davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1906-02-11
A GHOSTLY RIDDLE.

White and filmy, like a ghost,
I spring from flames where You would
roast
am VapOr. q phantom q shade.
You could not seize me ere l would
fade
And still in me there is such force
I do more deeds than man or horse.
But this is very strange In me
| am utterly weak when I am free
But when | am forced in q prison cell
I stamp and strive and roar and swell
Till my struggles grow so monstrously
That / am master of land and sea.
Yet when ] am master of land and sea,
Man still remains the master Of me.
Soft and fflrny and heecy and white.
The riddle of me who can read Alright?
The Washington times., 1906-02-11
WHILE HE WHISTLED.

The age of chivalry is not yet dead
as the following true incident viii prove.
At the door of a soup kitchen in a
busy town stood a number of waits ard
strays, ready for Opening time" 1t
was bitterly cold, and many of the shiv-
ering youngsters were barefooted.
One very little girl seemed to suffer
attention of a boy rather taller than
herself. After gazing at her for mo-
ment ne was struck by a brilliant idea
Taking his cap from his head he threw
it on the wet pavement. Then, lifting
the little sufferer he gently set her bare
feet down on the cap.
Stand on that, young 'un, will yer?''
he said. and then started whistling a
lively tune as though what he had done
was an everyday occurrence.
The Washington times., 1906-02-11

and if the sky once rips of. it's all up
with the poor Earth; there'n be no
saving her
So the Head Apprentice thought and
thought. and at last he went to work
and made some stars, and set them up
/ behind the Earth. and he made a beauti-
| full belt called the Milky Way, and
fastened il around the Earth, right
| through the middle Of the sky. Then
! the Earth began TO roll much smoother
and would have been all right. only the
stars were pinned uD too far away. and
the belt was not quite tight enough.
But at all events she was so much
steadier that she never gave a jerk
oftener than once in four years. but that
leap added. and does still. day on the
tail Of February, and that's why ne
have leap year.
Things were going pretty nicely now.
and the Earth rolled along in a jolly
manner. But the Head Apprentice no
uced that the sky was still loose II
places, and every time II slipped a lit
tie II made the most terrific thunder
storms and cyclones and waterSpoutS
and things all over the Earth's surface.
SO, although the volcanoes had ceased
to break out in new places. the Earth
was still far from peaceabIe.
The thing that must be done, said
the Head Apprentice, ''is to get some
lights on the back of the Earth her
self"
So he thought and thought and
thought.
men ne went 10 WOIk ana made
some men, and he gave them fire, and
said.
"KindIe your hearth-fres every night
and we'll see what that will do
The Head Apprentice was called
away about that time to another part
of the universe, where Saturn was
cIamOTing for Il new belt. He was
very busy for long time. but at last
he started back to the Earth Hyain.
and as he drew near. he noticed that
the sky was all fastened down snug
and tight on the back of the Earth,
and he wondered
Then, as he came nearer. he saw
what had conquered the difficulty. The
men had built fires all along the rivers
and the lakes and the sea coasts. and
below every fire there fell 4 long Fol-
den nail down into the water: and oil
the ragged loose edges Of the sky were
fastened neatly down with these golden
nails
We'll. WE'LL" said the Head Appren-
tice- These little man creatures are
some good. I'm glad l tried them
here, and they can have the Earth if
they want it-blesS them
So he went away about his other
business and started making another
planet.
The Washington times., 1906-02-11

Once, in the days when things We're
being made and fitted TO each other,
the Head Apprentice was just finishing
VIp the Earth and putting in the last
screws, when somehow the big roller
got out OF order, and that upset every
Thing
Now. the big roller is the thing the
Earth revoIves around, and il is the
ends of il which stick out at the north
and south poles, that the explorers are
always trying to find.
Whether it was because the roller
wasn't properly creased before the
Earth was put on it, I do not know.
but. anyway, there were some awful
bitches. and every time the Earth turn
cd around 10 a cetaiu place she would
jerk and crack her surface somewhere
Sometimes volcanoes would burst
out, and sometimes a great split would
come in her side, and a whole range Of
mountains would tumble out and har-
den on her. Scatter d little the poor
Earth began to be very humpy and dis
agreeable TO look-not at all what the
Head Apprentice had planned
It was borne in upon him that some
thing must be done, or the Earth would
either turn wrong side out. or split all
TO pieces some day. So he sat down on
the very edge Of the universe and
thought and thought.
And IN the meantime the Earth went
on jerking and humping, and once a
great big piece fell right off the place
where the Pacific ocean is, and that
turned into a Moon.
That rather SObeTed the Earth for
while. and she went more quietly, and
it also gave the Head Apprentice a new
idea.
THE Earth is doing better" said he
to himself. therefore IL cannot be be
cause | did not grease the roller suffi-
GENTLY"
So he watched and watched and
thought and thought and thought.
At last he noticed that il was toward
the Sun that the Earth did her jerking
and the Moon; being on the other side
OF her, helped to steady her. So the
Head Apprentice said 10 himself:
The thing the Earth wants is Light
Light. Light Now the Sun can he only
on one side of her at time. and the
Moon. being so much smaller. cannor
steady Things. Besides. the Moon her
self is only one-half light Now I've
got TO find some way to get more light
on the back of the Earth. because. with
oil this Jerking and bouncing I can see
places where the sky is coming loose,
The Washington times., 1906-02-11

Mazeppa stood in the stable yard
with his eyes shut. his tail motion
less, one long ear out of action, and
The other set little forward sort
Of advance guard TO warn him of any
thing that might attempt to disturb
his slumbers.
Three Of his hoofs were set square
~ on the ground, but the joint of num-
Der four-the left hind one-wa :
guard strong and ready one, and
a grand protection, fOrcefuI argu-
ment, too, when anyone wished 10
cross his inclination
Mazeppa possessed all the willfui-
ness of long line Of donkey ances-
tors, who had made their way for
ward through life by kicking back
ward. lie had made up his mind that
morning that he would sleep till noon,
and when Billy Boy attempted to show
him how nice il would be TO be mar
messed into the little cart and driven
around the village with Billy Boy at
the Teins Mazeppa used his rear aTgu-
mCnt with such strength of purpose
that the cart retired from the field with
Il smashed dashboard. and Billy Boy
was fully persuaded that a ride Tat
morning would not be pleasant
MaZeppa took his position on the
sunny side of the stable yard and
prepared for "a solid three hours nap
Crimes. the old Maltese cat. was feel
ing none too amiable that morning lie
had cause enough goodness KNOWS
Had he not been waylaid by Mrs. Dork-
ing. the gray hen. just as he was COM
ing in from the hunt with beautlfui
field mouse? Had not Mrs DOTking
disputed his right to the possession OF
the aforesaid mouse, and with beak and
claws actually taken it away from him
tt was awfully humiliating to be
whipped in a tussle with q fowl Of any
kind-but for a common hen like Mrs.
DOTking TO have stolen his breakfast
that was indeed blow. Grimes feel
ings were sore to "A state of rawnsSs, but
what what could he do?
He would have liked to scratch Mrs
Dorking's eyes out, hut he cOuldn {
strike a lady. and besides. she had al
ready eaten the mouse
The only thing left was to find nice,
soft sunny spot and sleep off his mad
until mOuse-time came around again.
Where to sleep was the question. The
stable yard wall was sunny, but not soft.
and the hay in the loft was soft, but not
sunny.
He walked slowly along the wall. and
looking down his eye lighted on Ma
Zeppa In his peaceful slumber. Care
fully he put one paw down. ard then
another. Mazeppa's ear twitched. but
he did not waken-
Grimes stepped down with all four
The Washington times., 1906-02-11
NOTHING IN IT.

City Ed.tor-Did I understand you to
report that Nj. Greatman had nothing
TO say2
Reporter-No: I'm sure he had some
thing to say. otherwise he wouldn't have
said that he had nothing to say; if he
mad nothing to say he wouldn't have
said he had nothing to say.
The Washington times., 1906-02-11
TOLLIER.

High-So you have given up your
high ambitions and are going to follow
a routine life?
Jinks-Yes. I decided il would be
lonesome up there on the top rung Of
the ladder Of fame I'm going to stay
down with the Dushi
The Washington times., 1906-02-11
TRY THESE FOR FoRFEITs.

Read the following aloud, repeating
them quickly half dozen times in sue
CeSSiOn.
six thick thistle sticks.
Flesh of freshlv-fried flying fish.
The sea csaseth and 1t sufficeth us.
High roller, low roller, lower roller.
The Washington times., 1906-02-11
SWIFT.

why do YOU say she is fast -
why, she didn't know Jack Speedy
two months ago.
f'Well2"
well. now he's raging her aliInony"
The Washington times., 1906-02-11
SURE THING.

edo you find it more economical to do
your own cooking?"
"Oh. yes. My husband doesn't eat half
as much as he used to-
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-01-19

cUTs PRICE JUBILEE WINTER SUITS.
and wear you could expect for figures quarter
III moe ban those Cut Price Jubilee tickets will read Many
q the 5syes nan be correct for Spring 1906 wear
e o 81 forty sus-Bouse and fitted styes-sma anu
Pouch $1,000 $1,000 and $500 values at
ha o. sultsneary all have 6o IN long
cary fof $500 to $500 Chance for $1,000
CUT PRICE COATS
during this saving is yours over for
sufacient to add a without extra cost
ne Ba6 Broad Cloth lined Pension Lamb colar-wor@
AK Velvet coat lining and equrred collar
ladies winter coat in the house worth sS
sssOosat " ''''' $500 ''''1'
children coatsoloa SIX and NeVe'WO - s,ea
hoe III nat win crowd to the skirt department
read sthenl ana youll be there.
Walking that sold for $500 and $500 tOFs S
best In $500 $500 skirts at. '$Sss
Thsbss soreh sold for ss75 to $3.50
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-01-19
CUT PRICE JUBILEE KNIT UNDERWEAR. 4

CUT PRICE JUBILEE KNIT. UNDERWEAR.
An early purchase desirable
weights advantageoy that will
laying full years supply.
LADIES AND MISSES KNIT UNDERWEAR.
Extra quality silk tapped p
buttons on vests. with French Band.
Special sasN
superior quality regularly fifty cents Hand aRsasa ~
trimmed and full
Special at. sssp
DEPENDABLE HOSE.
Hose that closely that and
yet wonderfully to the feet Jubilee Cut Prices Of course
GOOD HOSE AT A DIME.
For Ladies Misses ribbed
good value At ar
TWO FOR A ooUARTER
white feet split sole silk finished @
fashioned ands seamless All guaranteed fast black
COMFORTABLE coRsETs
better your dresses will at better IL par otees'
corse We can you corset MADE for YOUR form
Special lot short length corses; also the p 81
dies Some trimmed with and ghodt
hose supporters
Special -
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-01-19
JueILEE FINE SILKS.

silks Of the kind that have doubled
our business in this department now
linked with remarkable price reiuc'
tons.
Yard Wide Tatfeta silk
In black and white only-full SO in
ches wide, at. SEC Pr
Guaranteed Taffeta silk
With guaranteed to wear" woven
in the selvedge of every yard.
Comes in Black and all colors, also
in the new changeable effects.
at...... -. $500. ......fse yo'
Real China silk,
A high grade quality-27 inches wide.
firm and smooth, at......'.44c yd'
Best Taffeta silk in black and all
colors-24 in, wide our regular
S5c quality at....... ...'' .Sse yd'
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-01-19
IuRILEE WHlTE ooops.

An especially fortunate cash put
chase from an overloaded lpbbsf that
enables us to name prices beyond tle
possibility Of Implications sswhersI
Mercerlzed Madras an assortInel t q
20 styles-neat dots; stripes and
figures, 25c values at 49, W.
Imported Walstlngs, the very pfett
est styles you ever saw exactly vim
you will pay $50 and 400 for iatef
at... .. 25e IA.
Fine White india Lawn nice
smooth and even fabric sps'
cial values at. .t2I % and ios VI
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-01-19
IuRILEE TARLE LINENs.

JUBILEE TABLE LINENS.
One fashioned linens, made from
seasoned fax grass bleached in pure
sunlight, at less than the poorer sorts
cost at other stores.
Rleached or unbIeached Damask full
Ga in. wide, dozen pretty pat
terms. An excellent quality. .25c yd.
Mercertzed oamask, in beautiful
range of patterns a quality that will
stand good hard service, and looks
like Satin Damask. 80. .sse yd.
All Linen German Damask full two
yards wide-a reversible quality
at...... ...." ..,. ...,5oc yd.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-02
COSTLY COAL.
Some For which the United statei
Paid $50 n Ton.

Some For which the United states
Paid $50 Ton.
''The civil war led to the establish.
ment Of lot OF little private coaling
stations all over the world by thrifty
persons who hoped that Uncle Sans
ships might come that way about the
time that they needed coal real bad, 4"
said an old naval official. THE old
Vanderbilt ia 1862 had an experience
" that sort. She was looking for the
Alabama like a good many more Of the
Federal ships. and she came to ST.
Helena just about the time that she
was out Of coal. The officers were de-
lighted to see red headed scotchmau
sitting on a coal pile on the dock. and
they at once opened up negotiations
with him. He demanded $50 a ton
gold, and as the rate Of exchange was
then $685. this made the price $50 q
ton Of Uncle Sans money.
''The officers protested and refused
to take the coal. They put to sea, hop
ing to reach another port before their
stock gave out, but after a run Of a
few hours the weather began to get
nasty, and there was nothing for It but
to put back and buy 1000 tons Of the
Scotchman's coal.
''He said that he liked the United
States and sympathized with the north
In the war, but be had been sitting on
that coal pile for long time waiting
for an American ship to come along
and sympathy didn't buy things."-
New York Times.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-02
AN ENeLIsH HERO.
Remarkable british Tribute DO N
M Ability OF Nelson.

Remarkable british Tribute TO the
IA Ability of Nelson.
The time has come when we can spe
clally do honor to Nelson's memory
without wounding the feelings OF other
nations. The first thing to be noted
concerning him Is that he Is the only
man who has ever lived who by uni
versal consent Is without a peer. In
every walk Of life except that which
Nelson chose as bis own you will find
several competitors for the first place,
each one Of whom will have many sup
porters. Alexander OF Macedon, Han
nibal, Caesar. Marlborough. Frederick
the Great and Napoleon have been sew
orally put forward for the palm OF gen
eralshlp. To those who would acclaim
Rcheleu as the first Of statesmen 9th
ers would oppose Chatham or William
Pitt or Cavour or Bismarck or Marquis
Ito. Who was the first OF sculptorsf
Who the first Of painters7 Who the
FIRST OF poets7 In every case there is a
great difference Of opinion. Ask, how
ever, who was the first OF admirals,
and the unanimous reply win still be,
Nelson" tried as be was by many
years Of high command In war. 1t is
not only among his fellow countrymen
that his pre-eminence Is acknowledged.
Foreigners admit II as readily as we
proclaim II ourselves.-Admiral Sir Cy-
prlan Bridge in Cornhin Magazine.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-02
ODDITIES OF AUTHORS.

Literary Lights VINO Were Conspio-
nous By Their Attire.
In telling OF the various means Of
self advertisement adopted by certain
authors a critic says that Alexandra
Dumas. the elder, delighted to appear
In the uniform Of the national guard Of
France. with medals pinned to his
breast though It Is doubtful whether
his motive wasanything deeper than
vain childish delight IN gauds. HE
was the sort Of man" one Of his enc
mics once remarked, "who was capable
OF riding behind bis own carriage in
order TO prove that be kept a negro IN
his service"
A certain literary, person once ap-
peared In the stalls OF a London thea
ter wearing a jeweied brooch in his
long hair, but he was anticipated In
this respect by Theophile Gautier,
whose many colored waistcoat was al
ways the most conspicuous object In
any theater which he entered, and even
by Disraeli. with bic rings outside his
gloves and his green trousers.
II Is said that NJ. Paul Bourget also
wore green trousers when he was
denisen Of the Latin quarter, but that
was In the days Of poverty and early
struggles, and perhaps he had no 9TH
ers
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-02
WHOLE OR HALF TRUTHS.

Better be single in peace than mar
ried In war.
The rock Of success isn't located in
Geld Of roses.
The fellow who objects to discipline
needs II the most.
You can inherit ability. but you've
got to hustle for experience.
The optlmist has an easy time Of It.
He smiles while others work.
II doesn't cost anything to say "good
morning even If It's raining.
Some folks ought to take their con
sciences out once in awhile for exer-
else.
Silence isn't always golden. The
talker with something to say is worth
a dozen keep stills.
The optimist who thinks that folks
are civilized should yell "FireF to a
crowded house and watch results
From "Gumption." by N. o. Fowler,
Jr.
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-02
RUINS OF ST. PAuL's.
Origin of MacauIay's Phrase In an
Eighteenth Century Poem.

Origin of Macaulny's Phrase In m
Eighteenth Century Poem.
It has long been understood that the
real inventor OF Macaulay's famous
New Zealander was Horace Walpole.
who. in a letter to Mason. written In
1TT4 said AT last some curious trav-
eler from Lima will visit England and
give a description Of the ruins Of St
Pauls. like the editions OF Babies and
Palmyra" But Mr. Bertram Dobell
writes to the London Academy giving
the idea an earlier date. He finds it
embodied IN this old title page:
Poems. by a young Nobleman. Of Dis
tinguished Abilities, lately deceased; par
ticularly The State Of England, and the
once nourlshing City Of London. In
letter from an American Traveller, Dated
from the Ruinous Portico Of st. Pauis.
IN the year 1g9. to a Friend settled in
Boston, tho Metropolis Of the Western
Empire Also Sundry Fugitive Pieces,
principally wrote whilst upon his Travels
on tho Continent Motto from Juvenall
London, 1880.
Mr.. Dobell explains that, though the
book IS dated 1850, the poem in It ON
London is dated March p, 1771. He
attributes 1t to the profigate second
Lord Lyttelton. Here is one Of his ex-
tracts from the composition:
And now thro' broken paths and rugged
ways.
Uncultivated regions. We advanced
Towards fnm'd Augustus towers. on the
Thames
Cwhose clear broad stream giides smooth
ly thro' the vale)
Embanlrd, and stretching DER the level
plain.
For many a mile her gilded spires were
seen,
While Britain yet was free-aiasI how
chong'd,
How fallen from that snvyd height;
She rurd the subject nations. and beheid
The 6paniard crouch beneath her spear.
and all
The Galiic lilies crimson'd DER with
blood.
Extinguish'd are their glories. and her
sun
That once enlightened Europe with his
Sunk in the West is set. and ne'er again
Shall DER Britannia spread his orient
raysi
These were my thoughts whilst thro' a
falling heap
OF Bhapeless ruins far and wide diffusd.
Paul's great Cathedral. from her solid
base.
High tow'ring to the sky. by heav'ns
command
Amidst the universal waste preservd
Struck my astonish'd view.
On this fair object my hx'd eye was kept
In pleasing meditation. whilst my guide.
! A poor emaciate Briton. led me on
Through streets, and squares, and falling
palaces,
CWhere here and there a habitat waa
Hoon)
To where stood once amongst the peO-
pied town
TIL Exchange OF London
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-02

Native housewives IN the West In
dian jungle find housekeeping very
easy. Fruit and vegetables grow wild
all about the hut. and the river
abounds with fish. On washday all
she has to do is to pick a few Of the
berries Of the soap berry tree, take her
clothes to the river and use the srries
as she would use ordinary Dap. Even
her cooking pots grow on the trees, the
calabash cut in halves being used for
this purpose. Calabashes are also used
for bowls, basins and jugs for carry
ing water from the river, while the
small ones make excellent cups. In
the afternoon when she is ready for
her cup OF tea she picks half dozen
leaves from the lime bush growing at
her door, boils them. squeezes the Juice
from a sugar cane for sweetening, and
the cocoanut supplies the milk. Thus
she has a delicious cup Of tea without
depending on the grocer for it,
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-02
when marco POLO was Alarmed.

when Marco Polo Was Alarmed.
Regarding the use Of bamboo as fuel
the following quaint lines from the book
Of Messer Marco Polo, the Venetian.
form an interesting example Of travel
ers' tales in those days when travellers
were so few that there was little fear
Of their meeting with contradiction.
he says: 'The people cut the green
canes, Of which there are vast num-
bers, and set fire to a heap OF them at
once. After they have been awhile
burning they burst asunderAsnd this
makes such a loud report t you
might hear 1t ten miles of. In fact,
any one unused to this noise who
should hear It unexpectedly might
easily go into a swoon OF die Of fright
But those who are used to 1t care moth
ing about II; hence those who are not
used to 1t stun their ears well with
cutton and wrap up their heads and
faces with all the clothes they can
muster, and so they get along until
they have become used to the sound.
I tell you the truth. however when 1
say that the first time you hear 1t moth
ing can be more alarming"
Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1906-01-02

Aawriter IN Land and Water. an Eng-
nsh publication, says; Few would
consider the fox an enemy OF the rock
and yet he Is an inveterate foe when.
ever be gets a chance. Il is doubtful II
he would stick a tooth into a tough old
rock n opportunity permitted II. but a
young rock Is a delicacy reynard
much appreciates and which he often
enjoys. II roolzery and a litter Of
cubs exist IN the vicinity OF each other,
tho vixen belonging to the latter
spends most OF her time during a
rough night beneath the trees and
busily carries the blown out nestiings
10 her youngsters"