davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-12-20
plates and on which was printed this


statement:
Il have for a long time believed
that the people of this town celebrated
Christmas, not for the purpose of ex-
hibittng the true Christmas spirit, but
simply to Guido one another in making
4 big show. If you are true to the
faith you possess you will forgive me
fer what have done and thank me for
teaching you a valuable lesson. 1t is
not what you give or what you receive,
but the spirit in which it is given and
received. | give you all these things
with the heartieSt good wishes and
with the hope that joy will be yours in
fullest measure. How will you receive
hem? NICHOLAS BRADSHAW"
For a moment there was painful
Hence. Then the Baptist minister
mounted chair and said:
Il think Mr.. Bradshaw has, as he
says, tau.ht us a profitable lesson.
We have been drifting away from the
true Christion faith. We have made
Christmas time not of joy but of
dread to the people who have to pay
the bills. We give not for the ioy OF
giving, but with the hope of receiving
something just as good in return.
propose a vote of thanks to Mr.. Brad.
shaw for opening our eyes,
Some Of the children and few of
the women We're inclined TO be sullen,
but the vote Of thanks was given with
a good deal Of enthusiasm, and then
Old Nick opened the door of an ad.
joining room which was filed with
real things to eat and fine presents for
all the people, aad when everybody
was seated and the feast was at its
height he stood up, saying in tones
that were rather husky:
Friends, | have for good MANY
years been skeptic. | have not be.
lieveI in God and have regarded all
people as being Inherently mean and
selfish. You have shown me that |
was mistaken. My old faith has come
back to me; you have made me the
happlest man in the world God bless
you all. Chicago Record Herald.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-12-20

ever, that congress appropriated $500,
600 with which to build six frigates
Among these were the Constitution
now the oldest ship afioat under any
flag, and a training ship for appren.
! tees at Portsmouth. With this fleet
and its later auxiliaries Decatur
taught the rulers of Algiers and Trip
oil stern lesson, and America soon
took her place among the naval pow
ers of the world a place which none
disputed after her victories over Great
Britain in 1S12-1S15.
Quick Work of Preparation.
The president issued the orders for
the sailing of this feet on August %,
and since then coal mines, railways.
provision dealers, and manufacturers
Of heavy ordnance and ammunition
have known the busiest season they
nave had since the Spanish-American
war. Altogether 50 vessels 20 to San
francisco, and when all have as
sembled in the waters off the coast of
California, Fighting Bob" Evans will
have under his command the largest,
most invincible, the most perfectly
equipped fleet that has ever modified
in one place since the history of the
world began.
The aggregate displacement of the
vessels sailing is nearly $4,000 tons
and the aggregate power Is 664 guns of
four inch calibre and over. The four
divisions of this fleet will carry 5S1 Of
ficers and 500 enlisted men, as fine
an array of jackies as any navy has
ever known, and an earnest and eager
set, too, for as soon as the news of
the cruise was noised abroad enlist
ments Increased rapidly throughout
the navy and assertions became prac.
tically unknown
Inc mouern wife who puzzles for
days over the packing of her hus.
bands grips and lunch basket when
ne Is OFF for weeks hunting trim
can never begin to appreciate the
of Columbia's task in fittino
out her 1850 sons for an outing Of
10 days, in which they are not OK.
pecteq to set foot On land at all Re.
SIDES all the stores that each shin
can carry when her capacity is taxed
10 It's fullest, there will be two shins
mat carry supplies alone, the Glacier
and Cutgoa, and they will carry many |
novel foCdstuffs that have never vet |
been carried by any navy of the world |
Immense Supply of Coal. |
Inc Item of coal alone is not in
On October u, contracts
we're let for $4,000 tons TO ha doIiv
cred at the six seaport towns where
ne fleet will stop, Trinidad Rio
lanerio, Punta Arenas, CaIIao Mao.
lalena bay and San Francisco II &c
mined in West Virginia, shipped bv
all to four tide water cities of tba
Atlantic, and whom there is handled
~ hve American companies in 80 for.
ign steamers to the ports named
"here 1t is piled On the piers ready
or the battleships. Fifteen of tbaoo
steamers go all the way to San Fran.
,isco with their cargoes. The cost of
ne coal will be about SO a ton and
ne cost OF transportation will como ~
'ver $755,OOO. - 'olie 10
y, Eight golfers accompany the fleet
ne Marcellus, Hannibal, Leonidas
,nd possibly the Sterling accomnanU
ne neet to Trinidad. and then 70
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-12-20

themselves to keep from freezing, and
every little while there were cheers
for Mr.. Bradshaw.
At last the hands on the courthouse
clock Indicated that il was 1880, and
then one of Old Nick's hired men APP
peared with the key to the door of the
big hall With a wild rush and loud
whOOp the people crowded inside and
hurried upstairs. The Christmas tree
lOOmed gloriOusly before them. It's
branches were laden with packages
all neatly tied with ribbons and each
bearing a card on which was written
the name of the person who was to re-
ceive it. The tables were set and
ready for the feasters. There were
big brown turkeys with drumsticks
pointing upward; there were huge
cakes, there were filled wineglasses at
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-12-20

turn for more coal. Others will 90
as far as Rio and return to join the
fleet again at Magdalena bay, and all
that have free space tween decks will
carry general supplies for the Mare
Island navy yard. The Connecticut
carries $50 tons of briquettes made
of slack coal and pitch to test them
as a suitable fuel for use in the navy.
The cost of coaling, exclusive of the
amount of coal carried by the ships
from Norfolk to Trinidad, will be
SI,229,2S0, a sum more than equal to
the bonded debt of the state of Idaho
or the state of Washington.
Provisions in Plenty.
AS to provisions, Columbia mus.
pack enough in the giant hampers to
feed her sons for the long lis days.
and have enough extra goodies for
Christmas, New Years and Washing.
ton birthday dinners, and the list
shows she has not been niggardiy in
her selection. Five million pounds OF
provisions are carried on board the
10 battleships and the supply ships,
the supplies from the attending, YES.
sells being transferred to the battls1
ships when they stop at the ports for
coal. There are 10000 to $4,000 pounds
OF fresh meat in the refrigerators OF
each ship, and for the first time there
will be widely varied bill of fare
where the meats are concerned!
There are a variety of foodstuffs, in
Guiding tons of cereals, salt meats,
dried fruits and canned goods, and
595,3OO pounds Of -four for making
fresh bread in lieu of long anathe4
matized hard tack. There are tons Of
desslcated foodstuffs that have al
ready been tested and found good and
the more recent additions-dried eggs
and dehydrated vegetables. There are
5000 pounds Of dried eggs, an equiv
alent Of $4,000 dozen fresh eggs. and
when the Christmas baking is on and
the 10000 fresh eggs also carried are
not available. the mixer of cakes will
md that the dried product when
mixed with water will froth as easily
as the fresh
New methods of communication be-
tween the ships have been installed, and
new methods of controlling the fire
rom the guns. So new is this system
d ilre control that a retired naval of.
hcer was heard to remark when the
news came to him: That is a good
dea' good idea. am glad to hear
T. indeed, for fire is a most dangerous
hihs aboard a Ship" The Colorado
was first in this experiment. Wireless
geography has been a part of a bat.
ieships equipment for so MANY wears
low that 1t is quite an old story but
ne neet decided it must have wire
ess telephony, too, so the past few
weeks nave witnessed a busy scene In
hampton Roads, and in New York and
harbors, where experts have
'een busy putting in the appliances.
Connecticut Is Flagship.
ADMIRAL Evans chose the Connec-
lieut. as his flagship. Capt. IngersolI is
Ter commander and chief of staff Of
he Atlantic fleet Upon the shoulders
fear-Admiral Brownlow at Wash.
lgton, much of the work Of prepare.
ION Tell. The splendid condition of the
eet when 1t left its anchorage here
'-day shows how we'll he has done It
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-12-20

A man doesn't know how many WAYS
there are to be buncoed until he ex.
changes Christmas presents with a
lot of his young lady frtends.-Bir.
mingham News.
The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1907-12-20

Hampton Roads, Va, Dec. 16.-The
departure to-day of the great Atlantic
| squadron for the Pacific is only an.
other of the many great proofs of the
nations marvellous growth and devel-
opment. The iron clad warship is only
40 years old, yet, passing through a
process of swift evolution to it's pres
ent perfection, this American discov-
cry has reV0luti0nized the science Of
naval warfare throughout the whole
world. There are now 270 vessels in
commission in the United States navy
where at one time, in Washingtons
administration, there was not one
OF these there are 10 battleships of
the first and second class, carrying
guns into whose mouth this country's
first and only "commanderin-chief of
the navy" Esek Hopkins, might easily
have hidden his disgraced head when
an outraged continental congress sum.
marily dismissed him.
1t was in Hampton Roads that the
first chapter in the worlds history
Of iron clads was written. 1t was
in Hampton Roads that the nation
gathered 16 of her finest sea fighters
ready for trip of nearly 10000 miles.
Where the Merrimac swung clumsily
across the channel long ago and drove
terror to the hearts of seamen who
had never yet seen such a monster
iron clads as graceful and as swift as
greyhounds have come and gone all
summer until they have become a ia.
miliar sight. Among these is the
Minnesota, the largest of Uncle Sans
big battleships, and next only in size
to the Dreadnaught, which King Ed
ward of England launched with such
ceremony a year or so ago, and to
the Satsuma, Japan's new monster of
the deep.
History of American Navy.
The first appropriation made for a
navy for this country was that of the
continental congress in ITS, and the
sum of 100000 was expected to pur-
chase, equip and generally outfit 10 |
ships. For the present year, ending
July, 1908, the navy will have needed
$l25 o. 800, an increase of $4,000, 900 !
over l:st year. Nine million alone go
far ordnance stores. The last appro-
priation of congress for the building Of |
ships was $20,000,000 to be expended
on two big ships, each of which is to
$40 feet in length, 50 feet
beam, and make Il knots an hour.
Three million dollars was appropri-
ated for submarines of the Holland
type, and in September five torpedo
boat destrOyers were contracted for.
Think of this in comparison with the
100000 that cos: the continental con-
gress so much thought, and which was
furnished by the people of the colo.
MES after so much privation.
IF we are to have a commerce we
much have navy to defend it," wrote
Col. Humphreys from the Barbary
States in 1898 after he had been sent
o see If there were means of stop.
ping the piracy of Algiers and Tripoli
IN American trading vessels. For
'ears the nation had endured the hu.
initiation of paying tribute to these
and after Washington had
Incorporated this sentiment in his
Message of 1894 the United States still
,aid tribute, because there was no
navy to prove her independence. How
The Washington herald., 1907-05-28
Kirby-Smith TO Be Honored.

Florida is one OF the several States not
represented thus far in Statuary Hall at
the Capitol by craven images Of their two
most distinguished sons. Provision al last
has been made for Florida's partial rep
rcsentation in the national hall Of fame.
as at the recent session Of that States
legislature an appropriation was made for
Ife-size statue of Cen T. Kirby Smith
who was among the last, If not actually
the last. Of the Confederate army COM
manders 10 surrender 10 the victorious
Union forcs in 1865. Gen Kirby-Smith
was a Floridian by birth. and was one of
the most stubborn fighters in the South.
Toward the close Of the great conflict he
was stationed in Texas and had command
Of the scattered remnants of the C9nfed-
crate armies in the Southwest Soon after
his surrender he was elected president of
the University Of the South, at Sewanee.
Tenn. and followed the example Of his
Ilustrious C0mmander-iu-chief. Robert f.
Lee. in devOting himself with sinElencss
Of purpose and at great sacrifice Of per
sonal interest to the education of the
youth Of the South Like Gen Lee. he re-
fused numerous offers Of employment. any
one of which. accepted by him, would
have made him a rich man. He preferred
however. 10 give all Of his time and his
talents TO building up at Sewanee an in
stitution of learning to which the young
men Of that section Of the South could
turn in the hour Of greatest need Of their
parents. For this sacrifice his memory IS
revered in every Southern household
where his post t-bellum record is known.
The Washington herald., 1907-05-28
Mr.. Baker Not Convincing.

Mr.. Ray Stannard Bakers magazine ar
tlcles, called Following the Color Line, g
although at first meeting with seemingly
general approval throughout the South,
appear, as his story unfolds, TO be awak-
ening much ridicule. if not actual resent
ment.
The Southern press. which is naturally
inclined to consider rather seriously all
that Mr. Baker may have to say on the
race question. has been. We think. very
fair TO that gentleman. 1t comedies him
honesty of purpose and the best of in
tention, but his grotesque conclusions,
based upon surface indications, have
shown him 20 be no more faithful or,
perhaps We should say, accurate as a
critic than hundreds of others who visit
the South. and after a few days So
iourn therein seek TO settle, unravel, and
explain a problem that taxes even the
greatest intellects 20 which It is thorough
" familiar.
Mr.. Baker is evidently a good reporter
He gets facts. and marshals them with
fine perception, but his deductions from
them are frequently most erroneous.
Nothing could be more unconsciously
humorous than his recital Of a series Of
statements obtained casually from a ne
gro waiter. who. he frankly but per-
haps thoughtlessly admits. told him be
fore imparting the information that he
tthe waiter understood that Mr.. Baker
was in the South collecting data for an
article upon the race problem"
Again. the magazine writer finds that
the Southern people are very generous to
the negroes In the matter of food left
over from the table, but bases that CON
clusion upon the discovery that south
ern people do not eat hash"
After all it is the old story. Long-dis-
tance criticism IS extremely dangerous to
one who desires 10 critcise with entire
justice-and this. doubtless. Mr.. Baker
does desire. And it is nothing less than
long-distance criticism upon his part. The
intelligent element Of the white race will
talk freely and frankly with him. The
intelligent element Of the negro race
will, perhaps more cautiously and guard
edly, do the same thing. But neither can
impart 70 him the subtle and fine under
standing which Will enable him 10 put
two and two together. so that they may
be guaranteed TO make four. That IS es-
sentially q question of environment.
study, prolonged observation. and we'll
balanced fairness.
Mr. Bakers articles are entertaining,
but as human documents they are, so far
as their conclusions are concerned, prac-
ucally worthless.
The Washington herald., 1907-05-28
MIGRATION BY MILLIONS.
striking Fact About the Immense
HordcS Crossing the Atlantic,

From the National Geographic Magazine
No migration in history IS comparable
20 the great hordes that have crossed the
Atlantic during the past twenty years to
enter our territory. In 1903. 10o6. 499 imui-
grants were admitted. I'm 1896. l.lo0. .735. and
I'm tho present year the total will exceed
the record Of 1906 by many thousands
Since June 90. 1900, 6.0llooo have been ad-
mitted of whom probably $4,000 have
settled permanently in the United States
The report of Mr.. Sargent for 1906. re-
Gently issued. contains much interesting
information about the character and quail
ifcatIons Of the immigrants Perhaps the
most striking fact is that less than ; per
cent of the newcomers have reached or
passed the age Of forty-1ve. or the ar
rivals in 1906 1885 ranged I'm age from
fourteen 20 forty-foUr. 1929 were less
than fourteen years OF age. and only
505@7 had reached or passed the age Of
fCrty-fve. More than two-thirds OF the
immigrants were males, the figures being
76l,i63 men and boys, and 336272 women
and girls
About g per cent Of the total number
were illiterate. which is a very large pro-
portion when we consider that only 60
per cent Of the total white population Of
the United States and only as per cent
Of the native-born whites in 1900 were
ilnterate
The Washington herald., 1907-05-28
Furnishing the Bribe-uiver

From the New Yors Evening Pest.
The action Of the san Francisco grand
jury in returning indictments against six
public service corporations, in company
with Mayor SChmitz and the fallen boss
Ruef. goes 10 the heart Of the entire
question Of political bribery. To punish
the giver Of the bribe as well as the re-
ceiver is not only just and logical-it is
effective. An indicted or threatened Off
cial may resign in the face Of attack. or
may seek immunity by confession or
weeping in court or, at the worst, may
take his medicine philosophically, I'm
the knowledge that "a short term IN prison
may be forgotten in the calm old age of
retirement that fat bank account al
ways makes possible To the respect
able citizen" who buys franchises, on the
other hand. the prospect Of punishment
must be unpleasant, to say the least.
The Washington herald., 1907-05-28
Mounted Police Needed

While Washington has not vet reached
that stage in her commercial development
which calls for special details of police
TO prevent disorder i'm crowded streets
traffic squads as they are called in New
Yo~k-the work now being done on Penn
'sylvania avenue in the vicinity Of Ninth
street makes such a detail temporarily
necessary.
That portion Of the Avenue on which
the work Of rcsurfacing. laying mains,
&c. is now In progress sustains more
traffic, perhaps, than any other thorough
fare in the city. Its proximity 10 one Of
the railroad stations and to one section
of the shopping district. as well as the
existence of street car transfer points.
cause it 20 be crowded. especially during
the rush hours. At present the patrol
men on duty find It necessary TO devote
almost as much Of their time to keeping
out Of the way Of large and heavy
vehicles. the drivers Of which do not
make any fine distinctions between police
men and the general public in their con-
tempt for the rights Of pedestrians, as to
the duty of protecting those whose ways
lie in that direction. a few mounted
police, properly distributed would be
much more nearly able to cope with the
existing conditions. Mai. Sylvester. who
is always alive 20 the needs Of the public
in connection with the service Of which
he is the head, viii, We think, find that
the application Of the idea here suggested
will bring about material improvement OF
the situation on that part Of the Avenue
70 which we have referred.
The Washington herald., 1907-05-28
Senator Daniefs Position.

We cannot but admire the stand taken
by Senator Daniel respecting the sugges-
ton. which has been industriously cir
culated Of late, that he would make an
ideal Democratic candidate for the Presi-
dency. He has spoken a sound and true
word in observing that the Democratic
nominee should be chosen regardless Of
sectional considerations, and solely upon
grounds cf competence and availability
We find nothing I'm his platform that
we cannot commend. We find nothing in
# that anybody should object to. Mr..
Daniel has offered il as broad enough for
all Democrats. and as containing only
those matters rs TO which Democrats are
generally agreed. But in doing so has he
no: made It so broad that everybody can
stand on it, Has he not refined away
every possible differentiation between the
two great parties. so that nothing remains
as q guide 10 independent or dissa tiSfied
voters? We fancy Mr.. Taft would have
no mere difficulty subscribing TO Senator
Daniels most excellent statement Of prin-
Ciples than the Senator himself. nor do we
see any reason why those principles would
no; be equally as satisfactory to Mr. Fair
The Washington herald., 1907-05-28
The Somli,rrn Wan Iden.

From the Augusta Chronicle.
While it is certainly desirable that a
Southern man be made President, that OBJ
basis Of merit both in man and platform,
and not alone upon mere geographical
accident Of birth For the voters of the
country 20 cast their ballots for a candi-
date merely because he is "a Southerner
would be as insane as Southern people
casting theirs against the candidate sim
ply because he halls from New York or
any other Northern State. What Demo-
Gratis want is candidate that can win,
and the best display Of Americanlsm they
car make will be 10 unite in supporting
such a man.
The Washington herald., 1907-05-28
One Phase of Public Ownership.

Recent cables from Budapest bring the
news that the Hungarian government will
attempt to dominate the operatives Of its
railways in a way that no other nation
which owns its transportation lines has
yet succeeded in doing The government
has introduced a bill providing for the
immediate dismissal Of any employe who
participates in a strike or offers passive
resistance, prohibiting the formation Of
unions without the consent Of the minis
try. and discourag4ng IN other ways the
modern tendency toward independent or
ganization among workmen OF the higher
classes. Vigorous opposition is being Of
fered by the labor element. which sees in
the proposed act an unjust and unwar-
ranted attack on its liberties.
Students Of government ownership may
find much food for thought In this situa-
ton. As has been said. movements Of
the kind now attracting attention in Hun
gary have failed in other countries where
public ownership Of railroads prevails
In Australia and New Zealand. especially,
the strength Of the govern. nent railroad,
tram telephone. and telegraph employees
is sufficient 20 enable them to WELD enor-
nous influence. On more than one occa-
sion labor members have predominated In
the state and federal parliament. and.
even when they are not in the majority,
this influence is shown in the character Of
new laws. That such conditions do not
tend toward proper discipline and a maxi
mum Of efficiency in the operation Of the
various public utilities is we'll known TO
every one familiar with them.
Here in the United States postmasters
and other Federal employees are more or
less potent politically. What would be
the result If their number were increased
The Washington herald., 1907-05-28

banks, or Mr. Cannon, or any other Re.
publican Presidential aspirant.
In a word. Senator Daniels platform
strikes us as expressive Of those political
beliefs as 10 which there is the smallest
difference of opinion among all patriotic
American citizens. That this lis true is a
pleasant reminder OF the increasing unity
Of political sentiment among our people,
but we imagine that the Democratic party
will find 1t necessary to give some sub
stantial reason for asking the overthrow
of Republican policies and administration.
If no reason for a change can be offered
that will appeal 10 a majority Of the eiec-
torate the American people are not
likely to order it at the polls