davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18

One of the unique features of the coming Jamestown exposition will be the display of the great Dismal Swamp to visitors. The management of the exposition is planning for water serv- Ice which will enable those who wish to do so to penetrate the 1000 square miles of wild scenery comprised with In this almost worthless section of Virginia and North Carolina. And in preparing for this feature of the expo sition, the management declares that the word dismal Is misnomer.
 Everybody, of course, at one time or another has heard of the Dismal Swamp. Oyer 100 years ago Thomas Moore, the Irish poet. made wonder ful ballad about 1t, immortalizing lady in white canoe. the opaqueness of the mystery of the swamp, the un- ending search there of an unhappy lover. Moore's poem was full of weird beauty; perhaps to it are traceable many of the customary impressions of khe country. Moore sang:
 Away to the Dismal Swamp he speeds;
 His path was rugged and sore,
 Through the tangled juniper, beds of
 reeds, And many fen where the serpent feeds,
 And man never trod before.
 "But oft from the Indian hunters camp
 This maid and her lover so true. Arc seen at the hour of midnight damp, To cross the lake by a ffrefiy lamp
 And paddle their white canoe"
 During the ante-bellum days, the Dismal Swamp used to be the hiding
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18

which was dug for the purpose o floating timber out of the swamp. Tt the westward of the lowlands the an cient shore of the ocean Is clearly and sharply defined.
 The geologists believe that at one period of remote time. the ocean rolled over the swamp and over thousands oi square miles of eastern Virginia and of North Carolina at the lower end oI the Chesapeake bay. In support of the belief is the undoIbted fact that the tertiary deposit of Virginia is the youngest and best formation in the state. So the soil is pliable. tillabie and productive.
 The swamp is largely covered with juniper timber. by which the waters are strongly impregnated with medici. nal qualities. Peaty formation is definite: in plsces,vegetable mould ex. ists from ten to 15 feet deep. Occa. sionally fires break out in the swamp. If the season be unusually rainless, the water recedes from the surface, leay. ing 1t dry to a depth of three or four feet and . fine temptation for . con. migration. The fires then burn Into the peaty mass slowly for weeks and weeks. until at last the heavy rains of the wet season come and qu9nch the smouldering mass and restore the va ter to the surface again.
 The canal has been . great commer. cial benefit to the Dismal Swamp, be- cause it has done the work of drain. age system. In the days of the colo nists the swamp vas infinitely more marsh-like than at present. but with the completion of the canal 1t was ob- served that large areas of morass be- came trasersable for pedestrians. To day an extensive portion is used for agricultural purposes. In the North Carolina section a large sheep ranch thrivcs
 From the grounds of the Jamestown exposition Lake Drummond is % miles distant. But although the means of traveling to the lake are now quite in- adequate, the management of the ex- position has made plans to bring about such radical improvement ss will male daily excursions to the recesses Of the region entirely feasible and attractive
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
\ DOUBLE THREAD

"What kind of yarn is this?" young Henderson asked. as he meekly held up his hands and received the white skein on the generous pegs they formed.
 Shetland foss,' the girl replied. bending her pretty head to untie a knot. Wait: you have to hold two skeins-the pink and the white. un- wind from both at once. This shawl is all knitted with double thread. There! Now you may talk If you like"
 T do like. I want some advice. Madeline"
 She wound her ball.
 And, of course. I always come to my Athene when I need advice"
 "Your-?"
 xAthene. the goddess of truth and divine wisdom. Same as Minerva. you know"
 "Oh. yes. I heard of her once, be- lieve-and also of George Washington. It was your possessive pronoun was questioning
 "0h! Well, I'm not going, to change thst--not if can help it. In fact r."
 Be careful, please. Keep the skein taut; that's right. It's quite an art. holding yarn properly. you see. One mustn't let one's mind wander"
 Madeline. sec here: Is it fact that every girl. no matter how unattraciive she may be. gets at least one proposal of marriage. and that most girls have more than one?"
 More than one, Well. rather, Why. in my own experience"
 Yes? In your own experiencer
 Well. not to be personal, I've known girls. and they were nothing un- usual. either. who could come very near recording a fresh proposal in their diaries every night of the week. Of course. they weren't all nrst-time proposals. That's counting the men who were asking the second Of third time. say"
 Second or third, Do you mean to say any man would have the nerve to do that!-
 She laughed gayly. They do,'
 T read . book last week. and there was chapter on How to Propose
 By a man. wasn't it.~
 "Yes.N
 T thought likely. Any high school girl could give you more useful points than the wisest man in the world. when It comes to that subject. In the first place. the vital question. if you really want the girl. isn't how to pro pose. at all. It's how to take your re fusal"
 What do you mean--
 T mean that you can almost always win her on the second or third asking provided your department has been correct at the time Of the frst reiec- ton
 -welI. sheII eet no secoad or third askinG from me.-
 Madeline vent on winding
 At Ieast. I tcnr fhiak she vould- R veuid be too rerfos . matter v1tk ne-
 lGssulIns ssus1 ssa vgos.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18

place for runaway slaves. Hither they made with common purpose; every. where in the south, among the blacks. the Dismal Swamp came to be known as a place of refuge for rcnegades from tho plantations and Simon Le. grees.
 But the tragic element of tho whole fugitive situation was not the swamp with the repellent and malignant name. but the paths leading thither. the long routes across the southland slavery states. So the possibility of . runaway negro from Louisiana reach ing the swamp was always reWote enough. yet if P were successful in making that region. The swamp was very truly . heaven to him. In 1t were always plenty ot game and security. There, ssid the ante and post bellum legends. were whole tribes of negroes. strange black tribes wherein a de scendant of African kings might agair be the ruler of his kind and of blacks fro.a every corner Of Africa. wherein a descendant of . plain subject or slave of kings was very likely the ruler of all he surveyed
 Here. at all events. the negro soon relapssd into . primitive state. that is. lived . lazy. semi-savage life. hunted. tished and slept, fought when elemen- :aI passions aroused themselves, com nitfed occasional depredations on the border settlements. and acknowledged sIlegiahce to the strongest individual. Few negroes voluntarily left the swamp for civilization
 Necessarily the word "dismal' had tremendous power of suggestion for an manner of weird tales and delu- sions. Tor yesrs the region was com moniy looked upon as . place of dread and malignity. an unfertile. unhealthy and unproftable section of the map. Of other value. practical or aesthetical. or both. to men of past generations the Dismal Swamp had little or noth- ing at all
 However. that far-seeing parsonage. (;eorse Washington. ventured to have some respect for those 1000 square niles of the new country. AS early s. f1s5, Washington surveyed the swamp. subsequently, he fc-med the
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
Up..o-oate "chain Gang"

A novel experiment is about to, be tried by the government of Victoria, Australia. A sum of s25. 1000 has been placed in the Administrations esti. mate for the making of roads by pris- oners through the bush" in unsettled parts of the state. Each prisoner who does his work we'll will be paid regu- lar daily wage, the amount to accumu. late until his release. when. as the pre- mier says. he will have . respectable sum with which to make . new start in life" The labor party is expected to oppose the use of bond for free la Dor.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
Italian omei.I,. Cow.

Italian cficiais have a mania for sending teiegrams-at the public ex- pense. A sub-prefect in Sicily had his COW stolen recently, and within q short period 900 telegrams had been dispatched. not only all over Sicily, but over the Italian peninsula This waste of money was too much for the prime minister. anj he has ordered the subprefect 10 Iay the expeuses of the wires. amounting to about eleo. The GOV has not yet been found.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
A New Hobby.

The ingenuity of collectors in the discovery of new fields having been exhausted, there is still open to them that of collecting the finest specimen of forged or spurious works of art, and this is capable of becoming a hobby scarcely less interesting or ad- mirable than the pursuit of the genu. inc article.-Art Journal.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
Quarter . .cluoo,e..

Rupert Hughes in the Broadway de- picts the Texas oil flelds. Some oe tho expressions used by the natives aro quaintly picturesque Listen, honey" says one of the characters. "can you hear the, gluggle-gluggleslusgls?- that's the oil coming out of the ground every four gluggles means . dollar. Don't be afraid"
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
Poetic lds. of indiana.

Possibly the most beautiful of burial customs known among aboriginal peo- pie was that which prevailed among the Iroquois Indians. of freeing a cap tive bird over the grave of the dead on the night of burial to carry the soul of the departed to the Spirit Land.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
Fur suslnsss orowure.

The number of skins of fur-bsarlne animals obtained every year in BEitish America is much greater thaa M VI half . century ago. Muskrats 0uk number all other animals trapped of killed for their furs in Canada, by . large margin. and these rodents yioao about million pelts annually.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
Horssshos Superstition.

In the latter half of the seventeenth century a writer mentions that most of the houses in the west end of Lon. don were protected against witches by horseshoes nailed in them. As late as 1913 there were 17 horseshoes nailed up in one London street, but In 1S41 only i've remained.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18

See here. Madeline. do you think fellow ought to count definitely on being refused once or twice before she says 'Yesg"
 "It's safe,"t she answered. demure. ly. Often a girl doesn't know she loves man until she has refused him twice. But if he doesn't get her the second or third time, it's thanks to his own bungling."
 Well, this man in the book said 1t was selfish to wound a girls tender heart by making her say no more than once"
 "Oh, I don't doubt it! know just how his ideal proposal would go. It would be Remember. dear one. 1t is my philosophy to believe that we al ways get what is best for us in life; so, if you don't love me, shall be quite content. At the same time. if you do care for me, I shall be glad to marry you knew one man of that type myself. and his proposal came very near precipitating me into the arms of another man. Careful!. Hold the yarn up. What was say. ing! Oh. yes, this ether man dropped his face into his hands and let tear trickle through his fingers when told him No That vas the other ex. treme. of course. But, coming right after this cold-blooded. philosophical proposal, almost-There! You've done that again. Keep the skein taut, please"
 Henderson eyed her gloomily for . while. as she gave her whole atten- ton to winding.
 "I don't care." he said at last. "A girl has an unfair advantage. Here a fellow comes along with his heart in his throat. dead in earnest. never dreaming of loving any other girl, never tried proposing to any one. He doesn't think of it as a fine art-it's life and death to him-and there she sits, comparing him with a long line ot HiCuCSctSOic- Sl8e8lINlnK him, deciding which of her plans of treatment will suit his case. I don't like 1t: 1t isn't fair."
 "But you orget"-Madellne lowered her face to the skein and began un- twisting. or twisting. some threads you forget that. If the time should ever come when she wanted to say 'yes.' 1t would be a first experience for her, too" Her voice faltered.
 Let me see that tangle,- Tender. son put his face close to the skein.
 Then he whispered: T didn't mean 1t when I said I'd never ask a second timel I'll ask hundred times. T1l--
 ~Oh. oh. The ysrn.- she murmured ~what are you doing with the yarn. Why. vait-you haven't asked me once. yet,--Chicago Daily News.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
Money so Dsrn.

The big touring car had just vhizzed by with a roar like . gigan- tic rocket, and Pat and Nike turned to watch it disappear in . clo1l of dust
 Thin chus wagons must cost . hare av cash said Mike- The ricA is fairly bsrnin' money
 -An' the sneI1 ~ t. sniae1 Rat -R muse be thot tninsed nooev - c ns hsu1o' ss nseA ahszk-Dusum
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
cannon-saIl pre.srx.d e Rslle.

cannon-eaII Preserved @ Rslle.
 St. Patrick's cathedral in Dublin preserves cannon-ball as cheridAol relic. It is believed to be the idoati- cal ball that killed. at the sisge q Limerick. the famous Lord Loltus, whose tomb the cathedral also dAot ters. Close to the cannon-balI sro O pair of his rusty spurs.
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
mr. Csroosesss nemsmbero6.

sr. Csrensssst Rsmsrbsrsd.
 Miss Bsckbay-Yo1 are familiar, ia . eenenl vay. with paisontolog. are you nots Mr. Caro16oie<-So. dpnt reaenber that [ svsr Aappeaed ocsuss h Bet ! oDcs rso1 raIey a -Bvi6r1eo sf C1klssian1sy.- e - t1zng mD thnL v11 | vO c ", on6 [ 0uno ' ogc1 hnuV1 Un1z4
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
n mvss e.

NrsL osshIeish says it Is just lovely to bs narried to . nice old eputieman vho is willing to pay cre>~nskers snd miIliDers sad cit hack la . corner vhea younoef asd hands0uer u<n
 v.as ss ss1k sbost srs cd nssie asa
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
Ess,aa<.s nss.l Allnsss,.

I sa bsftsriy ussved ts ~ thsk afssr fssiins hsr pulse. bsoking i1to her eyes snd dfauo<lns her moral cooditioa. an forced to cpafs.s Eng lanf's uuoesus ars vpfy ba1-h
 the DusaEa vssshal b us Lsn1ss
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18
Hesty's rhevahsfslasss.

Mamma and I.- said Hetty. -ars both sakins medicine. but its vsry diGerset. yos knov. @ mamma has tied . string around Der bottle. so e so tell 1t from mine: nov I suppose m have to tie . string sround mine co as to tell it from hers.-
Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-18

- c uu1DW W1ua
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-02-07

see his shadow-if the sun is shielded
by clouds-the little animal stays
above the ground and seeks a partner
of the opposite gender to help him in
his housekeeping. If he sees his
shadow ramble in the open air is
out of the question, and he HES him
self back to his hole and Obscurity.
If Friday had been rainy and cloudy
an early spring might have been ,ex-
pected with all the assurance that is
due the representations of the sages
versed in the lore of the woods and the
animals. They assert that these signs
never fail. But as the sun shone
much Of the time during the day it is
sure sign that winter has not relax
ed its grip upon the land.
The official weather men in the en-
plOy of the government believe the
story of the ground hog to be purely
fictitious. They may be right about
this, but there are not lacking those
who attribute this skepticism to pro-
fessiOnal jealousy.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-02-07
MANY MULE MORTGAGES.
The prayers Are Going on Record in
Large Numbers.

The prayers Are Going on Record in
Large Numbers.
There is no doubt where the mule
sis at" This sturdy and patient fell
low never fails to go ION record, -
and he is doing so this year in larger
numbers perhaps than ever before.
A great many mule mortgages have
been recorded in the clerks office of
this county during the past two or
three months, and they are still being
filed for record. There are a great
many fine mules in Terrell county, but
these mortgages show that many of
them were bought on credit. Parties
who have bought them, however, will
be able to pay for them if cotton con-
tinues to bring a good price, but if
there should be heavy decline in the
price of cotton next fall it will bring
about a financial crisis.
Clerk Dozier says more mortgages
are being recorded now than in sew
eral years before.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-02-07
EFEKNESS OF THE POLITICIAN
:, O B. Chester's Theme Sunday Night Was "The
Character of Moses" Who Was Both Meek and
Strong Some Thoughts on Patriotism

Something's wrong! and I'm the man
to right it," Moses patriotism was
not on that order.
Inc higher order of patriotism is
That which prays instead of fights;
llves pure, honest lives, standing for
the Sabbath and righteousness, and
not that which spends and is spent in
running for Office. Perhaps only a
godIy man can be real patriot, for
the very essence OF it is self-sacrifice,
ana the only sane self-Sacrifice is an
outcome of goodness.
Moses and Lynch Law.
3rd. When Moses slew the Egyp-
tian, who was found beating an Israel
lite, he was guilty of something like
lynch law. That was wrong. He
could never have improved Israel S
condition by that method, but could
only nave caused complications and
Increased their burdens.
Mob law can never help US, and is
never an exhibition of strength and
courage, but of weakness and coward
ice.
Moses Mediator.
4th. He stood between the people
and God. He identified himself with
them, and made their case his. So
Jesus has identified Himself with US,
making our case His, and every man
who rests his case in Jesus hands is
safe.
The Morning Sermon.
In speaking Sunday morning of the
importance of regular attendance upon
church Mr. Chester said as a rule one
man has as much right to absent him
self as another, and quoted the follow
ing:
What sort of church would my church be,
II every church member was just like me-"
He asked that all make a personal
application as regards prayer-me
ing, Sunday night services, etc. He
said if all did as some do we would
close up the church, and call home all
our missionaries, which would mean
that our children be turned over to the
devil.
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-02-07
4 PIONEER PASSES AWAY
Judge J. M. Simmons Died Monday
Morning After Short Illness
With Pneumonia.

Judge J. NJ. Simmons died at IL
O'Clock Monday morning, at his home
on Stonewall street, after an illness
of four or five days with pneumoni2.
In Judge Simmons death Dawson
has lost one of its pioneer citizens.
He came here from Magnolia Springs,
Sumter county, in 1857, when Dawson
was scarcely more than crossroads
village, and for nearly fifty years was
identified with the town as citizen.
He was born in Madison county
Georgia, in 1881, and was therefore
"a years of age. AT one time he was
a Judge of the inferior court, and
since the war had served many years
as justice of the peace of this district.
For quarter of century or more he
was engaged in the cotton warehouse
business, and at the time of his death
was the senior member of the firm OF
Simmons q Hill.
Judge Simmons was also an enthu-
siaStic Mason, and was the only living
charter member of P. T. Schley Lodge.
He had served the lodge as Worship
full Master, and filed other positions
of honor and trust in it.
The interment occurred Tuesday
afternoon in Cedar Hill cemetery at 4
O'Clock. After religious services at
the home of the deceased the lodge OF
which he had so long been a devoted
member took charge of the remains
and laid them to rest with Masonic
hOnors.
The only member of Judge Sim
mons family who survives him is a
son, Mr.. J. G. Simmons, who is a
prominent business man and mayor OF
Graham, N. c..
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-02-07
TX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER
RrRERNATER OF HEDGES CRAWL
ED OUT AND BACK AGAIN.

round Hog Saw His Shadow Fri
day. and Thus Gave the Tip That
Spring Is Some Time Distant.
The ground hog saw his shadow
Friday
According to those wise in weather
Dre this is quiet tip that spring is
ONE time off.
The legend is that if the hibernater
II the hedges comes out of his hole on
February 2 and finds the sun shining
Ie retires and remains in doors
Month and a half.
Mortals who have never seen a
round hog, or know much about them,
how that February is the day when
bat festive animal throws aside his
|etiring disposition and takes look
i the outside world. This simple act
4 law as binding as that of the
&Iedes and Persians has for all time
|etermined whether or not the winter
laS broken and balmy spring is being
'Shered in.
This is the way the ground hog does
He walks out, and if he does not
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-02-07

h. subject of Rev. O. B. Chester's
nc 10 at the Methodist church
fco', aicht was "The Character of
no@' y and the minister drew from
OS w., If this godly man of ancient
l,'o = number of interesting thoughts
Lessons. He said;
His Weakness.
MANY think of meekness as a
Donvm of weakness. The opposite is
n01 A weak man is rarely, if ever,
uS I. Weakness is self-asserive,
+ ofttimes embarrassingly aggres-
Strong men are the meek men,
,,..k man contends for his own
w.. q meek man never for his own,
h for the rights of others
.r,a.os was the meekest and the
.,ost Of men. He was silent when
Itod and misrepresented, but when
Ia+rons IsraeIites insulted God he
40 down on them like a tornado.
His Patriotism.
o.d There is patriotism which
-as the country for what you can
L ont of it, and the dear people for
oir votes. Running for office is a
Mons proceeding, anyway. 1t is
I,,ivaIent to standing up and asking
neople to do me honor. That is
toakness and strength with a ven
|eance.
Moses patriotism caused him to
m his back upon political prefer
ant and turn away from the throne
\ the mightiest empire on earth to
Ct his lot with his people. He sought
i c,ip or honor for self, but all for
is people.
As q rule the word "patrotism"
,@gosts war, armies. marching, etc. =,
h Else a little politician screaming;
The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1906-02-07
letter to c. G. Ansley, Dawson, Ca

Dear Sir: Father and son: one is
glad the other is sad. Devoe lead
and-oil.
Mr. Charles Hollenbeck, Fair Ha.
ven, N. Y, painted his house Devoe
three years ago; his father, same time,
painted his house lead-and-oil.
The fathers house is all chalked-off
the sons is as good as new. They'll
paint the same way next time. Yours
truly f. w. DEVOE q Co.
P. S.-Bell Bros. sell our paint. &c