davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14

could initiate these shall we call them pictures in water
colorf Some were long and SLIM short and thick
One had forehead like wedge, another had very
blunt Some looked like thin slabs of pearl with
iridescent nts; others had quilts like porcupne One
otherwise respectable looking little fellow had long
upon the end of which fiery glow which made
him look like an old topper; another of deep peacock
blue had stick of indigo, which it wigged it
There convict fish with stripes like those worn
in penentiares and of these there all sizes;
moving slowly and soemnly like hardened criminals and
others sporting about if enjoying their first taste Of
wrong doing. One variety what looked like an
orange coored ribbon tied just above the tall the color
like the popular flower of Hawaii that not
surprised to find that the fish called the lei In
tank the fish had habit of resting upon the rocks they
would brace themselves with their fins and watch passers
by AT one time two perched side by side and
called the familiar picture of Raphaels Cherubs Besides
the fishes there crabs of several varieties all bril-
liant in coor called the hermit crab had covering
like velvet with as delicate pattern came from
the LOOM And then there the octopus with the under
side of its lined with valve-like mouths 1t was
hiding under the rocks, and when the attendant poked
it out with stick, it darkened the water with inky
fluid, recalling the made of the subsidized American
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14

newspapers by the trusts when attacked.
No visitor to Honolulu should fail to the aquar
ium. Every effort to transport these fish has thus far
failed and TO enjoy the dudes, clowns and criminals of
ishdom one must them in their native waters
Riding the Surf Exciting Sport
The of the island closed with trip to the beach
and ride in the surf boats The native boat is long,
narrow deep canoe, steaded by log fastened at both
ends to the boat and floating about ten feet from the side
These will hold six persons and pro-
PEELED by brawny armed natives. Our party clad them
selves in bathing suits and filling three Canoes were
rowed out distance from the shore. The natives
expert at this sport, watch for large and signal
each other when they approaching, and then
with their big round paddles they start their
toward the land. AS the raises the stern of the
canoe they bend to their work. the purpose being to keep
the the forward slope of the 1t is
citing experience to ride thus, with the spray breaking
over one while the canoe flies along before the
Sometimes the boamen too slow and the sweeps
under the and is gone but rule they know just
how fast to work. and there is great rivalry between the
surf riders when two crews racing. 1t is
strange that form of sport delightful has not been
transported to the American seaside resorts There is
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
"City Jays" Easy Money for Confidence Men

any other of his modern assortment can
be sprung and carried to a successful
conclusion. The farmer would back away
at the first word of an attempted CONVEX
sation. Then, again, making victim OF
a city man renders the chances Of the
bunko steerer doing time for his game de-
cidedly smaller than they would be with
the farmer The city man will not, nine
times out of ten, say anything about
what has befallen him, for reasons that
are obvious. He doesn't want to be guyed.
and as he knows II he says anything to
the police the matter Of his swindle will
probably become known, he remains
silent. Even when he does muster up
nerve enough to state what has happened
to the police, he usually begs vigorously
that his name be completely suppressed
in connection with the affair, but it's
safe bet that not more than one out OF ten
who are victimized by a bunko steerers
device. one which is clearly that from
every point of view. will ever say any
thing about the matter at all, and the
bunkoist is thus enabled to operate for a
longer period without detection than would
otherwise be the case.
One of the colony OF Observation-Disclosures
we had with us In such force few years
ago, one of the fellows who backed the
ponies for his patrons said to me not
very long ago that he didn't have FIVE
customers out Of 1000 on his books whose
addresses showed they lived anywhere but
in big cities. IT tried trying to interest
the yaps for awhile" he said, but It was
no 60 I advertised in all sorts of papers
that go direct to farmers, and my ads
were prepared in a manner that thought
would prove especially attractive and bring
me in loads of inquiries at least, but we
never got enough results from that source
to pay half the cost of the advertising.
When I did get inquiries and mailed in re-
turn some of the matter that brought city
people to US so fast we could scarcely keep
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
Curious and Romantic Capers of Cupid

diplomatic corps, and. as charge daffaires
at st. Petersburg, was acting ambassador
during the recent troublous times in Rus
sia' acquitting himself with great credit.
He is from Chicago. is 80 years old and
has been attached to most of the principal
embassies in important positions. He was
once reported engaged to Daisy Letter, and
was sutton for the hand Of the Countess
de Nuremberg, a member OF the royal house
OF Russia. He is handsome, rich. able. and
is thought to have a brilliant future in
diplomatic life. He Is now on leave, owing
to breakdown caused by his strenuous
duties at ST. Petersburg.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
Pointed Paragraphs

What mans wife thinks of him is not
far from the truth
You can't insult some politicians by offer
ing them tainted money.
Only brave man would marry a woman
who isn't afraid OF a mouse.
Many men are more anxious TO save
their money than their honor
Fish make excellent brain food; even
fishing stimulates the imagination.
It's a good thing for some of US that we
are not recognized as good things"
II marriages are made In heaven II Is
evident ON the face OF the returns that
divorces are arranged in the other place.
Chicago Newa
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14

over the Delaware division.
''rhose days didn't last very long. My
folks chased me away from the railroad
tracks and set me to work on farm l
lost sight of Charley Green, but 1 never
lost my desire to railroad It, and every
chance I got I mixed In with the train
crews. Those were rough times. but was
q rough boy. and could take lot Of
bruising. None Of them could stand up
in front of me very long. Then came my
chance TO fire. and I took 1t. That was
in 1858. 1 was still in my teens, but big
for my years, and could do a mans work
II I was a bit wild the engine and the
firebox took 1t all out of me. Hotels and
dance halls were pretty thick along the
Erie then. The boys called these places
ELL racks cause they were hard to
get by. 1t took a clear head and steady
nerves for railroading then just 1t does
now, and 1 cut out the high jinks.' Never
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
Id by an Eneineer Who Pulled Throttle for Half Century

missed them. They certainly were grand
times though. and no mistake.
II know good Christian lady, who is
as nice as she can be. and she never fails
to lecture me cause she and me disagrees
on this temperance business. Temperance
Is her hobby, and while never was much
on liquor, 1 got her riled by telling her
put enough arsenic in me when l was
a boy to properly season my system.
1.-THE day got my engine was the proud
est in my life. and Charley Green was
proud. too. Another person was also
proud. Her folks lived up In my town.
and her eyes and hair were the darkest
you ever did see. That's her sitting over
there. Her eyes are just as bright as the
day married her. and her hair Is just
as black"
The engineer paused TO introduce the
stranger to his wife.
"she always insisted talked too much"
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14

AT Walton-on-Thames says the Royal
magazine, the car met the lady whom he
wished to make his wife, and he had OBJ
tained her fathers consent TO the match,
but It still remained for him to make his
proposal to the girl herself.
But the sacred words had to be uttered
In the old formula which Russian court ETH
quette prescribed for such occasions.
Seating himself beside the girl. he took
her hand in his.
THE emperor, my father" he said, has
commanded me to make you the offer of my
hand and heart"
MY grandmother, the queen" she re-
piled. her eyes twinkling with mischief.
has commanded me 10 accept the offer Of
your hand
Then she broke into merry laugh.
Your heart" she added. II take Of my
own accord"
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14

life, so sure that no one would try to film
fam him, that his very poise is his undolng.
and, as the bunko steerer said, he might
buy a gold brick though recognizing every
phase of the swindle because he was sure
no one would try to work him, so certain
no one could, that this must be a genuine,
bona fide case of an Indian with real
bunch of gold to hand over for a paltry
price.
Recently investigated the departmental
records concerning swindles and other
cases revealing the fine hand of the bunko
steerer and out of 400, giving round num-
bers, that had been perpetrated during
the last few years. not over per cent of
the victims were from the country or
smaller towns Lots and lots of visitors
to the city were among the number but
these victims hailed from such hamlets as
New York, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit,
Pittsburg. Kansas City, New Orleans
Memphis. etc, while the majority of the
swindles were perpetrated upon actual in
habitants of the city, and generally the
interesting incidents occurred in the stores
or residences of the victims. In this lat
ter case, however, the swindles, while
they were probably the work of bunko
men, were not of the same complexion as
the stunts usually associated with the
word "bunko."
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14

motive came through the town, hauling a
train of cars, was about 10 years old. Tho
engineer fetched his tender UP alongside a
pond in the town, and the men, women and
children, with pals, clippers, milk pans and
pitchers, helped fill the water tank. They
shouted to each other that they were CIV
ing the iron horse a drink Engines in
those days had double trouble in carrying
1900 gallons of water. The tender on big
Mogul of today will carry 1000 just as easy
as you and will hold one drink-every
gallon weighs about eight and one-third
pounds, O0OxSis-think Of carrying such a
loadl
"Railroading after that was the ambi-
ton of every boy In the Delaware town
ships All the inhabitants used to come
down to the station to see the trains go
through. and the conductor. in his new
blue clothes. brass buttons and military
cap was almost as big a man as the
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14

president. Jim Dandies they were, too;
proud as peacocks and twice as natural.
Folks along the road used to boast that
they rode down with this conductor OF
that. Charley Greene sat with me pretty
near all the way to Port Jervis.' was a
boast of the pretty girls, for Charley
Greene was a great beau.
"He was a fine figure of a man. We
boys used to worship him. Many's the
time BACKED his boots, and when the
trout were jumping beat the streams
every week TO fetch him a mess for his
Sunday breakfast. Charley took a shine
to me and we were great pals. / was a
barefooted little shaver then. and he used
to pat me on the head and ask me what
I was going to be when l grew up
to be a man. he a conductor I piped,
Just as I was recitlng my lesson. He nor
1 never thought the time would come when
I would be pulling his train and him. too,
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14

farms among the hills. where there was
more work than play. His schooling, at
least by his books was confined to the long
winter nights, a primer, Webster's diction-
airy and book of fractions"
IF a boy amt got head for mathematics
he's no business in college, was the way
my father looked at my early education"
said Mygatt. consequently l didn't go
east, although 1 never had chance to
prove whether was long on figures or not.
You bet l went to work, though. They
didn't waste any time finding out what my
lifting power was. neither. was fairly
husky for a boy. and the life led rounded
me out into quite some Of young man.
That was when first took a fancy to rail-
reading.
''The line was building while / was grow
Ing We came up together. My father had
the contract for laying down the first Sec
ton through Deposit. When the first loco
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
DipIomat to wed Heire...

The engagement Of Miss Durline spreck-
els, daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs Gus
spreckles. and Spencer F. Eddy. secretary
OF the American embassy at St. Peters
burg. has been announced in San Fran
cisco.
Miss Spreckels is at present at the
Spreckels apartment in Paris, whittier she
went with her mother after a brief visit
to San Francisco last summer The news
OF the engagement was a surprise. The
oablegram from Paris did not state when
the wedding win take place but II Is
understood that IL will be soon.
Miss spreckels is the daughter of August
spreckels and Il is said that some day she
will inherit s1oooo.0oo or more from her
father and her grandfather, Claus Spreck-
els. the sugar king. She is a blonde. rather
tall. with some claim to beauty. and pro-
nounced very chic.
Mr. Eddy is regarded as one OF the most
promising OF the younger members OF the
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14


farm home Visions of gold bricks,
shell games and other hoary swindles are
conjured up in connection with 1t. We
say ''as easy as jay" and the meaning
OF the expression in our urban minds is
synonymous with "as guileless as a
farmer" In short, we consider the horny
handed agriculturist. the stock raiser, the
tlmberman and what not others of the
classes who live apart from the cities to
be easy picking for any of the gentry who
live by their wits. and lay" reuben"
''rube," farmer "hayseed' are inter-
twlned by interlocking in their meaning,
all a byword and a reproach. an insult
to be applied alphabetically and an affront
that no city bred individual can hear be-
slowed upon him without his gorge rising
and the red corpuscles of his blood in
flaming with passion. In sooth. we fondly
think. because we are city bred, we are
not easy, swindles can not be perpetrated
upon us and only the farmer" the Jay
Is the meat on which the bunko man
feeds the fountain from whence he gains
his sustenance.
The first shattering blow at my own be-
lief of this sort was struck when I en-
countered my first bunko steerer in a pro-
fessional way. had pulled him on gen.
eral principles and we were sitting in the
chiefs Office awaiting his return from the
Bertillon room. The bunko man grew
communicative. l asked him something
about his methods He mad peached or
himself already and was merely pleading
the white rag. complete reformation, and
In the course of the conversation re-
marked that as long as the farmer al
lowed the hayseed to blind his eyes ex-
peoted the bunko steerer would continue
to exist.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14

shrill whistles OF the locomotive hauling
the train. 1t Is an old and honored custom
for the engineer to keep his hand on the
rope and have his locomotive constantly
emit 'ear-splitting shrieks in recognition OF
the fact that another Long Island bridal
couple is on a tour. Passing engines take
up the chorus. and even factories blow at
the well known signal. So the Long Island
bridal send-off is always most uproarious.
and there is no such thing known here as
a quiet wedding.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
Priest as Cupid's Agent.

Fifty young men Of st. Johns parish at
Pittston. Pa. have been urged to propose
and have their coming weddings announced
in church. Rev. NJ. J. Manley, announcing
the bans of two couples, took occasion last
Sunday to declare that instead OF two
there should be fifty.' He said there were
many young couples in the parish keeping
company" and he urged the young men
to pop the question and advised the young
woman not to miss so good chance In the
belief that they can have d jolly time and
receive much attention as unmarried girls
for some years yet instead of settling down
as married women Propose tonight" he
said In conclusion.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
surf bathing the year round at Honolulu and few beaches
can be found which compare with Waikiki.
Pearl Harbor's Many Advantages


The Oahu railroad, which carried out to the sugar
plantation and which has sevenyone miles of track
the island passes within sight of Pearl harbor which is
the only large inlet in the islands capable of being de-
veloped into harbor. The United States government is
already dredging this harbor and preparing it for both
naval and commercial The Hawaiian islands occupy
a strategic position well position of great
mercal Importance and as they on direct line be-
tween the shmus of Panama and the Orient their value
midocean place will UNNECESSARILY increase The
islands being United States territory the advantage
of the possession of Pearl harbor is accompanied by
responsibility for its proper Improvement No
visit the harbor without approaching its Importance to
country and to the world.
When departed from the wharf at nghtfall to
board the Manchuria again adened with flowers,
and left the island refreshed by the perfume Of
flowers and ceered by songs and arewes bore away
grateful memories of the day and of the hospitality of the
people. Like all who this Pacific paradise
solved to return time and spend part of winter
amid its beauties.
WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
City Man Too Wise.

He's too wise. That's just exactly what
makes the city man an easy prey for all
sorts of swindles, new and old. The farmer
is suspicious Of everything. His gullibility
is such standing joke that even in his
own home he eyes every proposition that is
made him critically, while in a city the
shrewdest bunko steerer might as well give
him a wide berth. But the city man! He's
so certain that he's onto all the tricks of
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
Easily Taken In.

City jewellers are easy marks for bunko
men, when they are visiting another city.
for the very simple reason that they
haven't got their nose attenuated with
suspicion continually as has the farmer.
The up-to-date bunko man is, of course.
well dressed and generally not lacking in
some outward evidences of apparent posi-
ton and breeding and the city visitor is
apt to become convivlal with such a chap
when conversation ensues by chance (?)
in some bar. The rest is a cinch for a
good bunko steerer. The lock trick or
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14

interest the fish and chicken wrapped in the leaves
of plant called ii pronounced like tea), and cooked
underground by of hot stones The flavor of food
thus cooked excellent The browning glory of the feast
roasted pig, also cooked under ground = and u
toothsome dish it Besides these there were bread
fruit alligator pears and delcaces made from the meat
of the cocoanut The SALT native product was salmon
colored The invited guests about equally divided
between American and native population. But for the
elegant surroundings of the Young hotel the beautifully
appointed table and the modern dress, it was such a
dinner might have been served by the natives to the
whites on the first Thanksgiving after the New England
missionaries landed.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
whistle. hernia a wedding.

About leo friends and relatives witnessed
one OF the most brilliant weddings that
has taken place in the village OF Bever-
head. N. J., when Mary Elizabeth lie Val
ley. daughter OF Mr.. and Mrs. Henry c.
Jeffries, and DIR. Frederick Carl Dettner,
eldest SON OF Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Dettner,
were married at the home OF the bride.
DIR. and Mrs. Dettner then started for an
extended tour, cheered on their way by the
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
The aeon" Mans View.

you ever get IT in your nut the farmers
the best meat we can land on. Not on
your life. Bill. Why. a farmers a rotten
peanut for coin. and when l was in the
business l wouldn't give q mutilated post
age stamp for a chance at a rube. It's
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
knock. and wrecks.


did they ever complain of met Sure.
A Pullman agent claimed that 1 smashed
3L75 worth of dishes in making time be-
tween Susquehanns. and Port Jarvis. You
see 1 had my training before the days
Of the dining coach. Funny. wasn't it?
/ never thought OF plates and saucers at
all. What was my answer2 This: That
the train had the regulation bell cord and
II the boss behind didn't like to ride so
fast all he had to do was to yank 1t.
Never heard anything more from that
Pullman man."
Mygatt has had the usual accidents COM
mon to railroad engineers. He has been In
wrecks and come out unframed. Probably
his escapes have been miraculous and his
bravery proved more than once, but one
would never learn 1t from him. Although
the old engineer IL candid and q ready
talker. there 10 no trace of conceit or
egotism In his word or manner. He seems
to tell his stories for the Joy Of REM
iniscing.
Ever been In the riverY" someone asked
him.
Twice" he replied.
The tracks at this section Of the road
wind along the banks of the Delaware,
picking their way through the great hills
of the Pennsylvania border.
would have gone to third time" he
continued. IF the ground hadn't been SO
soft. We were headed straight as II was
when I brought the train to a standstili in
q cornfeld, clean of the track and sixty
feet from the river. The first time got
in was in 80, when we bumped the rear
OF q way freight. Wet night, slippery
track. no air brakesi I saw we were going
to hit her. and yelled to my fireman to
Jump. He never moved. Jump, you crazy
Ike!' shouted. and let go. / don't re-
member where I landed. The engine went
through the caboose. shot into the river,
hit q rock and the boiler split in halves.
We never found much of the fireman. In
'6s I had my second wreck. The engine
left the rails so sudden like and SO
easy that / never had time to Jump. She
stuck her nose in the mud. turned over on
her side and laid down like an old boss.
was tFap,d over the lever and up to my
middle In water. My fst was closed so
hard on the handle that the tendons on my
forearm tore loose. To this day that arm
bears the scar."-New York Evening Post.
Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-14
Funny Fish in the Aquarium

After call upon Governor Carter, descendant of
the third generation from missionary stock visited
the aquarium When noticed on the printed program
that we were scheduled for visit to this place it did not
impress possessing special interest but we had not
been in the building long before all roaring with
laughter at the remarkable specimens of the nny tribe
here collected.
Language cannot do this subject justice. No words
can accurately portray what here The fish
odd in shape and have all the hues of the rainbow The
tnts are laid on as if with brush and yet painter