davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28

This is how they spent Christmas in
the extreme south, somewhere about
latitude S1h degrees south:
When we awoke to wish each
other "A Merry Christmas the sun
was shining warmly through our
green canvass roof. We were outside
in twinkling, to find the sky glori.
ously clear and bright, with not a
single cloud in it's vast arch. Away to
the westward stretched the long line
of cleaning coastline; the sunlight
danced and sparkled in the snow be-
meath our feet and not a breath of
wind disturbed the serenity of the
scene 1t was a glorious morning,
but we did not stay to contemplate 1t,
for we had even more interesting
facts to occupy us, and were soon in
side the tent shifting at the savory
steam of the cooking pot.
"Then breakfast was ready and be-
fore each of us lay a whole pannikin
full of biscuit and seal liver fried in
bacon and pemmican fat. 1t was gone
ir no time, but this and a large
spoonful of jam to follow left sense
of comfort which we had not expert
enced for weeks, and we started to
pack up in frame of mind that was
wholly ioyful."
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28

The chief industry Of Beth -lehem OF
Jut:ea is that Of the mother-of-pearl
workers.
The shells are brought from the
Red Sea, and in the hands OF native
artisans are polished and carved, the
larger into elaborate designs; the
smaller are cut up for rosnries ana
crosses. The work Is all done by
hand. and the methods are amazingly
primitive to a spectator from the nome
of steam and electric power. But the
results are extraordinary. The largest
shell we saw was carved In scenes
from the Birth of Christ the Agony
in the Garden, and the Crucifxion,
and had the general effect OF delicate
frostwork. Under the magnifying
glass every detail was seen to be per.
feet in outline and in finish. 1t was
executed to order for wealthy Ameri-
can. and was TO cost $160.
About $50 people make a living
by this industry, which Is 500 years
old. In the shops the workmen sit
upon the floor, their benches in front
of them: the air is full OF whitish
dust, and the light, admitted by the
single window and the open door, so
dim that the exquisite tracery of the
wrought shells is mystery even be-
fore the visitor notes how few, simple
and crude are the instruments en-
Disqualification Harland, in Lippin-
colts
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
CHAPTER XLII.
THE LAST HOPE.

Miss Aspnwall is sitting in her par
lor with the artist. Mr.. Degraw. and
from the concern with which she bends
over letter he has just handed her to
read she has evidently enough upon
her mind to occupy both her heart and
attention.
"You know her WELL" urged Mr.. De-
graw. "and realize how sensitive she
is. and how easily her senslbilities are
shocked. Tell me what l shall do
She read the letter again. 1t was
from Jenny to the artist.
Il am free, wholly free. Mr.. Degraw
has released me. Are you satisfied and
will you marry me tonight? l have
laid aside the natural mOdesty of my
sex TO ask you this question, because
tomorrow shall be without roof to
shelter me. cannot remain in this
house, for though Mr.. Degraw cOnsid-
erately places it at my disposal till the
end of the year. do not feel that your
betrothed should owe anything to his
bounty. Am l right, and shall l pre-
pare for what here promise to be the
beginning of happiness. if you will
henceforth trust me as do you.
JENNY"
"Can you do what she asks?" Hilary
inquired.
Not conscientiously."
Il thought not, or you would not
have come here
To be continued
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
FIRE WORSHIP AND BONFIRES

through the fame and emerge safely
on the other side, as do the boys who
jump over the Bel fires today, but
was burnt to death as sacrifice-not,
however, to Baal but to Moloch. Still,
as the two deities were intimately
connected, and as accuracy as to
minor details was not strong point
with our remote ancestors, it was nat
ural enough that the idea of the fire
should be transferred from the "hor.
rid king" to his equally repulsive ally.
Baal.
A different kind OF fire, better
known to most of us, has very mod.
ern origin, the responsible cause be-
ing another king, a most unpleasant
character, but not diabolical deity.
| refer to bonfires, the original name
of which was bone" fires, so called
because they were lighted by Henry
Wills agents to destroy the bones
of saints and other relics found in
the pillaged monasteries and churches.
-"Origins of the Commonplace" In
the Grand Magazine.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28

the man was crazy and told him 90
one day, whereupon he laughed. The
boatmen were positive then that he
was maniac
The strange creation was finally
launched and went for a spin on the
surface. Then all of a sudden it dis
appeared.
81 told you So" shouted one clam
digger close by. THAT fool is dying
like rat
There was scurry cf boats to the
spot where bubbles showed on the
surface. His dying gasp" remark.
ed one grizzled old fellow
Dying gasp, nothing" shouted an
other Look at them bubbles NOV
ing along, That young city chap has
got us stung. He's sneaking along
the bottom like a crab and he'll sure
get these anchors you and me has
been graplin' for all summer
Then Simon Lake came to the sur
face and, lifting hatch, smiled broad
ly at his open-mouthed audience.
ITS nice down there he said.
want to come aboard?'
The camboatS scattered like
frightened chickens and from that day
Simon Lake was regarded among the
beachcombers as "the man who could
breathe under water just as we'll as
any blamed fish in the sea"
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
CHRISTMAS IN FAR SOUTH

Capt Robert F. Scott, in his recent
book, "The Voyage of the Discovery"
tells how in 1902 his party penetrated
farther south than men had ever done
before. Three men Of them were
laboriously working toward the south
with dogs and sledges. In December
Capt. Scott says that they wore pass
ing from the hungry to the ravenous
condition; they could scarcely direct
their thoughts from food and the talk
ran on little else. Both on the march
and at night they felt this very badly
and in the middle of their sleep they
would jump up with the most distress
ing feeling of emptiness and the
knowledge that it wanted four or five
hours to breakfast time. About this
time, too, symptoms of scurvy began
to make their appearance. This prob
ably was due to the character of the
food. Breakfast consisted of penn
mican, biscuit and badly made tea,
and for lunch they had small piece
of seal meat, half a biscuit and eight
or ten Jumps Of sugar, and their sup
per was equally frugal; so it is no
wonder that they suffered from food
dreams" and other consequences of
hunger. However, they tried to keep
Christmas day as well as they could.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28

With Alaska furs valued at $4,000
from Nulato, on the Lower Yukan,
Garrett Busch has arrived in Seattle
after eight years spent in trafficking
with the Indians in the wilderness
which he was the first white man to
penetrate as trader. When Mr..
Busch reached Nulato, Aug. II, 1897.
with a miners outfit as his sole pos
session, he foresaw in that gloomy
solitude trade in the furs which pro-
tect animal life from arctic winters
which would exceed In returns the
reasonable possibilities Of mining ven
lures.
Mr.. Busch settled down at the place
where the little town Of Nulato now
stands. He built a one.story cabin
with lumber which he sawed from the
native timber and began to trade his
miners supplies to the natives for the
furs which they knew so well how to
trap, but Of whose value they had no
conception. Through the first win
ter he lived alone, except when an oc-
caslonal squad Of Indian trappers
came by and stopped in curiosity to
learn what manner Of man had set
tied in so lonely spot. To these In
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28

On the beach at Atlantic Highlands,
N. j., with sand drifted about her,
lies the first submarine boat built by
Simon Lake, that intrepid inventor,
whose latest creation, the Protector,
is now in the far east, presumably in
the hands of Russian naval officers,
says the New York Globe.
Thousand of Jersey coast COM
-nuters see the plain wooden hulk
every day, but few know it made the
Protector possible and frightened the
wits out of the natives when they
first saw it. Children play on it now
and try to turn the big wooden wheels
which are hub deep in seaweed and
heavy driftwood
The craft is about twenty feet long
and is fitted with port holes, con-
ming tower and a bicycle chain and
mechanism for turning the drive
wheels. 1t has not been moved in
twelve years, since Lake made his
last dive in Sandy Hook bay, be-
came more ambitious and began the
construction of a more pretentious
boat.
Baymen remember we'll when the
youth of serious mien came to the
liace and began the construction of
"a coffin-like thing" in which he said
he was going to the bottom of the bay
and look around bit. They thought
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28

A popularity of fire worship not
unnaturally consists in that element
being treated with the greatest re-
spect, and any act which could in any
way be considered as polluting 1t is
strictly forbidden. For example,
conscientious Parsee never smokes.
Much more, then, is anything in the
way of sacrifice Of living thing ta-
booed. and we must look elsewhere
for the origin of the Bel fires which
were up till recent times common
custom in the Orcades, in Wales, and
in other out-o-the-way parts OF Great
Britain. The reader will remember
the expression passing children
Though the fire" used in the Old
Testament to describe "a particularly
abominable and culpahe form of idol
airy. There seems to be little doubt
that the blameless, if rather risky,
game played by children round these
fires may be directly referred to that
old Phoenician institution, only in its
old form the child did not pass
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
CHAPTER MI.
The WHEEL BECOMES A RACK.

The WHEEL BECOMES RACK.
Jenny Rogers did not allow her agi-
tation to keep her long inactive. Run
ming down the steps she bade the
coachman to follow the carriage before
him to the Westminster Hotel. and
jumping into her own took her seat at
the side of Mrs. Dutton. crying;
DO not speak to me! I may seem
rude, but you would not think so if you
knew"
When they reached the hotel Mr.. De
graw's carriage had driven away.
Jenny exclaimed despairingly that she
could not call upon him. Mrs. Dutton,
whose interest it was not to have the
engagement broken off, volunteered to
do so. She proceeded on her errand
with the message from Jenny to him
that Miss Rogers regrets the sending
of her letter and requests to have it
back unopened"
Mrs. Dutton returned unsuccessful.
She informed Jenny that she could see
that lie had read her letter, and being
seized with panic had slipped out.
Miss Rogers, quaking, settled herself
in the corner of her carriage, and now
and then a short Cry escaped her lips
that sounded like the reiterated ex-
preston: II must see him! must see
himw And so they rode on and finally
came to her house. When she went in
she saw news n Clairette's eager face.
What is it?" i. >e asked
"A gentleman in the parlor," was the
cautious reply.
Hardly daring to hope. Jenny went
to the parlor door and stepped in. The
man whom she most wanted to see in
all the world stood before her.
Immediately she was seized by
great trepidation. and when Mr.. De-
graw, seeing this, came forward and
offered her a chair she found it difficult
to recover herself. But she did so at
last. being forced to it by his silence,
and having nerved herself to look up
did so with certain resolution.
The interview was trying one to
both of them. He could not blame her
or load her with reproaches. 1t was
better that he knew the truth. But
lie could not return the letter to her, as
it was all he had to show that she had
voluntarily surrendered her right to
the property. She pleaded with him.
Her whole life depended upon her hav-
ing possession of the letter. He re.
mained obdurate.
"And you would destroy me utter.
ly?' she murmured. "You would de-
liver me to destruction or to my own
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
CHAPTER NNXIX.
Continual.

SOhtlhuCus
81 have not received any reply she
faltered. There has not been time. |
Il did not expect any. He will not
wish to marry me when he knows
jenny 1t was her lover who
spoke. "You have not been released
by Mr.. Degraw. If you had should
still have taken you to my heart, and
tried to WOO forgetfulness Of the past
for yourself and for me. But, as 1t Is,
/ feel l am trenching upon the rights
of another in even entertaining you In
my studio. You have home till MI
Degraw acknowledges the acceptance
of the deed you have sent to him, and
though it breaks my heart to seem cold
to you. when my whole being is melt
ing with pity and tenderness, l must
still suggest that you be patient for a
little while, Jenny, and when quite
free"
mo more" she commanded, with a
strange dignity. A new thought or
new impulse had seized her. and a
courtly, almost imperial looking wom'
an stood before them, instead of the
child-like being of a moment ago.
"You say I am still under obligations
to Mr.. Degraw," she asserted, moving
toward the door. "As it is but a
O'Clock now, and he was not expected
at my house till 4, you may he tight.
I Will go and see And with bow
and slight gesture to Mrs. Dutton
she vanished from the room. while the
artist stood shaken and undecided. not
knowing what this sudden change
might betoken.
She went Immediately down stairs
to her carriage She stepped quickly
and seemed impatient at Mrs. buttons
slower gait. Il am in haste" she cried
more than once.
Jeanette was being quickly driven
home, anxiously hoping to be there be-
fore Mr.. Degraw, of Cleveland, had
called.
The truth was that she was terrified
at the letter she had written him. AS
she saw matters now it seemed the
widest, maddest thing she could have
done She must have that letter back;
at whatever cost. at whatever risk, she
must destroy the words which she had
written in the heat of her love and de-
votion to the artist.
But when she came In sight of her
home and saw that a carriage was just
driving away she became greatly
frightened. and leaning from the win
dow begged the coachman to drive
faster. In an instant more she was
upon her own stoop and awaiting I'M
patiently for the door to be opened.
When 1t at last swung back she asked,
breathlessly:
HAS Mr.. DegTaw been here"
The answer she received made her
catch wildly at both lintels for support.
Yes, MISS he has just driven away.
I gave him your excuses and handed
him the package. You can see his
carriage there, just turning the cor
ner."
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
PoWHATAN
A Good Old Indian Name That Still
SnrViV0a.

r#.
The name of that old Indian king
who ruled over most Of eastern Vir-
ginia in the earliest Colonial days Is
not called as much now as 1t was
formerly. 1t survives in good old Po.
hawtan County and in the Powhatan
pipe, and in six different postoffices In
different States Of the Union. In Kan
sas they have Powhattan, which we
suppose is mis-spelling, following
a mispronunciation of Powhatan. But
many people Of this generation have
forgotten, if they ever knew, that
King Powhatan's summer "capitaP'
was about half mile below Rich
mond, while his winter quarters We're
In Gloucester, and that he was alter
nately good friend and a great enemy
of Capt. John Smith, and that he was
the father of Pocahontas. from whom
descended many virglnians of distinc-
ton.
But so it was and all that sort OF
thing makes us close connections or
his. However, he was Of rowing dis
position and moved his town OF tents
tepees-from place to place, and 1t is
"hack drivers history" only that he
died Mt his sometime home near this
city, known as Powhatan.
We do not fail to remember that
Powhatan was the name Of the James
River before the colonists intruded
their ships and skiffs upon it-but that
is another story.
Once, it was quite common for Vir-
gina boy babies to be christened
"Powhatan" and girls "Pocahontas,"
but not so now. We can well under
stand how the latter name ceased to
be agreeable to ladies since the usual
diminutive of it was "Pokie," but why
the royal name Of Powhatan should
have fallen into disuse is not so OBJ.
yious. However, period came when
provision had to be made for the per-
petuation of the fame of George Wash
inston. Thomas Jefferson, Lafayette,
John Marshall, Patrick Henry and
other patriot fathers Then An
drew Jackson and Winfield Scott mad
to have their day, and yet later Lee,
Eeauregard, Ashby and other Confed-
crate names attained popularity. But
fashions change in names as they 90
in clothes, and Just now. there is
tendency to turn back to old family
registers and reproduce the names OF
the long ago and it may be that we
shall have soon new crop OF Pow
hatans." We are not so hopeful about
tho reestablshment of ''Pocahontas'
in public favor, the reason why we
have already given. But Pocahontas'
other Indian name was "Mateo,' or
"Matoaca," and that is pretty, and is
not liable to any objection, so far as
we can see.
When she and John Rolfe had made
n match" she embraced Christianity,
and was baptized under the name OF
Rebecca. But. all that aside-we con-
clude by expressing our ardent hope
that the new Powhatan babies may
have their names correctly pro-
nounced. We can tolerate no imita.
tion of the sound of "Manhattan.' Let
It be good old-fashloned, Virginia
Powhatan, with the 'h' silent. and the
second accent on "tan.'-Rlchmond
Times Dispatch. .o,.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
CHAPTER XII.
SECRET ENEMIES.

Miss Rogers was dumbfounded at
the extraordinary revelation. She
thought of Mr.. Byrd as being connect.
ed with the disappearance Of the letter,
but dismissed the idea as ridiculous.
Neither Mr.. Degraw nor Jennie could
furnish a solution to the mystery. He
stated that he intended to put the mat
ter in the hands of a detective, to
which she made objection. She direct
ed suspicion against his washerwoman,
who had been the only person ad-
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
The Doctors Title.


George B. Thompson, county cor
oner. asserts that the M. d. sutfixed
to his name does not signify doctor
of medicine, but mule driver" This
is the story:
Several years ago at the general
hospital 1t became necessary to oper-
ate on a patient late at night The
city physician had given orders to
summon him If the operation should
have to be performed. On the evening
that an immediate operation became
necessary the city physician could not
be reached and the house surgeon
went ahead with the work. The next
morning he reported to the city ply
sician that the operation had been
performed.
"Why didn't you call in some one
to help you?" demanded the city
physician.
II did"
"Whom did you call?'
cdr. Thompson"
"Wel, you might as well have gone
out and called in the first mule driver
you saw passing
Il did so out and wait as long as l
dared" replied the surgeon rather
warmly; "but there We're no mule
drivers passing at that time Of night"
The story SO delighted DR.. Thomp-
son that he has never since admitted
flat his NJ. ID. meant anything but
,Tule driver.-Kansas City Times.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
SONG OF the Viewer.

God, my strength, the web Is begnu.
Send me the thread to finish;
Stint me not till the work be done,
And let not my zeal diminish.
God, my helper, the woof Is dark.
Give me the colors to brighten;
Red of rose and golden spark,
Such shall my heart delight in.
When the shuttles at last are still
And the time for labor over
Grant that the woven fabric will
Be ample my faults to cover.
When to thy door come for rest,
Grouping my way all blindly;
"Soul, thou didst weave as thou knewest
best"
May the Kings voice greet me kindly.
MARY Grant OSheridan.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
To be continued.
Tho Victim.

It's usually the man who doesn't be.
lieve in love who has the hardest at
tack when he catches the fever.-Phil-
adelp',ia Telegraph.
Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
Trusting Men.

Trust no man whom You have done
a favor; trust not yourself if any man
has done you one.-New York Press.
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-04-17
GREAT BRITAIN'S JUNK NAVY.

Great Britain, under strenuous leadership of A!-
Fisher has just had startling house
cleaning navy After struggle of with
sentiment of the admiralty, he has sue
in having sold for junk upward Of
heretofore have been carried the
effective strength British To be they
nearly vessels but they ronclads
of years DID, and they bore such
sounding Victory Terrible, Invncble, ETC. Each
probably at it's launching, hailed as the finest
fighting of it's and yet is the progress
that these ships which cost $150OO
which damaged by shot, sold Tor
hal a t the
The policy Sir Fisher has startled the world
possibilities of in keeping modern
navy. battleshps, which few was
figured $500000O in at twice
battleship Minnesota launched the other day
Newport will $S,000,0O0 Great Britain Is
building larger fighting machines than are.
only Sir John Fisher made John Bull pain
fully of of the navy but ne mas
security The proceedings OF
Sir John informed the world of the fact
probably the admiralty before, that
claim margin of naval units the near
two nations and France to-
getber or France United States combined, leave
margin of tonnage guns.
customary is going from the lion, but Sir
it calmly. He to the govern
public that is fact that the British en-
margin of strength the water that ira
assigned for her safety whether
the government believes worth while to restore that
margin claim he does not pretend to say
judge what ships and what not
fit to be counted in the effective list
The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-04-17
DID GOVERNOR MEAD MEAN IT?

mis- speech at Colfax few days ago Governor
Mead time when the law takes effect,
the railroad commission three men, honest
incorruptibe who friendly to the law-men who
carry only letter. but the spirit of the law
words uttered with apparent earnestness, led
many change their opinion of Mr. Mead and to hope
prove a big enough to rise above the
influences which secured his nomination, says
Commoner. since he here there have
persistent apparently well authenticated reports
that Harry Fairchild of Beingham
chairman of the commission Mr.. Faircnild does not
measure up by Governor Mead.
He may and incorruptble but his friendship for
railroad commission law is permit the
people his outspoke persistent opposition
policy No in the state fought the
railroad commission policy in republican state conventions
more vigorously than Fairchid. opposed
Mcbride bitterly than he If Fairchid is made
chairman commission doubt is certain to
whether Governor Mead really what ne
said in ColfaX.