davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
AN AID TO HEARING.
Opera Glasses Help the Ears ms Well
m the Eyer.

Opera Glasses Help the Ears ms Well
az the Eyes.
"Hurry them along, please" said the
woman customer MS she left pair of
opera glasses for repairs at a Chest
nut street store. II can't hear well at
the thcater without them"
Another customer who was waiting
smiled when the woman left Mt her ap-
parent mistake. "She meant she could
not see," he observed.
NO" rejolned the optician; ''she
meant just what she said. Opera
glasses are an aid to hearing rs well
as to sight. You can prove 1t any time
you are seated well toward the rear III
theater by training the glasses on Il
singer. AS long rs you keep the singer
under scrutiny with the glasses you
will be able to follow the words Of the
song with ease. Drop the glasses ed
you will notice difference. 1t will
require more or less Of strain to
catch the enunciation distinctly.
by the use of opera glasses the
alter patron is enabled to note distinct
ly every movement of singers lips.
and the unconscious Zip reading great
ly aids the sense of hearing. If you
ever attend public meeting where II
Is impossible to get close to the speak
ers provide yourself with opera glasses,
and you will be surprised how greatly
they will aid you in hearing"
delphia Record.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
curionltIe. About Wood.

The strongest wood which grows
within the limits of the United States
is that known MS nutmeg hickory,
which nourishes OH the lower Arkansas
river. The most elastic is tamarack.
the black or shellbark standing not far
below. The wood with the least elias
ITCHY and lowest specific gravity is the
Fiscus aurea. The wood of the high
est specific gravity is the blue wood of
Texas and Mexico. The heaviest of the
foreign woods are the pomegranate
and the lignum vitae. and the lightest
is cork -Four hundred and thirteen
different species Of trees grow in the
various sections Of the country, and
Of this number sixteen, when perfectly
seasoned, will sink in water. These
woods of high specific gravity grow
mostly in the arid regions of New Mex.
leo, Arizona and Nevada.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
y.pnue,e Painting.

The Japanese, with their natural,
unsophisticated view of life, have ever
sought in their art to mirror what a
great painter and critic has termed
"men's primordial predictions" Art,
however, that seeks to embody pleas
ures founded Oh the unchanging prop
critics Of human nature must have
past MS well as future, must be able
to look backward as well as forward.
Not ones life labor, but that of many
generations, Is required. No people
have better understood this than the
Japanese. They have also clearly per
ceived that no art that is not true to
the changeless element in man can ell
dure, while, on the other hand, any
subject. however trivial, can he made
eternally attractive If only treated in
accordance with aesthetic law.
Japanese painting delights us by its
delicate fancy. Its poetry. its freedom,
Its spirit, but what gives these quail
ties special and enduring charm, what
makes the play of fancy never wearl-
some, the liberty never mere license,
is that they find expression in and
through framework of design SO fine
ly conceived that in it we see reflected
as In mirror the fundamental prlnci
pies which govern all true art.-W. NJ.
Cabot i'll Atlantic.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19

Law Notes relates that Albert E.
Pillsbury, former attorney general of
Massachusetts, on visiting the birth
place of Horace Greeley In Amherst,
N. H., noticed that there was no pla-
card about the place to inform the
public Of its historical interest Ac-
cordlngly he himself t;!cSad OH the
house n card which read: This is the
birthplace Of Horace Greeley" While
he was engaged ut this task a passing
native paused to read the card, and,
turning to Mr.. Pillsbury, he remarked
with some acidity: "Thc gall of some
of you fellers that hev made money in
the city is fairly sick'nin'- What do
you suppose folks here care whether
you was born on this farm or some
other farm? Them's my sentiments.
Mr.. Greeley, and don't you forgit It'll"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
Incentive. to Marriage.

Apparently the German town of
Haschmann does not believe in state
of single blessedness. Annual prizes
are offered to the men who wed the
ugliest, the most deformed and the old
est women in the town. Eighty dollars
is paid to the man who MARBLES the
ugliest. while but $50 is the reward for
the one marrying the cripple. All wom-
en- over forty who have been Tilted Mt
least twice bring their spouses sums
which vary according to the state OF
the fund, which was left by rich
resident of the town. The average
price paid Is $50 to each unless they
should be unusually numerous, while
the trustees are empowered to pay Il
larger sum when, in their Judgment, it
seems wise to hold forth II special in
ducement to procure TIE marriage of
some particularly unfortunate woman.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
CHANGING THE SUBJECT.
What Lincoln said When narve,
Ended Two Hours Talk.

What Lincoln Said When Harvey
Ended u Two Hours Talk.
The late Hon. Charles w. Slack told
the following of the Hon. Peter Har-
vey, the friend and biographer of Dan
lei Webster:
Mr.. Harvey was large man with IL
small voice and that pomposity of man
ner that many very diffldent men pos.
sess. Above everything he vailed and
prided himself upon his friendship with
the great expounder."
The first year of the War of the Re
bellion he went to Washington, and Oh
his return was asked how he liked
President Lincoln.
"Well," he said, mfr. Lincoln is u
very singular man. l went on to see
him, and told him that had been an
intimate personal friend of Daniel
Webster; that I had talked with him
so much on the affairs Of the country
that felt perfectly confident could
tell him exactly what Mr.. Webster
would advise in the present crisis, and
thereupon talked to Lincoln for two
solid hours. telling him Just what he
should do and what he should not do,
and. will you believe it. sir. when got
through all Mr.. Lincoln said was, us he
clapped his hand on my leg, Mr.. Har-
vey, what tremendous great calf you
have got. boston Herald.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
No Reason For Two Trips.

Patrick's wife was Ealing" and Pat
rick put on his Sunday best and
walked four miles to the doctors house
to tell him about her.
"Sow,' said the doctor, when lie
had heard all Patrick had to say and
had prepared some medicine. there is
something for your wife. I've written
the directions on the bottle and want
her to try it faithfully for a fortnight
Then, if it doesn't relieve her, come
to me again and l will give you an
other prescription"
Nov, doctller, see here" said Pat
rick, standing straight and looking
grlmly at the physician. "If you have
your doubts O. this curin' Mary, as it's
ivident you have by the way you spakc
why don't you give lie first what
you're goin' to give me lasty'
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19

Though we can neither tell whence
fashion comes. nor how, nor what it
will do next, nor why it was yesterday
one thing, today is something else and
tomorrow will be different, nor why
1t always has been, is now and proba-
bly, always will be obeyed, 1t moves
steadily forward into that realm Of
common sense where beauty and utili-
ty blend in perfect harmony and ever
keeps step with the progress of civil
cation and culture. No garment can
please the man of refined and cultivat-
ed taste, however correct 1t may be in
fit, however well it may be tailored or
however excellent the materials may
be of which 1t Is made, unless 1t is
fashionable, even though it violates no
law of art and Of itself is Il thing of
beauty, for without that indescribable
something that only fashion can give
it is like a flower without fragrance or
n tune without music.-Sartorial Art
Journal
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
The Useful Donkey,

IN Syria, says a traveller, saw q
donkey put to an extraordinary use.
one evening just before the dinner
hour in our tent the Arab cook rushed
hurricdly out of the door of the kitchen
tent with glass carafe in his hand.
He went UP TO the row Of donkeys,
horses and packages tethered close by
Selling the tail of the smallest of the
donkcys, lie hastily thrust it into the
carafe, gave it two or three vigorous
turns inside the bottle and then as
quickly removed the unconcerned tail.
Thus he had cieanSed the water bottle
for our dinner. 1t is in Syria also that
the strange fashion exists of shaving
the donkeys' coats in different ways,
much as II lady Of fashion shaves her
French poodle. a choice breed of don
keys, known as "Bagdad mules" is
much cherished i'll the neiglborhood of
Damascus. Their long, hairy coat,
usually of pure white or pale gray, adj
mits of fantastic clipping.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
pondero,.s Handel.

Handel was very large, weighing
over 200 pounds. His figure was I'M
wieldy and he rolled from side to side
rs he walked. His hands We're SO thick
and pondcrous that people wondered
how lie could play the harpsichord or
organ at all. His face was red and
coarse. with long nose, thick lower
lip and full chin with Il dimple in 1t.
His eyes We're prominent and eye
brows very full. He was monstrous
eater and at times drank heavily. His
conceit was sturendous, and he always
entertained the !l,ea dat there was no
music to be com. AIRED to his own. He
was boorish Il. ..-.;. M. ..iirk in tenn.
per, and when i.rita.cl Wo;.!i some
times give utterancc to Il robust oath
in the German language. His con-
temporaries said he looked like por
fer
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
ITO BE CONTINUED


"Who was tl:e Original Hiuebeard?'
asks Il writer in the London Chronicle
He continues: I'VE owe the familiar
Blucbeard Of the pailiomimc to Charles
Perrault. the Frcnclinan who publish
ed in 1G0G-97 his immortal stories of
'Bluebeard,' The Sleeping Beauty
Little Red Riding Hood and 'Cinder-
ella But 1t is very uncertain who, If
anybody, was Pcrrault's model for
Bluebeard. Some have supposed that
it was our Henry VIII, others that the
tale is Il lalnpoon upon the castle lords
of knight crrantry days in general.
Perhaps the favorite candidate has
been Giles de Rails. marshal of France.
who was hanged and burned in 1li0
for an awful series OF cr During
fourteen years lie Was lie. 90 a to have
kidSapcd about 100 children. tortured
them, sacrificed them to the devil,
burned their bodies and buried. their
bones in his castle grounds. But the
resemblance between his tale and Blue
boards is too slight 10 be convincing"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19

The custom OF giving knives to
brides was formerly common prac-
tice, when it was fashionable for wo-
men to Wear knives shcathed and sus-
pended from their girdles. A wedding
offered an opportunity of presenting
something novel or ornamental in the
cutlery line, and frequent reference to
such presents occurs in the plays of the
sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
liz the witch of Edmonton" 1913, for
instance, the bride is described as
wearing 1.-THE new pair of Sheffield
knives, fitted to one Sheath" A list
Of trinkets usually Worn by ladies'
about 1860 includes girdles, knives,
purses and pin cases. In Dekkcr's
match Me In London" 1851, the bride
says to her Jealous husband:
"see. at my girdle hang my wedding
knives:
With these dispatch me-"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19

1t is not always well to strut and
fret ones little hour upon the stage too
realistically. Macrcady. who threw
himself into his acting heart and soul,
used to tell funny stories about the eff
feet of his easy, colloquial manner
upon the players collected for his COM
pany In small provincial towns. Once
iii the play of William Tell he turned
to one Of these stupid rustics and put
the question. do you slloot!' SO natu-
rally that the man was quite thrown
off his guard, and, to his horror, replied,
"A little, sir. but I've never had go
with one OF them crossbows." Another
time i'll ''Nirgini,ls" he asked, DO you
wait for me to lead Virginia in, or will
you do 500" only to be greeted unex-
pectedly by the actor who played Icil-
ius with, why, really, sir. don't
care; just us you do it i'll London"
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
baking Watches.

II will be with you In a moment. I
must finish the baking of this batch
of watches first"
The speaker was jeweler. He said
as he worked:
81 suppose you are surprised at the
idea of watch baking. will explain.
The machinery Of Il watch is delicate,
yet 1t must work the same in winter
rs in summer, the same in Russia as
in Cairo, the same In the Sahara as in
Iceland. There is only one way to ac-
complish tliis-the watch must be reg
ulated to heat and cold.
81 am regulating these watches to
heat. Afterward, in refrigerator,
will regulate them to cold. Then
when they go out III the world they
won't disgrace themselves in any ell
mate Chronometers must be regulat-
cd more carefully than watches. They
are often Kept for weeks In tempera-
lures that are now zero and now 12O
degrees" Philadelphia Bulletin.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
Money Hotel Cashier. Di.like.

ut is n curious habit the great Amer
lean public has of wanting the kind of
money that hotel cashiers dislike and
have the least Of" said one Of those
useful functionnrics. "Many are the
times each day that l am called upon,
by ladies especially, for fifty cent
pieces. Ql.lrters won't answer. They
want half dollars, though why that
particular coin I've never been able to
understand. No cashier cares to keep
halves on hand, but always maintains
a good stock of quarters and dimes,
for the reason of their greater cOnven-
lcnce. Many of the guests also beg
for two dollar notes despite the fact
that of all forms of currency they are
the most Objectionable. We never
take them voluntarily and pay them
out as fast as they come in."-Wash-
ington Post
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
Torpedo Boats.

Torpedo boats do not ram the yes
sells against which they operate; they
simply discharge self propelllng torpe
does which, IL they strike the vessel,
explode and sink or otherwise damage
1t. Then, If not sunk by the eneny's
fire, the torpedo boat runs away and
after taking on m?re torpedoes is
ready for service again. Torpedo boats
are built very light and of enormous
speed. They cannot resist gun fire
and are easily sunk II hit even by com
parntively light shot; therefore they
operate to best advantage in the night.
SO that the threatened fleet has to be
very wide awake with its scarchlights
and Its light guns.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19

ER L oDOuI Ills lluiS A1CltS
"a ston, having finished her even
ing task of washing the sup
per dishes and putting the
kitchen in order, sat idly on u little
bench beside the doorway of her home.
Some pink roses hanging on bush
near at hand attracted her attention.
Reaching over, she plucked handful,
then, after bending an ear in the direc-
ton her mother had taken to visit
neighbor to assure herself that she was
not returning, arranged the blossom
coquettishly in the prim little knot OF
hair wound tightly at the back of her
head, saying softly: "When l hear her
coming I'll throw them out. Happen
she'll not stay long now darkness hath
fallen"
Sounds of approaching footsteps
crunching the earth heavily fell on her
ears, causing the girl to put her hand
to her head guilty. Then as u merry
whistle broke out on the evening air
she sank back with an appearance of
relief, leaving the roses untouched
"Pah! Ills Simon. she exclaimed.
81 might ha' known the sound of his
clumsy footballs! Lord knows l ha'
heard them often enough. The callant's
forever a-passing"
Presently Kempster reached the gar
den gate paused and, peerlng through
the gloom, saw the glimmer Of white
kc"chicf.
"Hetty, is't thou?' he said as he came
toward her.
'Yea, Simon, who else but dreary
me, pining all alone?" she said, rising,
with an affected sigh. ."Wilt enter?
The air is chill"
Stepping into the kitchen, she lighted
n candle that stood in readiness on a
small table and, setting two chairs near
the doorway, motioned to her visitor,
who stood hesltatingly at the threshold,
to be seated and took the other one her.
self.
"IhOse pink roses become thee, Het-
ty," Simon ventured to remark, re-
garding the young woman affectionate-
ly, his eyes glstcning with admiration
Of her fresh beauty.
Under the warmth of his glance uet-
| ty flushed slightly. "AIother would be
angered an she saw them," she said.
For time silence fell between
them, both looking out of doors at the
peaceful night.
Then Simon observed: "At home now
when l sit before the door alone O.
nights l look at my bushes hanging
| full of rose blossoms and think how q
woman about the house could make
| good use O. them to beautify herself.
AS It's" with a sentimental sigh and a
nervous wriggle, "they wither and die
away, the petals blown hither and
thither by the wind"
Under the glimmer of the candle his
round face wore pensive expression.
Hetty tossed her head as If she did
not understand either look or meaning,
exclaimfng with dislnterested friendli-
] ness: There's Sarah Ann Dugaine, ST.
mon. She maketh her boasts on her
love for flowers. Happen thou could
get her to wear thy blossoms"
Kempster shook his head. .
'I' truth, my mind dwelt not on good
Sarah" he said, signing again. "Nay,
Hetty, tits thoughts O. some one else
that doth disturb my peace-a little
black eyed maid as pretty and as
graceful as-as'-
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19

! The Witch Of J
| Cra9enstOne ]
By ANITA CLAY MUNOZ, /
thoro Loves nd Truth"
By ANITA CLAY MUNoZ,
Author of "In Love and Truth"

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
missed his way and lay there i'll of a
pest. All through the hours of his fever
and pain he moaned sorely for his lady
love, who, he lamented, was pining for
his presence and whom he feared he
would ne'er see again. / sold him one
Of these heart shapes, an, m'sieurs,"
the peddler announced triumphantly,
holding them high aloft in his hand,
that day the storm abated, the next he
began to mend, and ere many days he
Jared forth on his journey. And the
first thing saw as approached your
village, good sirs, was this same gal
liant riding by the side of most beau
tcous lady, both merry an the light Of
happy love shining in their eyes. Stand
ing by the waysde, pulled my hat off
to the ground ut their approach, an Sir
Godfrey La Fabienne"-he said the
name proudly-"with kind civility doff-
ed his hat in return an gave me pleas
ant greeting.
"'With all respect and reverence, my
lord,' quoth 1. The love charm hath
worked?'
1.-THE lady blushed, and my lord
threw me gold piece.
| Thou chargest not enough for thy
valuable wares, good fellow he quoth,
so will further compensate thee
"An' they rode away close together,
laughing gently, and SO great was the
love and happiness on their faces that
I watched them with tears in mine
eyes until they entered the forest"
Josiah Tnunston, who during this re-
cital had grown pale to the lips, with
trembling hands clutched the heart
shapes tighter.
"WhoIl buy. m'sieurs! Loves magic!
Whoe'er buys a Heart pcrforce must
soon buy II circlct..' the peddler cried,
not seeing his con;pmlion's agitation.
"Hast any charm tia. contains evilY
Josiah said in Il voice so low that he al
most whispered
The peddler regarded him curiously.
surely" he thought, that sour Wis
aged wight needs not evil charms. The
devil is close enough to him already"
But lie answered suavely: ut doth
happen that have small call for those
Most folks are afear of them. Once ]
had box of crosses that were said tc
be possessed of the devil, but they
brought me much sickness, sorrow and
bad luck, so soon got rid of them
Gentlemen, step up! Surely there's not
only one among We sweethearting
Who'll buy my wares?" he called out.
"Those crosses, man" Josiah inter
posed impatiently. Vert Of gold
. Where soldst thou them?'
aye, of pure gold. Only the nobil
ity bought them" he replied proudly
"'Twas in Paris sold them. All, goot
Sir" to timid young Puritan who had
approached, "an thou wilt take gold
en- circlet thou canst have it for s shil
llngs. Cheap, dirt cheap, but an
much in need Of money"
But the man, shaking his head as If
the price were too much, walked away.
master, wouldst thou like silver
cross? Diable. There is not much good
luck in them!" the vender continued
turning toward Josiah again. But, to
his surprise, the mans place was emp
ty, for Taunston, unnoticed by the
throng of bystanders that was interest
ed in the peddler and his wares, with
glistening triumphant eyes had passed
through the doorway and gone out into
the night. o
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
An Unmarried WIDOW.

1t would appear that the standard
of happiness of at least one African
widow in Manhattan had reached high
water mark, judging by this advertise
ment published n few days ago:
Widow. colored. age 81. with high school
training, vocalist. excellent cook. desires
husband same age or younger: awful
extremely fair. clean. sober, moral and
never been married. Address WIDOW.
The following personal, printed in u
metropolitan newspaper the other day,
deserves class by itself:
A European gentleman wishes to meet
an American who Is the typical daughter
of all that Is most admirable in our age;
one gifted with the bold frnnkness of I'M
derstanding, the enthusiasm of expcctan-
cy. the merry cheerfulness of superiority,
the psychicul and physical alertness Of
those Of tomorrow: the worldly indc-
pendcnce of this optlmist must be dupli-
Gated; view, matrimony.
FESTINA LENTE.
New York Press.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
Sellllit.

In Polynesia and the Pacific islands
generally the outer husk Of the cocoa
nut Is braided into strands of uniform
texture, known to the natives as sen
nit and used by them for a variety of
purposes. The framework of their
houses is held together by braided sell
nit, and the strakes of their boats ure
united by 1t. 1t Is the staple from
which string Is made to bind the adze
blade to its handle and to tie the diff
ferent parts of their implements Sc
curely together. In short, whatever
things are nailed or screwed or pegged
or glued In other lands are tied togcth-
er with sennit by the south sea Is
lander.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-07-19
English Fish Laws.

Fish. because Of Its tendency rapidly
to decompose, holds II peculiar position
among foods. In England 1t is the
subject of special act Of parliament
So long ago as 1903 men knew the evil
consequences resulting from eating
mackerel Of uncertain post mortem age.
SO they passed an act providing that
except during the hours of divine serv-
Ice this fish could be sold OH Sunday.
That act has never been repealed.