davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05
The Tea euo and Tea Mite.

Every animal and plant has its para.
site, and from this general law, IL
seems, the tea plant is not exempt
Two insects are described as spending
their lives in tea drinking. They are
the plague of the Assam tea gardens
and are known as the ''tea bug and
''tea mite" The mites spend their en-
tire lives on the tea plant and are new.
er known to attack any other leaf.
They live in families and societies on
the upper side Of the full grown leaf
and spin a delicate web for a shelter.
They then puncture the leaves and
pump out the liquid in the plant veins.
They seem to become dainty In their
tastes, for a s%prinkling of muddy wa
ter over their floor and ten table is
the only remedy known to check their
ravages. Even this is not always ef-
fectual. The tea bug is still more de.
structive and is evidently possessed OF
an appreciation of the best kinds OF
tea, since it always attacks those Of Il
mild and delicate flavor.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05
History of Ivory.

The earliest recorded h~istory-we
might say prehistoric, the hieroglyph-
ical-that has come down to us has
been in carvings on ivory and bone.
Long before m%etallurgy was known
among the prehistoric races carvings
on reindeer horn and mammoth tusk
evidence the antiquity of the art.
Fragments of horn and ivory engraved
with excellent pictures of animals have
been found in caves and beds of riv-
ers and lakes. There are specimens
in the British museum, also in the
Louvre, OF the Egyptian skill in ivory
carving attributed to the age of Moses.
In the latter collection are chairs OF
seats of the sixteenth century B. C.
inlaid with ivory and other pieces Of
the eleventh century B. C. Carving of
the precious substance" was extern
sively carried on at Constantinople dur
ing the middle ages. Combs, caskets,
horns, boxes, ETC., Of carved ivory and
bone, often set in precious stones. OF
the old Roman and Anglo-Saxon peri
DDS are frequently found in tombs.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05
The AGE of Deer.

Romance has played a prominent
part with regard to the longevity of
deer, says a writer in Chambers Jour-
nal. What says the highland adage:
Thrice the age Of a dog is that of n horse.
Thrice the age of a horse is that of a man.
Thrice the age Of q man Is that of a deer.
Thrice the age Of a deer is that Of an
eagle.
Thrice the age Of an eagle is that Of an
oak tree.
This is to assign the deer a period of
more than 200 years. and the estimate
is supported by many highly circum-
stantial stories. Thus Captain Mac
donald of Tulloch, who died in 1776,
aged eighty-six years, is said to have
known the white hind of Loeb Treig
for fifty years, his father for a like
period before him and his grandfather
for sixty years before him. So in 1926
Macdonald Of Glengarry is reported to
have killed a stag which bore a mark
on the left a identical with that
made on all the calves he could catch
by Ewen-MacIan-Og, who had been
dead $50 years. Analogous stories, it
may be noted, are told in countries on
the continent of Europe where deer
are to be found in any number. But.
alas, the general opinion among ex-
perts would seem to be that thirty
years or Whereabouts is the limit Of q
deer's life.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05
Tho Money Of. China,

China is in some respects the most
democratic country in the world. and
there is no GENERALIZATION, no unity and
no uniformity. Each province, even
each little town, is a law unto itself
and uses it's own language. weights,
measures. etc. AS regards money. the
confusion is the same, and each prov.
ince has its currency. and the money
of one province has an entirely differ
ent value from that of another. In
China the tael is a financial unit for
which there is no coin equivalent. :
The word tael is used both as a
measure of weight and as a measure
Of value.
AS a weight Measure the tael CORE
spends to the American ounce in that
it is one-sixteenth part Of a Chinese
pound or cattle. A cattle, however. is
usually one and one-third pounds.
AS a tael of currency the weight
ranges from $40 to 583 grains. The
tael of currency is decimally divided
down to the sixteenth place Of deci-
mails. each with its own name. but usu-
ally only three places of decimals are
used, and 10 cash equals 1 candarin. 10
candarin equals l mace. 10 mace equals
/ tael.
Each province in China, also each
city and many smaller towns, have a
different tael of value. as the tael is
supposed to be an ounce (Chinese) of
silver, but there is no uniformity as to
how many grains constitute this ounce.
and the fineness of the silver also
varies at each point. 4
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05

have to make good resolutions about
economizing, so we will enjoy a little
fling tonight" e
The man raised his glass of water
and touched hers.
Here's to the hope that we will be
dining in our own home next New
Years eve," he said.
"Here's to all the good things posi-
ble," she said, her young eyes spar
killing with enthusiasm, land here's to
the big chief. He spoke to me in the
hall today and was really quite nice
and almost like a human being. One
fOrgets sometimes that he can possibly
have a bit of humanity about him. He
is as hard as nails, and his opinions are
absolute. He doesn't know it, but he
passes sentence always before be hears
u side of the case"
The man on the other side of tho
screen, almost choking with indignant
surprise and the piece Of steak he had
just put into his mouth, sat suddenly
alert.
"Some one else in the Office been get
ting into trouble?" Karl hazarded.
Nothing decided. It's the same girl
telling tales that causes it all. She will
come across the simplest kind of error
some other clerk has made, and she
never rests until she has managed to
call the big chiefs attention to it in
soRe way"
wants to shine by comparison, does
she?: Well, the life Of a government
clerk has got to be something strenu,
Gus lately"
The girl threw up her head auda-
ciously.
Il wish I could be the big chief one
day." she said, bringing her teeth to-
gether with a determined little click. Il
don't know how your chief is, but tho
trouble with ours and with all the rest
OF them, I suppose, is that they have
never been q clerk, and they can't see
from the clerks standpoint"
Karl helped her to the piece Of broil-
ed chicken he knew she liked best and
laughed indulgently.
what would be your first step il
you were given full power of manage
ment for one day?"
She put two Jumps of sugar in his
coffee and pondered seriously a mo-
ment as to whether she should have
one or two Jumps in her own.
# You know there Is a $1,4OO vacancy
just nowY she asked meditatively;
poor old Mr.. Undertake died last
week. I know his desk perfectly. I
did his worksall the time he was sick;
well-Tm afraid I should follow the
doctrinesof the segoist and give yours
trItSYaMargaret Clayton. $1,000 clerk,
III 1fiuiiiiI to !, 400. OF course. IT. an
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05
Mary Meaves
a Cangled
Web.
By HELENA SMITH DAYTON.
Copyright, 1907. by Nj. NJ. Cunningham.

You see, it happened to be my house!
Good night, MI. Dwyer." Her foot
tapped the lower step nervously.
But, Miss Hazleton," I protested,
allow me to see you quite to your own
door,"
Here l am!' waving her muf airily
toward my house. 1 almost gasped.
isn't there some mistaken" I ven.
tured.
Did you imagine lived in a tree,
like Peter PAM" She laughed, doubt.
less thinking l was awed at the splen.
dor of her abode.
This gave me an idea. Perhaps the
poor child had humble quarters and in
her pride sought to play a ruse. Rath-
Ell ironical that she should select my
house!
Ny acquaintance with Mary Halle
ton had consisted of many encounters
at my cousin Bellies studio. A couple
OF Philistines, we often chatted in
Bellies cozy corner, drank Bellies tea
and amused ourselves watching Bellies
guests-all alleged celebrities. Indeed,
we talked of everything but Miss Ha-
zIeton. Nor did Belle seem to know
much about the girl, which was not
strange, for Belle often took up an at
tractive girl, made her welcome at the
studio and pressed her into service as
q model. Beye, like all extravagant
persons, has her own ideas on economy.
On this particular evening I had
CHANGED upon Miss Hazleton hurrying
through the streets and had, taken it
upon myself to see that she arrived at
her destination in safety. After walk.
ing blocks, often retracing ground, !
was naturally puzzled when she stop
ped before my own door and coolly in
formed me she was 'home." I had
hoped some time to offer it to her.
Good night. Mr.. Dwyer, and thanks
for coming so far out of your way"
she said again.
May l not see the princess enter III
safetyY" l asked. thinking this would
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05
The Big Chiefs
Resolution.
By ALEXANDER BUNN.
Copyright. 1907, by Mary McKeon.

The big chief cut the porterhouse
steak with an air Of pleasant anticipa-
ton. 1t was broiled just right, and the
onions were not the least bit greasy.
There fitted through his mind a hazy
realization of the fact that even a man
| with a terrible cold in his head might
| be able to get some joy out Of life
| while porterhouse steaks and fried on
ions existed.
"Put that screen between me and
the door, Jack" he said to the waiter
who was showing off all his curves to
earn the tip that SO well groomed u
man generally proved good for. 81
have an abominable cold and feel chill
ly every time the air strikes me-"
The negro's mind was stimulated by
the frieDdliness of the tone, and he
quickly multiplied his first vision of a
| tin by two. He surrounded the big
| chief by so large a japanese screen
that the latter had a private dining
room to himself, and the other people
in the room soon forgot he was there.
A few minutes later u man and a
girl stood in the door Of the cafe and
| scanned the room eagerly for a vacant
table.
There was only one, a small table
wedged up close to a Japanese screen.
They sat down, the girl talking rapid
ly willie she removed her gloves and
veil.
cts nice to be up here in a corner,
Karl" she said joyously; otis so cozy,
and we have it all to ourselves"
She sighed with pleasure when the
bill of fare was finally laid aside and
the waiter departed with his order.
"1t's shockingly extravagant for us
to come here to dine, but as tomorrow
is New Years day you will of course
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05
THANKS TO
THE METER.
BY James clese.
Copyright, 1907. by M. N. Cunningham

please, have you a quarter!'
The girl from across the hall held GU,
a tiny hand, in the palm of which were
displayed three nickels and a dime.
Keenly conscious that there was a
hole, a most comfortable and satisfac.
tory hole, in the elbow of his smoking
jacket, Digby held out his W hand,
enclosing his fingers to display the de-
sired coin.
"Did you know what 1 was coming
after?" she said, with a laugh. Digby
had never heard her laugh before. 1t
was a low, ripping laugh, almost as
attractive as her smile. He wondered
how he could improve his opportunity.
Ever since she had moved in he had
wanted to know the girl across the
hall. Had his mother been home it
would have been all simpler, but he
had been keeping bachelor hall for
nearly three months.
did you know l wanted the quar-
ter?" she repeated. Digby pulled him
self together.
I'LL q SCNSAlh oOA AC SS1oA
solemnly. II know that you want the
quarter. l can see you returning to
your apartment. l can see you climb
ing on a chair and dropping the coin
into the gas meter. l can see the light
growing bright again. Great is the
automatic meter-when you have q
quarter"
Eyes, when" she cried. "The other
day we only had a check, and no one
could cash it."
"Say no more" he commanded trag-
ically. II know the rest"
"I'm very much obliged" she said
gratefully. "You are sure you won't
need one"
"Not at ALL" he assured. AS though
to prove him false the gas in his hall
grew dim. 81 have more change" Il"
explained, "and it's all right"
He watched her regretfully as she
slipped back into her own apartment.
1c had planned many brilliant encoun.
tiers in which he would hold her ell
thralled by his wit. and they would live
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05

impossibility, for l have not been In
office very long," she sighed, "but it's
lovely to dream about. l could marry
you by next New Years day then,
Karl" she finished with a delightful
little blush.
He leaned toward her persuasively.
Cant you make up your mind to let
me pay that debt for you after we are
married, Marjorie?" he urged.
"No-I can't she shook her head de-
cidedly; "you don't make any too much
yourself, and l never could feel right
If 1 hampered you with paying my COL
lege bills. I would have had them
paid before nov if the little mother
had not been sick so long-and my sal
airy wouldn't cover everything"
She stopped suddenly and shook off
the seriousness of the conversation.
"Do you know what I would do next
by way of managing the big chiefs Of
fee for him?' she quizzed gayly. 81
would have a big locked box put in an
tnconspicuous place in the hall marked
Suggestions and Complaints l would
give every clerk the privilege of drop
ping an unsigned suggestion, typewrit-
ten if they chose, into that box to bring
to my attention things that they would
like me to know
The big chief on the other side of the
screen allowed his mouth to drop wide
open for an instant.
Karl, on his side, chuck!ed.
"Little lady, I can see that the chief
would need more private secretaries
and first, second and third assistants
than any man in the service Of Uncle
Sam ever had before"
She stuck to her idea stoutly.
'"The government clerks are getting
SO they are afraid to express an opin-
ion," she argued. "They are inte'li-
gent, educated men and women. Some
Of them must have ideas that are worth
taking into consideration. My 'sugges-
ton box should certainly be installed
the very first day 1 held the position"
When they went out, the big chief
sat for a long time with his elbows
resting on the table, thinking.
"She's a clever little GIRL" he MUIR
INJURED finally. $50 l showed a touch
Of humanity, did 1? Seemed almost
like a human being to her. I'll start
in after the holidays and see how
things work if 1 treat them as man
to man! Almost-like-a human being!
Humph!!'
On the % of January the clerks in a
certain large government building in
Washington congregated in groups dur
ing the luncheon hour.
Il wonder how he ever came to think
Of such a thing" commented one of the
older clerks. cit is so unlike him to
listen to a suggestion. But he will
certainly get an insight into conditions
that he never could have got in any
other way"
did you know that pretty little Miss
Clayton was promoted to $1,400?" ask.
ed the other. 81 never in my life saw
any one so excited as she has been
today. When the circular was passed
around telling us there was to be q
suggestion box, she giggled owe it I'M
til she was almost hysterical. When
she found she had been promoted, she
couldn't sit still another minute, but
asked to be excused for the afternoon"
Two radiant young people walked
down F street, looking as If life were
more than satisfactory.
"Karl, dearest" she said, clutching
his arm with the nearest approach to
a hug the publicity would allow, II
wonder. how such a miracle happened!''
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05
An Eskimo LEGEND.

Among the Eskimos, the angakos or
sorcere who would visit Sedna, the
goddess who lives underground or in
the depths Of the ocean, presiding over
n Of the countries to which souls go
after death, must first pass the arsis-
sut-the dwellings of the happy dead
and then cross an abyss in which a,
wheel as slippery as ice is constantly
turning round. Arriving at the house
Of Sedna, he fnds it guarded by terri
BILE animals, sometimes described as
seals, and sometimes as dogs, and
when within the house passage he has
to cross an abyss by means d a bridge
as narrow as a knife edge.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05

ease and played the role OF nOSteSS
with great aplomb. From my vantage
point, how pathetic seemed all the lit
tie airs and graces she assumed! Per-
haps the poor child didn't ven have a
home! In spite Of almost positive
proof l could not believe her a thief.
Surely there was some mistake.
My speculations were brought to an
abrupt ending. A carriage had whirled
up. My mother alighted and came
rapidly up the walk. Mary arose. a
little gasp of CONSERVATION escaping
her. Her little plot had indeed caught
her in a tangled web. Fearing she
might run away and 1 should v see
her again. 1 put my hand firmly on her
arm and whispered to leave 1t all to
me; that I knew everything.
I greeted my mother, and then I
placed Mary's hand within hers.
my dear boy" cried my mother. and
in an instant she took Mary in her
arms. What happened in the next if-
teen minutes I have no idea. Mother
was the only one who seemed at her
a s and delighted. 1t had long been
her wish that 1 marry, and she had, of
course, fallen in love with Mary at first
sight, accepting my choice without
question. Finally / got Mary safely
into a cab. Then she turned to me,
with dancing eyes.
ITO think l stole your piazzaw she
giggled. 81 never dreamed Mrs.
Brooks was your mother. OF urse I
knew she was away"
I was silent. A repentant, fearful at
titude would have been more in keep
ing with the circumstances than such
fippancy.
I'll hope you are not angry" came
a muf11ed little voice. "And II appre-
ciate what you did to ave me from a
humiliating position. Please give me
credit for understanding why you gave
your mother the idea that WEI
"But we are engaged" l interrupted.
II was never more serious about any
thing. Believe me, it was not done to
save you" 9
"You want me without knowing any
thing about me?' she queried radiant
~. "Oh, l can deceive you no longer!
I'm Mary Hazleton Lombard, the Lom-
bard brothers niece"
"Why, them 1 began, with unutters
able relief, not because she was a great
heiress. but because she was not a lady
burglar.
"They had plans for my future" en-
planned Mary. Believing that / was
romantic enough to marry a fortune
hunter, they selected the one maj Of
their acquaintance they believed
worthy. Fancy"
"Do you suppose l can convince them
of my sincerity?" l asked gloomily.
Convince them?' cried Mary. "Why
you are the man!'
Now l understood the many social
invitations which the taciturn old men
had heaped upon me. And I had turned
them down!
But why did you invent such elab-
crate obstacles?" l demanded at length.
do you imagine I'd allow them to
arrange it all in their way? I'm not a
billion bushels of wheat to be disposed
of. 1 should have hated you If they had
thrown me at your head. And I liked
you the first day at Bellies. OF course
I swore her to secrecy"
AS l mounted the Lombard steps
with Mary I remarked, "But wasn't it
jolly of mother to accept you-as I did
at face value?"
"As it happens" murmured Mary
sweetly, "she has been plotting with
my uncles to bring us together! But
haven't we defeated all Of them" She
smiled contentedly, her hand slipping
info mine
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05

happily ever after. Instead he had
never been so dull, and perhaps he had
lost his chance.
The gas had gone out as he closed
the door and limped into the kitchen.
He knew very well that it was useless
to search for a quarter. He had found
the one he had just given up only after
a search. He would have to fall back
on candles. There were half a dozen in
the dining room, and by lighting four
he managed to read after a fashion.
But he had scarcely settled himself to
his reading when the doorbell rang
again. He wondered who it might be
now as he made his way down the
dark hall. The girl across the hall stood
there again.
"You fibbed," she said reproachfully.
"You said you had another quarter for
yourself. You let me drop yours in our
meter, and we a see across the shaft
that you're using candles"
II rather like Them" he assured, but
she would have none of it.
"You were just going to drop the
coin in your meter" she cried. "That
is why you had it in your hand"
In the face Of deduction he was
dumb. The girl went on:
II know you can't go downstairs to
get change because you hurt your an
kle. It wouldn't be any use anyway.
It's Sunday, and only the drug store is
open, and they r all out of quarters.
I was down there just before l asked
you for one. Mother says you must
come in to our fiat and read. You may
smoke all you like. We don't mind 1t
In the least"
II am very comfortable" he protest
ed. +.
The opportunity he had longed for
had come, and he was too bashful to
avail himself of 1t. In the end. the girl
in her masterful little way carried her
point. Presently he was installed in the
pleasant parlor and was telling mother
" Mrs. Fallows all about his trials
without his mother.
ut must be so lonesome for you,''
she cried. "Why didn't you come to
us long ago?"
'Tve wanted to-" he admitted frank
~. Sometimes I've seer the light,
and I've been so homesick. We only
moved here just before my grandmoth-
er's illness took mother west. and I
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05
Keeping Up Appearances.

The tall man in the suit Of faded
black went into the first class restau-
rant and seated himself at q table In
a far corner. Lingering there a min
ute or two, he rose stifly and went to
the cashiers desk. "If a gentleman
can't be waited on promptly In this
place." he said, with a frown, there
are plenty OF other places" Then he
strolled leisurely out, picking his teeth.
and presently wendedA his way unob
trusively to the Ave cent lunch counter
around the corner.-Chicago Tribune.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-05
''ooME UP, THEN, SHE INVITED PROMPTLY.
bring her into a very small corner in.

''ooME UP, THEN" SHE INVITED PROMPTLY
bring her into a very small corner in
deed.
"You are too solicitous, MI. Dwyer,'
she said sweetly. 81 think l will SIT
on the porch a few moments-alone."
II, too, like to sit on p%orches." ]
limited.
"Come up then,' she invited prompt
". "But YOU mustn't disturb N.Y.
The sentence trailed off.
I was charmed with her daring. ]
wanted to tell her n might shout
without fear Of disturbing old Martha,
who was doing for me until mother
and the servants returned.
| sat down on the top step. Listen
ing to her clever chatter. l advanced
theory after theory to myself to ex-
plain her motives. Even when a pos
sible plot against the silver spoons
suggested itself l couldn't judge her
harshly. A lady burglar! Well. we've
had some mighty pleasing ones lately
in books and on the stage. l was
on the point Of offering myself as a
confederate against my own silver
when she once more said:
you really must go now, Mr.. Dwy'
or"
"May 1 come againy" l queried.
sIll see you at Beliefs" she eluded.
belle sails for Europe Wednesday,"
/ reminded.
Mary looked dismayed.
$50 / may come up here instead fol
our. usual chat on the arts!"
mo, no, no." she cried.
DO / infer that you wish to drop
the acquaintance-when Belle sails?'
persisted.
mo. oh, no"
cThen I shall hope to find you here
tonorrow-much Tor romantic than
sending in ones card and all that
sort Of thing" I explained lamely.
II love unconventional things
agreed Mary. suddenly enthusiastic.
i walked briskly down the street,
stopped at the first shadow,and looked
back. Mary came down the stepsSand
walked away in the opposite direction
I followed at q safe distance. and then
my calculations were upset by seeing
her turn In at the residence Of the
great Lombard brothers. She disap'
peared very neatly through a basement
window. All the way homeI whistled
SsMary Was a Housemaid." Next
lmnu0urnlfnp II learned the Lombard house
had been robbed.
That evening when I Joined Mary on
the porch she was confident to the
3sIpcint Of arrogance, perfectly at hel