davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

There frequently come to my mind
the tumultuous days of 1860, when the
comparatively unknown Abraham Lin
coin wal nominated for the presidency
In the wigwam at Chicago for the first
time. writes A. b. c. Hitchcock in
the Chicago Inter Ocean. Though in
the city I did not have a coveted ticket
to the convention, either as q delegate
or silent spectator: but there were
thousands in the same fix. so there
was enough going on on the outside to
engage the attention Of boy. fresh
from the farm, with q decided bucoiic
favor.
All through the summer of that
year there vas intense political &C
tivity in the Queen of the Lakes. and
outspoken loyalty mingled with dis
loyal and defiant m~utterings almost
everywhere. for the impending san
culinary conflict vas in the air. Some
time in September a great Republican
meeting was widely advertised to be
held in Springfield. the home of Lin
coin. and the railways all over the
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08
One Of lincoIn's Stories.

Did you ever hear Mr.. LincOln's
lightning-rod story" asked Speaker
Cannon of some friends who were
spinning yarns. Well, it's a good
one.
Mr.. Lincoln said he had attended
meeting at a country church where
one of the stinsiest creatures ON
Gods fOotstOOl went through the
make-me-gOOd idea he was worship
ing the Savior. The minister asked
for a free contribution to enable the
church fathers to buy a lightning rod
for the edifice.
Surely o are willing to lend to
the Lord said the minister. is he
not the owner of the cattle ON a thou
sand hills? Will he not repay
This was the chance for the old
miser to get in his work by giving a
reason for not contributing. Rising in
his seat, he said:
You say the Lord is the owner
of the cattle on a thousand hills.
Then. why can't he sell some of the
cattle and buy a lightning rod?"-
Washington Times.
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

state and adjoining states planned ex-
cursiOns, offering extremely low rates
the round trip from Chicago being
but 50. l concluded to be among the
excursiOnists.
Three long passenger trains start
ed from the city and it was Our mis-
fortune to board the last One- Mis-
fortune. say. for the other two trains
seemed filled with patriotic gluttOns
on a f0raging expedition. for the trains
followed each other 80 closely that the
eating houses did not have time to re-
cuperate OF %replenish. SO they ERE as
bare, when our train arrived. as the
cupboard of Old Mother Hubbard-not
a bone left. The day was delightful, the
air just keen enough to whet our ap-
petite to an edge which would nOt
have questioned the quality of any
spread Obtainabie-even breakfast
food half sawdust would have been
few of the side tracks. and fingered
for a while on most of them. So a
day and a night were consumed before
Springfield hove in sight. The city
was but ar Insignificant one compared
to what it is now, and was pervaded
by the spirit of the sluggish. turbid
SangamOn IN whose banks it repOsed,
and was in no way prepared to take
carr of such a cOngested mass of hui
manity, estimated at Over 100. 900 peO-
pie. Square meals and lodgings were
out of the question and fortunate was
he who could get crackers. a stale
sandwich Or a secondhand cup of
coffee.
The only thing. except people. was
watermelOns. Every available spot
seemed piled with them, huge speci-
mems, at from 5 to 10 cents apiece.
They were bought for refreshing seats,
to Stake thirst, and the seeds and pulp
rinds made walking exceedingly pre-
~cariOus, as much so as a highway Of
banana skins. Rubber boots were a
necessity if one would have dry feet.
1t must have been the banner season
for the e%sculent. the people having
largely planted the prairies for a crop.
having got an inkling somehow that
there would be a great demand for
campaign purposes. In any event,
they were a gOdsend in this emer-
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

! through by an arrow. This kind of
Hearts. and is addressed I o My Sweet
Valentine Il is signed by Hymen,
and reads as follows:
Il. the undersigned. secretary of
state Of the Union of Hearts. do here
by request and require. in the name
of St. Valentine. that you allow
oblankb to pass freely through the
realms Of Love: also that you afford
to her tor him. every protection and
encouragement in the furtherance of
her tor hiSD Objects"
Then follows a description of the
person addressed teyeS. mouth, hair
and ~cOmpleXiOn). which is filled in by
the sender. The document is given
by Hymen under my hand and seal
on this 14th day OF February, in the
year of grace 1905"
Ii the character of the comic valen-
tines has changed, the pretty and rela-
lively serious ones are equally differ
ent from what they used to be. Fill
gre paper and other long familiar in
cidentals of the old-style designs have
disappeared and have been replaced
by really artistic bits of color printing
and decorative work. The old themes
remain. out are illustrated" as one
might say. in a new manner
In one of the prettiest Of the new
valentines for this year a cupid is
shown in the act of unlocking with
a big key a heart which takes the
form of a large paddock. 1t is a
dainty conception. implying a hope
on the part of the sender that his
particular key will prove a fit. An
other winged child is riding on the
back of a dove. which carries in its
beak an arrow The paint of the
arrow is inscribed. Sweetheart, be
ware" and on the other end are the
words: Thy charms are many. my
merits few: yet l venture to offer my
homage true"
A valentine is hardly complete.
4 cupid. In one of the lew ones Love
is playing on a mandolin and looking
ND at two doves billing. In another
the winged god is painting a picture
on a heart-shaped plaque. Above his
head are hung on a line several SINH
lar plaques. each of them bearing the
portrait of a pretty woman. Perhaps
this valentine is meant TO be sent to
a young man accused of fickleness.
A bi: heart of violets incloses the
whole.
Obviously for a young man is a
heart-shaped valentine bearing the
words Good luck" and ornamented
with Ectures of cigarettes and play
ing cards. Thus playfully are the
little masculine weaknesses touched
up. and in no spirit of unamiable criti-
cism.
Designs with colored cupids-wing-
ed pickaninnies with their wool done
up in little twiSts-are more than half
humorous. But none of the new
style of comic valentines have any
suggestion of malice in them. or even
of ridicule. They are just pleasant
and friendly greetings. appropriate to
the anniversary of the good saint
who is supposed to be especially the
patron of lovers.
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08
LINCOLN AND VIRGINIA.
Agitation Caused by His Letter to Ex-Confederate Official
After the Surrender of Gen. Lee.

away and that as he seemed tired and
broken down | would delieer the let
ter.
Il found the old fellow 1t work in
the barn tanning wheat" Major Alder
son went on, with a reminiscent smile.
They had buried two or three sacks
of grain TO keep it from falling into
the hands of the northern troops, and
now they had resurrected it and were
cleaning it to have some bread. A
negro was turning the wheat fan. an
other was scraping away the cleaned
wheat and Governor Price was stand
ing by the hopper working the grain
through to the riddles.
Il jumped of my horse and hurried
into the barn.
Governor l said in some excite
ment. here is a letter for you from
the president of the United States
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

gency. and. while they were not very
nOurishins. they kept the blood thin
and the stomach distended. thus pre-
venting an utter collapse.
After q breakfast of crackers. cheese
and melon, l went to Lincoln's home.
which was not thronged at that early
hour. was usbered into his unpreten-
tious two-story house, was warmly
welcomed by the future president. and
sat down at his bidding for q few min
utes on q hairclOth sofa. Finding out
that l was q boy from Vermont-the
state that. though the birthplace of
Douglas. eagerly embraced Republican
doctrines from the very first and has
never wavered in its fidelity-he piled
me with questions and seemed glad
to hear from my lips the esteem for
him held by the sturdy residents Of
the Green Mountain state. l shall new
er forget the warm clasp of his long.
bOny fingers. nor the sad but indie
scribable benignity and tenderness Of
his hOmely face when he smiled. His
magnanimOus spirit and almost infin-
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

In April, 1865. just after the end
of the war" said Major Anderson. Il
was sitting on the porch of the resi-
dence of Lieutenant Governor Price in
Lewisburg, in Greenbrier county. had
just returned home from the army,
and you may we'll believe l was en-
joying the rest and the company OF
the prettiest girl in the world. Gov
ernor Prices daughter, who was on
the porch with me.
While We were talking" Major Al
derson continued. "a soldier suddenly
galloped into sight and drew rein at
the door. He asked if hat was Gov
ernor Prices house, and upon my tell
ing him that it was he said he brought
a letter for Governor Price from the
president of the United States.
II told him that the governor was
down on his farm two or three miles
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

near the upper left side, in the center
of which appears the photOgravure
head portrait of a handsome girl,
framed in gold and green rings, from
the lower rim of which extends a sin.
gle clover leaf spray.
Similar in design are the japanese
valentines. so stylish for children this
year. A tall. Oblong-shaped card, with
a square depression near the ton,
bears a brightly cOlOred picture of a
little Japanese boy or girl. On the
lower right side is set the inscriptions
in bright red letters. reading from the
top downward.
Among the odd designs in yalen-
tines, mostly for children. are the
clock, with the hours marked off in
hearts; the thermometer, with cupids
hiding among fOrget-me-nots. along
the sides; little carriages. with bows
wheeling their sw~eethearts. and a red
heart furnace. which cupids seated on
the hearth. are filling with wood.
A neat little leap year valentine for
a girl to send to a boy is a four leaf
clover. made of hearts. each heart be-
ing tied with a small bow, to he re-
turned or accepted. according as the
love message is accepted or rejected.
1t is eminently fitting that St. Valen-
tines day should come in February.
for this month. although the shortest
of the year. is the one on which tradi.
ton and legend has taken an especial
hold. There are days for the religious.
the superstitious. the patriOtic-days
for the lover Of history. the lover of
play and the lover of love and other
days yet. She has One-fOurth Of the
legal holidays of the year-exclusiye
of election days-One rare day. a love
day. two birthdays, one very holy day
and more than one prophetic day. and
all these days are among the high
tides of the calendar"
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

put them in water to e which would
come to the top. A young girl writ.
ing about this practice says: Il lay
abed and shut my eyes all morning
till he came to our house. for I would
not have see another man before him
for all the world"
The custom Of drawing and match
ing names seems to date back to the
! days of the Roman empire. There was
a feast in honor of Pan and Juno in
, February. the festival of Lupercalia.
The names of young women we're put
in a box and drawn as chance direct
ed by the men.
In the days of the early church.
when every effort was made to do
away with old superstitions and pagan
| customs. saints names were substitute
ed. But the memory of dead saints is
nothing to the living. breathing lover,
and the outline of the custom has been
preserved in different ways in all cen
turtles. the lovers never asking nor
caring if it be pagan or Christian.
An influence was supposed to per-
wade the charmed hours. Birds chose
their mates on that day with mad
rigals Of love. Love blossomed with
the spring in young hearts.
Ancient custom were much as now.
The refined and cultured sen missives
Of love-lowers. dainty jeweled re-
membrances: the rustic wrote verses
to his maid: the cynic and the ma
licious sent anonymous letters or pic
lures with a singing reminder of some
weakness or fault.
A traveller in England and Scotland
in Olden times speaks of a custom
much like our game of forfeits. Maids
and bachelors congregated and each
wrote his or her name on billets of
paper which we're drawn by the other
sex. Each got a valentine. The maid
49, H. -,a- Ia. En.H h~I x,-n
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08
An Old Valentine

The story as old as Adam and Ewes
Was told. while the lark o'erhead
Flung his arrows of song into golden
SheaNeS.
Aad the silken rustic of tender leaves
Siade Sweeter the words he said.
All. we'll. We have all had our Area
die"
And this is the brief of mine.
And the mystic messages, the shining
key
That opened that land of delight to me
Was this primitive valentine.
We do these things in a different way
From the younger folk I CLEAN.
In the learned light of this lettered day
We move in a more esthetic way,
And a wiser way, I ween.
But athwart the years. with their grand.
eT things.
Their treasures of wisdom and lore,
This trife of gold shot tissue brings
Remembrance Of simple. holier things
That halfowed the days of yOre.
Agnes Mahony.
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

i.u. W my "T"lemaque.' worn and old.
Like a sword from a rusty sheath.
1fath :a'l.r .hiS trifie ri lace and gold
y :airNlik= tissue. all shot with gold.
Half y"iiinS q verse beneath.
II the midst OF the verse is a heart,
tranSfs.d
With an arrow OF steely blue;
Oh. the foolish verse. with its metaphors
MIXED,
oh. tn. foolish heart. with the dart
sranSf.Ned,
And the foolish way to WOO.
] remember we'll the s~unny-haired lad
Who wrote in this boyiSh way:
\ dreamer-what glorious eyes he had
Poor dreamer. whose dreams have grown
sere and sad.
And whose hair and hopes are gray.
One fair spring day. when the wood
lark song
So sweet that il sank like pain
Through our thrilling hearts. as We
passed along
Adown leafy aisles-tHOw that haunting
song
Floats back to M mind again.)
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

I pOSedly ones destiny. and great care
was exercised as to the proper per.
son to meet in consequence.
Valentines in earlier days were writ.
ten on plain sheets of paper, o print
ed. But oon they preferred to pen
their words on folded sheets with lace
edges. One of these early home valen-
tires is seen in the British museum:
it is made of a sheet of paper about as
large as a lady's pocket handkerchief,
folded into squares about four inches.
Valentines day as a love festival
has lost much of its significance dur
ing the last fifty years. 1t is so much
easier to buy the pierced hearts and
flying cupids and to trust hat the
sentiments found IN them may be ap-
prOpriate. Still there are many chill
dren in all parts of the world who are
designing their own valentines and
writing their own sentiments. Some
of these designs are crude. others are
elaborate and beautiful. A bright red
heart and a golden arrow are among
the favOrite designs.
hSl l. ho Souhsiy "hSIS thV var
entineS are prettier and more original
in design than in France: this is part
ly because EEL to this day the chill
dren love the name of St. Valentine.
So they are careful in making these
tokens of love. German boys are rich
in sentiment, though they do love a
soldiers cap and a gun. American
men may be shy about expressing
their feeling. but American boys are
not. and SO Billy makes short work in
telling Dorothy that he loves her.
The years have gone by. and young
men and women think no more of the
kind. gentle priest who sacrificed his
life on the altar of love. Yet chill
dren. with their true feeling of graft
tude. will always love and remember
tho pOOd Eropch DriaSr who 1ovod
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

them. and. although the sentimental
lists are prone to decry the decadencs
of the day. the dealers declare Eat
artistically the valentine is in its hey.
day. and that never were the offer.
inss so varied or SO beautiful as they
have been this year.
Many new ideas have appeared, but
hearts as usual seem to be one of the
prevailing designs. There are delicate
little hand-painted hearts. interviewer
with dainty baby ribbon: there are
large red hearts. tied in rich red
satin ribbon. forming a background
for an artistically designed Cupid.
Then there are small red hearts, with
sweet little love messages. and flow
cred hearts, enshrining mischievous
Cupids.
The most artistic valentines, per-
haps, appear on the plain white OBJ
long cards, some with delicate water
color designs: others in india ink. US
ually in each ease showing the head
or bust portrait of some beautiful so
ciety girl. A silhouette of a pretty
girl. with a pen and ink inscription be-
low. forms one unique and artistic de-
sign. Then there is a fOur-leaf clover
valentine. The card is a neat white
Oblong, with a heart-shaped depression
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

multitude Is a treasured remembrance.
All through the afternoon and even
ing store boxes, steps and pOrches
were utilized by speilbinders. polit-
ically bubbling v and. as lodging
quarters for the host we're out OF tho
question. speechmaking. at sporadic in
tervals. broke out until the morning
hour. BY a chance. deemed good luek.
climbed to the top Of q tanning Min
standing on the platform at the sta
tion. and curled up in the hopper, OUT
OF all danger Of being stumbled over
or stepped on. 1t was not exactly Of
the shape to fit the human form. 10
the form had to assume a shape to ae
1t. 1t "a a coveted place to rest.
however, but when I awOke in broad
daylight there was an ex~cruciatins
stiffness In the joints of my frOst-cov-
cred body which made it exceedingly
hard to get on the perch. and some
time elapsed before normal shape vas
assumed. cast. as I had been. in q hon
per mold. Not until Chicago was
reached was the delight of a squar
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08
MISSIVCS

Something new is doing this year
III ne va. of valentines. The cid
style Of :,lirg. IN the'line of Cupid's
niiS>i.cS appropriate to the season
has c.nc out rather suddenly. and has
".cn *l.. r.ei"d by an entirely move
sa>B.on.
Ia the first place. the long familiar
co.a.r valentines have gone out"
entirely. OF course. one NAV buy
Them Al th. penny stores" on alley
corners. and. in all probability. SINH
lar ones will be sold IN such places
centuries ence. But they are only fOr
the yulgar-anG the very vulgar al
hat. The verses printed on them are
usually abusive and often nasty. and
persons who send them through the
mails are commonly inspired by mo-
lives Of malice.
The Few style of humorous valentine
appeals TO the taste of decent people.
I: Is really funny, and no calculated
to injure anybody's feelings. Their
only purpose seems 10 be to enSender
chcerfuln.sS and merriment. and such
verses as accompany them are not
trrne. in a spirit of ridicule. They
make 10 fun of the old maiG-favorite
0hlect of the old fashioned comic"
and aim no envenomed shaft at the
physical popularity or moral weak
ness of this or that recipient.
Some OF these new comic valentines
are ~pasteboard jinsle-jacks. ~cleverly
designed. which are made to undergo
amusing %contOrtiOns by the pulling of
q string. There is a German boy
Jingle jack. with a sausage in one
hand and a pretzel in the other: an
irishMan Jingle jack. a schoolgirl jim
gle sack with a slate in her hand. and
a Topsy Jingle jack carrying a slice
Hf watermelon. Each of them bears on
its breast a heart. with the Inscription.
To my Valentine"
4 delightfully."- comic goose. wear
ing a nichtcap and a shawl. with an
umhSrella of the Camp" pattern
under its wing. bears the inscription.
IL you say no. and let me loose.
rou will he a great big goose" In an
CHER valentine two pussy eats. at
tired as bowling swells in p%antaloons
and dress coats. are making love I o
a f~aShionably dressed young Tabby in
skirts. This is called The Rivals
and is particularly cute.
Loves kilograms" are decidedly a
novelty in the line of valentines. They
are got up much after the style OF
real telegramS. and a printed warning
AZ the top state. that if there be any
doubt as 10 the accuracy of the mes
sage, 1T al be repeated verbally by
the sender on receipt of ten kisses"
A figure of Cupid carrying a pen
thrust through a pair of hearts adOrns
the telegram. which is. as a matter of
course. written in verse. for example:
To Ny Valentine:
Wire date-can't wait-be Qutfk:
Ioee-Sick-no Joke-heart broke.
Quite as amusing in its way is the
valentine passport. which is got up in
the style Of the documents issued by
the department of state in Washington
f!f the convenience of American citi-
= going abroad. The seal on il
bears the words. Department of
Love" with a pair of hearts thrust
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

ite tenderness of heart irradiated every
lineament and made it beautiful. as
rugged scenery becomes charming in
the play of sunlight and shadow.
The fair grounds had been selected
as the speaking place of the great
gathering. and a dozen stands, per
haps. erected. for no one mans voice
could reach One-tenth of the listeners.
Senator Lyman Trumbull. Illinois. Sen
atOr DOOlittle, Wisconsin. and scores of
lesser lights were there to discuss at
length the grave issues with an earn
est intensity not eGHaled since the re-
public was born. The defiant and
threatening m%utterings of the south
ern wing of the democracy were full
Of OminOus fOrebOdings and seemed to
inspire the orators of the occasion.
About 3 O'Clock a barOuche, drawn
by white horses. brought Lincoln TO
the grounds. The crowd was too dense
for the team 10 be driven to the stand,
so he alighted and was born upon stall
wart shoulders. They were 80 jOstled
that it kept the great man waving
very much like a turkey perched upon
a slender branch in a high wind. The
sight vas somewhat ludicrOuS, but he
could not fall, for there were too
many hands eager to hold him up.
deeming it a privilege to but touch the
hem of his garment. His trousers were
pushed up to his knees, and. though
but an humble spectator of the scene.
l may be called an assistant in car-
rying the precious burden. for |
grasped one ankle. The platform was
finally reached, and. with air of heaven
caressing and tossing his locks. he
made a brief address in acknowledge
ment of the honor OF being chosen as
the exponent of the young party SO
sOOn to take the reins of government
in its giant hands. He was a natural
orator. with a charming voice, and his
usually heavy eyes lighted up and re-
fiected the fire of his Utmost soul as
he warmed to his subject, and a pc
culiar sweetness irradiated his fea-
lures, which in repOse had not a Inca
ment of anything but sadness. II ever
an invoking spirit came to the sur
face. it was the spirit Of Abraham Lin
coin. The recollection of those few
minutes when he was addressing the
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08
IlincoIn's Response.

An enthusiastic supporter from Buf
falO made the trip to Washington
during the civil war to see President
Lincoln. The visitor, whose name was
Johnson. had prepared this polite
speech to address to the president, "a
he reached him at the public recep-
ton: The people of Buffalo. sir. be-
lieve in Almighty God and in Abra-
ham Lincoln
The president gave an extra warm
grasp of his visitors hand. whisper
ing in his ear: You tell them that
they are more than half right."-Buf-
falO Courier.
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08

meal experienced. a fast of nearly four
days. in which time no boots or gar
ments had been shufiled OF. no face
washed save in watermelon juice: but
as in the economy of our nature pains
are not remembered, the recollection
of that excursion with its collateral de-
lights, is pleasant to recall.
The Columbus journal., 1905-02-08
HEARD LINCOLN IN 1860.

Ohda"er Writes Of an Excursion From Chicago to Springfield N. WhrsH Hell FRS Listened
4" Speech from the holof the West