davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-02
.DEGG CONVICTED
AT GADSDEN, ALA

Gadsden. Ala, Dec. 1.-THE jury in
the YOlande Degg murder case to-day
found the defendant guilty, fixing the
punishment at twenty-three years in
the penitentiary. Yolande Degg was
convicted Of numbering Aubrey
Womac in December, 1904.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-02
$4,000 WILL BE PAID TO
FLOAT THE SHIP INGRID

awarded the contract The bid If
the Pensacola TOwboat Association
for floating the shin was $500.
The successful bidder owns a fleet
of towboats used in harbor work in
Mobile, and some of these will be
brought over to Pensacola to assist
! in the work.
The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-02

Are you fond of good coffee? Try
Jackson Square, the celebrated French
drip coffee. Leading grocers have it.
l, and pound air tight tins.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
TRE, SIGN OF THE WRENS NEST"
mr. HARRIS NOME I'M ATLANTA GA

has never done more than when It gave
4dr. Joel Chandler Harris to American
literature.
Il suppose he Is one Of those literary
people who insist that art should have
nothing TO do with morals. and will con-
denim me u Philistine for not agreeing
with them, but l want to say that one OF
the great reasons why like what he has
written is because after reading It l rise
up with the purpose OF being a better
man, man who is bound to strive to do
what is. in him for the cause of decency
and for the cause OF righteousness.
Gentlemen. 1 feel too strongly to in
dulge in any language OF mere compli-
ment. or mere hattery. Where Mr.. Harris
seems TO me to have done one Of the
greatest services is that he has written
what exalts the south in the mind Of
every man who reads 1t. and yet what
has not even a flavor OF bitterness toward
any other part of the union.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17

reply. You've started this phonetic spell-
Ing and If it goes into effect everybody viii
be writing dialect"
And then Mr.. Carnegie made Uucls
Remus blush furiously by exclaiming:
Lord bless you. it's simply a compli-
ment. Your writing is so good that we are
Just trying to copy youl"
Everybody who meets Mr.. Harris leaves
him to sing his praise, apparently. Said
Mr.. Carnegie, after coming away from the
low. rambling. comfortable Harris home.
surrounded By it's luxuriant bushes. vines
and trees:
my visit to Joel Chandler Harris was
great pleasure. as well as a great privilege
He is part OF the souths wealth. He il
known all over the world. He is as well
known in England he is right here In
his own town. My little girl was simply
delighted when told her / was going to
call on Uncle Remus. She wanted me 10
look at everything SO 1 could tell her
about II when I return
Il am looking for an opportunity TO have
Uncle Remus as my guest IL he can be
drawn away from his garden spot In
Georgia. He has given a helping hand 10
all the world and brought sunshine into
many homes. He has won the hearts of
all the children, and that Is glory enough
for any man. He is a genius"
That's what most folks declare he is-a
genius.
Uncle Remus himself can't see It that
way. He does not think he has done any
thing at all remarkable. II amuses him
when people try TO make a great fuss
over him and his works. In fact, about
everything in this world except suffering
appeals strongly 70 his sense of humor.
and that is why his face and eyes are as
full OF smiles as the stories that are told
by dear old Uncle Remus himself.
Beginning on June "A. Uncle Remus will
tell one OF his inimitable stories q week in
the comic section OF this paper He win
undoubtedly give some OF the choicest
stories to the supplement. and In them
will figure such old friends as Br'er Rab-
bit. Brer Fox and Brer Wolf. Pietorially
the stories will be interpreted by j. A
Condo. The feature will take up q whole
page ana win be IN oOloTA
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17

A postmaster general or someone in his
once in Washington once wrote TO a post
master Of some little station on the
Tombigbee river; You will please
Inform this department how far the
Tombigbee river runs up" to which the
postmaster answered; II have the honor
70 inform the department that the Tom
bigbee river don't run up at all; II runs
down" In due course OF mail came an
other communication. ION receipt OF this
letter your appointment as postmaster will
cease Mr.. - has been appointed your
s0ccessoT.@ To which went the following
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
THE, UNCLE, REMUS OF FICTION :

were published the first Of the Uncle
kemus stories, based on the folk tales that
the printers boy had heard around the
negro cabin fires on the plantation of hls
first employer.
Mr.. Harris began writing these stories
with not the slightest idea that they
would create a furore or make him a
name. But first thing he knew they were
being copied far and wide and then the
editors OF big magazines began imploring
him to write Uncle Remus'' stories for
them He did writeja long series Of them
for the Century Magazine and since then
who in the growing up and grown-up
worlds has been so neglectful as not to
have made friends with Uncle Remus,
Brer Rabbit, Br'er Fox. the Tar Baby,
Daddy Jake and the best friend and boon
companion of all these quaint characters
Joel Chandler Harris himself?
And because everything happened just so
led TO the writing OF the first Uncle Remus
stories, their author says that 1t was an
accident that they ever came to be written
at all. And the old world, little and big,
replies that accident or no accident, II
doesn't see how it got along SO long with
out knowing dear old Uncle Remus and
Joel Chandler Harris.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17

four mules Thursday. The mules died but
the niggers recovered and have gone to
preaching the gospel Lightning hit the
wooden leg OF one Of our leading citizens
one day last week and the shock cured him
OF the rheumatism"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
Helpful to Others.

Just as stories of Mr.. Harris love for his
roses and his birds could be. told without
numter, 50. one who has written at
length about him says: Stories Of
his "helpfulness and cheerful praise Of
others work could be almost indefinitely
multiplied"
When Frank L. Stanton. now of the
Constitution, was writing verses for a
little Georgia newspaper Uncle ReInus. as
an editor OF the Constitution, was In the
habit Of clipping and publishing some Of
the young poets work You're a good
one-J. c. H." Uncle Remus wrote on one
clipping, and mailed it to Stanton. The
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17

swarm OF bees In freight car at the
Minneapolis transfer held the state rail-
road and warehouse commission az bay
for three days. J. p. Howard OF Ham
mond several days ago shipped his house
hold goods, several head OF stock. some
beehives and the bees. all in one car. from
that place for Shell LAka Not having
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
Discovering HIS Victims.

certain Irish ofieer. responsible for
dog licenses, had system OF discovering
his victims. He knocked at the side door
OF every house, and If a dog barked ne i'm
mediately demanded that the owner show
his license. Every dog must have his day.
however, and one day last week this col
ieetor reached the street with his lower
garments nearly intact. "Bedad." he said,
cycling the victorious terrier through the
ratings. that's the sort Of dog likes to
see out o. me sight"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17

''There is not an American anywhere
who can read Mr.. Harris stories-I am
not speaking at the moment OF his won
derful folk tales. but OF his stories-who
does not rise up q better citizen for hav-
ing read them; who does not rise up with
more earnest desire to do his part In
solving American problems Alright.
II cannot too strongly express the obli-
cations l am under 10 Mr.. Harris; and
one OF those obligations is to feel as a
principle that 1t is my duty (Which II I
have transgressed have not transgressed
knowingly never as American 10 say
anything that could be construed into an
attack upon auy portion Of our common
country"
Just before the train pulled out OF the
Atlanta station the president. turning to
Clark Howell, one of his hosts, said with
his boyish enthusiasm:
The best feature OF the day, Mr.. Howell,
was getting Joel Chandler Harris into tnat
luncheon. By George, that was great! He
Is wonderful man. ! regard him as the
greatest educator in the south along the
lines he writes of. One OF the very pleas
ant memories OF my visit to Atlanta will
have been my association with him."
When Mr.. Harris was presented to the
president before the luncheon he had 10
remain by the presidents side while the
rest Of the guests were presented. And
then II was that the president enthusl-
astically told Mr.. Harris of the pleasure
he, as well as the children. received from
reading the Uncle Remus stories. II is
doubtful whether Uncle Remus has yet got
over blushing at the many nice things said
TO him by the president.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17

heard from the consignment Howard
called upon the railroad and warehouse
commissioners He discovered that the live
stock sanitary board had tried to inspect
the stock in the car. but was prevented
from doing so for three days by the bees
which had broken loose. When the board
was able TO enter the car the stock was in
such condition as a result Of the bees ac-
tvity that IL could not be inspected
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
An EdItor's Perruader.

The editor Of Kansas country paper
has found a way of persuading the delin-
quent subscriber. 1t was quite accidental.
He had borrowed a rifle recently. and he
started up the main street OF the town TO
return the weapon 70 its owner. The de-
hnquent subscribers got 1t into their heads
that he was on the warpath. and every
one he met insisted on paying what he
owed him. One man wiped out a debt OF
ten years standing On his return 10 his
once he found a load OF hay fifteen
bushels OF corn, ten bushels OF potatoes. a
load OF wood and barrel OF turnips that
had been brought In. All the country
editors are now trying TO borrow WInehes-
tsEA
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
shy of Strangers.

The stranger seeking out Uncle Remus
should not expect to experience any Of
those flashes OF humor which are a JOY to
Uncle Remus' boon friends. The presence
of strangers-especially OF the pilgrim sort
ALI but paralyze Mr.. Harris into utter
speechlessness. At such times the slight
impediment OF speech that he has had sin0s
boyhood becomes quite pronounced. and in
divers other ways he plainly gives evidence
that he is painfully shy
This trait Is a continual source OF dis
tress and merriment TO his friends in about
equal proportions. They delight in re-
counting stories of his shyness. but when
this characteristic keeps him from accept
ing their pressing invitations TO dine out
and to receptions, then merriment gives
way to despair.
Two or three years ago the daughter OF
one Of Uncle Remus'' most intimate friends
and neighbors was TO be married OF
course. the Harrises were invited to the
dinner. and after much e0axing Mrs Harris
got Mr.. Harris TO promise that he would
surely sit down at the festal board. Mrs
Harris went early TO the house. Mr.. Harris
agreeing to follow. He did. He even got
inside the gate OF his/old friends house.
when the music. the lights and the general
air OF festivity caused his heart 70 fair him
and despite the solemn promise he had
made Mrs. Harris he turned his back on
the glowing scene and quickly made his
way home.
An equally good story Of his phyasss
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17

reply: The receipts OF this office during
the last year have been $4S7. and the
ONCE rent more than double that sum:
please to kindly instruct my successor to
pay me the balance. and oblige"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
TIE LAIRD OF
SKlBO AND
| UNCLE, REMUS

poet declares that the first steps no
took toward success were made posi-
BILE through the helping hand ex-
tended him by Uncle Remus.
Shabby-lookfng individuals are turned
away nom the average door without
conjunction, on the easily applied
theory that they are only tramps.
Uncle Remus has not the heart to
turn any one away empty-handed.
One cold, raw day. particularly
shabby man appeared at his door andr
asked for old clothing The man was
blue from exposure to the weather
You're just the man I've been wait
ing for these two months" said Uncle
Remus, sympathetically. I've got a
coat that will just Mt you"
Mr.. Harris has the undivided love of
all Georgia. That he IL loved the
world over is proved by the way in
which he is sought out by visitors to
Atlanta, whether of high or low de-
gree. One Of the FIRST things that
Jerome X. Jerome did when he
reached Atlanta last April was TO ask
where Uncle Renus lived. A few
weeks before Mr.. Carnegie had made
pilgrimage to The Sign of the
Wren's Nest" and when President
Roosevelt was in Atlanta last October
ne counted 1t great honor to grasp
tho hand of the man whose wonderful
folk lore stories have given the Roose-
Welt children many happy hours.
II read your stories nearly every
night Of my life to the little folks.
said Mrs. Roosevelt to Mr.. Har~x.
"and they never tire OF their beloved n
Remus."
Indeed, 80 interested is Ethel Roosev.
In Uncle Remus and his tales ,bat :
has written letters to the author The
are among his treasured possessions.
ROOsevelt's Tribute to Uncle Remu
II was at the luncheon given him al 4
Piedmont club that the president paid I
glowing tribute to Mr. Harris; in son
mysterious way, the latter had been calol
into attending.
Now, began the president, after brief
telling his hosts how glad he was TO
with them' Il am going to very III rep.
the courtesy with which / have be,
greeted by causing for a minute or "
acute discomfort TO a man of whom I a
very fond-Uncle Remus. Presidents ms
come and presidents may go. but Unc
Remus stays put, Georgia has done
great many things for the union, but
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
Andrew oarneEie's little Joke.

It was in April of this year that'I.aird Of
skibo made his pilgrimage to the home Of
Uncle Remus.
Well. well" exclaimed Mr.. Carnegie. on
meeting Mr.. Harris. this Is a treat-a
genuine Joy. How are your"
Poly" answered Mr.. Harris. with a
characteristic ehuckle.
What's the matter2'' asked Mr.. Car
negie. In surprise, taking a step back from
the very rotund and robust looking man
before him
I'm about 70 lose my nVtn'," was the
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
BeEinnins of His Oareer1

Here, during the next six years, Joel
Chandler Harris learned to become a good
printer. But he learned a great deal more
than that Hour after hour he sat in his
employers library. familarizing himself
with the thoughts and styles OF the CLASH
cal authors OF all times. This was after
Mr.. Turner. who edited his home paper dis
covered that various paragraphs, which
had crept into the paper without his knowl-
edge. had been written by his youthful en-
ploye. TO whom then was thrown open the
written lore OF the ages.
Yet, keen as was the Lad TO be In the
company OF these master thinkers and
writer's. what pleased him most was the
great big outdoors all about him. He
roamed the woods. and. observant beyond
his years, It's secrets were revealed TO him.
He made fast friends with horses and
dogs, the birds and all living creatures
that he could approach or that would APP
preach him. Above ALL his fancy was ever
stirred. his sense Of the humorous tlckled
by the quaiRt, and equally quantity told
stories that were to be heard around the
cabin fires Of the plantation negroes. So
that when the Countryman failed the year
after the war. and IL became necessary for
him to seek employment elsewhere, Joel
Chandler Harris was ''choek full" so to
speak. OF antebellum negro folk lore and
the way OF many Of natures creatures,
Brer Rabbit. Br'er Fox and all the rest
1he young printers first employment
after leaving the home OF his patron was
In Macon. Ga Next he was private secre-
tary 70 the editor OF the Crescent Monthly,
which was published In New Orleans. Be
fore Il failed he wrote some sketches and
paragraphs for q; after its death he be-
came seneral fsftotum Of the Forsyth
CGa-) Advertiser. The humor In what he
wrote for this little sheet got him a place
on the Savannah News. That was In is7l.
when he was = years old.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
Quaint Happenings of Every Day Life
Freaks OF LiGhtnina.

Freaks OF Lightning.
HIS is the season when the odd
doings Of lightning are reported
from all parts OF the country. The
Adams (Ga) Enterprise says:
Lightning hit two niggers and
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17

oFy other scld the story OF the accident
that haar hade all of us more or leSsrintt'
mate friends of Uncle Remus, and Uncle
Remus best friend, goes back to a day
some months before the civil war. when
q small, redheaded, freckled, blue-eyed boy,
curled UP on a dilapidated green sofa in
the postmasters Office in little Eatonton,
Georgia, and deeply engrossed in porting
over the columns Of newspapers placed in
his hands by the friendly official. and his
attention arrested by an Insignificant adj
vestsement. tucked away in the corner Of
a page. boy wanted to learn the printers
trade" 1t announced. and closed with the
name and address Of the advertiser.
Joel Chandler Harris was then II years
old and as shy as a partridge. but his
mind was fired with the idea of going to
work. especially as he knew that his
mother needed help. So, in great fear and
trembling. he wrote out his application and
mailed It to the advertiser, Joseph A.
Turner, a wealthy planter living nine miles
from Eatonton. Mr.. Turner had determ-
ined to begin the publication Of a weekly
paper. 1t was to be called the Country
man and modelled after the papers Of Ad-
Olson, Goldsmith and johnson.
With no idea that his letter would get
him the place. the boy had really num-
bered the days he was still TO add 70 the
years he had spent on the odd green sofa
eagerly devouring the grandiloquent edi-
torial discussions of the Federal Union, the
Recorder and the other papers that were
laoned him. Great was his surprise. there
fore. when one day Mr.. Turner himself
drove into town for him and took him
back, employed.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
ConiaE 20 the Constitution.

Five years later, yellow fever having
broken out IN Savannah. Mr.. Harris took
his wife OF three years and their two
babies % Atlanta, out OF harms reach II
was not long before he had secured a place
On the stan OF the Constitution.
He aid such good work that when the
noted revivalist. Sam Small. who had been
writing column signed ''old ST." decided
70 leave the paper. the editor, 10th TO drop
20 popular feature. asked Mr.. Harris IL
he could keep It going. Mr.. Harris thought
. little while. reekoned be could. ana then
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
Glory OF Ills Humor.

It's great treat to be an intimate friend
OF this very, very shy, very robust and
rotund. somewhat stopped and decidedly
good-humored man. Uncle Remus-that is
what Mr.. Harris is called by many people
bubbles over with quiet humor at all times,
and his quaint sayings and apparently unin-
territorial jokes are a source of never ending
delight to all who hear them. Indeed. I'm
Gle Remus carries his sense of humor so far
that he looks upon his own success as a
great big joke. Consequently, the man or
woman who tries to put Uncle Remus upon
pedestal in order to fall down and wor-
ship him is foredoomed TO miserable failure.
Once one OF Mr.. Harris friends took him
to task for painting the negro of ''befoh de
wah" in too glowing colors, and ended with
this parting shot:
Now, honestly Mr. Harris, wouldn't
Uncle Remus steal chickens II he got a
CHANGER"
WELL" chuckled the author, III follow
the old man all day you can't expect me to
know what he does at night too"
Even the grim fact that he and his fam
fly were yellow fever refugees in 1876
couldn't make him lose sight OF the HUI
morous in life. So he wrote this down on
an Atlantic hotel register. ~. c. Harris,
wife and two children and one bilious
nurse"
Long before he was ready to leave the
hotel Mr.. Harris humor and droll stories
had served to revive the dropping spirits
OF his fellow refugees, and turned the
crowded hostelry from a place OF gloom
into one Of light-hearted laughter. The
proprietor was quick to note the cause. and
so when Mr. Harris approached him to set
tie his bill he was informed that he did not
owe him a penny.
why, sir" explained the grateful boni-
face were indebted to you at least 50"
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17
THE REAL.
JUNGLE RENUS
JOEL chANDLERn HARRIS

comes from Eatonton, Mr.. Harris birth
place. In order to be present at local
celebration Mr.. Harris returned to the
scenes of his boyhood. and somehow was
inveIgled into taking a seat on the plat
form with the orator OF the day, the late
Henry w. Grady. After this famous silver
tongue had finished, some OF the celebrants
began to call, Harris, Harris, Harrts!"
Now, Uncle Remus had never made a
speech in his life and the thought Of being
called upon to do so made his soul quail
within him.
Harris, Harrisv cried the crowd, with
increasing vigor. Harris, Harris, Harrisr'
Up rose Uncle Remus, his old gray hat
pulled down over his eyes. I'm coming.
I'm coming" he shouted and the next mo-
ment stepped off the platform and lost
himself in the crowd.
Mr. Harris shyness has made all efforts
to induce him to give public readings more
than futile. This trait is also partly re-
sponsible for the circumstance that he
rarely leaves home except to visit his mar
ried sons or to go to the office of the Con-
stitution, on whose stan he was actively
engaged more than twenty-five years.
-
Home His Dearest spot.
His love Of home is marked. To him Il
is the dearest spot on earth. and every
tree, every vine, every flower. every grow
ing and living thing on it receives his per-
sonal care and attention. THE Sign OF the
Wren's Nest" his friends call his home
They were led to apply this picturesque
title through the characteristic little act on
the part of the twinkling-eyed owner.
One morning, some years ago. Mr.. Harris
discovered that pair OF wrens were build
ing themselves a home in the letter box
on his front gatepost. All that forenoon
he neglected Uncle Remus and all his
other friends and duties In order to be on
hand when the postman made his appear
ance and to warn him not to disturb the
feathered pair in their work Of setting up
housekeeping. All through the whole sum-
mer Mr.. Harris kept a fatherly eye on the
birds, and not undl the young ones were
able to fly did he relax his vigil. Then, one
day, in an editorial in the Constitution, he
told the story Of the wrens under the head
ing, Signs of the Wrens Nest" His
friends have so spoken OF the Harris home
ever since.
Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-17

n accident that any Of
got to know about Uncle
Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox,
! Baby and all the rest of
blightful crew, Leastwise,