davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05
WRITING OF BEN HUR."
Interesting Facts Concerning the
Story Recalled by Death Of
It's Author.

The death of Gen. Lew" Wallace calls
renewed attention to the many interest
ing facts connected with his writing OF
Ben Hur," the novel which published
in 1880. is still selling in as great num-
bers 25 years after its publication as in
the year following its first appearance.
The book has never b<en issued in .
cheaper edition than the one in which
it was first published, while. on the other
hand, IA luxurious editions of it have
been brought out, TRANSACTIONS have
been made in language after language.
1t seems most remarkable that when
Gen. Wallace wrote the book he had
never been to the Holy Land. but worked
out the minute topography Of the coun-
try as 1t is presented in the story entire
~ from maps and reading. The author
once said to his publisher that when
eventually he did visit Palestine he Was
himself surprised at the absolute ac-
curacy OF lis descriptions, which Tailed
exactly with the actual conditions. and
he was fond of telling how he found the
very stone which he had imagined as
resting place for Ben Hur at 4 certain
point in the story. The book was writ
ten in all sorts of strange places-on
boats, railroads. in carriages, wherever
the author found opportunity. afterward
revising and correcting with great p.
uence and cara =,
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05
1UsSIA'S P1AYER.i

: Ests
''ool Of the Monarch. hear me-mine . Q
wOefui case: IS 5ss.z z# .*
Hsarken and heed my cryinE-Dsath 10 the
foe face! IS
Death to the things stand for. death to
the thing called Me- @~.*5ss # BE-
Hear as cry in terror up to the strength
OF Thee: ~ss#.=<ss = I'LL - III.
But the God who heard -. - '
Was a God unstirred !
BY the man-oppressor's cry;
And the ,monarch's prayer -
That was uttered there
Rang through 4 rcsponseless sky.
God Of the shackles, hea- me-God Of the
notsome mine
Hear az l cringe before Thee. craving Thy
help Divine
need
Hcarken to mel need Thee more than the
backs that bleed"
But the God above
Is God Of love,
And He piticd the peoples plight:
While the bad prayer fell
To the neither hell,
+ Where ruieth the Beast Of Night.
"God Of the bird un,ram.neled, God OF the
bloom and bee,
God Of the broken shackle, set all Tn,
children free!'
This Is the duplication sobbed through q
rain OF tears
Such are the applications God In Hi
mercy hears.
IS. 6. Gillian. in Baltimore American
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05
GO IN FOR EXPENSIVE MUSIC
Los Angeles Man Has Piano Made for
Him At Cost Of $40. 000-or-
gan Cost $3.50

Los Angeles. GAIA piano that, 50 far
as known, is the costliest in the world
has been placed in the music room Of
Edward l. Doheny's handsome home
in Chester place. 1t is concert grand,
the case fashioned in Louis XIV. style,
and heavily enameled in 14-carat gold
leaf.
More than two years elapsed between
placing the order in New York and its
delivery in Los Angeles. The instru-
ment is so exquisitely tuned that its
bell-like elearness and depth OF mel
ody would distinguish it instantly among
a score of lne pianos. 1t cost $4,000.
The case is the work OF Edward Dow
dali. of New York, noted rs 4 master
of decorative art. The face of the Id
is adorned with an allegorical scene
Apollo, with his harp, surrounded BY
goddesses and cupids, central among
them being the face of Doheny's so
and heir, from studies made when t1e
boy vas two years of age.
A local factory has about completsE
for Mr. and Mrs. Doheny a 81, 00d o.
gan, the pipes OF which will be gold
enameled, like the piano. An electrical
attachment will make possible the play
ing of both organ and piano from either
the first or second floor of the house.
These attachments win be connected
also with organ chimes" on the open
staircase and an echo" above the stairs.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05
A SHOPPING
DAY
By Il. n T. = H

" E met at hotel. and thought hey
w one Of the most charming women
had ever seen.
Refined and almost representative.
she struck me as being q woman OF
breeding and distinction. Yet on the
few occasions when, as our acquaint-
ance ripened. visited her at her smart
and elegantly appointed fiat, l felt an
instructive aversion to the friends and
acquaintances met there.
OF her people she seldom spoke-he:
parents were dead, she told me, and her
husband was abroad, but might be home
again at any time.
She was always exquisitely dressed
in the latest fashion and money seemed
abundant with her. She was an adept
shopper, quick at knowing what she
wanted, and quicker still at seeing it.
and was very glad when she offered to
pilot me through the difficult mazes oil
the winter sales.
am not possessed of large dress
allowance, and my wardrobe for the
coming season depends somewhat on
my successful purchases in sale times
Mrs. Vereker was just the guide TO help
me through. She possessed such perfec,
taste and felt quite safe in her hands
We sat one evening arranging what We
were to buy.
1T is better to go now when the frs.
rush of the sales is over" said Mrs. We're
ker. Il went the first three days my.
self. but the crowd was awful, and
there are still plenty OF things to be
had"
Did you pick up many things?"
asked.
She laid down the list she WAS max.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05

! tries of the American people lies in the
ability of the beef trust to fix the prices
OF the products of the ranchman and the
farmer. throughout every state and ter
rltory OF the United States, the price of
hogs, cattle and sheep, and consequent
~ the price OF wheat corn and oats.
This blow is aimed at every home and
every merchant of the hamlets, towns
and cities. for the old days of competi-
ton have been relegated to the past by
the big packing interests. The EN-
pire of the great Chicago combine de-
ties the law and has the public at its
mercy. At every turn Of the wheel it
; grows stronger and greater. more insid-
ious and more far-reaching. The beef
trust owns steam and electric railroads,
it owns factories, stockyards. mills,
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05
CONDITIONS THAT HAVE MADE ITS
REMARKABLE GROWTH
POSSIBLE.
PART OF the REFRIGERATOR CAR LINES
Humble Beginnings of the Men Who Built
This the Largest of American Indus
tries-Their Interesting
Personalities.
By CAMERON LANDoN.

This is page from the Arabian
Nights tales. with Aladdin outdone: the
story Of the rise Of the Armours, the
Swifts. and the Cudahys-the Armours
from the farm BARI yard near Stock
bridge, n. y. the Swifts from the killing
pen OF butcher shop in Barnstable,
Mass, the Cudahys from the peat boys
at Callan, in county Kilkenny, in Ire
land, to the height of an ability to or
Eanize an industrial combine with cap
stalization of $o00, 900, 900.
Less than half century has seen the
comparative poverty of the beef trust
magnates transformed to an opulence
beyond the dream Of king or courtier Of
century ago.
In 1866 the packing industry in Chica-
60, which the giant intellects Of Gus
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05
stockholders of the railroads suffer that
they may get the rake of.

stockholders of the railroads suffer that
they may get the rake of.
At the Threats Of the Railroads.
The packers have been at the throats
of the railroads since the early eighties.
when the Chicago. Milwaukee 4 st. Paul
railroad built to Kansas City and Oma-
ha, and to secure the meat business Of
fered to pay mileage charge for the use
Of the packers refrigerator cars. This
was an offer which the other Missouri
river railroads had soon to follow, and
thus was the mileage graft" saddled
upon the railroads Of the country.
There was time when the California
Fruit Transportation company was SUI
preme in the California fruit trade. But
the Armour interest got contrxct with
one OF the two great fruit shipping
houses by promising that house $40 4
car rebate on every car of fruit; then the
Swifts bought the rival concern, which
by reason of the decline OF it's business
as result of the Armour inroad had
gone to smash. and then by quiet mu-
tual agreement the Swifts and Armours
had things their own way.
The contracts with the railroads re-
Quire OF the roads that they use no other
refrigerator cars than those OF the beef
trust. called by 20 different names; they
require that the cars shall be returned
as speedily as possible. and in fact the
railroads give the preference to the beef
trust cars over their own few refrigerat-
or cars. The minimum loading weight
is as low as possible. so that the ship
ments shall require as many refrigerator
cars as possible. with consequent in.
crease in the mileage.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05

the hoof. He realized !; that he beef
business would surely grow and that the
economy of the new method would mean
: great deal OF money. He formed de-
termination which later discourage
nlents showed nothing could break to
succeed in shipping dressed beef.
About that time an inventor by the
name of Tiffany had invented and pat
ented q refrigerator car which promised
to be successful. He tried to get back
Ing, and Morris refused it. Gustavus
Swift, practically unknown asked the
railroads to furnish some of those cars
and he would furnish the dressed beef
for the east. The railroads refused To
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05

sent to Boston. When the idea was or
iginated OF charging for icing the charge
was fixed ct $50 for the trip. Later il
was advanced to $50. and now the icing
Of q car costs $45, about the same as the
freight. There are instances where the
charge for icing and for mileage is
greater than the tariff freight. But the
railroads are bound to collect the trusts
charges, light to get them, go into courts
at the railroads expense to get them, II
need be. The railroads are absolutely
mastered by the beef trust, partly for
the reason that there are large railroad
interests in the hands of the beef trust
magnates and they make the other
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05

ing and stared at me in dumb amaze
ment. Then her face cleared.
"Yes-no, not so very much Let me
see; l bought this tea-coat and some
hats and my new gray coat-that is all.
l believe"
She continued the list, and ut last l
rose with deep sigh of relief.
Its so good of you. Well 90 TO-
first and then on to Bond street,
glanced at the list-"and get the fur at
-;they can always be relied on to
really reduce things. I'll call for you
ut nine tomorrow. and we'll get Nor
man to lend me his motor"
Yes, do she said Il love a motor
we can go to double the number of
shops and spend the whole morning
looking round till We find exactly what
We want"
The next morning called for Mrs.
Vereker and found her waiting.
! Wont you find that coat too hot?"
I asked, as we reached the first of our
shops, and slipped OF my heavy mo-
toring coat.
mo, I love it," she replied; Il am
never too warm"-and drawing her VOL
luminous skirts across a pavement luck
lily clean, she swept into the shop with
her usual graceful, languid air.
! l bought my coat and selected some
lace, and went on to-, where chose
q few modest and one or two more ex-
pensive blouses. then we went on to
the third and last shop. When was
| choosing some ribbon in the multi-col-
ored ribbon department, Mrs. Vereker
| said to me:
Il am just going to the handkerchief:
will join you in the fur department.
sou are going there?"
Yes, shan't be long"
Nor l." she answered; Il am very
tired" I had finished my purchases
when she came back.
Are you ready? lam feeling so faint
Do yoa mind hurrying''
Tin just ready" said. this very
moment" and put my hand In my
mum to get my purse. There was no
purse there, and gave cry of dis
may. Mrs. Vereker!-my purse!-it's
gone!--and had s25 in it. had it
moment ago-1 must have put 1t down
in the ribbon department." i
let me pay" she began-but in
terrupted her. ...4.-. ...s..z... -.
-. Nonsense. It can't BE- really gone
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05

warehouses. elevators, and the state
ment was recently made that it also
owned politicians, legislators and con-
gressmen.
Birth Of Chicago Stockyards.
Chicago didn't have a cattle market
until John T. Alexander. of Jacksonville,
ILL.,. the biggest shipper of cattle in the
country at that time, in 1866 was offered
special inducements in railroad rates it
he would bring his cattle and hogs to
Chicago. Thus it was discrimination
in freight rates which started the indus
try. as it is unequal rates which built
up the beef trust. Alexander accepted
the of1er, moved to Chicago and his in
crease Of cattle shipments stimulated
rivalry between the Pennsylvania rail-
road and Jay Gould's road, the Erie,
which. in 1868, resulted in a cut-throat
rate war on livestock, which gave a
great uplift to the livestock interests in
Chicago. From that time on the pack
ing house business grew in Chicago, and
when Gustayus Swift in January, 1875,
arrived there to engage in livestock bus
mess. a new page in the history of the
industry was begun.
Colossal Achievements.
Swift Bros & Co. established it's main
slaughter house in Chicago, and estab-
lished branch houses in New York,
Pennsylvania, Connecticut. New Hamp-
shire. The annual business of Swift 4
Co.. when the combine is said to have
organized, was $200,000,000, and the
value of its capital stock was &C
copied at 315,OOO,000. 1t has branch
houses all over the east and west, and in
Europe. 1t has packing houses in St.
Paul, Kansas City, St. Joseph, St. Louis
and other cities. The death of Gustavus
Swift and Philip D. Armour did not take
place until both men had seen the re-
suits OF their achievements in mammoth
packing plants, and ledger figures of
millions. The control of the business is
virtually now in the hands of j. Ogden
Armour, who began work for his father
at $40 week as clerk. and who now is
the dominant factor in meats. grains.
fruits and dairy products in the United
States.
A Chapter Of Beginnings. =.
Only America can furnish examples of
such personal achievements as the life
stories Of Swift. Armour and the Cuda :
by brothers disclosed. Sandwich, Mass.
is a small town, and Gustavus Swift's
parental home near there was stony
and Improbable farm. When he was
born, June "a, 1899, there seemed no
prospect for the child but to live the pro-
sale life of farmer, such as his father
and his fathers father had been. He
grubbed amongs the stumps and the
stones and fought with nature for a
meager crop until he was 20 years old.
Then he moved to Barnstable, full OF
confidence that the ability he had shown
in buying and selling cattle, and swap
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05
PWZHo j HRn0l1P

tavus F. Swift. now dead, of Philip D.
Armour. now dead. and of Michael Cud-
ahy have developed to the industrial
mammoth of the present, had its small
beginning in the slaughter of 613 head
Of cattle.
A Billion Dollar Business.
In 1904 the product Of the beef trust
amounted to over billion dollars. In
1903 the combination slaughtered $751;
C97 head Of cattle.
So we'll laid were the plans of the
founders Of this monopoly that it has
gained q momentum beyond the power
Of its heads to control; the ever growing
stream Of its immense profits pours in
upon the beef trust from sources which
are so resistless that the downfall of
Standard Oil supremacy among trusts
seems certain.
Founders Of the Trust.
1t is tribute we'll earned by Gustavus
F. Swift and Philip D. Armour to say
they were the founders of the present
beef combine; that Michael Cudahy was
powerful aide-de-campand that Nelson
Norris, George H. Hammond and others
Of the Cudahy brothers had been able
assistants. The great advantage of the
combine over the Independent packers
was, like that of the Standard Oil COM
pany, rebates from railroads which gave
them immense profits when others were
doing business at a loss. The grip OF
the beef trust is upon so many more peo-
pie and affects the three meals per day
Of all of them so vitality that Standard
Oil empire is likely to be outdone unless
the present federal inquiry and the re-
cent decision of the United States SUI
preme court sustaining Judge Gross
cups injunction against trust methods
results in the enforcement of the laws
of the land.
The Standard Oil company deals in
oil and its products, and its profits are a
menace to the independence of the
American people. The beef trust goes
into far more homes and names the
price, not only for the fresh meat, the
salt meat and the smoked meat, for the
lard. the glue. the hides, the fertilizers.
all the products of the beef and hog but
the squeal,' but it also fixes the prices
for the fruits of California, because the
beef trust owns the refrigerator. cars
necessary to move that fruit. 1t names
the price for the cotton grower of the
south at which he may sell his product
because the cotton grower is dependent
on the beef trust for fertilizer for his
plantation or his ten acre field. The
fruit growers OF New York state and OF
Texas. of Colorado and of Cuba look to
Chicago for the figures by which to de-
termine their prices. and by the refriger-
ator car rates hundreds of producers
have been made and hundreds have been
ruined E:> .., -.
!. Public at It's Mercy.
The most serious blow to the indus
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05

trusts have impoverished farmers and
stockmen, have broken banks, have pre-
cipitated strikes, and have caused sui
cides, have ruined towns and cities, but
the personality of ]. Ogden Armour is
that of an interesting, manly and fine
type Of American manhood. At his sug-
gestion railroads may dismiss the gem
eral manager, and commission mer-
chants may be blacklisted and ruined,
for the beef trust is Unsuitable and re-
morseless, but J. Ogden Armour is re-
spected and cordially liked by the en-
ployes who know him, and although he
is hated in Wall street, among his
friends and business associations, and
fellow members Of his clubs, he is popu-
lar and a companion eagerly sought for.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05
ind | almost ran 70 he ribbea Depart

and almost ran 70 the ribboa DEPART
ment.
found the shopwalker and the %. 4
sistant-but no one had seen 1t, and
baskets Of ribbon were hastily searched
without result. Pill
1T is very dangerous to lay your
purse down In 4 crowd" said the shop
walker, who knew me well; Its only
wonder, madam, you didn't lose your
mum as we'll"
!went back disconsolate to the fur do.
partment.
Il am awfully sorry to have kept YOU
l began, trying not to show my yexa.
ton more than l. could help. Are yoo
better?"
She nodded and rose with haste. Yes,
but let's 60 il you don't mind, You
can come back again and make inquir-
les. 1t doesn't matter about your purse.
have heaps of things and bits Of fur
l do not want
Nonsense" said, "as though
should take yours"
But, my dear child. l have so man..
and surely a married woman can help 4
girl; besides dare say the purse will
turn up"
pardon me. madam"
"A grave-looking man in frock coat
slid past me and laid his hand firmly on
Mrs. Vereker's arm at the momen: sha
was just stepping into the motor.
What is it? This lady has left all
information about her purse" She
moved her arm haughtily.
The mans face grew graver.
Perhaps you viii! kindly come back
with me. It'syo we want. il you please.
| madam"
There was 4 faint sheer on the word
| madam" and Mrs. VerekeT's faca
| blanched.
What do you mean?" she stammered.
How dare you? Cannot you see am
| i'll and wish to go home at once?'
sprang to her side Never mind
about the wretched purse" said to the
| man. This lady is not we'll, let her 60
| home, and l will come back about tho
purse"
The man took NO notice of me, but
| bending to Mrs. Vereker said something
| that made her step suddenly back and
stand by his side. Then, to my utter
amazement, shaking obviously from
| head to foot, and without even looking
at me, she turned into the shop and I
| followed In bewildered dismay. ::
| 1t was soon over. A few minutes in =
private room and two female searchers
had taken the heavy coat, far heavier
now with lace and furs and flowers and
blouses that were marvelously fastened
in Its ample folds. Under her cloak aud
attached to her waist by firm hooks
! hung several furs and many pieces OF
costly lace.
| Mrs. Vereker, white as death, shovel
no sign of what she must be feeling. but
face, while slipped outside to the wait
ing man. He was talking to another
shopwalker, who, luckily, knew me we'll
What is it," / asked rs she q
thief?"-a silly question he answered at
once.
"One of the worst shopIifters in Lon
DON" he said, laconically. land yet
| we've never been able to catch her. Her
! husband is doing six months now for the
| very same thing. She knew you were
here, madam. and brought you to shield
her."
! But how did you find her ont to-day7.'
asked, aghast, land what did you SEQ
her take?"
something that belongs to you" ho
said. as he gravely handed me my
| purse-London Mail.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05
SUMMARY OF FACTS ABOUT
BEEF TRUST.

Statements taken from report
: Of Commissioner Of Commerce
James r. Garfield:
Profits from dressing beeves,
} 80 cents each.
Profits additional from by.
products, so cents per head.
Number Of cattle killed during
1903, 5.521 ,6e7 head.
Percentage Of total number Of
cattle slaughtered in United
States, As per cent.
Average price paid per hun.
dredweiQht, $4.45.
Average live weight in 1903
> was LIS pounds.
Average profit from operation
OF private refrigerator car lines,
IS cents per head.
Profit from refrigerator cars,
; II to II per cent. on investment.
Profit on slaughter Of cattle,
1871 to 1876 per cent. on invest
i! ment.
Number Of refrigerator car.
operated, $4,000.
PROFIT from charges tor Icing"
these cars, not considered in re-
port.
Industries controlled or prac-
ticaIly controlled by the beef
& trust" Fresh meat, salt meats,
smoked meats, canned meats,
fertilizers, melons in Colorado,
Colorado fruit, poultry, hides,
bristles, horn products, bone
products, refrigerator cars, Mich
ioan fruit, tropical fruits, eggs
and butter.
2 Efforts toward breaking the
5 monopoly.
Injunction granted in Chicago
: by Judge Grosseup, sustained by
) United States supreme court,
opinion unanimous.
( Eleven indictments under the
? German antitrust law and in
2 various states under state laws.
+ In Missouri packers found
: guilty as trust and fined 5000.
: Federal government investi-
3 gated "beef trust" and no prose.
cution is yet begun for violating
( Injunction or Sherman law.
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05
The First Refrigerator Cars.
as 4 lNZZk' Nk1ZERW IXxEIS/

Nelson Morris. who was rated as one
OF the cattle kings" in the Chicago
yards even then, had been experiment.
ing with the shipment of meats in box
cars packed with ice. These experiments
mad been very crude and not entirely
satisfactory to Morris, but Swift had
watched them with keen interest. He
seemed to have prophetic vision of the
present day. He could see that ii meats
could be shipped east dressed there
would be great saving over the method
OF the day, shipping live cattle, beef on
Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1905-04-05
Most Qpportune.

Most 0pportune.
Man Overboard-Help! Help!
Stranger--Whoy don't yez swim?
II don't know how -. " :.
Sure an we've got a eps chance TO
learn. - assell's. ) :. E.. . !