davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10
THE FIRST AIR BRAKE.
What 1t Did When Westinghouse
Finally Won a Trial.

Persons who should have known bet
ter thought Westinghouse visionary
when they were told that he proposed
to stop a train by air. Nobody seem
ed inclined TO let him try his plan on
a real train, but they did not object to
his working a model of it in a shop
where he couldn't do any harm or in
volve anybody else in expense. He
knew his scheme would work, but he
could not make any one else believe it.
So he continued to sell his invention
for replacing derailed cars on the
tracks and to talk about his brake to
any railroad man who was willing to
listen.
"Well, have you ever stopped a train
with this air thing of yours?" they
would ask
No, he couldn't say that he had done
so. Nobody would let him try it even
on a train of dump cars.
One day he arrived in Pittsburg, sell
ing his other invention and talking
about his brake notion to a man con-
nected with a railroad out there.
That's a great idea of yours" said
the man. 1--WE will try it on our line"
So the officials of this railroad per-
mitted Westinghouse to put his new
"kickshaw'' on one of their trains.
But he had to agree to indemnify the
road for any damage that might be
caused to the train as the result of the
trials. The train was equipped. On
the designated day the confident in
ventor and a group of skeptical rail-
way men boarded the train on which
the first air brakes were fixed. Off
went the train on it's trial trip. The en-
gineer put on full speed, and just as
he had rounded a curve he saw ahead,
at a grade crossing and in the middle
of the track, a loaded wagon, a man
and q boy and balky horse. The en-
gineer moved his little lever, and the
first train that was ever stopped by
air pulled up at a standstill several
feet short of the obstruction.
Thus, on its first trial, the Westing-
house air brake saved life and prevent
ed damage to property. Thenceforward
talking was unnecessary; all that had
to be done was to make brakes. The
inventor thought of that clause secur-
ing compensation to the railroad for
any damage he might do to the train,
and he laughed. His fortune dated
from that day. He was then only
twenty-two.-Arthur Warren In Sue
cess
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10
Origin of "Chauffeur."

There were chauffeurs long before
automobiles. History tells us that
about the year 1895 men strangely ac-
coutered, their faces covered with SCOT
and their eyes carefully disguised, en-
tered by night farms and lonely habi-
tations and committed all sorts of dep
relations. They garroted their vic
tins, dragged them before a great fire,
where they burned the soles of their
feet and demanded information as to
the whereabouts of their money and
jewels; hence they were called "chauf-
feurs," name which frightened so
much our good OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Figaro.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10
BIRD AND BEAST.
Battle Between a Hawk and a Big
Black Dog Mink.


Silent as an owl in the black of night,
the hawk glided low on whist wings
across the little open space cleared by
the fallen maple, paused an almost i'm
perceptible instant above the unlisten-
ing squirrel, and then, wings closed,
dropped upon him with unerring talons.
But for some strange reason the har-
rier seemed powerless to bear away
his KILL while his angry, frightened
screams drowned out the dying squeak
Of the squirrel, he strove with great
rafting wing strokes to get purchase
on the air, but could not Over and
over again he struck downward with
his beak, apparently at the squirrel,
though of this, because of the blur of
his whipping wings, l could not be
sure. In a moment he half toppled
forward, and then, like a huge broken
winged partridge, he Topped about
among the tangled coils of roots, utter
ing meanwhile shrill screech on screech
that seemed fairly to lacerate his
throat. In but little more than it
takes to tell it a dozen klngbirds had
gathered, and were buzzing round the
struggling barrier like gadfiies round a
horse, adding their spiteful cries to his
harsh din; now a crow appeared out
throat for his hoarest cry; blue jays
flashed across the clearing and back
again in frenzy Of clamorous excite
ment; a swarm of chattering black
birds rushed into the tree above me
till its branches sagged and creaked
like those of a laboring tree over
weighted with fruit-all in an instant
bedlam was let loose round that old
wind wrecked maple.
Under cover of the uproar l crept
nearer and saw that big black dog
mink, his bulldog jaws clamped on
the upper leg of the barrier, was grim
ly fighting to pull him down from be-
hind, while the barrier, with the speed
of terror and hate, sought desperately
to reach his assailant with his beak.
1t looked as if the mink must win, for
the barrier was perceptibly weakening
in his vain counter attack; but q sud
den lift with the barriers long wings
half tore the mink from his hold and
swung him for one brief moment with
in distance of that rending beak.
Rip; big red cash gaped open on the
mink's writing flank, and he let go
and tumbled back among the roots.
Up leaped the hawk, his pearly white
breast streaked and blotched with
blood from his wounded leg. Like
magic the cries of all but the king
birds were hushed, while, still scream
ing with rage and hurt, the hawk rose
heavily skyward and marked his course
athwart the wind for the shelter of the
woods.-Harold S. Deming in Harperf
Nta on zsnc
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10

A lover of rare old china had col
lection that was the envy Of her visit
ors One day little girl came with
her mother for call, and, being seat
ed in the living room, wonderingly
eyed the array Of antique dishes. The
hostess was much pleased at the child's
evident admiration Of her treasures and
said, 'Well, my dear, what do you
think Of my china?" The child looked
up, and pity was in her eyes as she
asked, Hasn't you dot any pantry?"
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10

Welcome to the parents the puny
struggler, strong in his weakness, his
little arms more irresistible than the
soldiers, his lips touched with PERSIA
sion which Chatham and Pericles in
manhood had not. His unaffected
lamentations when he lifts UP his voice
on high, or, more beautiful, the sobblng
child, the face all liquid grief, as he
tries to swallow his vexation, soften
all hearts to pity and to mirthful and
clamorous compassion Emerson.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10

A traveller, speaking of some of the
oddities of Persian customs when view
ed with occidental eyes, said:
Depending as we do upon illusion
and scenic effects in our theaters, the
presentation Of Persian play by ma
tive performers strikes the westerner
as little short of ridiculous, the extreme
solemnity of all concerned making the
appeal to hilarity all the stronger. In
one of their favorite miracle plays the
prophet is supposed to ascend to heav-
en-, and this dramatic incident is ac-
complished by the very simple expedi-
ent of drawing him up from the stage
and out of sight with a block and
tackle. The tackle is attached to his
belt by an attendant in plain view of
the audience. So strong, however, is
the imaginative power in the oriental
that many of the onlookers will be OBJ
served weeping openly" - Harpers
Weekly
DeWitt'S M Haaa1 SaIVe
For Piles. Burns. Sores.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10
Not Matched.

"Mustache cups?" said the salesman.
eyes, sir. Here's pretty design. Cup
and saucer $19S"
But" said Mr.. Nurich, that amt
the saucer that goes with it."
ooh, yes"
"Not much it amt. There amt no
mustache guard on t."-Philadelphi
Press.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10

Monsieur" said the duelist's second,
"all is ready. Let me shake your
hand"
"Voilar exclaimed the duelist, with
chattering teeth Can you not see eet
ees shake too much as eet eesT'-
Philadelphia Ledger.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10
Merely n Precnution.

"Now, Lester" said the old codger
addressing his callow nephew in an
admonitory tone, sit is as proper that
you should pay the fiddler as it is to
liquidate any other debt, but it's a
fine exhibition of extry width betwixt
the eyes to inquire the fiddler's price
before the dance begins" Puck.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10
apples Improve cigars.

Possibly the best way to improve
cigars is to place very thin slices of
apple between them. This is familiar
practice among connoisseurs. Any old
apple will do-New York Press.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10
ANDREW PICCARDO
Freighter and Teamster
Jackson Gate Road.

Freight hauled from Martell depot
and other points at lowest rates.
All parties wanting freight from
Martell delivered promptly should
have the same addressed in care of
A. Piccardo, and send bills of lading
care Peter Piccardo Water ST.
e1 Is
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10

Use your gifts faithfully and they
shall be enlarged. Practice what you
know and you shall attain TO higher
nowledge-Arnold.
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10

The left side of the face is usually
considered by artists to be more beau
tiful than the right
Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-10

BUILDERS OF WATER WHEELS OF
- latest and most approved patterns, and
all kinds of sheet iron pipe Every description |
of mining and milling machinery made at the |
shortest notice. We desire to cali the attention
of blacksmiths and other workers in iron to the |
fact that we keep constantly on hand q large |
and complete stock of bar. refined and Norway |
on, gas pipe gas fittings, etc. which we will |
sell at the LOWEST CASH PRICES
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02

absence she would hear as soon as she entered the
house: "Come mother! Kiss Cuba; Home again9
Hello! helo!'' When the weather became warm
the cage was hung out ON the veranda, where Cuba
amused everybody within hearing by her quaint
speeches, and ready answers to questions.
One morning Mary busting the par1or,
and she heard, "Helo! hello! Good-by! good
by!' over and over again.
''To whom is Cuba chattering now9' she asked
herself, and tiptoes to the window. On the bot
tom of the cage were several sparrows picking up
the seeds that Cuba had dropped, the wires being
so far apart that the little birds could easily
press between them. The parrot sat on an upper
perch, contentedly looking down on her VISITORS
greeting every arrival with ''Hello!' and
politely bidding each good-by as he departed. It
was afterwards discovered that she purposely
scattered her seed, thus inviting the sparrows to
come and feast.
Next door lived two little girls. All summer
they played in the garden back of their house,
and from morning till night they were singing
threatened to move away, tired were they of
hearing the same song But listener was not
troubled with nerves, and the she heard the
tune the better, apparently, she liked it-this was
Cuba the parrot. She often was noticed by the
family, standing motionless, drinking in every
note of the melody,
Finally, toward autumn, Mary was astonished
to hear the bird join in the singing-words and
all! This repeated day after day, until one
morning she tried it alone. She not satisfied
with her performance, and she practiced and prac-
tlced After awhile she could sing the entire song
and could sing it we'll. Not every word was dis
tinct, but many of them were, and she received
her mistress's praises with the comment, 'Pretty
good!' This was several years ago. Cuba still sings
see and to hear Mary's wonderful bird-The
Morning Star
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02

would not be able to talk for whole year. So
Mary spent all her time with Cuba, and really
gave very little thought to the baby.
Mary talked ga steady stream,'' as Thomas
called it, to her pet; yet days went by, and
the parrot could not be coaxed to say word.
Mary became discouraged, and feared that Uncle
Leonard had been deceived in the bird. At last,
one morning, when she entered the living room,
Cuba looked up archly from the peanut she
eating, and said, "Hello!''
The one word seemed to unloose the little
strangers tongue for after that she talked freely
speaking of things in an almost human way.
"Cuba, how do you like my new hat7'' asked
Mary, dancing up to the cage when she ready
for walk.
The bird eyed the new headcovering critically.
every pretty!' she decided at last-to her
owners intense delight.
When, however, Thomas marched along with
his new felt and repeated his sisters question,
Cuba was not courteous. Her emphatic, "No
good!' threw Mary into squeals of laughter, and
the parrot chuckled over it herself.
The bird invariably addressed Mary as
"mother,' and when she returned after short
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02

to her with a
note t elli n e
about Myra.
At supper she
chatted h ap
PLY with the
lady and her
husband; but
after she was
undressed and
in bed-not her
little crib close
to M O t b e RS
side, but a big
bed in a room
all alone-she
walled:
''Oh, I must
kiss my own
mother good
night. I can't
live with you
any longer!''
T h e. l a dy
tried to quiet
her, but her
cries grew more
heartrendering,
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02
HOUSEKEEPING
UNDER DIFFICULTIES

Mrs. Field-Mouse
Built her house
Of softest, driest grass,
For baby mice
Must have things nice.
But when the home
Was all complete,
And trim and neat,
Alas! alas! there came to pass
A fearful clatter in the land!
The moving monster was at hand!
In hurry, away she went
TO seek safer tenement,
In distant, sheltered spot,
In the corner of the lot.
When the new home soon was done
She moved her children one by one.
But at night she quickly found
Owls and cats would prowl around;
So, at the dawning Of the day,
Once again she moved away.
Then, as she finished her third home
And hoped it was the safest one,
She remarked, in her mouse way,
excepting house is not all play,
When one moves three times day!''
Joshua F. Crowen in Children 3 Magazin
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02

''Have y GU
any children9''
she asked.
IN o, dear;
W h a t would
you lik e 2 ,
said the lady.
81 . W 0 u,l d
like to be your
little girl, and
live with you,' -
Myra said.
''What will
your mother
say about it9''
asked the lady.
"Oh, she s
tired Of me, I
guess. I like
you very much.
Hadn It y GU
b e t t er keep
me?'
"Wen, you
may come in, "
she said. So
Myra M a d e
herself at homo
a n d b e gan
b GU sekeeping
with her dolls
in the bay win
dow.
The lady had
met NJ yra 8
m o t h er, and
she ut once
sent her maid
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02
C. u B A, TIL E P ARROT

HE bird and the baby
arrived on the same
day; but Mary was
far more interested in
Cuba, the parrot, with
her gay plumage, than
in the wee baby brother
upstairs. This W a 8
partly because Cuba
was her very own, sent
by Uncle Leonard from
the West Indies, and
the new baby was only
a family possession.
Then, too, the bird was
warranted to be a good
talker, and father said
that little brother
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02

till at last she slipped out of bed picked up her do
and ran to the door,
When it opened she found her own mother
standing there, and sprang into her crying oyfuly
90 Mother, dear, you the bestest after al!''-The
Sunbeam.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02

she brushed the curly locks.
But Myra stood with cloudy face while she was
made clean and sweet in the pretty Dress with the pink
ribbon in her hair. Then, without kiss thank
you' for her kind mother, she turned away and
upstairs saying to herself 'She let's do
want to. I wish could find another place to live I'm
going to try. Ia better take of my dolls with
me, so that I'll not be lonesome' Picking up Lady
Rose and old black Dinah she crept softly downstairs
and out of the door.
Up the street she went little way stopped be-
fore house.. ~ think I'll try this one,' she said. So
she climbed the steps and rang the bell. The door
opened and she looked up into the face of lady.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02
HIDE-AND-SEEK VERSES,
Five Hidden Evergreen.

Five Hidden Evergreens.
Two little squirrels in a cage
-. Upon their launches sat,
And ficked their tails and sprueed their fur
i And talked of this and that. 49,.
: Some day. said one, Gwen both get out
-, And catch two little boys,
And keep them locked up in cage,
Away from all their joys!''
'fWe WILL we WILL" the other cried;
EsThat would be right and fair
And make them climb forever up
The wheel that goes nowhere!''
"Oh, yes; and then, by way Of joke,
Wen slip in empty shells;
And make them climb hanging rope
And ring some little bells.
''And when they've longed for outoof- doors,
And melancholy grown
Wen swap them off for anything
We think We d like to ownl''
IN q Z
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02
LIT TIE M Y r A

EI want to wear my
white dress,'' mother Myra
was being dressed for after
noon.
~ think your pink one
is better for today. The
rosebud dress, you call it, !"
said mother.
emo, T want to wear
the white one,' insisted
Myra.
"I've a new ribbon for
your hair that just matches
the rosebud.D mother added.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02
Good fer Young and Old

Grandma was putting Lottie and Marie to bed, and
thcy both complained that it too early to 20.
Grandma-Ay dears, even the chickens 60 to bed
early. .....
Lottc-Ye but the hens 50, too, and that is not 50
lonaaA.ae.
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-02

The cats attending at the ball,
Were highly jealous one and all,
Because the n1an-cats had no eyes
Except for Miss Tabitha Slies.
The cats inquired: "Who can tell
What makes that saucy puss the belle -
Then one went close and looked at her
Ard came back angry to the fur.
THAT MINK" cried she. 'tis just a
r- cheat! Ne. .
She won our man-cats by deceit.
She's hung her gown with rats and
mice! T. = -~.. -.
No wonder nsan-cats think she's nice!"
, 1906-05-14
Wear Artificial eyebrows.

Artificial eyebrows have been
made occasionally for years past"
said a wellknown wig maker, but
lately they have grown very popular.
A. face without eyebrows lacks express
sion or character. and many women
realize this. Others, having lost the eye
brows through fire or sickness. wear
artificial eyebrows until the new ones
appear. Others, again, wear artificial
eyebrows for a time, only to become
tired of and reject them.
"a well-made artificial eyebrow will
escape detection, as a rule, but such
an eyebrow is too delicate to stand
rough usage. and Dor wears out or
becomes unsightly. Many people grow
weary of the recurrent necessity and
expense of replacement. but the pref
ty who once wears artificial
eyebrows, like the man half of whose
mustache has been destroyed in some
manner, finds a real friend in the aTti-
cial eyebrow"
The artificial eyebrow originated in
Paris, the home of artificial beauty ad-
%juncts, and. it is stated, they are more
popular among women than men.
, 1906-05-14
LEFT YESTERDAY FOR THEIR
NEW HOME IN CALIFORNIA

James King, ST., who recently sold
his Big Laramie ranch to Mrs. B. w.
Emmons, left yesterday for San Diego,
Cali, where he and his family will in
future reside, Mrs. King and Miss Ag-
ness being already there. Mr.. King
was accompanied by his daughters,
Miss Jennie, who will reside there, and
Mrs. John Smart and children, who
will visit on the Pacific coast for some
time. Mr.. King will erect a commo-
dious home for his family and take it
easy for the remainder of his days.
He says that while he does not expect
to return to Wyoming to reside his
heart is with the state and her people,
and particularly those OF the Laramie
plains
, 1906-05-14

c. e. Cotton, the land agent for the
Union Pacific in this territory, was an
official visitor to this city this morning.
g. w. Berry, superintendent Of the
tie preserving plant here, returned Sun
day from a business visit to Cheyenne.
Train No. 8 arrived from Rawlins
less than an hour late this morning,
having made up half an hour between
that city and this.
l. w. Emmons, agent for the Union
Pacific at this point, went to Cheyenne
with Superintendent H. l.. Anderson
yesterday afternoon.
Trainmaster F. C. Let's went west
On a freight train at 10 o'clock this
morning, returning on train No. 4 and
going on to Cheyenne.
John Cyrene of Kansas City, who
has just been made inspector of outfits
on the Union Pacific, paid his first of.
fetal visit to Cheyenne this morning.
The new six-inch water pipe on Sec
ond street to the rolling mills was
connected with the Second street lat
eral opposite the city hall yesterday
afternoon.
Superintendent H. L. Anderson,
spent a part of the forenoon in the city
Sunday, leaving for Cheyenne at ;
O'Clock in the afternoon, his officia
car being attached to train No. 4.
William inland, master mechanic
for the Wyoming division, returned tc
Cheyenne on the noon train today, hav
ing stopped off here this morning that
he might look over the situation at the
rolling mills.
Glenn Donovan, employed in the
store department at the shops, had one
room yesterday, suffering the bruisins
of one of his fingers. He was treated
by DR.. Stevens, the local company surg
con.
Frank Baker, who came here from
Kansas a few days ago and has been
the guest of C. E. Horton, left this af
ternoon for Rawlins, where he will be
come the timekeeper in the Office Of
the roadmaster for the Rawlins-Grecn
River section.
The last two rolls for the continuou!
rail joint set for the rolling mills were
unloaded at the mill today and will b.
turned up as Dol as the lathes can d
the work. The broken rougher roll c
the big mill is in the railroad shop
being repaired.
Mrs. j. A. Hoskins, wife of the col
tractor on the grade at Lookout, at
O'Clock this morning gave birth to
daughter, Mr.. Hoskins n Mrs. 10y
niger, the mother of Mrs. Hoskin:
being present. The babe is a hand
some little elf Inc Mrs. Hoskins an,
daughter are doing very nicely.
, 1906-05-14
Will Inspect Outfits.

Mr.. Patterson of Omaha, inspector
of outfits for the Union Pacific, arrived
in the city yesterday for the purpose
of installing Mr.. John Cyrene as in
spector for the Wyoming division, says
the Cheyenne Tribune.
This is a new office just created on
this division and Mr.. Cyrene, who is
a very affable gentleman, will have
charge of the work of inspecting the
great number of outfit cars and extra
gangs now employed on the Union Pa
cifc as the result of the double track
work and the laying of new steel in
this state on the Union Pacific lines.
, 1906-05-14
MAGAZINES BLOW UP.
Explosion Near Bridgeport Causes
Some Losses.

Bridgeport, Conn, May 1.-two
magazines of the Union Metallic Cart
ridge company, four miles from town,
exploded today and shook the country
for twenty-five miles. In the eastern
part of town chimneys were blown
down n hundreds of windows shat
tered. The isolated hospital of the
almshouse, near the works, was almost
demolished.