davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

Mixed with other substances Il forms
various incombustible and insulating
pastes and moldable or solid materials
suited to many different purposes.
Such compounds are asbestos building
lumber, century shingles, asbestos
wood, asbestos slate, asbestic for stuc-
co and plaster and asbestolith.
"A mass Of asbestos broken into
fibers and then compressed is highly
porous; yet 1t may be rendered not
only waterproof, but an especially e%-
fective insulator under conditions Of
varying moisture by being saturated
with certain varieties Of asphalt.
LAS a nOnconductor of heat it is
used not only in the preparation of
fireproof safes and vaults, but also for
cold-storage and cooling purposes.
Houses made of asbestos material or
coated with asbestos throughout are
not only warmer In winter but cooler
in summer.
Although the United States is the
largest manufacturer and consumer Of
asbestos products In the world, the
asbestos used in it's factories comes
almost wholly from Canada. The guam
tlty mined in the United States is In
significant, the total output for 1907
being only 653 short tons, the smallest
annual production since 1896. The
cause of the decline is found in the
better quality and the greater abund-
ance and accessibility Of the Canadian
asbestos, which completely dominates
the industry in the United States.
NEARLY all Of the domestic output
comes from the Sail Mountain and
Hollywood mines in Georgia, whic;i is
the only state that furnished asbestos
for the market in 1907.
"Virginia, which has been a pro-
Queer for years, failed to show any
output in 1907, it's mines and mills
having been closed. The formations
that contain asbestos In Canada extend
into Vermont, where large enterprise
was started several years ago, but
soon proved unsuccessful. Texas pro-
duces small amount of asbestos,
which is used locally Ia the manufac-
ture Of asbestos paint. Deposits that
may prove valuable are found also in
Wyoming, Arizona and California, but
none Of these has yet been exploited"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28
where slang Comes From.

Although the origin of slang is often
uncertain 1t is not so always. For in
stance, we trace the origin of "bOy~
cott'' from the name of Charles Cum
nIngham Boycott, an agent in charge
of Lord Erne's estate at Tough Mask
In Ireland. He was the first victim OF
boycotting, a refusal to deal or asso-
ciate with, to buy or to sell the prod
ucts of one who had been placed under
ban for labor or political reasons.
"I1ago" is a corruption Of "Diego," -the
Spanish for James, q name common
among the Spanish whose patron saint
is San Diego, says a writer in the Be-
hemian magazine. The name was first
applied to the Spaniards by American
sailors who frequented Spanlsh-Ameri
can ports and widened It's scope so as
to include the dark-skinned foreigners
of the United States. 1t is now used
to designate Italians, Spaniards and
Portuguese.
"Dude," which some persons believe
to be Of American origin, was born in
Lordor In the SOS. It was first heard
there on the streets and then found its
way into the theaters, where it was
launched effectively against that class
Of men Of which Oscar Wilde was an
apostle. and who were better known as
aesthetics. 1t is said to have been de-
rived from the dialectal word "duds, /"
which means '1ittle belongings or eff
fects," and which was ultimately cor
rupted and accepted in collOquial Ian
guage as a fitting designation for ones
articles Of apparel. Jealous of the
popularity that the term acquired, some
writer of songs for the music halls in
troduced the term '1a-di-da," which had
its vogue while the song was popular,
but was sung to death.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

4 The marble clock in the dining room
had Just announced in mellow tones
the hour of 3 a. M, when the wife Of
the plumber nudged him and whispered
nervouSly:
Horace; there's a burglar in the
house,"
There is, hey?" answered the hus-
band, now thoroughly awake. "I'll see
about him.
With GINNING stealth lac got out of
bed and tiptoed out Of the room. For
ten minutes no sound broke the awful
stiffness; then the house shook with
crash. There was. a century of ST
lence. Then a chair fell, the front
door slammed and a heavy bundle
thumped down the front stairs and into
the street.
The terrified wife tainted, to be
brought back to consciousness by the
voice of her husband.
"It's all right, dear; 1 threw him
out" he chuckled, as he turned on the
light. "But the scoundrel had only
$3.50 on his clothes" Judge.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28
mospheric. Wherever it came from. It
is boon, which saves us from q lot
Of needless trouble and worry.

The annual property loss by fire in
America is enormous. The figures
which are given to describe it are so
large that one cannot grasp them east
". A table covering the period since
1879 shows an average foB the thirty
two years Of $1400O0,000. The aggre-
gate for the same time is $4,356, 000,-
900. The insurance loss on this shame
full waste was $2,602, 100000. The
worlds stock of silver coinage is some
thing like $3,O0O,000,OO0. The gold is
less than twice that amount. IN thirty
two years the United States has burnt
up as much property as would be rep
resented by the national debt Of Rus
STA or Great Britain. The insurance
loss In the same period has exceeded
the total amount represented by the
debt Of the United States to-day. In
fact, when this country had to spend
100000 a day for four long years to
put down the rebellion the debt thus
created hardly exceeded the insurance
losses already mentioned. 1t is not
surprising that the European insur-
ance companies look across the Allan
tic with longing wonder whether Amer
lea will ever learn it's lesson. made
Quate building laws, inadequate fire de-
partments, inadequate supervision OF
construction, inadequate protection In
connection with the new dangers from
electricity. Inadequacy everywhere.
The cablegram from Berlin published
recently contains plenty Of food for
thought. The European insurance
companies continue to operate in the
American field because of the severity
of competition at home. They like to
add American premiums to their re-
ceipts. They get little surplus ahead.
Then a big confagration in some Amer
lean city comes to lower 1t to the dam
ger point or wipe 1t out altogether. 1t
is curious situation. Habits Of econ
omy are encouraged on every hand.
The value of saving is taught in school
and in business. Fortunes are made
out Of by-products. The country is full
of examples of wealthy men who have
to-day because they saved yesterday
and the day before. Yet on every side,
too, are the evidences of shameful
waste. The individual does not care
much so long as his house or store or
factory is not burned. He does not
care much then provided he is well
insured. But 1t must stand as a dis
tinct disgrace to progressive nation
after year and decade after decade
which have the certain result Of such
enormous annual losses as those re-
corded In the fire and insurance sta
tiSticS.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

New York spends $225, or more, each
year for every family Of five persons.
Where does the money come from? In
the first analysis9O percentof it comes
from real estate. But real estate pro-
duces incomes and taxes by means Of
rents which tenants must pay. The
tenant, If storekeeper, makes his Gus
toners pay his taxes; if a manufac-
turer and employer, he makes his bust
ness pay the additional bill. In the
last analysis the tax is assessed upon
the entire community, and the man
with the least opportunity to collect his
tax from some other pereson-that is,
the workingman-ultimately pays the
major share of the bill.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28
5SdI9giR2
B500NM@iE7Qg
~AooNAoor

Marie Corelli has always been averse
to personal publicity, but she has at
last allowed her picture to be published.
Another biography of Queen Victoria
has just been published In London. 1t
is by the late Fitzgerald Molloy, who
never pretended to the authority of q
grave historian, but whose anecdotic
pages were always entertaining. The
title Is Victoria Regina; Her Court
and Subjects from Her Accession to the
Death of the Prince Consort."
'9The Empress Josephine, Napoleon's
Enchantress," by Philip w. Sergeant,
author of 1.-THE Last Empress of the
French" sketches the career of Jose
phine in considerable detail. Mr.. Ser
geant calls Josephine lone of the
strangest heroihes who have ever
lived" and concludes his narrative
with the fond words which Napoleon
uttered In his gratitude to her memory
at st. Helena: "She was the best wom-
an In France"
The Catholic who's Who" is now
in it's third edition. From 1t we may
learn that daughter of Charles Kings
ley, a grandson Of Charles Dickens and
eat-granddaughter Of Sir Walter
Scott are all members of the Roman
Catholic church. Mrs. Thurston, the
author of "John Chilcote, NJ. P.," and
Lord Alfred Douglas, the editor Of the
ole
Church Of Rome. John Oliver Hobbs
(Mrs. Craigie) was a convert to that
faith. Marion Crawford, Mex Pember-
ton, Mrs. de la Pasture and Mrs. Eyer
ton Castle are all Romanists.
One Of the oldest books in the world
certainly the work which has longest
held effect, with the exception of GER
tain parts Of the Old Testament-is
1.-THE Book of War;" Of which a trans
latien by Captain r. f. Calthrep, r.
E. A, will be issued shortly. 1t consists
| of the writings of Suntzn and Wutzu,
two Chinese strategists Of about the
fifth century, B. O., and deals with OPP
erations Of war, statecraft, the moral
and training Of troops, strategy, and
other departments Of the art Of war.
For twenty-five centuries the work has
been the military bible Of the far east.
| Its teachings will be found effective
even by modern soldiers.
Leaves From q Life" which was
brought out anonymously, contains so
many stories of the authors father and
his great popularity as a painter In
the early days Of Queen Victoria's mar
ried life that it is generally conceded
that the author is the daughter Of w.
P. Firth, R. A., particularly as Firth
is the one artist of the time whose
name she does not mention. In speak
ing Of her mother she says: II do not
| think to the day of her death, through
all the years that led from comfort
able obscurity to life among the most
| delightful and brilliant people of the
| times, that ever saw my mother idle
| for five minutes of the day. In the
| earliest days she was always sewing,
sometimes for us, often for my father,
whose costumes she made and arranged.
Later on in years she made her house
and her entertainments brilliant and
| unique. and having perfect genius for
| organization left nothing to other peo-
pie"
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

Every American had a great-grand-
father who once owned a farm on
Broadway, New York, or almost bought
the place where Chicago now stands,
If we may believe the boasts Of their
descendants. 1t is interesting to see
these magical opportunities I'm embryo
at the present time. The population of
the town which will be the terminal Of
the Hudson Bay Railroad is said to
consist Of four half-breed families, enc
mounted policeman and one white set
tier, who is entitled to one hundred
and sixty acres. Will he sell out or
will his grandchildren own the sites of
enormous business blocks when the
metropolis of the north is built?
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28
why Take Life seriously.

Some Of us are beginning to realize
that we have taken life too seriously !;
that we have not had enough play; that
we have not had half enough fun.
Many business men see the fallacy Of
working too many hours day.
Formerly men thought they must
spend most or all Of the daylight hours
in working. Intense application to busl-
ness had become almost religion. But
now they are beginning to learn that it
Is efficiency, mental vigor, freshness Of
mind and body, and not necessarily long
hours that do things; and that this
mental vigor, freshness and energy
which produce efficient work are impos-
sIble when the body is weary and the
brain Is tagged that mental robustness
means physical robustness. So there
has been a steady shortening Of the
working hours of men Of affairs and an
increasing Of the play hours, just In
proportion to the Importance and eff
cheney of their work and responsibility.
Multitudes of men now find that they
can accomplish very much more in q
year by spending part Of the time which
they used to put into work in playing
golf, tennis, or some other game, or in
flying about the country In an auto
mobile.
There are plenty of business men in
this country at the head Of great es-
Establishments who get through an enOr.
NOUS amount Of work, who do not spend
moro than three or four hours a day
in their offices, and who frequently take
long vacations. They find that good
deal of play and mixing much with the
world not only improves their health
and multiplies their efficiency, but also
gives them a broader, saner outlook
Orison SWEET Marden, in Success Mag
aZine.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28
CLOWNS AND HOT COLLINS.
Successors of tho Great GrimaIdi Is
Still Living.

Still Living.
James Doughty, the oldest actor and
clown in the United Kingdom, cele-
brated his ninetieth birthday Aug. %
with three benefit performances on the
West Pier at Brighton, according to the
london Mail.
Mr.. Doughty is an interesting link
with the theatrical past, says the Mail.
He followed in the footsteps Of the
great Grimaldi. He has worn Girl
maldi's songs. He regretfully recalls
the days when the harlequinade was
the attraction Of a pantomime and the
clown its chief performer.
''There are no clowns now" he re-
marks with a shade Of bitterness. last
year l heard the tale of a theatrical
manager who forgot all about the clown
when he was arranging his pantomime,
and at the last minute gave a super
half a crown extra to play the part -
The contemptuous tone must be left to
the imagination.
Old though he is-he is now wheeled
to his daily performances on the pier
in bath chair-Mr. Doughty is still
a picturesque figure He wears smart
cutaway coat and q Gladstone collar.
He puts his troupe Of dogs through
their PAGES with great punctiliousness,
and sends the children into shrieks OF
delight with ripe old jokes that used to
amuse their grandfathers.
'Hot Codlins?" Grimaldi sung it.
Doughty sung it after him. Doughty in
his quavering tenor sung the first few
lines Of it:
A little old woman, living she got,
By selling of collins, hot, hot, hot;
This little old woman, SO we have been
told,
Though her collins were hot she was mon
strously cold.
So to keep herself warm she thought it nc
sin
To run and get half a quartern Of -
Here the audience shouted the names
of various beverages, starting with gin
and the expert clown finished off the
line triumphantly with some potation
they had not mentioned.
"And what are codlinS?" asked the In
terviewer.
"Hot baked apples"
"There, now" said a member of the
clowns family, 81 have heard that song
hundreds of times and 1 always
thought 1t was fish,"
The greatest success Mr.. Doughty
ever had with the song was one day
when, after singing it thousands OF
times, he forgot the beginning and de
voted three minutes to asking the band
and the audience, who, of course, would
not believe him.
Here is a story which suggests the
kind of humor the old clowns loved
""Lady Diana Huddleston asked me tG
train her dog. 1 went to the Princess
club every day to train him. One day
he was obstinate. Lady Diana told me
to flick him. 4 believe in kindness
your Iadyship,' said. 'Ah, well, you
are the best judge No, my lady,
said, the baron is the judge and Baror
Huddleston, the judge of the exchequer
put down his paper and laughed"
Mr.. Doughty is proud of two things
letter Of thanks from Queen Victorif
after a performance at Osborne, and {
certificate Of approval from the Society
for the Prevention Of Cruelty to AMI
| mails.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

American humor exists, it distin-
guishes the national character, it per-
meates all our affairs. 1t is not Of abo-
Eiginal descent. 1t was not brought
from England or Holland by the ia
theirs. It's saving grace was lacking
under Puritan rule. The humor Of
Diedrich Knickerbocker is all the more
taking because of the absence of all
sense OF humor I'm the subjects of his
chronicle. If our humOr came over
from Erin in the first rush of immigra-
ton 1t was quickly adapted to its new
environment. 1t was modified and
changed by new circumstances and con-
ditions, geographical, chronological, at
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28
Reforming tho Head Hunters.

A curious development is in steady
progress in the Solomon islands, the
group in the South Pacific which lies
to the west of New Guinea, whose peo-
pie have earned such unenviable noto-
riety as head hunters. The young men
of the tribes in these fertile and beau
tiful islands are abandoning the histO-
ric pursuit which has made them
dreaded for centuries in the south seas
and are taking to the copra industry
Copra, which is the dried interior Of
the cocoanut, is valued commercially
for the oil which can be pressed from
it, and some of the young Solomon ISL
anders are accommodating considerable
wealth by extracting it; though the
older generation, to whom head hunt
ing is still the only profession for a
gentleman, are said to look down upon
them as being "in trade. London
Standard.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

Inventor Maxim is working on an
electrical scheme which will, he thinks,
enable him to destroy all the disease
germs in the human body and thus
make life practically endless. We hope
he will, as soon as he gets this matter
properly attended to, try to invent
Something cheap to take the place of
coal and meat.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

The athletic housewife who routed a
burglar with a rolling pin should take
3 fatiron to the next one. 1t is much
more discouraging in its effect when
u lands.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

BattIeships which the Japanese de-
elared were not lost in the war with
Russia are beginning to be found at-the
bottom Of the sea. The reasons for the
willingness Of Japan to settle on easy
terms are gradually coming out.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28
Social Problems.

New York's 400 had been cut down
by % per cent.
Still the trouble Of the arbiters was
not over, for the remainder quarreled
as to precedence.
"How shall we determine the rela-
tive standings Of the descendants of a
clam peddler and those who trace
themselves back to a vender of pelts?'
the arbiters asked of each other.
1t was, indeed, puzzling question
Philadelphia Ledger.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

We don't know very much about this
Lord Willoughby de Broke In the house
Of lords, but from his name we judge
that as a rule his speeches are Of a
touching character.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

Gladys Vanderbilt Szechehyi has
bought S1,SO0,OOO estate in Hungary.
IL the old commodore were around he'd
probably try to make a traffic agree
ment to get all this new wheat business
Tor the New York Central.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

It has been said a sucker Is born
every minute, but sometimes you can't
notice it until he is about old enough to
set married.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

A man who claims to be a cousin Of
the German emperor is washing dishes
ia New York. Even emperors, it ap-
pears, can't keep their poor relatives
from bobbing up here and there.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

The New York Herald is trying to
Ok up an alliance between China and
America. Probably thinks 1t can get
its Office towel washed cheaper.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28
An Outrage.

"Club women In Boston" said the
head line.
Dear, DEAR" commented the near
sighted man unable to read the context.
at never would have thought it posi-
BILE. Why, the very worst we ever do
in Philadelphia is to neglect to give 'em
a seat."-Philadelp Ledger.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

Ear more than we need new laws we
need to obey the laws we have. We
need great revival of obedience to and
respect for law, and that feeling is not
encouraged by enacting so many stat
utes that even lawyers no longer pre-
tend to know the law until they look 1t
Nm
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

The New Jersey man who is refusing
70 pay his bills because his wife is out
OF work must be one Of those. fellows
who imagine the world owes them liv-
in0
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

When you are in love, don't tell
your adored one you are not worthy Of
her Cor him). She Cor he) may re-
member it after you are married, and
throw it up to you.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

Ice on the sidewalk, states physi-
clan, Is a menace to health. We hope
Jack Frost's attention Will be called
20 the matter.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

Vinegar made from watermelons Is
said to be superior to vinegar made
from apples. But why waste the water
meions2
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28
On the Rocks.

as my son getting well grounded In
the classics ~ asked the anxious million
aire.
IT would put it even stronger than
that" replied the private tutor. 81
may say that he is actually stranded
on hem.'-Detroit News-Tribune.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

When a politician says that he will
never let up in his campaign until the,
country is redeemed, he means until
he Is elected.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28
Eyes and Ayes.

argus had a hundred eyes"
"a hundred ayes" commented the
politician. 'He could vote for himself
and make it count for something. =
Kansas City Journal.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

The government is planning new oil
suit. We hope 1t win keep out the
water.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

Mrs. Hetty Green says women are to
blame for hard times. Aunt Hetty
often talks like a man.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

AS soon as people begin to think they
are important, they begin to talk
louder.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

The narrow minded man never adj
mits that others have a right to opin-
ions that differ from his
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

There's one good thing about castle
In the air-one doesn't have to pa!
ground rent.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

A girl takes awful chances when she
persists in wearing a lot of pins in the
vicinity of her waist line
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

A paying streak would be found In
most minds If we only mined them suf-
aciently.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

Great success seldom comes to the
man who takes no chances.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

AS a rule, we are afraid Of women
who wear glasses.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-28

The bigger the show, the bigger the.
storm,