davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-04
YOUR FIGURE ADAPTS ITSELF WITH
UTMOST EASE TO THE GRACEFUL
INES OF THIS MARVELLOUS CORSET.

Il should say so. They always stop
here when they come 10 the city; have
stopped here for years"
1t occurred TO me that the girl was
either kleptomaniac or one Of those
people who support respectable sta
ton by theft. The former supposition
could not be correct, for only an ex-
pert could have picked the lock OF my
trunk. The case was so mysterious
that ii occupied my mind to the ex-
clusion of everything else The last
object | saw before going to bed mt
night and the first thing on weakening
in The morning was that terrified. i'm
plOring face. / tried 10 dismiss IT..
but il would not be dismissed. If the
girl had not been thief should have
suspected that | had fallen In love
with her.
Three years passed. | had not ceas-
ed 10 wonder about the girl who had
robbed me- Indeed, | had become ~
fatuated with either the mystery at
tending the case or something remem-
bered in her personality. ! could not
determine which. One day received
letter from the chief Of police of a
distant city stating that Il burglar had
been arrested in whose lair was found
many stolen articles. One was book
with my name and address on the fly
leaf The collection was open TO my
inspection.
The book had been IN the trunk that
had been rifled. | cared nothing for
It, but would not the arrest of this
man throw some light on the girl who
had robbed me? Doubtless she WAS
the mans accomplish. / took a train
at once and OF my arrival went to the
police office. There were the book and
several other articles Of mine.
was permitted to interview the
burglar, and he told me that he had
entered my room at the hotel, opened
my trunk and taken what he wanted
He left without being discovered He
knew nothing Of the girl had found
In my room and had 10 accomplice.
My next move was 10 write 10 The
hotel where / had been robbed and
ask for the address OF Nine. Craw-
shaw. In due time ! received il and
one morning called at an eminently re-
spectacle residence and sent M my
card to Miss Crawshaw When she
came down and saw me she paled and
caught at the back of chair.
Don't fear me. have called 10 say
that | am convinced OF your innocence.
The man who robbed me has been ar
rested, and In his possession articles OF
mine contained in the trunk rlfied have
been found. ! am here 10 right
wrong. And now viii you explain
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-04

your preserre I'm my room
She clasped her hands. raised her
eyes and exclaimed, MY God. I thank
thee
Al the moment she appeared to me
very beautiful, but | know not If my
long interest in her had not begotten
love and love had not made me see her
as did. Then she gave me the expla
nation, which was very simple. In go.
Ing to her room, which was next to
mine, she had entered mine instead of
her own. She was looking about her
bewildered when | entered Realizing
her situation, she was appalled,. Be-
lieving that TO confess ard throw her
self on my mercy would be her best
chance, she did so. In this she was
right.
This Is how ! came 10 know Cecilc
and know of that ability for quick
wise decisions which she has since 80
often shown. But the fact remains
that | loved her when | supposed her
to be thief. G. y. AVERY
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-04
He Loved a Thief.
[Original.l

[OriginaLl
A number OF happenings conspired IL
give me my beloved Cecile, and the
strangest of all of them was that q
man whom | never saw or heard of
should have crossed my path twice.
Queer. isn't II, that one should be In
debted TO a thief for the inestima BILE
treasure of a good wife, wife of rare
common sense. wife capable Of max
ing a wise decision without time for
considerable
/ entered my hotel in the dusk of the
evening, went upstairs and was sur
prised TO see the door of my room
ajar. Quickly entering, saw young,
well dressed woman standing in The
center of the room. Near her was my
trunk open-I had left il locked and
much Of its contents scattered over the
floor.
Caught in the act"' | said to her.
She was as white as sheet. and |
feared she would faint | started TO
push the electric button to summon
others, but she caught my hand in
viselike grip. Then, putting her other
hand to her heart she tried to speak.
Finally she succeeded In doing 50 In a
whisper:
Don't! For heavens sake. don't! |
can't go TO Jail couldn't endure it.
1t would kill me, Spare me- am
innocent"
The last three words anrereJ me.
Innocent" | exclaimed "You are
adding lie to a theft"
Her grip frightened systematically on
my wrist.
II confess" she said presently. LET
me 60"
There had been nothing OF especial
value in the trunk. II should have
the girl arrested | would be put to a
great deal OF trouble Besides, / had
not the heart TO send her to prison.
go" said, pointing 10 the door.
She raised the wrist she held, kissed
my hand and rushed from the room.
What was my surprise the next
morning to see her leave the hotel In
company with an elderly lady of APP
parent responsibility, both getting into
n private carriage
who are those ladiesT' I asked of
the clerk of the hotel
mime. Crawshaw and her daugh-
Ter"
do YOU know anything about
thelD?"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-04
Parnell's Apology.

Mr.. Parnell, on April 10, 1878, char
acterized a statement made by Henry
James as "a legal bubble" worthy Of
the honorable and learned member
from whom it proceeded.
81 must inform the honorable men,
ber," said the speaker, that an ex-
preston of that kind is unwarrantable
and must be withdrawn"
Mr.. Parnell apologiZed for having
used the expression. Il will say" he
added, that the statement was more
worthy of the ingenuity of a petty ses-
sions attorney than of lawyer of the
ability of the honorable and learned
gentleman"
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-04
Didn't Mean IL.

Magistrate (discharging prisoner
Now, then, | would advise you to keep
away from bad company Prisoner
(feelingly)-Thank, you. sir. You won't
see me here again.-London Tit-Bits.
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-04

Herbert Spencer said that he was
not ''caviate to the general" but cod
liver oil, for he was quite sure that
ninety-nine people out of hundred
would, il asked, prefer taking the cod
liver oil TO reading chapter of any OF
his books From "Recollectlons or
Mrs. Il. NJ. Sellar."
Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-03-04
"You look unhappy"
II am unhappy"

But you once said that If your hus.
band ever accumulated million you
would be perfectly happy"
Il know it. but Mrs. Nexdore's hus-
band has accumulated two millions -
Houston Post.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
Origin of BlackmaiI.

The etymology of the expression
"blackmail' is historically interesting.
1t appears to have its origin on the
Scottish border and dating from times
when frequent political feuds between
the then two kingdoms Of our islands
tacitly justified sort of perennial ter
restrial buccaneering as between bor-
derers of each realm. Many of these
depredators were outlaws on both sides
Of the border. Their neighboring vic
tins to save their cattle from being
lifted sometimes compounded for safe
ty by an annual payment as insurance
to the bandits. This fee not only gave
them immunity. but entailed them
to protect them from rival freeboot-
ers. 1t was their mail" or PRO
tection.'' The "maiw coach was so
named because it had its armed guard
with loaded blunderbuss on the dicIey.
But the mail paid by border farmers
was not for honest royal protection,
but for guardianship by thieves and
hence was "black' mail. the color of
black being typical of what was nefa-
rious, Whether in art or in guardian
ship. while the guardian Of this stamp
was known as the 'blackguard' Of the
district The last named latter day
term Of reproach seems to have OBJ
tanned it's expression originally as here
described.-London Field.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
Ink ErozA ON the Pen.

The winter of 1884 In Europe still
holds Its place us one of the most Sc
we're and remarkable on record. So
tremendous was the cold that trees
split asunder with deafening reports.
The strangest sight Of all was on the
Thames. Here on more than q foot
thickness of Ice thoroughgoing town
Of streets was erected. There were
tailors' shops, butchers shops, tobac-
consists, printers and, indeed, many 9TH
er businesses all being carried on as If
they had stood there for years.
Writing anywhere but near a large
fire was impossible, as the ink froze In
pot and on the pen, whole barrels Of
liquids were frozen solid and wine was
sold in one pound blocks. New bread
on being taken out of the oven would
Immediately stiffen and become solid
There were hundreds Of deaths from
the cold, and throughout the frost the
poor suffered miserably. - Parsons
Weekly.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
WAYS Of the pressmaker.

A curious dressmaking custom was
revealed In a case tried In London,
and 1t would be interesting to know If
similar practices prevail elsewhere. A
woman ordered a dress from dress
maker and then refused to pay the bill
on the ground that the dress did not
fit-a very common excuse among
those who have changed their minds.
The bill was for $50 for material and
making, and the dressmaker in de-
Tending her charges explained that
she had two adjustments, one at
Putney and the other on Manchester
street. The dress in question had been
made at Putney, but If it had been
made at the Manchester street estab-
lishment she would have charged about
SIS, although there would have been
no difference whatever In material or
Workmanship. Prices, she said, were
regulated by locality, and, although
Putney is socially irreproachable, it
is not quite equal to Manchester street.
The price of dress is therefore in
dicative Of geographical location rather
than Of quality, and for this side light
on feminine manners and customs we
may be duly acknowledgements.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
Miuht as Well Enioy II,

MI. Jackson, who had but recently
moved into the suburb, knew his
neighbors on either hand by sight only,
and consequently on cold winters
night when his home caught fire he
was surprised and pleased by the alac-
rity with which they came to render
their assistance.
Say" Jackson yelled excitedly to
his right hand neighbor, Twill you run
down to the corner and turn in the
alarm?"
"I'm awfully sorry, sir,'' the man an
swered, "but 7 have lame leg and
can't run"
"While I'm getting out some of the
things will you yell fre?" said Jack
son, turning to the other man.
SCOT laryngitis and can't yell." said
the other in stage whisper.
Jackson gasped; but, pulling himself
together, he exclaimed:
"Well, both Of you go into the house
and bring out chairs, then sit down
and enjoy the firep'-Youth's Compan
iOn
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
Perjury Penalties.

Perjury. besides being one Of the
Oldest of offenses in the catalogue of
crime, has always been very severely
punished With the advance Of civili-
cation, however, fendish punishments
have been replaced by more humane If
still severe penalties. In the days of
the Roman empire any one who com
mitted perjury was thrown from a
precipice, while the Greeks branded
their false swearers. 1t is interesting
to note that when the latter embraced
the Christian religion the punishment
was altered to that of having the
tongue cut out, sort of punishment
which was considered to fit the crime
in the early centuries. In the middle
ages some countries adopted the sys-
tenn of giving the perjurer the punish
ment for the crime he falsely accused
another Of. Thus If he swore neigh
Dor had committed murder and the
charge was disproved the perjurer
would be sentenced to death, and the
other penalties of the penal code were
exacted for the particular crime al.
legged.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
A Woman and a Watch.

"Women don't deserve to own watch
es," recently remarked a jeweler.
"They don't know how to take care of
them. A woman bought watch from
my firm recently, and gave her strict
Instructions to wind it every twenty
four hours and always at the same
hour as nearly as possible. Two days
later she came back with it and said
it had stopped. Well, found it had
run down. l told her, but she insisted
she had wound it. Two or three days
later she came back with the same
complaint, and again I tried to i'm
press her with the necessity for wind
ing it. Again she insisted she had done
so and went away miffed The third
time she came asked her to show me
how she had wound it. Then I made
peculiar discovery. The woman was
left handed, and in attempting to wind
the watch she had wound it the wrong
way. I've had peculiar experiences
with customers, but that beats alI.''-
New York Sun.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
Their Fears Realized.

A noted English statistician was dis
cussing in New York the statistics of
marriage-marriage statistics are his
speciality.
'The last Statistics" he said, ''show
us one pleasant change, one grand i'm
provement. Aged men of wealth are
no longer marrying beautiful, mercen-
airy young women as frequently as
they used. In fact, these hideous mar
riages are becoming in this country so
rare that the newspapers don't hest
tate to comment very forcibly upon
them. approve Of these cruel COM
ments. They keep such mockeries of
marriage down. In little town in
Herts last month";" be said, "a million
aire Of seventy-nine years married a
young and pretty milliner of twenty
two The local paper printed the next
day this editorial paragraph on the
matter:
six months ago, when Mr.. Blanks
venerable wife died, his children and
grandchildren feared that he would go
crazy over the sad bereavement. Their
fears have now come true"
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
Where Idols Are Eaten.


At certain seasons in some parts of
India it is the duty of every devout
person to eat special sort of confec-
tionery. Every confectioner in Octo-
Der, for instance, has pole about six
feet high at his door, and to this is
nailed great hook about a foot long
and thick in proportion. On one side
of this Is 4 brisk fire, with q huge
earthen pan on it. Before the pan
man may be seen sitting, for nobody
stands when he can sit, with a kind of
wooden ladle, and with this he briskly
stirs quantity of bubbling, black
looking sugar till it becomes quite
tough. He then scrapes it together
and puts it on piece of board to cool
little, and then, getting up and dex-
terously throwing it on the large hook,
he begins to pull out the tough sub
stance. He draws it out to the length
of four or five feet at time and throws
1t back and elongates it again, and so
he manipulates it till the mass becomes
as white as snow. This composition so
treated is manufactured in all sorts of
sacred forms-fgures of little idols and
gods-and is eagerly bought for con-
sumption.-Strand Magazine.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
up. j." WOULD MAKE GOOD.

We are told that P. ]. McGarry,
that Napolean of diplomats at
Walker, is a candidate for the re-
publican nomination as representa-
tive from the Fifty-second district.
While we are not in his district, still
we believe that the voters over there
could not secure better man to
look after their interests than P. j.
McGarry. "P. J." is whole-souled,
generous fellow who makes friends
wherever he is known. And he is a
hustler-and usually gets what he
goes after. Here's to p. J." forthe
legislature.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
A s1ideous Dream,


I had horrible dream a few nights
ago. dreamed that was the sub
editor Of a religious weekly There is
nothing dreadful in that, Of course.
The horrible part comes later. My
editor, just off for a holiday editors
generally are, you know-instructed me
to write to several people Of eminence
and ask them to tell me their favorite
prayer. Il record this little story in
all reverence, you understand) Well,
many Of the eminent people replied,
including lady novelist Of great
fame. The lady wrote:
Z Dear Sir-In reply to your esteemed ia
vor, have much pleasure in informing
you that my favorite prayer is. "Give us
this day our daily bread"
I placed it at the head Of the COL
umn, put the paper to bed and went
there myself, feeling pleased. Next
morning when opened my copy Of
the religious weekly found that three
letters had been dropped from the lady
novellst's favorite prayer, which, to my
CONSERVATION, now read as follows:
"Give us this day our daily adj" l
woke up screaming. Howard In
Sketch.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
PAINTING a Yawn,

A picture by Miss Maud Earl, who
has been called the lady Landseer, en-
titled "The Vagabonds," is marvel
Gus portrait Of two decidedly bohemian
Irish terriers, one of which is yawning
widely at the spectator. Miss Earl
found that her canine model would not
yawn, SO she had to sit in front of him
and yawn herself for a long time.
Suddenly he took the hint and proved
an admirable sitter. But when the pic
ture was exhibited it made all the peo-
pie who came to see it yawn them
selves, and Miss Earl used to mingle
with the crowd and watch with In
tense amusement the yawns running
round the company.-London M. A. P.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
A Well Kept Murder Secret.

That the identity of the man who
killed Campbell of Glenure on May Il,
1852, should still be handed down from
father to son solemn trust among
few members of the Stewart clan is
one of the curiosities of history:
The mute trees know who fred that shot,
But the secret well they're keeping.
The highlanders refused 1t to Rob.
ert Louis Stevenson. Andrew Lang
says that, like William of Deloraine,
"he knows, but may not tell" Mr..
Mackay, the author Of this most COM
plete and interesting account Of the
crime and trial, leaves us little doubt
full whether he is among the initiated.
Il should be the last" be writes, "to
make public a secret that has been so
well kept. It's antiquity makes 1t sa-
cred" London Spectator
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
Little Great Men.

A Chinese who had long studied the
works Of Confucius, who knew the
characters of $4,000 words and could
read great part of every book that
came in his way once took 1t into his
head to travel into Europe. Upon his
arrival at Amsterdam his passion for
letters naturally led him to book
sellers shop, and as he could speak a
little Dutch he civilly asked the book
seller for the works of the immortal
Xixofou. The bookseller assured him
he had never heard the book mention
ed before. Alas,' cried our traveller
ito what purpose, then, has he tasted
to death to gain renown which has
never Travelled beyond the precincts OF
China?" There is scarce village in
Europe and not one university that Is
not thus furnished with it's little great
men.-Oliver Goldsmith
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
JAPANESE Women.

We do not deny that in the days Of
old Japan women were taught and
trained to hold and did occupy po-
sition inferior to that Of man, although
as mothers they were regarded with
the highest respect and devotion. But
those days are gone, and today our
daughters are given full freedom to
live and act with perfect equality as
their sisters Of the west, while our
Mothers retain their old positions of
honor and esteem.-Japan Times.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
BRIEF BITS OF NEWS.

Former United States Senator j. N.
Camden Of West Virginia is dead at
Baltimore.
The suspension Of John seedman,
q member of the New York Cons oil
dated Stock Exchange, is announced.
The house has passed a bill read
justing and increasing the salaries Of
officials and employees in the customs
service
Attorney General Clark N, May OF
West Virginia, whose leg was broken
In fall from horse. died following
an operation for the removal of the
injured leg.
Eugene Munsell, manufacturer
killed himself by throwing himself
from seventh story window in the
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
HOLD INFORMAL MEETING
Republicans Discuss Currency Cues
ton at the Capitol.

ton at the Capitol.
Washington, April 27-A score Of
the Republican members OF the house,
including recognized leaders and 9TH
erS depute9 to ascertain the sentiment
of the majority on the currency ques
ton, held an informal meeting at the
Capitol and compared notes on the
situation. The situation as it presents
itself now is this:
Counting on no support from the
Democratic members, the Vreeland
currency bill can be defeated by TWEEN
ty-six Republicans Those who have
been making canvass of the majority
side have not yet fully ascertained
that enough Republican votes to pass
the Vreeland bill are assured, but the
work Of polling the members will go
on for the present. The leaders be,
lieve that some Democratic votes can
be secured for the measure, after an
opportunity has been given to the mi
nority to fulfill their party obligations
by voting for the Williams bill. This
bill, of course, cannot pass and those
on the Republican side who have the
Vreeland bill In charge believe that
with what strength they can draw
from the minority, added to the
strength already assured and to be
obtained on their own side of the
house, they will be able to put the
bill through.
The senate is willing to accept the
Vreeland bill and put 1t through with
perhaps a few minor amendments af-
fecting the clearing house clause In
lieu of the Aldrich BILL It Is prob
able that the conference Of Repub-
l1can members to be held in the near
future will determine the passage of
the Vreeland bill in the house with
an added amendment providing for
the creation Of a currency commits
sion which also would be satisfactory
to the senate.
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
First American Play.

The first play written by an Ameri
can produced in this country, according
to the Philadelphia Public Ledger, was
the tragedy, "The Prince Of Parthia,"
BY Thomas Godfrey, which was
brought out at the Southwark theater
In the Quaker City in April, 1857, by
Lewis Hallam's company, the first OF
ganization Of players to visit Phila-
delphia. Godfrew was an ambitious
young poet, who died at an early age
His play was above mediocrity and an
important part Of the volume of his
works published in 1865
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
Sieue Of Gibraltar.

There have been many sieges of the
famous rock of Gibraltar, but the
greatest was the one sustained from
the combined land and sea forces Of
France and Spain, 1779-83. For four
years all the powers and resources Of
the science Of the time were exhausted
by the assailants without success. I'm
der the inspiring leadership of Sir
George Eliot the besieged more than
held their own in one of the most
memorable sieges in all history
The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-27
Chicago Union Stock Yards.

Chicago, April Cattle-B eeves,
s4.60@7.25; Texans, $4.50@5.5O; West
ern cattle, s4.6O@6.0o; stockers and
feeders, $3.40@5.e0; cows and heifers,
$2.40@6.50; calves, $4.50@8.5O. Hogs
Light, $515@5.65; mixed, $3.50
6.76; heavy, $5.15@5.e77a; rough,
$5.15@5.S5; pigs, s4.10@4.85. Sheep,
$4.8b@6.45; yearlings. $e.50@7.1O;
lambs, $e.O0@7.6O.