davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

express fellow by blowing off the door Of
bis car the engineer wipes his hands on
his oyeralls and says; All right, Bill,
but don't point that gun at my head.
cause 1t makes me nervous He blows
up the express car as a matter of accom-
mediation to me, and the expressman
comes to the door, rubbing his
sleepy eyes open and says: It's a won
der you wouldn't let a man get a little
rest. That dinky little safe in the cor
ner hasn't got anything in it to speak Of
And then we blow up the little safe first,
n maybe find all we want, and we
hurry up, SO the boys can go on about
TIER business as quietly as possible.
1t is all reduced to a system, now, like
running a railroad or pipe lines. and |
am contented with my lot, and there Is
no strain on my conscience, as there is
would be If was robbing the poor in
stead of the rich. Of course, there are
some things that | would like to have
the government do, like building us a
mouse furnishing us steam heat, be-
cause these V are cold and in time
VIII make us rheumatic, but I can walt
another year, when we shall send a del.
egate to congress from this district who
will,iook out for our interests. The Nor
mons are represented In congress, ana
n see why we shouldn't be-"
Wen, you have got gall, all right"
said pa to the bandit. You mean to
tell me you had rather pursue your
course as a train robber, away out here
IN the mountains with no doctor with
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

eat lobster until our stomachs would
form an anti-lObster union, and be so
gay the people would think we were
young Vandergoulds. Since pa and |
were captured by the Hole-in-the-WalI
gang | have found that all is not glori-
GUS in the train-rObbing and capturing
~fOr-ransOm business, and that robbers
are never happy except when a robbery
is safely over, and the gang gets good
and drunk.
The first day or two after pa and | and
the t]raitorOus cowboys were captured,
we had a pretty nice time, eating
canned stuff and elk meat, and pa was
kept busy telling the gang of what had
happened in the outside world for sew
eral months, as the gang did not read
the daily papers. When they robbed a
train they let the newsboy alone for
fear he would get the drop on them.
Pa told them about the wave of reform
that was going over the country, and
how the politicians were taking the
railroads and mOnOpolists by the neck.
and shaking them like a terrier would
shake a rat; how the insurance compa.
MES that had been for years tying the
policy holders hand and foot, and search
ing their pockets for illicit gains had
been caught in the act, and how the
presidents and directors were liable to
have to serve time in the penitentiary.
Pa told the Hole-in-the-W Wall gang all
the news until he got hoarse.
And how is my old friend Teddy. the
rough rider?" asked one of the gang.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

murderers' union and 7 would be a
marked man.
AS president of a life insurance COM
pany | could not vote myself a hundred
and fifty thousand dollars a year salary,
and take it from fatherleSs children and
widows and retain my self respect. Out
here in the mountains | can occasionally
take my boys, when our funds get low,
and ride away to a railroad. and hold up
the chOO-chOO cars, and take toll, but not
Of the poor passengers. Who do we rob?
Why the the railroads are owned by
Standard Oil, and if we take a few thou
sand dollars, all Mr.. Rockefeller has to
do Is TO raise the price of kerosene for a
day or two and he comes out even. The
express car stuff is all owned by Wall
street, and when We take the contents of
a safe, ten thousand or twenty thousand
dollars, the directors Of the express COM
pany sell stock short in Wall street and
make a million or so to cover the loss by
the bandits Of the far west. and pocket
the balance. So you see we are doing
them a favor to rob a train, and my con-
science Is clear, | am always sorry when
an engineer or eXpressman is killed. and
when such a thing occurs find out the
family and send money to take care of
them, but of late years we never kill any,.
body, because the train hands don't re-
sist any more, for they do not care to die
to save Wall street money. Now when
| say to an engineer: Charley, turn her
off and stop here in the gulch and take
a dynamite stick and go wake up the
Hx.su.sqa6a
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08
COURAGE VS.. COWARDIcE.
The Opinion of a Military Man Re-
garding the Two Quail
tiles,

Courage" observed an old militar,
man, lis a quality very difficult to ana.
I'VE.
Il have known men who, in ordinary
life, were shy, sensitive fellows, dis.
rlay the utmost pluck and GOODNESS
en- the battlefield; just as, on the other
hand, | have seen self possessed
sturdy blades, almost panic-stricken in
the same circumstances.
Zone thing | have learned by experi.
ence, and that is the falsity of the say.
ing that DULLES are always towards.
7 have known clustering fellows, who
delighted in hectoring their comrades.
fight like Trojans when their turn
came, without any sign of fear.
at seems to me that courage Is very
much a question of the Imagination.
A dull man will plunge fearlesly into
danger, because he does not realize his
reril. If he had the Imagination TO
do so, he might turn tail, or, at n
shrink and hesitate.
"On the other hand, the intelligently
brave man is aided by his Imagination.
for while it enables him to understand
his danger, it makes him keenly alive
to the shame Of cowardice and the
glory of heroism."
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

who claimed he had gone up to San Juan
hill with the president.
The president is in fine shape" said
pa, land he is making friends every day,
fighting the trusts, and trying to save
the people from ruin"
Gee, but what a train robber Teddy
would have made, If he had turned his
talents in that direction, instead of
wasting his strenuousness in politics"
said the leader of the gang. Il would
give a thousand dollars to see him draw
a bead on the engineer of a fast mail,
and make him get down and do the dyna.
mite act, and then load up the saddle
bags and pull out for the Hole-in-tho-
Wall. That man has wasted his oppor-
tunities, and instead of being at the
head Of a gang of robbers, with all the
world at his feet. ready to hold up their
hands at the slightest hint, living a life
of freedom in the mountains. there he Is
doing political stunts, and wearing
boiled clothes, and eating with a fork"
And the bandit sighed for Teddy.
well, he will make himself just as
famous said pa, IF he succeeds in land
ing the hold-up men of Wall street. and
compelling them to disgorge their steal.
ings. But say" said pa, looking the
leader of the bandit gang square in the
eyes, why don't you give up this bad
habit OF robbing people with guns, and
go back east and enter some respectable
business and make your mark? You
are a born ~financier, I can see by the
way you divide up the increment when
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

In a hundre miles OF you. and no way
10 spend your money after you get ii.
sleeping nights on the rocks and eating
canned stun you pack in here after rob
bling a grocery. than to enter the realms
of high finance aud be respected by the
people, and be one of the people
with no price on your head
one Of the great body Of eighty million
men who rule a country that is the pride
Of the earth? You must be dany. said
pa. just as Disguised as he could be.
Sure, Mike" said the robber. Every
body here respects me. and who respects
the Wall street high finance and life in.
surance robber? Not even their Wallets
Me n of the people! Ye gods, but you
watch these same people for a few
years. You say they run the govern
ment! They and their government ara
Il by Wall street, which owns the
United States senate, body and soul.
The people are pawns on a chess board,
moved by the players, and they only
talk, while the Wall street owners act.
Let me tell you a story. | once had 4
dog trained so that he would Law down
and roll over for a cracker, and would
hold a piece of meat on his nose until
his mouth would water and his eyes
sparkle, but he would wait for me TO
snap my fingers before he would toss the
meat in the air with his nose and
snatch it in his mouth. and swal-
low it whole for fear | would get Il
away from him. He would stand on his
hind legs and speak and beg for a bone
to be thrown to him so he could
catch it. DO you know, the people of
this country remind me of that dog. If
they do not assert themselves and take
monopoly, high finance. insurance rob
berry, grating and millionaire and bill
llonaire ownership of everything that
pays by the throat and strange them
all, and do business themselves instead
If having business done for them by the
money power, they will never get noticed
except when they do their tricks like
my old dog. When the time comes that
people wear collars and are led by
and they have to stand on their
lind legs and speak to their rich and
arrogant masters for bones, and hold
meat on their noses until Wall street
snaps its fingers, you will want to come |
cut here in the mountains and live the
rec life of a train robber with a CON
What do you think about it,
)ub?' said the robber to me.
Well" says to him, you talk like
l socialist, or a Democrat, but you talk
Ill right. If am one of the people | will
10 as the rest do, but I'll be darned if |
Will get down and roll over for any
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08
New and Simple Barometer.

Or. Eydam, a noted German meteor
ologist, has discovered a new and ex-
tremely simple kind of barometer. It
consists Of the telegraph wire which
Is strung from pole to pole along the
roadsides. DR.. Eydam declares that by
listening closely to the sound made
by the wind blowing across the wires
anyone can tell exactly what the
weather is likely to be several days in
advance. If the wires emit a deep. mel
low and sustained note, like that of an
organ, It means thai the weather will
be showery, with possible gales. A
high note foretells cold, stormy
weather, with, in winter, snow and
sleet.-Electricity.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08
TO THE SPELL OF DRESS.
Tribute Paid by Famous Writers
and Philosophers to
Fashion.

Jane Austen wrote to her sister n
1914: Il have determined to trim my
lilac sarsenet with black satin ribbon.
just as my China Grape is, sixpenny
width at the bottom, ~threepenny or
~tourpenny at top. Ribbon trimmings
are all the fashion at Bath. With this
addition it will be a very useful gown,
happy to go anywhere"
Emerson quotes, with admiring sub
mission" the experience of the lady
who declared that the sense of being
perfectly well-dressed gives a feeling
OF inward tranquility which religion
is powerless to bestOw."
So the clever woman and the phiIos-
opher, says Youths Companion. pay
their tribute to the spell of dress.
Any woman who has qualms of con-
science at the amount of time and
thought she must give to her clothes
may gather cheer from the innocent
pleasure SO genuine a nature as Miss
Austen's found in the simple task of
making a gown happy to go any
where, The woman who has com
passed the art of making that kind of
a gown has done herself a large serv-
ice and the world no small one. We
should have admired" to see Miss
attired in the lilac sarsenet
with the black satin ribbon. We may
be sure that not only was the gown
happy to go anywhere, but that the
was happy in it, and that the
company was happy to have her.
A gentle word, a charitable act, a
iitficult sacrifice are each more easy in
Well-itting and becoming dress. Per
laps it may be a sign of u servitude
o earth that this should be so; but
While we live here we are bound to
ook facts in the face, and cherish the
Of the happy" gown.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

you rob a train. You would shine in the
business world. Come on, go back east
with me, and will use my influence to
get you in among the men who own auto
mobiles and yachts, aud drive four-in-
hands. What do you say"
NO, il is too late. " said the leader of
the Hole-in-the-Wall gang of train rob
bers, with a sigh. 4 should be out
classed If went into Wall street now.
l have got many of the elements in my
make up of the successful financier. and
the oil octopus, and if had not become
a train robber might have been a sue
cesstul insurance president, but | have
always been handicapped by a con-
science. | could not rob widows and or
phans If tried. 1t would give me a pain
that medicine would not cure to know
that ONE and children were crying
for bread because | had robbed them
and was living high on their money. If
it wasn't for my conscience | could take
the presidency of e life insurance COM
pany. and rob right and left, equal to
any of the crowned heads who are now
in the business. But If | was driving in
my automobile and should run over 4
poor woman who might be a policy
holder, could not act as would be ex-
Dected Of me, and look around disdain-
at her mangled body in the road,
and sneer at her rapidly-cooling re-
mains, and put on steam and skip out
with my mask on. | would want to
choke off the snorting, bad-smelling
uggernaut and get out and pick up the
lear old soul and try to restore her to
consciousness, which act would cause
ne to be b%oycotted by the automobile
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08
SAND TRACKS FOR WRECKS
British Road Makes Innovation To
Bring Cars to standstill on
Short Notice.

Lohdon,--In order to avoid runaway
accidents, the Lancashire & Yorkshire
railway company is making expert
ment8 on its Burnley branch line. A
sand track has been fixed outside the
down line between Cornholme and
Todorden for a distance of 100 yards.
II Is a grooved rail fitted with sand,
and after branching from the main
line runs into IT. again. The idea is
that when trains break away further
up the gradient and run back, they can
be turned on to the sand track from
the signal and in this way pulled up
and disaster averted. Train loads.
varying from ten to seventy In num-
Der, were let loose, and went bound
Ing into the sand track at 10 miles an
hour. Some trains were pulled up in
the track, while other plowed their
way through into the main line again.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

Mr.. William 4, Radford will answer
questions give advice FREE OF
COST on all subjects pertaining TO the
subject OF building FOR the readers Of this
paper on account Of his wide eNpe-
rience as Editor, Author II Manufac-
turer. he Is, without doubt, the highest
authority on all these subjects Address
all inquiries to William A. RAdford, No
1874 Fifth Ave. Chicago. III. and only
enclose two-cent stamp for reply.
This Is a little big house contain.
ing nine Don The size is % feet
6 inches In width and 81 feet c inches
In length, exclusive Of porchos. and
It may cost $1,000 or Sl.40O, under
favorable circumstances, according to
the section Of the country in which
II is built.
1t Is unusual to get nine rooms in
any cottage, but It has been done in
this case by making use Of what often
IS left merely as a big attic. Here
we get three bedrooms, and a hall
big enough for a sewingroom, out OF
nothing. because the attic in most
houses Is just that much waste room
"a place to keep old lumber-stuif
that should be given away or burned
up instead Of piling it in the attic
TO catch dust and disease germs.
These attic rooms are large enough
to hold a set of furniture and leave
room for enough air, so that a person
may sleep comfortably in any one
of them.
The double window in the gable
admits both light and ventilation and
the outside appearance is good. Some
way | always like a double window
In a gable, Gables are not to be
despised If they are properly dressed.
Some gables are homely enough, but
that is because the builder has neg.
lected his opportunities. Since read.
ing, as a boy, Hawthorne's House
Of Seven Gables these projections
have always possessed a charm for
me. Even the ugly ines attract my
attention when driving along the
road. But there are no ugly gables
in this house. There are not seven
of them, but there are enough and
every one looks we'll and every one
has It's use.
In this plan the whole back end OF
the house on the first floor Is made
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08
Cause Of His Death.

A coroner's jury returned a verdict
that the deceased came to his death
from exposure.
What do you mean by that" asked
a relative OF the dead man, when
there were two bullet holes in his
head7"
The coroner replied, with a wave
Of bis magisterial hand: Just 50.
He died from exposure to bullets
Tit-Blts.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

into a kitchen and pantry. The
Kitchen Is a woman's workshop where
she spends most Of her working hours
and it should be large, light and airy.
The men expect good meals, sharp on
time and the women have a right to
object to a measley little hole in the
corner, by courtesy called a kitchen.
A woman usually looks first at the
kitchen, and if that Is not right she
does not want the house, and | do
not blame her. OF course she wants
all the other rooms right, too, but
not at the expense Of the kitchen.
There are six rooms downstairs and
a very nice little bathroom besides.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

used to think | would like to be a
train robber, and have a nice gang of
boys to do my bidding. have often pic
tured my gang putting a red light on the
track and stopping a train laden with
gold, holding a revolver to the head of
the engineer, and compelling him to go
and dynamite the express car. Then we
would fill our pockets and haversacks
with rolls of bills that would choke a
hippopotamus, and ride away to u
shack in the mountains, divide up the
swag, go on a trip to New York, battle in
champagne, dress like millionaires. go
to theaters morning, noon and night.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

There is no hall downstairs and II
could not be expected in a house Of
this size and cost, when the number
and size Of rooms are taken into con.
s%ideration. The downstairs floor plan
Of this design is very compact. In
fact every inch Of room Is utilized;
no space Is wasted and it would be
difficult to improve on 1t in any way.
A hall 10 not necessary in a plan Of
this kind. The yestibule is big
enough to hold a hatrack. and the
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

sitting-roo nswer every purpose
OF a reception room.
This plan gives a cellar long
enough to have one cold end for fruit
There are a thousand little things to
consider in building a house. and q
fruit cellar is one Of them. BY set
ting off the part of this cellar that
comes under the parlor it may be
made cold enough to keep apples all
winter. Apples will not keep In a
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

warm cellar. The best temperature
is 80 degrees, but Of course that can.
not be maintained In any cellar. but
plan offers as good an arrange,
ment for fruit as It Is possible to get
without artificial refrigeration.
The arrangement Of Chimneys pro.
vides an easy means Of heating the
house with stoves, If stoves are pre-.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

DO you intend to let your enemies
have the last word?"
certainly" answered Mr.. Dustin
Stax. Il got his last dollar, ana he
ought to have some sort u componsa-
tion. "-Washlngton Star.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

Mrs. Hughes-Yes, she's made a
name for herself.
Mrs. Maris-In what way?
Why, she used to be Ellen Cummlns
Brown. Now she is Aileen Comyns
BrOwne".-CasseIIs Journal.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

The most costly tomb in existence is
that which was erected to the memory
Of Mahomet. The diamonds and ru-
bies used In the decorations alone are
valued at $1,000 900.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08
A Helner.

Hello, little girl, what beautiful
dimples God has given you
NO, thir, mamma had these punched
in me by a derm-tologls Houston
Post,
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08
Limited Perception.

Has Bliggins any perception Of hu-
NOR"
Yes" answered Miss Cayenne. lust
enough to get angry when the Joke Ia
on him."-Washington Star.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08
Odd Exports.

The two little Spanish towns OF
Palamos and San Felinde GuixoIs
shipped more than 10000 900 pounds
OF cork dust and shavings last year,
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

PECK'S BAD
BOY WITH
THE CIRCUS |
By HON. GEORGE ". PECK
Author Of Peck Bad Boy Abroad, Etc.
"a 81

and the Bad Boy Among the Train
Robbers-Pa Tries to Persuade the
Head Bandit to Become a Financier
The Bandit Prefers Train Rob-
berry and Puts Up a Good Argu-
ment.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-06-08

On the following day, as Silas lay.
wounded and bandaged, upon a lounge,
he said to the widow: How did you
happen to Gomez"
why" she said, Willie Millett
heard the baby scream, an went to sea
what was up, an he seen ye slayin'
the demon bear, an boy-like, run 70
my house, it bein' nearest"
Yes; but"
AN ! he'd to go see no harm come
to the baby's knight-an' mine"
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-08-31
Kent-PateIck.

Miss Annie Hendren Patrick and
Capt. VIM. P Kent of Wytheville,
were united in marriage Saturday
morning at Trinity Episcopal church.
Only relatives and few intimate friends
were invited. After the ceremony
Captain and Mrs. Kent left for New
York. from which city they will sail
tomorrow for Guatemala, wheI e
Capt. Kent goes as consul-general for
the United States.
The bride is a daughter of Mr.. Will
liam Patrick. and comes of fine old
family. She is granddaughter OF
the late Judge John N. Hen
dren, of Augusta county, and
and is connected with the Peytons and
other well known families in the Val
ley. She is woman OF great attrac
tiveness and charm, endowed with I'M
usual intellectual attainments.
Captain Kent, who was candidate for
lieutenant-gOvern on the Republican
ticket last year. is a son OF the late
L.eut.-Gov Robert G. Kent. and is a
IN III known throughout Virginia.
Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-08-31
Slower Happenings.

Slower, Aug 29.-There was an aw
full flood here on the 18th. The waters
being higher than have been known for
years.
Mrs. W. A. Crawford of your city. is
visiting at Mr.. A. r. Gilkeson 3 near
here.
J. Fl. RaIston u Son have moved
their saw mill to near Parnaesus, where
they are cutting tract of timber.
Sandy Redifer of Chicago, formerly
Of this place, is visiting his mother
near Spring Hill.
Mr.. A. Il. GllkeTson was in keeZie-
town on business last week.
Miss Sterrett of Waynesboro, who
has been visiting Miss Margaret Gilk-
ersOn, has returned home.
Mrs. Dryden has been visiting her
daughter. Mrs. James Reeves, near Mt.
Scion,
Mrs. A J. Siling of Manassas, who
spent some time with relatives here,
returned home last week.
The Methodsts of parnassus are
having their church repaired, and are
putting in new pews.
Mr.. b a. Kiracofe and son were in
Highland on business last week.
Mrs. Wesley Driver has returned
from Lima, Ohio. where she spent sew
eral months visiting relatives.
Mr.. A. &. ShoWalter is hoving a
sheep barn erected. and N. b Rawley
is the contractor.
Mr.. Harnsberger of Bridgewater
was here last week on business.