon. The lady had just adver-
tised for footman. 2Mistaking the
hour, General Breckenridge reached the
house before the appointed time and by
some accident was ushered into Lady
Blanks presence without being an
nounced. The day was in June. Ow-
ing to the heat the blinds were drawn,
letting In subdued light. Lady Blank,
glancing at the advancing figure, to
the establishment of the visitor, greeted
him thus: Have you reference from
your last place" The general took in
the situation instantly and, with a
twinkle in his eye unobserved by the
hostess, answered respectfully, Eyes,
my lady" What We're your duties?''
was the pext query. "Well, my lady,
In the last three places I held l was
vice president Of, the United States.
major general in the Confederate army
and secretary Of war Of the Confeder-
ate States Of America"
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
The Fate of Flies.

Some light on the fate Of flies was
thrown by H. Hill in a lecture at the
Royal Victoria hall, London, on Files
and How They Disappear" In Eng
laud alone there are 5000 different
kinds Of flies, and Mr.. Hill mentioned
the following principal ways in which
flies perish: They are drowned in milk
at the breakfast table; they get sur
rounded by a white fungus, which saps
their strength; they are eaten by spi-
ders, wasps, frogs, chamefeons, lizards,
field mice or fish.
With so many enemies it might be
wondered how flies have continued to
exist, but Mr. Hill said that he had
himself witnessed daddy l0nglegs
whose front half was being devoured
by spider continuing calmly to lay
eggs with the other half, as though
nothing We're happening.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
.Wordsvvorfh,s ., Joke. $

4 rare old book. called The Living
Authors of England published in
1840, commences with study Of
Wordsworth, in which Is recorded what
Is said to be the only Joke the poet ever
made. At q friend s house after din
ner, 1t appears. the conversation turned
upon wit and humor Thomas Moore.
who was present, told some anecdotes
of Sheridan, whereupon Wordsworth
observed that he did not consider him.
self witty poet. Indeed, "he said,
II do not think 1 was ever witty but
once in my life.'''= z:.. = ''S%:$.t
Being pressed to tell the company
what this special drollery was, the
poet said, with some hesitation: ''Well,
I will tell you. was standing some
time ago at the entrance Of my cot.
tage at Rydal Mount when man ac-
costed me with the question, Pray.
sir, have you seen my wife pass by 2
whereupon answered, why, my good
friend, didn't know till this moment
that you had a wife," =. .>5+ '..-
The company stared and upon realiz-
Ing that this was all there was to the
poets joke burst into a roar Of laugh
ter, which Wordsworth smilingly ac-
cepted as genuine compliment to the
brilliancy Of his wit.-Harper's Week
80
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
BAKED HAM.

1ew Feature of Holiday Feast Bor-
rowed From the South
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
Rain Coat For q Bear.

There is one big brown bear in New
York that gets coddled beyond belief.
He belongs to Sixth avenue furrier.
He is not live bear. Even the men,
DRY Of the oldest passenger on the ele-
waited road goeth not back to the time
Of that bears demise: yet, in spite of
his long period as a dead one," he Is
the sleekest, best groomed bear in New
York. That is because the furrier
takes such good care Of him.
Storms are never allowed to beat
upon his glossy coat. He cannot be
humored to the extent Of being brought
indoors during downpour, because it
is his business to stand on pedestal
outside and drum up trade, but the
next best thing is done for him. He is
provided with rain coat. 1t covers
him from snout to tail; so, no matter
how hard the rain may beat or the
wind may blow, he is insured from
damage thereby.-New York Press.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
ORIGIN OF XMAS GREENS.

They Were Used 1t Christmastide
Five Centuries Ago
The use Of evergreens at Christmas
time is older than the Christmas tree.
the Christians seeming to have copied
It from their pagan ancestors. In
very old book we find this reference to
the use Of evergreens at Christmas
time: against the feast Of Christmas
every mans house, as also their parish
churches, were decked with holme.
ivie, bayes and whatsoever the season
Of the year afforded to be green. The
conduits and standards of the streets
were likewise garniahed, among the
which read that In the year 1414, by
tempest Of thunder and lightning, to-
ward the morning Of Candlemas day,
at the Leadenhall, In Cornhill, q stand
ard Of tree, being set up In the midst
Of the pavement, fast in the ground,
nailed full OF holme and ivie, for dis.
port Of Christmas to the people, was
torn up and cast down by the malig-
nant spirit, as was thought, and the.
stones OF the pavement all about were
cast In the streets and into divers
houses, 80 that the people were sore.
.aghast at the great tempest, !, Ieslie's|
WSskly. {: 3 II fsaS .I8
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
XMAS WITH THE GERMANS.
Scenes In the shops and In the Re-
t* tfFenent Of Home. Fl.

Scenes In the Shops and In the Re-
t* tirement Of Home.
As the handsome shops reveal the
Christmas OF the rich Germans, af1O
we see the Christmas joys Of the other,
the peasant class. The toy st0res-the
dolls in all the national costumes Of
the world, and windows all bristling
with combating soldiers. Candy shops!
Candy is dislnct1vely American In
Germany and France It Is bonbons; in
England sweets. The Germans do not
eat candy as a habit as we do, but on
Christmas time, according to their
idiom, lit goes loose" But it fs the
''pfeferkuchen" that Is the great. dis
hnguishing delicacy of Christmastide.
Not house, family or person in Ger
many is without It, 1t is sort Of hard
spice cake, made in all sorts Of shapes.
The writer spent last Christmas in
the home of Baron Won Shierbrant
The day before Christmas the drawing
rooms were closed. No one dare enter
except the baron and baroness, who
came In and out of those rooms very
quietly and mysteriously. On Christ
mas eve the first event Of interest is
the Christmas eve dinner, which ID
characterized by the serving of tkarp-
fen in bier and the bringing forth from
their secret hiding places Of the ia
nous Christmas cakes, marzipan, pfef-
fernuesse and pfefferkuchen. Dinner
ends with the joining of hands and all
saying, ''Gesegnete u2ahlzeit Wash
inGtOn Post
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
Why Men Wear Mustache..

The Gaulois Of Paris has been inves-
tigating that grave question, "Why do
men wear mustaches?' About 100
men answered the question. Six re-
piled that it was too much trouble to
shave, one declared that it was to hide
his teeth, another that his long nose,
without it, gave him bad appearance,
and three that it avoided colds. Three
others maintained that it improved the
air they breathed, and seven were of
the opinion that mustache was neces-
sary to health. Seventeen men were
content to state that they did it to
please themselves, while only two said
it was to please their wives. About
sixty gave the reason that women do
not like clean shaven men.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
Insensible to Pain.

A mothers love for her children is al
ways being illustrated, not only in
books, but in real life. A true story is
told Of lady whose baby was very i'll
and who sat. watching the child with
absorbed attention, every instant fear.
ing another convulsion and praying for
deliverance from it. At her side stood
an older child, who had stolen into the
room unobserved and who was trying
to prick the little black spots in NAM
mas muslin sleeve with needle he
had found. Presently the father came
in, and the little child was seen and
sent away 4 '>.
what is the matter with your armY'
whispered the gentleman to his wife
when at last they turned to each other
| and smiled their thankfulness that the
baby had fallen asleep.
II don't know" said she. Nothing
that am aware Of"
She put up her hand and found that
the thin muslin sleeve was soaked
with blood The little boy had become
| so absorbed In his sport that he had
jabbed with all his might, and she in
| her terrible anxiety had not felt the
| thrusts.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
'F.
A Rank Pessimist.

A Lady Bountiful living in subur-
ban village met an old man on the road
one day and asked after his family, his
health, etc. The old man gave rather
gloomy account Of things. He had to
work all day and every day, and he
was growing old and felt the cold and
was always tired. He wished he could
rest bit after his long life of labor.
He was weary, very weary.
Lady Bountiful reminded him gently
that every one had his share Of work
to do In this world, and that it was all
only preparation Of the world to
come, where there will be no tears or
labor. I.': - -.
The old man shook his head and smil-
ed cynically.
'That may be for the likes Of you,"
he said But there'n be work for the
likes Of me-: 1t will be the same thing
there: John, clean the sum- John,
hang out the moon.' John, light the
stars John, stop the wind They will
find something for me to do. ma'am-
you'll see."
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
Wonders of the Eye.

Viewed as an optical instrument, the
human eye may well be called perfect,
for it is an apparatus contained in a
globe less than an inch In diameter, in
which Is produced an image practically
perfect in form and color and which
can be accurately adjusted almost in
stantly for every distance from five
inches to infnlty, which Is movable in
every direction, has an area small
enough for the detection of the most
minute details and at the same time
large enough for the appreciation Of
large objects, and which enables us to
see all shades Of color and to estimate
distance, solidity, and, to some extent,
the consistency Of objects, and yet this
wonderful instrument, perhaps the
most varied In its capabilities Of any
part Of the body, Is persistently mis-
used and neglected. Is it any wonder
that some day nature resents this treat
ment and leaves the offenders in total
and perpetual blindness?
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
ln6fQn Summer.

Indian summer is the short spell of
warm days in October or November ac-
certuated by the first chill of autumn
which has preceded it. Sometimes it
lasts as long as a fortnight, and it has
been observed to recur twice or thrice
in season, though this is quite rare
An atmospheric phenomenon of the
same nature las received the name of
''St. Luke's summer in Germany, est.
Martins summer in England, the
feasts of these saints being Oct. 18 and
Nov. II respectively. The name In
dian summer is of un unidentified ORR
gin. 1t has been established that it
does not appear on any record earlier
than 1894, but when first recorded it
was as a term in general use. The use
Of the expression in 177S by Horace
Walpole clearly referred to the torrid
summer of the West Indies and not to
this pleasant period of the northern
autumn.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
The Horses Hoof.

In its present elaborate form the hoof
Of horse is the most perfect instru-
ment Of support which has been de-
vtsed in the animal kingdom to uphold
a large and swiftly moving animal in
its passage over the ground. The orig
inal toe nail and the <neighboring soft
parts connected with it have been mod
ified into a structure which In an ex-
traordinary manner combines solidity
with elasticity, so that it may strike
violent blows upon the hard surface
Of the earth without harm. The result
is that the horse can carry a greater
weight at a swifter speed than any
other animal approaching it in size.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27

Kew Feature of Holiday Feast Bor-
roved From the South.
It goes without saying that his mai
esty the turkey will grace the Christ
mas dinner table, but for variety and
to give a new note to this feast it is an
excellent idea to follow the southern
fashion Of introducing ham to share
honors with the reigning fowl.
The ham may be either hot or cold
and should be baked to a crisp brown.
Few there are who understand the art
of preparing ham in this way. First
it should be partly baked with the
thick outside skin left on, and then
this should be removed and the fat
stuck full of cloves and left to brown
In a slow oven. The spice imparts a
deliciously delicate flavor and should
not be taken out, but left in the ham
just as it comes from the oven. No
sauce Is needed with ham cooked after
this rule.-New York Herald.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
d. - IL
A Wonderful Ride.

The most wonderful straightaway
ride ever made BY man was the gallop
of Francis Xavier Aubrey, ci-devant
Canadian yoyageur and a famous pony
express rider, from Santa Fe,, N. NJ,
to Independence, Mo-, in 1853 - 800
miles in five days and thirteen hours.
IN 1852 he had covered the same dis
tance in a little over eight days, and
bis record was on the wager Of 1000
that he could do It .in an even eight Z
In the whole distance he did not stop
to rest, and he changed horses only
with every 100 or 200 miles He was a
stocky French Canadian, light hearted,
genial, adventurous and absolutely
fearless. For some time he was an
overland freighter, and he also made
the enormously difficult and dangerous
drive Of flock Of sheep from New
Mexico to California across the deserts
Of the Colorado: He was killed in San
ia Fe.-McClure's. Magazine. 49,.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
Cleaning Mems Clothes.

A tailor Of fifty years experience
gives the following information:
All mems, clothing to be cleaned
should be thoroughly beaten and brush
ed. Some things are so dirty it is alb
solutely necessary to wash them as
any other woolen goods. Iron on the
wrong side. To remove spots, use the
following:
Two ounces of hartshorn, an ounce
Of CASTLE soap, a quarter of an ounce
Of saltpeter. Dissolve in a quart of
rain water.
He has used. many cleaning mix
lures, but considers this the best. Put
wad Of soft cloth Qike an old toweD
under the spot. saturate we'll and rub
hard. The secret Of success lies in
hard rubbing, which will drive the
grease through into the wad of cloth.
Rub dark goods with dark woolen and
light goods with light. Press on right
side with damp cloth between iron and
garment.-Buffalo News.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
The Lord'ss Prayer.

The question having arisen as to
whether the English version of the
Lords Prayer is true reproduction of
the original as found in Matthew, a
native Greek scholar proceeds to an
swer it. He deals with the petitions in
order, translates each word with all the
shades of meaning Of the original and
then presents the whole in this form:
"Our Father which art in heaven, hal
lowed be thy name-thy dominion come
thy (axed) purpose be- done, as in
heaven, so, too, on earth. Give us this
day our mere Tor simple} bread and for
give us our debts as we forgive our
debtors theirs, and let us not fall into a
tempter's snare, but deliver us from the
evil one" .-.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
The Name of China.

We speak of China and the Chinese,
little thinking that the natives Of the
Flowery Kingdom never hear those
terms until after leaving the place Of
their birth or coming in contact with
some traveller. They have many names
by which they designate themselves
and the land which they inhabit, but
Chinese and China are not among the
number. The most ancient name of
China is Tienhai, which signifies ''be-
meath the sky" Since the present rul-
ing house took control Of the empire in
1850 the name of Tatsingkwoh has been
applied to the kingdom as whole and
Chungkwoh to that portion known to
American readers as the Middle King
dom.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
The Cent IL Not Small.

With the exception of the English
penny, the cent is the largest minimum
unit Of money in the civilized world:
Roughly speaking, our cent is worth 2
kOpeckS. cents Mexican, Chinese and
East Indian, ats or milliemes. It is
two and a half times larger than the
cent Of the Netherlands or the kreutzer.
There are pies, ore, or pfennige to the
cent or s bani, centesimi, lepta, heller,
pennia, centimes or stotinki. "A cent
is worth 10 paras Turkish or 10 Japa-
nese rim, IL cash Chinese or SO. paras
Servian. What the trolley car con-
ductors Of Servia say when rendered q
five cent fare in paras would probably
not be f1t to print
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
DOLLY
HANGING
HOLLY

" 1rTH Polly CHANGED to be hanging
" the holly,
w With Polly the roguish. with Polly
the sly;
With Polly, who's brimming with frolic
and folly.
A quip on her lip and jest in her eye.
The wind it was grieving, and shadows
were weaving
Their dark web without DER the face Of
the sky.
Within it was merry with green leaf and
berry,
And Polly. close by, with gleam in her
'*rhis holly, know, sir. you wish mistle-
toe. sir!'''
Cried Polly as Ger us wreath we hung
high. ,.
looked at her, laughing. to see were she
chatting,
And. oh, what CLINT there shone out
from her eye!
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
81 Gg.'1g42 81 81 I.9-l =. = &
vultures and . Dead TIGER.

The vulture- is seen at its best when.
a dead tiger, brought into camp to be
skinned, is exposed in the open. Over;
head is cloudless sky, and not a bird
to be seen III that great void by the hu-
man eye. The tigers body is thrown
from the pad to the ground, and before
the skin has been removed there above
one and always nearing the earth are
the vultures circling. poising like
things Of air, now dozen Of them, In
few minutes score or two and then
hundred strong. Then, when the
tiayed carcass Of the tiger is left by
those who skinned it, the vultures de-
scend. Down they come like feathered
thunder out of the sky, and from east
and west and north and south, the very
embodiment of power while they
whirled aloft and in their quick de-
scent to earth, and now, as they wad-
die around that carrion beast, mis-
shapen ghouls, whose only apparent
strength is that Of the ravening jaws
which tear and gorge the tigers flesh,
until within the hour naught Of that
splendid brute remains but clean
picked skeleton. - Sir Edward Brad
denis ''Thirty Years of Shikar."
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
The Satan OF the Greeks,

The Greek conception Of the evil one,
whom they call Yama, makes that per-
sonage one of the most satanic Of the
whole evil tribe. According to their
ideas Of him, he is 240 miles high and
the hairs on his body stand out like
palm trees on mountain side. He
Furnishes the doomed being submitted
to his charge by putting them in beds
Of boiling oil, saving their bodies in
two, pouring molten lead in their ears
and such other little pranks as pulling
out their tongues, toe and finger nails
and gouging out their eyes. He is a
heartless old fend Of the most fendish
kind and has many other exquisite lit
tie tortures laid up for the helpless
wretch consigned to his "chamber Of
horrors
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
when Lincoln Had Few Friends.

When Lincoln Had Few Friends.
In 1864 Lincoln was Of all men the
least commended by the Republicans
In congress. On one occasion an editor
visiting Washington asked Senator
:Thaddeus Stevens to Introduce him to
some members of congress who were
favorable to Lincoln's reelection. Ste
vens led him to the desk Of Mr., Ar
mold of Illinois. There" said he, lis
the only Lincolp member Of congress
that knowv' Stevens himself regard
ed Lincoln as incompetent and weak.
Henry Wilson (afterward vice presi-
dent spoke Of him as politically a fail
ure. Greeley had low opinion Of his
ability. His personal friends, such as
Washburn, Raymond and Thurlow
Weed, believed his reelection an i'm
possibility. Even Lincoln himself at
one time doubted It'll. T. Peck in
BoOkman.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
EARLY .Auto9raph Hunters. :,

A certain Atossa in early Roman days
seems to have been the mother Of au-
tograph collectors. Cicero had a collec.
ton, which must have been a fine one,
for he speaks of it with particular
pride. The fever, even in those far
back days, was contagious. Pliny
speaks Of Pompeius Secundus, at
whose house he had seen autographs
Of Cicero, Augustus, Virgil and the
Gracchi, and his own collection was
valued at $4,000 Of our money Then
came the thrush Of barbarians, and we
do not again meet with the collector
until the beginning Of the sixteenth
century, when he reappears In the per-
son Of Bohemian squire, who kept a
book to record his exploits In the chase
and enriched it with the signatures Of
his great hunter friends. NJ 80
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
The ONCE Dixnified.

A Greek named Epaminondas was
condemned by his enemies to fill an Of
flee much beneath him, which consist
ed in cleaning the streets and clearing
away refuse. He declared that he
would make them see that not only
does the task show what the man is,
but also the man shows what the task
1s, and he raised the Office to a great
dignity, teaching that no honest work
need degrade the worker, but an hon
est worker can dignity the work.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
The Last Word.

'Does your wife insist on having the
last word p asked the person who in
du]ges in impertinent questions.
'Not at alp answered Mr.. Meekton.
1T is quite customary for me to close
the conversation with very WELL or
some such remark, to indicate that
understand what Henrietta intends to
convey."-Washington Star.
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
"A Diplomatic Answer.

Admiral Drake when a lad at the be-
ginning Of his first engagement was OBJ
served to shake and tremble very much
and, being rallied upon II, observed
with q presence Of mind, or, at all
events, of humor, IN which even Nell.
son was lacking, Ny flesh trembles at
the anticipation Of the many and great
dangers into which my resolute and
undaunted head will lead me- s%:5' II
Willmar tribune., 1905-12-27
Very Lively.

A London paper relates that q crowd
Of sightseers scurrying across the road
from the Strand caused partial block
in the traffic. The tagging Of q particu-
,larly pompous old gentleman reused
the ire Of a held up cabby. Now, then,
hurry up there, can't yery' he shouted.
'"Am not hurrying, cabman :" was
the mild expostulation S== a..
80 Urryin' r snorted cabby, with q
dick Of his whip. you're a-jumpln'
about like a bit O. stickin' plaster!''.,