davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09

Life has aFmysteries that science
cannot account for" observed the
doctor as he put down his scalpel,
"and yesterday one of them startled
me. l was summoned to attend
young lady suffering from nervous
shock and 1 heard of a startling ex-
perience of hers that is as strange as
one of Poe's widest stories
"a few days ago this young lady
was in a neighboring city, on visit
to a former schoolmate of hers who
is now happily married On the night
of her arrival she retired shortly
after IL o'clock and speedily fell into
a deep Sleep
after three hours of dreamless
rest she had dream that was as vivid
as a vision. 1t seemed to her that
she was in an immense room that was
gorgeously upholstered like the par
lor of palace. She was all alone.
She was sitting in a Morris chair by
a window. She was dressed in a new
outdoor costume that was at that very
moment in her trunk and which she
expected to wear the next day when
she was to do some shopping. To
wards the back of the apartment,
surrounded with white flowers in set
candelabra, was a casket covered with
purple velvet 1t rested on two high
stools. In that magnificent coffin was
her own form, rigid and cold in death.
She turned her back to the window
as soon as she perceived the corpse
to which, as her own, she had no
repugnance-and she noticed with
complacent vanity how rich was it's
embroidered shroud and how peaceful
was the expression on the pallid face.
THE arrangement of the hair at the
right side of the forehead did not
please her, however, and she resolved
to go across to the bier and comb the
tresses in a way to suit her. Just
as she was about to rise, she hap
pened to look out of the window and
saw, coming around the corner of the
street, a white hearse followed by
long line of carriages Fascinated by
the funeral procession, she forgot all
about her dead self, in her eagerness
to watch it. With decorous slowness
it approached the house where she
was. and, while the carriages drew up
along the sidewalk in a dismal row,
the hearse stopped at the very door,
turned part way round, and then back
ed up to the curb.
Next, one of the two men who
were on the drivers seat, jumped
down, ran around to the back of the
vehicle, and opened its two glass
ends. Then, hurriedly mounting the
steps of the mansion, he came into
the hallway without ringing, walked
with heavy footsteps towards the par
Tor, pushed the door ajar, and, while
still standing on the mat outside of
- L.
wards the young lady and not to-
wards her lifeless double in the cas-
ket, called out in a rude and husky
manner: Are you coming?'
The tone of the voice struck her
with a benumbing chill, for she rec
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
This Man Has Tanned Fish.

Dr. Rudolph Fastenrath, of Appen-
zel1, Switzerland, has what are prob
ably the most unusual tame pets in
the worlu. They are fish; and they
are not merely tame in the sense that
they will come to the surface and take
food from his hands That would be
nothing new. DR.. Fastenrath's f1sh
cor e to him when he is in the water,
ard they swim around him, allowing
him to touch them and stroke them
his queer achievement had its be
ginning one day when he noticed that
there was a great swarm OF fish near
a cliff just in front of his house Every
day these fish were seen in the same
place by him and he decided to try to
tame them.
So he selected sunny day when the
water was warm and sat down in 1t,
holding a big piece of bread in each
hand under water. The fish would not
approach, however. He repeated the
process that evening and again next
say. sitting perfectly motionless II
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
Witty Answer Won Release.

A young man who bedaubs his face
with grease paints and goes about
town handing out circulars advertising
some particular firm or brand of goods
was arrested the other night He had
created a disturbance, and a shop
keeper had complained to a policeman,
who took the burlesque man to a sta
ton house
Trying to make an honest Hving?"
asked the sergeant at the desk, who
was inclined to be lenient with the
chap.
Eyes, sir, and I've a wife to sup
port" came the reply.
ssWork by the day?"
CT do"
What do you get?"
Arrested and sten days-some-
times,'' replied the diplomat, with a
smile. And he gained his liberty, de-
spite the protest of the officer who
had made the Brooklyn Eagle.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
ACTING Proverbs.

In this each player may take part,
or, if thought preferable, the company
may divide themselves into actors and
spectators. The actors then each fix
upon a proverb, which is to be repre-
scented by eacn one of them Individual
ly. There is to be no connection be-
tween them in any way Each one In
turn has simply to act before the rest
of the company the proverb he has
selected. The first player might, for
instance, come into the room holding
a cup in his hand. Then, by the way
of acting his proverb, he might repeat
eddy make an appearance of attempt
ing to drink out of the cup, but being
prevented each time by the cup slip
ping out of his hand. Thus, in dumb
show illustrating the proverb,
There's many a slip 'twixt the cup
and the lip" If really good acting be
thrown into the game, it may be made
exceedingly interesting.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09

little ingenuity. First, get the exact
size of the book. Then procure
pasteboard box and cut from it two
covers one-quarter inch larger all
around than the edges of the book, ex-
cept at the back, where they should
be even. Now cut one-eighth strip off
each of the backs and then lay them
on the piece of cloth, each One-eighth
inch farther apart than the thickness
of the volume, which is shown by dot
ted lines Figure -.
Cut the cloth around the covers,
leaving one and one-half inch margin.
Paste the cloth to the covers in this
position, and then turn them over the
margin, which is also pasted down
smoothly. Cut a third piece of card
board the same size. as the back of
the volume. Paste this to the cloth,
and when all parts are thoroughly dry,
glue the back of the volume firmly to
the pasteboard back, as shown in fig
ure 2.
If the paper cover of the book still
remains, you can cut it out neatly,
and paste it on the front side of the
binding, as shown, and the same can
be done with the paper title back, both
parts being removed, of course, before
the FASTING is done. Thus if you pick
out a color of cloth that is harmonious
with the color and design of the paper
cover, you will have quite as attractive
looking volume as you would find at
the book store for double the money
yours cost.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
Arithmetic in Days of Old.

Those of you who hate to study
arithmetic might growl if you had
been little Roman boy back in the
days of Caesar or earlier when our
Arabic numbers were not used. I'm
agine, for instance, writing SO
LXXXVIII, and then adding long col
umns of such numbers No wonder
boys counted on their fingers and
grown-up men had to go to a teacher
of arithmetic or public calculator to
have their accounts made out.
Counting no the fingers was a reg
ular system for the young Romans.
They would make eighteen move
ments with the left hand for the num-
bers below one hundred, and eighteen
with the right hand for those above.
Two kinds of counting machines,
called an abacus, were also used. One
was a board Strewn with sand on
which geometrical figures were drawn.
The other was a frame with balls
moved in grooves to represent figures.
with a special contrivance for doing
fractions. AS teachers were not very
patient in those days, arithmetic
might be said to have been learned
less by rule than by ferrule.
The great Horace, whose works all
of you who study Latin will read.
man of many blows. After all, it is
pretty fine to be twentieth century
American, is it not?
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
Something for Christmas.

To make a pretty shoe bag, take one
yard of wide red and cream bed-tick-
ing. Cut from one side enough to
leave the piece % inches in width.
Face this on the back with turkey red
calico. A pocket Cd for hose is made
of turkey-red box-pleated to the bottom
of the larger piece. Stitch this to the
foundation, gathering the extra full
ness at the top of the pocket.
Take the ticking which was cut
from the side and bind it with black
velvet Chat from an old hat answers
nicely, then fold it into four parts.
Box-plait the bottom and stitch to the
foundation. This makes four CD peck
cts for shoes. Turn over each of the
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09

long as he could After about a week
a few of the smallest fish ventured to
dart at him and snatch bits of the
water-soaked bread. Gradually others
did the same, and at last all the fish
had become so confident that big and
little ones would swim up to his hands
and take the bread.
BY the end of the past summer the
fish had become SO tame that they
would swim up to the doctor the
moment he entered the water. They
glided around between his hand and
did not even wriggle when he touched
them, so that finally he managed to
stroke them without frightening them
in the least
Every day through the warm
weather the doctor could be seen in
the water with from 100 to $50 of his
queer pets swimming all around him
and Garting at his hands and face in
pay.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
Biggest Tree in Kansas.

On the Munsell ranch, near Skiddy,
is, said to be the largest tree in Kan
sas. 1t is a giant sycamore that tow
ers toward the sky over 125 feet.
The tree is 81 feet 10 inches in cir
conference and rises a distance of
forty-two feet before the first branch
is reached. The tree is very old and
has quite a reputation owing to its
enormous size. The State Historical
society is planning to get title to the
tree and surround it with an iron
fence.-Kansas City Journal.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
Neat Cover for Socks.

There comes a time when every boy
or girl has some cherished book he er
she would like to preserve, but cannot
do SO very well, because the cover is
of paper. If the book had a good cloth
binding, it could be easily saved, but
with only a paper cover it is hard
matter to keep it from coming to
pieces if much handled.
1t is very easy to make good, stiff
cloth binding by the means of glue,
cardboard. cheesecloth or muslin-and
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
somethino Everv Day,

Every day a little knowledge-one
fact in a day. How small is one fact
only one. Ten years pass by. Three
thousand, six hundred and fifty facts
are not a small thing. Every day
little self-denial. The thing that is
difficult to do to-day will be an easy
thing to do three hundred and sixty
days hence, if each day it shall have
been repeated. What power of self
mastery shall he enjoy who seeks
every day to practice the grace he
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
Sunrise Maofc.

sunrise Magic
Along the silent. Sleepy street
The houses. gray and old.
Bloom into castles, ruby-peaked.
Their windows PANIED with gold;
And rose-lights flicker where but now
Were shadows. deep and cold
The shafts of ashen smoke that swept
From chimneyS. tall and grim,
Now wind. in coils of violet
And purple, soft and dim,
Then roll away in broken wheels
With amber spoke and rim
The suns red wand has made a court
OF every barn and byre.
And with a single flashing gem
Has tipped the village spire.
And turned the snowballs on the lawn
To balls of carmine fire.
Youths COMPANION.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
Dreaminu.
The minor DOet sighed.

The minor poet sighed.
"a happy Dream he said. ga hap
by dream
What was it, dear?"
81 dreamed" said he, that the edi-
tor of the Trash Magazine asked me
to lend him S. L haven't that much
with me- 1 answered, but here's
$50 sonnet, Joe. Get it cashed in the
front office and bring me the change
The editor thanked me, rushed off
with the manuscript and few min
utes later handed me nine crisp IS
notes.
The minor poet sighed again.
ga happy. happy dream.'-'Philadel-
phia Bulletin.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
A Trick.

A Trick.
Try this trick when you have some
friends to dine with you:
A boy. Tom by name, tried it, and
his friends thought him very clever.
Just when dinner was nearly over
Bridget quietly announced that the
grocer must have forgotten to bring
the nuts and raisins. The company
were all more or less disappointed, but
Tom, the host, seemed very angry at
this omission. Impatiently he said to
the nuts and raisins should have been
served"
Pretending to be very much an
moved, he f1ourished his napkin Wig
orously over the empty dish. Then
carefully lifting the napkin, much to
the surprise of all, the dish was re
vealed full of nuts and raisins.
This is how Tom managed the
trick: He had gotten Bridget to sew
two napkins together all around the
edges and to slit one across the mid
die. The space between the napkins
made a bag, into which Tom had slip
ped the nuts and raisins. He held the
bag between his knees, with another
napkin over his lap. While he was
gesticulating in apparent disappoint-
ment, he had quickly changed nap
kinS. The trick was a clever hit of
homemade sleight of hand, and all
shouted at Toms cleverness.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09
Heroic and Timely.

Lucy, Ernest and Ralph Schoenhut,
children who are at Porter's Lake, Pa,
went out to get bark to make sou.
venirs, and while the boy was pulling
bark from a tree a rattlesnake struck
him in the right arm below the shout
der. The two hurried home and when
they reached there the grid ripped the
boys shirt open and saw that his arm
was getting dark. She took his pen
knife, cut a cash in his arm and
sucked the poison from the wound.
Two physicians were called and the
boy is doing we'll.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09

prays for. Every day little happt
ness We live for the good of others
if our living be in any sense a true
living. 1t is not in great deeds Ga
kindness only that the blessing is
found. In little deeds of Kindness"
repeated every day, we find true happt
ness. At home, at school, on the
street, at the neighbours house, in the
playground, we shall find an opportuni
ty every day for usefulness.
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09

work, and the heavy elevator had
fallen with terrific crash to the Sec
ond basement, six stories below! The
car was badly smashed When it
could be opened, it was found to
contain the bruised and broken body
of the man tn the coarse red face.
ct fell at precisely a quarter Of
two"
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09

a casket covered with purple velvet.
ognized in its imperative summons
a call to her grave; in an agony of
apprehension she gazed in fixed ter
ror at the coarse red face the close
cropped hair, the sandy moustache,
and she gasped out: No, no. not
yeti
Even in the midst of her Mortified
stare at the homely countenance, she
took note that one of the two middle
teeth in the upper jaw was missing
in the mouth of the man. Just as he
seemed about to press open the door
to take her, the whole scene vanished
utterly and she awoke with start to
find herself partly sitting up in bed,
gazing fxedly towards a wardrobe in
the. room!
There was no more sleep for her
that night. She arose. turned up the
gas, which had been left dimly burn
ing locked at the clock, saw that it
Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1905-12-09

top corners and fasten with bow OF
red ribbon. A brass ring is secured at
the top to hang the bag by. Fasten it
to the inside of clothes-press door.
The illustration will make the idea
clear.-Exchange
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-12

bass. No, we didn't object: we fell
down in the snow and crowed like
chapticleer.
.Hunh!'' snorted Charley. "Hunh!
Them boys hain't got brains in their
heads at alI-nothin' but doodle -bugs!"
We'll, Charley" continued Steve, as
you don't object and they don't object
and ] don't object. for Gods sake let's
have breakfast"
"I'll go you, Steve" replied Charles
seriously and we entered the house up
roarious.
There in the kitchen was Mrs. Steve
and the company" a pretty little
bright-eyed thing. whose color went
and came at word-more particularly
If Oscar said the word. The affair was
at present in the formal state-the
dawn of realization that two. such won-
derful and magnificent creatures as
Oscar and Sally existed.
But they were not Oscar and Sally
except in the dear privacy of their
souls. Yet how much that is not OBJ
vious to the careless ear can be put
into will you have a buckwheat cake,
Mr.. KendaIl?" or May / give you a
helping Of the syrup, Miss Brown" 1t
took some preparation for each to get
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-12

rybar,ev had an ill-advised notion to
play the paternal.
s.Now. I'd cool down If I was you'
Steve" he admonished.
"You would, would you!" foamed
stave .swell. who the devil cares what
vo,,,d do. ANYHOW? And If you tell me
to cool down lust once more I'll drive
Won into the ground like tent-pln-
summed through the window. and
then laughed, while Charley admins
tered his reproof with appropriate ses-
lures. His long arms flew In the ar
as he delivered the inspired address,
Steve looking at him, bit or sname-
facedness and fun showing through
his heat
..An' mo- I tell you, Steven P. Hen
dricks." rolled out Charley In conciu-
sion. THAT this citizen Of Texas, Jus-iy
and rightus'ly called the Lone star
State. has never yet experienced the
feeling of bein' daunted by face OF
man, nor hoof Of jackass. No, su'. By
God, SUI He held the shovel abort nhe
a sword. Let 'en come as they WILL
male and female after their kind, from
a ninety poun' Jew peddler to Mangus
Colorado. and from pigeon-toed Dfg-
ger Injun squaw to fo'-huncreo-
weight Dutch lady, turn my back on
none.'
''You win. Charley" said Steve. and
walked off, All Oscar caught out OF
1t was the request that when he felt
like reducing the stock on the ranch
he'd take a nile.
Poor Oscar, All noble and heroic SEN
tinents struggling within him, with no
outlet but a hesitating advancing Of
the theory that 'ff we didn't get rain
before long the country'd be awful
dry" Small wonder that he burst out
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-12

each other that drop everything lay
my hands on, and feel as If I'd rob-
bed somebody for the rest of the day.
The interview over. Oscar came out,
burning with his own embarrassment.
and made a sore mess OF everything
he did for the next hour. A man must
have his mind about him on q ranch.
Once upon time Steve came to
Charley and me, literally prancing.
We had heard oaths and yells and
sounds of q battle royal previously,
and wondered what was going on.
When he neared US he moved slowly.
his hands working like machinery.
81 would like to know" he began,
and stopped to glare at us and grind
his teeth. II should like to know" he
continued, in a voice so weak with
rage we could hardly hear 1t, who
turned the red bull into number s
corral?'
Charley and went right on clean
ing out the shed. we weren't going
to tell on Oscar.
$50 it's him again. ehf" shriehed
Steve Well. now I propose to show
him something. I'll show him every
thing" He was entirely beyond the
influence of reason and, grammar.
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-12

where there is not much prospect Of
any large increase of income. When
that fact is realized the wise man will
begin to chasten his desires and seek
his satisfactions in things which no
money can buy. Perhaps, too, by and
by, our rich men whose opportunity
for acquiring large fortunes seems al
most unlimited will see that they may
gain the whole world and lose that
which is best in them--their apprecia-
tion of art. music and literature. their
power of helping others through kind
ly service.
The New Testament does not give
much encouragement to people who
look upon money as the chief desider-
atum. 1t is constantly pointing out
the danger of letting the noney-get-
ting instinct overtop every ambition.
and constantly warns against trust In
accumulated riches. It points out the
its emphasis is altogether upon the
riches Of the soul which come through
the avenues Of thought, feeling. love
and service.
1t is never too late to search our
selves touching our estimate of
money. Exactly how sordid and
commercial are we, every one Of
us? To what. extent do we cling to
gold and silver and the things which
they represent? Neither is 1t too late
to resolve that we will in the
the passion and the race for money to
our better selves and determine that
whether or not 1905 brings to US all
that we think we need of cold cash
we will make It yield to US q nobler
personal kfe- THE PARSQN.
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-12

Certainly"
And out we went into North Dakota's s
concealed envelope, with the smoke
from the main house chimney rising 500
feet into the sir snew-whlte olumn,
straight as u mast; Charley stalking
ma5estically ahead. while we three
fioundered weakly behind him.
Amt he the eorker?" gasped Oscar.
When he gets to jumping sideways
among those four-legged words he sep
arates me from my good Intentions"
with scorn and hoomiliation, "
quoted Steve, and stopped, overcome
"T tells you what's the matter and
leaves you to figger it out for your
self" / added. Then Charley heard
us. He turned and approached, an
awful frown upon his brow.
May inquire what is the reason of
this yere merriment?" he ask-d. The
manner was that of man who pro-
posed to find out. 1t sat on Charley
with SO ludicrous a parody that we
were further undone. Steve raised his
hands in depreciation, and spoke in a
muf11ed voice that broke at intervals
Can't laugh In nay own back yard,
Charley?" he said. by the Lord Har-
ry. will laugh inside my stakes! No
man shall prevent me. The Constitu-
ton Of the United States. the Declara-
ton of Independence and the CONT
mental Congress give me the right. Now
what have you got to say?'
I dunno but what you have me
whipsawed there. Steve replied Char
ley, scratching his head. "Ef it's your
right by the Constitution, o. course I
amt goin' to object
DO either OF you object?" demanded
Steve of Oscar and me in his deepest
The San Francisco call., 1905-03-12
THAT a deluge OF talk about
money matter has been poured
out over this land during the

wv out over this land during the
last few weeks! The subject
Is congenial to the American mind
and is never very far below the mental
horizon of almost every one of US. But
recent events have conspired to give 1t
unwonted prominence. The startling
disclosure OF sensational magazine
articles and the spectacular career Of
a brazen adventures have been the
theme of discussion In circles high and
low. rich and poor, learned and un-
learned Dining with a group OF min
lsters the other day 1 found that theo-
logical and ecclesiastical topics We're
crowded to the rear by the all absorb
ing subject of finance. In fact, the
atmosphere Is surcharged with it and
a good thunderstorm Is needed to clear
the air and to restore moral ideas and
I interests to their proper place.
This popular absorption In discus
sfcns that range about money not only
material and remands to the back
ual, but 1t helps srbstantiate the
charge often made by foreigners that
we are essentially nation of traders,
q money-seeking money-loving and
even money-worshiping people. The
great advantage. however. Of recent
revelations Is the fact that they show
how unsatisfying Is the chase for
wealthy. how it saps the virtue of men
and women, makes them hard and re-
vengeful. leads them to turn States