davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02

cigarette, said: $50 you're about to
marry?"
Il hope So" said 1. But as l
haven't asked her yet, l can't be sure"
For obvious reasons l wasn't SO a
ored of the idea of matrimony as | had
been a few moments before.
Il trust you're making a sensible
marriage" said he. IF the part that
may be glamour should by chance rub
clean away, there ought to be some
thing to make one feel he wasn't
wholly an ass"
Very sensible" / replied with en-
phasis. Il want the woman. l need
her."
He inspected the coal of his cigar
cite, lifting his eyebrows at it. Pres
emily he said: "And she?"
Il don't know how she feels about
it--as | told you" l replied CURLY. In
spite Of myself, my eyes shifted and
my skin began to burn, by the way,
Langdon, what's the name Of your
architect?"
Wilder and Marcy" said he.
They're fairly satisfactory, If you tell
EN- exactly what you want and watch
EN- all the time. They're perfectly
conventional and SO can't distinguish
between originality that's artistic and
originality that's only bizarre. They're
like most people-they keep to the
beaten track and fight tooth and nail
against being drawn out Of 1t and
against those who do go out of it"
"Ill have a talk with Marcy this
very day." said /.
"Oh, you're in a hurry!" He laughed.
And you haven't asked her. You re-
mind me of that Greek philosopher
who was in love with Lais. They
asked him: But does she love your
And he said: One does not inquire
Of the fish one Hikes whether It likes
one"
I flushed. You'll pardon me, Lang
don" said |, "but | don't like that. II
isn't my attitude at all toward-the
right sort Of women
w. -" ..A HA HAM
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02
Missouri
Legislature
PUBLIC UTILITIES MEASURE.
Spirited Contest Is Expected When
Bill Comes Up.

A spirited contest is promised in
the house, when consideration Of the
public utilities measures is taken up
as a special order, which probably
will be continued until some definite
policy has been established.
Majority and minority reports are
both pending from the committee on
private corporations, and back Of
these are about thirty bills, no two
of which are exactly alike, and yet
they could all be divided into two gen
eral classes, subdivided several times.
The committee is composed of thir-
teen members, and seven have report
ed a substitute, favorably, that pro-
vides for the regulation of utility
charges by local commissions with a
court review clause.
Six members of the committee
Sosey, of Marion; Barry, of Rails;
Kiefner, of Perry; McConkey, of Ia
ney; Whitecotton, of Monroe, and
Emerson, of Clay-reported a minor
ity substitute which empowers the
cities to regulate such charges by
ordinance and also to provide for a
local commission to aid in arriving at
a fair rate to charge for all utilities
furnished by public service corpora
tons.
Both measures will come up at the
same time for consideration, and the
presumption is. that the contest will
be to a finish.
The main provisions of the minor
ity measure, which Wal undoubtedly
be pressed with as much vigor as pos
sible, after giving the cities full pow
err to enforce rates by establishing
penalties for their violation, are as
follows:
ANY rate so established by any
such city or town which is unjust and
unreasonable, shall be void and un-
lawful, and all suits brought in the
courts of this state against any such
city or town to enjoin, set aside or
annul any rate so fixed by ordinance.
or any ordinance establishing any
such rate, shall have priority in hear
ing and determination in the trial
court and all appellate courts over
all civil actions.
ANY such city or tow7- may, by or
dinance provide for and establish a
commission to make Investigation Of
all the facts and matters touching the
establishment of such reasonable rate
of charge, and after such investiga-
ton such commission shall report it's
findings and recommendations to the
city council.
"And all such cities and towns shall
have power and authority, by ,ordi-
nance, to require and enforce the pro-
duction of books and papers and COM
pei the attendance of witnesses be-
fore the city council or any duly con
stituted committee or commission
thereof for the purpose of ascertain
ing what is a just and reasonable
rate"
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02

He looked hslt-quiEzieal. halfapolo-
setic. "Ah. to be sure" said he. Il
forgot you weren't a married man.
And SO | left him. with q look ia
his eyes that came back to me long
afterward when l realized the full
meaning Of that apparently almost
commonplace interview.
The same day l began to plunge on
textile, watching the market closely,
that l might go more slowly should
there be signs of a dangerous break
for no more than Langdon did l want
a sudden panicky slump. The price
held steady, however. but l, fool that
I was, certain the fall must come,
plunged on, digging the pit for my
own destruction deeper and deeper.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02

tage. And this brings us to tie sec
ond point In the argument-the para
mount question in this commercial
age-"Will it pay?"
By most people an affirmative an
swer to that question is accepted as
the call of duty. AS a matter of fact,
viii it pay?" is a good test to apply
to any project or proposition. There
are commercial, as well as political,
demagogues, and the nan who is ap-
pealed to on the score Of patriotism
or profit, duty or dollars, can scarcely
do better than to sit down by himself
and submit that question-"Will it
pay?"-to his own best judgment.
Provided always, that he goes to the
very bottom of it.
l believe that every man ought to
know why he does so and so Too
many of us travel in ruts. We get the
habit of buying certain goods or trad
ing at certain places when we might
do better by changing. This will ap-
ply sometimes to people who trade at
home as we'll as to those who buy
abroad. 1t is always we'll to investi-
gate. I have known people to make
expensive trips to the city to buy
goods that the village merchant would
have sold them for less money. They
hadn't taken the trouble to investi-
gate.
What are the relative advantages of
buying at the local store and ordering
from a catalogue house? Advantages,
understand, that figure in the ques-
ton, viii it pay?" Don't get away
from that question. 1t certainly is
very comfortable to sit down by your
own fireside and select a dress pattern
or a sulky pillow from a printed des-
cription and a picture of the article;
much more comfortable, in fact, than
hitching up and driving to town on a
raw day.
A consideration more important,
perhaps. is that the printed price in
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02

your farm? The accessibility of a
market. You know what your grand
father did on that same farm? Drove
his hogs and hauled his grain 80, SO,
maybe IS miles to the nearest market
town, and received prices for them
that would make you howl about the
trusts. And he hauled back the fam
lily supplies for which he paid what
you would consider m%onopolistic
prices. Do you happen to know what
the old farm was worth then? Well,
it lacked a good deal of being SIS or
800 an acre.
Yes, the home town, with its handy
market, has advanced the value of
your property and made you worth
several thousand dollars more than
your grandfather was worth. The
home town affords schooling for your
children, and perhaps social and
church privileges which your family
would not otherwise enjoy. The rural
mail routes and telephone systems,
radiating from the home town, as
spokes from a hub, bring to your
home the greatest conveniences of
modern times.
What would your farm be worth
and how many of these advantages
would you be enjoying now, if the
city from which that mail order cata-
logue came were your nearest market,
your most accessible trading point,
your only post office and social center,
the only place to which you could look
to connect you with the outside
world?
Have you ever noticed that the first
thing the settlers of a newly-opened
reservation do is to send for a wagon
load Of mail order catalogues? Well, I
haven't. They lay out a town site
every six or eight miles, start two or
three general stores, build a school
house, a church, a blacksmith shop, a
grain elevator, petition the depart
ment for a post Office, and start a
newspaper. They know, from former
experience that, with these things
close by, life will be e%ndurable, what
ever hardships may come. They know,
also, that without them they must live
lives Of isolation and endure an exist
ence that is contrary to all natural
human instincts.
On the other hand, 1t goes without
saying, that the average country town
cannot exist without the support of
It's tributary territory. Then, If that
town affords the advantages for the
rural citizen that have been enumerat-
ed, there exists what we may call an
interdependence and a moral obliga-
ton between the two. Are you, Mr..
Thrifty Farmer, living up to that OBJ
legation when you do your trading
with the mail order house?
To this line of argument the farmer
may answer that his greatest obliga.
ton, his first duty, is to his immediate
household, and that among the. duties
to his family and to the heirs Of his
estate is that OF practicing judicious
economy-buying where he can buy
the cheapest and to the best advan.
M
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02
CHAPTER vIII.-continued.
Cd19z2czzT 1915 MH

CHAP En- vuts-Continued.
I had been at his house once be-
fore; l knew he occupied the left
side-the whole of the second floor, so
shut off that it not only had a separate
entrance, but also could not be
reached by those in the right side of
the house without descending to the
entrance hall and ascending the left
stairway.
Just take my card to his private
secretary, to Mr.. Rathburn,' said L.
mi. Langdon has doubtless left a
message for me-"
The butler hesitated, yielded,
showed me into the reception room off
the entrance hall. l waited a few sec-
onds, then adventured the stairway to
the left, up which he had disappeared.
/ entered the small salon in which
Langdon had received me on my other
visit. From the direction of an open
door, l heard his voice-he was say
ing: II am not at home. There's no
message"
And still l did not realize that 1t
was | he was avoiding!
ITS no S now, Langdon," I called
cheerfully. beg pardon for seeming
to intrude, l MISUNDERSTANDING didn't
hear where the servant said l var to
wait. However, no harm done. So
long! I'm off" But l made no move
toward the door by which l had en-
tered; instead, l advanced a few feet
nearer the door from which his voice
had come.
After a brief-a very brief-pause,
there came in Langdon's voice-laugh-
ing, not a trace Of annoyance: Il
might have known! Come in, NATL"
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02
R-Qa75ZZRazX CuN11WG

came from the salon. MAY / come
in? Do / interrupt" it said, and its
tone struck me as having in it some
thing of plaintive appeal.
Excuse me a minute Blackjack"
said he. rising with what was for him
haste.
But he was too late. The woman
entered, searching the room with a
piercing, suspicious gaze. At once l
saw, behind that look, a jealousy that
pounced On every subject that came
into it's view, and studied it with a
hope that feared and a fearthathoped.
When her eyes had toured the room,
they paused upon him, seemed to be
saying: you've baffled me again, but
I'm not discouraged. shall catch you
yet"
well, my dear?" said Langdon,
whom she seemed family to amuse.
TITS only Mr.. Blackjack. Mr.. Black
lock, my wife"
l bowed; she looked coldly at me,
and her slight nod was more than a
hint that she wished to be left alone
with her husband.
| said to him: "Well, I'll be off.
Thank you for"
Zone moment" he interrupted.
Then to his wife: Anything special?"
She flushed. "No-nothing special.
l just came to see you. But If l am
disturbing you-as usual"
mot at ALL" said he. when Black
lock and l have finished, I'll come to
you. 1t won't be longer than an hour
or So"
When we were seated again, Lang
don, after a few reflective puffs at his
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02

the catalogue seems, in some cases, at
least, to be lower than the price
quoted at the local store. Isn't that
conclusive? Let's see. The catalogue
describes the goods and quotes a
price; maybe it gives a picture of the
article also, but you don't see the
goods. The local merchant shows you
the goods; you may examine them
critically; he may allow you to test
them or to call in an expert to advise
you. Is it fair to conclude that the
catalogue article is the cheaper just
because the price is lower?
An element that must enter into the
comparison of goods and prices is,
that in any attempt to fool the Gus.
toner, the local merchant is decided,
ly at a disadvantage. He must show
the goods, not merely describe them.
His business depends wholly upon the
limited trading area of his town and
his ability to inspire confidence within
that circle. He cannot afford to make
a practice of misrepresentfng his
goods.
The mail order house is not SO tied
down to the maxim that Honesty is
the best policy" 1t has no nefghbors
no fellow citizens, nc mutual interests
with it's patrons. Its trade area is
wide and always shifting. Naturally
these conditions do not demand extra.
ordinary vigilance in supplying hon.
est-made goods. And where Vigilance
is not a needed employee in the bust.
ness he is generally taken off the pay
roll, which makes a saving in expense,
as well as in the cost of the goods. II
lower prices are quoted by the cata.
logue house, may not this account for
it?
"Will 1t pay?" Is it a matter of
economy to buy inferior and damaged
goods when the same money, or even
a little more, will pay for goods of the
best quality? Which course does a
mans first duty to his W household
dictate?
But to get at the bottom of that
question, we must consider the far.
reaching general effect of mail order
trading. If single catalogue houses
are to be capitalized at $40, 600, 900,
they must be reckoned with along
with Standard OIL, the beef trust and
railroad mergers. II they are allowed
to suck the blod from our country
towns, your grandchildren will find
conditions much the same as those Of
your grandfather's time. Their mar
kets will be 80, so OIL rs miles away.
The towns and villages will be de.
serted, and the hubs will be too dis
tant to send the radiating spokes OF
rural mail, telephone lines and other
modern c%onveniences far into the
country.
CHARLES BRADSHAW.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02
TWO "PILLARs OF SOCIETY,"

l was neither seeing nor hearing
from the Ellerslys, father or son, but
as | knew why, l was not disquieted.
I had made them temporarily easy in
their finances just before that dinner,
and they, being fatuous, incurable op-
timists, were probably imagining they
would never need me again. l did not
disturb them until Monson and l had
got my EDUCATION so we'll under way
that ever /, always severe in self
criticism and now merciless, was com
PEELED to admit to myself a distinct
change for the better.
: When my education seemed far
enough advanced, l sent for Sam. He,
after his footless fashion, didn't
bother to acknowledge my note. His
margin account with me was at the
moment straight; l turned to his
father. I had my cashier send him a
formal, typewriter letter signed
Blackjack G Co., informing him that
his account was overdrawn and that
we would be obliged if he would give
the matter his immediate attention"
The note must have reached him the
following morning, but he did not
come until, after waiting three days,
"we' sent him a sharp demand for a
check for the balance due us.
A pleasing, MISUNDERSTANDING fig
ure he made as he entered my office,
with his air of the nan whose hands
have never known the stains of toll,
with his manner of having always re-
ceive deferential treatment. There
vas no pretense in my curt greeting,
my tone Of despatch your business,
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02
Eaults of MODERN Dinners.

A medical journal complains that
the modern. dinner has become an ex-
tremely depressing affair, and that so
far from being a feast Of reason and
a flow of soul the conversation Is a
mere interchange of symptoms, de-
tails Of operations or the advantages
Of this or that cure. Such topics, evil
IDENTIFY, are not provocative Of remarks
that set the table in a roar, nor do
they tend to promote the good diges.
ton which should wait on appetite.
Indeed, there is little appetite for d.
gestion to wait upon. The da!ntiest
of menus is disregarded when the
diners are under a regime, and
courses pass untouched willis pow
ders are openly stirred into wine
glasses.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02
Good Roads Fund Not Available.

SUO1 hIGhS bId NOk NNdtldUIEs
A bill was passed at the regular ses-
sion of the general assembly, appro-
priating $500, 900 for a good roads
fund, to be apportioned among the
several counties of the state, the
cities also to share therein. The
money, however, will not be available
this year, as the law, which becomes
operative June 16, carried no emer-
geney clause. An amount equal to
that to which the county is entitled
from the state must be applied to
road purposes by the county. The
fact that the funds cannot be obtained
this year was disclosed by the appli-
cation of Jasper county for 81, 1000 for
the building of a road from Carthage
to Gainesville, the citizens interested
having also collected 81, 900.
First Bill of Session Passed.
One bill, the first of the session,
was passed by the house Monday. 1t
makes a fraudulent signature to a Pc
tition for or remonstrance against a
saloon license a misdemeanor, pun
ishable by a fine Of from $25 to 800.
The bill was introduced by Represen-
tative Polk. Another bill, introduced
by Representative Barker, providing
that the possession of a government
/, liquor license alone should be conclu-
siva evidence Of the illegal sale of
liquor, was tabled.
Local Option Bill Is Engrossed.
The Bottsford local option law.
which caused such a wrangle in the
house, was ordered to engrossment
without a renewal of hostilities. AS
the bill now stands the chief changes
1t makes in the local option law is to
requie cities Of less than $4,000 in
habitants to vote with the counties in
which they are situated when local
option is submitted, and to cities OF
over 2 5000 local option is extended
to the wards.
Liquor Shipment Bill.
Representative McMurray wants to
put a stop to G. o. d. liquor ship
ments into local option counties, and
has introducedSa bill, through which
he hopes to accomplish 1t, His meas
ure provides that no one shall keep,
store or deliver for or to another, ex-
cept for the use of his own immediate
family, any intoxicating liquor what
ever in any county where local option
has been or may be adopted. Viola
ton of this act are made punishable
by fine ranging from $500 to $1,000
for each offense.
Tax Bills Engrossed.
After nearly an entire days debate
the senate completed consideration OF
the corporation tax bill and sent it to
engrossment, and then took UP the
state excise commissioner bill and ad-
iourned pending consideration OK
amendments, The corporation tax bill
provides for a special tax of IS cents
on the $1,000 OF capital stock DE- all
corporations, save express and insur-
ance companies. Two amendments
were adopted, 0Rs exempts mlssusd
steel: from the tax AMI the ether ex.
empts capital and surplcs iusestad
! outside the state.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02

sir, and be gone;" for | was both busy
and much irritated against him. Il
guess you want to see our cashier"
said |, after giving him a hasty, abb
sent-minded hand-shake. "My boy out
there will take you to him."
The old do-nothing's face lost its
confident, condescending expression.
His lip q~uivered, and l think there
were tears in his bad, dim, gray-green
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02
Alas! For Good Intentions

"And know the Bible through and
through"
The minister nodded.
We'll" said the lunatic with a grin,
"all I've got to say is that you've got
Ananias beat 100 times. You're about
the worst liar in this country
Buffalo Times.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02

Cunning always has been the Of
fensive and defensive weapon OF IL.
norance. Match cunning with cnn,
ming" only as 8 last Tesost., -Jch:A A.
Rowland.
Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-05-02

"That man is so wise he can talk
BY the hour ,,.,
"Fos," answered Miss Cayenne.
sBut he Isn't wise enough Il keep
stlll ave minutes " sshlasssa .as.
Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-02-16
OFFICIAL NOTICE.

In the matter of the contemplated
improvementof that portion of Fifth
Avenue between north line of East
Milwaukee Avenue and south line of
East Center street.
Notice is hereby given by the under
signed officers performing the duties of
Board Of yuolic works in aud for the
City of Wauwatosa. Wisconsin, that
said officials have made and filed in
their Office, at the Office of the Citv
Clerk of the City Of Wauwatosa. Wis
consin, a report showing their deter
mination upon the questions required
to be considered by them under the
provisions Of sub section l78 Of section,
9Z5 Wisconsin Statutes 1898 concerninr
the contemplated work or Improvement,
Of that portion Of Fifth Avenue betwee
north line of East Milwaukee, Avenue
and south line of East Center Street in
the saidCity Of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
That said report shows that the I'M
ders:gned officers have viewed the
premises, their determination of the
damages and benefits which will ac-
crue TO each parcel of real estate nv
reason Of change or alteration of grade
the entire cost of the contemplated
work or improvement upon such. por-
ton Of street, the benefits and damages
that will accrue to the several parcels
of real estate thereby; and the amount
that should be assessed under the pro-
visions of sub-chapter Is of caaoter 40
A. Wisconsin Statistics 1898, to each
parcel Of such real estate as benefits.
aceruing thereto bv the contemplated
work or improvement on such portion
Of street which said report is open forI
review at the said office and will be so
continued for the space of twenty days
after the date Of this notice
That on the eighth day Of March 1907.
said undersigned officers will be in ses.
sion ut the City Hall in said city at the
hour OF O'clock in the fore noon OIL
said day. to hear all objections. that
that may be given or made to said re.
port.
Dated at City Of WauwatoSa, Wis
this 9Th day of February 1907
+. L. LovEIAxD.
j. u. WARREN.
). j. MAKQUAKDr.
{At4taa,,=
Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-02-16

Henry Finb, collector ofinternalrcv.
enne, has received applications from
about 300 dealers within the Eastern
district of the state Of Wisconsin for
permission to sell denatared alcohol.
The greater number are from retail
dealers and druggists. During the
month Of January 50 permits were is
sued. A few milwaukee, dealers have
secured the produc from Peoria, and
the Lakeside distillery of Milwaukee
viii soon have denatured alcohol ready
for the market. The present price
ranges from 20 to 80 cents gallon, ex-
elusive Of barrel charges.
Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-02-16

Consul + w Mahin reports that the
price Of Illuminating gas in Widnes,
Lancashire. England, now 80 cents to
small consumers, but win be reduced
to 30 cents on July /. Large consum-
erS Will pay from % to % cents. This
is claimed to be the cheapest gasin the
world. The town has about SO. 600 pop
ltlation. The price Of gas is remark
ably low everywhere in Great Britiau,
whether under public or private con-
troll, the general range Of price being
40 and 20 cents