davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1906-12-23
When Fever Ragged Here.

But let me tell you. Washington
was sickIy in those days. Nearly
everybody was pale and feverish in
the face. You see this good. old ea.ta
of ours resents familiarity. You dig ,tp
dirt and dump 1t in a marsh for a
few years and you I'LL the air with
fevers; malaria, as the Italians call it
in Rome. bad air
Two very great men and men wide
ly different saved Washington: made
ID pnssible 10 build Washington.
one of them was Shepherd. called
Boss" Shepherd at the time lie II
MAS who planted the tulip poplar trees
-~-A N~zs a~-s- 49, v~~ss-.- h---~ ---s
The Washington times., 1906-12-23
NatinnaI Pridc thc Ruilder.

FaAhthAAaAA Wv Wv AHNAAANAH
What then built Washington city
here ia the gr-ss roots ny the classic
Potomac. and over against the sa-
cred soil of Virginia?
Let me say national pride built,
and is building. as never was city
built before. our great marble and
granite National Capital And Jhis
same honest, upright, manly pride is
going To make ir the grandest city
that ever srew under the path of the
sun D think L must be something of
The same sentiment. sense of devo-
tion soul that founded and fashioned
chat once majestic the0craCy. JeTu-
salem. Fair as the tents of Kedar
OF the curtains of solomon.
Il am making no hazard in saying
this for ] have heard so many great
men quote lines from the Bible about
Jerusalem, ON looking ont upon Wash
ingtOn. / am sure the thought is akin.
As for myself, / don mind confess
ing-aud / am said % be a pretty
rough old feIlow-that can never
catch a glimpse of the great rounded
dome and the Washington Monument
on my return after kong absence. with
out having TO turn aside by myself
and tumble for a handkerchief And
nearly an of my Western friends.
good. strong men, too, are almost
quise as foolish. And thank God FOR
aH the fooHshness of this sort Tears
sentiment of this sort, make the ce-
meut of this mighty nation.
"OU is il some sense of rest that pre-
walls here. the better manners born
of the absence of commercialism, the
presence of the President, the soldier,
the sailor. the born and bred gentle
man from abroad? But whatever It
may be. YOU feel it and you love 1T.
Your better nature comes 20 the sur
face You broaden, body and soul as
You walk the broadest and cleanest
streets i'm The world. Your nerves re
lax YOU rest and you resi-, and you
are a bigger and a better man. Maybe
that is why Washington is and forever
must remain a sort of Jerusalem OF a
Mecca 90 the American: "a city set
. apart from and above all cities of the
earth
The Washington times., 1906-12-23
Edmonds' Great Work.

And what did Edmou ds do 10 make
the sickly city so healthfuI? why.
pure water and sewers, sewers so deep
and long and everlasting that the
whole face OF the earth was upside
down and impossible in many places
for a long. long time 1 saw Rome
when they began TO get 10 the bottom
of the fever troubles by the Tiber. but
not nearly such wonderful work as
Edmonds ordered did encounter
there
New washington? Now. look here.
Go out and ask those dozen palaces
that are just beginning TO lift their
shining fair faces 10 Heaven. Ask
them about the futCre OF Washington
They will speak for themselves.
venture to say that no city on earth
is building 50 fast or nearly so finely
as is this. our Capital.
But a man should not try TO live in
his house while he is building IT,
When it is done, entirely finished and
entirely furnished. then. and not until
then, let him move into il and invite
in - s sstgh 4 R3a.Ts sla .La9 s..s sn.sIjsn
The Washington times., 1906-12-23
Foundation i'm Grass Roots.

But the foundations Of this. our
National Capital, were laid in the
grass roots. Commerce, the coming
and passing of ships of the sea OF
ships of the desert. had nothing at all
60 do with the creating of Washington
city. The deer reverence for the Fa-
ther of his Country, whose tomb Is
near by, brought many good people
here. but only for a day Sentiment
never built a city. never viii.
Most of us like the name Colum-
bia once when 1 was teaching
school in Oregon, "A little girl ginger
ily asked me what tribe Of indians she
would have belonged TO had Columbus
not discovered U.S. And, although 1
had a certificate for good moral char
actcr and was supposed TO answer any
question my little girl of eight years
might be able 20 ask. / had 10 give it
up and advise her TO- ask her mother.
But even the added sentiment for the
great ADMIRAL aud gratitude TO him
for discovcrinA us ana disposinE of
the danger of our being born 10 any
particular tribe OF Indians; even ali
this. let us observe. Will not build
uur perpetual, Il great city
The Washington times., 1906-12-23

law. Senator George II. Williams. the
lTst Cabinet officer from all the great
States OF the extreme West Hr
mad great faith IN the city. and Tad
bought land away out at the edge of
the hill through which Sixteenth street
Is cut lie tried to save the sharply
crescent from destruction, but there
was a rage for railroad levels and
that part of the comeIy contour OF
hills was suuihilated.
The Washington times., 1906-12-23
Meridian Stones Manderlnr..

What of its story? You will ind
the account of it all in the archives
of the Capitol. II is written on wide
blue paper and very plain. covering
many pages The one important part
is the description of the stone and the
account of setting il in place. The en-
gineeT tells US that he, after planting
il firmly. had a hole drilled in the
apex and then. melting a silver dollar,
poured il in the hole and then tamped
il well with lead.
Il had a copy of this paper taken
and. placing it in the hands OF a de-
tecJive. told him To trace the migra-
tory Meridian Stone and furnish me a
sworn statement of it all The stone
-.-= 0s=S 1L=SL-@@-A ~ AE~-~ i-s SAssas
The Washington times., 1906-12-23
Washington in 1870.

81 uTst knew Washington i'm 40.
when the Monument was about aaIf
done. IT / am not mistaken there
was a -bob-tail' huTse-car ON Penn
sylyaHIa avenue where Walt Whit
man once drove. The one paIatial
ediGce away out i'm the wild grass and
wild rose bushes by the side of IN
pont Circle was Stewart Castle. This
vas built or being built. uy Senator
Stewart, a yale man who had married
the daue hter of Senator Henry \
Fu,tc OF Mississippi, % was In This
tSsn Impressive castle that on my ~e-
turn from Europe. i'm 1SNu, I first net
- 0la aA6 borrowed Dyssau us4Ss "a 49,
The Washington times., 1906-12-23
mE NH7E H01szE

of the soldiers temporary hospital on
the hill during the war. Then. when
stone was wanted for the fence at
Arlington Cemetery. this. among other
stones, was taken there. Then. after
new fence was put around the
graves. the Meridian Stone was carried
in a boat down 10 Alexandria, 10 be
used in some similar way there Then.
after few years, il found its way out
10 the Reform School. where It served
as a hltching post.
The Washington times., 1906-12-23

rid of a whole block Of disease breed
ing dens. To do this he gave a great
feast and all sorts of entertainments
away down in Virginia. 10 which he
persuaded every judge in the District.
Then he set 10 work and pulled down
hundreds of rotten old huts before
single judge could be found. This
was one or his wsYs 81 trying 10
ss-~~~@ sFsNsss s.~ss 49, Assss hsSs .
The Washington times., 1906-12-23
Hardships in Those Days.

The other great and by far greater
man Of the two honest and able city
builders was EdmOnds. OF Iowa. whom
President Arthur called in TO help
him build up the water works OF the
bankrupt and sickly city. The wa
ter of Washington was literally
stencil in the nostrils- For my own
part. 7 had to build up a cistern. I
could not possibly use the water, and
all the whisky was away down town.
Besides that / had not yet learned 10
drink whisky. much as I needed Il.
So YOU see / was compelled TO use
British brandy and soda, Hard? Yes.
indeed. We, the early builders OF
early Washington, had lots 10 endure
'FsIt one cheerful thing in those
days were the darky funerals The
graveyard lay A little back of my
cabin. The funerals were always on
Sundays, generally two brass bands
and a string OF happy dancing ltttia
farkies half a mile long behind and
on either side of the hearse and
bands. ] never saw such lapFy lItIe
folks in all my travels.
And the music was good and the
singing great. 1 recall only one coup
let or chorus.
'' Fob tbs written in de book
Dat we git overlook
Some day. Some day
Il miss their weird walls now. / am
told the force suppressed these fune-
rails
The Washington times., 1906-12-23

novels. We need another Boss"
Shepherd nearly all along Pennsyl-
yania avenue.
This big man had all the idiots 10
deal with that I met in trying to find
and restore the Meridian Stone. and
more, too. For example, he was en-
Joined and enjoined and eniOined bv
very demagoEue that could dig up
%arky client Ui he was almost dis
A---Ass~ 1899 - sS-%, 49, -s.s-@~ @~s
The Washington times., 1906-12-23

H

National Capital. think it safe TO
say that in eight years our House win
De bIIlJ Then let us call In 0Ir
heighbors and tap our cider barrel and
celebrate. This city by that time wiu
surely be the very stateliest and most
lmpressiNe IN The world
The Washington times., 1906-12-23
By JOAQUIN MILLER.

Behold yund mighty dome mid-air'
Nond monument in pointed prayer
Whilst over all. so fair sl fair.
sins unseen angels elrTtNI-rr-
The Washington times., 1906-12-23

i THINK it safe to say that in eight years our
bOnse ZUaL be built. Then let US call in on,
neighborS ara tap our cfder barrel and celebrate
I E7 rs here in Washi1, ion celebrate TIE CLOSING
chapters OF The late r0ar 1Dth our noble
Motber Country, IN 1914!
I'VE GOT tbfaShed and tbraSbed all to pieces
~ here and had cur houses all burned
80 let Us CT Lebrate in some sense of humility as
zUeH as great Thanksgiving that qUe habe risen
pom lhe ashes. Ana zuhen our beautiful mean
house IS enthely done let us SbolD them 1Dbat
has been zone in our ruined city in single century
JOAQUIN MILLER.
The Washington times., 1906-12-23

~ ? OF want me 90 talk
V about Washington city;
~ old and new Washing
ton? Certainly. For l
& Ike our great National
Capital Besides that
I,oWu "A part OF il. as does every other
American who has paid his poll tax.
ITO begin with Washington is
unique. and must Doe looked al in an
other light from that i'm which we CON
template all other cities, old or new.
All other capitals. ancient and mod
ern, were, 20 begin with, commercial
capitals. founded and built by trad
ers; sea OF lana, mostly merchants Of
the seas. The kings and empeTOrs of
Europe found their capitals ready for
them. They set up their thrones in
their strongest cities, and held them
at the point of the sword.
The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01
A Diplomat. Indeed.

81 wonder how 1t seems to have
written SO many books that you can't
remember the number?" sighed a pret-
ty girl. a youthful literary aspirant,
after meeting John Burroughs, the nat
uralist, at the Pen and Brush club re.
ception a few days ago.
The gray-bearded sage Of Slabsides
had just remarked that he couldn't al
ways remember how many books he
was the author of, and had told this
story:
Il was dining with lady recently,
and when I made that remark, she
spoke up. saying:
"'Oh, I know. You have written
Just thirteen. for have them all here
in my library
Did | write all those books?' /
said. Why, it doesn't seem posi-
ble.'
But you see my work has been my
play, and it has all been done so grad.
ually that l can scarcely realize how
many there are. There will be four.
teen in all when the one on which !
am now working is finished in June.
But, then" he continued, comforting.
ly. when you have worked forty years
as I have, you will have something to
show for your labors. New York
Sun.
The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01
More Work for Wilson.

A servant girl in the household of
Pottsville. Pa. family was slicing
potatoes for dinner the other day,
when she found one that was particu-
larly watery. She was about to
throw it away when the knife struck
something hard. She cut 1t out and
showed 1t to her mistress. 1t proved
to be a pearl, which jewelers. value
at $40. Now, then, here is an oppor-
tunity for Secretary of Agriculture
Wilson. Let him take up immediate
ly the investigation and propagation
of the pearl-bearing potato. There is
not constituent of any congressman
but would like to have sample and ex-
perimental packages of that vege-
table. The seed of potato that
grows pearls would be much more
highly appreciated than several pack
ages of peas good only for cheap
porrldge.-Savannah News
The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01

aad the knowledge that he had IN
iicIed the curse upon a loved ono.
9e was dead He had fallen for the
AXE of love. God would Judge him
lightly. Ii is only human to love
ind for our loves we win risk much
The next day | told Lucy all.
never saw her again for | knew that
should look upon her dear face, my
resolution would vanish and I would
sin as my father had done before me.
She died six months later-of bro
ken heart.
This is my story. Thirty years
have passed since that fearful night
when looked upon the dead face of
NY father and read the paper that
sealed my doom. | am an old man. !
have heard the bell twelve times
and feel that my end is near |
have suffered much. but as look
back upon the life. already spent. |
am glad that Kept my vow. Many a
time have I been in communication
with Lucy. and know that she waits
for me, and"
(Here the MSS. suddenly breaks
off. The body was found by the table.
sitting in a chair. as in life. A pen
was still clutched in the nerveless
fingers-)
The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01
NO ADMISSION WITHOUT CARD
Faithful Aunt Chloe Stern euarda,
of Portal


A number of young society girls of
Washington had assembled at the
home of friend to receive New
Years calls. Aunt Chloe, the house
hold servant, was pressed into service
as waitress.
The hostess had instructed her,
while she was tying on her big white
apron, that she should present the
trap for the gentlemen's cards. and
while they We're taking off their over
coats to bring the cards to her
AT the first ring of the bell all OF
the girls were in fiutter. some even
peering over the balustrade.
After n slight commotion the front
door shut and all was quiet
They waited some time, then Miss
Mamie went to the back stairs and
called. "Chloe. what's the matter?"
Malta nuf. Miss Mamie. Dey were
foah gentlemans trying TO git in on
free tthree) tickets, and | tole 'em
No, sab. Youse don't cum dat trick
on dis house. SO dey all tote of
home"
In the evening the gentlemen called
again. 1t seems that one of the four
had run out of cards, and no amount
of persuasion would induce the negro
servant to let them in.
The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01
NEW FOOD LAW

for Just what II Is, and not try to kill II
by heavy tax. Manufacturers some
times try to force measures In their
own interests. but contrary to the in
terests of the people and the labor
trust is always active TO push through
bills drafted in the interest of that
trust but directly contrary to the in
terests Of the people as a whole. Wit
ness the anti-injunction bill by which
labor unions seek to tie the hands Of
our courts and prevent the issue of
any order TO restrain the members of
that trust from attacking men or de-
stroying property. Such a bill Is per-
haps the most Infamous insult to our
courts and the common people ever
laid before Congress and the Represen-
tatives In Congress must be held to a
strict accountability for their acts re-
lating thereto. But when bills come
before Congress that are drawn in the
interests of all the people they should
receive the active personal support of
the people and the representatives be
instructed by the citizens. The Sena-
tors also should be written to and in
structed. III. therefore, You will re-
member your privilege and duty you
VIII at once-now-writet to your Con
gresham and Senator on this pure
food bill. Clip and enclose the copy
herewith presented and ask them to
make bustess of following II through
the committee considering II. Urge
Its being brought to vote and re
questing that they vote for It,
Some oppressively intelligent and
The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01

have perfected phonograph record Of
sifficient hardness TO so through the
mails. withstand the hard usage OF the
post. and be ready to voice the mes
sage it contains upon delivery at its
destination.
A material called "sonorine," which
has all the advantages OF wax. and the
added quality OF being indestructible.
Is spread upon cards. which conform
to postofiice regulations and require
ments- Then the chemically prepared
card is laid fiat. and the voice is
thrown into small funnel. through
which 1t passes to the registering nee
die. The record is made by spiral.
The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01
The bell had tolled twice for me
already.

whose family died with him. My
grandfather loved Richard as
brother. They were always together
But one day they quarreled and Rich
ard Bassman was shot by my grand
father. He died instantly. My grand.
father was so struck with horror at
the deed that he tried to kill himself,
but friends prevented the act Rich
ard Bassman was buried the next day
and as the body was being carried to
the grave, the bell in the church toll
ed out his years. 1t has tolled twelve
times. and the sexton pulled the rope
for the thirteenth stroke. The bell
gave forth booming sound and
breaking loose from its fastenlngs. fell
to the ground. My grandfather had
been deeply affected by the tolling OF
the bell. AT each stroke he was seen
to shudder. Then came that fatal
thirteenth stroke. His face grew livid
and such an expression of unutter-
able horror came over 1t that every
one who saw him shuddered. His
great form swayed and he fell to the
ground dead.
"The curse is in the family, trans
mitted from father to son. We must
hear that terrible noise thirteen times
sometimes closely connected--some-
times at intervals of years. At the
thirteenth stroke, comes death When
hear it the last time. you shall hear
1t first, and the curse will be upon
you.
My son. 1t is my earnest plea that
you let our accursed race die with
you. My father implored me never
to marry and | resolved to follow his
request. but l met the woman | loved
and fell. VIII you be stronger than
/? Already the bell tolled twelve times
and I feel that my end is near My
son. forgive me and heed my admoni-
ton. Do not transmit this curse to
another. for it VII cause your loved
ones untold misery"
The note fell from my hands. /
arose and gazed fearfully into that
dead face. The eyes were still open
and they seemed to be boring me
through with their horrible glare.
tried to close them but In vain Then
a great fear came upon me-there
alone with the dead. Outside the
winds were wailiLg as If a thousand
funerals were passing, and there
came again that horrible mufet
sound. The bell had tolled twice for
me already. A panic seized me.
dared not look at the face of my
father. | rushed from the room out
into the darkness and the storm
Three times did | hear the bell
through that night When the dawn
finally broke in the east. my mind was
fully resolved. 1 would tell Lucy all
and then leave her forever.
went into the house. The ser.
wants gazed at me in fear-and no
wonder. AS l passed a mirror.
caught a glimpse of myself. Instead
of a fresh. happy young face. l saw
that OF an aged man. My hair was
snow white.
We buried my father. and as l look
ed for the last time on that face
SO drawn by suffering. | forgave him
his great sin. was accursed and
doomed to a life of misery, but this
IAN had suffered more than for he
The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01

and, mechanically. unfolded 1t. This
is what | read.
ITO my son. John vereken:-I ad.
dress these words to you. as 1t were.
from the grave, and | trust that you
will forgive my great sin. There is a
curse in our family and |. poor. weak
fool. have transmitted 1t 20 you. You
no doubt, heard the sound of the bell
when l died. I will tell you the story
of it
Your great grandfather-my grand.
father-was of generous but hasty
nature. He was quick to strike. and
as quick TO repent of the blow. His
greatest friend was Richard Bassman.
The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01
No Words Wasted in That FamIl,

Few men are better known around
New London, Conn. than Capt. Tom
Burns of the steamer Orient who has
rich fund of "reminiscences of his
fishing days. and delights in telling
the following:
An old Sound fisherman and his son
were equally noted for their tacltnrn.
ity. They were bringing their little
sloop into anchorage one night, the
boy standing on the bow and the
father at the tlller, when this conver.
sation took place:
Son, trow de ank"
Amt no tring on it."
"Tring or no tring. trow de ank."
The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01

Among the papers found by the law
yers of John Vereken. an old man who
recently died, was the following:
l am about to write down things a.
which most men will scoff, but they
are true, and | pray God that no
cne will have to go through what |
have endured for thirty years. This
is the story of my life.
/, John Vereken, was born in the
year 1908. in Yorkshire. My father,
Squire vereken, was a kind and in
dulgent man. but noticed that at In
tervals, a moroseness came over him
and lasted for two or three days.
often wondered at these fits of mel.
ancholy, but | dared not ask my
father, and he vouchsafed no explana-
ton. My mother I never knew. She
died when l was born. Would to
God that !, too, had followed her.
passed the usual uneventful life
OF the country squire's son until was
twenty years old. and then, as is
only human, | fell in love. The OBJ
ject of my affections was the daugh-
ter Of our nelghbor, Squire Derrick.
Lucy Derrick was beautiful and
loved her devotedly.
My love was returned and the hap
piest moment of my life was when
Lucy Derrick promised to become my
wife. Her father offered no objection
to our union. and we set the wedding
day for my twenty-first birthday.
1t was just a month before our
wedding day. Lucy had gone to Lon
don to procure that finery with which
girls love to deck themselves, and her
kisses were still warm on my lips 1t
was fine autumn day, the early
morning frosty, but the MONDAY as
warm as summer. Everything seemed
to breathe peace and love. l was SO
filed with the pleasure of living that
as soon as Lucy was safely off.
got my best horse and galloped sew
eral miles across the country. | stop
ped for dinner with friend and did
not start home until late. The weather
had changed and it was cold and
rainy. A heavy wind was rising. 1t
would be fearful night and I was
glad when l got to the warmth of the
drawing-room fire.
l was sitting there, listening to
the moaning of the wind and the pat
ter of the, raindrops. and thinking of
Lucy, when a servant entered the
room and said my father wanted to
see me. He had taken suddenly i'll
and was in his bedroom.
1 arose hastily and started for the
room, for this was the first intimation
l had had of his Illness. Just as
opened the door. / heard a heavy
booming sound like some immense
church bell tolling for funeral. The
sound was so uncanny that started
and gave a quick glance around me.
My eyes fell upon my fathers features
and l never saw such change in any
one as had taken place in his face. In
place of the usual calm expression.
his face was so distorted that could
scarcely recognize kim. His eyes
were wide open and staring; his
tongue lolled out like a dogs on
hot day. and he frothed at the mouth.
There was such an expression of ut
The Elbert County tribune., 1906-03-01

ter horror on his features that pen
can not begin TO describe It.
l hastily ran to his side and forced
some brandy through his clenched
teeth. This seemed to revive him
somewhat and he motioned me to
open the drawer of his secretary. |
did so and found paper addressed
to myself. He glanced at 1t and made
feeble effort TO nod his head. The
next moment, the froth again ran
from his mouth and his whole body
shook with convulsions. lie half rose
from the bed, gasped and fell back.
My father was dead. and with that
torrible expression still upon his
face.
fsAe paper was still in my hands