davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01
SHOPPING IN CAIRO.
Where Bargaining Is the Perfume, the
Poetry Of Trade.

Poetry Of Trade.
Il entered Sidi Okba's shop in Cairo"
said the man with the oriental labels
on his luggage, land a handsome carpet
caught my eye. What is the price Of
that?' I asked.
"'That carpet is not for SALE Sidi
Okba answered. I bought 1t at great
cost for my OWL d%electation only. How
beautiful it is! But will not monsieur
partake with me Of coffee and ciga-
rettes?"
II partook. The next morning l was
in that neighborhood again, and Sidi
came forth and saluted me. He had
changed his mind about retaining the
carpet. Allah forbade selfshness among
the true believers, and since I desired
the thing he'd let me have it for $1,000.
"I'll give you $10,' said l.
"IIe fell back, almost fainting; then
in a weak, panied voice he offered me
coffee again.
Next day when turned up he came
down to 5000, and l went up to SIS
and we drank more coffee and smoked
Next day he dropped to $500. and | ros'
to $3.50. We We're very cheerful owe
the coffee and tobacco that day. W
had the carpet spread before us to ad
mire. 1t was evident that we woul'
strike a bargain yet, and just before
left Cairo we did strike a bargain
The carpet became mine for $50. l
would have cost $3.50 at home. AS W
shook hands in farewell Sidi Okb
said:
"I love n good bargainer like youl
self. Bargaining is the bloom, the pei
fume, the poetry of trade. l adore it.
Exchange.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01
Neat Little Game.


After tea she brought over his pipe
and his slippers.
"John," she whispered tenderly, do
you know my conscience has been
hurting me and I have formed a little
conscience fund"
conscience fund.-" asked the big
husband in surprise.
Eyes, dear. You see, I have been
borrowing a few dollars out Of your
vest pockets every night for a week.
and here is the entire sum-"
"Well! Well! You r an honest
little woman"
"And, John"
"Well, my dearY"
"Now-now that I have been SO hon
est, would-would you mind giving me
the conscience fund to buy a pretty
hat I saw in a window today?"-Bos-
ton Post.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01
Rarnum's Ready Retart.

Barnum once appeared at Oxford to
lecture on 'Humbug." The rowdy
students would not give him n hear
ing. At length. in a momcntary lull,
he shouted. Then you don't want to
hear anything about humbug?"
I'VE don't!" was the answer In a
roar.
"Well." retorted Barnum. i've got
your money. and there's no humbug
about that"
The disturbance came to a sudden
finish. and Barnum proceeded in peace,
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01
HE DIDN'T SWEAR.
But q Court Record Quoted Him as
Using Strong Language.

Using Strong Language.
One day during a term of court at
Macon, Mo-. Judge Shelton, who was
running through a stenographic record
Of a trial, detected Il sentence which
reflected upon the piety of appellants
senior counsel, Major B. r. Dysart, an
elder in the Presbyterian church.
Major" he said, II have just been
reading this record. l was inexpressi-
bly, panied to note in it some very dis
respectful language you used in the
presence of the court"
A funeral solemnity would fall short
of describing the appearance Of Dy-
sart's features.
"What do you meanY" he asked.
"Of course you may have been excit-
ed a bit during the trial, major. l
know those other fellows were worry
ing you like everything, but that is
hardly an excuse for using cuss words.
You should have waited until you got
outside. It won't do
Does your honor mean to intimate
that l swore in your presence while
trying a case?" demanded the major
sternly.
II don't intimate anything, major,
but you just look at that" And he
handed the transcript to Dysart. There
nesting in the midst Of a long argu'
ment over an objection, printed as
plain as type could make 1t, were the
words:
1T is a damned obscure injury"
1t required nearly five minutes fol
the major to think out how it happen
ed. Then he grabbed a pen, showed II
into the ink bottle and viciously
scratched out the ribald sentence, ove'
which he wrote:
1T is a damnum absque injuria,'
meaning a damage without an injury
kansas City Star.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01
w. J. :MINAR,
He Emptjed His Pockets.

no emptIeo IT'S
The Comte de Corbieres, minister OF
the interior to Louis XVIII, while
working in the kings cabinet one day
became absorbed in his work and so
far forgot himself as to place his
snuffbox on the kings desk after TAX
ing snuff. The king observed this I'M
heard Of familiarity from the corner
Of his eye, but said nothing. Present
~ the minister whipped out his pocket
handkerchief and placed it beside the
snuffbox.
M. de Corbieres," remarked the
king at last, "you appear to be empty
ing your pockets"
perhaps SO. SIRE" was the calm re-
Spouse, "but that is much better than
filing them"
The king smiled at the clever hit at
the corruption of some of the minis
ter's predecessors. Corbieres was noted
for his scrupulous integrity.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01
STATE BOARD ACCUSED.
Timber Lands Alleged To Have Been
Sold At a Loss To the State,

HELENA, June 23.-Omcial notice
has been taken by the state board of
land commissioners of the charge of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which has been
banded about in northwestern Mon.
tana for the past three weeks in con.
nection with the sale of thousands OF
acres of timber lands. A hearing has
been ordered for July % at Kalispell,
when the board will be pleased to
meet all persons making complaints
or charges against the administration.
The records of the land office will be
on hand.
Edward Dickey of Kalispell, wrote
two letters to Governor Norris, max.
Ing charges concerning sales which
were made at . board meeting last
December. At the executive meeting
OF the board yesterday these letters
were transmitted by the gov.
ernor who suggested that as they set
forth grave charges, the board make
an investigation at its earliest con-
venience.
A few weeks back, when the big
lumber companies placed deeds On file
for thousands of acres of land pur.
chased from the state, the complaints
beg an to arise. Mr.. Dickey's letter
was q lengthy one. In substance, he
charged that 10000 acres of timber
land, which was sold at S12.75 an
acre, was worth double that amount;
that the state law provides that no
person shall buy from the state more
than 100 acres OF timber or agricul.
tural land, and that to evade this Law
dummies" were secured who did no,
even know their names had been used,
and who signed over to the big con
cerns-in this instance the Somers
Lumber company-the title 20 the
land. He characterized the proceed
ing Of the board in making this sale
without the knowledge of the public a
savoring Of the ''star chamber" He
also stated that in some instances the
board had turned down an offer for 9
tract of land and then sold at q much
less figure. This last charge is ex
planned by members, who state tina
many times a bidder offers an attrac
tive price for a small strip, but de
clines to purchase land which is ad
jacent but of little value. To secure
a good price for the poor land it Il
sometimes sold with the good land
and the price per acre averages mucl
more than could be secured in an,
other way.
Mr.. Dickey charges that three-quar
tiers of a million dollars had been los
to the state through the carelessness
or worse of the board.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01
STATE TIMBER LANDS.

The announcement that the state
board of land commissioners will give
a public hearing to those who allege
that state timber lands have been sold
at q price far below their actual value,
is a matter of considerable public In.
terest. For some time past 1t has been
current gossip in Nathead county that
sales of state timber land In that part
of Montana were being made at q loss
to the commonwealth, and the state
board has decided to give its critics
an opportunity to prove their allega-
lions. That is the proper way to set
tie the question. If any mistake has
been made, or any unlawful or crooked
action has been taken, a public hear
ing may develop tina: fact and suggest
a remedy. II everything is on the
square, the accusation of dishonesty
or disrega ard of the public welfare will
be d%isproved.
The nature of these alleged irregu-
larities is indicated by an article In
the Libby News, which says In part:
The Western News has been in
formed by q prominent official OF Flat
head county, and by q prominent tim.
Der cruiser of this county, that recent
sales OF timber lands in Flathead
county nave been made at prices which
are far below the actual value of these
lands. This newspaper has also been
informed that in the judgment CT this
timber cruiser the state of Montana
has been robbed of at least 81 600, DOC
in three trans actions OF account OF
the price at which these lands have
been sold.
The three transactions referred to
are those by which Julius Neils, the
Northwestern Lumber company and
the Somers Lumber company have &C
quired large areas Of state timber
lands in this county. According te
the authority given, the land which
was bought by julius Neils is at leas
$500, 900 less than its value; that thu
Somers Lumber company lands wer'
sold on a basis which makes the stump
@ not to exceed Is cents q thousand
adjoining lands from which the United
States government gets $2.l0 per thous
and, and for the same kind OF timber
and that the purchase OF the lands b.
the Northwestern Lumber company /
on q par with the other two transac
tions, and the three easily amounting
to q loss to the state of Q million dol
lars.
This newspaper is also informed
that the method Of transferring thi
land from the state of Montana t
these concerns 10 an evidence Of fraud
in equity if not in law. The record
of this county show that these land
have been obtained from the govern
ment by individuals In parcels of nc
to exceed 160 acres. Under the law
it is explained to this office, no one i
entitled to purchase more than l6
acres of state lands.
Yet the Somers Lumber company
for instance, has just recently place
on record deeds for about 10000 acre
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01

MlsSOULA, June 24.-James Hayes
was locked up in the county Jail today
on q statement he made that, while q
priv ate in the British army, he had
murdered q corporal named Joseph
Walsh at the St. Louis barracks, near
Quebec, about eight years ago.
Hayes mind il believed to be affected.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01
No Modern Home Is Complete
Without a Telephone.

The greatest labor and time-savinf
convenience Of the age. You can talk
from your telephone to every subscrib.
er in any exchange in Utah, Montana,
Idaho, Wyoming, as we'll as all Pacific
coast points and Colorado and New
Mexico. Short rates for short talks
Halt minute up. The pay begins wher
the talk begins.
Rates from 800 up, for unlimited
local service.
Leave your orders now. The new
instruments Are the very latest i'm
proved.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01

This bank solicits accounts, and
offers to depositors absolute security,
prompt and careful attention, and the
most liberal treatment consistent with
safe and profitable banking. Buys
and sells foreign exchange, drawing
direct on all principal American and
European cities, and issues Its W
Letters of Credit.
Interest paid on time deposits. The
highest cash price paid for approved
state, county, city and school bonds
and warrants.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01
Broke the Law,

"What got me into trouble? Failure
to ignore the law"
THAT seems odd"
mot ut all. l couldn't resist the
temptation to give the law a swift
kick. ~ouisville Courier-J ournal.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-07-01

The WEEKLY RIVER PRESS is q good
newspaper to send away oyour friends
in the east. 1t will save you the trou.
BILE of writing letters
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-10
Destroy Germs BY coIors.

Eminent French scientists are show
ing that it is possible to rid ourselves
of germs by painting the walls with
particular colors. The experiments
made by Prof. Deycke in the first in
stance proved that the disease germ
applied to a wall painted with am
phoboline' lost It's poisonous proper
ties. Spreading paint on pieces Of
board or glass or cement, he placed a
culture of cholera germ on the sur
face The germ vanished. Drs. lie
Bosco and Lydia Rabinovitch found
that the tuberculosis germ also disap-
peared under the influence Of enamel
ing colors, neither the consumption,
cholera nor diphtheria germ being
found. The typhoid germs disappeared
slowly in comparison on the fourth
day. Ultramarine blue seems to de-
stroy the germs the most rapidly,
within "a hours. The results on the
gray paint we're almost negative,
while it took the maroon paint al.
most Il days to kill the germ.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-10
RISK NOTHING, CLEAR $4,000 ON
GOTHAM BONDS.
RaldwIns, Of Boston, Mako Their Bid
Good After 100000 Allotment
Receive Seven Offers
for Option.
coDynehtb By waidOp Eawcett,

New York.-Charles A. Baldwin and
w. A. Baldwin, brothers, Of Boston,
made a fortune in day by bidding
for more than $4,0OOOO0 Of the New
York city bonds at 1O4 They have
announced that they will accept the
offer of New York bond house of
1O7 for their allotment, which will
make their clear profit on an invest
ment Of nothing s126,00O
Charles A. Baldwin is treasurer Of
the Massachusetts Loan and Guaran-
tee Company, and said that after
studying the bond issue, exempt from
taxation, and should the Aldrich bill
pass good bank security for circu-
lation, they decided there was a
chance Of good profit and made their
bid. They have received seven offers
for their option.
Stephen L. Tingley and A. e. Reid
presented the Baldwin bid. With it
was a check for $16S,OOO, two per cent.
of the bid, guaranteed by the Massa-
chusetts Loan and Guarantee Com
pany.
I'VE didn't know how we could raise
$40 If we had to-" said one of the
brothers. When they received the
offer Of 1O7, however, they found no
difficulty in getting a bank to take
care Of the check.
According to Boston dispatches, SO
far as is known. the brothers are the
only men interested in the Boston in
stitution. Charles A. Baldwin is said
to have an interesting record as a
bucket-shop and discretionary pool op
orator in various cities. After being
connected with a wire and mail order
bucketshop, which failed in Boston IL
years ago, he went to Texas, bul
had a bucket-shop in Wall street here
in 1899. which did not last long. HI
was later in the F. A. Rogers & Co
discretionary pool-house which failed
one morning to open its DOORS HI
was at various other times connecte,
with firms here in Boston, and il
January, 1906. was arrested in a civi
action and lodged in the Ludlow stree
jail.
Comptroller Metz says he will tr,
to have the New York city charte
amended to protect the city fron
straw and "shoestring" bids 70
bonds to be accompanied by certife
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-10
uncIe sam sIow PaY.

The United States as a debtor is
slow pay, if not sure. Among the
claims allowed by the auditor for the
war department In the last fiscal year
were those OF Hezekiah Davis, George
Dixon, Edward Gervais. Ingram NJ.
Richardson and Andrew J. Fetherow
for transportation services and sup
plies Of Oregon and Washington vol
unteers in 1855 and 1856 The
Richardson claim was for s3S7. The
navy department allowed number of
claims dating from 1863, one Of them
being 1851. The Southern Pacific
company succeeded in getting 55
cents on a claim FIVE years old. This
looks like favoritism to a great cor.
poration. or 1t may prove that the
smaller the claim the more quickly II
will be passed.-New York Sun.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-10

Don Marino Torlonia, of the ducal
family Of Torlonia Of Rome, said at a
dinner party in New York that a GER
tain American millionaire reminded
him Of the famous Roman miser, Art
pagnio
Let me-" said the tall young man,
smiling, show you what a tremendous
miser Arpagnio was. AS he lay dy-
ing in his cold, dark, bare palace Of
stone on the Corso his one thought
was that, since he was too III to eat,
a full lire a day was being saved on
the food bill. The doctor was an
nounced. The doctor, after feeling
Arpagnio's pulse, looked grave.
Well, said the miser, how much
longer have / to liver
"Only half an hour, was the reply.
"Arpagnios eyes flashed fire.
You scoundrell' he cried. Why
do you let things run on to the last
minute like this? Do you want to
ruin me? Send for the barber at
once
The barber arrived post haste.
You charge, said Arpagnio, 20
centesimi for shayingT
"'Yes, signor.'
"'And for shaving corpse five
lireg
Yes
"Arpagnio glanced at the clock
Seven Of the 30 minutes left him still
remained.
Then shave me quickly he
gasped
CAS- the operation finished ArpagniC
died. But with his last breath, smil
ing happily, he murmured, while the
barber dried his cold, pale cheeks:
How splendid Four lire and 81
centesimi saved!
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-10

are powerless to sell them Tho conn
mission win recommend that congress
be asked to permit negotiations for
the purchase of the lands by the
state.
"lt VIII become necessary, in an
probability" the report VIII say FOR
the state to issue bonds. and as the
question as to the issuance Of bonds
must Be submitted to the people at 2
general election, and as there VIII be
no general election after this year
until 1910. and as no great deal OF
progress can be made meantime until
it is known whether the bonds for
the purchase Of the lands win be is-
sued, your commission recommends
that the proposition be, BY the legis-
lature. submitted 70 the people at the
next general election, providing for
the Issuance Of bonds IN an amount
not to exceed $1O,OOO,O00, or as much
thereof as may be necessary, to be
rsed for the purchase of these lands,
providing they can be purchased at a
reasonable rate"
The vaule Of the surface lands is
estimated at not to exceed SIS an acre,
and possibly less. In estimating the
value of the coal deposits. the com
mission made no explorations Of its
own, and relied mainly on public
documents and the testimony Of such
coal operators as could be induced to
attend its hearings
One estimate Of the deposits was
1000 100000 tons, which, at the pres.
ent rate. would require several hun
dred years of mining to be put on the
market. Carl Scholz, manager Of the
mining properties Of the Rock Island
Railroad Company, fixed the coal val
ues at $5,50O,O0O, and the value Of the
surface lands at s3,6OO.000, making 9
total Of approximately s9,OOO,OOO
Charles D. Walcott, director Of the
United States geological survey, was
quoted as saying that the lands were
worth anywhere between So and S4I
an acre.
If these coal resources were con
trolled by the state the price Of Goa
would be reduced one-third, the com
mission believes. This would increase
the demand for coal. The commission
has reliable information that the cos
Of mining coal In the Indian Terri
tory district is from s1.25 to not ex
ceeding 81 a ton, and that state owner
ship would put the best quality Of Goa
on the home market at not more thar
S5 ton. Because Of the present mo
nopoly the price is as high as 9s
ton.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-10

and his class propose to launch their
boats upon It and paddle far down the
stream into a noisy and lmpenetrable
darkness that no one has heretofore
dared to enter.
The class win make study Of the
animal life in the cave. A number Of
the white-eyed FISH will be caught, and
they will attempt to bag some Of the
animals or imps which inhahit the
cave chamber. These animals have
never been seen and It is not known
how large they are or what form they
have. When torches are brought into
the cave chamber they set up unearth.
", unhuman and impish gatherings in
the dense and impenetrable darkness
in the outer shore Of the big lake. No
one has yet dared to row across tho
lake. Shots fired at the animals Oh
imps cause them to set up a chattering
noise that is unspeakable and unbear.
able.
The Cyclone Chamber" which no
one has yet dared to enter. will be
thoroughly investigated and explored
by Prof. Gould and his class.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-10
Students viii Investigate Ble Cavern
in interests Of Science.

Sulphur, Okla.-Hcrman Douthitt,
member OF Prof. Gould's class in geol-
ogy, has written the owners of Mystic
cave that the entire class, headed by
Prof. Gould himself, viii soon arrive
in Sulphur equipped for thorough
and scientific exploration Of this great
and mysterious underground cavern.
They will come prepared TO spend
several days in the cave, and will
bring with them collapsible boots, life
preservers, electric torches and sci
entiflc apparatus A part Of the class
partially explored the cave during the
Christmas holidays. Having no boat
and no firearms there were chambers
they could not enter. and others that
they dared not
The boys viii sail far down Mystic
river, expecting to find caverns larger
than the River Chamber. The river
becomes very deep after its passage
from this chamber, but Prof. Gould
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-10
The Divorce MIL is Profitable.

$1,000, the state Of South Dakota last
year took in s4s0,OOO for granting the
800 divorces to nonresidents.
While 1907 was decidedly bearish In
the divorce trade, owing to the agita
tlon in the state for repeal Of the law, If
the income 4or the last year is taken as
an average, South Dakota has realized
s5,000,000 from her divorce mill in the
last decade.
This really is a low estimate, for
most Of those who come to South Da-
kota to be freed Of chafing matrimon,
ial ties are liberal spenders Of money.
Merchants send special orders for
high-grade goods in anticipation Of the
divorce patronage, hotels At up whole
suites Of rooms in the best Of trap.
pings to make the soiourn pleasant,
while It Is a regular business 70 fur.
nish houses and rent them to unhappy
wives for from $50 to 500 a month.
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-10

Winsted, Conn When workmen
employed by c. W. Blakeslee & son
on trolley line from Woodbury., this
county, to Waterbury. arrived at a
swamp in MiddlebuIy the other morn.
ing. where they had quit. operations
the night before, they found a tempo.
rary trestle with the tracks upon 1t,
missing, and trees on either side Of
where the structure once stood lean.
Ing as II they would fall at any mo.
ment
Investigation disclosed the fact that
the heavy timbers and everything that
rested upon them had been swallowed
up in the night Ten thousand cubic
feet Of ill which had been dumped into
the swamp had also disappeared
The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-03-10
BROKERS ARE LUCKY.

checks on New York bank or on one
which clears through the New York
clearing house. The law now re-
quires a certified check on any sol
vent banking corporation.
Before Comptroller Metz made his
announcement, a petition asking for
amendment to the bond law was cir
culated in Wall street. to be present
ed to the comptroller. The object
of the desired change is to eliminate
from future awards Of city bonds bids
which some believe are not made In
good faith or backed by substantial
guarantee.
The Massachusetts check was hon
ored by the National Shawmut bank
of Boston