davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-02
.BOODL SECRETS
Given TO HENEY
Man Ousted by Mayor
scllrnitz to Expose
Frisco Grafters.
Conditions Rivaling Tweed
Disclosures Are Said
to Exist.

Special to The Journal.
- AN FRANCISCO, Dec. There is
- panic in the camp Of the grafters
and all signs point to complete
collapse Of their defenses. It is
learned that Frank Maestretti, former
member Of the board Of public works,
who was ousted a few months ago by
Schmitz, has told Heney and Burns all
about the inside workings Of the band
of grafters. He was one Of the close
personal friends Of both sRuef and
Schmitz and knows as much of their
methods as any man in the city. When
he was removed, he said he would make
Schmitz pay for the treatment he had
received. e,...%....... .. ....-.
Stefens and Wyman, the, convicts
who were pardoned yesterday by the
governor, at the request of Heney and
Burns, both say will tell all they
knew. 49, .. -... -. 49,. e.... ~
Chief Of Police Oman was arrested
in his own automobile today, the arrest
being managed with great delicacy and
consideration. He deposited $4,000
cash bail. The board Of police COM
missioners will suspend Chief of Police
Oman until after his trial. y ..
- Sensational Exposures. 80
The case against the chief is of the
strongest sort. The prosecution is, not
dependent. on any witness Of doubtful
character. On the, perjury, charge,
Rev. Father Carraher,.a prominent and
popular Catholic priest, Police Captain
Martin, a patrolman and the records of
the police department. are relied upon.
/, It was stated today that a condition
Of affairs in some of the city depart
ments had been discovered that rivals
the worst revealed in the Tweed inves-
tigation in New York. $-4 ~
Padded payrolls by which the city
has been robbed of immense sums are q
feature of the: evidence found by the
district attorneys office. Details are
| yexpected when the grand jury reports
this part Of its work. 80. ,.- ,3.g ~
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08
HIS EQUAL IN HEIGHT.
LincOln's Pleasant Little Interview
With IL Coal Heaver.

When Lincoln was on his way to as.
sumo the office Of president the train
was delayed at Freedom, Pa, by an
accident 10 Il freight train that was
little way ahead. Lincoln was accom-
panied by Major Sumner and Colonel
Elmer Ellsworth Of the celebrated regi.
ment Of ZOuaVes. Neither Major Sum
ner nor Colonel Ellsworth was tall, and
IS they stood beside Lincoln on the rear
platform while he made his address
hey looked shorter Than they really
we're. At the close Of LincOln'S short
peech Il coal HEAVIER called out, ABE,
Lhey say YOU are the talleSt man in the
United States, but | don't believe you
are any taller than | am" Lincoln re.
Piled, Come up here and let us meas
Urc." The coal HEAVIER pressed his way
through the crowd and climbed on the
platform. where Lincoln and he stood
back to back Turning to Colonel Els
worth, Lincoln said. (which is the tall
err
Colonel Ellsworth. being so much
shorter. could not tell. 50 he climbed on
the guard rail AMI. putting his hand
across H." top Of the heads of the two
men. sail. Il believe they are exactly
the same height" Then Lincoln and
the coal HEAVIER turned around and
faced each other. The crowd shouted
loudly when Lincoln took the black,
sooty hand of III" coal HEAVIER in his and
gave 4 he@rty hGndShake to the man
who was his equal-in height.-Thomas
II. Tihhlps in Success Magazine
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08
CHINESE ART IN STONE.
It's Best Examples and Some of It's
GrCnInsi Defects.

The spirit OF purely Chinese art in
stone H. shown .n work such as the
great monoiith figures - animals and
warriors when GaHk the approach to
Inc loLsuS OF the Ming dynasty and in
the perfectly pi&m structures designed
Tor lie ;pmltS of the present dynasty.
Tics" are composed Of enormous
blocks y some brought with infinite
tabor ION distant quarries over roads
#i br@ "s which are hardly capable
+, @ AIN. ordinary cart traffic and
Lave alray, to be specially prepared
tp p"rv,nt t. g lreat weights causing
tirir collapse.
TIE sane admiration for the employ
Mcgt of huge blocks of stone is seen
ia the c5se OF the bridges over the riv-
rfS along tie coast of South Fukien
WEcrc the s., nc slabs used in con
sJ"gctiG1 occasionally measure sixty
fit in length and are estimated to
WEIGH nearly 100 tons, aui the bridges
Themselves e. have "A length Of 1000 to
.. 70 yards
n almost al cases where the build
is are no, Of solid construction the
weight of tar blocks employed has
placed a strain upon the supports which
tie architects Sill was not competent
to provide against. and with the lapse
&C Tim" tho melancholy spectacle is
sccI # slabs fallen from their places
and of noble and costly structures
approaching ruin. In some cases the
interdcpnGdcHce of the arches leads to
TIE same result one notable instance
Of this occurred during Colonel Cor
dOn'S campaign against the Talpings.
when 10 allow of the passage of his
small steamers it was necessary to
make a gap in bridge of over twenty
arches, and arch after arch collapsed
Immediately after the passage of his
small f0tilla. - London Saturday Re
view.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08
LINCOLN'S DISPOSITION.
Ordinarily Cheerful. Ii Held Strain
of Deep Melancholy.

Hopeful aui cheerful as he ordinarily
seemed, there was i Mr.. Lincoln's dis
position a strain OF deep melancholy.
This was not peculiar TO him alone, for
the pioneers as a race We're somber
rather than gay. Their lives had been
passed for generations under the most
irying physical conditions, near malaria
infested streams and where they breath
ed The poison of decayiug vegetation.
Insufficient shelter. storms, the cold Of
winter, savage enemies and the cruel
labor that killed off all but the hardest
Of them had at the same time killed the
happy -go-lucky gayety of an easier
form of life They were thoughtful,
watchful, wary; capable, indeed, Of
wild merrimout but it has been said
that although pioneer might laugh he
could not easily be made to smile.
Lincoln's mind was unusually sound
and sane and normal. He had a cheer
ful. wholesome. sunny nature, yet he
had inherited the strongest traits Of the
pioneers. and there was in him. more
over, much of the poet, with a poets
capacity for Joy and pain. It Is not
strange that as he developed into man.
hood. especially when his deeper nature
began to feel the STRINGS Of ambition
and of love. that these seasons Of de
preston and gloom came upon him
with overwhelming force.-Helcn Nico-
lay I'm st. Nicholas
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08

How The YOUTHS Bodily Visor Stood
Him In Good Stead.


Him In Good Stead.
Young LincoIn's bodily vigor stood
him IN good stead in many ways. In
frontier life strength and athletic skill
served as wei for popular amusement
rs for prosaic toll, and at times, indeed,
they were needed for personal defense.
Every community had its champion
wrestler, q man OF considerable local
Importance ia whose success the
neighbors took n becoming interest.
There was not far from New Salem a
settlement called Clarys Grove, where
lived set of restless, rolIicking young
bacEwoodsmcn with a strong liking for
frontier athletics and rough practical
jokes Jack Armstrong was the leader
OF these ana until Lincolns arrival had
been the champion wrestler Of both
Clarys Grove ana New Salem. He and
his friend had not the slightest per-
songl grudgn against Lincoln, but,
hearing the ncighborhood talk about
the newcomer and especially Ohut's
extravagant praise of his clerk, who,
according to Offut's statement, knew
more than any one else in the United
States and could beat the whole coun-
try at running. jumping or 'wras-
Ting" they decided that the time had
come to assert themselves and strove
to bring about n trial of strength be-
tween Armstrong and Lincoln. Lin
coin, who disapproyed Of all this wool
ing and pulling" as he called it, and
had no desire to come to blows with
his neighbors, put off the encounter as
long as possible. At length even his
good temper was pOwerless to avert II,
and the wrestling match took place.
Jack Armstrong soon found that he
had tackled man as strong and skill
full as himself. and his friends, seeing
him likely To get the worst of it,
swarmed to his assistance, almost sue
ceeding. by tripping and kicking, in
getting Lincoln down. At the unfair
ness of this Lincoln became suddenly
and furiOusly angry. put forth his en-
tire strength, lifted the pride of Clary's
Grove in his arms like Il child and.
holding him high in the air, almost
choked the life out of him. 1t seemed
for moment as though a general fight
must follow: but even while Iincolns
fierce rage compelled their respect his
quickly returning self control won their
admiration. and the crisis was safely
passed.
Instead of becoming enemies and
leaders in neghborhood feud, as
might have been expected, the two
grew TO nc warm friends, the affection
thus strangely begun lasting through
life. They proved useful to each other
in various ways, ana years afterward
Lincoln made ample amends for his
rough treatment of the others throat
by saving the neck of Jack Armstrong;
son from the halter in memorable
trial for murder The Clary's Grove
"boys" voted Lincoln the cleverest fell
low that ever broke into the settle
ment." ana thereafter took as much
pride in his pcJceablcness and book
learning ~ they did in the rougher and
more questionable accomplishments of
their GisconIitcd lcader.-Helen Nicolay
IN st. Nicholas
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08
AVERAGE HUMANITY.
Most People Are Not Very Good Nor
Yet Very Bad.

What do we mean by good man or
Il bad one, a good woman or bad
one: Most people, like the young man
in the song. are not very good, nor yet
very bad" We move about the pas
lures of life in huge herds, and all dc
the sam" things ut the same times and
for the same reasons. Forty feeding
like one" Are we mean! Well, we
have done some mean things in our
time. Are We generousE Occasionally
we are. Were we gOOG sons or dutiful
daughters: We have both hOnored and
dishonored our parents, who in their
turn had done the same by theirs Do
we melt at the sight of misery? Indeed
we do. Do We forget al about it when
we have turned the corner: Frequently
that is so. DO we expect to be put to
open shame at the great day Of judg
ment: We should be terribly frighten-
ed of this did we not cling to the hope
that amid the shocking revelations then
for the first time made public our little
affairs may fail to attract much notice
Judged ny the standards OF humanl-
ty, few people are either good or bad.
Il have not been 4 great sinner" said
the dying Nelson; nor had he-he had
only been made great fool Of by
woman. Mankind is all tarred with the
same brush. though some who chance
to be operated upon when the brush is
fresh from the barrel get more than
their share Of the tar. The biography
of a celebrated man usually reminds
me Of tie outside of a coast guards
mans cottage all tar and whitewash.
Essays Of Augustine Birrell.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08
LIE BARK OF TREES.
Natures Provision For the Relief of
the Growing Plant.

Natures Provision For the Relief of
the drowning Plant.
The practical cultiyator understands
that nature makes provision for getting
rid Of the bark of trees as the trunk in
creases in size On the growth of the
past season may be seen small olive
spots. These are formations of cork.
From year to year, In subsequent de-
velopment, these little patches spread,
really eating their way through the
bark This is the provision which ma
ture makes for finally rifting the bark
in each species Of plant. These cork
cells have their own special lines of de-
velopment, and this is the reason why
each kind of tree has its own particular
bark. The characteristics are so prom
inent that clever observers can select
different kinds of trees by their bark
even at midnight. As it is the evident
intention of nature TO get rid of old
bark, it is a great help to the tree to as
siSt nature in this respect, and any
wash or treatment which aids the
plant in getting rid of 1t is a prac-
teal advantage. Soapy water wash or
lye water is useful. and even sCTaping
has been found Of great advantage.
In n rough sort of way lime wash Is
frequently used. the only objection be
ing the white and glaring color. 1t IS,
however the cheapest and the best Of
all bark treatment.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08

SuohschneidoV. the famous aeronaut,
aStonished the natives Of StOckerau,
near Vienna, by carrying a young bar
rister on his back along tight rope
eighty meters in length fixed to the
church steeple. y few days later fam
ing posters appeared on the walls an
nOuncing that StrOhschneider would eff
feet balloon ascent in the company of
Herr Pramper, the popular landlord Of
the White Rose.
Notwithstanding the fact that the po-
lice had forbidden the landlord, who
has a lara" family from taking part in
the performance mine host entered the
inclo-ure 0t the appointed time to the
no small delight Of the assembled null
titude. 1t Il given signal the balloon
rose in the air. StrOhschneider and the
landlord sitting on the trapeZe beneath.
Some OF the spectators declare that the
latter turned a~ pale ~ a sheet during
his upward flight. though he did not
fail t. wave his hat 10 the crowd Aft
er reaching Il dizzy height the two bal
looniStS were observed to quarrel and
actually came to blows. All at once the
landlord plunged hcauloug into space.
4 shout Of horror arose from the spec
tatorS. who ran to the spot where they
expected To find Pramper lying with
broken limbs. What was their aston
ishment at discovering not a corpse,
but "A lay figure dressed in one of the
landlords suits The manikin was
conveyed to Stockerau in triumph.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08

Il hope he did not give you any
bother" she gushed. Bobby Is an
angel, bur he will be wayward at
times"
NO" said Jefford quietly. "IIe was
a little rough this morning, but we
very soon came TO an understanding,
and we have had delightful after
noon here on the piazza"
Turner and Bascom eyed Jefford with
looks OF unbelief. but Nellie's eyes
snapped as she watched the pantomime.
They We're twinkling when, that even
ing Jefford spoke simply of his love.
II know that | am not worthy Of
you" he admitted. but | love you,
dear, and | want You for my very
own"
"Jim." she said softly, before l an
swer your question I want to ask one.
What was that understanding you had
with Bobby this afternoon"
Jefford colOred. 81 don't think that
is fair" he protested Il took him in
charge at your request"
'NIr. Bascom and Mr.. Turner declar
ed that they never had any trouble"
she said irrclcvantly. Il know that
poor Mr.. Turner spent one entire after
noon on his hands and knees playing
horse to amuse Bobby"
"Would you like to see me capering
about on all fours," he asked, lust to
keep a spoiled child out of mischief"
still" she reminded, "a man often
may be judged by his attitude toward
childish innocence"
He rose and faced her. Nell" he
said steadily, IF | had been in contact
with childish innocence all the after
noon | would be all right, but when
am compelled to stand guard over a
spoiled child and he almost sets fire to
the henhouSe and half kills the entire
flock, there is Just one thing that will
meet the situation promptly, and that's
a good old fashioned spanking. That
was the understanding l had with
Bobby. and it was effective"
Il asked you to stay behind with him
on purpose" she went on. Il knew
that the others had been kind to him
and had used only words of kindness
Not one of them ever thought of spank
ing him-for my sake"
Well declared Jefford, IF that's
your Idea of Il love test | am afraid
am out of it. | spanked him because
he needed It. and I'm glad did | sup
pose | had better be getting on"
He had taken half a dozen steps
when a hand was lightly laid upon his
arm.
Jim" said Nellie tenderly, don't
You suppose ! realized what Bobby
needed: I'm glad that you at least,
had the courage"
Then Bobby was not your testT he
cried
Bobby was a test she said, but
was looking for real man and not for
q man who would let child ride
over him just because of
an aunt, You are the man I want,
dear"
Strange to say, Bobby approved the
choice.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08
Things Hoped.

II | had i son who was determined
TO play the races" | should hope that
he would lose his last nickel and have
to walk home after his first attend
ance
If l had daughter who played the
piano in the sitting room while her old
mother did the work in the kitchen
should hope that | might find an oak
shingle and be given the grace to use It.
If ever | were to catch myself being
as mean and small as some men |
know-and may-I hope that | should
hope, for the benefit Of the world, that
the angel Gabriel would tOot his horn
for me very soon.
If ever | knowingly vote for scoun-
drel because he represents my party |
hope that may have the privilege of
going to a school whore the elements OF
decency are taught
If my wife should prove TO be irasci-
bic at timeS-but | don't admit it-I
should hope that | would remember the
sort of luck the poor girl played In
when she married me-San Francisco
Call.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08
AN ODD SEA FOOD.
Virtues OF the Gigantic Marine Snail
Known as the AbaIone.

Virtues OF the Gigantic Marine Snail
Known as the AbaIone.
Though the flesh of the abalone is a
nutritious and wholesome article Of
food, highly esteemed by the Chinese
and japanese, few people in the Unit
ed States know anything about the
abalone except that it has large shell
with bright, pearly interior. The aba
lone Is a gigantic sea snail, whose nat
ural home is the deep water off a rocky
coast The whole coast of central and
lower California, from Cape Mendo-
cino to Cape St Lucas, abounds In aba
lones, the supply being absolutely un-
limited. AS fast as an area OF fishing
ground is depleted it is repeopled by
full grown abalones coming in from
the ocean. Three months after piece
of ground has been thoroughly cleared
by the abalone fishers the slSAply IS as
abundant as ever. The contents Of the
large abalone shell weigh as much as
two pounds.
Long ago the Chinese and japanese
discovered the value OF the meat as
wholesome and digestible food. The
supply OF abalones in Chinese waters
Is, however, small, and the fishing
grounds off the coast Of Japan were so
heavily drawn upon that they became
exhausted. The people are forbidden
by an imperial edict from taking them.
The japanese and Chinese in Califor-
mia dive for the abalones. which crawl
about the rocks at the bottom of the
sea in deep water outside the surf
The divers bring them ashore and
spread them out in a sunny place to
dry. This process reduces the abalone
to about one-third of its original bulk,
leaving a tough, horny product. The
dried abaloneS are sent TO the orient
where they are soaked and stewed or
ground into powder and used for max
ing soup.
In the pure, deep water Of the ocean
the abalone lives, and as 1t Is a clean
feeder its flesh Is always sound and
wholesome, being superior in this re
spect to that OF oysters and clans,
which live near shore and are often
contaminated by sewage and other i'm
purities. The viscera Of an abalone
unlike those of the clam or oyster,
which must be swallowed whole. are
edible T:Tt and can be detached by
single .oke of knife. - Chicago
News.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08

Wagner writing ia 1876. said OF
Schumanu. He is highly gifted mu-
sician, but an impossible man. When
| came from Paris | went to see him.
told I'm OF my Partisan experiences.
si.ahe Of the state Of music in France.
tLCA Of that in Germany. spoke Of
literature and politics. but he remained
as good as dumb for nearly an hour.
One cannot - on talking quite alone.
An Impossible man." Schumann gave
an account of this interview. which
practically agrees with that OF Wag-
ner Il have seldom met Wagner" he
said. "lrt he is man Of education
and spirit He talks, however, unceas-
ingly, and that one cannot endure for
long together"
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08
THE GOLOFINCH.
Changes In PIumage That Are Puz-
ZIing 10 the Novice

Most every one in America is ac-
QCaintcd with the goldfnch, but many
people know the bird by the name Of
lettuce bird on account Of its bright
yellow color Goldfnch is a very appro-
pirate name, as the bright yellow Of
ihc male, when in breeding plumage. is
ike FURNISHED gold. The female gold
iu.l is more modestly dressed than
her mate. The changes in plumage Of
the male are very interesting and TO
tie novice somewhat DuZZling. Until
the student becomes acquainted with
til" bird he may wonder why he sees
no males during lhe winter. The truth
is, at this season the tiocks of supposed
female godhuches are really Of both
sexes. the male bird having assumed
in the previous fall, usually by the end
Of October, a plumage closely resem-
bling that Of the female and young
bird OF the year The male retains this
iucanSpicuOUs dress until late in Feb
rUary, when one can notice a gradual
change taking place in some of the
birds. This renewal of feathers is ac-
lively continued through March and
April, and by the 1st Of May our re-
splcndent bird is with US again. The
song period with the male goldfnch
continues as long as he wears his gold
and black livery, for it commences as
early as the middle Of March and ends
late in August Goldfinches are very
cleanly in their habits ana bathe fire.
quently. Their nests are exquisite
pieces OF bird architecture, the inside
being lined with the softest plant
down. The mother bird is the builder,
her handsome consort during the nest
building time deyoting most of his ef-
forts to singing to cheer his industrious
mate.-Philadelphia Press.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08
Royal Gamblers.

The fascination which games OF
chance have exercised over gentle and
simple is we'll illustrated in the de-
scrintion ly Stow OF the entertainment
given 10y Henry Picard mayor of Lon
don. in 1901. when the kings Of France
and Scotland. being prisoners in Eng
land, ami rHe king Of Cyprus on visit
TO Edward Ill, the mayor kept his
hall against all comers that were will
inc to play ut dice ana hazard The
Lady Margaret, his wife. did keepe her
chamber TO the same intent" The
mayor, having won % marks from the
h.-g Il Cypra:. returned him tie mon
ey, saying Iiy lord and s.. g. la not
aggrievei. for "tE"t @., g1ar -jlG,
but your pHT.'-, Il. ..nnr~. 'a1.ull
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-03-08

The astute Mr.. Phillips saw. For a
year he had been slowly and carefully
preparing for this day. For a year he
had been telling himself that there
could be no failure. He had written
out the check with the utmost care and
had scanned it over and over again, and
yet he had dated it a day ahead and
made a most cgrogrious bluuder, The
thing came upon him with sledge ham
mer force, ana in spite of his assurance
he exhibited some confusion This
might have passed with the teller as a
natural result had not man with a
check to be cashcl exhibited undue Gu
riosity and had not Mr.. Phillips COM
rade detective come strolling in. He
was known to the officers of the bank
and at once became interested in the
incident
1T was an oversight that l will have
corrected in twenty minutes" remark
ed Mr.. Phillips as he took the check
and started out But the detective
would not have it that way, and five
MN AlliN itAA'l liz AltAAL ItLttNl tllNl lnC
disguise of his friend. Perhaps their
friendship might have stood the strain
or an explanation been possible, but the
teller would not have II so. An at
tempt had been made to do" and ruin
him. and he proposed to see it through.
The result came two months later,
when the careful and deliberate and
painstaking as well as extraordinarily
astute Mr. Phillips was sentenced TO
state prison for seven years.
Sorry for you, my boy-very sorry"
said the detective as he left him at the
prison, but you see there is differ
ence. Astutcness in business brings a
sure reward. but astutencss in crime
leads most Of 'em here"