davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
A STUDY in Black.

Like a glimpse of the southland was
a little scene on lower Seventh avenue
one morning this week, says the New
York Globe. On the pavement direct
ly in front of the entrance to poor
tenement sat negro boy not more
than five years old. Bare-headed and
bare-footed, clad only in two ragged
garments, he squatted like tailor,
his ebony face alight with apprecia-
ton as he munched a bit of fruit.
Close beside him on the sidewalk
was an old soap box. In the soap box
was an ebony baby of Is months, clad
In a single garment-and equally
happy in an endeavor to swallow a
share of the fruit The soap box was
a substitute for an unattainable baby
carriage, and the five-year-old a sub
stitute for an. unattainable nursemaid.
Dire poverty meant nothing to the
pair of negro children.
There's an opportunity for fine
canvas" said one observer. Il wish
l were an artist"
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
Horn Iona Inteddsd in Tree.

A rams horn that was imbedded in
tree 1873 years ago is curiosity that
Janson Elder, a forester ranger living
at Paisley, Ore, has discovered. Whiie
rambling In the woods in 1883 Elder
came across q yellow pine tree in the
base of which was imbedded the horn
of mountain sheep. He did not then
have time to make thorough investi-
cation, but since he became a forest
ranger he had occasion to go to cut
down the tree. He took a section of
the trunk containing the horn to Lake
view. The horn was a little to one
side the center cf the tree. 1t was
not curled as are the horns of noun
tain sheep nowadays, but was almost
straight. Counting the rings Of growth,
the tree was shown to be 213 years
old. Outside of the horn were 1S3
rings, indicating the number of years
that had elapsed since the mountain
sheep was caught and held fast by the
yellow Pine. The horn was soaked
with pitch. 1t is ten inches in diane.
ter at the base and 80 inches long.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
Iauuhter Makes Beauty.

The art of laughter should surely
be cultivated in fact, all and every
thing that leads to joy. The wish to
be happy, the love of gladness. and
beauty is a thing to be desired; con-
sequently it is worth a little cultiva-
ton. Play is as essential factor in
mems lives as work. Philosophers tell
us that no man lives his own life until
he plays. Work comes from the ex-
igencies of life, from the "musts" Of
the world, which often push men along
different paths to those they would
choose to travel by from inclination
or capacity. Play is, however, his rec
reation, and here at his leisure time
comes out his whole soul; his power
of and choice of play, his greater or
lesser necessity of it, to recuperate
mind and body from the strain of
daily work. Laughter is a gift that
makes man akin to the gods, that wax
ems some of the best and brightest of
his nature.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
Invention as a Business.

Commenting on a recent article
whose writer laments that more per
sons do not take up inventing as a
regular business, the Electric Review
Uondon) says: I'VE doubt whether
inventing in the highest sense can be
made business to be learned by any.
body. Inventors are born, not made.
Our own country is not lacking in the
divine inspiration, If We are to judge
by the number of patents applied for;
a different conclusion might be sr-
rived at if we were to judge by the
quality. America appears to be the
special breeding ground of the inven.
tor. The peculiar mixture of all races
IN that fortunate land appears to have
produced a kind of superman who
alone is capable of creating such dia,
bolical inventions as the cash regis,
ter and the automatic telephone ex.
change"
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
A Matter of Hiqh Politics,

One the wittiest of English peers
Is Lord Longford, and he has also
earned the reputation of being one Of
the worst dressed, in spite of the fact
that for 20 years he has been in the
Second Life Guards. The story goes
that a friend once met him in Ireland
garbed in pair of combinations
which were not on speaking terms
with his boots, and chaffed him mer-
cilessly about the lucid interval that
occurred between them. But Tom
my" as Lord Longford is known to
his intimates, in nowise disconnected,
blandly explained that it was really
a matter of high politics. you see,
my dear fellow, the breeches are made
by a tailor who is a rampant Orange
man, while the boots are the achieve
ment of a Fenian cobbler, so how can
you expect 'em to meet?'
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
OBJECTED TO THE SUSPICION.
Mr.. ShackIey's Slight Misunderstand-
ing with His Physician.

Mr.. Shackley, who had been ordered
by his physician to lay aside all his
business cares for three months and
take vacation, reluctantly complied.
At the end of that time he returned,
looking and feeling very much better,
and his medical adviser congratulated
him on his improved condition. Il
didn't like to speak of it at the time,"
said the doctor, but when you went
away 1 strongly suspected you of hav-
ing myocarditis." Mr.. Shackley Grim
soned with modification. IF 1 had
anything of yours in my possession,
DOCTOR he said with strong feel
ing, "or If you suspected me of having
it, you ought to have told me SO right
them You don't think l am thief,
do you?" By hasty explanation Of
the nature of myocarditis, the doctor
Modified his indignant patient and
averted a scene.-Youth's Companion.
Ton.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
Rats, Plague Carriers Of India.

Before plague makes it's appearance
in house the rat mortality generally
gives warning and a case occurs
among the people in house near
which rats have been found. The peo-
pie have now come to know that there
is some connection between the rat
mortality and the occurrence of
plague cases in certain locality. The
rats go about from one place to an
other and they carry infection from
place to place and render the task of
controlling plague, when it is once
spread, very difficult It therefore
necessary that the public should CO.
operate with the health department to
destroy as many rats as possible. The
rains have now stopped, and, as it is
the breeding season for rats, the pres
ent is the fittest occasion for a cam
paign against rats.-Bombay Gazette
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
HAD NO CAUSE TO BE AFRAID.
Very Harmless "Tiger" Was Irish
mans Companion in Cage.

The manager of wild animal show
was so unfortunate as to lose by death
the only lion in his collection. After
trying in vain to replace the loss he
finally secured an Irishman to appear
in his exhibition on all fours in the
lions cage, wrapped in the dead
beasts skin. This plan worked we'll
enough for a while, and the public
was fooled. One night, however, it be-
came necessary, in the course of one
performance, for the lion to enter the
tigers cage. Pat pleaded strenuously
behind the scenes against being sent
into the other maneater's presence;
but his employer was unyielding, as
suring him repeatedly that the tiger
was harmless. Though well-nigh dead
with fear, Pat, after long and vigorous
persuasion, at last crawled into the
tigers cage. No sooner was he in the
cage than he lost what little courage
he had left, and lay down, calling in
hoarse whisper, please don't bite me;
l amt no lion; Pm an Irishman." The
tiger appeared thoroughly disgusted,
and in a moment he growled back,
Shut up, you fool, SO am I"-Har-
per's Weekly.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
Art of Boiling Potatoes.

1t was st. Nova whom st. Patrick,
"out of his own head taught how to
boil a potato; "a sad thing, and to be
lamented, that the secret has come
down to so few" The first named saint
left no recipe as legacy, says a
writer in the London Express. This
seems pity, for, according to Sydney
Smith, in a letter to Arthur Kinglake,
written in 1887, Frequently it is tina:
those persons whom God hath joined
together in matrimony i'll cooked
joints and badly boiled potatoes have
put asunder.'
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
EyeIashes and Eyebrows.

There is much beauty in long. silky,
curved eyelashes. Men are proud OF
"beetling brows" fringed with fierce
bristles They fondly believe that
such features indicate force Of char
acter backed up by immense brain
energy In Circassia, Persia and parts
of India one of a mothers earliest
cares is to promote the growth of her
children's eyelashes by tipping and re-
moving the fine, gossamer-like points
with a pair Of scissors when the
youngsters are asleep. BY repeating
this every month or six weeks the
lashes become long, close. finely
curved and glossy. This practice 10
said to be very useful in treating in
f1ammation Of the eyes, or granulated
lids Shaving will make the eyebrows
thick and heavy.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION.
Chronic Bachelor Makes Few Re.
marks About the Modern Hatpn.

There ought 20 be a law against
women carrying unconcealed weap-
onS," grOwled the chronic bachelor
at the club. THAT | haven't been
stabbed to death or manned for life
before this is due to a combination
Of agility and good luck, I'm con.
vinced. l tell you, it keeps a man
busy lodging nowadays to avoid blood
letting when he's travelling in crowd
ed conveyance with women, or even
walking on a crowded thoroughfare.
A woman is positively menace to life
the moment she gets outdoors" "Why
outdoors especially" "Hatpins! Hat.
pins! Foot and a half long, some of
'em. They stick out from both sides
of a hat like spears. Every time
woman turns her head these wicked
looking spears sweep around in
two-foot radius; and every time she
bobs her head up and down she takes
a chance of raking the nearest person
fore and aft. Suppress the woman or
the hatpin, l say" Lets make it the
hatpin," suggested the married man.
gently.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
WHEN THEY ARE NOT WANTED.
Some People Seem to Have Faculty
for UnconsciousIy Butting-In.

"Rave you ever noticed" said the
melancholy man, "how it is the voca-
ton of certain people to get in the
way-to be around when they are not
wanted? l suppose that if they were
aware of their calling they would feel
bad about it. But, as a matter of fact,
they never are aware of it, and this,
probably, explains why they keep at
it. Take my brother-in-law, for in
stance. He has a marvellous faculty for
turning up at inopportune moments. If
we are going to have company to
dinner we can surely count on a mes
sage from him asking whether it
would be convenient for his wife and
himself to drop in on US. If I am an
the evening it is ten to one that I'll
hear his voice in the hall Just as I
am fastening to close up my office in
the afternoon he is apt to come in and
establish himself for prolonged talk.
Take hint? Such men never take a
hint. They are so obtuse that they
don't see when their presence turns
company into crowd. They have not
learned the art Of effacing themselves
on occasions, and they never will. You
feel sorry for them at first, but sor-
row soon changes to another senti-
ment'
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
SOME CAUSE FOR HIS DISLIKE.
Bachelors Explanation Of His An.
tipathy to All Children.

81 hate children" he said.
"Why?"
Il think they ought to be locked up
in asylums till they're old enough to
take care of themselves. If it hadn't
been for a child-well, it might have
BEEN"
'What?"
Il loved the childs mother She
was a rich and beautiful widow, and
l was madly in love with her. 1 was
actually contemplating-in fact, had
just got to the point Of putting the
delicate question. We were in the
drawing-room. The child was playing
in the corner. Forgetting all about
that, put my arm fervently round the
widows waist and implanted a pas.
sionate kiss upon her lips, when the
child started up and rushed at me
saying: Don't you kill my mammal
and ran screaming into the kitchen
calling for the servants.
But the worst came a few nights
after l called at the house. There
were several ladies there, and the
child was being petted all round. OF
course, the widow was friendly, but
that child deliberately turned her back
upon me. l didn't mind that; but the
mother, to be nice, said: My darling
child, don't you know Mr.. Blank?'
oh, yes, said the imp very pertly.
oh, yes, know you! You are the man
that bited my mammal l need not
could not-describe the effect."-Stray
Stories
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE KID?
That Is the Third Of the Series Of
Questions Asked.

This is said to have really happened
in New York public school, and
to have nearly cost the innocent by
stander," which happened in this case
to be the boys teacher, her license,
her position, and goodness knows
what all. One of the members Of the
board at that time, who spoke with
slight brogue, visited a schoolroom
and gave out this problem:
IF half a gill costs a half a mill,
what will a pint cost?'
On the back seat a little freckle-
faced boy with one front tooth missing
scribbled away like mad, then folded
his hands and sat up.
"Ah," said the board member, there
is bright little boy who has finished
the problem already. Bring me your
paper, my little man, and let me see
what you have said"
The boy came, and here is what he
wrote"
IF a brick hit a Mick, what would
happen to the brick?"
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
Immigrants Purses.

The immigrants who stream into
New York all have different ways of
carrying their money.
The Irish immigrant carries a canvas
bag in which notes and coins are
crammed together.
The German wears a money belt,
gay and costly, of embroidered cha
mois.
The French and Italians carry brass
tubes with screw tops wherein they
keep their cash in 2O-franc gold pieces.
The Swede is sure to have an i'm
mense pocketbook of cowhide that
has been handed down from father to
son for generations.
The Slavs carry their money in their
high boots, along with a fork and
spoon.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
Orisin of Pommes souffies,

With reference to the fiftieth ami
versary of the first railway in France,
French contemporary points out
that it was in connection with this
event that the virtues of pommes souf-
tes We're discovered. A French chef
was travelling on the new line from
Paris to ST. German, and was pre-
pairing in the train the banquet which
was to celebrate the opening. Just be-
fore arriving at st. Germain he threw
some potatoes in the boiling butter.
The train, however, was delayed, and
the potatoes had to be taken out
again. When the train restarted the
potatoes were once again put in the
boiling butter, and to every ones de-
light were found, on being taken out,
to be deliciously light and inflated.
The beauties of the pomme souf-
f1e had been evealed.-London Globe.
Globe.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
AardWk - Mans Secret.

I'll tell you secret about mending
your own steel knives" said a hard.
ware dealer to one of his customers.
when the handles Of steel knives
and forks come off they can be easily
mended with rosin. Pour little pow
dered rosin into the cavity in the
handle. Heat the part of the knife
that fits into the handle until it Is red
hot and thrust into the handle. It will
become firmly fi.e.. by the rosin when
it becomes cool. Protect the blade
from the heat"
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
ShaW's Life Principle.

Leslie NJ. Shaw of Iowa, formerly
secretary of the treasury, has a story
ON tap to fit almost every situation
that presents itself. He was gov
ernor of Iowa when President ROOSe-
welt invited him to become a member
of his cabinet He went to Washing
ton in response to summons from
the White House. While Mr.. Shaw's
appointment had been rumored, it had
not been announced officially, and a
persistent rumor was in circulation to
the effect that he would not accept the
cabinet offer. Several correspondents
waited on Mr.. Shaw at his hotel to
learn his intentions regarding the mat
ter.
when I was a boy" he said, 81
started off one day on fishing trip
with another boy. We had a long
tramp to the fishing place, and as the
weather was warm we got very thirsty,
and coming to a farmhouse my com
panion suggested that we stop and get
drink of water The lady of the
house not only gave us drink out OF
a nice tin dipper, but insisted upon
our taking some pie. Bill, my com
panion, took a large piece, but from
difidence or something, l declined
Bill looked at me with amazement
Les he said, always help yourself to
pie when it is passing That was
pretty sound advice, and l have acted
on that principle ever since."-Wash
ington Star.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
ALL HASTEN TO THEIR HOMES.
What Happens in the Small Towr
After Sunset.

II you happen to spend an evening
not fail to be surprised at the almost
complete solitude that surrounds you,
says the Philadelphia Record. This
town that you may have seen in the
afternoon swarming with such num-
bers of busy people, teeming with so
intense a life, is now deserted.
To it's previous animation has sue
ceeded a strange calm. 1t is as though
you walked in a city OF the dead.
1t is because every evening after six
o'clock work is over in the English
town; the complex machinery of the
immense labor organization stops.
The factory and the office, their
doors open wide, cast into the street
their world of liberated workers. By
crowded tramways, by crowded pave
ments, the town disgorges itself. Each
one-clerks, workmen, workgirls, Of
fee boys, bankers and merchants
with the same haste to regain his
dwelling, leaves behind him the gloomy
town where he labored, where he
strove as in the lists. 1t is an immense
and enthusiastic retreat. 1t is the
daily exodus of the English toward
their home
What, then, is it, this home of which
the English constantly speak, the
thought of which touches their heart
whose memory dims their eyes, that
enfolds all the happiness of their life?
1t is home, a place in which to for,
get the aggravations of the world, in
which to be with ones dear ones
ones pets and ones lares and penates
generally.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
RIDING THE SOUTH SEA SURF.
Authors Description Makes One Long
to Participate.

'T shall never forget the first big
wave l caught out there in the deep
water. I saw it coming, turned my
back on it and padded for dear life.
Faster and faster my board went, until
it seemed my arms would drop off.
What was happening behind me l
could not tell. One cannot look be-
hind and paddle the windmill stroke.
l heard the crest of the wave kissing
and churning, and then my board was
lifted and flung forward. l scarcely
knew what happened the first half
minute. Though kept my eyes open,
1 could not see anything, for l was
buried in the rushing white of the
crest. But 1 did not mind 1 was
chiefly conscious of ecstatic bliss at
having caught the wave. At the end
of the half minute, however, l began
to see things and to breathe. l saw
that three feet of the nose of my board
was clear out of water and riding on
the air. 1 shifted my weight forward
and made the nose come down. Then
lay, quite at rest in the midst of the
wild movement, and watched the
shore and the bathers on the beach
grow distinct. 1 didn't cover quite a
quarter of a mile on that wave, be-
cause, to prevent the board from div
ing, I shifted my weight back, but
shifted it too far, and fell down the
rear slope of the wave."-Jack London
in the Woman's Home Companion.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
An Eye to Business.

An expert golfer had the misfortune
to play a particularly vigorous stroke
at the moment that seedy wayfarer
skulked across the edge of the course
The ball struck the trespasser and
rendered him briefly insensible. When
pressed into his hand by the regretful
golfer.
"Thanky, sir" said the injured man,
after a kindling glance at the money
AN when will you be playin' again,
sir ir?"-Lippincott's.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
An InterpoJation-

The old-time revivalist often pos
sessed a gift of gentle satire which
stood him in good stead. At a Maine
camp-meeting long ago a young man
made himself so obnoxious during a
prayer that the old preacher rounded
off one OF his sentences rather abrupt
ly. Now, Lord" he then continued,
without trace of irritation, eve pray
that Thou wilt in the mightiness Of
Thy power take that young man in the
fourth seat and make his heart as free
from sin as his head is from sense
Youths Companion.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
Holland Has Cheese Carriers Guild.

The cheese carriers of Holland form
a very ancient and exclusive guild, and
no one who is not extremely clean in
his habits and spotlessly white in
dress would have the slightest chance
of getting employment in the guild.
The cheese markets, which are held
once a week during the summer in
the principal towns of north Holland,
bring an element Of gayety in the
lives of the farmers, their wives and
daughters, who always don their very
best and wear all their gold ornaments
and pearls for the occasion. At the
same time the shopping for the whole
week is done and carried back to the
farms in the empty cheese carts. The
May cheese, which is brought to mar
ket in June, is said to be the very
best and choicest.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
James Russell Lowell on Readirq

Have you ever rightly considered
what the mere ability to read means?
That it is the key that admits us to
the whole world of thought and fancy
and imagination; to the company of
sage and saint, Of the wisest and the
wittiest at their wisest and wittiest
moment? That it enables us to see
with the keenest eyes, hear with the
finest ears, and listen to the sweetest
voices of all time?-James Russell
Lowell.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
SUNDAY Work,

The small nephew from Virginia
was making his first visit In the
north. Came rainy Sunday, and he
suggested building mansion of wood
blocks. His uncle surveyed him
amusedly.
up here" he said, 1--WE don't work
on Sunday"
The small boy reflected.
We'll" he said at length, I'VE don't
do no work Sunday either. 'cept read
the Bible an feed the hawgs."
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
The Idle Chickens.

Little Margie on her first visit to
farm was told to wander about the
barn and search for eggs. Some time
later the child returned almost in
tears.
Couldn't you find any eggs, dearie?"
asked her mother.
No. replied Margie, wearily. IL
think it's mean, too, cause lots Of
hens were standing around doing
nothing. g."-Lippincott's.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
His Last Joke.

"You say you would like more ex.
ercise?" said the death watch to the
condemned man. What sort of exer.
else would you like?"
II should like to skip the rope" re-
Piled the prisoner with a grin.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
Careless.

"Oh, George, dear, our wedding
must be postponed" mo, darling,
no. 1t must not be-" But it must,
George, dear. Father has lost all his
money in the market" You are right,
dear. You are right. The wedding
must be postponed. 1 never thought
it of you, Mabel. 1 never thought that
you would have such a careless ia
ther."-Detroit Free Press.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
No Wonder.

They were talking about the chill
dren in the building and how they
played in the halls and what nuisance
they were. my boy isn't like that"
remarked the fiat dweller in the front
apartment "He never makes any
trouble. He never plays in the halls"
Presently her boy came in. He was 16
only, but he was six feet and one inch
tall.-N. Y. PresA -..----------. -.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
The Practical Joke,

I've filled many a role" said the
actor out of a job, land now it would
take many a roll to fill me-" Then
realizing that he had made joke, he
sold it for enough to put the matter
to test.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
SETTING Himself Right.

Here is the man, your honor, who
was caught stealing the hog" Caught
in the act?" Yes, sir" "Jedge,"
said the prisoner, dat man is lyin' to
you It wuz in de fence corner whar
he kotched me!"-Atlanta Constitu,
don.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
Modern Proqress.

Grandma--In my day, women didn't
fly around out of doors as they do now.
They would sit at home and spin.
Gladys-But now they go out and spin
much better, if they have . good auts.
Chariton courier., 1908-08-07
His Natural Place,

II WONDER" exclaimed the wrathy
woman witness, that the lawyer on
the other side can lie easy in his bed!"
He can, probably" replied her hus-
band, but he prefers to do it in
court"