davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
PRESS POWER IN LAND.
DR.. HadIey says 1t Has Supplantee
Courts as Peoples Forum.

DR.. HadIey says It Has suppIanted
Courts as Peoples Forum.
IL can be shown that our choice OF
newspapers and our way OF reading
them have an important bearing on
the government of the country, and
that we must take this into account
in order to do our full duty as Amer
lean citizens, writes President Hadley
of Yale in the Youths Companion.
Among the many reforms which
are needed in American politics, a
reform in the spirit in which we read
our newspapers is one of the most
important.
Our statute books are full of in
stances of laws which are evaded or
nullified because they have not the
public sentiment of the people be-
hind them. The newspapers are the
chief agents in forming public opin-
ion. This used to be done by courts
of law and by political assemblies,
but the modern newspaper has sup
planted both as forum of public dis
cussion and as means of public edu-
cation.
A hundred years ago intelligent
men used to learn about the workings
of the law either by serving on juries
or by reading the decisions of the
judges, but the jury service is today
managed SO badly that in most of the
states no intelligent man wishes to
serve on a jury if he can help it. And
if he does have to serve on a jury
he does not gain an understanding of
the law as much as a contempt for
the way in which criminal lawyers
are allowed to misapply it. And most
of the decisions of present day judges
on questions like railroad manage
ment or the equities of taxation are
so much occupied with precedents
and so little actual facts that they
have very slight effect on public
opinion.
Nor do the people get the instruc-
ton from politicsS speech which
they did two or three generations ago
Political speakers may address en-
thusiastic meetings. but their address
es are appeals to the emotions of men
who have already formed their views
other than deliberate discussions with
a view to aid in their formation.
If we want responsible government
we must have responsible newspa
pers. If we are to have responsible
newspapers. the reform must begin
with the readers themselves. The
newspaper reader must get into the
habit of seeing whether the state
ments of fact in his paper are sup
ported by evidence or not. 1t is not
possible for a country to be well gov.
erned unless the people who do the
reading are in the habit of weighing
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
He Must Mot Talk,

1t is a good idea to teach the small
boy that he should not talk while his
father is reading, but here is case in
which the prohibition was carried to
disastrous extent. Harry had been
lectured so many times about his in
opportune talking that he usually
asked permission to speak. He saw,
one evening, that his father was
buried in the newspaper so he
asked his mother if he might not say
something. Els mother told him that
his father must not be disturbed.
Harry mildly insisted however asking
leave to say Just one word" but the
mother was firm and would not give
the necessary permission. Finally.
the father laid down the paper and
said:
"Oh, nothing, answered the boy.
except that the bath tub is running
over"
And then there was hurrying and
a scurrying, and all that sort of thing
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
ONCE A WASTE BEACH.
Land Formerly Looked Upon as
worthless, Row Held at Millions.

Amazing as are the changes in real
estate prices which Lambert Wardell
80 years of age, has witnessed in New
York, tney are almost equaled in
many instances by the augmented val
ues along the New Jersey coast, says
the New York Herald.
Mr.. Wardell, who had just returned
rom one OF his semi-monthly visits
to New Jersey, spoke yesterday of
once wild and worthless wastes which
are now held at millions of dollars.
My little home in the country"
said he, lis at Shrewsbury, not far
from the great estate which was
owned by the late John A. Mccall
When | was a boy l used to wander
barefoot over the long stretch of sand
and swamp and the sedge-covered
dunes which extended from North
Long Branch to Atlantic highlands.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
cHlLRDEN OF PLATO.

Chrysilla's beautiful as morn
When not clouds in sight.
And when the weary days outworn,
She's beautiful as night
With all it's stars alight.
1 laid my heart down at her feet,
And tears were in her eyes;
Chrysillas beautiful and sweet
And, more than this, she's wise;
She looked at me with wondering,
She looked at me with love,
And yet methought the glance did
spring
AS from a wounded dove
That falls from heaven above
And futters ON the ground,
Yet makes no dying sound.
read the riddle of her look,
l bowed and kissed her hand,
And all our loves an open book
We fully understand.
We meet as winds may meet at eve
We roam the garden through,
Oh, many and many dream we
weave
While still the day is new;
That's brighter than the dew
And many and many a dream we
weave
Just for the dear dreams sake,
Just for the joy dreams wake,
Knowing that bubbles break
And yet we never speak of love,
1t is so pure thing;
We only live it as the dove
And miss the broken wing,
That, broken, trails in dust;
Our love it is too bright thing
For the rude world to rust;
'Tis only OF the soul, spring
That flows because it must.
And all of life is beautiful,
And all of life is sweet,
For all the paths are dutiful
That feel our passing feet.
&C. G. Blanden.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30

own self, but the background is some.
what fanciful."
The picture, a gray and white com
position, showed the Gothic door and
stately background of a church. From
the door there stretched a stone plat
form, from which led short flight
of stairs at right angles to second
stone landing. A wedding procession
of six maids and bride issued from
the church, the bride just stepping
through the door, while the first Of the
bridesmaids stood at the foot of the
stairs on the lowest landing The
faces were undeniably photographs,
and good ones if judged by that of
the bride, but the background was
clearly a water-color reproduction. The
guest had seen many pictures Of we'd
ding parties, but never one just like
this. 1t was unconventional and in
|teresting to degree.
I've always been very fond of the
picture, and since you've noticed it, /
must tell you little of how We hap
pen to have it. When 1 was married
in my western home, the photograph
Ter, who had taken my picture from
signalling infancy up to young lady
hood, was very anxious to give me
something unique as a present, ana
asked, as a special favor, that he be
allowed to arrange picture OF the
wedding party after his own idea. OF
course 1 said yes, and this is the re-
lsult
"The day after the wedding he
asked the bridesmaids to assemble at
his studio, where he had this back
ground already sketched. He then
posed them as he wanted them to
stand, as if they had marched out oil
the church, across the platform, ana
down the steps. Do you notice how
Icleverly he's done it. No two are
standing alike; two are posed as it
coming down stairs, and the perspec-
tive from foreground to background
is absolutely perfect. The first girl.
my little cousin, is really the shortest
of the lot SO she is placed in the
foreground. Then the others are
properly diminished, as they would
naturally be in such a procession.
Hardest of all to manage was the
bouquet. The best of the leftover
flowers were put together for the pic
ture, so the same bunch did duty for
the whole six. You'd never know it
unless you examined closely, so wide
ly has he varied its position. 1t was
lucky that l had carried a prayer
book, for my bouquet was a mere
brown "reminiscences when my picture
was taken"
"But you weren't there on the day
after How did he get you?"
Clever man that he was, he senr
| in the sketch to me here in New
York, where 1 had come to live after
my wedding trip, and l posed here,
Then he reduced my picture to the
proper size, and behold, the finished
product
AS the guest took last look at the
softly toned procession with its ca
thedral setting, she could not help
contrasting it, to their disparagement,
with the stiff groups of bridesmaids
that adorned the walls of many of her
friends homes.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
NINE ELEPHANTS TO A MAN.
Huge Bag Made by Nine Dutch
Hunters in South Africa.


To secure bag of eighty-one ele
plants in these prosaic days will
seem like a dream to- most sports
men, but the feat has just been &C
complished by J. w. Viljoen and eight
other Dutch farmers in the Lomagun-
di district. The government has just
thrown the district open for the de-
struction of elephants, and this enor-
NOUS bag was made within sixty
miles Of the capital of Rhodesia, and
near the railway.
viljoen and his party pitched their
camp at Maquadzio, the center of
the elephant district, and divided up
into pairs, a fact which nearly led to
a fatality, for going through the bush
Viljoen encountered his first elephant,
which he shot. AS this fell another
one crashed through the trees at the
back of the hunter, and pursued him.
once striking the horse with his
trunk, until Viljoen succeeded in
reaching clearer ground, where he
found himself thirty yards aLead of
his pursuer. Slipping off his horse,
he fired at the elephant and killed it.
One incident marred the sport, and
that was the accidental shooting of
member of the party named Eloff.
Eloff and three companions paired off
and walked distance of about fifty
yards apart, when Eloff and his friend
suddenly saw two elephants They
fired, but only succeeded in shooting
off a tusk of one the animals, who
promptly charged them Eloff made
in the direction of the men in front
of him, and they, seeing the beast
crashing through the brush behind
them and ignorant of ElOff's where
abouts, fired at the elephant, and
while one bullet despatched the ele-
plant, the other found a billet in
Eloffs neck, killing him instantly.
The party came back to the Trans
vaal the richer for 1000 pounds of
ivory and seven young elephants The
first one was captured when half
grown. 1t was feeding with four
grown elephants, all of which were
shot. and then the little one, instead
of running away. made for the hun
tiers, two of whom seized it's tail,
while the two others hung on to each
ear. and there was a tusSle for half
an hour, after which the elephant
was rolled on it's back and its feet
tied with the horses reins. 1t was
then fastened to a tree, and the next
day driven into camp. After day
or two it became so docile that its
attentions were rather a nuisance, for
it tried to tread on the hunters toes,
helped itself to all the available food,
and would put it's trunk into the COOK
ing pots and take out anything IL
fancied, while it would follow the ma
tives down to- the stream for drink.
On the record day twenty elephants
were shot and two little ones cap
tured; vilioen's unaided efforts &C
counted for eighteen of the twenty
slain. These two elephants speedily
became docile, and now that all the
captives are in proper kraal they
have become quite acclimatized to
their new surroundings and are both
playful and friendly Rhodesia Her
aid Weekly.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
"kEEPiNc" A WEDDING DAY.
How an Ingenious Photographic
Pleased a Bride.

"You don't mind If | seem TO De
curious. / trust said the last lunch
con guest to her hostess, as she pulled
off her gloves. bending as she did SO
to look more closely at a picture that
hing over the low desk. But this is
most interesting and unusual. Is It
lust what it seems to be?
.NMy wedding procession? Well. yes
and no. That is. the girls are all my
bridesmaids and the bride is my very
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
An UnweIcome Check.

Have you received check from
home yet?r
Il should say so; the old man said
he wouldn't remit for two months
Cornell Widow.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
PROUD OF THEM.

Partner said the tall tramp at
the water tank, Eyer don't seem much
worried about dem openings in de un-
der part of yer SHOE"
guess not" chuckled the short
tramp as he warmed his feet on the
hot cinders; "dey are de windows of
me SOLE"
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
Good Reason.

Son-Papa, doesn't Santa Claus have
an automobile?
Father-No, indeed, my SON
Son-Why not?
Father-Because he couldn't get un
der it.-St. Louis PostDispatch.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
The REAL THING.

:, Mrs. Bluehose-"Who is your favor
tie writer. Mrs. Shopleigh?"
Mrs shopleigh-My husband
MRS. Why, WASN'T aware
that he was of a literary turn"
Mrs. Shopleigh-"Oh. yes; he writes
checks.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
An Explanation.

A clearinghouse lady named Skin
ner,
When questioned, why skimp on
the dinner?''
Explained: Il am able to seat more
at table,
BY training my students down thin
ner."
Wisconsin sphinx.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30

If the place where woman keeps
the sheets and pillow cases is only an
old box she can respect it by calling it
the linen closet.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30

Cleveland Plain Dealer-According
to the Dutch government. the seizure
of two Venezuelan vessels is just
bit of diplomatic pretense, Win
nothing unfriendly about 1t. 1t Is TO
be hoped that Venezuela has at least
the ordinary sense of humor.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
Naturally.

Brown had close shave last
night"
rs that so? How did it happen?7
Quite out of the ordinary
Indeed"
Yes; the razor was sharp. Nash
vile Republican.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30

evidence. If they shut their eyes to.
an facts except those that they like,
the government will be at the mercy
of passion and prejudice.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
Helping an Author.

Is there anything you could say
about my poems that would help the
public to think more kindly of them?'
Well, answered the kind-hearted
reviewer, I'VE might mention the fact
that they were not written by Alfred
Austin Washington Star.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
WORST OF ALL.

What is the most Objectionable
feature of prison life?' asked the par
son.
Visitors replied convict No. 8.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30

Galveston News-Now that the
Dutch have seized a Venezuelan war
ship, it behooves President Castro 10
come home and conceal his other val
uableS.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30
BATTLE OF The RANTAMs.

Cleveland Leader-It is announced
that the seizure of Venezuelan snip
by Holland was mot an unfr1endiy
act" Just little holiday kidding!
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30

Philadelphia Ledger-Holland ex
plains that the taking of Venezuelan
ships is not a war measure. HOW
ever, as a peace measure 1t seems
almost radical.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30

Baltimore Sun-Venezuela's navy
is now reduced to SAND scoW anu
two coal hoppers.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1908-12-30

Washington Post-t will be ODD
served that when the shooting COM
menced President Castro was else
where. Now, there is practicai
mark
The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1908-07-02

-
debates, the chairman, Mr. Dockery, sustained
every one Of them.
On February II, 1893, Mr.. Watson re-
newed the attack his several failures in the
preceding session not having discouraged him
utterly This time, however, he had greatly
reduced the amount desired for "experimen-
tai rural routes''; he asked for only $4,000.
After a good deal Of debate, during which
an attempt was made to show that the then
existing law covered the point, this amend
men finally carried by vote Of 70 to Al. So
to the famous Georgia Populist credit must
be given for having secured the first appro-
priation for rural free delivery. But it
availed nothing for the time being. In the
report of the postofdce committee on the ap-
preparation bill for the fiscal year beginning
July l, 1894, after referring to the item OF
$4,000 for the establishment Of trial routes,
the following statement is made:
''It has been found impossible by reason
CT the pressure of more important questions
for the officers having that matter in charge
to give the subject the study and considera-
ton it demands much less to establish such
rural delivery To inaugurate such
q system it would require $20,000,000 at the
least :"
So it is very evident that somebody in the
postoffice department was not very enthusiast
tic at that time over the proposition to de-
liver mail at the homes of the American farm
ers An item of $4,000 was carried for sew
eral years before any active steps were TAX
en-, as has been pointed out in the able and
extended article Of Hon. P. Y. DeGraw in
the February % issue of The Woman's Ma
tional Daily. It is bit amusing to note that,
while no "study or consideration" had been
given the subject, somebody in the depart
ment was sure the Inauguration of rural de-
livery "would cost at least $20,00O000'! AS
a matter Of fact, the first experimental route,
established October I, 1896, cost very little
and could have been established years before
Just as we'll as not. From October l, 1896, to
June 80, 1897, 83 routes were established and
the cost of maintenance was 14,84O. The
idea has grown rapidly to its present gigantic
size. From present indications, the prophecy
of Representative O'Donnell that the SER
vice would become self-sustaining will not,
however, be fulfilled for many years. Many
persons believe this prophecy will be fulfilled
ultimately-Mr. O Donnell fixed no time limit.
Robert M McWade, in Woman National
I'LL
The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1908-07-02

great improvements in postal matters For
less expenditures the people of other countries
have postal service for the farmers infinite
ly superior to our own"
Mr. O Donnell then quoted lot Of figures
and expressed the firm conviction that rural
delivery in time would become self-sustain-
ing. He declared most emphatically that
the spreading abroad of intelligence in farm
ing communities by this means is above mere
money value. He also gave some Interesting
historical facts regarding the postal service
"Ahasuerus, King Of Persia, - he said, sis
the first recorded monarch who sent letters
into every province of his vast empire, in
forming his subjects that it was his imperial
will that every man should bear rule in his
own house This was B. G. 1856 The king
did this on account Of being piqued at the
queen--a questionable beginning of great sys-
TEN. The first recorded riding post was es-
tabished in the Persian empire by Cyrus o.
c. 536). Travellers in China in the four
teenth century found the government post sim
liar to that Of Persia under Cyrus, and these
Chinese posts had existed from the earliest
times. Under the Roman empire posts were
established for the government, but they were
forbidden to carry private letters. Charlie
magne planned postal service for the German
empire in 807, but the service did not survive
him.
''The first postoffice in America was es-
tablished in 1872, and New York was the Of
fce In 1910 the postmaster general of Great
Britain designated that Office as the chief let
ter office Of the country. Franklin, as post
master general of the colonies introduced
many progressive ideas, but was removed by
orders from England on account of his ad-
vanced service.
"The United States is far behind other
countries in affording mail accommodations
to jewellers in farming communities. England,
Germany, France, China, Japan and India
have long had this system. For a century
the people of England have had this privil-
eye. Mounted postmen hundred years ago
delivered mail to the farmers Of England and
were assisted by village messengers and the
sons of the yeomen, who met the prompt post
men,"
Apparently the introduction Of his bill in
January and this speech on May % ended the
activity of Mr. O'Donnel at least so far as
congressional records go. On June l, 1892,
Representative "Tom'' Watson-the middle
of-the-road man from Georgia-offered an
amendment to the postoffce appropriation bill
diverting 100000 from another appropriation
for the purpose of establishing departmental
rural free delivery routes" Representative
Leonidas F. Livingston, also Of Georgia, who
L. ~l,4 low CO. 3IoO,
The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1908-07-02
PARCELS POST ARGUMENT.
man, Mr.. Dockery, sustained

If an Express Company Can Declare 20 Per
Cent Dividends Isn't it About Time
that the Parcels Post be Extended?
(From the Mail Order Journal.)
When the rate law as far as it covers the
express companies went into effect June 80,
compelling these corporations for the first
time to make detailed reports of their affairs
rs common carriers to the Interstate Com
The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1917, 1908-07-02


to us for information our subscribers ask
questions which, in order to answer correctly
entail great deal of work. The following
letter from good friend in the Old Domin-
ion is a sample:
buchanan Institute, Grundy, Virginia,
April 27, 1909.-Mr Robert NJ. McWade,
Washington, D. C.-Dear Sir: Would you
kindly answer in The Woman s National Daily
the question: who is really the author Of
the rural free delivery system?' Can you
quote from the Congressional Record showing
who was the first congressman to propose this
extension Of the postal service for the benefit
of the common people7 Yours truly,
~. L. KIBLER. -
If by the "author Of the rural free delivery
system our friend means who first proposed
it publicly, the credit according TO the Con-
gressional Record belongs to the then Repre-
sentative James O'Donnell Of Michigan, who
on January 5, 1892, introduced bill provid-
ing for the establishment Of genuine rural
free delivery. His bill carried an appropria-
ton of 100000 and left all details to the
discretion of the postmaster general-at that
time John Wanamaker. On May % of the
same year, while the house Of representatives
was in committee of the whole for the consid-
Grafton of the postoffce appropriation bill,
former Gov. Alexander NJ. Dockery of Missou-
ii presiding, Representative ODonnell made
an eloquent plea for the passage of his bill,
and suggested that the amount be increased
from $6,OOOOOO to $13O0O,000. From reading
his speech, it is obvious that Representative
O'Donnell, who by some was called ga per-
petual candidate for governor of Michigan"
had given serious study to the subject of ru-
raj delivery and that there was nothing small
about his ideas. At the outset he said
"Mr Chairman, there comes to the congress
Of the United States of America petitions
from thousands of our citizens for a right
due them-the free delivery of mails in rural
communities. There are 4,75O,O00 farms in
this country, and their owners and tenants
appeal to this house for what they feel is
their due-that they should be placed on the
same footing as the people of the cities and
towns; that the postal department shall ex-
tend to them the same facilities accorded the
urban residents of the nation. There is great
unanimity in this demand and it is based on
simple justice. If the government delivers
the letters and mails to the denizens of cities
and towns the same treatment should be ac-
corded the farming communities. The post
master general (Mr. John Wanamaker), real
ling the right in this matter, favors the ex-
tension Of the service to include jewellers on
farms There is no reason or logic in deliv
ering mail to inhabitants Of the cities, who are
II