davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16

every bit of the material that was
used in its construction is the
product of his native state, except
the cement. The cement blocks
were made on the ground and
tested before going into the
building. a
The store 1850 by $50 feet in
size aud three stories high. The
ground floor is one large show
room where the goods are dis
played. Believing that "Show
ing goods is half the selling," the
Perkins store has 1876 feet of show
windows that project eighteen
inches on the sidewalk, thus per-
mitting a large volume of light to
enter the store from above. The
second floor is divided into nine
teen pleasant Offices, while the
third floor is given over to ware
housing bis surplus stock, and is
connected with the floors below
by power elevator. The build
ing is heated by steam, lighted by
electricity, has modern, sanitary
lavatories, and is first class in
every particular.
In 1896 Mr.. Prekins incorpor-
ated the business under the name
of the I. H. Perkins Furniture
Company. The firm is composed
of himself and his good wife, S.
A. Perkins, who has in no small
measure been responsible for the
success and popularity of the bus
mess.
The secret of this success, if ii
car be called a secret, is summed
up by Mr.. Perkins and made pub
lie property by the statement;
"We started with quite small
capital, and what success we have
attained is due to hard work,
close attention to business, selling
goods at reasonable price, and
treating our customers right.
Our business has increased stead
lily notwithstanding we have con-
siderable competition"
Work, attention, reasonable
price, and courteous treatment.
There is a sermon here for the
merchant struggling with the mail
order proposition, unfair loca
competition, bad credits, accumu-
lation of bills, loss of credit, poor
business and dissatisfied customers
And the sermon comes from a
man who makes no pretense to
being genius, or an extraordinary
parsonage with highly developed
business instinct, but just plain.
ordinary individual who thinks
years in advance, and plugs away
until he lands what be went after.
st. Louis Flu urntiure journal.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16

Now that associations are be-
ginning to hold their annual meet
ings, when merchants will be Civ
ing their experiences of the
number of pitfalls they have
stumbled into in their struggles to
win and hold trade, it is good to
listen, now and then, to one who
has mastered the art of meeting
conditions as they arise, and con-
quering them. His story is SO
full of valuable help and encour-
agement, for it shows that the
gloomiest outlook is often turned
to success by pluck, energy and
perseverance.
A case in point is that of a
furniture man, I. H. Perkins, by
name, who started in a small way
to retailing furniture eighteen
years ago the first of last month,
at Brookhaven, Mississippi, and
has during that time succeeded in
building up one of the best and
most profitable businesses in the
South. Brookhaven does not
boast of a very large population
now-the last census only credits
it with 1850 souls-and it GER
talnly was not very promising
place from q trading standpoint
eighteen years ago. Mr.. Perkins
was raised there, however, and
had faith in his town. He acquir-
ed what education he possesses in
the little country school house and
academy where
Reading and writing and 'rith-
Were taught by the rule of a
hickory stick"
and is the best place on earth to
be grounded in that greatest OF all
studies, plain, ordinary common
sense.
He used these lessons in COM
mon sense to good advantage, for
in six years he was able to move
to large two-story brick build
ing, where his business continu-
ed to grow until his quarters were
too small for him and he looked
about for more room. None we're
to be had suited to his require
ments, so he promptly began the
erection of building of which
the accompanying illustration is a
good likeness. Into this he NOV
ed two years ago. He had acquir-
ed the title of the old building
while ir it and only recently sold
it to the Central Bank, of which
he is president.
He personally superintended
the erection of his model store
and is quite proud of the fact that
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16
A Significant UtteranCe.

The speech that President
Roosevelt made at the negro set
tlement or town of Mound Bayou,
Miss, though brief, contained one
remarkable utterance, which
doubtless many read without at
taching to it very special impor-
tance, yet it was in the highest
degree significant of great
change in public sentiment.
The population of the town is
composed entirely of negroes, and
seems to be somewhat in the
nature of a negro colonization
experiment, and Mr.. Roosevelt
seems to have found it prosper
Gus. After congratulating the
negroes on their prosperity, Mr..
Roosevelt said: Il am glad to
learn that you have not permitted
a saloon in the limits" :"
1t is safe to say that no presi-
dent or any candidate for presi-
dent ever before made such a
statement. If Mr.. Roosevelt
could be Judged by the same
standards that can be applied to
ordinary men, it might be accept
ed as fact that he does not in
| tend to be a candidate for presi-
dent, because he knew the utter
ance would be heralded to every
portion of the United States in a
few hours, and that it would at
tract the attention and arouse the
ill-wilI of perhaps the richest
class of manufacturers in the
United States.
However, Mr.. Roosevelt is sui
generis, rare kind of a man.
He is liable to express the first
thought that enters his mind, be-
cause whatever failings or faults
he may have, cowardice is not in
the category, and courage COM
lmands the admiration of the
American people grit maketh
| glad their hearts.
There have been Just as brave
men in the presidential chair as
Mr.. Roosevelt, and as brave men
candidates for the position, but
none ever before defantly declared
that the open saloon was a menace
to peace and prosperity and social
order, but that is what Mr.. Roose-
velt, in effect, said, and that he or
any other man should say 1t is a
most forcible illustration of a re-
markable change in public senti-
mont.
Millions of American voters
remember when any candidate
against whom the makers and ven.
dors of liquor were arrayed was
pre-doomed to defeat. Many
lChronicle readers know many
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16
Newspaper From Cotton Stalks.

The two cover pages of the
latest issue of the Cotton Journal
of Atlanta, Ga, are printed on
white paper manufactured from
cotton stalks. The paper is heav-
lily calendared, has fine gloss
and is unquestionabIy good ma
terial for printing. Cursory ex-
animation indicates that it is
equal to the better grades of wood
pulp paper, the place of which it
is expected to take in newspaper
and similar printing. There
would seem to be no reason that it
should not be used in all classes
of printing in which wood pulp is
now used.
The paper is manufactured un-
der patent process controlled by
persons in Philadelphia, Pa. The
Cotton Journal describes briefly
the character of the paper, but
fails to state the method of manu-
facture, and, what is of more con-
sequence, the cost of the manu-
facture. This last is the crux of
the business. If it can be manu-
factured at cost sufficiently low
to compete on the market with
wood pulp paper, the solution of
the paper problem which has be-
come serious and growing one
with the denuding of the wood
pulp forests, the paper trust and
the tariff regulations, has been
found. Paper has been soaring in
price for some time, and the
indications are that the price will
continue to rise, until the cheap
newspaper will be driven from
the field, or all the newspapers in
the country will have to be re-
dUced in size or materially in
crease the price to purchasers. 1t
is roughly estimated that 10000
900 tons of fiber could be gather
ed in the South from the waste of
the cotton crop, and this would
produce above 5,000,0 900 tons of
newspaper.
This source of supply would at
once check the rapacity of the
paper trust, and would make the
denuding of the pine forests of
little consequence, SO far as the
printing business is concerned.
The utilization of the waste pro-
duct would benefit alike the cot
ton grower and the consumer OF
white paper. 1t may be indeed
that the time is not far distant
when the cotton stalk will be as
valuable as by-product of the
cotton crop as the seed has be.
come of recent years, and that the
stalks which are now cut down
and burned ia the boil weeyil
section OF the South will be ship,
ped TO local cotton mill.
1t is unfortunate that the cost
of the manufactured product is
not stated, but certainly, since
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16
Needless SOIicitude.

When the overthrow of the
saloon was assured in Birming-
ham, the opposition, the Proper
ty Owners and Good Government
Committee" thus woefully gave
in their adherence to the verdict:
I'VE abide the consequences.
I'VE hope morals will be i'm
proved.
The laborer and manufacturers
are wounded first; the merchant
next; the property owner next.
I'VE hope the city may escape
bankruptcy.
Eve hope the schools will not
feel the burden of the changes
that must follow"
Cheer up, lugubrious brethren!
Stay
I The tear that flows,
For others woes!
Do not take SO seriously the
literature paid for by the Cincin-
natl Brewers Association. Birm-
ingham will lose her legaIized
flow of booze, and still keep step
with the prosperity procession.
SO sure as the sun continues to
shine, the balmy breezes to blow,
the birds to sing and the flowers
to bloom, ira la; there will be no
city bankruptcy, no closed schools.
Nor is there going to be a single
man ''wounded," but the bung
hole dispensers. Vicksburg Her
aid.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16

pistols that are made and they
carry them for the purpose of
committing crime. | would also
urge upon you the great necessity
for closing the blind tiger. Let
the cocaine dive be driven from
the face of the earth and the
saloon keeper regulated in, the
management of his nefarious busi-
ness. In this connection | want
to say that | hope to see every
saloon in the state of Mississippi
closed by a general statute enact
ed by the next legislature.
The saloon is source Of evil
only. 1t is corrupting influence
in politics, destructive of mind
and morals, undermines the physi-
cal MANN a word, an agency for
harm and one which should be
forever destroyed. If the people
of the respective communities OF
this state will only come together
and resolve to convert every
negro into laborer and self-sup-
porter, even though it be neces-
sary to make him a laborer upon
the county's or the states proper
| ty, they will serve their commune
ties and their state we'll. 1t will
be also the salvation OF the negro
himself. Let the officers in the
cities and towns drive the vagrant
from their midst or put them to
work on the county's farm by or
der of the court. To do that
which should be done in this
emergency will require courage,
patriotism and determination.
There are unfortunately in some
communities a lot of men who
have houses to rent, men who, in
order to make profit on their
investment, will rent their houses
for any purpose whatsoever, ii
matters not how greatly the com
munity may suffer thereby. With
them it isa question Of profit
rather than the moral effect upon
the community. That character
of man is greater enemy to
society than the negro vagrant
himself or the keeper Of the blind
tiger or cacaine dive, and be
| should not be treat ed with al
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16
Hanging the Vicksburg Gamblers.

In responding to the toast,
The city of Vicksburg,'' at the
late reunion of the Army of the
Tennessee, Gen. I. G. Catchings
gave the following among other
facts Of the Hill City's early his
tory:
Like all Mississippi river towns
in those days, Vicksburg became
the headquarters of many law
less persons, conspicuous among
whom werea number of gamblers.
These latter became so brazen
and defiant and set up such a con-
dition of disorder that the ordi-
nary processes of the law we're
insufficient to afford protection
either to life or property. The
inhabitants of the city, as was
done under similar conditions
later on in California and other
sections, determined that they
would take the law in their own
hands, and at public gathering
resolutions were adopted requir-
ing the gamblers to leave the city
within twenty -four hours. These
resolutions we're met with con-
temptuous and bold defiance.
Thereupon a company of citizens,
headed by Or. Hugh Bodley,
broke down the door of build
ing in which they had barricaded
themselves and in the assault DIR.
BodIey was killed. The citizens
seized and hanged five of them.
Another who seemed somewhat
less guilty was set adrift on the
Mississippi river 10 a skiif. with
his arms pinioned, and he was
never heard of again.
While the remedy applied was
outside of the law, it must be con-
ceded that justice was administer
ed.
1t may be remarked in passing
that Stephen j. Fields, for many
years one of the most distinguish
ed justices of the supreme court
of the United States, was a mem.
Iber of the yiglIantes organized il
San Francisco for a similar pur.
pose.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16
OF INTEREST TO FARMERS.
Members Of the Farmers Union Called
on to Store Their Cotton in
Union Warehouse.


At largely attended and repre-
sentative meeting of the Farmers
Union of Lincoln county, held at
the Court House in Brookhaven
on Saturday, Nov. 8, 1907, it was,
on motion, argeed in executive
session, after full discussion and
consideration, to request all Union
farmers to store their cotton in
the Union Ware. House at Brook
haven, within ten days from the
above date, especially all distress
ed cotton.
G. B. RAULINS,
Sec'y Lincoln County Farmers
Union.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16
.ood paper can be manufactured

good paper can be manufactured
from the stalks, the use of that
material should be Investigated
thoroughly with a view of estab-
fishing cotton mills throughout
the South where the growth of
cotton would justify the enter
prise. The cost of manufacture
is naturally the crucial point of
the business at present, though
that will have less and less effect
as the supply of wood pulp
diminishes. Times Democrat.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16

more consideration. | call upon
the officers of the law one and all
to move at once to the most rigid
enforcement of the laws and let
the good people sustain the Off
GERS. The peace of your COM
munities demand it, and above
and beyond all, as far as the sun
hangs high above the earth,, the
purity and happiness of your
homes demand it.
JAS. x. VARDAMAN.
Executive Office, Jackson, Miss.
Nov. 1907.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16

local candidates who even in re-
cent years assiduously courted tie
saloon element as an essential pre-
requisite to success.
Mr.. Roosevelt challenges that
idea by his utterance. 1t was dis
tinctly RooseveItian deliverance,
and 1t will be read with alarm in
quarters where few years ago it
would have been regarded as poll
tical suicide. Houston (Tex. J
Chronicle.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16

Gov. Vardaman issued bis
Thanksgiving proclamation on
Thursday, appointing Thursday,
Nov. % as the time for the people
of Mississippi to celebrate as a
day of special thanksgiving and
prayer. A full text of the pro.
clamation will appear in our next
issue. 1t does credit alike to the
Governors head and heart.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16
Why the Moon Looks Yellow.

1t is the atmosphere that makes
the sky blue and the moon yellow.
If we could ascend to an elevation
of fifty miles above the earth i
surface, we should see that the
moon is a brilliant white, while
the sky is black with the stars
shining as brightly in the day
time as at night, though some
would be green, others red, still
others blue or violet. Our Coun.
try.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16

We acknowledge the receipt of
an invitation to an anniversary
reception by the Commercial
Bank of Brookhaven, to be given
Friday, Nov. 18th, the twentieth
anniversary of its existence.
From the last bank statement we
note that the Commercial Bank
ranks as one of the largest, safest
and best managed banks in the
State. We hope to be present. J.
Sunfower Tocsin.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16

Don't say SO much, and do
more.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16

Mayor Lanier spent Thursday
yin jackson.
The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1907-11-16

The Key Stone Of any successful business
is dependabi1ity.
That is one of the good things that can be
said of this store. 1t has been our effort
at a11 times to be absolutely dependable.
When you buy anything at the drug store
you depend more possibly on the reputa-
ton and judgment of the druggist who
se11s 1t than on any other purchase you
make. 1t is a good thing to know that a
store is absolutely dependable when you
are in need of any drug store goods at a
critical time, bot its better thing to know
that
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-03-29
txfAePT 81 "a Cfsr LOANS.

When yca pay nine PEI cent. on
the money you borrowed, the man
who made The loan pays a 3 ga per
cent tax. Thus, the loan nets him
s IA per cent. Remove this taz
and you can borrow your money al
the rate Of 5 IA per cent. Perhaps
you are not compelled to borrow
money. In that case be manly
enough to give the man who is fore.
ed to negotiate a loan a chance to
get it at the lowest rate Of interest
possible. A tax on the loan, means
that the borrower must pay the
amount Of the tax as well as the net.
Exempt from taxation all moneys
borrowed at a rate Of 6 per cent. and
under that amount and every section
Of the State will flourish in such q
manner as to surpriae the most WIS.,
ionary rainbow chaser in the State.
--Natchez Democrat.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-03-29
..BnIy. W[iNMS.

1t has been many years since the
passing away Of q citizen has caused
more universal regret in jackson
than the sad and nntimely death Of
Attorney General William Williams.
Genial, w~hol-souled. large-hesrted,
companionable, and generous TO a
fault, Billy" Williams held a warm
and abiding place in the heart Of
every man who came within the cir
Gle Of his acquaintance, or the sphere
Of his influence. His rise in life was
rapid, but 1t was not due TO that ele-
ment called luck, which 10 often fig
ures in public affairs. He was a
man Of brilliant intellect, a born
leader OF men, and had a perfect gen.
ius for politics.
What the future had in store for
BILLY" Williams must Of course
now become a matter Of speculation,
since his soul has winged its flight
to the Great Beyond. Frequently
his name has been mentioned for the
governorship, 80 firm was his hold
on the hearts and minds Of the peo-
pie Of Mississippi that many friends
believed he could have risen to the
highest honors.
But the Great Ruler Of all men and
all human affairs has seen fit to re-
move this citizen from the sphere Of
earthly activity. Hundreds Of
hearts have been saddened by this
act Of Providence that seems so cruel
and untimely. When a death like
this occurs In a community we can
not philosophize; we only feel. The
eyes that are filled with tears are too
blinded to see the necessity Of death.
A heart crushed with sorrow cannot
lift itself to pray. Speech is paral-
lied, and words Of sympathy sound
hollow and meaningless. The SOM
bre casket and newly-made mound
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-03-29
HON. v. S. Barry.

The sweeping reductions in levee
taxes made through the efforts Of
Hon. W. s Barry, the able president
Of the leyee board, will meet with
the heartiest appreciation Of the
property owners Of this overtaxed
portion Of the State. All taxes will
be reduced 20 per cent, and the
privilege taxes will be cut so per
cent. We feel sure that thers is no
property owner in the Delta but will
rise up and call Barry blessed and
wish him as good luck in everything
in life as he has he'd in the reduc-
ton Of taxation. -Indianola Tocsin.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-03-29

are cruel magnets. They draw us
further than we would 60. They
force us to remember the departed
as we knew him in life. The coffin
lid and the clammy clods cannot
hide the white face of the one who
sleeps beneath. AS the waters roll
shoreward with ~incessant throbs,
and the surf is ceaseless in its MUIR
murings on the sands, so will the
memory Of Billy Williams forever
linger in loving "Reminiscences among
those who knew and loved him
jackson News.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-03-29

Make new friends but keep the old;
Those are silver, these are gold;
New-made friendship. like new wine,
Age will mellow and refine.
Friendships that have stood the test,
Time and change, + surely best;
Brow may wrinkle--hair grow gray
Friendship never know decay.
Mid old friends tried, and found true.
We once more our youth renew;
But then old friends-Alasl--may die,
80 new friends must their place supply
Cherish friendship In your breAst-
New il good but old ID best:
Make new friends but keep the old
Those arc silver, these are gold.
Free Lance.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-03-29
"The prevalence of appendicitis is

THE prevalence Of appendicitis is
an admitted fact said a surgeon.
Crossing the legsis responsible for
q good deal Of this trouble. That
sounds strange, doesn't il? Never
theless 1t is a theory advanced by
more than one great surgeon. In
deed, I know some surgeons who say
that II people never crossed their
legs appendicitis would disappear,
You see, crossing the leg squeezes
and cramps the delicate verniform
appendix. Squeezed and cramped,
the appendix becomes irritated. In
flammation sets in, intense pain
pain comes and then, presto! you are
81 your back, the sweet and heavy
fumes Of chloroform arc choking
yuu and 10 appendicitis specialist
eado ovSgsyou with ! sharp knifs."
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-03-29

court martial proceedings we're in
stituted. To right thinking men
the world over it will occur that the
Governor should have given some
attention to these in his r~eprimand.
The plain truth is that the dough-
ty Governor overstepped the bounds
Of his authority, transgressed the
law to which as COMMANDMENT
he should DO amenable--did
those things he ought not have done
and left undone those things he
ought have done.