davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18

among the women and children
said; I must try to reach it. but be
ready to catch my shattered corpse.
Do you think you had better risk
Iit?' my husband asked anxiously.
az must l said. This is worse
than the black hole of Calcutta
81 started on a lettering voyage
forward. had got only about two
seat lengths away when the tram,
which had stopped for passenger,
started up again with a violent jerk.
lurched forward, fell against the end
of seat which promptly bored hole
in my side, cannohe1 off against the
end of a seat on the opposite side, and
with the impetus of my violent move
ments, landed in the vacant space.
painfully conscious of a lack of dig
nifty and of the wrathful glances Of
an old gentleman whose hat l had
knocked over his nose in my hasty
progress.
AT any rate I thought, I didn't
catch hold of the derrick, and that is
something.
THE derrick is high thing, rather
like the legs of telescope, from
which the trolley arm is slung. II
has a large placard suspended round
its neck like a locket, which bears
the most awful warning to those who
are tempted to cling to 1t when they
feel their balance insecure, and both
my waking and sleeping hours were
haunted with the conviction that some
time before we left Glasgow I should
yield to panic and sieze it. Provi-
degce saved me from that awful fate,
however, so am still in doubt as to
whether you are heavily fined, or
thrown into prison, or whether you
meet a deserved and instantaneous
punishment by sizzling on live wire.
wish | knew which it was. Someone
must have done it, else why the warn
ing?
Dreadful things do happen in
those trans sometimes. A girl told
me she once saw woman carrying
baby, who, as she started to go
down the stairs, lost her balance
from the swinging of the tram, and
the poor baby's head was dashed
against the side of the post and dread
fully injured. 1t used to brighten me
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18
POWER HOUSE UNDER A RIVER.

About twelve miles from the city OF
Baltimore. on the Patapseo river
there is now nearing completion what
is probably the most extraordinary
power plant in the United States. IL
not in the world. So writes Arthur
Fl. Goldsborough in The Technical
World Magazine.
This plant which is being hailt for
the Patapsco Electric power company
by the Emerson Ferro Concrete Con-
struction company, of Boston. is radi-
cal departure from the usual methods.
of hydro-electric construction. Briefly
speaking, the dam and power house
are one; in other words, the dam is
made hollow and the interior, which Is
about two hundred feet long and twoes-
-ty-eight feet wide. is utilized for the
generating machinery.
AT the present time the equipment OK
the plant consists of two alternatorss
directly connected to two FIVE hundred
horse power horizontal turbines. This
will be shortly enlarged by the addi-
ton of another turbine and alternater
of equal power. bringing the total
horse power of the plant up TO fifteen
hundred
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18

to see old men and women with little
children essay that perilous passage.
They managed wonderfully well, much
better than did, so l suppose prac-
tice counts for something in tramway
travel as well as in other forms of
exercise, but l noticed that they
moved very slowly and cautiously;
and wondered what would happen If
this system were introduced in our
hurrying land where every moment is
of Importance and we are impatient
of the delay In getting off our cars
with their single level.
81 had heard a great deal said of
the advantages of municipal owner
ship and the wonderful things Glas-
gov, the model city, had accomplished.
1t sounded very delightful, and / was
completely convert in theory until
had little pr .ical experience
of the facts. A great deal is said
about the low fares and the possibil-
ity of riding two or three blocks for a
halfpenny. That is very nice, and in
| lasgow, where the population is al
most entirely within the bounds Of its
own walls. it has. suppose. distinct
advantages; but to us. who use the
trolley in the great majority of cases
for long distance riding, the advanta-
ges lie in quite the opposite direc-
ton. Our FIVE cent fare in Boston
takes us miles and miles further than
the same fare would in Glasgow; and
{ nd not help thinking that If they
changed their rates and copied our
system of private operation there
would not be so many pale, under
sized men and women and starved
looking children cooped up in wretch
ed alleys with no sun and no air and
n place to play but the neighhorlng
steps.
rhe people cannot afford to pay
the larger rates it costs to get out in
to the country. In fact the tramway
system extends only some six or
seven miles from the center of Glas-
gov, and that in one direction only, al
fact which the advocates OF municipal
ownership forget to mention. Hayingl
looked out for the trafflc within their
own immediate boundaries. II does not
occur to them to reach out and open
up the districts beyond. as is done
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18
When Forks Were introduced.

The earliest mention Of them was In
"Crudities.' singular book OF travels
by Coryates, published in 1911. HThe
Italians, and most strangers that arc
cormorant in Italy, do always, ar
their meals, use little fork when
they cut their meat" Queen Eliza
beth was the first English sovereign
to use one, and her court Condemned
the fad as silly affectation.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18
THE FOOL TESTERS.
Occasionally Cause a Tragedy but
Keep Right on.

Occasionally Cause Tragedy but
Keep Right on.
AS for jest, there can 80 certain
things which ought to be privileged
from it; namely, religion, matters OF
state. great persons, any mans pres
emit business of Importance, any case
that deserveth pity" Thus writes
Lord Bacon.
To the inVeterate joker, nothing is
sacred He turns everything into a
jest. Halloween, when, according TO
ancient tradition, the dead revisit the
glimpses of the moon and sheeteG
ghosts walk abroad, has been
strangely chosen as the time for play
ing all sorts OF unseemly pranks,
many of which, though devised in the
Split of harmless mischief, have
proved fatal.
Such [. one was that played on the
last Halloween, in a neighboring
town, by roguish boys, who set live
electric wire in public place. The
boys only meant to give slight shock
10 passers by, but the first one VINO
passed, a promising young man, was
killed.
On the same evening boys drew
away the front steps from the resi-
dence of a reputable physician Of Min
neapolis. They meant only to be
funny, but the physician in going out
of his house in the darkness, suffered
serious injuries which might have
proved fatal.
The hazing which has been so prev
alent at our military schools and col
leges arose from a spirit of mischief
which has led to crnelties and abuses
that sometimes has resulted in MAIN
ing or death. This foolish practice.
happily, is nearly extinct. 1--WE did
not know it vas loaded" has been the
excuse for many a murder caused by
pointing in jest guns or pistols at IN
offensive persons.
"Shall l throw you over2" said one
of these foolish testers to little boy
who stood with his parents on the
brink Of Niagara Falls. The jester
caught up the boy, stumbled and
dropped him over the foaming eatar-
act. Nothing remained for him bat 10
follow his victim and both went down
TO death together.
The jest which wounds no sensitivs
nature, which does not prey upon
the helpless, which involves no dam
ger to property, life or limb, may be
enjoyed by all who have any sense
of humor But the fool testers, al
ways on the lookout for joke, re-
CARELESS of its possible consequences,
are persons to be Stunned as mis-
chievous and dangerous
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18
A WORLD OF WEALTHY WOMEN.
The Colony Club Where New York's
Fair FashionabIes Conareaate.

The Colony Club Where New York's
Fair FashionabIes Congreeate.
The new clubhouse of the colony
club of New York. an imposing colonial
structure. costing all told, half-mil-
lion dollars, and INTELLECTUALLY like
unto delightful old New England
tavern, is altogether unprecedented in
t the club-womaP's world on this side
of the Atlantic.
Attempting equipped cuisine is o.
feTed to satisfy the cosmopolitan tastes
of a membership of nearly one thocs-
and women, who willingly part with
the unmatched fees OF one hundred
and fifty dollars for initiation and one
hundred dollars annual dues-to say
nothing of gilt-edged prices for every
service after one officially arrives, so
to speak. The scene at the door is
perpetually animated. From early
morn until midnight, crested automo-
biles turn in at the curb. and the
courtly attendant in Colonial livery of
blue and buff ushers a constant
stream of arrivals in to this delightful
retreat, says Delineator. Sitting in
the small reception-room at the side,
one gets series of Kaleidoscope i'm
pressions of the life of this original
club. Probably Miss Anne Morgan,
daughter of Mr.. j. Pierpont Morgan,
saunters in for plunge into the white
marble pool, or Mrs John Jacob Astor
for an athletic turn or two In the gym
nasium, or Mrs. Clarence Mackay for
short rest in the reading-room. or
Miss Maude Adams for a comforting
cup of tea after their professional
duties.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18

here in Boston. They have no incen-
tive for 1t, and perhaps it would be
outside their rights in any ease. No
one can enter into competition with
them and they are content to con-
tinue with their limited system and
their short cars which bob up and
down. making one feel like very
active bit of corn in very hot corn
pepper. So guess the American way
is lest, after ALL"
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18
CONGRESSMAN DAVIDSON
ON WATERWAYS DIRECT

Washington, Dec. THE rivers
and harbors congress yesterday
elected officers as follows:
President-Joseph E. Ransdeh.
Louisiana.
Secretary-treasurer-J. T. Ellison.
Cincinnati
The board of directors includes
Governor Johnson of Minnesota;
Thomas NJ. Wilkinson of Burlington.
iowa; James Fl. Davidson of Oshkosh.
Wis; Lawrence M. Jones of Kansas
City. Mo, and George G. Call ct
Sioux City, Iowa.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18
no Exneriment on FIylna.

A telegram from Halifax, N. s..
states that an association to expert
ment with flying apparatus has been
organized. including Professor Alex
ander Graham Bell, the inventor OF
the telephone. For some time Profes-
sor Bell has been carrying on aerial
experiments with various types of air
ships. These experiments have been
conducted at Bein Breagh. N. S.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18
Audubonnets.

The singing birds are gone;
We have instead-the bonaeti
From darkling coverts drawn,
The singing birds are gone
To many a Mollie Bawn.
All. short lived as Sonnet
The singing birds are gone:
We have instead-the bOnaetl
The bird of Paradise
What glories cleaned upon IT,
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18
WATERING The LAMBS

Little drops of water
Break the hardest rocks.
Little drops Of water
Swell the Lambkins' stoskBs
Little drops of water
And other little drops
FIJI the largest buckets
In the bucket shops.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18

Swarthmore university turned dswn
an offer OF a gift of millions II II woux1
abandon sports.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18

Wrestling is the popular sport In
Persia Great tournaments are held
TO decide supremacies OF districts.
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18

1t was not until stephen Hurst had
been dead for some hours that the
mystery of that fatal mistake flashed
across Lord Bayenhams mind He
remembered how he had gone into
his wife's room and told her he knew
all, meaning that he knew she had
been in the Lady's Walk. She doubt
less thought by that expression he
knew all the secret of her parentage
and her fathers sin.
Then Lord Bayneham remembered
hat careless conversation, when the
poor child asked him what he should
do, IT, after marriage. he discovered
he had made a mistake Ia his wife,
and he replied jest!ngly such one
must go home to her friends" How
blind and stupid he had been not to
remember all this before! She clasp
ed her hands when he told her he
knew all, and asked II she was to go.
II he had but remained with her ten
minutes longer all would have been
explained; now he began to fear he
should never see her again.
Lord Bayenham behaved nobly to
his wife's father. He kept his secret
No will was found. and he made no
claim upon that large fortune, For
Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-12-18

We will draw a curtain over that
death-hed; they who were present
ended at last and the man who reaped
never forgot It. The awful scene
as he had sown went to his Judgment.
The Cairo bulletin., 1907-10-28

1 ECHOES FROM CAIRO PULPITS


/ ellis alone, as II Is manifest that they
| have often erred and contradlcted
themselves. | am not able to recall,
lror do | wish to recall anything for
IL Is neither safe nor honorable to do
ANYTHING against conscience. Here
stand. cannot do otherwise, God
| help me. Amen" Luther never
wayered from this position although
threatened with death. Where he
stood then, Professionalism stands to-
aay. Those OF us who place the Word
Of God above the authority of the
Church. in a Republic Where each one
be he ever so humble-is permitted
| to worship God in accordance to the
Ipionitions of conscience, stand ap-
paled when we speculate as to
what might have BEEN had the
Reformation Of the Sixteenth century
been abortivei
1t might have been otherwise with
Benedict Arnold, traitor to freedom
cause for the sake OF George the
ulfu yellow SDIus LSltSt udu iit
died as he led his men with I'M
daunted courage under the very walls
# Quebec; better to have been buried
on the blood soaked field of battle, the
flag of freedom his shroud, the tears
Of grateful country, to nourish the
grave grass above his body, than to
have passed the divide of death an
alien in London. All 1T might have
been." Not so with Nathan Hale,
Every school boys heart throbs with
patriotism when he hears that hon
ored name He gave his life for the
thirteen colonies, and just before ex-
ecution by the English said, "All that
regret is that | have been one life
to give for my country. IL might
have been different in the Burr-Hamil-
ton tragedy: Edgar Allen Poe's life
could have ended differently: names
o. hundreds of men and women have
been the opposite. In the worlds
cemetery there are unnumbered
graves, on whose tomb-stones could
be carved, most appropriately 1t
might have been
The Cairo bulletin., 1907-10-28

cent. OF the population can read with
out being able to write. but the re-
naming 621a per cent are quite Hit
crate. In the South of Spain it Is
impossible to get servant who can
read and write, and many OF the
postmen, says the London Tit-Bits.
are unable to tell to whom the let
tiers they carry are addressed.
They bring a bundle of letters to
q house. ard the owner looks through
them and takes those which are tor
which he thinks are) addressed to
bin. The Spanish postmen are not
paid By the State; the recipients Of
the letters have to remunerate them
according to the amount of their
correspondence. and each letter costs
the addresSee at least a halfrenny.
It g a joke among the easy going
Srariards that he who treats the
pcs man best receives the most let
tors. whether they are in-ellel Tor
him or not.
In population where s. per cent
are illiterates and whore ont OF the
remaining S5 per cent. probably one
in ten can only real or write very
little. It is obvious that the baiiy
pail and precarioas rosis in the low
er ranks o. life are not likely 10 be
filed by the comparative few poss-
essed Of these accomplishments and
herein lies the reason for the other
wise inexeplicable fact that many Of
the individuals handling the nations
correspondence cannot read.
The Cairo bulletin., 1907-10-28

that thou vert either cold or hot" he
said to this church; and because they
were "lukewarm" he said VIII
Irpew thee out OF my mouth. rms
was large and flourishng church,
that is rich and increased in goods,
having need OF nothing" IN It's own
estimation. but spiritually IL was
"wretched and miserable and poor
and blind and naked as 1t rolled and
fattened In the luxury Of aziness and
Indifference. Ii was one OF cur nae,
wealthy, fashionable, worldly, popular
churches -active and Jealous IN It's
own glorification and pretentions, bu'
cold and dead in the frigid grasp cf
religious pride, Incidence and stupid.
Iity--fuil of society and Irritation with
the world and given over TO formal
ism and display in the name Of Christ
II vomited the Almighty 1t was like
taking tepid water on the stomach
II nauseated God, We can drink hot
or cold water. but we cant Keep
down draught of lukewarm water.
Its as bad as ipecac. The hgure mere
employed illustrates Gods loathing
end disgust OF proud but spiritually
dead church--a people at ease in
Zion-doting upon their splendor III
laziness and Indifference feeling no
reed of anything at Gods hands ana
absolutely regardless OF the poor ana
the needy cause of the Redeemer eX-
cept perhaps by proxy. All! how GOD
spews ont of his mouth such churches
in this world! Alasi not now aud
here. what a vomiting of such Will
there be at the Judgment seat OF
Christ. oh, big money and broad
culture, silk and satin. pride and am'
bition social display and high POSI-
ton. stained glass and cushioned
pews. how often have We killed the
meekness and humility OF Gods
Houset How often filled it with the
mimicry Of mockery in worship, until
We must have a special song service,
a sermon on Pitchfork Tillman or the
hk5e 70 draw 2 crowd How often de-
generated into the ease of Zion and
died Of spiritual Incidence and ennui,
"inoccuous desuetude,"
The Cairo bulletin., 1907-10-28
.CA|RO'S LOSS MAY
Be STATES GAIN
BELIEF THAT ILLINOIS CENTRAL
WILL BE COMPELLED TO PAY
HEAVY BACK TAXES.
Including Percentage On Gross Re.
ceipts From Cairo Bridge
Supreme Courts Decision
Indicates This.

1t seems that the Illinois Central
company's victory in the Cairo bridge
tax case, in the state supreme court,
may be taken as an indication that
the company will be required to pay
the per cent taxes to the state on
its gross receipts from all its lines
IN the state, including its bridge APP
preach here, One strong point made
by those who represented the city Of
Cairo In this case was that the com.
rany had not been paying any taxes
upon this approach. either In the way
OF direct taxes upon the property or
In the way of percentage upon the
receipts. In denying the contention
Oh the city Of Cairo. that the company
should pay the direct tax the court
declared that the company shall pay
taxes to the state, the inference being
that 1t shall pay the per cent on the
gross receipts from the Cairo bridge.
There Is case now pending against
the company. brought at the instance
Oh Gov. Deneen. in which ii will be
sought TO compel the company to pay
the 7 per cent tax on the gross re-
ceipts Of all its Illinois lines. net
merely on its charter lines which the
company has contended was all the
law required it to pay At Springfield
the courts decision In the Cairo case
is regarded as promise that the
court will decide the other case in
favcr of the state. A Chicago paper
has the following on the subject;
"'The supreme court in ruling on
the taxation of certain Illinois Cen
trail railroad property near Cairo, has
apparently aligned itself in favor Of
the contention OF Governor Deneen
that the railroad should pay 7 per
cent of its gross receipts into the
state treasury, not merely a percent.
age of the gross receipts on the
charter" lines. The case came up
on petition by the people of Cairo
against the state board of equaliza.
ton to compel the board to levy a
tax on the bridge approach. It Is held
that taxes can be collected. The
matter merely Indirectly concerns
tho suit brought by Governor Deneen
One of his contentious. however, in
prosecuting the states claim against
the Illinois Central is that the state
should receive a percentage OF this
very bridge property"
The Cairo bulletin., 1907-10-28
KING OF ALL CATFISH.
As "Old Joe" He Is Known to FISH
erman of the Cumberland.


Just how or when he received his
cognomen no one seems to know,
but should you call the name old
Joe" anywhere along the Cumberland
River above Celina. Tenn, your
hearers will at once become atten-
tive, and usually the query, Have
you seen him." or who saw him
last?" will greet your remark.
"Old Joe" is an immense catfish,
eight to nine feet long, and 1t is
thought win weigh more than two
hundred pounds. He was first seen
about twenty years ago in the Cum
berland River where Marrowbone
Greek empties into that classic
stream in Cumberland county. Since
that time hardly a week passes dur
ing the fishing season that some one
does not see this huge fish, writes
a correspondent of the Louisville
Courier-Journal, and always near
where ne was first seen. The furth-
est point that he has even been
known TO roam was a mile.
Many plans to capture or kill odd
Joe" have miscarried, and from the
way he has eluded the various traps
and snares set for him he must be
wise as well as large. Fishermen
anxious to possess "Old Joe's" scalp
have camped on the river for weeks.
remained all day waiting for a
chance shot. placed poison in the
river dynamited all along for mile,
and after becoming worn out would
leave in disgust only to learn from
some one that "Old Joe" had been
seen the day he broke camp floating
near the surface OF the water, evil
IDENTIFY enjoying a sun bath.
After old Joe's" habitation was
established steamboat men began to
look for him and there are very few
pilots on the upper Cumberland that
have not seen "Old joe" II at any
time a pilot spoke of having seen a
dog or snab in that locality he was
promptly told IL was "Oli Joe. "
Recently a well known pilot on
the Cumberland River had a good
look at the king of the upper Cum
berland. and IN speaking of his OBJ
servations says: Some time since
| had the pleasure OF seeing this en-
ormous catfish In length | sup
pose Il would measure close to eight
feet. possibly more. was in posi-
ton to get a good view OF him while
on duty in the pilot house. being as
high above the water could see him
clearly. Noticing a break in the
water | thought It was a large snag.
had moved to the opposite side of
my wheel in order TO steer around
what thought 20 be a snag. when
| I saw what il was. I called TO the
clerk through the trumpet 10 get his
gun and get that big fish. ! was
getting close on him when the clerk
appeared with bis gun. and he could
only see the waves that the king Of
the Cumberland made on his descent
to the deep Old Joe's' habiiation
u in the neighborhooi OF the mouth
Of MaTrOwbone Greek This FISH. !
suppose would weigh more than two
hundred pounds. His tail seemed
to be larger than a ralmleaf fan"
As "Oid Joe" has been a familiar
figure for twenty OF thirty years 3,
Il hard even to surnise how old he
is. but river men are Of the opinion
that he must be more than fifty
years old.
The Cairo bulletin., 1907-10-28
In the Kaiscrs stable.

The Kaiser has recently got after
his master OF horse and Is looking
after his stables a bit himself lie
found that he was employing ioar
men whose only duty was 10 braid
the tails and names of the imperial
borres. He dismissed all four. Then
he found that 400 men were en-
ployed to care for $50 horses and
24O carriages. and more heads fell
The Cairo bulletin., 1907-10-28
.ssf -sAs~
Where Males Exceed Females.

A recent estimate of the popula-
ton of Seoul gives the total at 1873.
sos. In every ward but the north
one the number of males. exceeds
that of females. but In that part of
the city the number of males is
given as 1900, while the females
are 1000. This would be hard 10
explain on any ordinary theory of
population. Seoul has no quarter
set aside for the exclusive residence
of females.