davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
HAS WATCH MADE BY NATURE.
Maine Man Can Tell the Time by
Looking at His Palm.

Maine Man Can Tell the Time by
Looking at His Palm.
There is a man living at Newport.
Maine, who has the mysterious ability
OF being able to tell the accurate time
of day by simply looking in the palm
of his hand as another would at his
watch.
No one has been able to learn his
method, and in fact he himself cannot
explain the source of his power. This
uncanny knowledge is not of recent
origin, he having used it for many
years.
When he first began to use this gift,
as he consideres it, he purchased a
watch, then looking at his hand to
ascertain the time he would compare
his figures with those of his watch,
finding his own always correct.
Many of the people about the vii.
lage who doubted his power and who
looked upon it as a fairy story have
by their own observation and expert
ments become convinced of its truth.
Walter Mason was born in the town
of Palmyra forty years ago and went
to Newport when he was about Is
years of age. He attended the dis
trict school at Gilman, after which he
found employment in different mills,
at one of which he is working at the
present time.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
A Home-Made Sled,

The Russian boy who cannot afford
to buy sled makes a very good
substitute from ice. He saws out
block that is longer than it is thick,
and high enough to make a comfort
able seat. Then he scoops out hol.
low like saddle little way behind
the middle of the upper surface, and
upholsters it with straw or rags The
sled is then ready for its first TRIP
down-hill, and if the rider is skilful
he will make very good speed on It,
But carrying 1t back to the top of
f'Ae incline would be too hard work
even for Russian boy. and pushing
it uphill would be almost as bad A
clever lad once thought of better
way, and all others boys have copied
him ever since. He found piece of
straw, and began blowing through II
at the front of the block. with the end
Of the straw close to the ice. Soon
he had little hole in the block, as
neatly drilled as steel tool could
have done it. In the course of an
hour and half he had driven a hole
slant-wise through the ice, cominr
out at the top Just in front of thu
saddle. A strong string passed
through the hole and. knotted, com
pleted his sled which could then bt
dIswn uphill almost as easily as tht
It coaster that ever was made.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Gen. eIackmar's Drill Story.

The late Gen. Wilmon w. Blackmar
once told how he had overheard cor
poral drilling his squad in this fash
ion:
Now, then, No. T." the corporal
said, well make another start. that
is, if you've quite finished feeling II
your back hair happens to be on
straight this morning. It's you I'm
talking to-third man from left on
fro mt rank l haven't the pleasure Of
knrwin' your name, but expect to be
wr.tin' it down for an hours extra
wt * pretty soon. Now, then. look to
your front. Squad. 'tchun! Left dress!
Alum your eyes to the left-without
ssquintin' like Chinese dummies, If you
cali. Stand up in the ranks, too. like
soldiers; not like measly row Of lop-
sided, spindle-shanked, cockney shop
BOYS! Stick your chests out and put
your stummicks somewhere out of
sight altogether. There's 'arf of you
with fingers like bags Of potatoes.
Strike me crimson II ever saw such
a mob! Hi! you, in the center-the
ginger-headed man, I mean-don't
grin like that; this amt no perishin'
beauty competition, not by no manner
of means"
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
HIS LITTLE DINNER
NEW Workers. PLEASANT EVEN.
ING WITH FRIENDS.
Only After Expenses Were Paid and
Joility a Remembrance Came Idea
That Important Fact Had been Over
looked.

Il seemed years since Ethridge had
seen Rogers, and when they met one
afternoon in Union Square the latter
wouldn't let him OF until he had
promised to come and dine the next
night.
II don't know of anything that could
give me more pleasure, old man, than
to buy you the best dinner that can be
had il town." he. said, and meant it
So the next night Ethridge met Rogers
at one of the famous hotels uptown. It
was the first time this winter he had
been out anywhere, and the first time
he bad worn his evening clothes.
Rogers is popular. Everybody
knows him. They had hardly met at
the appointed restaurant before par
ty CT six men in dinner clothes sur
rounded him, and there We're introduc-
tioas to Ethridge.
Just going to dine? Come and dine
with u.s." insisted the spokesman of
tha six. So presently the double
quartet was ordering wine and high
priced delicacies, quarreling good ma
turedly as to who should pay for the
whole spread. The cigars, Ethridge
remembers, were long. glossy, brown.
skinned beauties with no especial
trimmings in the way of silver foil,
but they cost $1.25 apiece. The bill as
a whole was pretty stiff, even for that
part of town. By and by it was decid-
ed 10 hire a room. play few games
of poker and attend 60 the minor de-
tail of who should pay af'erward.
AS soon as the game started kit
ty" was created to pay for cigars and
drinks. Because the kitty" paid
everybody ordered more champagne.
The play lasted till near midnight.
Then, as some of the party had to
catch suburban trains. the game broke
up, all declaring that 1t had been a
long time since they had spent such
an agreeable evening with good fel-
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Why We Say "HeIIo."

Long, long ago, wolves were numer.
GUS in all parts Of the world, especially
in England. Wolf hunting was a ia.
vorite sport with the gentry, and to
kill wolves was regarded as the sacred
duty Of all Englishmen. In fact, an
old law reads: "All barons must hunt
and chase wolf four times year."
French was the language of the court
at that time, SO the burly old English
hunters used the cry Of the French
wolf hunters, which was "Au loup! Au
loup!" ('To the wolf.") These words,
heard at distance, sounded like "a
loo," but the English. who always put
an H on wherever they possibly can,
put it on the words "a loo," and when
wolf hunting shouted "Ha-loo." The
form we use when we call Hello" as
no word has been found that carries
SO far or SO we'll as hello For this
reason it is the accepted form of the
telephone companies the world over
Washington Star.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Some Queer pancers.

Far down in Africa. the other side
Of the equator. live the jolly Aponos.
They are an honest. light-headed set
OF savages. who for several months of
the year do nothing but dance. sing
and drink palm wine. When the sea
son is over they settle down to their
ordinary pursuits. They have many
dances which would seem strange to
an American cir! or boy, but the
weirdest dance of all is performed
upon stills. and is called ocuya or
giant dance. The ocuya is an object
made of wicker work with an enor-
nous head of wood. There is no word
hideous enough to describe the ugli-
ness OF this ocuya. 1t has outstretched
wooden arms and monkey skins form
the hair and beard. while a long skirt
of grass cloth hides the stilt walker.
who places this grotesque monster
over himself. The arms are kept out
stretched, and thus costumed the
dance proceeds, sometimes hundreds
OF the Aponos taking part in it at
once.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

nished Mr.. Rider Haggard with a
theme for one Of his best-known
novels. Yet SO strong hold has the
idea gained that even at the begin
ming Of the twentieth century the pos
sibility of the existence of a genuine
white race is not altogether scoffed
at. 1t Is less than four years ago
that an American officer engaged in
operations against the Moros In the
Philippines collected apparently sub
stantial evidence relating to a mys:
terious white tribe in the Island Of
Mindanao. The officer was so i'm.
pressed that he determined to con.
duct an exploring party across the
center of the island. But apparently
the mysterious white folk had van.
ished. for the world up to the present
time has heard nothing of his search
being crowned with success.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
A Queer OCCUPATION.

Sometimes people choose queer
ways to earn living. but wonder If
you girls and boys know that about
three or four hundred people in Paris
support themselves by picking up old
cigar and cigarette stumps they find
on the streets? Not very pleasant
way to live. but since these cigar pick
ers often make over dollar a day by
their strange occupation. suppose
they do not care very much about the
unpieasantness.
The cigar pickers are often old, old
men, who are too feeble to work at
anything else, but sometimes they are
young boys. They walk the streets
for hours, searching carefully, and
when they have found enough stumps
they take them down under the
bridges on the River Seine and pre-
pare them for sale.
The end of the cigar that has been
in the mouth is cut off and thrown
away. then the rest is carefully
chopped and put into neat packages
of tobacco which is sold to poor peo-
pie for about fifth less than they
would have to pay for it in the stores
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Great Soldiers at Early Ages.

The following is list of great gen.
erals whose superior capacity was
exhibited in early manhood:
Philip of Macedon ascended the
throne at %, was the conqueror of
Greece at As. and died at AZ.
Alexander the Great defeated the
celebrated Theban band at Chaeronea
before arriving at the age of 18, as
cended the throne at 20, and con.
quered the world at %, and died at
32.
Julius Caesar commanded a feet be-
fore Mitylene, and distinguished him
self before the age of %; completed
his first war in Spain, and was made a
consul, before the age of 40 con-
Quered Gaul. twice crossed the Rhine,
and twice invaded Britain before the
age of As: won the battle of Pharsa-
liza. and obtained supreme power, at
h,S1dred battles and the conqueror of
one thousand cities.
Hannibal was made commander.in-
chief Of the Carthagian army in Spain
at &c, and had won all his great bat
tie s. in Italy, concluding with Cannae
a: 81.
Sciplo Africanus, the elder. distin-
guished himself at the battle of I'll
cinus at 16, and at 80 overthrew the
power of Carthage at Zama.
Scipio Africanus, the younger, had
conquered the other Carthaginian ar
mes and completed the destruction
of Carthage at SO.
Genghis Khan achieved many of his
victories and became Emperor of the
Mongols at 40.
Charlemagne was crowned king at
&c. was master of France and the
larger part of Germany at 90. placed
on his head the iron crown of Italy
at 32, and conquered Spain at Sc
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Professional Gossips.

In China elderly ladies' are regu.
larly employed as gossips. and they
are paid well. 1t is usual for them to
go to the best houses, beating drum
to announce their arrival, and to
offtr their services to the lady CT the
house as entertainers. If their offer is
accepted they sit down and tell the
latest news, the choicest scandal and
anything that they think may interest
their hearers. Should their stock in
trade prove very delectable they most
likely go away with a handsome pres.
cnt in addition to their regular fee.
which is at the rate of about % cents
an hour. Some of these gossips have
a large number of clients, whom they
visit at regular intervals.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
eamekeeper Captures an Eao,.

Many a British gamekeeper has
ruthlessly shot an eagle, and even an
Alpine gamekeeper seldom secures
one alive. This rare exploit has Just
been performed by gamekeeper at
Albeuve, in Freiburg.
The bird had swooped upon hare,
with which it was soaring to its eyry,
when the gamekeeper fired, and the
bird was hit in the wing Just sufficient
ly to stop present flight without per-
manently damaging the limb. The
hare was killed by the shot The bird,
which is Royal eagle, was captured,
and the wing will soon heal TIE
spread of the wings is SO iAches.-
LONDON Daily Globe.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
A Stamp Menaoerie.

1t is possible to construct quite
menagerie with the aid of postage
stamps. Up to the present time there
are forty-nine quadrupeds. thirty-nine
birds, one fish, one mollusk, one polyp,
seven reptiles and two insects, ami.
mails represented on stamps
blank album, artistically arranged
and having the stamps classified &C.
cordins to their designs, in this man
ner. would prove very interesting,
and. in addition the philatelist would
have the satisfaction of knowing that
such a collection can be made com.
plete or nearly so.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Fire Burned Forty Years,

In 1857 party of hunters kicked
some Goals down a shaft into the
Greenwood mine at Langsford Pa.
Gases took fire and the flames have
not let up until recently. The mine
culm run into the fiery caverns The
culm hardened, filling the openings
below and the end of the destructive
work is said to be in sight. Over a
mile of flame has been eXtingushed
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
A Ball Tournament.

Here is fine game of ball, much
enjoyed by French boys 1t is a kind
of fitting tournament, and can be
played either out-of-doors or in boys
big play room.
Draw big circle, in which the play
ers range themselves. after having
been divided into two equal divisions.
Then cut for the ball. The side that
obtains 1t are the knights, and the
other, the horses. The knights get
astride the horses, and the tournament
begins.
The knight who holds the ball tosses
1t in the air three times, and then
throws 1t to his right-hand neighbor,
who passes it on to the next knight,
and so on until the first player is
reached
The latter then throws the ball
out following any order If the ball
is missed by the player to whom it is
sent, all the knights leap from their
horses and take to fight, but cannot
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

"By Jove, ! Was the Guest!"
lows. Ethridge had enjoyed himself
as much as any one, perhaps more.
The question of who should pay
came up again. Rogers grabbed the
check when 1t was brought, but two
Of his friends piled onto him and
took 1t away.
Here, this is too much for any
one Of us to stand" they said. The
items were: Dinner, SAT; wine, $35;
cigars. $3.50; sundries. IS. Total.
$103.50. Let the kitty pay for IT,"
The kitty" however, though a
well-fattened animal, came $40 short
of paying the bill. Ethridge had lost
s25 at poker, but paid another S. to-
ward squaring the evenings fund,
each of the party bearing his share in
the deficit. Then, as they started
away. it suddenly occurred to Rogers
that the waiter had not been tipped.
We'll soon settle that" he said.
"Here, cut the cards to see who gives
him 55."
Ethridge lost and handed over the
tip. When he started home by him
self he found that his remaining cash
amounted to $1.S7. The evening had
been so pleasant, however, that even
then he did not grudge the outlay.
But as he turned into his door a
thought suddenly occurred to him.
by Jove, was the guest."-New
York Press.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Worth Of the Whipping.

A farmer, whose fruit orchards had
been very often robbed, caught boy
up one of his trees.
Come down. you young rascal. y
shouted the owner.
"No fear; not while you're there"
replied the urchln.
well, I'll wait till you do
"All right" said the lad.
They had waited about an hour,
when an idea occurred to the boy.
Sna,ching an apple, he took steady
aim, and hit the old farmer on the
head with 1t.
"Hullo, what's up now?'
"It's Just this. I'm gaun to keep
peltin' till every apples off the tree un-
less We promise not to touch me, for
II I'm gaun to get hidin' I'm gaun
to have me sport for it. What dye
say?"
The owner of the property had to
agree.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
White Races in Other Lands,

The idea that in remote parts of
the tropics, amid the dark-skinned
races, there exists mysterious isolat-
ed white tribes bearing a strong re-
semblance to Europeans has long pos.
sessed curious fascination for the
old world. The early Adventures in
Central and Southern America
brought home many tales of extraor-
dinary cities beyond the mountains,
and vague stories afoat in South
Africa thirty or forty years ago fur
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

Springfield a short time ago, when
Mr.. Clark and Prof. HaZen occupied
seats opposite each other. Raising his
voice SO that it could be heard above
the roar of the train, Mr. Clark yelled:
How about that liquor bill?"
What liquor bill?" demanded the
astounded professor: Il know nothing
about any liquor BILL"
why, of course you know" per-
sisted Mr.. Clark; you introduced it
into the House."
introduced nothing" said Dr. Ha-
zen"
Aren't you Representative Ed
wards?' asked Mr.. Clark.
No"
"Oh!"-Boston Herald.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
When a Man is Strongest.

The uplifting power of a youth OF
II years is $50 pounds; in his TWEEN.
tieth year this increases to 32O pounds
and in the thirty and thirty-first years
it reaches its height, 365 pounds. AT
the end of the thirty-first year the
strength begins to decline, very slowly
at first
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

paper by passing it above a lighted
candle.
This done, apply your band of black
ened paper on the backs Of the books
in the manner shown in the picture.
That is, waving from one book to the
other. The smoked side is upper
most.
Close to the last book-the small
est-put saucer to which the strip
OF paper leads.
Then pour water from a spoon, drop
by drop, on top Of the first book, as
shown in our drawing, and you will
see the drops glide over the paper
without wetting it, and after running
down the mountains fall into the
saucer.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Wind Carried OF Manuscript.

Holman F. Day has met with an ac-
ed readily. A reader, who had his
story of Madawaska in manuscript,
had not fully made up his mind as to
its value when gust of wind whisked
1t from his hands. The reader. who
was on an elevated train at the time,
has not yet been able to resume his
study Of Nfe In far MadawasKa.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Real "Gentieman."

She was fair, tat and forty, and
when she heard a suspicious noise
emanating from the dining room in
the wee small hours she picked up
curtain pole and bravely started down
to investigate. BY the flickering light
Of the candle she discovered an in
truder in an evening suit and silk
hat.
Who are you?" she demanded,
81 am gentleman burglar" re2!icl
the stranger, bowling low.
Gentleman, did you say? Why, no
gentleman would enter house with
the intention of robbing poor, de-
fenseless Wife
Wife? All. lady, you look so young
and pretty l thought you must be
the youngest daughter
Flattery won. She went back up
stairs without calling the police and
the next day she told the neighbors
what a nice gentleman" had robbed
the house.-Chicago News.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

organized the Friendship Fire Com.
pany in Alexandria, Va. 1t soon he.
came a popular institution. The first
membership comprised those citizens
who. out of mutual friendship" agreed
TO carry TO every fire two leatheru
buckets and one great bay of Osna.
burg" or wide linen.
In the last year of Washington's life
fire occurred near the old market
house in Alexandria. AS he was rid,
ing down King street, followed by his
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

has been on the retired list" for the
last SO years, but when the fire head
quarters were almost destroyed by
Games during the great fire Of last
year, 1t was taken from its last resting
'lace and made to help. 1t saved the
ire headquarters from TIE advancing
aames, and added new honor secont
,nly to the one 1t already had won
the honor of having been hauled by
Ieorge Washington to many fires.
Aug. 13, 177!. George Washington
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
A Mountain Torrent,

The next rainy afternoon, when no
esting trick of making a mountain tor.
rent right In your own home:
Place four books on a table at equal
distances apart. The books them
selves must be Of different sizes and
arranged in regularly diminishing or
der.
Blaclien with smoke a long strip Of
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
WASHINGTON AS FIRE LApp,E.

Here Is picture of fire engine of
Il century or more ago. This engine
belonged at one time to the Virginia
volunteer fire company. George Wash
ington was member CT this company.
and history records that it was often
pulled to fires with the aid of no less
important person than the Father of
His Country.
This is now owned by the Baltimore
Veteran Volunteer Firemen's Associa.
tion OF Baltimore, Md. OF course it
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
SHOULD GROW BEARD OR SHAVE.

Resemblance Of Two Public Men
Makes Confusion.
For some time George Dexter Clark.
former chairman of the Republican
city committee. has been greatly de-
ceived by the resemblance which Prof
c. d. Hazen of Smith college bears 20
Representative WinslOw H. Edwards
of Easthampton. His confusion of the
two led TO many amusing interviews.
In which Prof. Hazen was asked his
d. II. Rhinehart has sold his interest II
opinion on political matters. His re-
plies were often along other lines
than those expected by Clark.
Matters eliminated on 4 train to
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Faith.


Jesus. Friend unchanging.
Thou art at our side:
Through the stress and turmoil.
Thou art still our Guide.
Oft our eyes are holden,
And We see Thee not.
Oft. In bitter anguish.
Think Thou hast forgot.
Sterner was Thy conflict.
Fiercer was Thy foe.
On the path thus trodden.
Should We stumble so?
Strength from trial garnered
TIL the struggles past.
To Thy likeness bring us
Safely home at last.
Arthur Seaton.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

go outside the circle. One of the
horses picks up the ball and tries to
hit knight. If he succeeds, the
knights become horses. If lie misses
his aim, the knights remount, and the
game continues as before.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
NTZ!9 NNNI5yZE%g2zzzZN2zZ@a0

a boy is careful of his ice-sled-and
he is apt to be careful. for consider
able trouble is necessary to make
one-it will last all winter.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Eounder Of Y. M. c. A.

The life Of the late Sir George Will
lisms. founder Of the Young Mems
Christian association, will be written
by his nephew. J. Z. Holder Williams
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

inches from the top Of each piece and
chisel out piece from each, as shown
in the picture. Then make two pieces
4 inches wide on one end and inches
wide on the other end, and make the
length OF each piece s inches. After
this has been done measure down 2
inches and chisel as before. The bot
tom piece should be SX3 inches. Com
plete the work basket by mailing the
parts together.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
Fatalities in British coIIieries.

In 1905 there were 955 fatal acct
dents in the collieries Of Great Brit
ain and Ireland.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09
A Work Basket.

To make a work basket secure two
boards Sx8 inches. Measure down 2
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

servant on horseback, he saw the
Friendship company, poorly manned.
riding up to well-dressed group OF
men standing in the streets he called
out: Why are you idle there, gentle.
men: 1t Is your place to lead In these
matters"
He threw the bride of his horse to
lis servant. He leaped of and seized
lie Erakes of the engines. followed by
| crowd that had kindled to entnusi.
sm 1T his words.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

This weather vane is on the tower
near Florence, where Calico made i'm
portant astronomical observations. In
a room below 1t are preserved the
great mans telescope and various
other "reminiscences of his soiourn
there.
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

-5a
The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-09

'lacken with smoke a long strip Of