davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03
MEREDITH'S LOVE OF AMERICA
They Always Liked Me 5etter There"
Said Eminent English No'R,st.

=
George Meredith. the eminent Eug-
lish novelist who died the other day
in England passed the later years Of
his life in his very quiet home, Flint
cottage. BoXhill. Surrey. \ visitor
who found him there few days pre-
yious to lis eightieth birthday, in Feb
ruary, 1908, described him as a big,
full bearded giant OF man with
splendid head and a heavy crop of
marvellous white thick hair. The nov
elist, his visitor being an American, re-
GREETED that he had never visited
America
Ihey have always liked me better
in America" said he. "They don't care
about me in England. People seem to
feel it right to congratulate men who
live TO be eighty, though they really
should not What 1t means when a
man lives to be so old is either that he
is greedily tenacious of life or else that
he is so insignificant that the fates
have passed him by. 1t is a misfor-
tune to live to be eighty. A mans
life ought to finish when he is five and
sixty. He must stop working then or
else do work that is inferior. People
will praise 1t then and write articles
about it, but posterity will know bet
ter and see its weakness. You can't
fool posterity. When a man stops
working nature is finished with him,
and when nature is finished with him
he ought to go"
The novelist said that he feared it
was new too late to visit America. II
have had many Invitations" he said.
and do not suppose there has ever
been nation so hospitabe as Amer
lea. They say that one good introduc-
ton will carry you right across the
continent. SO suppose should have
been asked to great many dinners.
and the moss Of reflection would have
served to carry out the idea | advocate
and remove me before | was sixty
five"
In the last year Of his life Meredith
used TO rise daily at 7:3O. At IL he
went for drive in cart to which was
attached led donkey and about which
gamboled his favorite pet, an Irish
terrier. The rest OF the day he passed
In reading and seeing his friends. He
was for many years an enormous read
er of newspapers and books. He was
able to dispense with glasses. although
he occasionally used them.
OF American writer's he particularly
liked Edith Wharton and Gertrude
Atherton. or Henry James he said:
II like to read one of his novels year.
James writes about America revisited,
but what it really comes TO is a tour
of Henry James inside. He tells you
how he felt when he beheld this or
that and how such things impressed
him, and at rare intervals he may take
you to little wind and show you
a bit of landscape -at might be Amer
lea and might ranything-a tour of
his own ir e; that's what It really
comes r.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03

show OF feminine pride III nar punc-
tuality-"the time You wrote on your
card"
"Rut | didn't write half past II.
wrote HIS" exclaimed Hugh, mysti-
fed.
Shyly Marian drew his card from It's
hiding place IN her bodice and handed
It to him. Hugh looked at it in aston
ishment. The figures had been very
clevcrly changed from 1l:45 to 1880.
"SOmc trick has been played. Did
you open the box yourself. Marian?'
"Wait minute ! remember now
that the messenger apologized for the
| condition 1t was in. He said he Slip
ped on the ice and dropped it, and the
wTappings came off, and he had to do
/ 1t up again"
! Hugh listened eagerly.
That's a very important clew," he
murmured; very important-splendid
bit Of circumstantial evidence"
"What are you talking about, Hugh?"
you see before you a young and
struggling lawyer Marian, whom
chance had favored by
,,ori., i,,,ann,,ntoa 0''
.syyri+I,r,,t 1T, .,., ,,,-., TIL,
-o.,,,t,,,7r1 ,,o,. ,1,,,,,,l,,,.
~ da,i.,,,, ,,.aS ,.a,,a,,o, .,,.
,,or,1,a,.,, ara o,,,.,.a,.,,i -, ..I4
v,os frrt rooai,-o4 is,,,t tho+ +,.i,,4 ,.a,,
call it,"
But HUGH took no advantora of bar
| lead Instead he poced nm ana down
/ tbe lone. room nprvousrr FinoIIv ba
STONED direc+rv in front Of her and
looked down on her bowed boad and
! the red rose I'm hor hair
i "Doarcst" he faltrrcd "vour Iav7ltv
IS the sweetest thing on earth te me
/ brrt hovo r, RIGHT 70 make amy claim
upon f. yynv NOT for wears" he
/ laurbad crimIy "coul1 L,ein lo nav
the butcher. the baker and The crudlc-
s+fcr. rpo1-nr, o,d nc for fin. dr.s.-
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03

samples. and once the place was open
he left a clerk in charge and devoted
himself to Lefty. Chiswick had the
odd faculty of making others worE
though he himself lacked habits of in
dustry, and he preferred riding int
the hills with Lefty to attending t.
business at the store.
For six months the courtship contii
ued then one day Chiswick four'
Bruce waiting for him at the stOrr
His lean length was sprawled oven
Chiswick's own chair at the rear or
the shack, and Chiswick eyed his caller
angrily rs the latter slowly rose.
"It was long wait, and that was
the only comfortable chair" explained
Bruce, guessing the cause of the 9th.
er's anger.
1T must be important, since you wait
in spite of discomforts," retorted CHS.
wick. 81 left word that would be
back at ."
Il had the time" said Bruce. and |
wanted to see you-about Miss Chc5-
ter"
THAT was to be expected" snecred
Chiswick. I've been expecting il for
some time. Because you haven't the
nerve to win her for yourself | sup
pose that you want to use your club as
guardian and tell me that am to keep
off your preserves. Rather handy. isn't
it, HANK"
1T would be if l wanted to do such
a thing was the quiet retort, but
what | came to see you about was to
ask if you are going to propose.
you've made a lot of talk in the
camp. but you have said nothing def
mite to Lefty, or at least she has toll
ne nothing about it if you have. ana
/ think | have a right TO know"
y 2u are man Of the world. or Won
We're before You buried yourself in this
place. You must know that Just BE-
cause a man is nice to a pretty girl i,
does not argue that he wants to maYry
her"
We look at things differently here in
the mountains" retorted Bruce. "Ycu
know very well that the entire caluu
expects you to marry Lefty. and thry
are wondering why you don't say some
thing about it. AS her guardian have
come to ask you to come out in the
open. That's our way"
There was a glitter in Bruces eyes
that warned Chiswick to be careful
and the snarl faded from his face and
his oily voice returned as he sought TO
argue that his income was too small
and too uncertain to permit him TO
marry. Bruce listened patiently until
the end; then he looked up slowly.
Then it's only because YOU cant Of.
ford to marry that you don't ask LET.
tyE" demanded Bruce
Chiswick nodded. 1t seemed the one
insurmountable objection that he could
advance. He had no intention of mar.
rying Lefty.
She was pretty child, and she had
helped to pass the time, but also there
was always the hope that his work n
this wilderness would result in a call
to the city, and there Lefty would be
sad hindrance.
You needn't worry about that"
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03

The War OF
the Roses.
BY Martha Cobb Sanford.
Copyrighted. 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.
-s''s..s''..i''s..s'..':s..:-s-.s....ss......s-i

Hugh Stoddard read over his invita-
tion to the Van Sickle dance with
varied emotions. One minute he was
determined to go, exactly as If moth
ing had happened; the next he was
equally resolute in his decision to cut
out everything of that sort for good
and all.
Gradually he fell to comparing his
own present lot in life with that of
the duke and of Rogers and of two or
three other lucky fellows. Hang it all,
there was no chance for him any
longer.
The duke could offer her a title and
all It's dazzling accessories. Rogers had
money, or at least his father had,
while he, Hugh Stoddard, had nothing.
And all owing to that spectacular bank
crash of a month ago. He had not
seen Marian since.
Nevertheless, whether he should
eventually decide to go to the dance
or not, he must of course send flowers.
Quite as a matter of habit he took
down the receiver and gave the for
lists number.
Suddenly, as he waited. the sickcu-
ing realization came TO him that his
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03
Dark Walls Best For IIlun;,..ion


Some scientists who have been MAX
ing investigations into the part plaved
in the matter of illumination by light
and dark walls have come to the con
clusion that the dark walls are better
fitted for good illumination than the
light. In room where the walls are
dark and where the source of light is
entirely behind the readers field of vi
sion person who reads is impressed
with the idea that the room is excel
lently well Illuminated. but If now an.
other light is brought into the room and
placed within the field of his vision,
though not shining on the paper he is
reading, the pupils of his eyes will con-
tract, less light will enter them from
the paper he reads, and the reader will
DE impressed with the idea that the IL
Iuihlnation has been reduced and the
paper is becoming darker. These sci
ehtlsts say that the experiments show
that IL the walls are light colored the
eLhclency Of the illumination may actll.
ally be hed-Pathfinder.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03
BIC TREAT FOR LEPERS
Moving Pictures Give Many at
MoIokai First View of World.
INTENSE INTEREST SHOWN.

Several of the Unfortunate but Eager
Spectators Had Never Seen a City.
Result of the Contribution of Spe-
ciaI Fund to Buy a Machine.
One of the most marvellous expert
ences in the history of the Molokai
leper settlement came to the people of
that shut-in isolation n short time ago
when a moving picture machine was
installed in Beretania hall, their pub
lie place of assemblage. for their enter
tainment.
1t was not merely that they saw
moving pictures for the first time, but
for the first time, to very great num-
ber of them. 1t was their first glimpse
into the world beyond the narrow con-
fines of the settlement. Very many of
them had never seen city until they
saw those projected on the moving pic
ture screen. Elephants, camels, bears.
lions and the other animals of the cir
Gus or the zoo were presented to them
for the first time. Fire engines, police
patrols. moving troops, the thousand
and one commInplaccs of the picture
machine, came to them not only with
the force of novelty, but with the eff
feet of something unheard of and un-
dreamed of before.
Some months ago at the suggestion
of Superintendent McVeigh of the set
tlement Il movement was started to
procure n moving picture machine to
be sent to the settlement for the enter
tainment of the people there. a fund
was contributed the machine and a
supply of films were bought, and r. X.
Bonine, who has Travelled the world
over securing strange scenes for NOV
ing picture exhibitions, volunteered to
60 over and install the machine. This
he did, and the greatest interest In
the matter was felt at the settlement
Every operation Of the process of in
stalling the apparatus was watched by
nearly the whole population, and when
finally the first exhibition was given
wonder and excitement knew no
bounds.
In addition to the films that have
been provided by the donors for the
settlement, Mr. Bonine took a large
number of his own films TO exhibit
there for the entertainment of the peo-
pie. SO intensely interested were they
that no amount of repetition of the pic
lures seemed to tire them. At their
earnest invitation Mr.. Bonine decided
to remain another week at the settle
ment to exhibit his own pictures often
enough so that every one in the settle
ment shall have opportunity to see
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03
Not Worth It.

i young man. after his banns had
been twice announced. called upon the
busy vicar early one morning. He
wanted to have a private word with
him about the banns.
We'll" said the vicar, what Is
wrong?"
"Oh, it's the girls name"
Hasn't it been given correctly?"
"Oh, yes. it's correct enough. but I
want you to put ano. her girls name
for the third calling. I've changed my
mind and would rather marry Mary
'Arris instead of Sarah Jenkins"
The vicar lectured the youth upon
his tickleness and told him If he want
ed any alteration 1t would be necessary
to make a fresh start and have the
banns published afresh.
What, and pay another shiIlingp"
gasped the lover
Certainly" replied the vicar.
"Well. in that case you had better
let it be as 1t is, and I'll marry my first
love."-Pearson's Weekly.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03
The Professor Remembers.

Professor (as the company is break
ing up. missing one Of his rubbers)-
Has any of you gentlemen put op
three rubbers by mistaken Fliegende
Batter.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03
Man With the conundrum.

The man with the fretful eyebrows
and the sorrowful ears comes to the
desk Of the man with the dispirited
mustache and asks:
why is a man who goes on an ex-
pedition to discover the south pole
and after many months of toll and pri-
vation during which he eats all his
canned goods and half of his dogs and
then returns to civilization with
fixed appetite for boot heels and hat
brims-why is he like n woman who
has been waiting impatiently since
midnight for the sound of the latch
key as her husband endeavors to un-
lock the front door without awakening
the entire neighborhood? 2"
The man with the discouraged mus
tache shakes his head impatiently, and
the other repeats the question, where
upon the man with the discouraged
mustache asks:
what is the difference between a
lady reading a hair restorer ad. and a
man who asks fool questions when you
are busy? Answer-Because they are
both about ready to die"
"Oh. very well" shifts the man with
the fretful eyebrows and the sorrow
full ears. The answer to mine is that
both are getting ready to deliver a
lecture, but l wouldn't tell you if you
pleaded with tears in your eyes"
And with a naughty tread he de-
parts.-Chicago Post.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03
The Slippe-v Ton.

Sillicus-We are told there is plenty
of room at the top. l wonder why it
Is, Cynicus-I suppose most of the
people who get there fall off.-Phila-
delphia Record.
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03
Sky Sickness.

When alrships sail the fleecy skies.
Come. tell me, you wise man.
When we are rocked upon the clouds
VIII we have aeronausea then?
Detroit Free Press
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03

cried Bruce. You look here. l sup
pose you know the branch they call
Cat creek?"
Chiswick nodded, and Bruce contiu-
ued: There is a gulch leading of
| that creek with a tall pine at the
mouth. At the top of the gulch is 4
| spruce Walk along a line with those
two trees until you come to a place
where there is a cleft in the rocks I'm
derfoot. You stake that claim, and l
| guess that you can afford to be mar
ried."
Chiswick thanked him profusely, ana
by the next night the camp knew that
Chiswick had fallen upon n bonanza.
1.-THE darned little fool wasn't even
looking for it," explained one of the
miners. "He just naturally fell up
against 1t, but unless I'm mistaken it's
going to be the making of this camp,
It's pity that a man didn't locate it,"
The sentiment was generally echoed,
but there is no questioning the favors
of fate. In six weeks development
work had shown clearly that the mine
was winner, and on the heels of the
assurance came the announcement
that Chiswick had sold a third interest
for $S0O,000.
Then the town looked for the an
nouncement of his engagement to Let
ty but the announcement was not
forthcoming. Not until Bruce remind
ed him of their understanding and
threatened TO publish him as a liar did
Chiswicl speak.
1t was Il grudging, ungracious pro-
posal that he made, but Lefty was too
happy to question the degree of his
enthusiasm. Yet before she uttered a
trembling "Yes" she hesitated.
81 wonder what my guardian will
say| she said with a little sh,ver
He doesn't like you, Jack. Perhaps
we can't set married until after come
of age"
"Bruce?" asked Chiswick with Il
laugh. WHY, he put me wise to this
mine, because | explained that | did
not have enough money to marry 81.
l don't suppose that he knew how
good it was, but he knew ii was some
thing good, and that shows that he is
not only willing, but anxious"
"He gave you the mine-to marry
meT' she gasped.
Sure" aSsented Chiswick. Don't
you worry about Bruce"
81 am not worrying about Mr.
Bruce" said Lefty, with a sudden
revulsion of feeling. Il don't care
whether he is willing or not. l shall
not marry you" With a womans in
tuition she read the truth.
But l say began Chiswick. Lefty
checked his speech. Il thought ypu
wanted to marry me-" she said. 81
did not know that dear old Harry had
to bride you to propose. Please 90
away" And Chiswick went. only too
glad TO escape the scene his blunder
promised to cause.
Bruce coming in that evening t.
make certain that all was right found
the girl he loved still sobbing on tar
couch.
and YOU We're so anxious to get ril
Of me that you bribed Jack Chiswi,k
with mine" she cried when tn.
cause Of her tears had been explained.
81 thought you loved him." explained
Bruce simply, "and without money
you could not have been happy-wish
him"
81 can be happy without money
with YOU she reminded. and Bruce
took her in his arms. well content to
lose the mine and find n heart of gold
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03

The best o working is it gives you
grip hold o things outside your own
lot-Eliot
Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-06-03
Picturesque Japanese Peasants.

The most characteristic scenery In
Japan Is not the mountain, on which
rev Japanese dwell, but the rice field,
which Is to be found wherever there is
patch of level ground for the field
and sufficient water for irrigation. Gen
tie slopes are made useful by terracing,
and the cody, preparing the ground or
cutting his crop, is the true Japanese
peasant. He is n picturesque peasant
in his blue cotton suit, his broad, CON
ical straw hat and straw overcoat. He
Is good natured peasant, absurdly
contented with his earnings, though the
agricultural laborer earns as little as
or 10 cents gold a day. His house is
a light wooden frame surmounted by
heavy thatch, and he loves to plant a
lily garden along his rooftree. But he
always has one thing which separates
him from the Chinese and the East In
dtan-he lives on a platform raised
shove the ground. No hardened soil
for him, no chilly pavement or brick
or stone. A wooden floor. a piece of
cieah mating, broom and n bathtub
tne poorest Japanese will always have.
1ohSo Leller 10 Boston transcript
A Deceptive Air.
The Bushby storekeeper surveyed
Mr.. Leonard with a contemplative eye
and then turned his gaze toward jim
my Sloane, who was putting packages
into the delivery wagon. Jimmy had
the leisurely air Of one with plenty of
time at his disposal.
You want to know how he'd be for
your business down below?" said Mr..
Gregg slowly.
Yes" said the visitor. 81 noticed
him yesterday, when that crowd of
young fellows We're getting the piano
into the hall; he seemed to work hard
er than any Of the others 1t occurred
to me he might like a bigger chance
than he has here"
Mn" said the storekeeper "Weu
now, | can't say as TO that, of course
but as to his working harder than any
OF the other boys, I'll tell you what
they say and you can believe it or not.
jest as You choose.
"Thry all like Jimmy, for he's first
rate company, but the truth is that
when it comes to lifting, or such work,
Jimmy's all take holt and mighty lit
tie hist Companion.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-06-05
WELLINGTON.
The Soldier Dead Misunderstanding
tist Roll Call.

Rev. Mr.. Gardner made mention of
Memorial Sunday feelingly in his
prayer Sunday morning. There were
two veterans Of the civil war present.
They were Samuel Bartlett and Alfred
Cowles. The text was from Col. g.: A.;
topic, Christ Our Life"
Miss Mary Hill of Boston Is visiting
at Rev Mr.. Gardner's.
Flags for Soldiers Graves.
Through the courtesy of Hon. w. H.
Hall, treasurer of the wellington Gem
etery association, flags were provided
for the graves of the soldiers of the
revolutionary war, the Mexican war
and the civil war. These were placed
on Sunday. Monday afternoon the pu-
pills Of the Center school, with their
teachers, Miss Lillian Matthews and
Mrs. Nellie Carpenter, marched to the
cemetery and decorated the graves
with flowers gathered and arranged in
the morning. Mrs. Preston followed
the pretty and orderly little process
sion. her phaeton being loaded with
their flowers.
A rose tree sent by Rev. and Mrs.
Theron Brown of Newtonville, Mass,
was planted on the grave Of Charles
T. Preston. Mr.. and Mrs. Brown also
sent beautiful cut flowers for the
graves of this comrade and his broth
er, Herbert G. Preston, who, not pass
ing the physical examination, hired a
substitute to go in his place.
A tribute Of flowers was sent by John
Norwich bulletin., 1909-06-05
STAFFoRDvILLE.
Saturday Observed as Soldiers Memo
rial Day-Business Meeting of Ep-
worth League.

Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel Mellen and
Harold Odell of Agawam, Mass. were
guests over Memorial day of Mrs. Ar
thur West.
Mr.. and Mrs. William f. Peel of
Nashua, N. H., recently visited local
friends.
Rev. Charles Stopford of Boston
university was the guest of Rev. Rob-
ert Williams over Sunday.
Albert D. Marchant of Gilbertville
was the guest over Sunday of local
relatives.
Mrs. Srsan Blodgett, aged H. fell
last week, tripping over q rug, and
is seriously injured.
The G. A. R. of Stafford observed
Memorial day Saturday and decorated
their comrades graves with the usual
ceremony. The band played two beau
tiful selections and the children from
the local grammar school sang my
Own United States" Rev. Robert
Williams delivered a brief address.
Epworth Leagues Officers.
The Epworth league of the local
Methodist church held business meet
ing last week Wednesday evening and
elected the following officers for the
ensuing year: President. Rev. Robert
Williams; first vice president, Mahlon
West; second vice president, Charles
Williams; third vice president, George
Miller; fourth vice president, Mrs.
Harland Dunham secretary and
treasurer. Mrs. Herbert Bosworth.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-06-05
LETTERS FROM TWO STATES.

line was reformed and marched to
the town hall, escorting the speaker of
the day, Col. D. R Bailou Of Provi-
dence, veteran. T. d. Pond was
marshal Of the day. The exercises in
the hall consisted Of songs by the chill
dren, reading of orders by Adjutant
G. A. Porter and a short introductory
talk by Commander Pond. The adj
dress of Col. Ballou was highly spoken
OF by all. At the close Of the Nexer-
cises in the hall all repaired to Grange
hall, where refreshments were served.
In the afternoon a large number went
to Danielson to participate in the ex-
ercises there.
Among those in town over Memo
rial day were John S. Litchfeld Of
Providence, with Frank and Alice
Litchheld; Mr.. and Mrs. Edwin A.
Spalding; Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis S. Palm
Mass, with Mr.. and Mrs. Frank A.
Spalding; Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis s. Palm
err of Manchester, with Mr.. and Mrs.
James C. Palmer; Charles Edwin
Blake and a classmate in Trinity,
with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Chas.
H. Blake.