davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

"Just for fun" two young persons
stood up at church entertainment In
Iowa and went through mock mar
Rage. II happened that the actor
who took the part Of the clergyman
was q notary public and the wedding
was almost. II not quite. real under
the law. Only in Legitimate drama is
there justification for an acted mar
rage. A burlesque wedding IN q
ehurch may not be seriously immoral,
SAYS the Youths Compassion, bug Il
Shows perverted. humorlssa idea Of
fun. ana Americans think they have a
kaeu. sane senss OF humos.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

of 4 meadow lark, the fainter song OF
a mocker, as he gave the gossip of the
bird world from the topmost tip OF
eucalyptus tree; and always the hum
Of the bees, SO persistent that drowsi-
ness came with It. Also she saw the
low, spreading house. with It's pillaISd
verandas. rose-embowered, beautiful
home. hers and--his His. Her slow
mind stopped again. Hers and his for
all time-'till death do us part"-"for
better, for worse"-''in sickness or
health to love and
honor and cherish" Yes,
TO cherish. So they had prom.
ised-they two. standing alone
together. in all the solemnity OF
the marriage rites. But somehow the
sweetness had gone out OF It all; the
love: or was It the comradeship? And
who 10 blame? Not no. No, not he.
Herself? She shook her head uncer.
tainly. Mostly II was duties" she
said Oh, yes. all of ones duties TO so
ciety-church duties; club duties; So
rial duties; and she shivered. Here
they all were, in pointed caps. with
little silver spurs on their feet, with
which, when she Jagged, they prodded
her, with these and pointed tongues
OF uncharitableness. Presently be-
hind them all she saw the figure of
hor husband, his eyes Opon her low
ingly; but ever and again they turned
sorrowfully upon the group about her,
and as often as he would approach
her, she was pushed back; he could
not reach her for the barrier OF Du-
ties which stood between them.
The woman wept, she tried TO brush
them all aside, for TO her terror her
husband seemed to recede and reeede
and she was unable to reach him. In
an agony of remorse and grief abe
stretched out her arms. Then from
among the Easter lilies came a fairy
Shape tiny child. A moment II
nestled on her breast. then It advanced
and as Il advanced. the Shapes drew
away. grew fainter, and were gone;
and the tiny thing. leading the man by
one brown finger. brought him to her.
Was 1t only Cupid. the little sod OF
love. or was II the spirit OF the little
child which some day might come 60
dwell with them? The woman held
out her arms and olasped them both
and held them to her.
When Mrs. Chester reused herself
from her swoon, or dream, or what
ever II was which bald her bound
Il was to find her heart throbbinE
with a new hope and Joy and longing;
and she wondered whether or not she
had dreamed. OF had been the priv
ileged listener to an Easter sermon
preached out OF doors by Nature. Ma
ture who was now In her most blessed
mood.
Through the open windows Of heI
home came a low CHEEKY whistle. She
pressed the Easter lilies to her lips
In a passion Of Joy. In some way she
felt that she owed them something
deliverRnce from something, and Ia
the depths of her religious soul she
cried: This IL the resurrection ant
the life." even as the bells had SAID
it--while her face was baptized with
tears.
II was 80 that her husband fount
her. on that most blessed Easter day
when the sun stood high over the val
leya. and spring brooded over th'
foothill country.-Edna Head Mccoy
In Los Angeles Herald.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

Japan no doubt will help China to
build that s5O.OOo.O0O navy, so that
whenever the mikado needs a few
ships he will know where to so and
knock down a near neIghbor and take
them for hts own use.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16
semethIna New 3 Won.

The Idea Of having new frock and
hat for Easter Sunday Is not alto
gother flippant On the contrary. Il Is
OF religious origin. an old English rite
requiring that every person should
wear three new articles on that da'
and a superstition which declares IL
anfueby vet % do 90.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

II would seem as If the Britons
ought to be able to get along with no
more than one drinking saloon to each
400 OF the population In the great CEN
tsrs. The proportion OF one to each
1000 OF the population OF Boston. says
the Boston Herald. IL quite sufficient
20 quench the thirst for alcoholic slim
uianfa here.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

Two st. Louis policemen arrested
each other for violating a city ordi
nance. That time at least the inno-
cent bystander did not connect with
the trouble
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

A correspondent OF a Philadelphia
paper complains that automobiles In
lure the roads. But the owner Of an
automobile viii probably declare that
honors are even. for only when the
bills come in is It possible to estimate
what injury many bumpy roads infiict
unon the sensitive automobile.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

Doubtless the king Of Italy had the
kindest intentions in knighting Bos.
ton hodcarrier. but we should think
that the knights sword and his rib
bons would be in the way when he
was working at his trade.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

The khedive of Egypt. having re-
Gently witnessed an auto race In
which three were killed and IL hurt,
presumably reflected that Egyptian
cigarettes aren't so bad after all.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

According to the gymnasium direc.
tor at Columbia university, the strong
est and hardest students are those
who smoke. Think what an awful
thing II would have been had the
cigarette been forbidden in Michigan.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

Inventor Holland says that the prob.
lem Of aerial navigation is a simple
one. Much simpler. in fact, than the
problem OF who ordered double
quantity of submarines.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

The well.known phrase. John Bull,
applied collectively to the English ma
ton. first appeared In satire called
"The History OF John Bull" which is
generally attributed to Swift, but
which was written by DR.. Arbuthnot.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16
EoTnINo MoRH no aAY.

Pardon my question, but how do
you know your wife doesn't wish you
70 take out insuranceg
well. III tell you. She's got a no.
ton I'm going to survive her and that
Il will be collected by No. O."
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

A big diamond Arm which failed the
other day blames its trouble on "the
public's craze for automobiles" The
old saying may. therefore, be changed
to stick to me and you'll ride in an
automobile
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

II have been successful as a thief"
remarked plckpocket when arrested
the other day, Is there such thing
as successful thief? Well. the peni.
tentaries are full of them.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

When Bishop Cotton of Buffalo sent
q circular letter 20 the Catholic
churches of the diocese. urging spin.
sters to seek entrance into the holy
estate of matrimony, did he forget
that this Is leap year? He should
have added. Faith without works lie
daad %
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

A party OF American girls peered
into the boiling depths OF Mount We
suvius from a part OF the crater to
which even the guides were afraid 10
advance. No wonder the American
girl IL the admiration OF creation.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

In the battle of the naval experts
now going on In Washington great
care should be taken TO use smokeless
words.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

A lot of New York men who former
ly were rich think OF throwing their
million.dollar yachts on the market
Save your pennies and buy yacht.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

II ia reported, denied and reiterated
that King Edward wears a night cap.
How can England remain so calm
amid all this uncertainty?
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

In the Kongo natives there has been
discovered by France a peril several
shades darker than yellow.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

After thinking II over China has de-
cided not TO be Japan's little faithful
Fido.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

Any foreign nation that takes a no
tion TO go to war with us might find
that the critics OF our navy are great
jokers.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

That stork club formed by Detroit
women should put a quIetus on the
Teddy bear craze.
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16
Less Apt 70 Break.

There's many slip 'twixt the cup
and the lip" quoted the moralizer.
Yes" rejoined the demoralizer, its
safer to drink out OF a tin bucket"
Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1908-04-16

g\AsTER In the foothill coun.
try. among the low.lying
z@9 valleys, with the white
49, capped. blue vastness OF
SA3 the mountains in the back.
MY ground, and all the end.
less variety OF sunshine
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-26
Henry James and Life.

The storm OF anecdotes that beats
about most well-known authors, paric-
ularly of the best-selling variety,
seems never to have struck Henry
James. Perhaps 1t could not break
through the barricade Of sentences
that surrounded him. 1t will be re-
membered that Mr., James was once
called IAN idea entirely surrounded
by words" But, once in while, a
story trlckles through Not long ago
young lady, one of the earnestseek
ers.after.truth kind, said to Mr.. James;
"Oh, Mr. James, won't you please
define life?"
"It is the predicament that precedes
death"
Mr.. James always fights shy of ma
king speeches in public. He reserves
them for his books. On one occasion
he was the guest of honor at dinner
in New York. After much persuasion
he was induced to speak. AS he rose
to his feet he naively said
"You know gentlemen, that ] never
make speeches, and when ! have con
cluded to-aight you will realize
that have not broken my rule. Sat
urday Evening Post.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-26

The smoke still fingered over the
smolderlng chimneys of Richmond
when Judy, ignorant of the interstate
episode in her mistress love affairs
entered one morning to announce a
visitor.
"Gemmen in de parlor, Mis- Liz
beth, an clar to goodness, you'll hev
to scuse me, but he mos sholy dc
look powerful like one O. dem Yankees
whar cum in wild de union"
And after the end at Appomattox,
when the guns we're stacked for all
time by the tired hands of the starved
men who wept as they laid them aside.
Surgeon Vansittart and Elizabeth
But what need to go over the old
story? Patriotic fervor gave place to
cosmopolitan love--was ii ever other,
wise? Cupid is blind, so gray and blue
are alike to him. And ought we not
to dwell together in love and peace?'
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-26

slipping through the gaps In this
Same hayersack made by fingers more
enthusiastic in effort than proficient
in accomplishment, Aand hear, instead
of tho blessings the old lady expected
to be poured on her Industrious hands
and gelf-sacrificing heart, the echo OF
an assortment of calculations, made
possible only by confederate whisky
flung at the careless fingers of the
maFer.
mighty po'.lookin sojer want to
see you, Mis- Clementine," said eff.
cient though ungrammatical Judy, nod
ding her turbanned head to Mrs. Pom.
sonby through diminutive opening
in the door. Say. he ain horngry,
cause | dun as him dat fus' thing;
look monsus poly, do fus' sojer see
In a mont O. moons whar ain horn.
cry"
ION the nineteenth OF May" said
the limping wearer of ragged gray
coat, as he stood In Mrs. ponsonby's S
presence, with the crown Of hat sur.
rounded by broken halo of brim in
ais hand, "our regiment held a posi-.
ton ON the right of the Tenth Ala.
barna, the attacking force. Behind an
old house, set at just the right angle.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-26

After awhile he arose, and taking
a short black, thick wand from under
his blanket he walked ten steps back
wards, and STOPPING over, he began
to draw, upside down, on the ground,
the familiar diagram that the children
used to use in playing the old outdoor
game. "hop.scotch"
The fact is, ! had never thought Of
what geometric figures there were In
that old hop-scotch game. First, you
know, there is a parallelogram, then,
on top of that a square. then on this
follow four right-angled triangles, and
lastly, an arch.
In each corner of this diagram he
placed small dolls made of the resin
of the pine tree, figures fashioned
rudely like a woman, and STOPPING
over them he blew his breath on them,
and all at once each of those puppets
broke out into flame as quickly as a
skyrocket and continued burning as
long as we stayed
Around all this he drew large cir.
Gle, still walking backward, and mum.
bling in an undertone in a way to
make your flesh crawl; the fact Is, he
reminded me of old "Horse.Leg' Jones
at bacBwoods prayer meeting, ex.
cept that old "Horse.Leg" had a differ.
ent way of breathing through his nose.
Well, / got so interested that
couldn't stay away from near the old
sorcerer, and inadvertently | stepped
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-26
Against the Law.

In Switzerland this summer" said
a Philadelphian, II heard Charlie.
magne Tower describe the stringent
police regulations of Berlin.
Mr. Tower, by way of illustration,
concluded with little story.
Schmidt and Krauss met one morn
ing in the park.
Have you heard, says Schmidt,
the sad news about Muller?
No, says Krauss, What is it?'
Well, poor Muller went boating on
the river yesterday The boat cap.
sized and he was drowned, The water
was ten feet deep
But, couldn't he swimg
Swim? Don't you know that all
persons are strictly forbidden by the
police to swim in the riyerP"
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-26

into the ring old Cato had drawn; i'm.
mediately felt hot streak run down
my leg, heard the horse-laugh Of my
client Harry break ont exactly rs IL
had in the jail and old Cato fell to
the ground as If lightningstruck.
We poured cold water on the old
fellow, and when he got so that he
could talk he bitterly upbraided me
for breaking the charm, saying that
The spell would now work backwards.
And I'm willing to be branded as Il
monumental Ananias all over America.
II every night you cant hear at that
spot the familiar hobble of the fel-
low that know to be safe in the pcni
tentiary walls; you can hear his laugh
and you can see track Of rings as
round as a dollar, that no rain will
erase, and punctuated with the dot
and carry, the dent OF the wooden lee
and the fiat foot of Harry, running
around that spot.
II may rain floods, but the next day
there Is the same old peg-leg track,
and every night from the street can
be heard that same horse'laugh, that
I'd swear to among a thousand voices.
In the hop.scotch ring there har
grown mp IA red flower strange in
these parts, but which the florists pro.
nounce an African tiger lily, and by
which the sharp outline of the ring
is as well preserved as if a gardener
had carefully planted them.
Recently I had letter from the
warden of the penitentiary, saying
that every evening just at sundown
Harry dropped into a cataleptic sleep,
from which no power could awaken
him until the next day at dawn
People may sneer at conjuring as
much as they like | know the facts,
and know that night after night
Harry's old home is haunted by a live
ghost.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-26
No Satisfaction.

The Editor-Eh, what's wrong?
The Correspondent-In that letter
Of mine that you printed this morning
several gross errors We're permitted to
appear. Look at this. | wrote: mo.
body has any desire to impeach the
rugged quality of Mr.. Skimmerhorn's
honesty" and you turned honesty
into hosiery" Look at Il!
The 2ditor-I see it. And what's
more, | sac nothing wrong about it.
Anything else?
Yes, here's another. This is what
| wrote: Mr.. Skimmerhorn's ripe ex,
pemence and his respect for honor
must not be forgotten And you speak
here of his 'tripe experience and his
respect for Homer"
Yes, that's so. And they're both
highly commendable virtues. Good
morning, sir"
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-26

the puny streams Of water that were
thrown upon the blaze seemed but e
double the anger of the flames. The
little tongue of fire on the roof grew
In spite of all effort to subdue it, un
tll the attics were seethlng mass
Black clouds OF smoke poured from
the second story windows, and o reei
ment OF men stood by anxious. will
ing, yet powerless--Company " enc
Company + close TO the building, eacf
longing for a first chance at anything
Among Miss Wilckens' possession!
was a maid, and Just as the secont
lieutenants Of Companies Il and I
simultaneously asked 10 be allowed tt
do something-anything--in her be
half Miss Wilckens suddenly ex
claimed:
"Oh, where's Baker? Where's Bak
err"
Miss Wilckens' maid" choruset
the second lieutenants.
That was enough for f company
and more than enough for IL company
With just a seconds start E compan!
rushed again into the burning build
ing, up the stairway, through q rail
of water from the hose that could at
tain no greater height, to crop,
through the smoke and flame for IN,
missing maid. Having started ahea,
of f company they blocked the door
way and packed tho stairway so tha
not man of that hated body, excep
little Dorgan. the recruit, could &c
into the house.
If there were chance for advance
ment h company wanted it all T.
themselves. The leading men stun
bled through the rooms in mad search
while the others stood ON the stairwa
ready to lower the maid'g sircnsciou
form with due gentleness down fror
her fiery danger
The smoke was suffocating, and
company gasped for breath but mar
fully held to its task. Flames darte
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-26

out from all parts Of the second floor
but u company gave no thought to
its slnaed hairs and blackened faces
But where was the girl? Was all their
search to he in vain?
Where Is she? Which is her
room?"
And as the flames ragged with an
ever-lncreasng ferocity, the waiting
crowd of soldiers felt the premouition
of death In their hearts.
Suddenly Il cheer broke from some
one in the burning building. They
had found her! The hoarse, smoke.
choked cheer ran through the men on
the stairway, swelling louder and
louder, until the outsiders caught Il
and sent Ii back TO the rescuers--a
roar of applause for their bravery.
Ever so gently the sweaty arms on
the stairway stretched out to receive
the unconscious form, thoughtfully
wrapped In wooden blankets; carefully
yet quickly, they passed her down.
Was she burned? Where was the
doctor? Give her air. Get her away
from that building.
And another cheer was given, a
cheer for Il company. Aud to th,lr
lasting credit be It said that f com.
pany started the cheer.
AS abe last six bearers with their
unconscious burden reached the side.
walk, Miss Wilckens glanced away
from the fire up along the line of Of.
ficers quarters. Then she gave lit
tie shrek: There's Baker! She
wasn't In the fire at all" and prompt
ly tainted in the arms of both second
lieutenants.
At the same moment there was a
lively scrambling in the wooden blan-
kets. A second later, little Dorgan,
the r company recruit, was sprnting
across the parade as though the le-
slons Of Satan were after him,
Much Obliged to II company" he
yelled as he ran, Il knew she wasn't
In the fire! knew It all the time!
But much obliged TO E company for
carrying an + company man so niceW
Little Dorgan got six months in t,e
guard house but he is + company S
hero. A week after the fire, a tail
cit came out from the east. He
did not know the difference between
"foms right and "fours left" but he
Knew how to put a solitaire ring on
he proper finger of Miss Wilckens'
pretty left hand The second lieuten,
ants Of Companies Il and F. simultan,
aously applied for leaves Of absence.
A laugh Is beitor than all elce, SC
to be laughed NJ is verse than all
else; therefore Y company came out
" the company feud with flying col
ors.
The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-26
Fragments
of an Interrupted
COurfShip
BY Annie 7. Roffer.
Copyright, by shortstory Pub. Coz


the shadows OF an antiquated library,
q young apostle OF the new doctrine
wrote:
Confederate states OF America,
Richmond, Va. Apr 90 1861.
Or. Schuyler Vansittart.
My Dear Sir: You Will observe that
without, believe me. a trenior or the
straining Of II single Heart tcndon) ! have
hanged my nationality and my country
Instead OF the stars and stripes" the
stars and bars" float to the breeze Tex
tuse extreme originality OF eXpression,
and our brand new ship OF state dares,
alone the storms of war. You and may
never meet agnin-nothing would induce
me to marry n horrid Yankee--so try to
forget me. as the very remembrance oil
sou Is ignored with three cheers for
Dixie Yours In oblivion,
ELIZA BETH PONSONBY.
War opened, hostile armies con
fronted each other between Richmond
and the Potomac; Mason and Dixons
line was accentuated by fixed bayo-
nets and enforced by the booming
cannon sword thrusts gave point to
geographical boundaries, while the
long roll of the drum warned off all
intruders.
Letters flew north from the blue
uniforms on the Potomac, and Travelled
south from the gay coats at Manassas,
but never crossed. save by flag or
truce, the sharp wall made by picket
ed muskets. Terrible orders from
irasoible old generals, who had out.
grown romance and outlived senti-
ment sternly directed all letters TO be
read before passing under the white
folds of these same peaceful banners.
SO every word was weighed, and die
tionaries became the popular litera-
ture of the day to those that wrote to
"the other side" in order that a
phrase might be found capable OF ex'
pressing everything to some particu
lar person, but betraying nothing to
the nag.of-truce.letterreading depart
nient. No one must suspect that the
loving Inquiries about Aunt James
neuralgia, or the intense anxiety con
cerning Cncle Johns rheumatism
meant an altogether different query tc
tnOSp llIdl WlOit ~ ENhiNNNi9' ~
personals in the leading newspapers
north and south, were resorted TO
and many a line held bleeding heart
while single word often carried JOY
to an entire household, or that mos
awful of all personals. initials and
date. followed by the one wore
"killed." embodied too frequently th'
history of a broken life. But no sncl
tragic announcements were for Eliza
beth. A calm, dignined, eminentl!
proper personal in the H
SCHUYLER hopes little sisters feve
is abating Grandpa sends love. Rch
mond E. please copy.
was ALL Back by rapid transit traV
eled the answer The could almost SCI
the nervous fingers fly over the pa
peri:
ELIZABETH no better. Grandma
never liked blue. IL please copy.
One dismal morning Mrs. Ponsonb.
was sewing diligently on q soldier
haversack, one OF an immense pile, II
such haste to finish her task that sh
wasted no time in fastening stitche
or In strengthening straps. Thus
without the eye Of the prophet, on
might see in future weary marches
many poor fellows scanty ration