davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

Figures which describe the railways of the United
States In their organization and operations
nous to be almost beyond comprehension and belief
seyenty-fye years only have elapsed since the first
steam railway constructed and placed success
full operation To-day there are 215OOO miles Of track
In the United States, not including second tracks or
sidngs The methods of transportation which existed
when Stephenson experimental with his locomotive in
England were practically the as they had been
since the dawn Of history
How wonderful has been the transformation worked
by this mighty force in the worlds civilization how
great and nestimabe the benefits 1t has wrought how
vast the wealth 1t has created 1t has added to
pleasures as well to the comforts Of life Distance
has been annihinted. Through the ease and rapidty
Of communication thus provided those far apart in
lance brought near: the people of given section
enabled to enjoy the products of all other sections
however remote, and regions formerly inaccessible
unnhabited have become great centers Of population and
fch production TO trace the Of development of
the railway system Of the United States from its begin
ming down to the present time is to trace the history
and growth of the nations commercial and industrial
progress
OF the mileage now forming vast network over the
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
Trees for the Farm.

The linden or Eastwood Is a noble
tree and easily grown. The American,
Tilia americana, is better than the Eu-
ropean species. 1t has abundant flow
ers in July, which are full Of honey.
Both Aemrlcan and European beeches
are desirable for rural homes. They
are Of spreading habit and excellent
foliage, but, unfortunately, they are
somewhat difficult to establish. The
horse chestnut is shapely treo and
casts dense shade. 1t Is not advisable
to plant too near buildings. as the thick
foliage may interfere with proper sani-
tation. The tulip tree and the cucum-
Der tree are highly interesting. The
foliage of both is good, and the flowers
Of the former are abundant and snowy.
Plant rather late in the spring, stock
from four to six feet high being select
ed. If the wood dies to the ground the
first winter, which sometimes happens,
the young shoots must be thinned out
as they appear, to hasten the formation
Of a proper stem.-American Guilt
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
The CLEAN of Cold.

1t is no new thing-thls undlgnlfled
crowdlng of the mob to gaze at the
rich. If 1t becomes more desperate
game in this great city than 1t seems
ever to have been at any other time or
in any other country, it is because
there is so much less here to run after.
besides money, than has been the rule
In the rest Of the world. says New
York paper. Titles? We have them
not. Decorations? We forbid them.
Ancient honors? Very few Of them.
The military? We have shrunk that
down to so small and rudlmentary a
thing that the people seldom see It.
and have next to no chance to pay it
this tribute of admirlng interest. We
have stripped life of its ancient gilt
ter. We have kept nothing but the
CLEAN of gold to delight the peoples
eyes; and that CLEAN they will follow
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

entire country north and SOUTH and west 80 per
cent or 10000 Of the 2150O0 miles, has been
structed since the close of the Civil War In 1890
there were but % miles Of railway In operation In the
United States; in 1850 the mileage had grown only to
9021 miles. In 1870 there $1,000 miles, In 1880
this had increased to 9325O miles, 1889 to 1635OO
miles, and In 1900 1t had reached $500 miles,
To-day, If second third and fourth tracks and yards
and sdlngs be included, there 100000 miles Of
track.
Competition between carriers by rail, which formerly
prevailed and acted check restraint against un.
reasonable rates. has been to extent
and destroyed.
About one hundred persons control the boards Of
directors of railroads whose commercial value exceeds
90 cent of the total and whose earnings
80 cent of the total earnings Of the railways
of the United States.
In the short period of years the freight trae
has doubled, while the passenger traffic has increased
by about Is per cent.
How gigantic is the business be readily seen
from the fact that Increase of mill per on
the traffic of last year would have produced $174522
| OS9.-Toledo Blade.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
bleeding Incl. s.m

That us fast as one graft is found
out and abolished there are two others
Mt work plundering the people is
shown by the purchase of supplies for
the government offices. When the
scandal in the Postoftice Department
exposed such Republican rottenness.
many people fondly imagined that
since some Of the grafters We're pun
ished that the grating and extrava-
gance was abolished. But although
there has been improvement In the
Postoffice Department the price now
being paid for supplies in the other
departments shows grating or gross
ignorance. As red tape is a supposed
necessity in e government office, every
department buys large quantity, but
the price varies according to the pro-
pensities Of the purchasing agent. The
War Department paid SLAP for doz-
en- spools, while the State Department
paid S2.25. For oilers for the tyne
writer's the Navy Department paid 25
cents dozen, while the Interior De-
partment paid S1.10 per dozen. For
foolscap paper the Postoffice Depart
ment paid 6A cents a pound, while
the Navy Department paid 9.92 cents
q pound. For quart bottles of writing
fluid the Postoffice Department paid
$1.30 dozen, while the Department
of Justice paid $3.50 dozen. For
small bottles Of mucilage the postoffice
paid 81 cents dozen, while the War
Department paid $1.95. For quart bot
ties of mucilage there was even more
disparity, for while the postoffice paid
$1.65, the Department of Agriculture
paid s. and the Department of Justice
paid $3.S3.
"For tracing cloth thlrty-six inches
wide, twenty yards in each roll, the
War Department paid $3.50 n roll,
while all the other departments paid
as high as $614 roll for the same ar
ticle, sold by the same firm.
"There Is an interesting variety Of
prices in the table for copying Ink.
The Postoftice Department paid S1.7O
a dozen quart bottles; the Navy De-
partment, S57G; Treasury. $40; Com
merce and Labor, $3S5: Agriculture,
81; the Interior. $2.s2, and the Depart
ment of Justice, with Its usual high
price, $5.SS.
"For red ink the postofice paid "a
cents for one dozen two-ounce bot
ties; the War Department, 10 cents;
the Navy Department, 60 cents, and
the Agricultural Department, %
cents.'
1t will be noticed that the Postofflce
Department, where the scandals
caused shake-up and new Office
was created to purchase all the sup.
plies used, the prices now are the low.
est and presumably reasonable, but
what can be said of the buyers Of ali
the other departments who are pay
ing SO much more, in many cases dou
BILE?
From the Department Of Justice
which appears to be the most extrava
giant, or the greatest CRATER down t.
the Department of Agriculture. which
has been under suspicion for som,
time, there Is evident need Of bushes.
supervision. for the price paid TO
some articles IL more than the sam,
could bs beNsht Tor Of retalL
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
To Make Florida an Island.

"a canal of great Importance which
requires construction" writes Aus
tin Bierbower in his article, Canals
We Must Dig" in the Technical
World Magazine, ais across the
northern part of the peninsula Of
Florida. Such canal would save
700 miles between New Orleans and
New York, and about the same dis.
lance between our other Gulf and
Atlantic cities. Most vessels between
these ports must now go two days
out Of their way. and, when time is
so Important and the cost of sea
transportation so great, this cannot be
forever endured. Florida Is level,
and so can be cut without much diff
Guilty or expense; and there are
some streams which could be utilized
tor part Of the route
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

"Those muses." whispered the visit
or to Olympus, don't seem to wear
any more clothes than the law allows. !"
well, no. replied Apollo, who was
showing the party through. "You see.
the muses. feel that they owe great
debt to indecency, although indecency
is purely human creation. There
have been times, indeed, when indie
cency was all that kept the muses.
aliye,"-Puck.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
Walkiss hoppin' mad. He allus' lowed
Bert ,ud never he with the nnwdar |

Bert 'ud never be wuth the powder
to blow him to blazes MS farmer.
HE WIS mistaken about that,
though. Bert wus good boy to work
when there wasn't no music around
an he knew more about raisin' corn
an hogs than the old man did him
self. When the old man fn'ly died an
Bert got the place he raised bigger
crops than anybody in the township
an his stock took prizes ag'in an ag'in
at the fairs. Bert got tol'able well
fixed an the girls begun maxim. set
at him. Still, he don't pay no p'tick-
Ter attention to 'em. All his spare time
he put in at Pete's shop or he'd come
around an asst me to give him tune
on the OF fiddle. Wunst in while
he'd send off an buy him horn or
suthin', but he never made out to do
anythin' with 'em In the way Of play
In 'em.
"Fln'ly one night he went to the ".
ceum at Willow Bend schoolhouse an
there was gal there from Fairfax.
over in Atchison County, that was
visitin' Lew Meakin's folks. She'd
took lessons on the planner an Meak-
In hauled over his pianner to the
schoolhouse cost she could play. 1
was there that night an I'll never fer
git how Bert whistled and stomped
when she pounded out 'Silvery Waves
on that OIL square of Lewis. l saw
she was gal, but she wasn't no
spring chicken, an she was built a
good deal like a white oak fence rail-
about as long an with corners
most any way you turned her. Her
face wouldn't have been considered
SO blame homely If there had been
any homelier ones around, but there
wasn't
But Bert didn't care nothin' about
that. He jest nachally tried to stomp
hole In the floor, until she come agln
an give 'em The Maiden's Prayer,
Then he raised the roof an conducted
himself disorderly until he got The
Beautiful Blue Danube
Next mornin' he went over to Lew
Meakin's after seed potatoes. He wore
his best clothes an the gal played
'Silvry Waves for him.
"A night or two after that Bert says
to me: You can talk about your horns
an your fiddles an guitars. but to my
notion the pianner beats 'em ALL
'Two months after that he married
the gal an you could drive past the
house most any time o. day or night
after that an you could hear 'Sllvery
Waves or The Maiden's Prayer or
Blue Danube Judas! That woman
was homely.'
II calculate Bert was satisfied, !"
said the storekeeper.
II reckon he wus," said Hancock,
"The only thing ever made me doubt
1t wus one time about year after I
seen him at the county fair standln'
an watchin' a Teller that had one O.
these dewdads you hitch on to pian-
ner an 1t plays 1t for you. First time
I'd ever seen one, too. Bert's eyes
just stuck out of his head when the
Teller showed him how It worked an.
let him run II himself. 'Goshr he says
Any. piece you want says the
Teller. PAWN over a passle o. rolls 0,
paper that he'd been tesa!a' Into to
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

"What are you doing now?'
"I'm putting new patent safety
razor on the market"
Good thing?"
"Well, it's the kind Of razor that
impels the man who slaves with 1t to
go back to the regular shop again
and the professional BARRIERS pay me
a handsome salary for introducing it,"
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
FOND OF MUSIC.
Ia uB,. said washington Hancock
~~NN~~~o
~~~~~~


SN UB," said Washington Hancock
J0l to the boy with the voluminous
wooden comforter, who had ap-
preached the stove twanglng on a
jewsharp, TASK Rufe over there to let
you have piece of good stout string"
what fer?" inquired the boy.
ITO tie that blame thing to your
leg" answered Hancock. "Fasten IT
good an strong an then take the leg
out doors an exercise it."
Wash don't like music" observed
Sol Baker to Marvin Parsons, with a
grin. '"That's what makes him play
the fiddle 30 much.'
Hes fit fer treason, spells an STRAIT
agems." said Squire Burkholder in his
lyceum basso profundo. "There's
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

I'm fond O. music" said Hancock.
fitting his chair back against the salt
barrel. but l amt plum crazy over It.
like Bert Walkiss ulster be. en-
spare jewsharp most any time an
GIT along Jest about as WELL What
are you talkin' about music fer,
squire? You don't know The Old
Hundredth' from Sam Hill to Paw nm
No Pitch Hot"
"What was that about Bert Wal
kiss, Washi" asked Marvin Parsons
Bert was crazy about music" re-
piled Hancock. "He didn't play him
self never could make out to learn
anythin' = didn't know enough to
pound tin wash boiler with black
smiths rasp at shlvaree-but lie had
right smart O. admiration fer any
one that could. He'd come around to
my house while was practlcin' some
times an set an listen to me by the
hour with tears standin' in his eyes.
He got licked more times when he WIS
a young one fer follerin' the band
,dIOuuA tuuh AC lluKeTS an t0aa
ten times over. He'd go to meetln,
even, to hear the music. He couldn't
play, as said, but he wus allus irwin,
to. He'd buy jewsharp, like Glen
here, an work at 1t till he got his
own teeth all loose an everybody
else's set on aidge. Then he'd save up
fer mouth organ an rub blisters on
his lips. When he seen he couldn't do
nothin' with the mouth organ he gave
It away an bought him guitar an a
instruction book.
'That wasn't no good, either an, he
traded that to Pete Simpson, the bar.
Der. Pete got it down fine in about
a month. He could play the Span,
fish fandango' an 'Napoleon's March
an pick out the chords fer most any
kind " song. Then Bert nd come to
town an forget all about Ills tradin'.
sstttn' around In tho barber shop lid.
teala' Y Pete u uasar make old man
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
A GENUINE LETTER

The following letter was taken
down ON the machine exactly as the
small boy dictated it to his mother.
| My dear grandmamma: i have
made a scrap book in kindergarten.
We are going to Boston next fall.
am anyway. l am going to send you
this scrap book. l made this rabbit
tomorrow and l just finished it in
time to go in the scrap book. 1 can't
! go to kindergarten soc of the time
because | want to go to Boston.
School has let out and we are having
a vacation and l hope we will have
a good time. l love you-that's for
Edif-but love grandma and grand
pa too, you know and Edit too and a
KISS and three Kisses for each and
for grandma and for grandpa and for
Edit. And now lets see. The boys
now pretty soon will have a vacation
like l, and got some new boots and
some new shirt waists, and they are
blue-one's blue and ones white and
ones brown. And we have got dog
and we feed him with bread and milk
and in a big saucer. That's the truth.
And his dinner is bread and milk in
big saucer, in the same one, and
We nave lemonade sometimes. Now
this is something for Edit Some lem
onade what Edit haven't had, these
hot days. Now say something about
the scrap book to grandmamma. They
have got red thread and red pencils;
and mamma and my bouvvers nave
got some new shirts and some new
garters. A different kind. Hanna
cooked my lemonade one time. FRET
ty near last Sunday is coming. Il
have not the slightest idea what he
means by that. but he says it must
go in.) And Hannah and me is 60
ing out sometimes and eat dinner in
The park and come back for supper
time and If she Chats Edif) wants
to come back. she had better come
back quick and go out with us.
Sometimes eat chicken for my sup
per.
Goodby from
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

/, Il can't" said Maude, and then her
voice lowered. Pm too timid. and
my mother says parties will wear it
OFF, and they don't"
oh. said Anna, II know. Grand
ma told me. Move over and I'll tell
you all about It,
Grandma says she went on,
spreading her fingers and counting
them off; as she had seen Uncle
charlie do when he was discussing
things; grandma says that when peo.
pie are timdd, it is because they don't
remember other people She says
spose all the boys and girls said,
I'm too timid to play, and so I'll sit
IN corner and not smile or have
nice time What then? grandma
says. And then she says no matter
how scared you are, there might be
somebody feeling still worse, and so
go find that one, and tell them to
let's play games and eat ice cream
or maybe it's sherbet. Have you seen
any popping notices yet?" she broke
off.
No." said Maude. But how did
your grandma know where was? l
was hiding"
My grandma said specially under
the stairs laughed Anna. That was
good place to find people tlmider
tran you are. she said; and they might
be boys or maybe they might be girls.
And If you will come along now
know where the lady with the notices
is, and We'll get ours and be partners
all the rest of the party. And any
way, Willie fremont and his mother
would feel sorry if they knew two
OF their party folks were under the
steps. and thought they were scared.
So they went in to the games hand
IN hand; and when seven o'clock
came, and with it flock of maids
and big sisters, nobody had a better
time or said good-by more reluctantly
than the two tinid ones who had
started the party hiding under the
stirs.-Augusta Kortrecht in the
Youths Companion.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
U.ins a Romantic simile,

They We're walking out together on
cloudless night under the light Of
the big round moon, which seemed un-
usually bright and beautiful. Sudden
ly he stopped. clasped his hands and
cried rapturously:
"Oh, Nary Look at the moon to-
night. Isn't it beautlful-magnlfi-
cent?
Yes, amt it, William?" she re-
piled, with equal enthusiasm. at
looks just like n big fried egg, don't
1t, dearT'-London Judy.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

He is member Of the imperial privy
council and Of the first-class order of
the Rising Sun, has been prominent in
the Japanese foreign office, and repre-
sented his country at The Hague con-
ference. In japanese diplomacy he is
estimated as the superior of Mr.. Taxa
hlra and Of Baron Hyashi, minister to
London. The former served under
him us vice minister Of foreign affairs.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
TO Her.

She IL enshrined In my heart,
A treasured memory.
In all am she has a part,
And will have-till die.
When boar frost deck. the trees, and all
Is purest white below,
Upon het name softly CALI
She dearly loved the snow.
And when spring comes with all It's aow.
ers,
And birds FOR gladness sing,
And Joyous are the sunny hours,
sigh, "She loved the spring.
It's sweet to be remembered So
wonder II she knows,
And where this memory will 60
When my life here shall close.
o holy love! that sanctiaes
Our common earthly lives,
1t IL thy power that death defes,
And through all time survives.
) ---Westminster Gazette.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
MAYS HA1NY-DAY RHYME.

I've said 1T once, I've said 1t twice,
I've said it over and over,
But still the rain comes pouring down
See how it bends the clover!
Oh, If it storms like this all day;
No playmates can come near me,
III sing again my little rhyme
Perhaps the rain will near me-
Rain, rain, go away.
Come again anotker day;
Let the little children pay!"
Now, do you think the raindrops
heard?
For soon they ceased their tinkle,
And from the sky the clouds drew
back,
And left br 'ght blue wrinkle.
20 mamma, lock-" said little May,
Il think the rain must hear ne,
And see how very kind it is
Here is the sunshine near me.
Rain, rain, go away,
Come again her day;
Let the little children play!"
-Ninette NJ. Lowater, in the Chris
tian Register.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

machine. Here's 1.-THE Maiden's
Prayer" Try that
Not by jugful,' says Bert. Nor
yet "silvery Waves" ner 1.-THE Blue
Danube Waltz" Anythin' but Them
"An when he'd played suthln' else
the Teller handed him he let out a long
breath an looked over at Mis- Wal
kiss, who was standln' by the pickle
booth an seemed like part of the ex-
hibit. Only to think! he says. If
on'y I'd have waited! Blame my cats!
II on'y I'd have waited!"
"What made you doubt whether Bert
was satisfied" asked Baker, after
little pause.-Chicago Daily News.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

President Roosevelt has received a
Jolt that will teach him lesson about
trusts, rs his special commissioner to
Venezuela has virtually reported that
President Castro Is right and the as
phalt trust wrong.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

IF patience is virtue, Lopher is
one Of the most virtuous men on earth"
Got lots of patience, eh?"
Eyes, he's been sitting around for
ut least ten years. waiting for work."
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

The steel trust has at last raised
the wages of its workmen 10 per cent,
but the cost of living has increased 40
per GEN., and the tariff still protects
the steel trust over so per cent, SO the
trust still keeps ahead Of the game.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
JApAN,s NEW AMBASSADOR,

viscount siuzo Aoki, just appointed
successor to Mr.. Takahira. as Jap
anese ambassador to the United
States, is 60 years of age. and is con-
sidered man of foremost ability.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31


quarter
which
Armenans them wealthy
tn
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

"Why is this cheese so full of holes p"
That's all right. 1t needs all the
fresh air it can get" - Cleveland
Leader.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
Where They All Look Alike.

You want to marry my daughter,
you say. But don't recall that she has
ever mentioned you"
You surprise me. Isn't your name
Timmons?"
mo"
Excuse me, must have got into
the wrong flat."-Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

1t has been proposed to equip Lon.
don policemen with portable electric
batteries to feed electric lights ON their
helmets.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

II there anything more exaspssst.
w nan m indifferent slsEti
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
Her style of Dancin

On the Yukon, at distance of from
100 to 800 miles from the sea, there
are many points where the river is
20 miles wide.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

There is nothing better than a cheap
photograph for starting undealeable
callers pa the hQmewava path.
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31

Every year about $4,000 horses dlA
eg ars killed, " London, ~
Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-31
Along Story

Ascum-Say, old man. what did
your wife say to you when you got
in last night? 4
Lushley-Oh! Are you Just starting
on your two weeks vacation7
Ascum-No. Why7
Lushley-Then you won't have time
to listen. can't talk as fast as
she did.-Philadelphia Press.
Her Style of Dancing.
she-You're not dancing with your
wife tonight?
He-No; it's bad enough to have her
walk all over me when I'm at home!-
Yonkers Statesman.