davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
The Famine in PLAYS.

No layman has any idea of the ex-
tent of the play famine which exists
now, or the keenness of the competi-
ton for the work of every new dra-
matlst who shows his head above the
surface. There are very few intelli-
gent persons living who have not at
some time or other desired to write
plays, and it would be difficult to
compute the amount of talent and
energy that these have wasted simply
because they have not been started
right in what might have proved an
agreeable and profitable vocation.
| do not, of course, mean to saw
that the complete art of playwriting
could be taught in given number of
lessons, but I do say that a class of
bright, ambitious young students
could receive rudimentary instrucl
tion of a kind that would set them
right at the beginning of their JOUR-
ney, and light by the lamp of others
experience the rough, stony path that
they must travel
AT present they are simply cropping
in the dark, and can gain knowledge
only by stumbling upon it unawares.
james l.. Ford, in The Reader.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
MISSISSIPPI STATE
HAPPENINGS
ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM ALL
SECTIONS.
AN EPiTONE OF THE NEWS
Culled From Important Happenings
Throughout the State During the
Past Week and Reviewed in Brief
for Our Readers.
Peonage Charges.

A peonage charge was filed in the
Federal court by negro named Dan
January against James Patrick, a
prominent Rankin county farmer who
lives about seven miles north of Bran
don.
The affidavit alleges that January
was held in involuntary servitude,
together with his wife and six chill
dren, by a man named Carter who
then sold him to Patrick for the sum
of $1O9O.95, alleging a debt in that
sum to be due, and Patrick refused
to release him from custody until the
debt was cancelled.
January states that he was whip
ped by Carter with buggy trace un-
til he was bloody from head to heels,
and exhibited to Commissioner Nose
ley his barred body showing huge CASH
es and welts across the flesh. He is
still too feeble to walk, and states that
was unable to move for ten days af-
ter receiving the whipping.
Mr. Patrick was arraigned before
Commissioner Moseley. Judge John r.
Enochs of Brandon appeared for the
defense, and Hon. W. B. Banks, as
sistant district attorney for the gov
ernment.
The evidence failed to show where
in Mr.. Patrick was in any way in
volved in the act Of holding January
in peonage; that he had merely pur-
chased debt claim from Patrick, sup
posing that the negro was willing to
work it out, and that he knew moth
ing whatever Of any cruel or inhu-
man treatment that had been accord
ed the negro by Carter, anuary ad-
mitted that Mr. Patrick had always
treated him kindly. Commissioner
Moseley then dismissed the defendant.
and the Federal deputies, it is under
stood, will next endeavor to ascertain
the whereabouts of Carter.
That the negro has been inhumanly
treated by some person is very evi-
dent from an examination Of his body.
The bruises and gashes on his body
have not yet healed, and it is believed
that he also sustained internal inju,
ries from the lashing administered.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
An Investigation Ordered.

No advices have been received at
the War Department regarding the
reported firing on car conductor by
soldies at Fort Barrancas, Fla The
matter, however, unofficially was
brought to the attention Of the de-
partment today, and the commanding
officer Of the fort has been called upon
for information.
Coming so soon after the affair at
Brownsville, Tex, which has received
so much attention in the public press,
army officers expressed their chagrin
at the report of the latest disturbance.
Fort Barrancas, which is located a
short distance from Pensacola, is re-
garded as one Of the most important
posts in the service, five companies
Of the coast artillery, the Seventh,
Ninth, Fifteenth, Twentieth, and the
Twenty-second companies being sta
toned there.<
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
Woman Suffragists.

While men are planning and con
templating plans for the political cam
paigns to be fought in Mississippi
which are to be practically on the
one-party principle (that Of the white
man and the democracy, there is
a little band Of women who are gift
ed with the ability to see and act for
themselves, and who consider it not
unseemly or unwomanly to themselves
who will take hand in the game of
politics The fact IS, the woman suf-
fragists of the state are preparing 10
hold a meeting here on Friday and
Saturday of this week, in response to
a call issued some time since by Mrs.
Hala Hammond Butt, Of Clarksdale.
President of the Mississippi Associa-
ton of Woman Suffragists. 1t is not
stated in the call that the ladies are
contemplating the putting Of a ticket
in the field or even a candidate, un-
less it be for the Office Of Superinten-
dent Of Education, and this is only a
tentative and inferential suggestion.
President Butt has asked the ladies
to get together and take up the work
of systematizing the conditions that
exist and take a general survey of
the horizon If the women in conven-
ton assembled decide that it is adj
visable to take an active hand in the
game to be played next year, then
the plans will be laid for a series Of
meetings at the various centers, and
some energetic missionary work will
be provided for.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
The Color of a Filipino.

The school authorities of Washing
ton have been called upon to decide
whether Filipino is white or "col-
ored." The problem was brought be-
fore them by Major M. F. Waltz Of
the United States army, who sent a
communication asking that his Fill
pino servant, twenty-five years Of age
be admitted to the white school Of
Washington.
Major Waltz said that his servant
had been denied admission to the pub
lie schools of Atlanta on account Of
the prevailing race feeling. After
much discussion the question was re-
ferred to a committee, which has not
yet reported.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
MADAME BLACKeMITH.
Couldn't Be Schoolma'asn, Nebraska
Woman Takes in HofBeshoeing.

Couldn't Be Schoolma'ss Nebraska
Woman Takes in HokBeshoeing.
Unable to secure an appointment
as teacher in the rural school dis
tr1cts of Kansas, where she resided,
Mrs. Philo P. Wilcox turned to black
smithing, which was her husbands
trade. In the last fifteen years while
thus employed she has reared famc
lily OF four children, and as her hus-
band failed in health she has worked
more and more into the business, un-
til now, in the suburb of College
View. she does all the work offered,
with the aid Of three of her chill
dren.
Horseshoeing is the only part of
the business at which Mrs. Wilcox
balks. She is able to prepare horse
for its shoes, but owing to the handi-
cap of skirts cannot afix the shoes
to the animals hoofs in the style
long approved of blacksmiths.
Mrs. Wilcox is forty. She has a
clear complexion and her hardened
muscles are evidence of the long
hours she has put in at the forge.
During her girlhood days she re-
ceived a good education, and was a
teacher when Wilcox married her at
Roselle, Kansas. In Kansas married
women are not wanted as school
ma'ams, and barred out of teach
ing she turned to the forge.
fha
first the tendency of the people to
to stop and stare was disconcerting.
but now l don't mind it. know of
no other woman blacksmith in the
country.
Most Of my work is in using the
sledge making horseshoes, repairing
wagons and farm implements, sharp
ening tools and the like. 1 am kept
busy all the time. One of the girls
takes care of the house, and the 9TH
er three help in the shop.
Two of my girls, aged seventeen
and fifteen, respectively, are expert
bicycle repairers. One makes from
$5 tos $S week at this work. The
oldest is a natural born mechanic.
She can take the most complicated
bits of machinery to pieces, tell what
is wro1g, repair it and put it together
again. 49,.
MY husband is now, il Mexico for
his health. The work is ifard upon
him, but the rest Of US like it and
thrive upon it.
My Oldest girl went out last sum-
mer with threshing machine outfit
and was with it all summer. She cut
bands, fired the engine, fed the sepa-
rator and did part Of the cooking for
the men. 1t is hardly girls work,
but it does not harm her She is as
1.-the and strong as a young lion, and
IN bicycle races has proved more than
match at long distances for the
young men in the neighborhood.
I still have a license to teach. and
shall turn to that this winter, when
the blacksmithing trade is dullest.
like this work better than the school
room. New York Sun.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
Japs Do Not Seek War.

"The japanese do not want Hawaii
or the Philippines and they do not
seek war, says Bishop Merriam c.
Harris Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, who has spent thirty-three
years in apan, and who is home on
a visit.
He offered prayer in the SerNte
and then went over to the House and
talked with the members.
There is no hard feeling toward the
United States in Japan, he said, but
an exclusion act would be resented
and regarded as unforgivable, and
might, he said, S'lead to trouble"
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
Fire in the Studio Building at Bos-
ton caused $150,0O0 damage.
Newspaper Sensations. -

Colorado Springs, Colo.-Gov. Her
bert Hagerman of New Mexico,
who is spending the week in this city,
on his way home from Washington,
characterized as newspaper sensa-
tons recent reports to the effect
that certain politicians Of New Mexico
preferred charges against him, OF
have asked President Roosevelt foI
his removal from Office.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
French Religious Law.

Paris. The chamber of deputies
decided to take up the debate on ths
new religious law tomorrow.
The postponement demanded by M
Pelletan, radical socialist, led today
to an energetic outburst from Pre-.
mier Clemenceau, who characterized
this demand as vancouver by false
friends desiring 10 embarrass the gov
ernment.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
OUR WASHINGTON
NEWS AND NOTES
ITEMS OF INTEREST BRIEFLY
CHRONICLED.
FLEET FOR PACIFIC COAST
Plan to Send Battleship to Western
Coast. Senator Perkins Urges Di-
vision Of Atlantic Fleet.

A plan is under way to divide the
feet Of battleships now assembled
on the Atlantic coast by sending fully
one half Of them to the Pacific coast
station. This movement is largely
fathered by Senator Perkins Of Cali
fornia, who, while expressing himself
as not at all apprehensive Of an ap-
preaching conflict with Japan, yet be-
ieves that our enormous Pacific coast
line should not be left practically with
out naval defense.
There are no battleships on the Pa
cifc coast at the present time. The
principal units Of naval defense there
are the cruisers Charleston, Chicago,
Boston, Princeton and Yorktown and
few torpedo boats. All Of these yes
sells save the Charleston, are of old
construction, and would be of very lit
tie use in a conflict with frst-class
naval power. The battleship Oregon
one Of the initial three battleships
constructed for the navy and the bat
tleship Wisconsin are at the navy
yard at Bremerton, Wn., undergoing
extensive repairs. It will be year
or more before they will be available
for service.
On the Asiatic station the naval
power is represented by four large
armored cruisers of the West Vir-
ginia class and the old monitors Mon
adnock, and Monterey. The Monad-
mock is in reserve, with a skeleton
crew aboard, and the Monterey is out
of commission at Cavite. Added to
these are number of more or less OBJ
solte gunboats for use among the Phil
ippine Islands and squadron of pro-
tected cruisers, the Baltimore, Cincin-
natl, Raleigh, Galveston, and Chatta-
nooga, These are, not especially for
mldable either in respect to speed OF
otherwise.
Senator Perkins also believes the
naval plants at Brementon and Mare
Island should be thoroughly equipped
for the construction of battleships
and minor craft, and to this end it IS
his opinion that enc vessel Of the
first class should always be under con
struction at each of these years.
The experiments made recently by
the government in the construction
of the battlships Louisiana and Con-
necticut by the Newport News Ship
building Company and the United
States government at the Brooklyn
navy yard, respectively, shows that
despite the handicaps imposed upon
government construction generally,
the time occupied IN the building Of
these two vessels and the expense
were practically the same. 1t takes
time to assemble the needed skilled
labor and the necessary appliances
for the building of battleships, and
it is deemed the part Of wisdom TO
have such equipment as may turn
these vessels out with the least pos
sible delay, and in time Of war ena-
BILE the government to repair damage
sustained in conflict and otherwise
with the maximum speed.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
To Experiment With Oil.

The Bureau Of Steam Engineering
Of the navy Of which Rear Admiral
Charles W. Rea is engineer lin chief,
has decided to experiment with oil as
possible fuel for United States ships
Of war.
The first test will be made on the
Wyoming, now at Mare Island. Should
it be successful it is said at the Navy
Department oil will be substituted for
coal in short time.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03

Congressman Bowers Of Mississippi
demanded the punishment of negro
policeman at Washington for alleged
burial treatment Of his son.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03

Democratic Senators will unite to
oppose the policy Of Capitalization
outlined in Secretary Roots recent
speech. 81
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
Dead Men Well Known.

Capt. Quakenboss was one Of the
oldest and best-known residents Of
this city and was well known to every
man on the Mississippi river.
L. W. Quackenboss, one Of the kill
ed, was citizen of Vicksburg, well
known in military circles throughout
the state. During the Spanish-Ameri-
can war he served as a non-commis-
stoned officer Of Company A, First
Mississippi Volunteers. On the re-
organization Of the Mississippi Ma
tional Guard after the close Of the
war he was appointed captain and
commissary Of the Third Regiment
and was later elected Colonel Of the
regiment, serving In that capacity but
a short time, when he resigned.
Laval Yerger, another Of the VIC
Tins, was born and reared in jack
son, and was one Of the best-known
young men who ever went out from
that city. He was a son of the late
William 1erger ana mas NUMBER OF
relatives in Jackson, among whom is
the Assistant Secretary Of State,
Henry Yerger, and ex-Attorney Cen
eral Frank Johnston. His family
connection is extensive in Mississippi.
Hon. Charles Scott, one Of the candi-
dates for governor, is a relation. He
was engaged in the hotel business for
several years in Mississippi and Lou
isiana and made host Of friends.
The Scovel was built in 1895 at
Jeffersonville. She is LOO feet long,
81 feet wide, 3 feet Z inches deep.
She was bought at Nashville only a
few months ago by her new owners,
the Vicksburg and Davis Bend Packet
Company. The boat was insured for
$4,000.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
Beer in Soldiers Homes.

1--WE - 0V&NA&VA . AAVm00e
Beer halls in the several branches
OF the national home for disabled vol
unteer soldiers netted profits to the
government aggregating $165, ,454 dur
ing the last year, according to the an
nual report Of Col John L. Chamber
lain, Inspector General, whose annual
report to the Secretary Of War IS
one OF the strongest recommendations
made for the retention Of the canteen
featues Of these homes.
'"The beer hall l believe to be q
most valuable agent in determining
the comfort, contentment, health and
general welfare Of the members. Near
ly all members are Of advanced age,
their habits are formed and fixed be-
yond possibility Of change. Their PEN
slons furnish means wherewith to
drink, and those who desire drink can
and will get it. In the beer hall they
obtain beer Of the purest and best
quality, and the amount consumed can
be and now is strictly regulated. II
the beer hall should be abolished the
money now spent in the beer hall-in
fact a much larger sum-will be speat
IN the neighboring saloons and dives.
The profits which are now expended
for the pleasure, comfort and convc-
nlence and general welfare Of the
members will be lost to them and will
so into the pockets Of the saloon keep
ers.
Reward for a Democrat.
The following letter was given out
at the White House:
''The White House,
Washington, D. c., Dec. II, 1906.
''Dear Mr.. Bonaparte- three
years ago Sheriff J. L. Merrill Of
Carroll county, Ga, lost his chance
for reelection by his action in beat
ing off mob Of several hundred white
people who were trying to take a ne
gro out of Jail and put him to death.
Sheriff Merrill and his deputies fred
on the mob, killing and wounding
several men and beating the Others
off. Because Of this he was defeated
for reelection. Congressman Adamson
brought the matter to my attention,
saying that he hated to see a mon
who had done such service as
public official defeated because Of the
very fact that he had rendered the
service. He told me that Governor
Terrell had offered Merrill a place,
the best he had to give, which carried
a salary Of $50 per month. [ told the
congressman that | thought I could
beat that and got him a place fo1
$l200 year as custodian of the
grounds Of the Federal prison at At
lanta. [ hear he has done well. If he
has done well can't we give him a
promotion?
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
80 Hon oh ,,lar r
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03

A denial Of the report that Presi-
dent Castro Of Venezuela is dying
was issued from Willemstadt.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03

Secretary Wilson received dele
cation representing Louisville and
Texas rice interests.
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03

Scovell, arrived here on board the
Steamer Senator Cordill with others
who were on the Scovell. The remains
OF Leval Yerger were brought here
and will be sent to ackson, Miss, for
interment.
No other bodies were brought here
as they could not be found, there be-
ing, according to Wilkerson s state
ment, about fifteen dead in all.
He says that the boat blew up
while landed at Gold Dust gin, about
noon. He was sleeping at the time
in the rear of the upper cabin, and
when he woke he found the boat blew
in half and his end sinking.
He hurried out, ana reached the
bank, found the body of Laval Yer
ger under log, where also lay the
body of negro named Williams Hall,
who had been making cotton-seed
deal with Mr.. Yerger when the explo-
sion occurred.
oCudbVl OOIulL w ncSCuc.
Wilkinson says Dougherty, who
was at the wheel, suffered sprained
shoulder and seemed to be in bad
way, but he does not believe he will
die.
A young white boy named Len
Roberts, who was employed as watch
man on the boat, was terribly hurt
internally, and Wilkinson says that
he believe he may die.
Wilkinson states that as soon as he
could realize that had happened ne
sent a negro out to hail the Senator
Cordill, which was near at hand, to
come to the relief cf the Scovell. The
Cordill came promptly, and the crew
did what little it could for the wreck
ed steamer. All the cargo was lost,
floating down the river.
Wilkinson says he investigated the
wreck and found that the boiler which
blew up cut through the mastpole,
blowing the entire front Of the boat
off and two hundred yards into field.
The story of the accident as told
by j. I. Bruce, the engineer Of the
boat, is as follows:
'We We're lying at the Gold Dust
Landing, taking on cargo when l
noticed a small quantity of water
oozing through the boiler. | suspect
ed that something was wrong and pro-
ceeded to make an examination.
On Top of the Boiler.
About this time the Scovell broke
her head line and drifted so that I
did not have time 70 make thorough
examinatiOn at that moment AS soon
as [ got her back to the bank crawl
ed on top of the boiler and proceeded
with the investigation. I had just
got down from the boiler when the ex-
plosion occurred. The catastrophe, |
believe, was due to defective boiler
plate"
When the Cordill arrived at Vicks-
burg, a crowd Of several hundred per-
sons met her at the wharf. There
were anxious inquiries for friends and
relatives.
Owing to the heavy loss among the
negroes aboard the landing was crowd
ed with women and children Of that
race. The injured were taken to the
various sanitariums and hospitals Of
the city.
Dead Men Well Known.
Capt. Quakenboss was one of the
The Brandon news., 1907-01-03
Mr.. Wilkinson's S Story

j. M. Wilkinson, cub pilot Of the
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-11-11
GREAT BUILDERS.

An eminent divine once preach
ed sermon from this toxt: ION
building and builders" He talked of
he Worlds Great architect, artists,
authors. painters. sculp>ors. etc. He
said that every one. no matter how
low his station In life. who left the
world better than he foSnd Il, was
builder. that he who digged a
ditch well built for the words bet
terment. He might trutLfuIly add
ed that he who discovers q great
remedy like Rydale's Tonic, works
for the worlds bctterment. Rydale's
Tonic is human system builder.
purifies and builds the blood, re-
stores weak nervous systems and in
creases the strength and weight. All
who have used Rydale's Tonic, pro-
nounces IL great system tonic and
builder.
For sale by The White Pharmacy,
Cor. Princeton avenue ana Bland st
Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-11-11
THEATRICAL NOTES
JOHNNY CALVIN IN "A BELL
BOY"

Tho great New York musical COM
edy success. "A Bell Boy" Will be
thu attraction at tina Elks' theatre
tonight with the clever young light
comedian Johnny Calvin rs the prin-
cipal funmaker AMI supported by the
dainty little soubrette Ella Calvin.
and the pxima donna soprano, Irene
Drew. and large company OF cap
able actors and a chorus OF pretty
girls who can sing AMI dance. "A
Bell Boy" is no farce comedy nor is
IL burlesque. but 1t Is high class
clean cut musical comedy full of
funny situations, bright dialogue,
sparkling lyrics and music that Is
tuneful and catchy and that Is easiN
remembered and moro easily whis-
tied. the kind that every one wants
to hear.
The production is said to be lavish
In the matter OF scenery. costumes
and electrical and mechanical effects.
and In every way worthy of the
management and the hifh character
OF the chief comedians taking part
in it, 1t contains more big acts and
feature numbers than any musical
comedy on the road today. Every
thing Is new and up-to-jate and each
solo, duet. quartette and concerted
number is given with a verve and
vim that shows the best and most
artistic stage management
Johnny Calvin himself is one OF
those handsome. pleasant hammered
boys bubbling over with ginger Who
sings. dances and keeps things on the
so very much as does his more ia
nous contemporary. Geo. NJ. Cohan.
although he at no time initiates him.
Miss Irene Drew, the prima donna
IF "A Bell Boy" is most handsome
rs we'll as talented singer. She has
in this piece the best opportunity
If her entire artistic career and she
makes the most of Il. In one num-
Der she appears in an automobile,
touring car lighted by many electric
lights.