davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19

marks In regard to the conditions for
automobiling in the vilayet OF Smyr-
ma may not be amiss. AT present the
condition Of the country roads IL un-
favorable, but II is said on good au-
thority that network Of roads en-
composing all the districts OF the
western and southern part OF Asia
Minor, and connecting up the main
cities and villages therein with the
seacoast, will soon be commenced, a
work which will take many years to
complete. There are but four auto
mobiles at present in Smyrna.
Apart from a few roads connect
ing the city with some of the subur-
ban towns, autOmOblling is not a
pleasure in this part of the country,
and the same applies to the city itself,
for the reason that, with the single
exception, perhaps. of the broad thor
oughfare along the quay, the narrow
streets are so crowded with wagon
and camel trafic that It is next to an
impossibility for even small motor
cars to pass with ease. The roads In
the interior Of the country are rather
better than those in the vicinity of
this city. In the Maeander Valley
and at the head waters Of the river
which bears that name many fairly
good roads may be found. However,
these are 200 miles away, and unless
a motor car should be sent by rail 1t
would be practically impossible to
reach them"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
AM Amateur conlurer.

During q little pedestrian trip a
gentleman came unexpectedly upon q
country racecourse, and on one por-
ton of the ground found thimblerig
establishment in full work Notwith-
standing the remonstrances Of his
companion, the gentleman, who was
a bit OF q madcap, insisted on watch
ing the game.
Now, would the gent like to wager
a crown he could find the pea?" re-
marked the expert
Eyes," was the reply
The money was on both sides de-
posted, and the pedestrian, lifting up
the thimble, pointed out the required
pea, and took the stakes.
Then third wager, "a pound or
nothing" steadied the nerves Of the
loser and the trick was accomplished
with great caution. The gentleman
lifted up a thimble and showed the
pea, at the same time pocketing the
stake.
A second bet, "doRble or quits"
ended, to the surprise of the expert
in the same result.
"S'help me-" &C., 81 didn't put it
there!" exclaimed the bewildered art
list.
mo, but 1 always carry my own
pea" rejoined the man who had come
out right as he went on his way with
the spells of war.-Tit Bits.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19

"We ate every day, though, mother
dear, and most generally always we
had fire"
Yes, dear, because kind man let
us have all that we needed, and
trusted mother to pay for 1t when she
got work again. SO, you see, Agnes,
the money that mother is making now
does not really belong to us, but every
cent must go to pay our debts.
A small head solemnly nodded.
at hurts mother very much not, to
give her darling any Christmas toys
nor let her girlie's kind heart have
its wish about the dollie for the poor
cick little child at the hospital, but
Agnes will try to be a good little girl
about It, won't she?"
The arms about mothers neck
frightened their hold, but Agnes
lnouth twitched, and she had to blink
very hard to keep back the tears. IL
she had no present to lay in the
Christmas manger, how would the
Christ Child know that she loved
Him? "Of course" she argued TO
herself, 81 could 'splain in my prayers
that had nothing to give
But had she nothing? Her face
suddenly crimsoned, and great
lump choked her little throat. There
was Peggy herself!
Without speaking, she got down
from mothers lap. and darted across
the room to her little bed. There,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
nlahnn pott.r,n advice.

Bishop Potter was wonderfully
effective preacher" said Brooklyn
clergyman. His method was re-
served and quiet. He always had
himself wen in hand.
81 once delivered sermon before
him. | was young and enthusiastic at
the time, disciple of the methods OF
Talmage. let myself go in that ser
mon. My voice shook the church,
My gestures shook the pulpit.
AT luncheon, afterward, am
ashamed to say that fished for COM
pliments. leaned over the bishop
and asked him in low voice to give
me some advice on preaching, Dear
knows what expected him to reply
probably that was beyond any
advice from him. AT any rate, what
he did reply was this;
My dear young friend, never mis-
take in the pulpit perspiration for In.
spiration. Los Angeles Times.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
THE NEWSPAPER is A POWER.
Catalogue Of What They Have Done
For the World.

In The Forum for October At
torney-General Bonaparte discusses
Government by Public Opinion" and
has something to say of what news
papers have done for the world. 1t
is first shown how by the invention OF
newspapers mans knowledge OF his
fellows was widened. Before their
coming man knew that others lived
beyond his city or manor or canton,
but they affected his everyday life as
little as II they had lived In Mars or
Venus"
Mr.. Bonaparte goes on to say that
the immense extension and SYM
pathy has naturally and powerfully
reacted on his character. The change
is not in all respects for the better;
the unselfish interest which any one
can take in the affairs Of others is a
flxed quantity, or at least is not capa-
BILE of definite expansion, and when
you spread it out broad you also
spread it out thin"
This word of the Attorney General
Is directed at the newspaper readers
concern about the conditions and the
doings that AFFECT "his neighbors
abroad" with comparatively little ref
erence to his concern about his neigh
Dor at home, though Mr.. Bonaparte
treats the latter matter in another
part of his article. The newspaper
that aids best in sound Government
by Public Opinion" is the newspaper
that is sound in its own treatment OF
the affairs of men, and particularly in
the affairs of men at. home, where Its
influence is most directly felt.
An understanding of its own re-
sponsibility tc the community is es-
sential in the first instance to any
journal that wishes to do its duty
In It's news columns 1t is clean; II
stands consistently for civic improve
ment and for the real things of life
and 1t is not moved by any considera-
lions from the lines of right as II
sees them. The newspaper is g
power, but there are newspapers and
wspapers.---Chicago Post.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
Young HoodIums.

The Worcester Gazette declares
there is an unwhipped gang of young.
sters in that city, found in nearly
every quarter, and so slightly re-
strained by the police that they are
rapidly being nodded into the stun
from which roaring mobs are made,
1t is to be feared that Worcester is
not alone in the possession of such 9
gang. Probably duplicate could be
found in any city of the Common
wealth, and no town of any size i!
free from a similar If smaller grouI
of youthful disturbers. 1t is generally
agreed that the responsibility for the
existence of such gangs rests on the
mollycoddiiRg spirit of the time
which is reflected in some of the foo
legislation relative to juvenile offend
ers now on the statute book. Lowell
Courier-CitiEen.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
MFALrH HIDDEN IN oLp TAeLE.
Problem California Woman Left for
Public Administrator to Solve.

Public Administrator to Solve
Cunnlngly hidden in secret recep'
tacle deity carved In the leg OF an
antique table, the fortune Of the state
Mrs. Jessie Fremont Dietsch OF San
Francisco, relative of the noted path
finder, Gen. John @. Fremont, was
found recently by the deputy public
administrators, w. j. Hynes. The neat
ly fastened little bundle gave up
bank book showing deposits of $500
a costly collection of time honored
jewelry and countless shares In Wild
cat concerns worth their waste paper
value.
The discovery Of the effects of the
erratic woman of historic lineage ends
a search that Hynes and his men pur-
sued for several days with great earn
estness. When Mrs. Dietsch died, on
April 2S, alone and in secluslon, her
effects were taken charge of by the
public administrators in the absence Of
any near relatives. The officers were
informed that the old woman was pos
sessed of great wealth and the stories
came from such reliable sources that
1t was deemed advisable to make 4
complete search of the premises.
With this end In view Hynes and his
assistants strained every effort to 10.
cate the hidden treasure, Every ar
ticle In the house was overturned and
thoroughly searched without avail,
Even the carpets and tapestries were
ripped open in the hope that they
would yield some of the glittering gold
which the aged recluse was supposed
to possess.
Just as Hynes was about to abandon
the search he accidently knocked off
the hollow leg Of an ancient table.
In a cleverly contrlved cache the pub
lie administrator spied an old wallet
Opening the bag, Hynes discovered
that 1t contained the bank book, jewels
and stock certiAcates.-Los Angeles
Times
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
The Flaht WIth the FIy.

1.-THE fight with the fly will be a
stiff one," said Sir James Crichton-
Browne In an address to the sanitary
inspectors congress in Liverpool re-
Gently. "One fly, 1t has been calcu-
lated, will lay 1000 eggs, and must,
on the SNOWFALL principle, leave 25,-
100000 descendants in season. 1t
is only by systematic attacks on the
breeding places that we can hope to
rout this multitudinous disease car
rier. Tubercular diseases are stead
lily diminishing throughout Great Brit
ain, and we have good reason to hope
they will be altogether abolished in
another thirty years, kansas City
Journal
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
s's' go 81 ( q re 4.
S& THEl CHRIST ,cHlLD,S
& elsgA BIRTHDAY PRE3ENTA
Y lEe ~ !,

BY MAY C. RnNGWOLT.

skipping along in the sunshine, think
ing what a lucky grille she was to
have two lively legs. and a straight,
strong back.
Agnes remembered the time, be-
fore dear fathers death, when they
lived in a cunning cottage OF their
own on a pretty avenue, but now
mother and she had only one room
at the top of a gloomy house on
forlorn back street. Still. as her feet
clattered up the dark, interpreted
stairs, her heart was full Of happiness
because she had reached home at
last-for even one room is home
when mother is there.
"Oh. mother" exclaimed Agnes,
"Ive so much to tell you'll" And
cuddled in mothers lap, an arm about
her neck, hand pasting her cheek,
Agnes sweetly prattled of the Christ
Child of old, and how His birthday
was to be kept by giving presents to
poor, sick little children left in His
place. And, mother" she cried,
"I'm going to give a doll Just like
my own dear Peggy! Do you think,
mother dear--if sewed, too, you
know-you could get the dollie
dressed in time?"
The smile faded from mothers
lips. and the arm about her grille
trembled "My dear little Agnes, "
she murmured, with catch in her
voice, mother is so sorry to disap-
point you" She paused, then brave
ly went on. agnes has grown to be
such little woman that mother is
going to explain everything to her
You know, dear, for three whole
weeks mother had no work to do"
Eyes," chimed in Agnes, gaily,
land It was just beautiful! We took
long walks, and, in the evening, In
stead of the stupid sewing, you told
me the lovelist stories.!"
"But, love-" explained mother, with
a sad smile, when there is no work
there is no pay-uo money to buy
anything to eat nor coal to keep us
warm"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
The Answer.

A rather pompous looking deacon
in certain city church was asked t.
take charge of class of boys during
the absence of the regular teache'
While endeavoring to impress .poI
their young minds the importance O.
living a Christian life. tle following
question was propounded:
"Why do people call me a Chris.
tian, chiIdren?" the worthy dignitarJ
asked, standing very erect and smil'
ing down upon them.
Because they don't know you,
was the ready answer of a bright.
eyed little boy. responding to the
ingratiating smile with one equally
guileless and winning .-Lippincott's
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
For fd1IlY q sTw0A
Oyster Soup. Gberkins,F Roast DUcA
} Apple auo-Celery SALAD.
Potatoes, ScaIloPeo, With Grdteo Onion
Squash. Plum puo0ino, HARD 5ouce.
,Ido9erine Oranges. GRAPES. Coftee.p

cle and | simply stopped in" She
airily tossed her head. Were on
our way to a Christmas Eve party"
Form in line, my dears," inter-
rupted Miss Maud, briskly. "Yes;
our class comes last, but you must
sing all the time we're marching"
The children's voices caroled joys
ously as the procession pressed fort
ward, but one little singer was mutei
She was the last in the line, little
brown shadow of girl with a small
pink object Rugged to her breast,
Miss Maud stood by the Manager, now
heaped with all sorts of playthingsi
and nodded and smiled as each wed
member of her class approached,
Puzzled, she watched Agnes pausei
look at the manger with frightened
eyes, and hesitate, Then she saw
the small pink object lifted to tho
child's lips, and heard the sound OF
smacking kiss of farewell before
trembling hands laid a doll with
straggly hair, faded cheeks and q
broken nose among the new toys.
"Why, my DEAR" cried Miss Maud,
putting her arms about Agnes, what
Is the matter?"
A great sob shook the tiny figure.
TELL me all about it," comforted
Miss Maud
And Agnes brokenly confided the
whole story. But as she explained
how mothers money belonged to
somebody else, and how she had moth
ing to give the Christ Child except
her only doll, neither OF them noticed
little listener who drew nearer and
nearer
"No, no." cried Agnes, 81 wouldn't
take her back. want the little hos
pital girl to have her-she'll 'preciate
Peggy's crippled nose, won't she?"
Agnes forced a smile through her
tears. "Only," she faltered, at will
be $3.50 lonesome without any
doll---ie."
Something tugged at Miss Maud's
skirts. She turned, and with start
of surprise, looked down into Clar-
ices eager face.
eve lots more at home, you
know" she whispered. And, laying
Lady Lucille in Agnes astonished
arms, Clarlce ran after her chum,
Anabel.-The Interior.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
The struggle For Liberty.

What you call liberty / call liber
ties, and what call the struggle fol
liberty is nothing but the constant
living assimilation of the idea of free
dom. He who possesses liberty 9th
erwise than as a thing to be striver
for, possesses it dead and soulless
for the idea of liberty has undoubt
eddy this characteristic, that 1t de
velops steadily during its assimila
ton. So that a man who stops in thu
midst of the struggle and Says, Nov
{ have itp' thereby shows that HI
has lost it,-Henrik Ibsen.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19

there was the cunningest dimple in
her round chin. She was dressed In
claret velvet trimmed in white silk,
and wore claret velvet poke bonnet
with white silk strings and. an ex-
quisite white plume gracefully touch
ing the brown curls on the right side.
And best of all, she had a necklace
of gold beads, and gold bead brace
lets dangling over her hands.
"Oh," murmured Agnes, won't
your little hospital girl be pleased?"
my little hospital grill" scorn-
fully whispered back Clarice. you
don't suppose I'd give my best doll
away! Here's my present held
out box of iack-straws-"L Lady Luz
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19

tween the black curtain and the cloth
suspended across the space in front.
Two lights are so arranged on each
side that they shine toward the audi
ence, but are carefully shielded so
that none of the rays reach the back
curtains. All other lights in the room
are put out. The presents to be dis
tributed are laid on the floor between
the two curtains out Of sight. The
distributor announces in iowery lam
guage that he can produce from UNI
seen realms q present for so and so.
He turns toward the back and makes
few mysterious passes; his assistant
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
LocoMoTIvE NEsrINo pLAoEe.
strange Preferences Shown by Birds
In uap,s MakInn Arrannennents.

strange preferences OHpWH w H'Ne
In Home Making Arrangements.
The sparrow which was discovered a
few days ago sitting on a nest among
the coal OF a Great Eastern Company's
engine running between st. Margarets
and Buntingford has had several pre-
decessors in her preference for To-
connective nesting place.
A year or two ago a thrush's nest
containing two eggs was found snugly
ensconced on the Westinghouse brake
pipe OF carriage on an express train
which had just returned to York from
a trip to Newcastle. The nest, we are
told, was "qulte warm and comforta-
BILE"
About the same time couple or
robins built their nest on the axle OF
a colliery wagon which was standing
idle for few days at Seghill, North
cumberland. Six eggs were laid; and
then the wagon was started on us
Journey again. The parent birds fol-
lowed It all the way to the Tyne, and
Il was their excited lowering over the
wagon which led to an Investigation
and to the discovery of their strange
nesting place. -Westminster Gazette
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
Hlts in Battle.

Some such approximation Of how
many bullets fred in battle miss the
mark is furnished in the case Of the
Franco Prussian war. 1t was estl'
mated that in that war the Germans
fred 2O,0OO,0OO balls at their enemies
The French army lost In killed and
wounded about 100000 men. Accord
ing to this, only one ball out of las
fred hit the mark; and, as only about
one man in seven hit was actually
killed, it would appear that only one
ball in 1858 proved fatal.-The Ameri
non
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19

propped up by a pillow, sat Peggy In
a stiff pink calico dress, The eurla
had all been combed out of Peggys
struggling hair; the roses had long
ago faded from her cheeks, and in a
sad accident Perry had parted com.
pany with the end of her nose,
"You dear!H whispered Agnes,
Her lips formed a determined line,
How could she have thought of giving
Peggy upl What would she do all
day without a dollle to play with2
What would she do at night without
dollie to sleep on the pillow beside
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
Good Paw. Short Hours.

A certain cottage and its old mis-,
tress had improved so greatly in com.
fort and appearance that a visitor
shrewdly surmised that the son of the
house, lazy ne 'er-do-well, had turned
over a new leaf. Heinquired about it
Eyes, sir, my sons in work now,
s1ld the smiling old mother. Takes
good money, he does, too. All he hai
to do is to go twice a day to the cir
Gus and put his head in the lions
mouth. The rest of his time e as II
to himself. Youths Companion.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
lNVALID'S SAD PLIGHT.

After InhammAtOry rheumatism,
Hair Came Out, Skin Peeled, and
Bed Sores Developed - Only
Cuticura Proved Successful.
About four years ago ! had very Sc
we're attack of inAammatory rheumatism.
My skin peeled, and the high fever played
havoc with my hair, which came out in
punches. also had three large bed sores
on my back. / did not gain very rapidly,
and my appetite was very poor. | tried
many sure cures but they were OF little,
help, and until tried Cuticura ReSolvent
1 had had no real relief. Then my COM
plaxion cleared and soon felt better. The
bed sores went very soon after a few appli.
cations Of Cuticura Ointment, and when l
used Cuticura Soap and Ointment for my
hair, 1t began to regain its former glossy
appearance. Mrs. Lavina j. Henderson,
l36 Broad St., Stamford, Conn, March o
end 70, 1907"
Our leading physician recommends Cuti-
Cura for eczema. Mrs. Algy Cockburn,
Shiloh, o., June IL, 1907"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
AMUSING DIVERSIONS FOR THE
HOLIDAYS.

Christmas Magic.--A black cloth
curtain is suspended at the back of
the room, and about three feet in
front OF this is hung another black
cloth, reaching from the floor to the
height of ones waist. The person
who is to distribute the gifts should
be dressed in white. An assistant,
dressed in black, wearing black
wooden gloves and a hood, with
mask OF the same color, stands be-
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
Mix For Rheumatism.

The following is never falling
remedy for rheumatism, and If fol-
lowed up 1t will effect complete cure
of the very worst cases: mix halt
pint of good whiskey with one ounce
Of Toris Compound and add one ounce
syrup of Sarsaparilla Compound,
Take in tablespoonful doses before
each meal and at bedtime" The ms
gradients can be procured at any drug
store and easily mixed at home.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
Beware OF Ointments For CatArrh

rs mercury will surely destroy the sense of
smell and completely derange the whole sys.
tenn when entering 1t through the mucous
surfaces. Such articles should never be used
except on prescriptions from reputable ply.
sicians, as the damage they will do is ten told
TO the good you can possibly derive from
them. Halls Catarrh Cure, manufactured
by f. j. Cheney h Co., Toledo o., contains
no mercury, and is taken internally, acting
iirectly upon the blood and mucous surfaces
of the system In buying Halls Catarrh Cure
be sure you get the genuine II is taken in
ternally and made in Toledo, Ohio, by +,
j. Cheney 4 Co Testimonials free.
Sold by Druggists; price, 75c, per hottie,
Take Halls Family Pills for constipat on.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19

has selected the particular present,
which he covers with black cloth,
and, rising from behind the curtain,
holds the gift aloft, while he quickly
removes the black cloth and passes
the package to the gentleman in
white. The assistant Is invisible from
the front, and the effect is as II the
one In white had snatched a bundle
from the air. He turns Immediately
and walks toward the audience, de-
living the gift, his assistant dropping
below the curtain. The lights on the
tree should be reflected toward the
front.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
Force Of Habit.

1.-THE question of enlarging the
church comes up tonight, John,
doesn't it,"
Eyes, dear, and we expect TO have
a lively time. They tell me the OPP
position to the pastor will be strong.
Where's my overcoat? oh, yes. And
now want the tin horn and the cow
bell and the big rattle"
Mercy, John, what are you going
to do?"
do? Why, I'm going to root for
the pastor. cleveland Plain Dealer.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
Opening the Season.

1t was the first night performance
of the season, and at the end of the
first act man leaped hurriedly to his
feet.
II heard an alarm Of FIRE" he said
to his wife. II must go and see where
1t Is"
1t happened that her hearing wai
less acute, and she made way for hin
in silence as he disappeared.
at wasn't fre," he said on his re
turn.
"Nor water, either" said his wife
coldly.-New England Grocer.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
Mother Earth.

When Junius Brutus and the sons
OF Tarquin asked the famous Delphic
oracle who was to succeed Superbus
on the throne of Rome, they received
for an answer; "He who shall first
kiss his mother" AS the two princes
were Fastening home to fulfil what
they thought was meant, Brutus fell
to the earth and cried out: "Thus do
kiss thee, o Earth, the mother of us
all" This is, perhaps, the earliest re-
corded instance of the use of the term.
The American.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
lnoanaoltated the Plant.

Subscriber-"Why wasn't there
any issue this week?"
Editor (thiclrly)-"The paper gav
ONT
Subscriber Nonsense. There.
enough Of it around here to write an
acceptance Of a Presidential nomina-
ton.
Editor-"As l was saying, the pa
per gave out a story about Billy Wal
lop, the prize fighter and he took eG'
ception to it."--Puck.