davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Dividing the Graft.

Various statements of what this
system of graft was worth to indi-
vidual men have been made up, but
only as estimates. One man high up
in Inter-Met councils said that for
mer valet, who was put in on the
road as a motorman found that his
share of the daily graft was from
so to SO under normal conditions.
1t is explained in this connection
that 1t is wise for a conductor to
have motorman in his confidence,
inasmuch as the latter is in a posi-
ton to drag" the car--that is, make
1t get behind on its schedule sutfi-
GENTLY to fill up very full of passen-
gers. Knocking down fares is much
easier matter in crowded car than
1t is In relatively empty one where
passengers can see the cash register.
When the loss of fares has been
reduced to terms of a percentage of
the gross income OF the road, and
runs in the estimates as high as in
the present case, 1t becomes an i'm,
portant factor in the schemes of re-
organization. Leading interests in
the board of the Inter-Met. make no
bones of admitting this to be the
fact and are therefore moved to place
the more Importance upon the intro
duction of the pay-as-you-enter car,
under the new traffic regulations
proposed by the company and recon-
mended in the main by the police eX-
perts whom the Public Service Com
mission has been examining. The
new car, according to the plans, will
be operated on the basis of a seat
for every passenger, SO that both
the company and the travelling public
will enjoy whatever benefits may fol-
low its introduction.
There is another thing that COM
plicates the situation, according to
information from inside the traction
merger. That is the very large in
crease of transfers used, properly
and improperly, which has steadily
reduced the return to the company
per passenger carried until in recent
times 1t has run as low as 1926 cents
per five cent fare. With this Is COM
bined an increasing competition with
the Subway, which brings in its own
results to the Observation-Disclosures
politan Company, but does not SIM
plify the management of the New
York Railway as an independent
proposition supposed to take care Of
it2 own affairs in the system.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
1ACoN1Cs OF NOTED MEN.
Origin of the Word and Many Illus
trations.

Origin of the Word and Many Illus
trations.
Laconians, whose chief was Sparta,
we're famous in ancient Greece, not
only for their success in war, but for
their scorn of Injuries and their brew
ity of speech. When King Philip of
Macedonia, father of Alexander the
Great, threatened them, saying: "If l
enter Laconia will level your city to
the drst," they sent back the reply:
"If." Their short answers give to
the English language the word ia
comic"
There were not few famous la
conicisms of later times. Talley-
rand, when told on one occasion that
a certain notorious parsonage, sick
and in great pain, was suffering the
torments of the lost, made the wicked
reply, Already"
John Wesley once met clustering
fellow in a narrow path, who con-
fronted him, saying: II never make
way for a fool" 81 always do" re-
turned Wesley, quietly stepping aside.
Dean Hole, being in railway car
rage with man who bored him with
many stupid questions, was finally
asked by him: What comes after
itchin'?" "Scratchin'," replied the
dean, YEARLY.
Douglas Jerrold, meeting a bore in
the street, found himself promptly
buttonholed by the latter. What's
going ONT" asked the bore. II am,
said Jerrold, and did so.
To an opponent in argument who
denied the existence of purgatory a
Catholic cleric replied: "You might
go farther and fare worse" - Chi
cago News.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Honey in Short Supply.

Some industrious statistician has
estimated that the ordinary beehive
contains about 10000 bees. When
these bees are not on strike and
make full time from sunrise to sun
set and work with hearty good will,
they secure about 100 pounds of
honey per season, and in order to do
this they must take the honey from
some 800, 100000 clover blossoms, as
1t requires the honey from 100000
of clover blossoms for each pound Of
honey stored in the hive.
New York State is quite a large
honey producer, and the Grocers' Cri-
terion, of Chicago, recently in dis
cussing the honey crop of New York,
reports that but twenty pounds of
honey is expected from each hive.
With dry weather and short clover
crop the bees seem to be kept busy
providing themselves with food, with
out storing up the usual surplus that
constitutes the available supply for
the market.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Has Seen Sea serpents.

According to Capt. r. G. Candage, of
Ellsworth, the sea serpent is no myth.
He declares that he has seen hundreds
of them, but all were small. He said:
81 have seen many on the coast of
India, in the Bay of Bengal, and in
the China and Java seas, all one to
three or four feet in length, but not
the big ones Of the story books, and
doubt if any one else ever did
Many years ago imagined that
saw one in the Straits of Florida, fif-
ty or sixty feet in length, with head
and name reared above the water, pro-
PEELED by wrlgghng along apparently
at the rate of six miles an hour.
He was a distance away from our
ship, so the better to observe him I
went up the mizzen rigging, and soon
found out that 1t was a floating tree.
It's roots gave the appearance of SER
pent's head and name, and the seas,
ripping along the tapering trunk, the
wlIg5llng motion. Bangor Dispatch
to the New York World.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
A Descendant Of oliver Cromwell.

The death occurred at his residence,
near bennington of Mr.. AIgernon Sid.
ney Field, late clerk of peace for
Warwickshire, at the age of "a. He
was one of the oldest solicitors I'm
England, having been admitted in Trim
ity Term 1884.
On the occasion of his golden we'd
ding in 1896 he was presented with
an illuminated address and silver
bowls of George l. period, when Mr..
Dugdale, chairman of the County
Council, referred to the fact that he
was a lineal descendant Of Lord Pro
tector Oliver Cromwell, through his
grandmother, Anne Cromwell.--Lon.
don Daily Mail.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Repartee Of Washington Children.

Evidently there was severance OF
friendly relations between two Of a
group of small girls who minute be-
fore had been romping about tho
sward in Dupont Circle, for just as the
writer approached, the daughter Of
Southern legislator called out to her
small companion from the West
"T'he girl with the red dress on is
a cowgirl! The girl with the red
dress on Is cowgirl"
Again and again the haunting chal-
lenge was hurled at the red.frocked
Western maid, who finally, with one
supreme effort at selfcontrol, retort'
ed:
oh very well, then, the girl who
is a-hollerin, is a sheep! The girl
who is a-hollerin' is sheep! I'd soon.
er be a cowgirl than sheep, cause
the president is fond of cowboys and
cowgirls, but not even a secretary
likes a sheep! Washington Cores
pondence, New York World.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21

ness that took several wrinkles out
of the general managers brow and
made the firm think seriously of in
creasing the plant.
"Our Mr.. Crawford" - the firm
spoke of him proudly in this manner
now-had made himself necessary to
the Perfection Electric Switch Com
pany, but his success had not been
entirely satisfactory to himself. With
all his quiet force, the superintend-
ent was very human young man.
He had hoped to gain the complete
confidence Of the men and women
under him. 1t was respect he wanted
rather than fear.
The lax, easy going regime of the
former superintendent had made that
careless individual very popular with
the factory hands. They had given
him all sorts of presents on his birth
days and at Christmas time. The
day his resignation" euphonic
term!--had gone into effect they had
presented him with an ornate watch
charm, and when, red in the face and
embarrassed he had tried to stammer
his thanks, they had cheered him
roundly and pressed about him to
shake his hand. Powell had undoubt-
eddy been popular with his employees,
but his popularity had been gained at
the expense Of results in the output
of the factory.
Under the new superintendent the
output was satisfactory-and more.
The question that continually pre-
sented itself to the young mans trou-
bled mind was whether, in the inter-
ests of the firm he had not been too
harsh with the employees. In eradi-
eating the evils Jim Powell had
wrought he had found 1t necessary
to calculate in cold-blooded fashion,
to be ready with blame and chary of
praise. The result was inevitable.
While the profits grew steadily Craw-
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Something Like a Buck.

The heaviest stag which has been
killed this season in Scotland was
royal, which scaled 371 pounds. This
immense beast was shot in Arran
deer forest by one of Lord and Lady
Graham's guests at Brodick Castle.
The stays in Arran are remarkable
both for size and quality, and the
forest carries a heavy stock of red
deer, and affords first rate sport. The
shooting lodge on the west side Of
the island, where the best stalking is
obtained during the first month Of
the season, is covered outside with
over 200 pairs of deer horns.-Lon-
don Truth.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
The clansmen.

A short while ago there was started
a movement to have the kits OF
certain one Of the British Highland"
regiments discarded in favor OF ordl-
nary trousers. 1t was objected that the
men would be Disseminated at this
change, and the colonel gave orders
that a census Of the regiment be TAX
en-, IN order to ascertain the wishes OF
the men themselves. The colonel is
the descendant of a long line or
Scotch lairds and strives earnestly to
uphold the old traditions.
The sergeant who took the census
OF the regiment finally appeared with
his report.
"All the men, with the exception OF
three, are in favor of the change, sir"
he said.
Indeed" the colonel said. Tell me
the names Of these three true clans
men. They shall be promoted"
The sergeant read from his list.
"They are, sir" he said, Patrick
DOolan, Hans Steinbrenner and Moses
Ikenstein. "-Harper's Weekly.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
ReNond Control.

Although the old gentleman with a
red face and choleric temper had
opened the car window five times with
much vigor he had found it closed
every time he walked from his doze.
He felt perfectly sure that the per-
son to blame was the man behind him,
who gave vent to a stided grOan each
time the window was opened. At last
the choleric gentleman turned in his
seat.
"Sir," he said Indignantly, you are
evidently one of those persons who
cannot bear fresh air; but may 1 ask
you who controls this window, the
person beside 1t or the one behind it?"
IF you could stay awake few min
utes," responded his neighbor, you'd
soon discover that nobody can control
that window, sir-not even the brake
man or the conductor" youths Com
panion.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
ON THE OLD NATIONAL ROAD,
One Who Used TO Swing on a Gate
Tells the Daughters Of indiana
About H.


Among the notable Hooslers who
helped the Daughters of Indiana cele'
brate Historical Day at the Hotel AS
tor were Robert Underwood Johnson,
William Bayard Hale and Horace b,
Hord.
Mr.. Johnson read Divided Honors,'
which was written for the dinner to
James Whitcomb Riley at Indianapolis
way back In 1888, but the audience
seemed to like it just as we'll as II 1t
were new.
Mr.. Hale told about how the Old
Road (meaning the national road
across the Alleghanies built in Jack
sons day. ran east and west past the
gate on which he was allowed to swing
but beyond which he was not allowed
to go. He described the canvas cano-
pied wagons bearing the goods and
chattels Of families bound for Kansas,
One who was swinging on the gate
could see east for fully mile. Right
at the top of hill the crest Of which
formed the boundary line Of vision
were the fair grounds and a haunted
house.
The Old Road ran right through the
centre of three states and ever so
many towns before 1t got to the one
where the gate swinger lived, and this
town 1t entered by way Of an embank-
ment thirty feet high. 1t went out
through an enclosed bridge called the
National Bridge The horses slack
ened speed of their own accord Oh
this bridge, explained the quondam
gate swinger, perhaps because OF the
usual five dollar fine sign, or perhaps
because the Hoosier gallants of the
sos and COS so often pulled up at the
entrance to kiss their sweethearts'
There was, too, a national dam a lit
tie below the bridge, and the town
boosted likewise two national banks
which were regarded by the youthful
citizens generally as mere Dependent
cies of the road.
Over the Old Road came the Quak'
ers-sometimes a two days journey
to yearly meeting" The gate swing
er's grandmother, who is now 80 years
old, came last spring in an automobile,
which took two hours to make the run
of seventy miles.
William" she said to the groWn'up
gate swinger, who was bemoaning the
loss of what used to be, Thee knows
the Scripture says, "A horse is a vain
thing for safety and besides no vehi'
Gle is so suited to the Old Road as an
automobile. New York Sun.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Civil Burial In France.

An inquirer into the social life Of
France has been investigating the
prevalence Of civil burial, and comes
to the conclusion that for the last
quarter Of a century it has been sta
tlonary at from 10 to 20 percent Of the
population. An odd fact about the
question is that among the educated
classes civil burial is almost exclus-
lively by the very poor. OF 10000 bur-
ials annually 1000 are of the class
which has to be buried at the public
expense, and 1000 more among the very
poorest Of those who buy their own
Graves.--The London Globe.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
chlldrsn,s stranns Death.

Clayton, the five-year-old son of Mr..
and Mrs. John Nice of Worcester, was
buried beside his twoyear-old sister,
who died less than a year ago, Of a
similar ailment. Both children died
from blood oozing from their mouth,
nose, and ears. despite careful medical
attention.
These make Ave children less than
seventeen years old who died In the
family OF the same malady within two
years. The others were those Of Mrs.
Godshall, Of Worcester, a sister Of
Mrs, Nice.-Norristown Dispatch to
the philadelphia Press.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Money In Watermelon Seeds.

Farmers are getting rich in Lips
comb county by selling watermelon
seed at Is cents pound" said Chas.
Lloyd. "A machine has been manufac-
tured for the purpose of seeding mel
ons, and it does its work we'll. Hun
dreds of acres of melons are now
grown In Lipscomb county each year
for the specific purpose of obtaining
seed, the melon itself not being used.
1t would seem that there would be
more money in selling melons, but
those engaged in the seed business say
there Is not."-Fort Worth Record.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
HOw'a Thisp

We offer One Hundred Dollars Rewardfor
any case OF Catarrh that cannot be cured by
RGlps Catarrh Cure.
+. J. CHENEY Il Co., Toledo, o.
We, the undersigned, have known F. j.
Cheney for the last 15years, and believehim
Perfectly honorable in all business trans
actions and financially able to carry out any
obligations made by their Arm.
West d TRuAx, Wholesale Druggists, To-
ledo, O..
WAIDNo, K1NNAN MARVIN, Wholesale
Druggists, Toledo, O..
Halls Catarrh Cure is taken internally act
ingdirectly upon the blood and mucuoussur-
faces of the system. Testimonials sent free.
Price, 76c per bottle. Sold by all Druggists.
Take Halls Family Pills for constipation.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Prompt.

"There is no foolishness about re-
ilgion in Southwestern Missouri, +"
said a st. Louis man. II had occa-
sion, recently, to visit town in that
section, and, while waiting the pleas
ure of the president of the bank l had
business with, caught sight of the
following notice posted on the door of
a church across the way:
There will be preaching here
next Sunday, Providence permitting;
and there will be preaching here
whether or no on the Sunday follow
ing upon the subject, He that be-
lieveth and is baptized shall be saved,
and he that believeth not shall be
damned at 11.30 a. M. -Harper's
Monthly.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Evidence.

When likely entered the shop with a
Ilmp, detected air, carrying a pair OF
checkered trousers over his arm, Mr..
Solomon looked at him with displeas-
ure.
Likely, who do you pring dose pants
back?" he inquired severely.
HE would not to keep them" said
Ikey sorrowfully. HE said they were
not Of any wool pants"
He did!" cried Mr.. Solomon indig-
nantly. Here, Ikey, see dose mot
holes in dis right leg, my son? Take
dose pants right away back and show
him dose mot holes!"-YOuth's Com
panioR.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
BLACK, ITCHING SPOTS ON FACE.
Physicians Called 1t Eczema in Worst
FOrIn-PatIent Despaired Of Cure
--CuticuFa Remedies Cure Her.

about four years ago was afflicted
with black splotches all over my face and
q few covering my body, which produced
S0vere itching irritation, and which caused
me great deal of suffering to such an ex-
tent that was forced to call in two of the
leading physicians of -. After thor
ough examination of the dreaded complaint
they announced it to be skin eczema in its
worst form. Their treatment did me no
good. Finally became despondent and de-
cided to discontinue their services. Then my
husband purchased single set of the Cuti.
Clra Remedies, which entirely stopped the
breaking out. / continued the use of the
Cuticura Remedies for six months, and
after that every splotch was entirely gone.
have not felt symptom of the eczema
aimee, which was three years ago. Mrs.
LEEie e. Sledge, $40 Jones Ave, Selma,
Ala, Oct. 20, 1905"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Travels of a Crab.

In his report for the quarter end
ing September 80 the fishery officer
for the Northeastern District states
that he received one marked crab
during the quarter. 1t was captursd
at Boddin, close to Montrose, Scot
land. 1t had travelled from four miles
north of Scarborough Castle, a dis
lance of about 155 miles, in $50 days.
Unless the crab had lift on the way
from some sportive person it must on
the average have crawled not less
than 500 yards day.-Westminster
Gazette.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Long Lived Bantam.

A bantam hen, owned by Mrs. I.
n Howell Of Jonesboro, is dead at the
age Of "a years.
The hen was given to Mrs. Howell
by her mother, Abigail Ledbetter, and
record OF its age was kept from the
fact that It was the pet Of Mrs. How
ellis youngest brother, who reached his
majority four years ago. The ban
tam Matched and cared for brood Of
chickens every year until last season.
Marion correspondence Indianapolis
News.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21

In the present year, therefore, If
the average for the first six months
is carried out, the entire force of
conductors on the surface lines will
be discharged virtually twice over for
dishonesty alone. These ratios have
enabled some of the Inter-Met. d.
rectors to appreciate with a warmer
interest than ever before the humor
OF the divorce case in which alimony
on II $50 a week basis was asked
from an SIS week man because he
was conductor on the New York
City Railway.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21


heavy lenses of his eyeglasses. our
Mr.. Crawford" as he was always
called by the general manager of the
Perfection Electric Switch Company,
had been transferred from his place
as foreman of the wiring department
to be superintendent of the factory at
a time when an iron hand was needed
to remedy the mischief which the lax
methods and general inefficiency Of
his departing predecessor had created.
1t was a difficult problem of reor-
ganization that he had been called
upon to face, but time had proved
that the general managers faith-he
had stoutly advocated Crawford
against the firms opposition - had
not been misplaced. The new super
intendent had entered upon his du-
ties quietly, unassumingly, but with
a tenacity of purpose and an unre-
lenting energy that bent all things to
his will. Three of the best years of
his life he gave unhesitatingly and
uncomplainingly TO the work before
him. At the end of that time the
factory was running with a smooth
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21

lFN
jNW cause of his ceaseless vigil
%TM lance and the firmness with
80 which he held the employees at
work.
There were times-when he was
tired, especially-when 1t seemed to
him that he had merely developed
into successful slave driver.
Sometimes at o'clock, when the
big gong had sounded, he would sit
by the time-machine and watch the
men file down the stairs. He would
have given much if here and there in
the long line face had been lifted to
his with a nod or a comprehending
smile, but the "hands" rang in their
time in sullen silence. His very pres
ence seemed to chill their spirits, and
when one of them looked at him 1t
was either with bitterness or a blank
stare.
Meanwhile the Perfection Electric
Switch Company prospered amazing
ly, and at the same time the superin-
tendent grew little more stoop-
shouldered, little more reserved, a
little more heavy Of eye.
In Novamber of tho third year 1t
happened that "Our Mr.. Crawford"
was taken sick. At the time he was
putting forth strenuous efforts to
have an increase Of pay for the en-
ployes, in consequence of which he
was at the Office several days when
he should have been in bed He
wanted the hands to understand that
their work had been appreciated, and
although he had to grind his teeth
to keep from crying out with the
pain he went daily to the Office and
argued with the general manager and
the members of the firm.
The firm was obdurate. 1t was de-
cided finally that, in view of the ex-
tensive additions that were to be
made to the plant the increase could
not be granted for another year. Sick
at heart and racked with pain the SUI
perintendent staggered to his apart
ments in the gray November dusk,
went to bed and sent for a doctor.
The physician came, chided the young
man for his carelessness of his health
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21
Matter of Habit.

Lady formerly hello glrD: Porter,
why didn't you call me as instruct
ed you?
Sleeping Car Porter--I did, ma'am;
sho's you bon l did. l SADIE Seven
thirty" ma'am, an you sade: Lines
outa ohder!"-Toledo Blade.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21

It is stated that the late Duke of
Pless left personal property to the
value of e4,150,000. In his will he
left nothing to his servants, with the
single exception of his valet, in
whose arms he died.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21

was 30 bad with kid
ney trouble that 1
could not straighten
up after STOPPING
without sharp pains
shooting through my
back. l had dizzy
spells, was nervous
and my eyesight at
fected, The kidney
secretions were ir-
regular and too fire.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21

Quent. / was In terrible condition,
but Doan's Kidney Pills cured me and
have enjoyed fine health since"
Sold by all dealers. so cents a box.
FORter-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N Y.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21

Jack in the Box - Hands off,
there!"
Alice-"Why his hands are off,
silly!"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21

FITS, st. Vitus' Dance: Nervous Diseases per-
manently cured by DR.. Klines Great Nerve
Restorer 50 trial bottle and treatise free.
DR.. II. R. Kline, Id, 1881 Arch St., Phila., Pa.