davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
MARRIAGE In Picardy.

A Picardy custom, founded on 4
broad basis Of common sense as well
as the idea of complete partnership, Is
that which puts a new bride through a
kind Of examination in the trade Of her
husband. 1t may, of course, have be-
come something Of a burlesque, and
the bride may purposely show less dex-
terity than she need. Still, the consid-
Grafton Of the wife as a helpmate Is
very clearly shown in the performance.
If the young wife's husband be a farm
err, she will be asked to harness a
horse and cart and to harrow a small
piece of land. If her choice has fallen
OH an ironworker, she must hammer a
piece Of iron; if on a miller, she must
measure Out wheat from a basket at
the church door; If on a smith, she is
supposed to be able to strike the anvil;
if on a sailor, she has to clean and
mend some netting, and so on with the
other occupations. Evidently the keep
ing Of an idle wife is not understood in
Picardy.-T. P.'s London Weekly.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
The Shilling Request.

The wealthy ~auctioneer who reduced
the inheritance Of a daughter to an
annuity Of f1O4 because she had be-
come a Socialist reminds n Of the
old fashioned cutting off with a shil-
ling" Why a shilling rather than moth
ing? Blackstone explains. The Ro-
mans used to set aside wills as de-
f1cient in natural duty If they disin-
herited or totally passed by any child
Of the t~estator. But the smallest leg
acy was accepted as evidence that the
testator had not lost his reason or his
memory, as the law otherwise as
sumed he had; hence the groundless
belief in England that a father could
not disinherit his child without a
shilling, although the English law
knows no presumption Of insanity or
f~orgetfulness in such a case. OF Sheri-
dan and his son Tom (and Of other IA
theirs and sons) the story is told: ga
ther-Tn cut you off with a shilling.
Son-I'd rather have it now, dad."-St.
James Gazette.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Whale and Elephant Meat.

There is something unpleasant about
the thought Of eating whale meat, but
it is said that the reality is very pala-
table. Japan has quite a trade in
canned and sailed whale meat, and
there is to be a campaign to educate
the European peoples to like it. Some
whaling companies have distributed
from their headquarters samples Of
canned whale meat, and those who
have eaten it describe it as tenderer
than beef and much like it In taste.
Whale steak seems no queerer than
Frankfort sausage made out Of an ele-
plant, which is what some German
people have been eating. An enter
prising butcher ' e. there, hearing
that an unruly elephant in the Client
geological gardens was to be killed,
engaged the carcass. He made $500
pounds Of sausage out Of it and sold
every pound at good prices.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Got His Moneys Worth,

A lady palmist was recently prose-
cuted, and an amusing incident was
noted in connection with the case. One
Of the witnesses called by the police
was an individual who did not appear
to be overwhelmed with intelligence.
During Il smart cross examination de-
PENDANTS counsel asked him:
"On first going into the room did
you pay a shilling fee to the defend
anti"
EYES," was the reply.
"What did she tell you in return for
the money!
"Oh," said the witness, "she towld
me lots O. things, some on 'em true,
some on 'em half true an some on EN-
less"
Now" continued the counsel after
the laughter had died away, "this is
the point 1 wish to get at: Was there
any attempt at imposition? Did you
lady impose upon you at ALL"
ooh, dear, no." was the response. 81
knowed it wor all CANNON, SO there
couldn't be no imposition. Besides, it
wor a bad shillin' as I guy her, to start
with!-London Tit-Bits.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Made Il Quite Clear.

The engineers Of a party in the field
were continually annoyed by the curl.
osity of the farmer folk in the country
round. Each and every day their prog
ress was blocked by some inquiring
soul who would have liked to spend
the forenoon acquiring answers to
questions of why and whittier and
how far and what for, relates the New
York Sun. At last a serious faced
young man took an interested bucolic
graybeard one side and explained mat
tiers.
"Now," said he, "1'm telling this to
you, and 1 don't want it to go any fur
Their. We have discovered that the
earth is a parabolic hexoid, and the
ordinates and co-ordinates do not quite
tally by a foot or perhaps by fourteen
inches. The place where the gap comes
has been located in that field just
ahead Of us. We don't want it men
toned, but we are getting ready to
blow up the spot and make al incision
before beginning the operation Of join
ing the two"
The engineers finished their labors in
peace and solitude.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
None of That For Them.

They had been married only a month,
and it was their first experience in
seeking country board. After riding
ten long miles in a rafting farm cart
they arrived at the door Of the farm
house.
"And now, strangers" said the old
farmer after he had asked about a
score of questions, II want to tell yeou
right now that down here with us yeou
be supposed to go to bed with the
chickens" The young man whispered
to his young wife, and then both climb
ed back on the farm cart.
"Boy," said the young man, his lips
compressed with determination, drive
us back to the station" =
The freckled lad grinned and whip
ped up the horse.
"You uns didn't seem to like the
placer" he chuckled.
NO." said the young man. I'VE have
often read about crowded farmhouses,
but when it comes to showing us of to
the henhouse that is going a little too
strong. I guess we'll stay in the-city."
Chicago News. s.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Judges on Circuit.

1t was the genius and foresight Of
Henry I. that saw the necessity Of Gre
ating a close connection between the
central kings court and the local
courts up and down the land. It was
Norman and wandering, going where
the king went. They were Saxon and
stationary; hence to link them togeth-
er in 1924 a special deputation Of
judges was for the first time sent OF
circuit in the country, Of whom it is
recorded that they changed so many
thieves as never was before, being in
that little while altogether forty-four
men,"
This vigorous administration of JUS
tice by royal authority gained for Hen
ry the title of ''the lion Of justice" and
paved the way for the permanent insti-
tuition in his grandson's reign. These
travelling judges were called Justices
in-eyre-i. e., in itinere, on journey.
Their head, the justiciar, is still seen
In u title the lord chief justice.
Henry II. in 1173 fixed these circuits
at six-the home, midland, eastern.
western, northeastern and northern,
which correspond roughly with those
that still exist.-London Standard.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
The Top Hat.


Tall hats, "pcarlSin up like the splre
Of a steeple a quarter Of a yard above
the crowne,' as a sixteenth century
writer describes them, were known in
the time of Elizabeth, and the Purf-
tans affected them until they merged
into the old fashioned beavers Of our
great-grandfathers' days. Top hats Of
silk appeared first in Florence about
1900, and twenty years later silk hats
with felt bodies were introduced into
England. About 1910 the French silk
hat was placed on the market and at
once adopted in the familiar chimney
pot' shape. There were several vari-
cites of it, such as the wellington hat,
with the yeoman crown; the Anglesea
hat, bell shaped at the top, and the
D'Orsay hat, with ribbed silk binding
and a big bow. The color also varied.
Thus the Earl of Harrington started Il
craze for green top hats by wearing
one in his garden with the idea of not
frightening the birds. He also tested
his silk hats by standing upon them.
The top hat, however, was never so
favored by any great parsonage as to
account for it's general adoption.-Lon-
don Answers.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Heard In a Restaurant.

"Say, waiter, I'm in Il hurry. What
can you give me for breakfasts"
Cant give yer nothin', but yer kin
git ham an eggs for a quarter"
"Well, give me two poached eggs on
toast"
Calling, adam and Eve on a raft"
"And, say, waiter, by the way, have
the eggs turned"
Calling again, "Wreck 'em!'
ooh. say waiter, how long will my
omelet beg"
"About eight inches, l guess"
"Waitcr. why don't you put II button
IN that apron?'
asked the old woman to sew a but
ton on last night. She couldn't find
one, so She sewed vi, the buttonholc."
"See here. waiter. don't take that
plate away With the apple peeling on.
I believe the peel is just as wholesome
as the fruit and, in fact, contains more
nutriment The very idea"
swell, why don't you live on pine
apple skins ?"- Cincinnati Commercial
Tribune.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Appealed to His Pride.

It was the most obstinate mule in
the lot and refused to enter the car of
a train held up at a little wayside sta
uon. Threats, cajolery and blows were
alike useless. The mule refused to
bulge, and the slant Of his ears told
those of the passengers who were ia
miliar with mule ear talk that where
he was he intended to stay. Then the
aged African who was trying to load
him In said in honeyed tones:
"Whufo' yo' behave dis way befo'
all desc strange people? Why. 70 fool
mule, doan' yo' know dat desc people
will jess believe dat yo' neber done
trabeled befo' in all yo' life?"
The long ears lost their aggressive
slant, and the beast went sedately up
the inclined plank with the air Of a
man entering a drawing room a tsr
the first time and determined not 10
betray the fact.-Exchange.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
What He Could Do.

During the South African war there
was a young officer just from Stand
hurst who was attached to General
French's staff. The young fellow has
himself achieved some. distinction since
then and shall be nameless. At that
time he was fresh and fdgety and was
always imagining a constant menace
Of attack by the Beers, whom he in
variably pronounced "Bores." This
pronunciation General French had in
vain tried to correct, and it gradually
got on his r One day the young Of
flcer came to the general to report that
he believed he could make out through
his feldglass quite as many as twenty
"Bores'' hid in the rocks above his
camp. "Bores, you say?' inquired the
general. Eyes, sir. Bores. Can l do
anything, sir? eyes. Don't add to
them" @ @ -.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
An Early osoreia Monster.

An Early Georgia Monster.
In the fore part Of August, 1872, a
party of hunters found in q mountain.
GUS region now known as Rabun coun.
ty, Ca, a being nearly eight feet high
covered with blush hair and having a
human face adorned with immense
ears resembling those of an ass. The
creature was stone deaf and on that
account seemed wholly unconscious Of
the approach Of the men. This mon
ster seems, from all accounts, to have
been seen upon several occasions dur
ing the next four years. In 1916 a
number of Adventures from Virginia,
most Of them surveyors working up
the unexplored portions Of Georgia
and the Carolinas, formed themselves
into a party for the express purpose
of capturing the uncanny being If pos.
sible. They secured the hills and val
legs for several days and at last re-
turned unsuccessful to the starting
point.
The many tales told Of this extraor-
binary being seem to have created
quite a stir all along the Atlantic coast.
A printed circular issued by a land
company in 1916 says, "The climate of
Georgia is exceedingly mild, the soil
productive, and the danger Of attack
from uncouth beasts which are repre-
scented as being half beast and half
man are fairy tales not worthy Of con-
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
DEVELOPING A STAR.
How Mansfield Coached Margaret An.
ain a Roxano,

How Mansfield Coached Margaret An.
slin a. Roxans.
Richard Mansfield In his preparation
for "Cyrano" was unsparing Of him.
self, and he was unsparing Of others.
Everything he had and everything he
hoped for vas at stake. Struggle and
desperation WERE in the air. Nearly
every one in the cast resigned or was
discharged over and W. again. Mr..
Palmer's days and nights were devot-
ed to diplomacy, and, thanks to his
suavity, the heady heat Of the day be-
fore was forgotten In the cool Of the
next morning.
An actress of international reputa.
ton and experience vas engaged for
Roxane. Rehearsals were under way
when she resigned by cable. The
orange girls single line in the first
act was being rehearsed by a young
Canadian, Margaret Anglin. Mans
field had not seen her act, but he, re.
marked the wondrous loneliness Of her
voice, and his intuition told him she
had temperament. "Can you make
yoursel1 look beautiful enough for
Roxane" he asked. II think I might
IL you can make yourself ugly enough
for Cyrano," she answered. The part
was hers on the instant. He coached
her relentlessly. Again and again she
cried that she could not do 1t. He re-
assured her, but not with soft persua.
sions. "You can, my dear, and you
must. Now, again!" After rehearsals
she went regularly in tears to Mr..
Palmer to resign. He appealed to
Mansfield to be more lenient. II am
only kind" vas his reply.
"Roxane is a great part. Only one
who has suffered can play such q. role.
This girl has the temperament and the
emotions, but she is young and inex-
p%erienced. I cannot persuade her spir-
it. I must rouse it." And every day
she reached new depths and new
heights.-Paul Wilstach In Scribner's.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
The Speed Of Light.

Light holds the record for high speed
among all moving things that have
been measured. 1t travels ut the rate
of 328,O29,SOO yards a second. This is
faster than thinking, even by the most
quick witted person. Let any reader
try to think the simplest thought and
then with the aid Of a stop watch
note how long it has taken him to
think it. He will then be able to I'M
derstand how slow his mental opera
tons are compared to the speed Of
light.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Friends.

Friends.
"Dear friends" said the philosopher,
"are scarce items in this world. They
are too few to be counted"
"What dye call a friend?" he was
asked.
"A friend" he replied, lis n who
would lend you money If you wanted
it and to whom you would lend money
If you had it.'-New York Times.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Probably on tho Team.

"such ignorance is inexcusable! a.
claimed Aunt Hypatia. my nephew
Percival has been going to college
nearly three years, and when l asked
him this morning whether he knew
anything about Homer he said: Sure!
a homer is a hit that's good for four
bases "-Chicago Tribune.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
A Serious Question.

my dear Mr.. Fallows," said the doc
tor, II will admit that I am not quite
decided as to whether OF not yours is
q constitutional disease"
"Hum! That SOL" said the patient,
with a heavy sigh. "And have Igot t0
go to the expense Of appealing to the
United States supreme court to find
out?"-Philadelphia Ledger.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
To Lady Correspondents.

Our young lady correspondents wnd
confer a favor If they will write on
only one side Of the paper. We mean,
of course, by this correspondence In
tended for the paper. As to the other,
not intended for publication, we don't
care If they write on all four sides
and even across it.-Sylvania (Ga.)
Telephone. -
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
In Old Bohemia.

II would like to meet some Of the
picturesque long haired knights of the
pen and palette,'' said the unsophisti-
Gated stranger. ut is worth a dollar
to meet a real bohemian"
Don't worry about its being worth
it," fastened the guide. "Just as soon
as you meet a real bohemian he'll ask
you to loan him one."-Chicago News.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Wuhna 10 Try,

Hatold-Couldn't you learn to love
me? Amelia-No, but I'll try awfullyi
hard. Papa has promised to send me,
abread II my health breaks down from
overstudy, you know.-London Scraps
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
A Bit Of a Bull.

The following entry was discovered
the other day in the complaint book
Of a Melbourne club, which numbers
several 1rishmen among its members:
""The hot water in the lavatory today
was quite cold, and there was non
Of It,"
It was in the handwriting Of a well
known doctor.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
An Abb.

An Abb.
Examiner-What is an alibi? Can
didate For the Bar-An alibi is commit
ting a crime in one place when you are
In another place. II you can be in two
other places the alibi is all the strong
err in law.-Puck. ..--. .
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Out Of Date Now.

'sTonpny, you have written this sui-
tence,. The pen is mightier than the
sword and it IL incorrect. How
should it be changedr"
"Pen ought to be changed d 4t3Se-
writer, ma'am."-Chicago Trtbnse.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Mr., Mannina'. Grudqe.

Mrs. Manning-Do you think 1t is
right to let that Greyson fellow keep
company with our Martha? Mr.. Man
ning-No, 1 can't say that it is. Young
Greyson is a nice chap, but I've a
grudge against his father, and I don't
care If the son has to suffer for it.
Exchange.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
sha Rather Liked II.

She Rather Liked Il. i
IT don't mind Jacks slang" said one
Of the girls. HE is sc clever in the
use Of it." S
'How so?"
"Why, he sent me three dozen pho
tos of famous beauties, with a card
on which the only words were, You're
another" - SOD.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16

Men are the sport Of circumstances
when the circumstances seem the sport
OF men.-Byron.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16
Know Him.

Know Him..
Eyes, I'm anxious to get my daugh-
ter of my hands, I'll admit"
''Then why don't you let her marry
me?" .u
"What good would that do?"-Cleve-
land Leader.
The Dickinson press., 1909-10-16

Who would not have feet ret on his
neck let him not stoop.-1talian Prov.
erb.
New-York tribune., 1909-01-03

the new, coal lands. Nothing mattered or hindered
Living theft, and even murder entered the game,
and there were cards and dice and saloons and
clubs and all manner of evil facilities tor separating
the ,nouutanecrs from their properties or the pro-
r..~.i,.S from the owners. 1uSt as YOU choose.
Dick arrived on the scene with the demon OF his
n ttrlrc ready for the fray lie had no Intention
o. drinking or playing cards, but he was eager tor
excitement and this was the opportunity OF the
smooth ulottcrs that lay in wait for his kind At
f~-t it seemed too good to be truc.young Blanchard
who had stood long and had been So m
r-cgnallc now on hand and an easy mark Gently,
oh workers of evil Take him in tow slowly and
lead him unconsciously to his doom; tor he Is OF
the strong whose locks must hc shorn after nc mas
Ecer made weak and not before!
They seemed fine genial fellows, and Dick was
clad 10 have them divert his mind. Deity they
gave the poison and Dick found IT good. He for
got the loneliness of the farm, the barrcnnesS OF the
life without the girl he thought he loved Thought
he lowell That was funny Mother Dollton was
right he was better off in the world, tasting Its JOYS
We've got him going SAID one 70 another as
look IF content swept over the young giants face
The new citvs streets not well lighted, and
s, there were many dark corners in which big
negro could hide and watch.
EOR two davs Lucy waited. and after night fell
L on the second she heard the hOOfs OF a horse
rapidly approaching She dartcd out to the road
way. needless of the darkness and OF everything.
Is that YOU. Ned" she called and the big
negro was off his horse second, crying as II his
soul was in torment.
Dev's got him, Dey's got hml" he almost
shouted God Almighty be mercerful! Dey's got
New-York tribune., 1909-01-03
Stonewall Jackson's Death

OF the accidents of the Civil War pcr,,i Perl.iSs
~ the most striking was the death of 9-'ntT1-
Jackson at Charlottesville With the consent 'l Ky
Jackson with thirty thousand men ON Nay il1l
a rapid stealthv. thanking march OF ttteen nm -
around the Union right IN order 10 attaCN me
under Howard At SIN in the evening. "H.e ~"
ards men were resting. preparing supper or i-'.t
ing cards all unconscious OF danger a Slicu0l -.
into camp of deer. rabbits and other Wild ai''.-4
apprised them of the coming enemy lheE So So
their arms and attempted 10 form IN oatte - -
but before they succeeded the ContederateS w. w.
upon them In hour the corps was cut % o.
and almost annhated. the survivors feehS ~ ~
madmen As night fell the corps of 80 Nies anu -b
cavalry of Pleasanton planted themselves Ln -
way of the onruShing Confederates and e"s'>-N
their advance. 1-S
1t was then that Jackson with portion oi - -
staff rode forward in advance of his OWN HlC mn
make a reconnaissance. His party were -i1ay
for force of Federal cavalry. and retciN -sd
from the Confederate line of battle Whicn ,il9-' I'D
several of them. Jackson. thus tar unhuIl. Sf,re
into a wood on the left. but had not gone Ia -, as
a Confederate brigade. kneeling on one 1l-t7ce
though to receive cavalry. discharged at q uTd ITTed
of only about twenty yards a volley In"I - me
wounded or dismounted all the rernalnGeI -
staff but two and severely wounded laCNSt''; :; the
The wounded mans horse ran on Win Ill-. - a
direction of the enemy, and the r1der The
severe blow III the face from a low hanging iil''
New-York tribune., 1909-01-03

IT was a chance kick Of the illnatured O'Leary
/ that overturned Il lamp. made her ia
nous and burned Chicago 1t was in a sense an
accident that Theodore Roosevelt became Pres
lcnt of the United States the first time. 1t
was the destruction of the Mane-acCidental
whether the explosion came from the inside or
vas the work Of some irresponsible Spanlard-that
brought on the Spanish American War. In TACT
II we stop to think of it, shall find that a large
part of history has been the direct result of the
working of chance.
The Spansh-AmcriCan War not the first of
cur wars that in an accident; for that
ct 1912 was equally # not more sc. One of the
Chiet causes of that the enforcement by the
British Of the orders in council directed against the
commerce of neutrals The leading uPhodeT of
these orders was Spencer Perceval the Prime Min
ISter. On May II, 1872. as Perccval entered the
House of Commons, a shot fired by luuatic who
was actuated by imaginary personal grievances
struck him in the heart \ and more conclia-
tory ministry was formed On June II the orders
in council were abandoned at Westminster but
within twentv-our hours declared at Wash
ington. Had the news of the repeal been known,
there would probably have been no war; for, as it
was the opposition to the war had almost prevented
the adoption of the resolution and President Madl
son was much aVerSe to hOStIlitIeS.
New-York tribune., 1909-01-03
The Last Shot

nF a different character an accident that
~ occurred on board the man of war Princeton
in 1913. By invitation of Commodore Stockton.
party of more than hundred persons including
President Tyler, his cabinet, members of both
houses of Congress- citizens, and strangers. with
many women, on February IS went on board the
vessel to inspect her and observe the firing of ner
two great guns, which threw balls of two hundred
and twenty-five pounds each The vessel had pro-
Ceeded down the river below Mount Vernon, the
guns had been fired a number of times, the eXnIbl-
ton was practically over, the vessel had turned
back. and the company had enjoyed a sumptuous
collation.. when word brought below that the
gun called The Peace Maker be fired again.
Accordingly most of the guests went
on deck and gathered about the gun, the most dis
tingushed taking a position that proved to be
the most dangerous. Owing perhaps to some de-
feet in the casting, the cannon burst killing Secretary
of State UpShur Secretary of the Navy GIlmer,
father of Tylers anc6e) and several other persons,