davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12

quickly headeu IL, wnen ensueo tne ronowing
scene:
Finding itself baked, the wild one drew
its head under its shell, tucked in its legs
and tail, and remained quite motionless. The
decoy then crawled round it and began to tap
the others shell-at first very gently, and
presently loud enough for me to hear the
raps.
Asada encouraged it by shouting, drum
ming, and expressions of endearment, such
as:
Good, my beautiful child All, now he will
yieldl"
In short time, the wild one began to
then it projected its horny head winked
and blinked lazily and finally followed its
Fcompanion, which, still keeping near it, be-
gan to move toward the old man
Asada yelled frantically, beat his tambour
rapidly, and went upon his knees Just ahead
of the pair, shutting back as they advanced,
and crying:
is most admirable!"
After making the creatures walk twice
round the yard he gave them some morsels
of paste made OF marsh-plants and command
ed the tame tortoise to return its mate to its
cage. This proved somewhat difficult task,
the wild one evincing great determination to
explore the yard. However, by dint Of strik-
ing it with his head, and running full tilt
against it. the trained reptile succeeded and,
to my amusement, pushed back the door OF
the prison, and boosted the troublesome tor
toise in.
The exhibition was accompanied by shouts,
yells and drumming on the part of the tor
tanner, who watched his pupils move
ments, and did everything but touch them.
After the tame fellow had secured its charge,
it scrambled toward the old man and received
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12

It's reward-an atom of the aforementioned
paste.
Now" smilingly remarked Asada. "I will
show you some of those have lately tanned"
He rose, brought eight cages from the hut,
and tumbling out their contents, seized his
tambour, then, setting small stand in the
centre of the yard, began to drum and shout
his directions, as follows:
oh, yes! oh, yes Honorable sirsi Form q
line, form a line! Come, put out your heads
and legs, and straighten your taper tails. The
gentleman from afar is eager to behold your
wonderful exhibition! Now, don't be dream
ing like Buddhist priests! The sun is shin
ing and the air is full of fragrance, which
you cannot hna enjoy as long as you keep your
peeping at me! Yes, it is ], your teacher,
Asada! Form line, form a Incl Walk with
dignity, like noblemen! Show our honorable
guest you are wellbred city tortoises; not
clowns from the muddy fields of Sinagawa.
More lively-lively-th way-this way!
Good! Ali That is excellent"
To my amaZement, the creatures fell into
line and crawled toward the stand, which
was elevated about eight inches from the
ed upon each others backs and formed sort
Of pyramid, remain patiently in that posi-
tion until their trainer ceased striking his
tambour when they ANONYMOUSLY tumbled
off, landed on their convex shells, and re-
manned kicking and struggling until Asada
righted them with his tambour stick
As he was rewarding the tortoises with the
mysterious paste, inquired what it was made
Of on which he twitched his mouth and rolled
his eyes, the japanese equivalent for winking,
and replied:
"Ah, my respected master, that l cannot
tell you; it is the secret of the tortoise-tam-
er."
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12

ranged around the sides of the one apart
ment of his dwelling-place and apparently
quite reconciled to their captivity.
Asada was seated on the matted floor smok-
ing tiny -bowled pipe, and addressing the
he was dressed in pilgrims garb, wore
long trowsers of white cotton, and straw
sandals, and about his head was tied col
ored towel. Fastened to his girdle were two
double gourds, fan, his pipe-case purse
and tobaeco-pouch, and resting on the floor
was his tambour, the centre of which was
worn white with use.
he received me very politely, and, after
inquiring whether his noise had annoyed. me.
asked if l would like to see him train his pu-
pills; also, if l desired to buy pet tortoise.
Upon finding that l merely came to learn
how he conquered the apparent stupidity Of
the reptiles, he led the way into the back
yard, and, placing mat for me to sit upon.
brought a number Of the Gagged creatures
from the hut and began his explanation as
follows:
"You will observe, sama-equivalent to nv
lord, or honorable sir-thatS these tortoises,
while seeming to be very dull, are really as
intelligent as ourselves. They. have no Ian
guagee, in which to express their thoughts,
but they readily communicate with one an,
other by taps and signs. This" taking fat
specimen from its cage, "is my decoy He is
twenty years old, and knows his business
perfectly. Now, watch him make wild fel-
10y follow him"
Thus speaking, he released a second rep
tile from it's cage, whereupon it started for
the fence, pursued by the tame tortoise, which
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12
How Captured ny First SIaver

places, sticking out of the windlass and on
looking over the bows we saw the cable
straight up and down.
''She must have been just getting under
way, sir as we came III sightp exclaimed the
coxswain.
"Then, if SO, she has her cargo of slaves
already on board" / thought glancing at the
main hatchway, which was closely covered
over.
"Clear away that hatch"
The order was quickly obeyed.
A horrible sight met our eyes as, through
the sickening atmosphere that arose from that
pit of misery, we glanced upon mass of close
ly-packed humanity.
The slaves nearest the hatchway we're hasti.
" dragged on deck. until room sufficient had
been made for our men to get below.
My own heart was grateful enough at hav-
ing been the means of setting them free; and
thinking that perhaps a few words of Eng
lish or Spanish might have been picked up
from trading vessels, 1 began to speak, when
-crashl-a round shot came tearing through
the side, burying itself in the chest of ne
gro sitting by me.
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12

slipping from their hands and floating astern.
Merton and had just time to give one
shot apiece in return, when we dashed along
side, and the slaver's fire ceased.
So low was the schooner in the water that
i was easy work enough to climb up into
the main-chains.
Then, with one spring, gained the deck,
the boats crew following close behind.
The enemy had aed-not soul was left
on deck. Running to the side nearest the
shore, / saw the last of them disappearing in
the bush.
Evidently, as soon as we came alongside
the slaver's crew had jumped on shore, not
caring to wait for any exchange OF cutlass
blows.
What proud moment was that when
trod the deck OF my first prize! And now to
overhaul her
Several muskets, bearing traces of having
been recently dishcharged, were lying about;
but, although there were fittings amidships
for a gun, yet there was no "Long Tom" on
board now, rather lucky circumstance for
us, as one shot might have blown our boat
out Of the water.
On the forecastle the bars were in their
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12

The next moment l was on deck.
From an elevated spot of ground abreast
Of the schooner, the smoke rising up from
discharged gun showed the position Of the
enemy.
Quick, men! Man the windlass and get
the anchor up!"
How the men strained and tugged at the
windlass At last, just as third Shot struck
us, with one tremendous pull, up came the
reluctant anchor from its muddy bed at The
rivers bottom, and to my intense relief, the
schooner began to move.
Slowly we passed the bend of the river
from whence we had first caught sight Of
the SLAYER, and once more we were in the main
stream
Shortly after, we ran close into shore
where all the freed slaves were allowed to
land, and after considerable difficulty work.
ed the boat outside and turned her over to
Captain Stanley, who, although | diso5eyed
ORDERS did not hesitate to compliment me 80
warmly that my cheeks tingled with blushes;
while young Merton was confident that the
for his assistance
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12
Copyright by James Elverson,.

~7URING my residence in Toxic, the
lib capital of Japan, / became ac-
quainted with some very dron char
AI acters, among them being an old
sszs-S fellow named Asada, who dwelt in
lane at the back of my garden, and
existed by capturing and tanning tortoises. He
was an aino from the Island of Yeso, and, un-
like the pure-blooded japanese, wore a beard,
a ragged, gray tinge, that made his face re
semble the pictures of water deity.
As soon as spring came Asada would start
for the swamps in the neighborhood of the
city in search of what he termed his 'pupils,' .
and when he had captured several dozens,
would proceed to train them, his apparatus
being tambour or narrow drum covered
with snake-skin, upon which he beat with
a hardwood stick.
! used to hear him trum-trumming' all
day long, shouting to his pupils in a hoarse
voice, and encouraging them to persevere in
their lesson, speaking just as schoolmaster
would to his class.
This finally aroused my curiosity, SO one
morning / strolled down to his hut, and sur
prised him in the midst of his pets.
The tortoises, which were OF various kinds
and sizes, were inclosed in bamboo cages
Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12
n o w
Continued from Preceding Page

Sails, being now of no more use, were low
cred, and oars got out. Cautiously we pulled
around the bend of the river
| looked ahead, and there, not hundred
yards off, was the loveliest schooner ever man
set eyes upon, lying close to the bank, with
sails loose.
The decks were crowded with men, both
white and black, and padding round the YES
sci was whole feet of small canoes.
A shout rose up from the schooner's deck
as our boats nose showed around the point,
and at the sound the negroes in the canoes
gave one look, and then padded away in
terror.
"Hurrah, my lads!" / called out. ga dozen
good strokes, and she is oursl"
As spoke, however, a puff Of white smoke
from the schooner, and little splash in the
water Just ahead of the boat, showed that the
prize was not to be gained without struggle.
A second puff, and then whole rattle Of
musketry sent the bullets pinging all around.
We were rapidly closing now. Indeed, it
was high time. Two of our men fell back
ward from the thwarts. wounded. the oars
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-24
THE FARM LABOR PROBLEM.

From all over the country there
come complaints of the scarcity Of
farm hands. There is a shortage in
Montana, in Kansas and in the south.
J. A. Taylor. president of the National
Ginners' association, to the cotton con-
ference at Asheville said in this con-
nection:
Now, a few words as to the labor
situation in the south. which is the
most serious problem the planters
have to solve in the central and east
ern part of the belt. The demand for
labor in the cities-in the cotton mills,
lumber mills, on the railroads and
various other industries, many Of
which are comparatively new in the
south. has increased so much in the
last few years that labor Is getting
very scarce on the plantations, not
withstanding wages have been ad-
vaneed nearly 100 per cent in the last
ten years.
A few days ago the Savannah News.
published in the heart of the naval
stores belt, had this to say concerning
the problem on the turpentine farms
$50 scarce is labor on the turpentine
farms that naval stores factors in this
city are considering the ACCESSIBILITY Of
calling a convention of Georgia, South
Carolina and Florida naval stores
operators for the purpose of seeing if
something cannot be done to increase
the labor supply. Unless labor can be
had. the output will be short, and
factors may not be able to collect their
advances. The negro cannot be de-
pended upon for steady work"
The Atlanta Constitution comment
ing on the situation says.
The farmers Of Georgia, from ore
end Of the state to the other. will bear
testimony to the fact that the shortage
Of labor is an embarrassing reality on
every variety of plantation-turpenti
and all the others. In some localities
the problem is more acute than in
others. But it is present everywhere,
to an extent. and it is each month
growing more complicated"
Nowhere Is there noted a lack Of
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-24
FIGHTING AGAINST DUST.

United States Consul McNally re-
ports to the government from Liege
that the Swiss antitrust league is war
ring on the principal factors Of dust
composition.
The process under consideration are
oiling, watering with deliquescent salts
and tarring. The first consists in
spreading upon a wen swept road
heavy oil obtained from distilled Pc
troleum. During a dry and warm
period the spreading process is done
with a brush. These oils are obtained
in California, Galicia and Baku. and
cost from IS to SO a barrel.
For tarring the product used is a
coal tar. the product OF gas works. 1t
is black and vfscous and It's density
varies from 10 to 1.25. It can be
applied hot or cold. It's boiling point
varies between 10 degrees and 80 de-
grees, and thereafter it is impossible
to raise It to higher temperature.
The spreading with watering pots
must be done during a warm and dry
period. The road, which has been
thoroughly cleaned before the applica-
ton OF the tar. must then be carefully
and gently brushed and traffic must be
suspended over 1t for at least twenty
four hours. The quality Of tar prefer
able for lasting use is the product
from gas made by carburated water.
1t is said that these three antidust
processes have given general satisfac-
ton, and the numerous trials made
under the supervision OF the league in
Switzerland demonstrate that the tar
obtained as above is the most eff1ca-
cious OF anything heretofore tried.
The league urges frequent and sub
stantial demonstrations Of dust set
Ting processes, and estimates the cost
to be but nominal. The French gov
eminent, after a four years trial of
the tarring method, have obtained
satisfactory results fully justifying the
expense OF from 2 Il to cents per
square yard. The annual economy on
the wear and tear is found to be about
2 cents a square yard, and for water
ing, 1 cent a square yard, so that the
process of tarring is Of no expense
while its benefits are evident.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-24
JAYHA WKER JOTy

lola authorities have decided that the
dandelion must go.
The Socialists will nominate g full
county ticket in Gray county.
At Beattie the fire engine was stolen
and taken six miles out Of town.
La Harpe has a population Of ISIS
and the assessor could ind only four
pianos in the ,own.
The Episcopal church at Blue Rapids
has new baptisTnal font OF solid mar
bic Weighing 500 pounds.
Grasshoppers are so troublesome in
Finney county that the farmers are
raising turkeys to eat the pests.
Out at Lebanon q man took q light
into the cellar where a gas plant was
located. The coroner did the rest.
People contemplating moving to
Spearvi1le are notified that it's no use
to come until more houses can be built.
Oiled in bed" is the headline over
an item in a western Kansas paper.
Probably intended as a warning to sleep
standing.
In the Jewell county Republican con-
vention a motion to strike from the
platform a resolution endorsing the
state ticket received los votes, four less
than a majority.
Mrs. Sallie Houston Carr. a niece of
Gen. Sam Houston, and the woman who
sang Annie Laurie at the closing Of
the recent D. A r. congress in Wash
ington once lived at Lakin.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-24
T-HE ANTTPAss AMENDMENT.

Fear has been expressed in some
quarters that there IS a Joker" con-
ceaied somewhere in the railroad rate
bill That there is a joke in it is be-
yond question.
Nothing more Iudicrous ia the way Of
legislation has been seen in long
time, than the anti-pass feature Of the
bill as it left the senate. Summarized
it IS as follows:
Free passes may not be given by
carrier, directly or indirectly, to any
one except:
omcers, agents and employees Of the
road.
The immediate families Of such.
Actual and bona flde attorneys Of the
roads and their immediate families
Ministers of religion.
Inmates Of hospitals and eleemosy-
nary and charitable institutions, indi-
gents, destitute and homeless persons,
and agents Of hospitals accompanying
such persons to or from hospitals,
homes, etc.
Ex-union soldiers or sailors; inmates
OF soldiers or sailors homes national or
state.
Persons transported on account Of
charity from and to places visited by
calamity, epidemic or pestilence.
Owners and caretakers OF live stock
when going to or returning from points
Of delivery OF stock.
Officers. agents Of, employees of roads
that interchange passes with the issuing
road, and the immediate families Of
such officers, etc.
In the present commerce act there is
no direct prohibition Of the granting Of
free passes, but there are provisions
against undue or unreasonable prefer
ences to persons, corporations, etc.
It is estimated that the exemptions
in the new law will extend to about
Z. coz, 900 people and it might be stretch
ed farther than that.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-24

Same by the evening train, ! shall be-
gin to scream.
.sxes2'' he calmly replied.
I shall run down the path shouting
for l.Y eslH.'
7 shall meet people and declare that
you threatened me think you viii
understand what that VIII mean to
your
-scertainIy, but there are loopholes in
your plan. Fer instance I have no less
than three witnesses concealed behind
the rocks up here. Then have tele-
Tommy is in custody at Lyons. I also
have a second stating that his extradi-
ton papers, for which have been wait
ing. these many days. are ready for
me-
where do I come IMP" she asked
after a while.
You don't come in. Tommy did the
enpezzlings and you simply ran away
with him. So far as my instructions
go, you are to be left behind here in
Europe to enjoy yourself as best you
may No doubt you have some OF the
stolen money to pay your bills with.
but I was not instructed to arrest you.
was simply keeping tab on you until
the papers were ready for Tommy Is
there anything more to say2's
Sir, I do not know your answered
the widow as she arose and started
down the path by her lonesome.
And SO you go away to Lyons ?" re-
peated the landlord after the judge
had announced his intentions.
Yes; have to co.
ada?"
81 must leave her in your keeping.
We have had misunderstanding
You know how cantankerous Amer
I lean widows are
Maria said the landlord to his
wife that evening, II may be mag
nificent and I may not. The widower
and the widow have quarreIed and he
has started for Lyons, and It NAV be
that he will never come back to plead
fer a reconciliation. The main noinf
however, is that charged him two ex-
tras for falling in love with another
guest Of my house and falling ous
again, and maybe l am magnificent
after all. - Copyright, 1905, by P.
c. Eastment.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-24
A working Model.

Sometimes the rigors of patent ONCE
proceed are not without their hu-
morous side. A New York attorney
filed an application for improvements
in centrifugal pump. The patent Of
fee examiner declared the invention
imperative, and demanded a working
model. The patent Office was requested
to send an examiner to Trenton to in
spect the machine in actual operation,
but this the office refused to do. The
attorney therefore, politely sent a
seven-ton pump to the patent office
from Trenton to satisfy a skeptical ex-
aminer. according to the Scientific
American Twenty-one men were re-
quired to get it into the examiners
office-RaiIWay Age.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-24
POINTED PARAGRAPHS
IRON the Chleago

FFrom the Chicago News.l
Corner lots are not always dirt
cheap.
OF two evils pass the first up and
turn the other down.
1t takes a woman to put I'D pre-
serves-and man to put up for them.
May we say that the mob at an inn
promptu hanging is one kind Of string
band?
The wise wife has a weigh of her
own, but lets her husband have his
own way.
There are times when an actor
doesn't eggs-actly like to see things
coming his way
It's a mean man who viii bunlxo his
wife by not leaving any change in his
pocket.
A receiver for Zion City would dis
cover first of all that the place was
about out Of peace.
The Judge may charge the jury, but
it is usually the defendant who IS com
PEELED to pay the freight.
1t has been noticed that the average
man would dispose Of lot Of his ex-
perience for 30 cents on the dollar.
A woman can gain her point in an
argument In much less time than she
can gain it at the end of a lead pencil
While the average woman displays
good judgment at a bargain sale. she
usually gets the worst OF It when 1t
comes to selecting a husband.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-24

The only business operated by the
United States government today=and
that by explicit provision of the ma
tional constitutions the pcstofflce.
In the number of persons employed,
moreover, this is the largest business
concern in the country Just how
vast are its operations and how all
most marvellous has been its growth
may be seen in the developments of
the New York postohice since the first
year Of WashingtOn's presidency. The
average receipts of the New York
Office for just a little over half a day,
during 1905, exceeded the entire re-
ceipts of the national postofice dur
ing the year 1889. The gross revenue
OF this metropolitan Office for the fiscal
year ending June 80, last, exceeded by
good margin the combined receipts
of Alabama, Mississippi Alaska, Ari-
iona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware,
Florida, Idaho, Indian Territory
Maine, Louisiana. Nevada, New Hamp-
shire, New Mexico, North Carolina,
North Dakota, oklahoma, Oregon,
Rhode Island, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West
Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.
It exceeded by more than one and a
half millions of dollars the combined
postal revenues of Boston, San Fran
cisco. St. Louis, Buffalo, Milwaukee,
and Cincinnati.
New York did a larger postal bust
ness in that year than the whole
state Of Illinois, including Chicago;
than Pennsylvania, including Phila-
delphia and Pittsburg; than Massa-
chusetts, including Boston.
Station o. one of the thirty-seven
branches Of the New York office, has
a greater gross revenue than the post
Office at Buffalo or Milwaukee; the
receipts of station P exceed those of
Milwaukee by about fifteen thousand
dollars, while the business transacted
at four other branch stations is great
er than the business of the postof1ces
in many of the large cities Of the
country. The territory covered by the
New York postoff1ce embraces only
the boroughs of Manhattan and the
Bronx. The postal needs of other
parts of the greater city are served
by independent postofhces, ranging
in Importance from Brooklyn, with its
annual revenue of two millions, to
Bayside, n. Y, with a revenue of a
little over two thousand. The gross
revenues of the postoffices in the
greater city aggregate S,537,7769S.
The New York Postofice:
Its Achievement and It's Needs" by
Louis z. Van Norman, in the Amer
lean Monthly Review of Reviews for
May.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-05-24
GLOBE SIGHTS.
EFrom the Atchison Globe. ]

from the AlCi14SOA ATAODS.1
Unless all your fool notions are
"babied," are you mad?
This is probably the favorite saying
Of women, 20 he'll get over 1t.
Say what you please about improve
ment, the best strawberries are wild
ones.
When a woman is jealous Of her
husband there is pretty apt to be room
for Jealousy
It won't do to tell every man he has
big feet, and you shouldn't say It to
any woman.
A man just starting into law suit
has more faith in courts than his at
torney ever claims to have.
When a girl is spoken of as being
pretty there is always some one around
to say: ''She knows it, too
When some doctors perform an
operation, you can bet it is a serious
one; serious because SO wretchedly
performed.
Four years ago last March Lysander
John Appleton painted his house, and
the ladder has been leaning up against
it ever since.
II am afraid Of a certain school
teacher. Last night dreamed that
she met me on the streets, and, order
ing me to hold out my hand, whipped
me with ruler. Drake Watson.