davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

woman is the first to enter the train
at the beginning of the trip. They will
resort to ruse or diplomacy to avert
such an invitation of accident. They
will stop woman with slow inquiries
about her ticket OF destination in order
that a masculine foot will be the first
to ascend the steps. 1t is also consid'
cred bad luck for the train to permit
a cripple or hunchback to enter first
A one-armed man among passengers
upon train is also viewed with sus-
piciOn as an omen of accident.
Sometimes careless fireman will let
the engine bell toll. Such an untoward
accident means that some member OF
the engineers family will soon die. Old
time engineers will not count the mum.
Der Of cars in train as it rounds 9
curve. 1t is considered bad luck.
As would naturally be expected from
the wide prevalence Of the number {
superstition, it occupies an important
place among railroad mems omens. II
Is the firm conviction Of almost all
railroad men that when one man Is
killed or injured in railroad work two
other fatalities or accidents will follow
in rapid succession. 1t is considered
unlucky, before two or three days have
elapsed, for railroad man to take the
place Of another who has been killed
in an accident Is
Engineers see an omen of death upon
the trip If the headlight Of their en-.
CINE accidentally goes out as the en-
CINE is leaving the roundhouse.
A left-handed engineer is viewed as
a hoodoo by many trainmen. 1t Is be
lieved his presence in the cab invites
disaster, and old-time fremen anG
brakemen seek transfer to other trains
as soon as a left-handed engineer is pui
on their run.
Trainmen dislike the presence Of q
corpse in the baggage or express cars
just as sailors object to carrying 9
corpse on board ship. But 1t Is consid
cred particularly threatening to loa6
the coffin on a train with the feet OF
the dead person toward the engine. III
a recent wreck in North Carolina 6
corpse was almost incinerated an(
many persons were killed. It Is the
firm belief Of trainmen on the South
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20
THE BELIEEc
ADHERED TO By
I COURAGEOUS
I MEN AND
LRAXELERC

ern that the body was loaoeu III tne
fate defying way.
But the railroad man is not alone
in his belief in omens and charms. Inc
passenger also has a pet lot or super
stitions that defy logic and the persua-
sion Of common sense. The bellef tnar
the wearing of white flower or aWnlte
ribbon protects travellers from ACCIDENT
is fairly widespread. Some belleve tnat
burning coffee just before leaving Oh d
journey is better than an accident pol
icy, and in certain sections of the South
some very pious people will not UNDER
take a railroad trip without first tying
copy Of the sixteenth psalm under the
left armpit. Putting a wisp OF straw
in the bottom Of the trunk Is believed
not only to protect the baggage from
loss, but also insure the safety OF the
owner Women sometimes pack their
stockings in the trunk In a mystic cir
Gle, as protection from accident.
There is superstition that 1t Is un-
lucky to lock the trunk before 1t leaves
the house, and with more apparent rea-
son, 1t is particularly portentous II the
trunk lid falls upon you while you are
packing.
If traveller loses his hat out Of a
car window there is compensation In
the knowledge that it means good news
from home. If a passenger happens to
lnd InNnn1OftUQ
1t is the sign that he soon Is to come
into possession Of hidden wealth. To
see a crow feeding on a carcass Is an
other lucky omen for a traveller.
If dust blows In a persons eye while
on his way to catch a train it Is sign
Of accident on the trip. 1t Is consid-
cred an ominous encounter for person
hurrying to train to meet spectacle
wearing negro. 1t is also unlucky for
traveller to cut his finger nails just
before starting ON journey; disgrace
will overtake him, aid IL a traveller
leaves home in carriage for the station
it is simply inviting disaster for his
family or friends to watch him out Of
sight To insure the safe return Of
nervous traveller it is only necessary
to tie an Irish knot in his handker-
chief, but IL he loses the knotted piece
Of linen he had better end his misery
by immediate suicide.
Here is an ilcantation which Pullman
conductors declare will insure slumber
on sleeping car to even chronic in
somniacs, if repeated several times with
the eyes focused on the tip Of the nose
"a sleeper is that on which the
sleeper which carries the sleeper runs;
therefore, while the sleeper sleeps in
the sleeper the sleeper carries the sleep
er over the sleeper into the sleeper
which carries the sleeper, and jumps
off the sleeper by striking the sleeper
in the sleeper, and there is 10 sleeper
in the sleeper"
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

the house which she built on Lombard
street hill, overlooking the Golden Gate
San Francisco, and will remove to Santa
Barbara, where she has purchased o
country home. Mrs. Stevenson received
500, 900 for her house, which was bull
after an original design and was richl,
decorated with Samoan tapestry an(
weapons. The house was filled will
South sea curios, and the library con
tanned Stevenson's books as well a,
many manuscripts of his stories an
novels. 1t was saved during the grea
fire by members of the Bohemian club
old friends of Stevenson, who carrie,
water for the purpose in buckets.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

upon their horses and ride with him to
the field hospital. All this they do in
their regular drills with surprising pro-
ticiency.
Army officers are already discussing
the practicability Of the plan. The
most reasonable objection urged is the
question of being able to mount nurses
where every available horse is needed
for fighting and transport work. Most
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20
MOUNTED NURSES.
They May Become a Feature of the
English Army.

They May Become a Feature of the
English Army.
Army nursing may be revOlutioniZed
as the result of a course Of training
instituted at the North London Riding
School. where the Islington Drill Bri-
gade Girls Yeomanry, twenty-five
strong, is showing what mounted horses
could do in the field.
The innovation will be brought un-
officially to the notice Of the British
military department at the next annual
show Of the navy and army, and it Is
believed the army medical corps will
give the idea more than passing con-
sideration. The work Of the girls bri-
gade is a revelation to every army Off
Ger who witnesses it.
70 They are trained to all the arts OF
nursing before being advanced to the
brigade service. In this their work is
to bind up the wounds Of any soldier
found helpless in the field, hoist him
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20
Wouldn't Let the king In.

When King Edward desires to pay a
call on a personal friend a message to
this effect is sent earlier in the day. This
rule is almost invariable, but on one oc-
casion his majesty neglected the precau-
ton, and on arriving at the house of his
friends found the hosts out of town and
the charwoman in charge.
The King desired to go in and write a
message, but was asked by the cautious
caretaker for his card, and as that was
not forthcoming she declined to let him
in. He was very pleasant, civil spok-
en- gentleman she told her employers on
their return, ''but as he hadn't caro-
| left him outside"
1t was only some time afterward that
the master Of the house discovered to his
horror the identity of the visitor.-Tit-
Bits
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20
TO HAVE WHITE HANDS.
Use of Oatmeal and Lemons-Effect of
Tight Sleeves and Rings.

tie care is required to preserve it. A
good soap, aided by a pinch or two of
oatmeal, may be used for thorough
cleansing of the hands twice a day, and
if needful to still further cleanse them
warm water-not hot-will do the neces-
sary work.
Once a week they should be rubbed all
over with a slice of lemon. If these ex-
quisitely white hands are inclined to
chap, camphor ice may be applied at
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

would be invaluable if they could be
equipped and so maintained.
Admittedly it would be out of the
question to have such a mounted nurse
corps In desert fighting, such as Eng
lish troops are frequently required to
engage in, but on European battlefelds
there Is no reason why they could not
be used to distinct advantage.
The Islington brigade has been of
f1cially invited to attend the next mill
tary tournament, and it is by no means
improbable that they may ultimately be
the nucleus of similar corps throughout
the army.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Perhaps the most superstitious class
Of people in the United States are the
otherwise hard-headed, keen-witted
railroad men. They are fatalists by
circumstances of life Of constant dan
ger. Death is a commonplace; acci-
dent and injury all in the days work
and line of duty. Contempt Of death,
akin to that Of the fanatic Mussulman,
but without the allurement Of the
black-eyed houri paradise. is bred by
familiarity, the never-ending risk of
life and limb, as told in the grim sta
tistics Of railroad fatalities. Many
bloody campaigns Of great wars show
fewer casualties than the annual death
and accident report Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission. This makes
life cheap and its risk and sacrifice
for so much per diem an incident. The
railroad man lives in an atmosphere of
the fatal chance and nerve-teasing un-
certainty. Death may be speeding to-
ward him and around the curve ahead (;
the next pounding Of the massive driv-
ers may strike broken rail; the
tower signal man makes his awful er-
rors In an almost unvarying average
the landslide and the tempered switch
are entirely beyond provision. And it
Is this dominancy Of chance, of the un-
prevised, the unexpected, the unfore-
seen, utterly battling human ingenuity,
that makes the average railroad man
as superstitiously fatalistic as whirl-
ing dervish or a warrior of the Mad
Mullah.
This environment of the fatal
chance, emphasizing human futility and
powerlessness, creates a rich soil for
omen, charm and fetch, and few rail-
road men can be found who are not in
oculated with the virus of protecting
superstition. Press them closely, and
seven out Of ten will confess it In a
half shame-faced, half defiant way.
For instance. it is considered most
unlucky among engineers to take an
engine out for its first run Friday or
on hat fatal day to put the finishing
touches to it in the shop.
Trainmen, particularly brakemen of
the old school, believe it is bad luck If
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

The failure OF one of the largest apple
dealers in Southern Ohio was doubtless
due to the weakening of prices caused by
falling off in last winters demand for
apples. Dealers carried heavy stocks
with the expectation of making the usual
fat winter profit. But the panic of last
fall destroyed the consumptive demand
and apples became drug on the market
when the spectators attempted to
realize. There will doubtless be less
speculation in apples next fall, and in
consequence the fruit ought to rule low
er during the coming winter.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Commander Peary has at last got
away from Sydney, Cape Breton, with
his ship Roosevelt, and henceforward
until the early days of September, when
he expects to reach his winter quarters
at Cape Sheridan, the ship will have a
perilols time in the ice foes in the
straits and sounds between Greenland
and the body of the continent. There
is always danger that ship may be
badly damaged in this part of the north
ward tourney.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Farmers in Winnebago and adjoining
counties who are said to be contemplate
ing organization for the purpose of hold
ing up the price of hay against the de-
pressing influence of big crop should
not make the mistake of thus interfer-
ing with the law of supply and demand.
The farmer with the longest business
head is he who markets his crops at the
best going rates and turns his attention
to the future with the returns for his last
crop in the bank as a good basis for re-
neWed effort
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

While New York city is trying to rid
herself of elevated railways by providing
underground communication, Chicago is
contemplating the construction of an sele-
waited boulevard. Those who fully ap-
prcciate the blighting effect upon prop
erty of the ugly trestles of the over
head lines, will agree with Mrs. Potter
Palmer, who declared before the Chicago
Board of Local improvements that the
scheme is a silly one surprising COM
DrehenSiOn.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Thoroughness of organization is indi-
Gated by the statistics of the recently
completed relay race of Y. M. G. A.
boys from New York city to Chicago.
The participants numbered 1131,. and
they covered 1892 miles in 1850 relays.
The average time per mile was & min
utes and 10 seconds. The sportsmen
who arranged this race achieved as much
success as the sprinters who carried the
message whose delivery was the osten-
sible object of all the hurry.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20
Cen. Palma a Teacher.

ssNot long since, while visiting in Cuba;
I had the pleasure Of renewing an olG
friendship with the former President OF y
the island. Gen. T. Estrada Palma
said S. A. Sewer. . o,s
"Gen. Palma is living. a quiet, seciuu-
fate ut Bayamo. He takes no interest
in fa'I politics. iii but devotes himself to the
s eli affairs of rural life. His chief
pleasure is in teaching little band OF
his neighbors' children to read and write,
and he devotes two or three hours day
70 that task. while at night he gives in
struction to a class composed of his
farm Iaborers. He was a school teacher
for great part of his life and in his
latter days finds satisfaction in his old
profession. Baltimore American.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Between the ages of twenty and thir-
ty, If young man is nice looking,
graceful and a good dresser, he is in
the same danger Of becoming pro.
fessional groomsman at wedding as a
man Of forty is Of becoming profess
sional pallbes rer.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Popular Mechanics reports the inven-
ton of a portable canning machine that
can be taken out into the fruit orchards
TO do the canning ''on the spot" When
the packing of fruit is done close to the
trees and bushes, where absolutely fresh
fruit can be used. the preservative
problem will doubtless be solved, because
it will not be necessary to adopt methods
that will make decaying fruit or refuse
pass as pure stock.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

4 message from Rear-Admiral Sperry
received at Point Iona, California, over
1900 miles of trackless water is feat
in wireless communication that will pre-
mare the world for still further surprises
in that line The development of wire
less telegraphy is one of the marvels Of
fha age.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

night and white gloves worn to increase
the softeLing effect.
Holes should always be cut in the
palms of the gloves to allow ventilation.
For distressingly red hands equal parts
of glycerine, lemon juice and losewater
may be applied nightly under gloves
sure to produce whitening effect.
Tight sleeves and tight finger rings are
a frequent source of red hands, and the
only remedy for this is to remove the
irritating cause.-Family Doctor.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Now that Chicago chop suey restaur-
ants are COINS out of business on account
of decreased patronage, question arises
as to whether it is due to the dull times
or to a decline in the American appetite
for ahon Suey.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

you've read his novel. Is it love
story?"
eyes, it's intended to be. There's O.
young naval officer in it and cad and
an idiotic chump-''
''But what's the hero like?"
'I'm telling you. The hero is all
three Of. them."- Philadelp Ledger.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

The decision of Judge Kohlsaat to the
contrary does not seem to have had any
weight in Georgia, where the railroad
commission has decided that newspapers
may accept mileage from railroads as
compensation for advertising. But as
the matter will not be permanently set
tied until it is adjudicated by the court
of last resort variations of this kind will
not be troublesome.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

In burning three Illinois Central pas
senger stations because the railroad
company permitted National Guardsmen
to camp on their property, the Kentucky
Night Riders have simply saddled upon
their state a bill of expense which the
taxpayers will have to meet. The in
cendiarism should awaken the people
of Kentucky to the need of vigorous
efforts to extirpate the Ku-Klux of the
tobacco war
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Although four yachts have been strug-
Cling for supremacy in race to Honolu-
lu from San Pedro which began on the
Fourth of July, very little has been
said of the event, which has been won
by the Lurline, of the South Coast
Yacht Club of California. The course
from the California coast to the Sand
witch islands is as long as transatlantic
race, and the Pacific coast yachtsmen
deserve credit for their courage and sea-
manship.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

The American "Jackies" are again
aboard ship at Honolulu, and probably
by this time heading toward the Philip
pines They have been at home on the
Sandwich islands, probably because of
a feeling that they were still on Uncle
Sans soil. If the wireless telegraph
works as it is hoped it will, the fleet will
be in continuous touch with the United
States, the Hawaiian islands and the
Philippines all the way across.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Many mems goodness is due to the
fact that they are not found out.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

The, Geological Surveys report of the
increase during 1907 in the amount of
slate produced in the United States is
not surprising. Slate is principally used
for roofing, and as shingles are becom-
ing more unreliable through the growing
scarcity of good timber, builders are util-
izing slate and composition roofing more.
ba, far.DoorlU
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20
DAWN, AND THE NIGHT HAS FLED.

p ,F
Dawn, and the night has fed,
Silver the sky;
Pale the great, sleepy stars
Watching on high.
Dawn and the pallid east
Flushes to gold
AS without touch ofShands
It's gates unfold.
Dawn and the hooded hills,
Shrinking and gray,
Shoulder to shoulder stand
Waiting the day.
Dawn, and the song of toll
Once more l hear,
Trampling of many feet
Breaks on my ear.
Beth Slater Whitson in Ainslee's.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Perhaps few more people would try
to be good If they didn't bump into so
many others who overdo the thing.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Now that the New York police force is
stopping unnecessary noises, it will have
to get after the bomb-throwers or be ,ac-
cused of inconsistency.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

People who borrow trouble are now
wondering how smuggling will be pre-
vented when aerial navigation has been
made a success.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20
.WASHBURN PRINTING CO., Publishers

Honduras is said to desire war. Well,
if anybody wants that sort of thing he
won't have to look far for it in Central
America.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Advertise in this paper, and make your
wants known to your home people.
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20
Stevenson's Home Sold.

Mrs. Robert Louis Stevenson has sold
The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20

Advertise in Your Home Paper
Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-04-03
FALLS MORRISON COUNTY, MINNESOTA.
STAMP NOT REQUIRED
1t Effort Is Being Made to
Comply With NewPost-
al REGULATIONS

. As was seen at the outset, it was
impossible for newspaper publishers te
meet the new postal regulation, which
were. to go. into effect on April 1st,
without great loss and Inconvenience,
and the postal authorities although not
changing the ruling, clearly see the
sitation, and. will not require the
legitimate publisher at present to put
one-cent stamps on newspapers that
are in arrears more than the previous
" stated time, unless it is shown that
no effort is being made to comply
with the regulations. -
Many have already assisted us in
making our books clear in this matter,
for which cooperation we heartily
thank them, and we hope to hear, from
those who have not.
There is no particular reason why
our subscribers should not see to hav-
ing this matter arranged, for in most
cases the amount due is not large, and
in case it is arrangements can be
made with this Office, agreeable to
both the subscriber and this paper
We have dwelt a good deal on this
ruling during the past three months,
and no doubt all are quite well
acquainted with the purpose of the
new regulations.
8 We are unable this week to publish
d letter received by the local post
master from A. L. Laushe, third
assistant postmaster general, in re-
HSrd to the matter, but will do 50 in
our next issue.
Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-04-03
LOCAL Men INTERESTED
Henry CVerin and Ernest
Storck Will Run Bank
in 8rainerd

A new financial institution o be
known as the State Bank of Brainerd,
with a capital of $25, 200, will be
established in Brainerd and be opened
up about the first of June. Henry
Guerin and Ernest Storck of Little
Falls, backed by men of means in
Iowa and this part of the state, will
be in charge of the new institution.
Each has much experience in the
banking business, Mr.. Guerin having
been valuable employee of thesG Ger
man American National Bank of
Little Falls for the past ten years,
during which time he has received
thorough training in every branch and
department of the business, and Mr..
Storck having been employed seven
years in the State Savings Bank of
Des Moines. Ia, and later in the First
National Bank Of Little Falls and the
Citizens State Bank of Brainerd,
during which time he also has become
thoroughly efficient in the different
phases of the business They are in q
position to conduct a very strong
financial institution, and with the
advent Of the new bank Brainerd will
have three sound institutions in which
to deposit its moneys.
: The front 25x5O feet has been leased
in the south store-room of j. w. Koop
building on the corner of Seventh and
Laurel streets, by the new banking
house, and everything will be put in
readiness so that the institution can
start business on June 1st. ...