davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

your name-I suppose you have your good
private reasons for the request. and if
you are firm in the intention we shall be
glad to grant your request
Here he picked up pencil and a slip
and asked the name and address in order
to comply.
What is the name and address. please?'
Sir. how dare you. Haven't l come in
name and keep it out of your horrid old
book. And now you want me to tell you
what it is! just won't tell you thing.
So there!"
Highly Indignant. she started out of the
Office.
The roar Of laughter. which the colonel
was unable to suppress at the humor Of
the situation. however, brought her to sec
ond thoughts, and to sudden stop at the
door. How could he keep her name out
if he did not know what it was? Very
much subdued. she reluctantly grasped
the cause of the colonels mirth and re-
turned to give him the necessary Informal
ton.
This is but one Of a hundred amusing
incidents which come into. the business
of getting up the big red book which is
so familiar to every inhabitant of city.
1t is a mooted question whether a cam
vasser is born or made. Col. Boyd is in
clined to believe that they can be made if
the material is first class. When he is
sues the call for men in 1.-THE first part Of
September he calls the applicants into Il
school Of personal instruction for the work
which they will have to do in the months
following. At the beginning the number
is usually large, but the trained eye and
mind of experience soon cut out the weeds
The colonel says:
1T is as easy as falling off log for me
10 decide whether a man is competent for
the position or not. He must be thorough
in his work. and | can tell in day or so
If this is So | have been in the business
Tor SO MANY years that | know every inch
of ground i'll the city. and I have in my
employ man who has marvellous mem
DRY for names, numbers. localities, remov-
ais of individuals or families from wear to
year, streets, corners, alleys, etc So YOU
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

thing hot and damp in the corner of my
eye. 1t was Il tear. the first that | had
shed since childhood. i wiped it quickly
away because i'll the moment of despair
my pride WAS at its fierceSt and | would
have no one to see me in my weakness
Grey was in the courtroom. where he
had testified as before and now he left .
casting me one last glance of maliSnity
and doubt. Then deputy sheriff put his
hand upon my arm.
Come. Johnson, he said though not
roughly. we've no time to waste if w.
latch that afternoon train for Frank
fort
| started violently. The thing was done
and nothing could undo it. Alicia had
not come. and if she should come yet ii
would be too late. because | had told NV
own tale so convincingly and the evidence
was 50 strong that now the real story
would not have been believed. Truly I
had been Sobered in every sense and I
stared blankly ut the future which pre-
sented only a solid wall OF somber black
Well, there was none to miss me and
none To mourn.
But ! rose at the touch of the sheriff
and re.soiutely kept calm face and a
steady hand. | would not look at Grey
ana whether or not he eXulted over me
ala not know. nor, at that moment did
/ care. | walked in silence beside the
deputy to the Jail where | made my
few preparations for the Journey to a
larger prison in which one seeking Sc
clusion from the world can find il
moved in a daZe within my all too mar
row orbit. but there was little to be done
and L soon finished it.
DO you care TO send word or d letter
to anybody?' asked the deputy
NO" | replied bitterly, Il have no rel
ativeS and-it SeemS-no friends"
He looked at me curiOusly. but said
nothing. and / knew that his curiosity
came from the difference in my manner
and speech from those of the ordinary
criminal. Burglars are not often gradu-
ates of our large universities: the edu-
Gated mind if ii turns To crime, usually
seeks other tools than the Jimmy and the
dark lantern.
We took the train for Frank fort in the
afternoon. four conVicts and four depu-
ties sitting quietly in the corner of
day coach, the people who passed in and
out of the car at the little way stations
not knowing the nature of our journey.
But To me It was far more bitter than
the courtroom and the ominous words
of the judge pronouncing my sentence.
\ slouching old negro driving his rickety
cart on the roadside filled me with envy.
He WAS free.
We arrived at Frankfort late in the
afternoon. i had been at the capital of
the state o,ce' before "a Lie AearS
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

NE evening away
back in the days
of medieval Eng
land a man, a poet,
a playwright, by
the name of Will
liam Shakespeare
was seated before
his little old-fash-
toned writing table,
deeply engrossed.
Suddenly he ut
tered an exclama-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27
ci4l Correspondence Of The Star.

+ 1 can get a bal
loon large enough
and any degree of
a S s u r a n c @ of q
S I Q a q Y east or
northeast wind, [
will cross the At
lantic from London
TO the United
States. Sucl. q trip
has been my life's
ambition and | will
Go it before I die"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

a humorous story on himself One cold
winter morning when canvassing in one
of the most prominent streets of the city,
he rang the doorbell of handsome resi-
dence. and it so happened that at that
house the butler and maid were both out.
The lady of the house therefore put her
head out of the upper window and asked
what was wanted.
Il want to get your names for the city
directory the canvasser replied.
"Standstill" came down the answer
from. the frosty air above
The man below looked up again and said
in a patient tone, "All right. but l want
to get your name. If you please
Impatiently the lady again dropped
down on his waiting ears:
well, Standstill'
Madam said the now eXasperated
canvasser. what has my position on
these steps to do with seetting the names
for the drectory?'
Thoroughly mad she cried out:
Adam j. Standstll is my husband .
name, and if he were here now l would
have him throw you off of that stoop."
and bang down went the window. 1t
may be readily imagined what a sheepish
feeling engulfed that canvasser as lie
sneaked out of sight.
In these later days there is very little
competition among publishers of city di-
rectOries, the Oldest man in the field i'm a
city generally having that city without
trouble. However. in some of the larger
cities rival firms exist. and this makes
great precaution necessary that one book
cannot be copied from the original. Nu-
merous cases of suits for such action
have been before the courts all over the
country.
One of the most used plans to catch the
tTtCkSlefS VINO ATTEMPT 10 COPY from the
original book is that one OF putting in
fictitious names and addresses. AT stated
and marked places throughout the direct
DRY there are names which Go not exist
in the city. with addresses at places where
probably there is no house whatsoever
Many tricks to catch and inveigle adver-
tlsars into going into the stolen book are
invented, but they ultimately fail as Il
rule and lay the firms liable 10 hard pun
iShment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

count TO you few of my recent experiences 1t
you have been there Yourself You will rernem-
Der my several days schooling In your office in
the complicated details of taking information
for the directory. Previous to that | had been
haunted by a suspicion that the directory bust
ness would do we'll enough to pass few weeks
that what little did not already know about it
shine Tnoud ID pick pie s up IN an hour or two The sun
lshed beneath the clouds Of your sharp examina-
tons.
My co-workers seemed to be as bad as I.
recall how almost every one Of them had the
same exalted opinion OF his knowledge OF
one of them persisted in making his own pc
culiar figures and letters-many OF which might
have more properly adorned tea chest; and how
We often .sneered at your persistent frmness in
having things right.
But all of this is balm to my wounded
spirit and torn clothing. Canvassing is what has
driven from my heart all ambition to be a great
directory publisher like you. Can sensitive
man be expected to endure it. when woman.
after being asked for the necessary directory in
formation, angrily replies: NO. we cannot help
where"
Another one answered in establishment to
the request for her name: Give you name?
No sir. We know what you want-you want to
give it to the tax collector" In another case
had the door slammed in my face with. No.
We amt goin' To buy nothin' today" One hard
skinned, hard-hearted daughter of old Erin
yelled at me:
Why. with all of these escapes and
dozen others equally bad ! wonder il it is
not dlspensation of Providence that l am
alive.
Today / have borne the last feather and 1t
came near breaking my back. i learned when
/ went 10 that dear old country school that the
dog is noble animal SO he is-perhaps. but
OF his noblest acts is in not attacking
unprotected directory canvasser in the rear. That
is what he did to me today. and my feelings and
clothing much too lacerated to admit of
further details.
Farewell can write 10 more I have been
put in my little bed. l tender YOU my reSigna-
ton to take effect at You welcome
Ia hack nav I'M mo Lot those l,.n
plain OF errors in city directory try canyassing
for it. if only for day and they will learn
that to err is very human and how sublime
thing it is TO forgive.
Very painfully. but sincerely,
\. {. V.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

The letter reads:
Dear Sir: Your name at the opening of This
letter is the last | shall ever attempt TO
write in connection with the directory business
unless II he my own at the bottom Of this page
In making this announcement | am agitated hy
connecting eInot ionS-sadness at finding myself
U!ii or business JOY at getting ont of THIS PAR
TICULAR BRANCH. A few weeks since I was
peacefully employed in domestic duties ami
Watching the uncertain race between the grass
and the potatoes in my garden Yet l was not
happy. became possessed of insane desire
TO enter your employ and to speedily rise to the
dignity of a professional in the art of directory
making Today am cured: metaphorically
speaking II have seen the elephant.
IT you blame me for deserving YOU let me re-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

see our canvassers are continually under
our eye"
After instruction for several days the
chosen band is started out The city as a
whole is divided into several districts, each
of which is under the supervision of a dis
trct head responsible to the colonel di-
rectly. The men out on the street at
tend not only to getting the names for
the book, but also have an allotted amount
of soliciting of the numerous advertise
ments. from which in part the revenues Of
the directory are derived.
Each and every separate name, address
and occupation is taken down by the can
vasser upon a small slip Of white paper,
which is part of thick pad Of similar
slips. At the end of the day the pad is
turned in and the Office force takes it in
charge the next morning. Then they are
taken apart, arranged in order alphabet
ically for the directory, and carefully filed
away until required again for the actual
work of printing the book.
A mass of names it is, too when the
rolls are all in. Nothing but names,
names, names, of all sorts and kinds
Probably one of the best descriptions of
the trials and tribulations of the sorely
tried canvassers is found among the in
terestlng records in the possession of
Col. Boyd. 1t is the letter of resignation
from former canVaSSer who, after many
efforts to retain his temper and his nerve.
was finally obliged to admit the work was
too much for him, and so as gracefully as
possible surrendered.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27

Another canVaSSer of long experience.
who, though covered with the scars of
many battle, is still in the service, tells
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-03-17
HOW a TEXAN KILLED A BEAR.
Range Rider Shut OF It's Wind With
Lasso, Then Used His Knife.

jim Gordon, q range rider for w.
w. wilkins, whose big ranch is over
near Howard Wells, in Western
Texas, was much surprised the other
morning to see a large black bear
numbering along ahead OF him. It
was in rough locality, and the bear
was evidently out to get its morning
meal of sotol roots.
Gordon stuck his rails into his
horse and took after the bear. The
chase did not last long. Gordon
unloosened his rope. which was coiled
over the pommel of his saddle, and
when he got within throwing distance
of the fleeing bear he deity circled
the moose over the animals head.
The COW pony sat back upon it's
launches and drew the rope taut.
The bear got one Of its paws UNDER
meath the moose and prevented the
rope from choking It. Then began a
struggle that lasted for more than an
hour.
Ordinarily a horse is desperately
afraid of a bear, but the COW pony
which Gordon was riding stood the
ordeal foarlcssly IL maintained its
position while Gordon dismounted
with a view attacking the bear at
close quarters with his knife. He
had no other weapon The bear put
up a hard fight the moment it saw
Gordon on The ground. it rushed at
him and struck him a terrific blow
on the shoulder which sent him
sprawling several feet away and out
of reach of the maddoncd animal,
which was confined to q prescribed
circle by tho rope.
Strange to say, tho bear made no
attack upon the horse. Tt seemed
20 consider Gordon responsible for
the whole trouble Gordon deter
mined To- Kill the animal before he
left tho spot lie made several inef-
fcctual efforts to dash in ON the bear
and give &c % blow with his knife,
but each timc ne was struck by the
animals paw Finally he got hold
OF the rope and by q sudden pull
managed TO tighten the rope so that
Che bears wind was temporarily shut
of.
Taking advantage OF the moment
Gordon rushed fin and cut the juguIar
vein OF the animal with hts knife. lie
loaded tho bear upon his horse and
brought Sc to the ranch Kan
sas City Star.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-03-17
NATURAL DETECTIVE FORCE.
Why Man Who Commits Crime in
Alaska Cannot Escape.

1--WE have n better detective force
in the cold country than there is in
the States" remarked Gov II. p.
Hoggart, Of Alaska.
That detective force is nature.
When man commits a crime in the
States he has many places to hide,
and he often manages to evade the
authorities forever. II one of our
people who does something wrong
believes the climate of some other
country will better suit his health
and he makes for that country he
undertakes the impossible. All we
have to do is to sit and wait. There
is only one way out of Alaska, and
that is by coming to the coast, and
when the criminal comes to the coast
he is sure to be caught.
So well has the United States
Signal Corps done it's work in Al
aska that we have a telegraph line
to every mining camp of Importance,
and when a man takes leg bail all
there is to do is TO telegraph to the
coast towns, and the authorities wait
for the man. 1t would be impossible
III luG DOOI ltllOW W llg W BcL dMd
by any other route than the coast,
because he would never live to re-
late his experience.
ON the other side of the coast
range of mountains are vast plains,
stretching for many hundreds Of
miles, wholly uninhabited. on ac-
count of the haste with which GRIM
inals generally leave there is no time
in which to provide an adequate out
fit, If such thing were possible.
But It is seldom that It is nee
essary to make use of this natural
detective force TO track wrongdoers.
I will venture to say that there is no
country in tho world where the peo-
pie are as orderly as they are In Al
aska. All the tales of lawlessness
OF the mining camps Of the forty
miners are not repeated I'm Alaska.
From the very first the people have
been orderly, and they make IL so
uncomfortable for the criminal who
comes among them that he IS glad to
leave. Washington Post
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-03-17
New Japanese Fad.

Many Christmas cards sent out by
leaders of society were imported from
Japan The Japanese card fad is
growing and there is a chance that the
Orientals may create a charming re-
volution in the bits of engraved paste.
board. The visiting cards that Japan
is sending to New York show the per-
lection of simplicity. They are some
what smaller than those which fashion
has demanded over here. They are
pearly white in hue. In the left hand
corner is an exquisite little painting
executed with much skill of quaint,
idyllic pictures of birds, animals and
flowers. And the cards have the SUI
preme merit in many women's eyes
they are expensive How pleasant it
will be for them to say, II have sent
to the Far East for my new visiting
cards."
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-03-17
WHOLE NO. 1918.
FAR EASTERN NOTES.

The tin output of the Federated
Malay States is decreasing.
Public works decided upon at vlad-
ivostok, Siberia, will cost S6,000,0OO
gold
The British Government has APP
pointed a commercial agent at Vladi-
vostok.
Osaka's waterworks were extended
five years ago to supply 100000 peo-
pie. The population is now moro
than 100000.
Formosa's foreign trade amounts
to nearly $25.00O,000 gold yearly.
and is increasing at the rate of ten
per cent. year.
The first ice factory on the west
coast OF India has just been estab-
lfshed at Calicut, India, by a young
Parsee merchant.
Australia has a record wheat har-
vest this year. 1t will be $1,000, 900
bushels, against 5S,OO0,o0O last year,
an increase of 100000.
Space at the Japanese managed
commercial exhibition at Mukden,
Manchuria, is available to American
manufacturers and exporters.
The Federated Malay States and
Johore, Burma, are exporting whole
wheat and importing wheat from CAL
ifornia, Oregon and Washington.
Vladivostok is not acquainted with
American tobacco, says Consul
Greene, who advises that samples and
price lists be sent by mail, via Japan.
a Japanese shoe manufacturing
concern has secured a contract for
shoes for the British army in India.
1t is one of the largest shoe contracts.
ever placed.
India exported sS0,72S. 900 worth
of hides and skins in 1905. The
United States took forty-three per
cent. in value Of the entire export,
chiefly skins.
Australia's exports OF frozen meats
to England are one-fourth larger this
year, reaching 100000 pounds.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-03-17
The Army's TaIIest Man.

The distinction of being the tallest
man in the United States army be-
longs to Ernest d. Peck, a first lieu
tenant in the engineer corps. He is 6
feet Az inches I'm height Lieut..
Peck is a native of Wisconsin and was
graduated from the Oshkosh High
school. He entered the military aca-
denny at West Point I'm 1897, and upon
his graduation in 1901 was a STAR"
thus emitting him to assignment to
the select arm Of the service, the
corps of engineers. Lieut.. Peck is now
on duty at Yellowstone park, Wyom-
ing, and has supervised the building
Of a military road known as Peck's
pike. lie is called Pixies Peak by his
comrades in the service.--Kansas City
Journal
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-03-17
ear her hands away with a passion

tear her hands away with a passion
ate cry.
you brought me here" she said.
by your wicked arts. Do you think
L should have come of my own free
will? Don't you know that If at first
l was vain and foolish enough to feel
battered by your attentions, 1 have
long hated and feared you? have
kept silence and endured your pres
ence out of consideration for the man
L love and because every day hoped
that you would go away"
/ saw him turn white to the lips at
her singing words, and in that mo-
ment, scoundrel though he was, 1
felt sorry for him.
Indeed" he said slowly, and now
his face was changed. II am sorry
1t has come to this. I would rather
have won you by love than fear, but.
anyhow, you are mine. Do you
think" cruelty. that when this mid
night designation comes to his ears,
your fiance, who, 1 believe, has very
strict notions, will be anxious to keep
you to your engagement"
INV NtRAANQ Oul III ulSlEOSS ana
wrung her hands.
Il shall take you home now, and
II you give me your word to be my
wife shall say nothing of this meet
ing to any one" the relentless voice
went on. "If you refuse, your father
will know of this compromising ap-
pointment tonight and the rest of
our friends tomorrow. Among your
matter of fact countrymen 1 think
you will find few to credit your story
of having been brought here against
your will. Now, choose!"
She was a proud, sensitive girl,
and 1 would not run the risk of let
ting him gain even a momentary
triumph.
II will choose for Miss Langley,
said, stepping forward. "She re-
Jects your proposals with scorn.
saw her leave her fathers house, 1
followed her here and 1 have heard
every word that has been said. /
think my explanation is likely to be
received with more credence than
yours, and that she has nothing to
fear-though," meaningly, that will
not be the case with you if one scan
dalous word passes your lips"
The poor girl was clinging to me,
sobbing with Joy and relief, and put
ting my arm through her, while Bur-
ton was still struck dumb with sur
prise, led her away. She reached
the shelter of her fathers house I'M
seen, and 1 had little fear that any
one would hear OF how nearly her life
had been wrecked. unless she chose
to tell Harold herself.
But the. end of the story is per-
haps the strangest part. The next
morning news was brought that Jer-
ONE Burton had been found dead in
his tent, and when 1 went to see him
1 shuddered at the look of fear and
horror that death had stamped on
his face.
1t was the look, too, Of a man taxi
en- by surprise.
There were various rumors afloat
as to the cause of his sudden end,
some putting it down to suicide, 9TH
ers to native treachery, though no
trace of violence could be found, but
L had my own theory, which 1 kept
to myself. l knew how mans power
over the unseen forces of nature is
resented by those who must obey it;
knew, too, that occasionally the SER
want in that strange world may be-
come the master, especially when the
power gained has been put to an evil
use. And, remembering the express
sion on the dead face, l drew my own
conclusions Manchester Chronicle.
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-03-17

Tne commercIai prowess or Ameri-
cans is recognized and the general
European fear OF the ultimate suprem-
acy of this country disclosed by an
expression IL Prof. Gustav Coen, an
Italian writer, in the Rivista Maritti.
ma. Speaking of the Simplon tunnel
and It's relation to the future business
interests of Europe, he says: ut is
too inconveniently situated to fall a
prey to the grasping Yankees" What
Is intended, perhaps, as a slur may be
accepted by American business men
as tribute
The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-03-17
HOW'S ThlS2

We offer One Hundred Dollar. Reward
for any case of Catarrh that canLot be
cured by Halls Catarrh Cure.
+. j. CHENEY & Co., Toledo, y.
We, the undersigned, have known +. j..
Cheney for the last % years, and believe
him perfectly honorable in all business
transactions and financially able to carry
out any obligations made by their firm.
WEST TRUAx, Wholesale Druggists,
Toledo, o.
WALpING, KINNAN & MARVIN, Whole
sale Druggists, Toledo, o.
Halls Catarrh Cureis taken internally, act
ing directly upon the blood and mucuous SUR
faces of the system. Testimonials sent free.
Price, Zoe per bottle. Sold by all Druggists.
Take Halls Family Pills for constipation.