davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-04-30

down the face Of the towering wall
Above the falls. instead Of the rush
ing. foaming river. only a naked chan
mel. studded with black and jagged
rocks. appeared The bed of the river
was practically exposed from shore to
shore. except for small streams. like
mountain brooks. running slowly TO
the verge Of the precipice. The spec
tators could hardly believe their eyes.
Some remarkable feats were per.
formed on that day when Niagara ran
dry. People walked from the Canadian
side Of the river. along the edge of
the frightful precipice, nearly as far
as Goat island on the American side
and never even wet their feet. Some
went exploring In the river bed above
the falls and discovered a number Of
ancient gun barrels. lost probably by
Sportsmen up the river In long gone
days and still after the rotting away
Of their stocks slowly forced down
stream by the current. Caves and
curious formations in the rocks were
discovered. the existence OF which had
never been suspected before.
All that day. March 81. 1s4s. Niagara
falls remained dry. and people who re-
mained up until late at night. expect
ing 10 see change. went 10 bed with
out witnessing IL. But in the early
morning Of April the familiar thun.
der Of the great cataract was once
more heard. and every one knew that
! the mysteriOusly drained river bed
was again pouring its flood over the
falls.
Now for the explanation Of this
! strange phenomenon. II proved to be,
, after all. very simple. The winter OF
/ 1917 and 1S4S had been one of extreme
! severity. Ice of such thickness had
never been known as formed on Lake
Erie that season. When the breakup
came. toward the end Of March. a
strong northeast wind was blowing
which piled the great fields Of ice in
| foes and then in banks as high ms
miniature icebergs. Toward night or
March 30 the wind suddenly changed
to the opposite direction and increased
to a terrific gale, which hurled bach
the piled up ice and drove 1t into the
entrance Of Niagara river with sucl
force that a huge and almost impene
trable dam was formed For a whole
day the source Of the river was stop
ped up. and the stream was drained
Of it's supply. BY the morning Of tn,
Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-04-30
Punlshmen. In Esinx.

Punishment in eftigy was legally
practiced In France and with great
solemnity up to the time OF the first
revolution. If the man condemned es-
capped, dummy was put up In his
cell and the entire routine of the law
allowed to take its course. The war
rant was read to It, and on the day
appointed 1t was conducted to the
scaffold In the presence Of all the le-
gal functionaries and with all the cir.
eumstance of the law. Sometimes
'ne same person was executed in effigy
simultaneously in several cities. but
that did not exempt him from actual
punishment should he be afterward
caught.
Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-04-30

rclne men knowIng the truth OF Tie
matter.
Against wall Of rock was painted
an imitation opening. In the center Of
which the 'cannibap was fastened.
At the proper time, after going
through various incantations. a cover.
ing was jerked away, exposing the
cannibal apparently springing through
the solid rock. He was promptly gre sp-
ed by two of the priests. who dragged
him out and rushed him through fire
which was burning in front of the
place and which was surrounded by
all the members Of the tribe beating
drums and singing at the top Of their
voices BY some jugslery the cannl-
bal was got rid Of, and the people were
told that he had flown away through
the air and would not come back.
After this ceremony had been re-
peated several times to put an end to
other epidemics, which were only too
prevalent among the Indians. II grew
Into a sort Of annual affair. mar0 ed
by the members of secret society
whose members know thar the sup
posed "hamatsu" was only a man.
Scientific American.
Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-04-30

sOphical ideas, and our prosak
cumstances offered little grouno
the idealists Of the future. We eau
Bulow 'Kritikus, and we, especlag
always feared bis sharp tongue
tie. or course all Of us had htue
ey, but Wagner put our slender ?
to great strains. He could nor
money worries. and we let MIN
them as little as possible.
"0nce, after a long autumn y
came cold suddenly, ana Mss
with Ms nerves suffered IRON
sudden change In the tempenw'l
He demanded a heated room az %
For two whole days the debate =
between him and Bulow as 10 tns !
mediate purchase Of wood WIN "
reduced purse.
II was not asked, because pu",
knew that | would yield. Dut Y !
treasurer contended that 1t was ~ y
lous to buy wood in the month y
TENDER. But | am freezing
Wagner In a rage, to which the y,
orable Bulow suggested that he g =
and get warm by running o. W.
himself by his muse, Laughing " 4
cheap. spiteful advice, BuloW ~
went out. but when we returneu
two hours we were thunderslfus,,
find Wagner in the room nsa.~
suffocation. He sat at his WI'uH,
BILE deep In his work. His i'es
red.
Where began Bulow, p@
words stuck in his throat, FOR . s',.
around the room showed nlm
Wagner had helped himself p
chairs and our work tables Jay =.
floor, permanently crippled. wa
had cut OF their legs and pau,
fire with them. Bulow was spess'
with rage, but stood at the az
laughed till the tears came a. ~
genious way of helping oneself ~
lamented that we would nave w
place the landlady's chairs ana
and that he could not sit gov
work.
Wagner answered spitefn,'p' 1.
have what l needed Fellows ns' x
who do nothing but 90 wilkins (.
neither chairs nor tables, u
given me the money right o. /.
valuable furniture would stiii y
istence. You wished It sol
would have been cheaperF
IN COTTON goods never prOsS'
man proveFh.
Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-04-30
NIAGARA FALLS BARE
For One Whole Day the Rocky
PreCipiCe Was Dry.
THE WATER CEASED TO FLOW

This Curious Phenomenon Occurred on
March 81, 1s4s-Tsrrifed the People
In the Vieinity-Return Of the Tor
rent and the Cause Of the Stoppaee.
In the early spring Of 1913 occurred
q natural phenomenon so strange, so
sudden and so stupendous that the old
er inhabitants OF western New York
still speak Of il with awe and wonder
This phenomenon was nothing else
than the running dry Of Niagara falls
The story Is seldom recounted now.
but 1t was nine days wonder for the
whole country when it appeared il
the newspapers. For the first time in
history the roar Of the grandest cata-
ract in America was hushed.
In the early morning Of March 81.
1915, people living in the vicinity Of
the falls were awakened by peculiar
hush, as startling in its suddenness
and intensity as the most thunderous
explosion could have been. Many
dressed and FASTENED outdoors. urged
by a conviction that something appall.
ing had happened or was about Ia
happen. Some thought the end OF
the world was at hand. Others imag
ined that they had grown suddenly
deaf. Sdll others thought that the
hush preceding a terrific hurricane had
fallen upon the air. An were Cypress
ed with a feeling Of profound awe and
dread.
1t was soon discovered, however
that the cessation Of the roar of the
falls was the sole cause of this com.
mon panic. AS the dim light Of early
morning grew stronger the people
were able TO see the almost bare preci
pice OF the falls. over which but 3
short time before thousands Of tons
Of water had been pouring. Only
here and there small streams. con
stantly growing smaller. now trickled
Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-04-30
THE MEASLES CANNIBAL.
Method Of a Vancouver Island Trib,
to Drive Away Disease.

10 Drive Away Disease.
A few years ago an epidemic Of
measles broke out among the Indian
tribes living on Vancouver island. in
British Columbia, not far from Fort
Rupert. and the shamans or medicine
men came TO the conclusion that can.
nibal sorcerer, whom they termed the
"hamatsu" measles cannibaD. was
Staying their children to eat them and
that he would continue to do so until
he was killed.
AS they could not Stay ghost in his
own person they arranged -emcry
In which enc Of their nunL - ,sed rs
the cannibal and was treated MS thcv
would have lied to treat lie re i fce
This fact Of substitute WIS, Of
course, not made public. only the med
Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-04-30

oIst the river was practically dry. and
thus for twenty-fOur hours the roar Of
Niagara falls was stilled. Then IN the
early morning Of April the ice
pack gave way under the tremendous
pressure from above. and the long re-
strained volume Of water rushed
down and reclaimed its own.-Ex.
change
Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-04-30

Learning without politeness makes
disagreeable pedant. and politeness
without learning makes superficial,
frivolous puppy.-Chesterheld.
Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-04-30
FORT PIERCE IS

The Sportsman's Paradise.
On the famous Indian River.
242 miles south of Jacksonville
Rendezvous for pleasure crafts.
Preparing TO light by electricity
Backed up by good farming lands.
In the heart of the Pineapple Belt
The county seat of st. Lucie county.
One mile and a half from the Allan
tic ocean.
Commercial center of the Middle
East Coast.
Division headquarters of the Florida
East Coast Railway.
Growi faster than any other town
on the East Coast.
Headquarters for fruit and produce
buyers during seasons.
Three miles from Indian River Inlet
the great fishing point.
Eighteen miles from Santa Lucia
Inlet, where the government will prob.
ably spend sl,4O0,OOO for harbor in
the near future.
Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-04-30
WAGNER MADE IT HOT.
The Composers Trick When Mon.v
and Firowood Wera so..o.

WuTo ocaFce.
here is an anecdote Of wagners
cary NE as related by Liszt: "wag-
ner' Bulow and were all quite youn :
"nen we lived together in Leipzig and
aao q good time-that Is, enioved
myself but Wagner was already fer.
meneng with his political and philo.
Fort Pierce news. (Fort Pierce, Fla.) 190?-1920, 1909-04-30
FORT PIERCE HAS

a blacksmith shop.
Two livery stables,
Two machine shops.
A junior high school,
Progressive citizens.
Eastern Star Chapter.
Two good newspapers.
An Odd Fellows lodge.
A Royal Arch Chapter.
Two telephone systems.
Six building contractors.
A moving picture theatre.
Two thousand inhabitants.
Three real estate agencies.
Numerous boarding houses.
Undertaking establishment.
A wholesale cattle company.
A volunteer fire department.
A Ladies ImprOvem ent Club.
a Woodmen of the World lodge.
A picture framing estab ishment.
An excellent Photographic studio.
Excellent soft water in abundance.
Seventeen stores--including all lines
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09
Atlantic Waterway More Important
Than Panama.

The Atlantic Deeper Waterways
movement is progressing with an ear
nestness of purpose and intelligence
of zeal that leaves no room for doubt
Of it's final success. 1t means
great deal both in a commercial and
a military sense, and IN our judge
ment it's accomplishment will be
worth very much more to the coun-
try than the quixotical and costly
Panama Canal experiment. Internal
waterways development, conducted
on a grand national scale, will tre-
mendously enhance the wealth. hap
piness and power OF the people OF
the United States, and put this nat
ion unapproachably ahead of all 9TH
or nations of the earth. Unlike the
Panama experiment, the work is en-
tirely feasible, and the money expen-
ded on it will remain in this cour-
try in ceaseless reproductive poten-
tiality. Public sentiment is behind
it. and Congress should lose no time
in loosening the national purse
strings in it's behalf and support
Petersburg Index-Appeal.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09
A Young Naturalist.

The little boy was looking at fly
trap-o one of those green, woven
wire. sugar-loaf. shaped affairs into
which the flies crawl at the bottom,
and from which they never find any
way of escape 1t was half full OF
the buzzing insects, and others still
were entering.
eve found out one thing al out
flies, anyhow" he said.
What is that. Benny?' aaked his
mother.
"l've found that they don't know
how to talk to each other"
How Go you know that"
Don't you suppose those flies on
the inside of that trap know that
they're caught and can't get out?
OF course they do. And if they
could talk TO one another, don't you
suppose they'd tell the flies on the
outside to go away and not try to get
in? OF course they would. They
wouldn't be mean enough to want
their friends to be trapped just be-
cause they were. Youths Compan.
inn
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09
TAXING CENSUS Of MEXICO.
President DiaZ and Other Men Of Prom
inenCe Will Help in W0rk.

The central committee on census
work appointed by the local authori-
ties to draw plans for the taking of
the federal district, has completed
arrangements for making an accur-
ate estimate of the inhabitants Of
the capital and outlying towns and
and has decided to appoint proml-
nent persons in every town to take
down the names Of residents person
ality to preclude the possibility Of
any names being left off the lists.
In former years it has been the eX-
perience of census takers that a
large majority of the natives refus-
ed to give the names of all the mem
bers of their household for fear that
they might be recruited in the army.
The government has decided to
appoint prominent persons as census
takers in order that the actual NUM-.
Der of inhabitants Of the republic
may be secured within a close mar
gin of accuracy.
President Diaz will personally tak'
the census of the block on the nortl
side of Gale de Cadena, where III
lives; members of the cabinet VII
perform similar duty in their re
spective neighborhoods; the arch
bishop of Mexico will take the cen
sus Of population in his own quarter
and an effort will be made to hav
all prominent citizens accept the ap
pointment for their neighborhood
generally in order that coniidenc
may be inspired among the native
and the figures may be as accurat
as possible.
But in interior Mexico an uphl
task is in store for the authorities
and the majority is bent upon thwart
ing the census work, being forme
of ilhterate poems and farm laborer
VINO are still afraid of compulsor
o military service. Mexican Herald
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09
The Fiddle In the Choir.

North Carolina can boast of one
editor who has the right sort of mu-
sic in his soul. His name is Archi-
dald johnson and he presides over
Charity and Children. He is an ad-
mirer-a devotee the fiddle,
known in polite society as the violin,
and he wants more of the fiddle in
the choir. He agrees with David
that the Lord should be praised on
stringed instruments, and if he had
his way and could secure them, he
would have a dozen fddles in the
choir of the church at which he wor-
ships. SINGERS, he says, "know
the value of the violin skillfully
played and the wonderful help it
renders. We rejoice to see the king
of instruments coming into its own.
For many years it has been in the
hands of the devil because of the
prejudice of good people against its
use. Why is it not just as consistent
to tear out the floors of our houses
and adopt sawdust because ball
rooms must have floors? Our col
leges for women are magnifying the
violin in the music course, and our
girls are learning to master this
delightful instrument. 1t seems a
pity that bright girl who has pre-
pared herself to play violin is
sometimes rudely denied the
pleasure she could and would give
the congregation by some brother
who has no more music in his sou
than a mule has," That is coming
it pretty strong, but our good bro
ther is moved to qualify it by the
reluctant admission that eff the fid'
die makes some good brother to off
end no fiddle should de Played for
harmony is necessary outside as
we'll as within the choir" Here is
a noble soul willing to surrender its
appreciation of the fiddle rather thar
give some old rooster cause to rebe
against this appearance of worldi
ness in the church. Anyhow, he
has thrown out a hint to other
champions of the fiddle. He ha'
sowed the seed, as it were, even i
he does glance askant at the coming
of the crop. He has turned up tn
fiddle and passed it along to thos'
who can play 1.-THE sly sinner
Charlotte Chronicle.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09
REWARD UG nvv,iTENESS.
Not Always What is Expected by Those
Who Fake Room.

''Sometimes,' said Mr.. Mac
Whackleton, "wa entertain angels
and, then again, some
times we entertain people who turr
out to be far from angels, as witness
what may happen to us when we
Try to be civil to somebody in d
street car.
Here are two persons sitting
comfortably side by side with ample
room. the two occupying the space
Of about two persons and a half. and
and then in comes another passenger
who stands up in front Of these two,
holding on by a strap. Then pres
emily these two move along little a
way from each other, making a lit
tie space between, enough to give
the newcomer room to sit down on
the edge of the seat, making not the
most comfortable sitting place in the
world, but one better than none.
''The new conner, he or she, as the
case may be. accepts the seat thus
offered and for minute or two sits
in it quietly, we'll forward, without
crowding or incommoding the two
persons who had thus been polite,
and then the stranger begins crowd
ing back until he has wedged him
self in between the two persons who
had made room for him and got his
back against the back of the seat.
now making the situation uncomfort-
able for all three. But the new
conner has not yet got through with
what he has set out to do.
Now he manages to get one shoul-
der in back of the shoulder of the
person sitting at one side of him, Sc
displacing that person, and then the
newcomer gradually but firmly in.
serts his other shoulder back of the
shoulder of the person on the other
side and dislodges him from his seat
back, with the result that now the
person for whom room had beer
made sits With his or her, as the case
NAV be. shoulders both back against
the back of the seat, thus occupying
now q full sea t space, while the tWt
persons who had politely made way
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09
The Heart OF a Friend.

Broken friendship" says wri-
ter in an exchange, ''like china, may
be repaired, but the break will al
ways show" And it is a bit of real
truth and wisdom. Friendship is a
precious thing-too precious trea-
sure to be carelessly broken or
thrown away. The world handles
the word "friend'' lightly; its real
true, deeper meaning is forgotten
and the acquaintance of an hour or
the chance conner is designated by
the term which in itself bears
wealth of meaning. Your friend is
the one who appreciates you-your
faults as we'll as your virtues-who
understands and sympathizes with
your defeats and victories, your
aims and ideals, your joys and temp
tations, your hopes and disappoint-
ments, as no one else does or can.
1t is your friend to whom you turn
for counsel, for comfort, for praise;
he may not be as learned as some or
as wise as others, but it suffices that
he understands you, and even his
quiet listening gives strength and re-
newed courage Blessed is the man
or woman into whose life has come
the beauty and power of such friend
ship. Prize it well. Do all in your
power to keep such friendship un-
broken. Avoid the break, for when
it somes it cannot be easily mended,
and the jarring note mass the har-
mony symphony. 1t is not alone a
question of forgiviness; that may be
full and complete. 1t is the hurt in
the heart that will not readily heal
and the confidence that will not fully
come back!-The Pilgrim.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09
The Evening Day.

The bright star in the west these
nights is Venus, the brightest of all
the planets. 1t is the nearest to US
of all the planets. 1t is the nearest
to us ofsall the heavenly bodies eX
cept the moon. 1t is nearly the size
of the earth, benig 7,700 miles in d.
ameter. It's density is about the
same as the earth's. slightly greater.
There are signs of an atmosphere,
but there cannot be much. 1t is al
ways presents the same side to the
sun and, it shows to us phases like
that of the moon. 1t presents a
smooth surface, across which are
irregular and peculiar markings. 1t
never seems to cross the sky, like
Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, because
it is between the earth and the sun
1t will rise higher in the sky unit
Dec. 2, and then sink slowly to the
west, and thereafter rise above the
sun as a morning star.
Venus is the planet Of love, ano
there is no sight anywhere thai
so starts the tender emotions as that
of Venus. But if this should moi
happen, gazing at the beautiful ort
for a few moments takes ones thou
ghts so far from earth that he feels
that there is an upper world, indeed
and that it is very fair. Ohio State
Journal.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09
A Crazy Mans Humor.

Some tine ago a man at Ypsilanti,
Mich. became crazed on the subject
of hypnotism and was sent on a
Michigan Central train to an asylum.
When the conductor asked for tick
cts the crazy man began telling Of
his hypnotic powers.
"I'll hypnotic you," he said.
"Fire away" replied the conduc-
tor.
The man made several passes be-
fore the conductors face.
"Now you are hypnotized,' he
said.
The conductor looked the part a:
best he could.
"You are conductor" the hypnc
tist said.
That's right, replied the victim
You're good conductor, wen
on the hypnotist.
Fright again, said the conductor
"You don't smoke, drink or sWea
at passengers. You are honest
You turn in all tickets and none.
you collect from passengers. In fac
you do not steal cent
That's right" asserted the cor
ductor.
The hypnotist eyed him moment
then said:
what an awful fix you'd be IN
/ left YOU in this condition!'-ka1
sas City Star.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09

The next time one OF the children
catch cold, give it something that VIII
promptly and freely but gently move
the bowels. la that way the cold will
at once be driven out Of the system.
Kennedy Laxative Cough syrup
moves the bowels promtly and freely,
vet gently. and the same time heals IT.
ritation and stops the cough. 1T Is cs-
rcciailv good for children. Sold by f..
+. Whitehead Go.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09

1.-The motto of our party is, Turn
the rascals out!
"Well, | guess your party mas
turned ont more rascals than any
other Cleveland Leader.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09

A spraincd ankle will usually disable
the injured person for three or tour
weeks. This is due to lack oi proper
treatment. When Chamberlain : LIN
iment is applied Il cure may b" elected
in three or four days. This linimcnt l.
ono Of the best and most remarkable
preparations in use. Sold 10y T.. l.
Whitehead Go.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09

are now both forced forward and
made to sit uncomfortably on the
edge oil the seat.
1t is occurrences like this that
make Us slow to entertain people, be-
cause they make US so doubtful as to
what they will turn out to be. New
York Sun.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09

Farmer SmallseeG Listen to this,
Elviry. This paper says that they
have found in Italian prisons the pet
rifyl remains cf some Of the prls-
OaerS.
His Wife Do tell. Them mus
be them hardened criminals we hear
about. Harper's Weekly.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09

"Bc patient, old man Remember
job"
Job be hanged he never had to
hear taunting feminine voice say,
The line is busy Montgomery
A Advertiser.
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09
Here Is Relief for Women.

ii you have pains in the back, nrlna-
nv. bladder or kidney trouble, and
want a certrin, pleasant herb cure Tor
wonan's ills, try Mother Gray's Aus
talian-Lcai. 1t Is a safe. and never
failing regulator. At druggists or 10y
mail 80 cts. S;mpl" package FIRE..
Address. The Mother Gray Co.,, lcR"y,
\nw Nnr:
The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1909-12-09

eff wishes were horses
"What's the use? There would be
still greater opportunities for losing
money. Montgomery Advertiser.