davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-11-23
Sioux CITY Letter.

As this branch may be on the
main line from the above city to
Des Moines at some future date, we
publish the following interesting
letter in regard to Sioux City,
written by Miss Denham:
EDITOR JOURNAL thought I
would write few lines for your
valuable paper, thinking perhaps,
it would be of interest to your
many readers who are 80 widely
scattered over the various parts of
the United States. [ have lived in
Cincinnati, Ohio, Louisville, KY.
and various other cities and towns
as we'll as many country places in
these states and Iowa and never
saw any place where there were so
many fine improvements of almost
all kinds; and 80 much business of
all kinds, as is carried on here.
Armour and Cudahy both have
large packing houses which they
are charging and improving all
the while. The burnt district is
being rebuilt with, by far, much
finer structures than were des-
troyed by that disastrous fire last
winter. Fine residences by the
score are being built all over the
city, over seventy of them, at Morn
ingside, suburb of this city. The
streets almost all over the city are
being finely improved.
Almost everything imaginable
is being manufactured here, which,
of course, gives steady employ
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-11-23

ment to persons of both sexes and
almost all ages. Good wages are
paid for all kinds of work, 1915 and
10 cents per hour with the best of
board and hindest of treatment,
this for laundry and scrub work.
l never lived any where in my life
where the poor are so we'll treated
and well cared for by the wealthy
as they are here, no snubbing or
cold shoulder is given to us. Virtue
industry and honesty are all that
are required here.
Although there is such boom
here now, there are still thousands
of lots for sale at from $50 to $1,000
lot, according to location and lay
of land. A person can buy house
and lot or as many lots as Che
chooses on the installment plan
paying even as low as S. down.
There are places in the suburbs
where one can purchase several
acres in bunch. Thousands, and
hundreds of acres here are owned
by non-residents and are used az
pasture land by those residing
near by for pasture without money
aud without price.
We have fine water here, some
use we'll water, others city water
and the best of all is very healthy
city. do not know of case of
consumption among my circle of
friends and acquaintance. Every
one seems healthy, prosperous,
sociable and happy.
SAMARIA DENHAM.
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-11-23

We'll, you see, it's just this way, me
sister Ethyl, ma says is poet; pa says
she's shiftless. On wash days she gets
a far away look in her eyes, takes her
hammock over to the orchard where
the apple blossoms can drift around her
and says she's inspired. Pa says if ma
did her duty she'd give her an inspira-
ton with the. clothes stick, and then he
Immediately hikes to the other end of
the farm and don't come back till the
household barometersa clear weather
You see, pa dom tamount tomuch when
mas around. Well, yesterday was
wash day and she said she was sad, and
Ahbeautiful ode was forming itself and
fust be jotted down. Pa said nothing,
just give one look and hiked. Ethyl
got the hammock, two pillows, some
chewing gum and her far away look
and glided for the orchard. When she
see the clothes all on the line, and after
counting the sheets and all the gar
ments and knew they We're all there,
she slowly sauntered to the house, stuck
her gum to the under side of the clock
shelf and gave me this paper to give to
you"
Here the embryo president handed
Van a roll of pale blue paper tied with
a ribbon of a cerulean blue color and a
double bow knot. Accompanying it
was note to Van as follows:
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-11-23
School Notes.

The fifth grade Arithmetic class is
doing good work in fractions now.
The Second Primary pupils were
given general lesson on the potatoe
this week.
Miss McAninch gave the Fourth
grade written review Tuesday in
Arithmetic.
Glen Breckenridge after months
absence visiting in Oklahoma is
again enrolled in the Kindergarten
class.
Several of the pupils in the second
room have shown themselves to be
good spoilers in few recent spelling
contests.
An exceptional good black board
sketch of the squirrel attracted some
attention in the intermediate room
last Friday.
Miss Stroebele is securing some fine
maps drawings from the seventh
grade. South America maps were
drawn this week.
Miss Nolte is giving the fifth grade
Language class instruction in letter
writing. Some very neatly written
letters were handed in.
Our Northern Kinsmen and their
country Alaska was the subject of a
few interesting geography lessons for
the fifth grade this week.
The eleventh grade Algebra class
recently found list of problems in
quadratic equations that brought out
their good and weak qualities.
The intermediate pupils are MAX
ing booklets having the outline of
a pumpkin each page containing a
drawing representative of pilgrim
life.
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-11-23

Some heart drawings by the eighth
grade physiology pupils finished this
week were nearly as good as some
similar work executed by the elev-
enth grade.
The Primary pupils have been stu
dying birds and their habits this
week. Where the birds 90 in the
winter time was brought out in story
and drawings.
Mrs. Stated is now having the elev-
enth grade review the second of Cic-
eros Orations. She will give them q
written examination on this part of
their years work next week.
We believe that our primary pupils
can sing exceptionally we'll and we
want you TO come and hear them on
Wednesday before Thanksgiving or
any day you can find it convenient.
Miss Emig has her pupils building a
house and furnishing it. All the
walls, furnishings and appurtenances
thereto are made of heavy paper. The
whole will probably be finished this
week.
The ninth English class is study
ing punctuation from their Rhetorics.
They have just completed the Study of
the Lady OF the Lake in their En-
glish Classic work and will now take
up Irvings Sketch Book.
One of our most interesting recita-
tions is that in the ninth grade phys
icat geography, this subject naturally
lending itself for more or less individ-
ual thought and speculation and out.
side reading and research.
Vera Ehriatonoon x,ho hoI Tho
fortune to break her arm last week
has been in school this week. She is
improving nicely but considerable
care ia exercised that the member
may not be injured in playing.
The Seventh grade pupils we're re-
quired each to write an original sto-
ry on colonial days, picturing the
events and scenes as though they
themselves were present. They pro.
duced their usual satisfactory work.
The pupils of sixth grade had les
son this week on collections" Some
wrote on stamp collections, some on
shells, others on coins and to hear
some of these essays one would think
they were experienced souvenir gath
erers.
Nels Johnson is at his semi-annual
window cleaning. Every pane on the
outside is spattered up more or less
mostly more with paint which
must be scraped off and then the paint
washed. This year it will take him
about three times long as usual to
do this work. There are 4SO panes of
glass in the windows and so more in
the transoms. Nels is not bothered
with extra time.
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-11-23
4 Elk Horn

my meals in the mess, where teachers
engineers, physicians and other officers
with their ladies, assemble thrice a day;
the menu was good.
1t is quite a staff of white employees,
do not know exactly the number. At
ter receiving orders to proceed to Kyle
and take charge of the eastern district,
population 5000. | reluctantly parted
with the headquarters and proceeded by
stage 40 miles to this place where | was
cordially received by the sub-agent, Mr..
Smalley and wife who have been here
for twelve years. Besides them, there
is school teacher and wife, an Indian
trader with wife. and clerk, and, | be-
lieve no more white people. We have a
squad of Indian Police, strong, we'll
built fellows. A nice little cottage has
been been built for me, finished with
hardwood floors and fine plasteripg,
covered with siding outside, but upon
inquiry, learn that the real skeleton of
the house is rough hewn logs, placed on
top of each other, crevices filed with
mortar, exactly as the Indian builds his
house, so if he would only go to the
trouble OF plastering and siding, he
might have quite decent house too
| am told that houses built on the
Iowa plan are too cold in the winter.
draw a sigh of relief, conscious of the
fact that the government will supply me
with fuel and light free of charge.
On my way out, my driver pointed
out to me cave, or rather the entrance
to cave, in perpendicular surface of
white rock, high up above the ground
and only accessible by swinging rope
from the cliff above, some 30 feet.
There lies buried ''Old Crazy Horse, -
one of the chiefs from the Custer
massacre, and no white man dare APP
proach his tomb. A little further on, in
a valley, we passed two empty houses,
no sign of life. Medicine houses. ex.
plains my friend, there the medicine
men so to prepare medicines and are
there, only during this mysterious
process.
Well, this is getting rather too long;
every time look at my beautiful watch,
| am reminded, that have real friends
in Iowa and to all those send my kind
regards.
l.. SLAMBERG.
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-11-23
2|HE editor sat in the office at his
desk tired but satisfied, having
~ finished an editorial in which he
Il j. L

HE editor sat in the office at his
desk tired but satisfied, having
~ finished an editorial in which he
had succeeded after much brain
Tag IN lauding to the armament a late
lamented citizen whose earthly career
had been anything but pure as the
driven snow. " Nothing lies like an
epitaph," murmured Van Zant. cold
Van," the Office force dubbed him.
= The door opened letting in a gust of
wind that scattered the papers from the
desk to the far corners of the room; also
admitting a small boy of the rural type,
tanned, freckled, hair too red to be
sandy, wearing a mistit pair of overalls,
straw hat and rag carefully wrapped
around one of his great toes. His face
depicted boldness, vet bashfulness; cum
ming, yet honesty. He had weathered
about thirteen winters.
care you Van Zant, the dead EDITOR"
inquired this future statesman.
Hardly, my son, I'm Van Zant, the
man who tries to say pleasant things
about the people who have passed away,
gone hence, deceased, entered the great
beyond. In fact, Pm the obituary ed
itor.u
well, you'll do, I guess; you fit the
descrip me sister give you. She said
you was middle aged, pleasant faced
gent with high forehead, very little
hair, about the color of mine-o
Old Van ducked his head, got the ex-
act range of the cuspidor, had a hemor-
rhage in its direction, cleared his throat
and said: "My son, take two chairs to
sit on; help yourself to anything in
sight. The entire office is yours. What
can we do for you?"
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-11-23
Phe Strange Experience Of an
Obituary editor

"Horace Township,

Horace Township, Iowa.
Hon. Mr.. Van Zant, Obituary Editor
of the Zira Oracle:
Kind Sir:-For some time past | have
noticed your tired look, and realizing
how hard it is for intellects such as you
possess to constantly grind out good
notices OF persons who have gone to
their long rest and cannot come back
to defend themselves, | have favored
you with poetical gem on the death
of sweet little boy of only twenty-five
summers, as follows: See MSS"
Old Van carefully united the blue
ribbon and very carefully folding it
dropped it tenderly into the spittoon
and started to read:
'Lines on the death of Willie Jones,
se 22y IL mo-, 4 d.:
Little Willie he has left us,
He has climbed the golden stairs"
Tired, outraged nature could stand no
more, poor VANS head bowed forward,
the floor, where the office boys found
him apparently dead and at the mercy
of the original poets.
CHAPTER III.
AS the light faded and the world
turned black to Van and he begun to
experience the joy of laying down bur-
den too great to bear, sense of great
peace came over him and he dimly
realized that to the world he was in a
stupor or suspended animation-body
dead, mind keenly active. He felt the
kind hands tenderly lift him and place
him on the soft bed of the cylinder
press. The doctors seemed to fade far
ther and farther away and at last even
the old familiar smell of the paste pot
faded into oblivion.
He felt that all was over and was con-
graduating himself on the ease with
which he had shuffled off and wonder
ing whether he was bound for the place
the compositors had often told him to
go to, when he realized he was not
alone. =
Standing at his side was parsonage
of queer face and raiment. His skin
was like parchment, yellow with age,
drawn over a face bereft of flesh.
Around his head was yards of yellow
linen cloth curiously wrapped into a
headgear. His single garment consisted
of coarse cloth resembling linen, but
very aged and travel stained. His feet
We're bare except for sandals tied on
with strings. In his hand he carried a
staff, too long to be golf stick and not
long enough to be prod pole. This
was curiously engraved.
The unknown waved the wand thrice
over Vans head, repeating what sound
ed at first to be mummery, but soon re-
solved itself into "hocus-pocus-non
comp entus-soc-et-tu-um.n Thrice
more he waved the wand and in the
third time touched him on the forehead
when Van felt his soul leave the body
and he stood shade, shaped as former.
ly, but gazing down on his earthly
body.
Having 'seen things" before Van
gathered his courage together and ac-
costed the stranger:
''My unwashed friend, whence com.
est thou and whittier thou goeth? Dost
get thy mail on rural route, and want
to stop your subscriptions"
The stranger turned stern counte-
nance on Van and said: "Jest not
Thou art Van Zant, the quill pusher??''
Van modestly replied: II am he, who
the are you?"
81 am Shade Harmonious, the usher
resident of Ancient Assyria; loyal sub
ject to his EXcellency, Hammar Rabbi
! the Law Oliver. / am doing penance
for breaking one of the Kings laws
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-11-23

twenty-four thousand and eighty-fve
years ago. | am come to conduct you
to the distant past and crafty any one
wish you may ask. What seekest
Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1905-11-23

Tired, outraged nature could stand no
more, poor VANS head bowed forward,
and with great sob he Imply slid to
the floor, where the office boys found
him apparently dead and at the mercy
of the original poets.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29

TO get good results. Take hold-up in
Wayne county. Who docs it-somebody
from Buffalo or the Bowery. Send men
from both places who understand that sort
Of criminal. Next thing you know crimi-
nails will be going out Of the State on the
jump.
Then. il would cut Tammany Hall out
Of the police administration in this city,
There's never been IA day in my time. no
matter whether Tammany Hall was in Office
or the reformers we're in office when Tam
many Hall couldn't give its own orders
in the Police Department. When Tammany
Is in 1t all goes, any way, and when Tam
many il out every officer. from patrolman
toinspector, knows that Tammany is coming
back in two years or less and he keeps in
tune with the Tammany fiddle and not with
the reiormers', He knows that il he doesn't
obey Fourteenth Street orders he will get
his for fair when the reformers 60 out
and they always 60 out
But wouldn't Republican politicians
be as bad as Tammany potioians?" Mr.
Devery was asked
4 tell you frankly, friends said Mr.
Devery solemnly. Il never found EN- SO
But. even then. local influence would be
offset by upstate power. and there would
be some discipline possible inside the uni
formed force A man would be responsible
to the chief at Albany and not TO the leader
OF his district. Oh the way things are
now it. all wrong. It's all-hell for Jersey.
SO saying Mr. Devery. having looked
over his office mail reentered his bnrouche
and drove uptown.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
ROOF CHANGED 4 COMPLAINT
AFTER II wnS sworn To and Says we DO
ItENer, Day''-0ther Magistrates say No.

Magistrate Joseph Pool. with regard to
whose alleged tampering with a complaint
in the West Side court Harry Merz. a court
clerk. was called to testify on Friday before
Justice Mcmahon of Special Sessions. said
last night that he had not been notified
that any action had been taken.
Il don't know anything about this. said
Mr. Pool except what reporters have
told me | haven't heard from the District
Attorneys Office or anywhere else |
think | shall go down there and find out
at least what the nature of the complaint
is. There can't be anything in it.
We had a case in the West Side court
where a man was charged with receiving
stolen goods. There was no word in the
complaint TO indicated defendants knowl-
edge | had not looked at the papers at
first and when ] saw the omission asked
Mr. Merz, who had drawn the complaint.
to nut in the word. He refused. and took
write It, Tn do it myself Then directed
Mr. Mer2 to leave the court and report to
Magistrate Flammer who sent him TO
Essex Market 1t is the duty of clerks TO
do what the Magistrate directs, whether
right or wrong. ! am too old n soldier 10
put M with INSTRUMENTATION. These clerks
own the courts They are in for life.
so far al the change goes, we DO those
things every day-have to. II you inquire
into that matter it isn't legal for Magistrates
10 take complaints, anyhow They should
take only dispositions. Complaints are for
trial courts. | have proposed change in
the code that shall authorize us to take
complaints.
Magistrate Flammer. the president Of
the Board of Magistrates said yesterday;
"A complaint should not be changed after
it has been sworn TO unless the parties are
resworn | never do such thing and II
is not the custom for any Magistrate TO do
It, 80 far as | know. | know nothing of
this case except that | transferred Mr.
Merz temporarily because there appeared
to be friction
HNo one could be found, either clerk or
Mag strate. whosustained Mag strate Pools
opinion that il If customary 10 make
changes in complaints after they are
sworn TO.
"Of course. | never chan &c a complaint
after II TX sworn to, said Mag strate Whit
man.
Clerk Merz refused TO make any state
ment He is only witness. and It is un-
ders TODD that the District Attorney took
the initiative in the matter. Mr.. Merz Is
now back in his old place in the West Side
court Magistrate Pool having gone 20 ait
in the TOmbs.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
GUESSING ON The BIG DIAMOND.
ESTIMATES or ITS VALUE 90 BE-
YOND S125, 900, 900.
shares NJ the Premier Minr. IN which
n Was Found Jump on Announcement
OF the Discovery--Hich Ground where
the Record stone Was Found

the Record stone Was Found.
spteiai Cabls Despatch 10 rHE suS.
LONDON Jan 2S.-The discovery at
Elandsfontein. near Pretoria, OF diamond
which IL reputed to be three times heavier
than the largest stone previously found
has set the calculators at work. with anus
ing results. One OF these. who bases his
calculations on the estimated value OF the
famous Regent or Pitt diamond figures that
the new gem. even il two-thirds OF its bulk
Is lost in cutting, ought to be worth f25. 574,-
Os5. This liz the most daring Of all com
putations, most Of which vary between
hulf million and three million sterling
with one of SIS 900, 900.
Nothing beyond the bare report Of the
discovery Of the stone Is vet known and
later information may reduce this marvel
to dimensions which can more easily be
grasped There is no present reason.
however, to doubt that It greatly exceeds
the Excelsior stone Of $40 oarats uncut.
which was found at Jagersfontein and was
the largest hitherto found in South Africa
This was cut into nine largo gems in Decem-
Der, 1904. by Tiffany. and doubtless the new
stone will also be divided.
Whatever the value of the new discovery,
the shareholders of the Premier mine, in
which il was found. have every reason TO
congrat ulate themselves. The market valu-
alton of the shares increased on Friday
by nearly a million pounds sterling. The
boom in the shares was largely the result
Of the assumption that where one gem of
3.0S2 carats is found others IA big or even
bigger may be located The discovery
cannot. however, be regarded as a net gain
10 the company. because under the present
diamond law the Government is entitled
to six-tsHths of all the net profit.
There il something very much like "a
fairy tale In the history OF the Premier
mine, which Is located on n farm whose
Boer owner sold It two years ago for ESQ 900,
The nominal capital of the Premier com
pany il GS00OO. IL earned last year GG67.
1873 and the market value OF the shares II
now in the neighborhood of EI0Ooo, 900.
Between October and January 81
shares have risen from 20 to 80 When the
latter figure reached a few days ago
the shares were split into five shilling
preference shares and half crown deferred
shares. The former we're quoted on Fri
day at 60 js. and the latter on Wednesday
at GA los on Thursday, SIS >. and on
Friday els The advance is generally
understood to have been caused bv heavy
buying by De Beers Company with the
object Of obtaining control of the com
pany and maintaining it, monopoly in the
diamond field.
Even these gigantic figures give but
small idea Of the value Of the greatest known
diamond deposit for thorough prospecting
shows diamondiferous earth within 400
fee; Of the surface of the estimated value
OF no less than Gl24.0O0OO0
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
D. q o. coMMON Dividend.
Not Expected Now That II Wni lie Raised
to BaSis OF Five Per Cent.

BALTIMORE, Jan, 2s.-Action will be
taken at a meeting of the directors OF the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company
next week on the seni-annual dividend
on the common stock. There is consId-
cradle interest in this meeting, because
Of the expectation in some places that the
stock would be placed on IA per cent.
basis by authorizing a semi-annual pay
ment Of ga per cent.
Indications are that for tho fiscal year
ending J'u3e 91SAeFt the company will
show 10 per cent earned on the common
stock and on the policy of conservative
railroad managers of a dollar for dividend
and a dollar for the property, such show
ing would warrant an increase.
The management Of the company has
all along been reluctant to decide on the
increase, as 1t felt that the stock as sure
per cent investment was more desirable
TO the investor than an extra payment
at this time. Ii was learned to-day that
this view il practically the sentiment Of
those In charge OF the finances Of the com
pany and no increase in the dividend will
be recommended
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-29
A "TRUANT," MT A G0OD prPIL.
stays Home to Help His Father on Fish
Days--trrested.

Harold Hamblen. the thirteen year-old
son OF Charles t. Hamblen, Jersey city
fish dealer. was taken TO the First Criminal
Court yesterday by Charles Stell. chief at q
tendance officer. who said ihe boy had
violated the truancy law by absenting
himself from school every Friday The
boy said he attended school regularly four
days a week. but staid out on nsh days
10 help his father in the store
Mr. Hamhen told Justice Higgins that
his boy ranked among the first in his class
and produced a monthly report showing
that he was excellent in scholarship and
department He didn't have such good
mark for attendance, owing to hi4 absence
on Fridays.
My son has never been kept back in
any class said Mr. HaInblen. and II this
law * enforced 70 the letter | viii be COM
PEELED, much 10 my regret, to take him ont
OF the public school and place him in
private school. II does not seem TO me
that the law intends that a boy who stands
well in his class should be brought into a
police court
Justice Higgins said the law provides
that child must unless ILL., attend school
every day school is in session. He, how
ever reserved decision