davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
Railroad Activities,

The railroad plays its part In all
the wide activities OF western life,
writes Ray Stannard Baker in the
Century. You will find it a vital pow
er in politics. often sinister, often cor
rupting. always commanding. Here
is an especially bright newspaper
which supports with sober logic the
pretensions OF the road Delve deep
and you will fnd the money of the
road working in the editorial till.
Here is struggling church: the road
has not only furnished the land for
the new building. but its money has
purchased the cabinet organ and the
big Bible. This street carnival glitters
more brightly because the road has
been amiable; this water power has
been developed because the road took
part Of the stock; this library has
more books because the first vice.
president has been Interested. And
so. minglizg good and evil. the road
pursnes its commanding purposes
the development of an empire.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
senr.ylvanl. cr...hopper story

The Grasshopper Lever on the
Pennsylvania railroad is within four
mfleS Of Lancaster. and derived It's
name from this circumstance: The
grassboppers one season were so MI
merous as to destroy the crops. and
It is said the fence rails were worn
smooth by the insects crossing from
one side to the other in searching for
green pastures. While that may seem
incredible. an examination Of the
grasshoppers hind legs will CORRIDOR
ate the probability of the story's cor
rectnesA. During that season the pests
were SO thick on the rails in the vicin-
ity mentioned that the engines with
their trains were stalled. so that to
make any progress 1t became necex-
sary to have men precede the trains
and pour sand on the tracks. This
suggested carrying the sand in boxes
and next putting the boxes astride Of
the locomotive, and then adding rods
which were placed under the control
OF engineers and nremen.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
MADE HIS MEANING CLEAR.
Professors Son Translated Fathers
Speech Into the vernaeuIar.

A college professor. in company
with his son. was enjoying walk in
the country, when he met an old
farmer. 1t had been a very wet sea
son. and the professor. thinking to
start the conversation in a way that
would prove interesting to the farmer,
remarked:
There has been rather abnormal
precipitation of late"
The farmer seemed somewhat en-
barrassed, and the professors son.
who used a different vernacular,
though he was a student In the college
to which his father was attached. at
tempted to straighten out the matter.
Drawing the farmer to one side. he
said in superior way:
THE governor means that we've
been having a devil of a lot of rain"
-Harper's Weekly.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
or,ss widow DsRnsd.

Preblding Elder G. A. Lenhon Of the
Maosh district, says the Macon Herald.
>ssM this story Of the late Bishop w.
wv. Duncan of tho Methodist Episcopal
church:
When Bishop Duncan hrst went to
Texas to preside at a state conference
there he was suffering severely with
hay fever. Ue was OF nervous dis
J. Dositi1a and referred % his malady
nth such frequency that 1t became .
tiresome to the preachers. A
pther got up to make report and
the course of 1t he used the term
Erass widow"
Grass widow!" cried the bishop
heard that expression used half
= dozen times since I've been here.
never heard 1t before. VIII you please
tell me, sir, what a grass widow is!"
The offending brother looked a. cain
and M serious rs an undertaken dur
ing the storm of laughter which the
bishops speech had developed. When
things Quieted down he said, very
gently:
IA grass widow, bishop. Is a woman
whose husband has died with hay
ieverw
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11

would whceze and have spells of cough
ing that would sometimes last for q
half hour.
Now we can never thank Won enough
for the change you have made in our
little ones health. Before she began
taking your Peruna she suffered every
thing in the way Of cough, colds and
Group. but now she has taken not quite
IA bottle of Peruna.a is weHandsfr0ne
Us she has ever been in her life."
Pe-ru-Na for Colds.
Mr.. James Morrison, IS East 10th ST.,
Paterson. N. j., writes:
81 have given Peruna a fair trial, and
find it to be just what you claim It
to be. cannot praise it too highly.
have used two bottles in my family for
colds, and everything imaginable. l
can safely say that your medicine is the
best have ever used,
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
FOLLOWING THE ENGLISH IDEA
First Notable Example OF Regard ssr
the Appearance Of Things.

In this country the first notable ex-
ample of regard for the appearance OF
things along the line was furnished by
a great railway company in the middle
states. Here the English idea was
followed. In keeping with the excep-
tionally thorough organization OF the
company's service. the manifest aim
in these improvements was to have
everything along the line present what
along the seabOard is known as a
"shipshape" appearance-that is. to
bear a neat, trim. and well-groomed
look, as on a ship, where the decks
are kept Immediately holystoned. the
woodwork freshly scraped or painted.
the brasses polished, the ropes coiled,
cts Such conditions on shipboard
are marks Of discipline. good repair,
and general efficiency. So on rail-
way, where in similar ways attention
is given to good appearance. public
confidence In safe and competent
management is promoted. Therefore.
Just as the good mechanic takes care
to make his joint swell fitting and his
lines good. 30 on this model railway
the incest attention was given to a
thoroughly well-ordered appearance of
all the work about and near the tracks.
For instance, the crossties are square
ly cut at an exactly uniform distance
from the rails. on the roadbed the bal
last is bordered by clean and regular
lines. the yards are kept scrupulously
clean and clear of all rubbish. and
about the stations and other buildings
the turf is nicely maintained. In this
case. however, until recently little at
tention has ever been given to really
artistic character: the way-stations,
as rule. are not architectural; In the
way of adornment some sparse flower
beds represent good intention rather
than achievement.
Two diverse methods are exempli-
fled in our forms Of railway embellish.
ment. One II governed by the prin-
ciple that ornament should be devel.
oped from the character OF the thing
ornamented; that while general prin-
ciples may be laid down for guidance,
their application must be modified &C.
cording to the circumstances attend
ing each particular problem. What
"ouiu NC III Ouc place.
prove wholly out OF keeping. and cor
respondingfy bad. in another. The
second method has found wider ac-
ceptance. This proceeds with the as
sumption that ornament consists in
something pretty. something decora-
tive; that applying this prettiness to
things makes them beautiful.
The former method was adopted for
the first railway line in the United
States wher n comprehensive attempt
ut artistic treatment was made. The
results have been so beautiful. so
wholly admirable, and withal so truly
economical in maintenance, that 1t
seems remarkable that the example
has not been more widely followed
From Sylvester Baxter's THE Rail
way Beautiful" in the Century.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11

Nine French physicians declare that
famous brains are OF four kinds. The
lowest group contains the minds that
are stimulated greatly by alcohol. tea
and other drugs and by Impressions
derived from the senses. The second
group contains the infant prodigies,
whose Intellectual powers wane in
middle age. In the third group are
contained the diseased cases. usually
terminating in insanity. The fourth
and highest group is that of true
geniuses, whose powers remain unini-
paired until old age.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
No Visible signals.

"Yessum." said Sandy Pixies. as he
devoured the wedge Of pumpkin pie,
II sternly object to the nefarious prac-
tice Of clipping of de tails of dogs"
''Ah. / am glad you are so tender
hearted. my poor man." sympathized
the good housewife.
We'll. 1t amt exactly dat. mum. but
when dog hasn't any tail can't tell
by de wags II he is in good humor
or not and 1t makes me skeery about
approaching de house."
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
shor. Live. Of Medical Men.

Some interesting statistics have
been got together by foreign contem-
porary on the duration of a medical
mans life during the last centuries. 1t
appears that In the sixteenth the prac.
titioner lasted only &c years and Ave
months. In the seventeenth century
this was increased to 45 years eight
months. The eighteenth heightened
this four years. and In the nineteenth
we flnd that the medical man reached
IS years apd seven months.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
Bod Effects From Cold.

Mr.. M. J. Deutsch, Secretary Building
Material Trades Council. 151 Washing
ton St., Chicago. ILL.,. writes:
~ have found your medicine to be
unusually efficacious in getting rid of
bad effects from, cold, and more espe-
cially in driving away all symptoms of
catarrh, with which l am frequently
troubled.
"The relief Peruns gives in catarrhal
troubles alone is well worth the price
per bottle. have used the remedy for
several years now"
Spells Of Cosgh'ss.
Mrs. c. e. Long, writes from Atwood.
Colorado, as follows:
"When I wrote you for advice my
little three-year-old girl had cough
that had been troubling her for four
months. She took cold easily, and
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11


course it would be too much like
temptia' fate to let good thing like
that get by, m I've carried 1t with
me on my runs ever since.
The other day stopped at the
Junction for water with the daylight
express. The boys at the roundhouse
down there got to THROWN . josh In
to me about my rabbits foot protec-
tor. Some of them didn't believe 1t
IVES true that l put 50 mach faith
into It.
WELL l says, 'yos can Josh me as
much as you like, but I'm frank to
admit that wouldn't like to go out
on the road for trip without my
bunch in my pocket
Then they all had to have a look
at 1t. After they had passed 1t around
1t was time for our train to leave. N
I 'carelessly stuffed It in the outside
pocket of my jumper, was In such a
hurry.
81 had a heavy train. but we were
right on time, so I didn't mind much,
as the 1927 was workin' her dandiest
n we plowed along Just like an ice
yacht before a 40-mile gale. Coin
round the Ten Degree Curve the 1927
slipped n hobbled for "a second like
fat man steppin' on "a banana peel.
l eased her of with the throttle bit,
stickin' my head out OF the cab win
dow to see what caused the unsteadi-
ness on the part Of the 1927. AS ] did
the locomotive gave little ilurch nj
7 f,lx oIfSTin' mi -,f
my jumper pocket. I made grab at
1t, but l didn't come within a foot of
1t. 1t landed on 4 little ledge. of the
runnin' board jlist outside the cab. II
leaned out of the window to get 1t.
Some mysterious influence seemed to
be workin against my reachin' that
rabbits foot In another second 1t
bounced of to the ballast to 'One side
of the track.
We'll. was in quandary for Il
second. However. / firmly made up
my mind wasn't goin' TO lose my
rabbits foot guardian angel in that
fashion. So ! put on the air. AS the
train came to a stop I dropped from
the runnin' board m busted back after
my good luck piece. AS soon as the
train stopped a natural curiosity rose
in the minds Of the passengers III
the train crew as to what was the
matter. Jim Spratt, the conductor.
asked me what was up. m 7 Just told
him that dropped something of con
siderable value n had stopped to pick
1t up. A fresh guy in one of the Pull
mans overheard my answer m butted
in as follows:
'"Say. old sport, dropped a quill
toothpick from the dining car back
up the road a piece. Would you mind
backin' up there m settin it for me?
or course we are in no hurry to get
in. This near railroadin' fatigues me-.
II didn't make any reply to him.
though would have liked to give him
a slam in the Stats. In less time
than it takes tO.teli II ] had the train
started again. | just got EN- movin'
about eight miles an hour when |
heard crashin' of the ties n the
1927 listed over 10 one side. OF
course we were goin' SO slow that we
could almost stop in space the size
OF 4 ten-cent piece. l dropped down to
the ground again n on inspectin' the
truck found a broken rail Now. was
MT that nice work for that rabbits
foot"
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11

in the
clothing
wraps -, a.,
When the condition
chilled. 3 especially when
pecautio henceth catch cold
o o.
cold caught Spring liable to last through the entire Summer
liability catching cold
easesdu 5
colds will be caught
the
continued
Do notp
Perum and taking until positive that the cold
later on.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
ArsrrlBte Apps.i.. For Chicken.

Henry E. Dixey was sneering about
the .squabble that went on between
two brave young men over Carnegie
medSl.
ut IL not very ennobling thing"
he said, ito see two heroes fighting
'and jawing over a medal for heroism.
Mr.. Carnegie should have thought Of
this when he originated his hero fund.
1.-The taste for medals. once formed.
'is w0rse than the taste for chicken.
You know what Mrs. G. Washington
White said Of her husband. don't you?
any WASH she said, is the wust
,man for chicken you ever see. Why,
II he can't get chicken no other way.
he'll 20 and buy one"
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11

lions, which contained sediment. My
husband urged me to try Doan's Kid
ney Pills, and at last I did SO. They
did me much good, and used in all
eight boxes which restored me to per-
feet health"
Sold by all dealers. so cents a box.
Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo. N. Y.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
Train Cut on Fox. Brush,

During run with the Vine hounds
at Whitchurch a fox was caught by
one of the hounds on the railroad line.
says the London Daily Mall.
Before the hounds could be whipped
off an express train dashed into them.
killing one and cutting of the foxs
brush.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11

or the 100000 miles Of railway in
the world. only about ten per cent. are
found In strictly tropical territory,
and no more than Is per cent. within
what would be termed tropical and
sill,-tropical areas. Tracks abound In
the temperate zone.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11

The number Of ties purchased by the
steam and electric roads of this coun-
try during the year 1906 was 1O2,s34.-
40 The demand for the steam roads
Amounted to IS per cent Of the total.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
HIS RABBITS FOOT
LUCKY POCKET PIECE THAT GER.
rAINLY MADE GOOD"
" Engineer Had Not Dropped II Just
At the Time He Did Who Can
Tell What Would Have
happsned7

GOOD, clever. rabbits
foot, left hind" said the
fat engineer, lone that
Is always on the job. is
4 great boon. Now l
have one that l always
carry In my inside jun.
per pocket. l ran over
4 rabbit one day N in
the chopin process its
left hind leg was tossed
through the cab window
tight into nv lap. OF
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11

Orders have been posted in the
shops OF the Pennsylvania railway sys-
tenn prohibiting swearing among the
men while at work. The penalty will
be an enforced vacation.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
A Rustic Sarcasm,

did your husband ketch chills ar
fever?" asked the woman who was
standing in front of the cabin.
No" answered the woman who was
driving spring wagon. He wouldn't
have that much git.upan.git. He jes'
sot around an let EN- overtake him"
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11

last Spring and as I
did not know what
was the matter !
kept going down
and down until /
was a physical wreck.
/ h a d smothering
spells. flashes of
heat over the kid
neys and pain in pass
fnp the kiduey aorra.
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11

Miss Jaekson-Mr. Johnsing, All
have An'lly decided TO be yo' wife II
yo' wants me!
Mr.. johnson (unafiectedly)-Disa am
de unsuspicious time to impose yo'self
to me. All understand yo' just lost yo'
Job!
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
Didn't Marry Him.

DIDN'T Marry Him.
Howell-When l began counting tho
girl who ia now my wife she said that
she wouldn't marry the best man who
ever lived.
Povell-It isn't every woman who
keeps her word like that
The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-07-11
SPRING KIDNEY TROUBLE.
Wildly Described by One Who Has
Suffered from II.

Mrs. H. Mutzabaugh, of Duncannon.
Pa. says: Il was sick and miserable all
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-11-19
The Cape Fear Change.
Charlotte Chronicle

CnarlOtte Chronicle
The first official call for the Ma
tiOnal Rivers and Harbors Congress
to be held in Washington in Deem
Der has been issued 1t tells in detail
the objects Of the meeting and gives
portraits OF the officers of the con-
gress. According to the call, the
improvements of the waterways of
the nation, which this national con-
vention will advocate and discuss,
means increased and cheapened trans
portatiOn facilities for the producer
| and the consumer, and there is no
question before the American people
| more worthy of their serious thought
and consideration than the proper
development and utilization of these
natural and economic channels of
trade and transportation. 1t is very
| true that this national convention,
held at the nations capital. in the
presence of the nations lawmakers
assembled for the second session of
the SiXtieth Congress, affords the best
place and the best time for all friends
OF improved waterways to demand
of their Representatives that party
pledges be carried out and river and
harbor improvements placed upon a
permanent basis, commensurate with
their Importance to the commercial
manufacturing, and agricultural well
fare of all the people of the Union.
The success of this congress will
carry with it success for the project
Of the 3O-foot channel for the Cape
Fear, and for that reason, the
Chronicle is particularly interested
in it. North Carolina should take a
working hand in the approaching
meeting at Washington.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-11-19

According to an exchange, an Hill
nOis boy was asked to write an essay
on Masonry, and here is what he
wrote:
King Solomon was man who
lived SO many years in the country
that he was the whole push. He was
an awful wise man, and one day two
women came to him, each holding to
the leg OF a baby and nearly pulling
it in two, and both claiming it. And
King Solomon wasn't feeling right
good. and he said: Why couldn't the
brat have been twins and stop this
bother? And then he called for his
machete and was going to Weylerize
the poor innocent little baby and
give each woman Il piece of it when
the real mother of the baby said:
Stop, Solomon, stay thy hand. Let
the old hag have it. If | can't have
81 whole baby. | won't have any
Then Solomon told her to take the
baby and 90 home and wash its face
for he knew it was hers. He told the
other woman to go chase herself.
King Solomon built SolOmon's tenn
pie and was the father of Masons He
had TOO wives and 300 lady friends,
and that's why there are so many
Masons in the world. My papa says
King Solomon was n warm number.
and [ think he was hot stuff myself.
That is all | know about King Solo
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-11-19
DR.. Stiles Arouses the Governor
Charlotte Chronicle

Charlotte Chronicle.
At the meeting i'm Raleigh of Mr..
RoOsevelt's commission for the bet
terment of country life, DR.. Stiles,
who seems to have been exploring the
State for muck, made some remarks
which would lead the outside public
to believe that North Carolina is a
State of ignorance and pestilence,
Astounding in hook worms and ty
phOid germs. Governor Glenn. who
was acting the part of host, did not
relish Dr. Stiles view of conditions i'm
North Carolina and is out in a state
ment criticising the general line of
talk by the commission. He does
not believe that the coming of such
commissions tends to do any good
when the statements made by them
are in direct conflict with true condi-
tiOns and are given out without any
thorough investigation by actual
visitations among the people" 1t
seems to be another case of looking
for the ugly places and shutting the
eyes to the more abundant and ever
present bright spots. Stiles speech
| clearl V showed that much. Instead
OF visiting farm houses he has been
prowlng around negro tenements
and he would have North Carolina
Judged by report based upon such
IL character Of investigation, but for
all that, there are some people who
Will YET believe that in "A few localities
there NAV he found in this State evi.
dences OF the prevalence of some sort
OF intelligence and civilization among
/ its people
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-11-19
Some Don'ts that are Worth While

The following from an exchange
will apply as well here as elsewhere
Read and then heed:
Don't spit on the sidewalks or in
the churches, or other public build
ings.
Don't throw bits OF paper in the
lobby OF the postoftice or on the
streets.
Don't walk On the grass in front OF
our homes, churches or schools
Don't crowd the corners OF our
streets, the fronts OF our churches or
the entrance to the postoffice and
other public buildings.
Don't scratch the walls of the vesti-
bules OF our churches with the match
in order to light the cigarette as soon
as che last amen has been spoken
Don't disparage your town.
Don't misrepresent your neighbors.
Don't lament the success OF an
other.
Don't complain that the children
are noisy.
Don't be miserable ii YOU are com
PEELED to walk while others ride.
Don't rebel against wearing last
years suit. Brush it up, brighter
up and be happy, let the world wae
as it will.
The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-11-19
The Lover of Home.
Charity and Children.

Thomasville Charity and Children.
One of the troubles with Absalom
was that he did not love his home
We fear that many boys are suffer
ing from the same affiictiOn. A great
deal is being said these days about
the necessity of making home attrac-
tive SO that our boys willnot wander
into doubtful and dangerous places
This is important, but there are
some boys that can not be held at
home, no matter what is done for
them, and there is very little hope
for such a boy as that. We may be
mistaken, but somehow we are i'm
pressed with the fact that there is "A
general tendency away from the
sacred happiness that surrounds the
old home. 1t may be that this is
due to the restlessness of the age and
the vast throngs OF our people that
are constantly moving to and fro
Our children are less contented will
the simple happiness of the home
life, but measure their pleasure 10y
the trips they take. 1t is a disad
vantage, we are persuaded, that
transportation has become SO easy
and cheap. 1t has certainly initiated
against the quiet Joy of the family
| life. The children who still find the
highest happiness at home are the
ones who will count for most wher
they do 60 out into life