davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
SHOWED PRESENCE OF MIND.
Merry Act of Well DriIlers Averted
Fearful Disaster.

Two oil we'll drillers, Earl Sheets
and Frank Winks, near Carl Junction.
underwent an experience last week
that would make a Feature" for life
and death melodrama, says the KAN
sas City Star. The two men were SUI
perintending the shooting CT a well.
Three hundred quarts of nitroglycerin
had been brought to the well to be
used in the shot.
A SHELF containing 30 quarts had
been lowered, but 1t stuck in the well.
The operators thought they could
shove the can on down in the well by
letting the baler down in the well on
top of it. The plan appeared to have
worked all rigs, and the baler was
drawn up out of the well, and part
way up toward the top Of the derrick
before the Mortified spectators noticed
that the can of deadly explosive had
caught in the baler and was then
dangling in the air. ready to fall
Just as Sheets and Winks looked up,
the shell came loose and started to-
ward the ground. Realizing that if 1t
ever hit the ground these 30 quarts Of
nitro would explode and kill everyone
in the vicinity, the two men with pres.
ence of mind, ran under 1t and caught
1t In their hands. If they had failed
IN this, not one of the spectators
would have "lived to tell the story"
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
INDIAN Is CRAFTY
MAKES TROUBLE FOR SCIENTIFIC
DEPARTMENTS.
Fake Antiquities Manufactured by the
Guileiess Red Man Are Constant
ly Turning UP at the National
Capital.

"The gentle and untutored savage
may be guileless sort of a citizen
sometimes, but he causes the scientific
departments OF the government a
good deal of trouble and rocks the
tourist person out of lot of coin In
the course Of the season by the manu-
facture of fake antiquities" said
government archeologist In talking to
a Washington Star reporter the other
day. There is hardly week passes
but what the Smithsonian, or the Ma.
tional museum. or the bureau of
ethnology are called upon to pass on
the genuineness of some antiquity
that the confiding tourist has bought
from the Indians and possibly wants
to sell at a greatly enhanced value to
the government. 1t might be as well
to say right here that the government
is not buying any antiquities that way.
There are too many fakes on the mar
ket for the government to take any
risk. There are factories up in Con-
necticut that make a business of turn
ing out little clay images and pottery
bowls such as used to be made by
some of the Indian tribes. Down in
Mexico City there are two very thriv-
ing establishments where antiquities
are made while you wait, and where
they do some very artistic work. You
can get plain, unvarnished antiquities
fresh from the potter's kiln, but If you
are willing TO wait couple of days
they can age the same article so that
it would fool even most of the ex-
perts.
But one OF the most artistic pieces
of graft In that line that | ever saw
worked was down on the banks of
little river running into the Platte.
There was an Indian village, and a
good many tolerably expert aboriginal
potters in it. They did thriving
trade with the tourists coming that
way, and for sufficient consideration
the tourist was allowed to go out and
dig up his own relics, SO he know
they were genuine. The stream in
question was cut through soft, sandy
soil with banks that crumbled and
caved at every freshet The Indians
used to make lot of more or less
desirable pottery pieces, breaking
them artistcally sometimes when oc.
casion served. Then they would take
them out on the side of the stream
and bury them in the ground. When
the tourist came hunting relics he
would be piioted down the bed of
the stream and the guide would stop
now and then and dig into the crum.
bling bank. Eventually in digging
through the obviously untouched SOIL.
he would hit on some of the pottery
that had been carefully buried from
the prairie above, and then of course
the tenderfoot would pay double for
the find because he knew it was the
real thing. Oh, no, the gentle and un-
tutored savage is not crafty at all.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
RULE THAT WORKS WELL.
Prompt Service Peases the Makers
of Appropriations

"They have standing rule in the
office Of the adjutant general of the
army" remarked a high government
official the other day, that might be
adopted with profit by other bureaus
Of the government. The rule is that
every communication received from
a member of congress must be ac.
knowledged the day of its receipt
That means not only that an answer
shall be prepared, but also that it shall
be actually delivered the same day
Messengers are employed for delivery
purposes instead of the mails. This
plan is followed during the sessions
of congress, and also during the re.
cesses in the cases of congressman
still in Washington. Congressman are
naturally pleased with this prompt
service, and show their appreciation
when the appropriations for the adju-
tant generals Office are under consid
GRAFTON. Consequently, the adjutant
general gets all the clerks and mes
sengers he asks for, and is able to
carry his system of rapid correspond.
ence into successful execution. If 9th.
er bureaus of the government treated
the men who make the annual appro.
priations with the same consideration
they might in turn receive more lib.
eral gifts from the national legisla.
ture. | regret to say that he cannot
do It in our bureau, for the simple rea-
son that we have not the employees to
put on that special work"
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17

Prof. Alexander Graham Bell Of
telephone fame the other day was in
Washington, where, as he strolled
along Pennsylvania avenue, his snow
white hair and beard, ruddy face and
easy carriage attracted much atten
ton. A newspaper correspondent
long known to the professor, Joined
him and In the course Of their chat
asked Mr. Bells opinion of newspaper
men. "You know, professor, said
the correspondent, "but for us you
great inventors would not be so wide.
ly known" That's very true coin.
cided Prof. Bell, who added, dryly:
"And do you know | sometimes think
you newspaper men are the greatest
inventors in the world"
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
CHANGE IN FOOD
Works Wonders In Health.

It is worth knowing that change
in food can cure dyspepsia. 4 deem
1t my duty to let you know how Grape
Nuts food has cured me Of Indigestion.
Il had been troubled with it for
years, until last year my doctor rec
ommended Grape-Nuts food to be used
every morning. / followed instruc-
tons and now am entirely well.
The whole family like pe-Nuts,
we use four packages week. You
are welcome to use this testimonial as
you see fit."
The reason this lady was helped by
the use Of Grape-Nuts food, is that it
is predigested by natural processes
and therefore does not tax the stomach
as the food she had been using; 1t also
contains the elements required for
building up the nervous system. II
that part Of the human body Is in per-
feet working order, there can be no
dyspepsia, for nervous energy repre-
sents the steam that drives the en-
gine.
u When the nervous system is run
down, the machinery Of the body
works badly Grape-Nuts food can be
used BY small children aS well as
adults. 1t is perfectly Cooked and
ready tor instant use.
Read, nThe Rosd fo WeIlvilla" IN
pk0v. HTharesr w Unnss,, =
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
And Ha Was Not Germa,.

One of our third grade teachers no.
ticed little fellow the other day dur
ing a penmanship lesson who was evi.
IDENTITY absorbed In his work and put
ting his whole soul into his efforts to
make his results look like the teach
ers copy upon the blackboard.
Thinking such devotion worthy OF
special reward she passed up the aisle
to give him an encouraging pat upon
the head and the regulation smile OF
approval. As she drew near she mo-
ticed that his lips were moving, and
that with the completion of each letter
he compared it with his copy and NUT
tered audibly, "damit," 'damit;" then
screwed up his courage and his lips
for new attempt. The teacher passed
on without distracting his mind from
his work.--Journal of Education.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
Baron Rosen's Accomplishment

Baron Rosen, Russian ambassador
to this country, has bad splendid train
ing as diplomat, having held i'm
portant posts before coming to Wash
ington. He is a chancellor of the
Russian empire, chamberlain at the
court of Gar Nicholas and has been
decorated with the orders of st. Vladi.
mir, st. Ann and st. Stanislaus. He
is an accomplished musician and
speaks English, Russian, French, Ger
man, Italian and Japanese. His fam
lily is an old one and has produced
many famous soldiers and diplomats
for Russia.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
New Name for Senator.

John Tyler Morgan, United States
senator from Alabama, says that at
last. after 80 years continuous serv-
ice in the senate, he has found what
he is there for. The other day he
received from lady in Mobile let
ter addressed to General ]. T. Nor
gan, United States Seeds, Washing
ton, d. c." The writer thanked the
senator profusely for batch Of seeds
that had been sent her last fear un-
der his frank, declaring that they had
produced the most beautiful roses in
all Alabama" and requesting that
Gen. Morgan send her some more just
like them. II feel that have not
served my country In vain, nor that
l shall be wholly unknown to poster.
ity, now that ,haae been addressed
as United States seeds," added the
senator.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
Pena,tIes Of Eatlno.

A Washington physician one morn
ing was summoned by patient whose
eceentricities Of diet had required
calling him many times before; but on
this occasion the patient was unusu.
ally frank about the cause OF his trou-
BILE.
TITS my own fault. Doctor" came
from him In lugubrious tones. "Ex-
perience teaches one what he can eat
and what he can't eat. Last night |
ate three cucumbers, few radshes,
a saucerful of strawberries, and
drank glass OF Ice water Then |
went to bed However, I've learned
one thing; man has no right 10 drink
ice water Just before retiring. Sun.
day Magazine.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
GIANT CRACKER WAo ZEAL.
Lawyers Great Joke on Friends In
Court Room.

Assistant Corporation Counsel
James l.. Pugh OF Washington is al.
ways ready TO play joke on any
cf his friends, and. according to gen.
ial Lum Harper, chief assistant to
Clerk Potts, he seems to take special
delight in "deviling" him. According
to MIR. Harper about the worst" Mr..
Pugh ever did was some years ago,
when Judge Miller was on the bench
and Gen. Coxey's army was in town.
The court had received several let.
ters stating that If the general" was
sent down to the workhouse that the
courthouse would be "dynamited.
one morning after Coxey had got
ten what Judge Miller thought was
coming to him, Mr.. Pugh came into
the lower court room with a giant
ffrecracker, which looked all the
world like fake for the reason
that 1t was covered with advertising.
He laid it on the clerks desk. Mr..
Harper contemplated 1t for a moment
and as 1t was before the opening of
the lower court, he was smoking a
cigar. In a moment he touched the
light to the fuse and watched 1t burn,
while Mr.. Pugh just stepped back
and "laffed." Baliff Cole was stand
ing with his back to the desk and Mr..
Harper, not watching, when the
cracker exploded like cannon. or,
flcers rushed into the court room,
thinking some one had been shot, and
word was brought downstairs in a
moment that Judge Miller, who had
been hearing a case from the bench
had Jumped about six feet" 1t is
said that he thought the place was
being blown up by the friends of
CoXey, and when Mr.. Harper came up
stairs a new moments later to ex.
plain that 1t was not an anarchistic
attempt, but prank of Jim Pugh,"
he said he felt much relieved and
hoped 1t would not occur again. Now,
adays, II the prosecutor comes in
with shooting cracker" Mr.. Harper
says he is going to look inside" be-
fore he applies any lights to the fuse
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
An Indians View Of an Organ.

After while curiosity led me back
to the sod house, and ! saw for the
first time how the white woman pumps
SO much air into box that when she
presses on the top board 1t howls con.
vulsively forgot my bashfulness so
far as to listen openly and enjoy the
operation, wondering much how the
white man puts pair of lungs into a
box, which is furnished with a whole
set Of black and white teeth, and
when he sings to it 1t appears to en-.
swer him. This is how the white peo-
pie teach their children to do things,
thought-From the Outlook--Dr
Charles A. Eastman's "Schooldays Of
an Indian"
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17

For the last rs months the c7ar has
been virtually prisoner in one of
his own palaces and In the intervals
OF state work he has solaced himself
with composing music and writing
verse. His poetry is melodious and
carefully polished and his music Is
melancholy and inspired by spirit of
fatalism. Some three years ago some
of the ears poems were published
under the pseudonym of Olaf with
music by his cousin, the Grand Duke
D'Assla, but he has himself set some
of his verses to music with a consider
able amount of taste and real knowl-
edge of harmony, Nicholas II has a
fine collection of yiolins, of which he
is very proud.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
WHAT MADE HIM DOUBTFUL.
sixe Of Commuters Hat Caused Ac-
quaintance to Worry.

A commuters on the D., l., q w. re-
marked to friend the other morning,
as they came into the city:
Hawkins, of Stamford, is going to
move into that new house next door
to me. know him very slightly, and
understand that you know him pret.
ty well"
yes, have known him for upward
Of 20 years"
Well, what kind of fellow Is he,
anyhow" asked the commuter.
"A flrst.rate fellow. and In every
way desirable, Why2"
Il Just wanted to know, because |
could never quite make up my mind
about him, he wears such small
hat. t."--Philadelphia Ledger.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
Cannon May Break Record,

OF the congressman who have
served since the foundation of this
government, more than 1900 individ-
uals, only "a have served 20 years or
more. The longest service was that
Of John II. Ketcham, Of New York,
who served 3S years, and was a mem.
Der when he died. Mr.. Cannon, who
comes next, has served 80 years.
Since he is elected to the next con.
gress he will. IL he lives to the end OF
his term, take the first place In the
list OF veterans. Companion.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17

THE gennnl came up the othah
evenin' to play kyards, said the Ken
tucky colonel "Theah was pahty
of us. They were all drinking rathah
heavily OF some ole Kentucky passed
aroun' as they played The gennul
aftah awhile began to tell about his
bein' his buthday. He insisted that II
was his buthday in spite Of the fac
that We knew he had celebrated his
buthday with us some seven months
ago.
I'VE humohd him, but we found out
aftehwahd that it was bis wifes buth.
day instead Of his'n and whut he got
fob celebratin' It away from home and
huh was good an plenty."--N. Y.
Press.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
PAUL HAD HIS OWN IDEA.
Fathers Explanation Of Lightning Not
Satisfactory to Him.

Little Paul was four years old when
the western city in which he lived was
swept one night by a terrible storm
Wind, thunder and lightning played
havoc, and, while other members Of
the family were huddled In dark cor
ners, Paul watched the illumination Of
the sky with great delight. The next
morning at breakfast he asked his
father what caused the streaks of fire
across the sky, and his father, with
great pains, essayed to explain. Paul
listened attentiyely and apparently
accepted what was told him, but, when
he found attention diverted from him
self, he leaned over to his aunt, who
sat beside him, and whispered:
1T wasn't that, auntie. 1t was God
scratching matches ON the sky"
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
STOMACH on STRIKE
succEssFuL TONIC TREATMENT
FOR INDIGESTION.
b.. Williams Pink Pills Cured This
Woman and Have Cured Manv
Hundreds Of Other Cases Of

Woman and Rave Cured Many
Hundreds Of Other Cases Of
Common Ailments
Loss Of appetite, coated tongue, bad
taste in the mouth, heavy dull headache
and dull, sluggish feeling these are
the symptoms of stomach trouble. They
indicate that the stomach is on a strike;
that it is no longer furnishing to the
blood the full quota Of nourishment that
the body demands, hence every organ
suffers.
There are two methods Of treatment,
the old one by which the stomach is
humored by the use of predigested foods
and artificial ferments, and the new one
by which the stomach is toned up to do
the work which nature intended Of it.
A recent cure bv the tonic treatment is
that Of Mrs. Mary Stackpole, of 81
Liberty street, Lowell, Mass. She says:
II suffered constantly for years from
stomach trouble and terrible backaches
and was confined to my bed the greater
part of three years. was under the
care Of our family physician most Of the
time, but did not seem to get better.
II was completely rundown and was
not able to do my work about the house.
My blood was impure and my complex.
ion pale. / suffered from flashes Of
heat, followed suddenly by chills.
had awful headaches, which lasted from
three to four days. I could get but little
rest at night, as my sleep was broken
and fitful, As q result l lost several
pounds in weight and became very ner.
vous.
81 was in wretched condition when
/ heard about DIR. Williams Pink Pills.
! started to take the pills at once and
began to gain in weight and health. !
was encouraged by this to keep on until
was cured. My friends and neighbors
often remark what a changed woman
am and I owe it all to DR.. Williams
Pink Pills"
These wonderful pills are useful in a
wide range of diseases such as aneuia,
rheumatism, sciatica, neuralgia, nervous
headaches, and even locomotor ataxia
and partial paralysis.
The great value of DR.. Williams Pink
Pills lies in the fact that they actually
make new blood and this carries health
and strength to every portion of the
body. The stomach is toned up, the
nerves are strengthened, every organ is
stimulated to do its work
DR.. Williams Pink Pills are sold by
all druggists, or sent, postpaid, on receipt
of price, so cents per box, six boxes for
$3.50, by the DR.. Williams Medicine
Company, Schenectady, N. Y.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
HnW'S This2

We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward for any
ease OF Catsrrh that cannot be cured by BallE
Catsrrh Cure
FL. CHENEY CO., Toledo, o.
We, tho undersigned, have ka0wn +. J. Cheney
for the last 10 years and believe him perfectly hon
orabie in all business transactions and financially
able to carry out any obligations made by his frm.
WALDiFG, RISTkS a MARVIN,
Wholesale Druggists, Toledo. o.
Halls Catarrh Cure Ia taken Internally, acting
directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces OF The
system. Testimonials sent free. Price rs cents per
bottle sold by all Druggists.
Take Hslrs Family Pills for constipation.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
BABYs ECZEMA GREW WORSE.
Hospitals and Doctors Could Not Re-
Iieve Him--But Cuticura Remedies
a Speedy, Permanent Cure.

Eczema appeared when our baby
was three months old. We applied to
several doctors and hospitals, each of
which gave us something different
every time, but nothing brought relief.
At last, one OF our friends recommend
ed to us Cuticura Soap and Cuticura
Ointment. A few days afterwards i'm
provement could be noted. Since then
we have used nothing but Cuticura
Soap and Cuticura Ointment, and now
the baby is six months old and is quite
cured. All that we used was enc cake
OF Cuticura Soap and two boxes Cuti-
cura Ointment, costing In all $1.25. G..
F. Kara, 343 East 65th Street, New
York, March 30. 1906'
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
Bind Man Expert Whist Player.

Bert Trim, blind resident OF
Woonsocket, r. l., is an expert whist
player, being valued member Of a
local club. He uses special pack OF
cards. on which there are faint i'm.
prints sufficient to tell him what they
are. but which are far too fine for the
ordinary touch. Trim. who has been
blind since childhood. is now 80 years
old. He plays the piano and cornet
In excellent style and IL often heard
In local entertainments.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
Still Normandy's Heroine,

One Of the favorite postal cards
offered for sale to tourists by shop
keepers of Rouen, Normandy, shows
a modern feminine compatriot of Joan
Of Arc dressed and posed to repre-
sent the great French heroine spin.
ming in her thatched rooted cottage
at Domremy.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17

City Boarder--When you exchanged
cattle with Farmer Smith, did you get
a quid pro quo?
Farmer Jones--No, Nelghbor Smith
didn't try no sich mean tricks on me,
We swapped fair and even n.--Baltlmor
American.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
American AGENTS al Fault.

According to numerous writer's, a
great drawback to the success of
American trade abroad is the neglect
of travelling agents to learn foreign
languages. In this respect America
is far behind the Germans. French
and English.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
y,6ouoh. Il. wst the Milkman.

A young man who bad prolonged his
call on his lady love rather later than
usual was surprised when a window
in an upper story wat raised as he left
the house. and the foice Of the mis-
tress Of the house cTled out; Leave
an extra quart thlz fnorning pleass.1
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
liyino by Literature.

1t did not encourage me, at an early
stage Of my career, to read an article
by Grant Allen declaring that man
had better sweep a crossing than take
to literature and journalism for a live.
lihood. But never thought of follow
ing his advice. and have now had
enough experience to be able to dis.
agree with him.--London Reader.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
Dancer In Slunals.

Il was playing a game Of cards in
q mining camp In the Rockies" said
the mild.mannered man, when sud
denly my partner, by way of gentle
hint, held up two fingers to Indicate
that he had pair. Quick as a fash,
one Of our opponents whipped out his
dirk and slashed off the fingers.
Awful! Well, 1t was pretty bad,
but wasn't he in luck that he didn't
have a full hand?"
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17

The inducements to adopt Natures per.
feet Laxative, Garfield Tea, are many
1t is made wholly Of simple Herbs and is
guaranteed under the Pure Food and
Drugs Law; it oYercomes constipation,
regulates the liver and kidneys, puriGes
the blood and brings Good Health.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
Possessed.

Father wonder what's the matter
with Nellie this evening? She acts like
one possessed.
Sister-She probably Is. ! noticed a
new ring on her finger when she came
downstairs illustrated Bits.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
Why

does hair grow on one part Of your
head and not on another? One part OF
your scalp is barren, the other fertile.
Barry's Tricopherous makes fertile
scalps. 80 cents per bottle at your
druggists or by mail postpaid. Bar.
clay & Co., As Stone Street. ". Y.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17

Socrates was henpecked, but no wo'
man can prove that he might not, II
he had possessed a happy home. have
been greater philosopher than he
was.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
Peat as inexpensive Fuel.

Lieut. H. Ekelund, of Jonkoping,
Sweden. claims to have made an i'm
portapt Invention In fuel saving. Ac-
cording to his method peat is used in
the shape Of powder and is said to
give sufficient heat to use steel in a
furnace without the use Of coal.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17

To reach port on the sea OF life we
must sail nometimes with the wind
and sometimes against 1t, but we
must sail and not drift or lie at an.
chor.--Olivuf Wendell Holmes.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
Flqures Seem Contradictory.

The United Kingdom, which is the
largest importer in the world Of cattle
and sheep for slaughtering purposes,
is oddly enough the largest exporter OF
horses for the same purpose.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
Elsb Ponds 70 as Given up.

The great fish ponds at the base of
the Washington monument have been
changed to bathing pools for boys and
girls. The ponds were expensive and
not practical.
The commonwealth., 1907-05-17
They TLnhtened up.

"I presume that your failure showed
you tina; you had great many close
friends?'
That's what II did The closest
bunch o' friends any man ever had
Fort W5cth Record.