davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

In the story game the company
agrees upon as many nouns as there
are players-each in turn contributing
one. Each person writes these words
at the top of his sheet of paper. and
the game consists in writing a short
story, introducing the nouns in the
order in which they have been given.
At the end of the time agreed upon
they are read aloud by the leader or
hostess. while the others try to guess
the authorship. For instance, the
nouns proposed are boy, favorites.
horse. wood. girl, dragon. fire. flags,
cigarette. photographs. prize. ring.
One player will perhaps produce
something like this:
81 took boy to the circus the other
day. Among favorites one horse was
easily first; many seemed made OF
wood. The one we favored was rid
den by dashing girl. who looked as
If she could manage a dragon as easily
as the horse. Her eyes were full OF
fire. She reminded me OF Ouida's
heroine in Under Two Flags'-Cigar-
cite. I snatched a photograph of her
with my kodak as she dashed past.
or whatever the blue ribbon is called
for he was, by all odds, the best in
the ring"
Another player writes:
"Ah, how the days of chivalry stir.
red me as boy! One of my favorites
was that of horse passing through
a gloomy wood, ridden by a young and
beautiful girl. Suddenly a great and
fierce dragon rushes forth from his
lair, belching forth fire and smoke
in puffs, as a man smokes cigarette.
The courage of the maiden falters
and flags. when suddenly noble
knight appears. who. with blor of
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

A game popular with both grown
people and children in Japan is played
as follows:
One hundred well-known proverbs
are selected, each divided into two
parts. each part printed on separate
card. The host has the hundred first
halves. which he reads aloud: one'by
one. The hundred second halves are
dealt to the other players, who place
their hands upward upon the 'Tata-
mi" or thick mat of rich straw on
which they sit. AS the first half of
any proverb is read the holder of the
second half throws it out, or, II he
sees it unnoticed among his neighbors.
seizes 1t and gives him one of his own.
The player who is first out" wins.
1t is a very simple game, but it affords
great deal of amusement to the
players. for the quick-sighted and
keen-witted are constantly selling the
cards of their duller and slower neigh
bors. This leads to much laughter
and good-natured teasing.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02
Love of Patriotism lnstiIled.

AS an organization, the members OF
the G. A. X. keep alive the interest in
national anniversaries, such as Me
mortal day. Flag day. etc. The pres
ence of the veterans in the schools
on such occasions keeps before the
rising generations loveof country and
instils in their minds patriotism and
a love of the flag for which they gave
so much. A living history is more
inspiring at all times than printed
one.
The Woman's Relief Corps. which
would not exist if there were no Grand
Army of the Republic. and which is
composed of loyal women, are proud
of the fact that they are enabled to
bring relief to the sick, disabled and
WORKOUT veterans, and have share in
caring for the inmates of the soldiers
homes.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

Youngsters who go bird's-nesting
will read with envy of the recent adj
dition to the collection at South Ken
sington Museum of the 10000 eggs col
lected by the late w. Radcliffe Saun-
ders, This addition to the collection
brings the total up to very nearly 10o.-
600 specimens and fills many gaps.
Even the 10000 previously collected
did not represent a complete set, since
many OF these Were duplicates, and OF
the rarer sorts the number is so linn
tied that every existing specimen is
known to collectors as exactly as are
the old masters to art dealers and eX.
perts.
Mr.. Saunders collection was one OF
the largest ever made by a private
person. and large sums have been spent
for single specimen of the rarer
sorts. He was as enthusiastic in his
way as was any small boy who gath.
ers his nests at the expense of torn
clothing and barked knees, but he did
most of his collection through profes.
sional nest hunters, many of whom be-
longed to expeditions sent into Africa
and unsettled places to capture wild
beasts for the geological gardens.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

There is scarcely anything in nature
that exerts the fascination over every
one alike that does an echo. and. COM
mon as 1t may become, there is al
ways a feeling of mystery about 1t
that holds us with charm.
or course, we all know. that It is
merely the reflection of sound from
some object, as the side of house or
a rock or hill; but often we cannot
tell how far away the object is that
causes it. Here is a way to tell. every
time. and with little care you may
become quite expert in reckoning the
distance.
Holding a watch in your hand. shout
a single syllable, as "Ho," or Hal"
and count the number of seconds from
the time you shout until the sound
comes back to you. Now. sound
travels at about the rate of 1925 feet
a second, so the number OF seconds
that elapse multiplied by 1925 will
give the distance in feet travelled by
the voice in going to the object and
back to you again. and one-half of that
number will be the number of feet
away that the object is.
OF course. the object may be only a
few hundred feet away, in which case
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02


Now that every boy. and girl. too. is
wearing an emblem of some sort on
his collar or sleeve, it is interesting
to know the meaning of some of them.
They are mostly those used In the
United States army. and it will be a
good memory test to try and locate
just what the eagle or other emblem
on your new REFER indicates.
A general wears two silver stars,
with the arms of the United States
between.
A lieutenant-general shows three
silver sta-s.
A major-general, two silver stars.
A brigadiergeneral, one silver star.
A colonel, silver spread eagle.
A lieutenant-colonel, two silver
leaves.
A major. two gold leaves.
A captain. two silver bars at each
end.
A lieutenant, one silver bar at each
end.
A second lieutenant, plain straps
without any marks.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

Probably one or two more oil cans
at d may be found very desirable. OF
course. If you can cover the whole
underneath part of the canoe with can
vas and tar it over, and thus Ike .p
out the water from the partitions D D
and E E. the boat will travel faster.
The boat will float when completed
up to the stage shown in Fig. Q,
forming a raft; but the addition of
the boards H H to cleave the water
will make it much more like a boat.
This is not in any way intended to
compare with purchased boat or
canoe. 1t is simply a cheap, home
made article, that any boy living on a
lake or river or the sea can make for
himself at the cost of about $1.OO, and
his parents need have little fear Of
accidents. as it cannot sink so long az
the empty oil cans are kept air.tight-
Montreal Herald.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

Here is card trick that any bright
boy can perform, and a little practice
will make him so skilful that no one
can detect it, Hold out the pack face
! downward and ask some one to draw
out four cards. Then ask him to look
at then and to think of one of the four.
| OF course he must not tell You what
card he thought of.
When he hands the four cards back
| to you you must put two of them at
| the top, but you must do this so skill
| fully that it will not be noticed. Here
is where your practice will be needed.
Now, in handling the pack, with
draw four cards of any sort, no matter
what they may be, and place them I'M
der the two cards that you have put at
the bottom of the pack. Then, taking
six cards from the bottom, spread
them out on the table and ask the per-
son if the card he thought of is among
them.
II he says no, you are sure that 1t is
one of he two that you put on top.
You then pass those two cards to the
bottom, and, Withdrawing one of
them. you lay it on the table. asking
him If that is his card.
If he says no again. take up the
card, put it on top of the pack and
then, extending the pack toward him,
tell him to draw his card from the
bottom-and his card is sure to be
thee.
If when you lay down the six cards
he says that his card is among them,
you take up the four cards that You
have put on the bottom of the pack
and put them on top. putting the other
two at the bottom. Lay one of these
on the table, and, if he says 1t is not
his. ask him to draw from the bottom
of the pack as in the other case.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02
TO STOP PREMATURE BURIAL.
London Bill for Waiting Morsues and
Death verifiers Prepared.

The London Association for the
Prevention of Premature Burial has
prepared a bill for Introduction into
the house of commons which will,
doubtless, share the fate of many SINH
lar documents, says a London letter
to the Kansas City Journal. 1t en-
powers local authorities to provide
waiting mortuaries. warmed. lighted
and ventilated in which bodies are
to lie until the requirements of the
proposed act are complied with. and
they may be furnished with a post
norton room with laboratory APP
paratus for resuscitation.
The bill also proposes that there
should be qualified medical practition-
ers appointed by the secretary of state
as death yerifers, to give their whole
time to the work without taking pri
vate practice. The method of certifi-
cation. the duties of death verfifiers.
and various other matters including
rewards for persons who resuscitate
apparently dead persons are contained
in sixteen sections.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02
ZnXA}l6555Xzh1R:s
Sz0 Oh ~, >z: g

Marjory in her pink Chambray
dress, long white box tucked under
one arm, tripped joyously up the little
flight of steps that led to her dress
makers apartments. Her delicate
blonde face looked very fair and love
ly under the quaint Poke bonnet with
its bunch of blush roses on top and
the soft liberty ribbons that tied I'M
der her chin.
A rich, vivid color had risen to her
cheeks-a perfect match to the flow
ers in her hat-and enhancing. II pos
sible. the clear sparkle in her blue
gray eyes. Her lips were parted slight
ly. revealing just the edges of her
milk-colored teeth.
She paused at the landing a moment
for breath. and then tapped gently on
the ak-panelled door
Marjory was a regular visitor at the
fashionable establishment and the
sweet-faced little woman who was the
proprietor always welcomed her with
pleased smile; not so much on &C
count of the big bill which was sure
to follow, but because she enjoyed
listening to the girls merry chatter.
and loved to look at her pure, piquant
face. full OF refreshing animation.
In response to her light tap, the
door was opened from within, and the
young girl, Ike a sudden sunbeam.
glided into the close little room with
its inevitable litter Of unfinished gar
ments and bulky packages.
She sank down in one Of the straight
hair-covered chairs, and began to un-
tie the big Irvine cord that bound her
box, rafting on gaily to the quiet little
woman who was busily occupied over
her basting table.
Look" she cried TREMENDOUSLY,
Isn't 1t beautiful?"'
She had drawn out rich. simmer
ing mass of creamy satin from aer
package and was stroking it with ten
der. loving fingers.
My wedding dress" she exclaimed
softly. almost reverently. and | have
brought it my very own self for you 20
make. | couldn't trust 1t to a sarv-
ant"
Sudden tears filled the eyes of the
older woman and she was silent.
But Marjory was too deeply en-
crossed in contemplation of the gleam-
ing fabric spread across her knees
the sacred link that was to join to-
gether a glad. tranquil girlhood to a
life of fuller happiness-to notice the
others emotion.
She went on, a warm light in her
eyes:
Now I want you to do your very
best on this. Your very best, remem-
Der. just as though it were-your very
own" Her voice was as soft as an
angels whisper as she added. smiling.
He is just the bravest, truest msn
that ever lived and I-love-him-so."
The blood mounted still more vivid
ly to her cheeks as she spoke thus.
creeping ever so slightly beyond the
borders of her usually fine reserve.
There was an imperceptible pause.
Marjory had raised her starry eyes
to her companions face. and now for
the first time she noticed the look OF
sadness in her dressmaker's soft.
brown eyes and about her sweet, gen
tie mouth.
Something vague and indefnable
seemed to stir in the girls heart like
the first faint breath Of a storm. Her
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

child longing TO pour out it's feelings
into some sympathetic ear.
The little woman smiled gratefully
through a mist of tears. A sudden
sense of rest stole over her. II was so
rarely that anybody gave her more
than a mere passing thought.
She did not speak at once; she was
too full for that. and a sort of dreami
ness came into her eyes as they rest
ed upon her companion. She seemed
to be looking at her through a sort
of reminiscent haze, and living over
her own youth. After while she
spoke:
81. too, was once Young and joyous"
she said slowly and little unsteadily.
Young and joyous like you, with LIES
vista of happiness stretching out be-
fore me. The world was veritable
palace and NANNY idol"
She paused and covered her face
with both hands. Low sobs shook her
frame. but she quickly crushed them
down and went on in a sort of mono
tone:
1T was not until the day before
out wedding was to take place that |
had worshiped, my idol was of
clay"
There was another pause, this time
longer than the last. Twilight had
fallen gradually, and long gray shad-
ows stole into the room and sought
out the woman's bowed head.
When she looked up her face bore
the stamp OF infinite sadness, but The
old settled look of calmness and
sweetness had returned to it; the
look of resignation.
Marjorie's eyes were swimming in
tears as she listened to the woman's
story, but she pressed her hand reas-
suringly as she said, her voice trem-
bling little:
you did not tell me what happened
ON that-day."
The answer came clear and firm, not
the slightest information betraying the
scar of bitterness that had scanned
her life.
He was a married man-that's all.
My family was poor" she went on
musingly, land | made my own clothes
my wedding dress, too. | have
never made another since, and j
| always said | never would. But, of
course, | will take yours. Mine was
not so fine or SO rich as yours will be,
but 1t was my wedding dress and
loved it just the same. We were to
be so happy, Neil and l." She broke
off suddenly and passed her hand
through the waves of shining hair
that framed her face, and trying to
choke down the gulp that kept rising
to her throat.
Marjory was staring at her with
wide, dry eyes.
"Neil?" she whispered hoarsely.
Nell who?"
The woman glanced at her in quiet
surprise, wondering that another's sor.
row should distress the girl SO keenly
But she only answered with studied
indifference, in which there was a
vague uneasiness:
Nell Godfrey. That was his
name. l shouldn't have worried you,
dear, with this trouble of mine. at a
time when only the bright and beauti-
full ought to touch your life. You must
try to forget all about it."
AS she spoke her eyes fingered af-
fectionately on the girls pure face.
from which the red flush of joy had
faded leaving 1t quite drawn and col
oricss.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

She reached over and touched the
glistening folds of satin that had half
fallen from her lap and were trailing
on the floor.
Now let us to discussing this dream
of gown that am going to create
for certain little lady / kn-"
smothered cry broke from the girls
white lips. but she quickly covered
it with forced smile, at the same
time gathering up the rich, loose fab
rio with cold. trembling hands.
With mighty effort at self-control,
the young girl silenced the quivering
pang at her breast. and turned to-
ward the dressmaker calmly.
After ALL" she said, in tired little
way. her voice low and dispassionate.
Il think | shall not ask you to make
it. can understand how painful
1t would be for you"
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02
How to Make Canoe for One Dollar

Get two strong boxes from grocery
store, about two feet by three feet in
size. and nail them enowise as in Fig.
/. Then nail two boards about four
feet long across, underneath the boxes,
as shown in the sketch.
First see that your boxes are as
near water tight as you can get them
and make them so by caulking up all
cranks with oakum soaked in tar, or
fill up all cracks with putty. A good
plan would be to cover the whole bot
tom and sides with canvas and tar it
over, and, lacking tar, paint it. Now
prou>re two wooden coal oil cases,
C, Wig. 2. with two sound empty
coal oil cans in each. Paint or tar
these cans outside and see that they
are air.tight. Nail the wooden cases
on to the boards, F F. and also to the
boxes, A 10. as shown in Fig. 2. Go
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

When Eve appeared to Adams ken.
His words We're timorously sage:
why buy your gowns from Paris when
The woods are full of foliage?
Go to the fig. my dearest wife.
Select the goods and pick your dress:
All Eden of the Simple Life.
This is the Eve of Blissfulness!"
The years rolled by. A snake one day
Kissed: China silk-real Irish lace!"
And Mrs. Adam did straightway
in patterns hide her lovely face.
Then Adams heart grew adam ant
As Ewes new passion he could see.
Buy clothes for her? I WON'T can't
This is the Eve of Bankruptcy"
So cen to-day with girded loin
Poor Adam treads the busy mills;
He patiently runs down the coin
While Eve, at home, runs up the bills.
Yet tits not all a cheerless plight.
This job OF keeping women fair
And Adam finds huge delight
In this the Eve of his Despair!
Wallace Irwin in Munsey's.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02
The Hop-over Game.


Stand all the players in a ring.
about two feet apart. except one
player, who must stand in the center.
He must hold one end of long, strong
string. To the other end tie a book.
or any other article of similar shape
and weight. wrapped up in paper.
Now. the player in the center must
whirl the parcel around and around
the circle on the floor. The game is
that any one whose feet are touched
by the parcel or the string must be
it and take his place in the center,
Consequently. in order to escape this
awful penalty. every player must
jump over the parcel or string when
ever 1t comes around this way.
OF course the book is whirled
around faster and faster every time.
so you can imagine the lively jump
ing that goes on! And woe to the
slow one, For it is likely that the
string or parcel will not merely touch
his feet. but wind around and round
his ankles. making him a hopeless
prisoner.
This is jolly game for out OF
doors.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02
HORSE KNEW HIS DUTY.
Usual Summons to Divine Service
Found Him Ready.


Found Him Ready.
My grandfather by marriage, Daniel
Lane, was a very devout churchgoer,
and for thirty-eight years of his life,
was member of the First Unitarian
Congregational church OF Norton.
Mass, and for twelve years one of its
honored deacons. He was a devout
worshiper, and l can well remember
that he and one other. Judge Leon
ard, used to stand up in their pews
with bowed heads during the prayer
service while all the other members
of the congregation remained seated.
In those days there was a row of
sheds back Of the church. built by
people who wished to protect their
horses and carriages from the driving
storms of winter, and the scorching
suns of summer. one of these sheds
belonged to my grandfather.
One Sunday morning the old gentle
man was sick, and instead of going to
church. the family horse was turned
into the yard to Craze awhile. The ami
NAL no sooner heard the ringing of
the church bell than off he started at
his usual Sabbath day trot, took his
place in the familiar shed. where he
stood still until the service was over.
when he Joined in the procession OF
the other homeward-bound teams
Boston Hrald.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

No matter how many flowers come
later, nor how beautiful they are, it
is doubtful If any give the delight that
the golden dandelions do. The name
dandelion comes from the French
words dent de lion," which mean
lions TOOTH" so called on account
of the deeply notched leaves of the
flower.
The use of the dandelion is very old.
and derives one of its many names
from a popular game of the Germans.
who call it the chain flower. or ring
flower. Garlands of these are used in
dances. the children, holding long
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

Nearly all the small birds make
their long flights by night, spending
the daytime quietly feeding and rest
ing, so that, if on any day in May the
tree tops are full of fitting little warb-
lers, it is no sign that the following
day will find them still there
Some kinds. like phoebes, song spar
rows, meadow larks and bluebirds.
come very early-as soon as the snow
is all gone and the south sloping
hillsides begin to feel warm and
smell of spring. Nicholas.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

The sound will come back in less than
a second, but you may determine the
distance, nevertheless, by calling it
again as you hear the echo, not before
or after it, but just with it.
With little practice you can do
this. Repeat the call ten or twelve
times, counting the seconds between
the first call and the last echo. Sup
pose, for example, that the time is
seven seconds, and that you called
the syllable ten times; then that echo
took seven-tenths of second, and the
distance. found in the same way as
before, is about 1894 feet.
Having amused yourself with the
mathematics of an echo, you may find
diversion in it as a game.
Any number can play, one being
chosen to tell story. The other
players have names given to them
that will be mentioned in the story,
and the storyteller must not forget to
call each one of them once or twice.
If he calls a name once. the bearer of
1t must echo 1t twice. If he calls 1t
twice in succession, the bearer must
echo 1t only once.
The story should De SO interesting
that the players will forget to echo
their names, or echo them the wrong
number Of times, and then they mnst
pay forfeit.
A bright boy or girl might tell a
good story of shipwreck. giving the
players such name as ship. captain,
mate. passengers, masts, sails. wind,
wave, rocks, sailors, lifeboats. etc. II
1t is about a wolf hunt the name
should be hunter, gun, powder. bullets.
dogs, cave, tree, grass, etc.
With good storyteller. the game
would be very amusing.
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02

you do not laugh as often as young
person would, but"
The dressmaker turned her head a
little uneasily and her eyelids dropped
and quivered until they swept her
worn cheek.
1T is not the years that age" she
replied falteringly. but life's road"
Her voice trailed off into sob and q
big. hot tear FLASHED on the piece of
work in her lap.
Marjorie leaned over to where she
sat and laid one of her soft white
hands over the woman's little brown
one. that was hard and roughened by
toll.
Tell me-" she coaxed softly in TIE
tone that one would use to a hurt
The La Jara chronicle. (La Jara, Conejos County, Colo.) 1896-19??, 1905-06-02
The Child AGAIN.

A young school teacher was endeav-
oring to teach one Of his pupils what
the word mamma" meant, and to aid
her in that task, asked What does
your papa sometimes call your
mother?"
"Old seventy-six," was the some
what unexpected reply.