davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Cairo bulletin., 1909-09-06
ARMY PREJUDICE
IN CHINA WAVES
GREAT REFORMS ARE BEING
PLANNED-WiLL MUSTER
BIG FORCE.
FOUR MILLION TROOPS
VIII be Ready For War Within Four
Years on CONSERVATION Basis
HAMMERED by Lack
of Funds.

St. petersburg, sept 5.--Ihe mgr
handed methods of Japan in the dis
pute over the remodeling of the An
tung- Mukden railway and the agree
ment, all in favor of Japan, which il
to be signed shortly, calls attention
lagain to the strenuous efforts which
the Pekin government is making to re
construct the Chinese army.
There is quite as good fighting ma
terial in China as in Japan; the three
great defects are the lack of money
the lack of intelligence on the part
of officers and the lack of honesty
among the high officials controlling
the army The latter is the most 81
rious factor On the other hand, il
good intentions were effective, the
reformation would be speedily com
nlete
In the first place, the military pro.
fession has been ennobled. so t.
speak, by imperial good will Hithe.-
to the soldier has been little better.
under Confucian training and nation
al predisposition, than the lowest and
most ignoble men following de.
grading trade That is changed.
There is War Department, which
seriously drafts schemes of reform,
but, unfortunately, the funds neces-
sary to carry them out are not forth
coming. and what money there is only
reaches its real goal in the tiniest
of drihlets.
In Embryonic State.
At present China has conscription
in theory but the most slender re-
enumeration for those actually called
to the colors, and hence among ira
ding community there arises satisfac.
ton. This might be surmounted but
for the incompetence of the officers.
With few excepi:ons-increasing
since students are being sent abroad
to Japan and Germany-the officers
are perfectly incompetent Many do
not know the rudiments OF elementary
drill.
There never was, till recently, any
real and effective force in China save
the foreign-drilled men OF Yuan Sill
Kai, although the operations before
Pekin in 1900, when the whole of the
opposition to the allied troops was
Offered by semi-trained militia.
showed what could be done with very
little practice Since then mush pro-
gross has been made, particl larly
with the infantry, and to a certain ex-
tent with the artillery, and China
could probably put $4,000 trained men
into the field capable of offering oppo-
sition to European troops.
Her schemes are far more ambi.
tious-in 1912 she hopes-on paper
70 have over 100000 troops with the
usual complement of officers, and
n 1920 a force considerably in excess
If this.
Lack of Funds.
II is not likely that these estimates |
viii be realized-owing to the ques |
ion of finance. China is quite in !
'apable of raising the money neces-
AIRY to equip force of loco, 900 men,
lnless her finances are drastically
'verhauled in a national re-awaken.
ng Given this and she may equip a
orce which may give even Japan
ause, for the Chinese soldier possess.
S many military qualities.
The Chimes soldiers are sturdy we'll
uilt men, physically hard, able to
Import fatigue, possessed of logged
outrage and not afraid to die.
The Cairo bulletin., 1909-09-06
Bananas Cheap in colombl,

a whole bunch of bananas can be
bought in Colombia for from 20 to
81 cents.
The Cairo bulletin., 1909-09-06

Inc average matrimonial tenn con.
sis.s Of leading lady aud general
utility man, Life.
The Cairo bulletin., 1909-09-06

Heavy Handicap.
Doctor Johnson: Slow rises wes,tb
by poverty depressed.
The Cairo bulletin., 1909-09-06
Genius.

Genius.
Genius even. as it is the greatest
good, Is the greatest harm. Emerson.
The Cairo bulletin., 1909-09-06

n Cairo nearly everybody reads the
bulletin.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20
ABRAHAM LINCOLN,

Lincoln's grandfather was shot in
the wilderness of Kentucky. His widow
with five children struggled as no
one knows how. Thomas. the young
est of the family could neither read
nor write but when old enough to do
something was compelled to leave
horne and start out in the world to
secure work. He married Nancy
inks, daughter of another poor fam
lily.
they built a log cabin and in time
their son. Abraham Lincoln was born.
Little did they dream that this boy
was destined one day to become presl-
dent of the United States His moth
err was q good woman. She read to him
of evenings and Abraham once said:
"All that am. or hope to be, l owe
to my angel mother" When eight
years old they moved to Indiana, and
It was there where his mother died
Bitterly Abraham wept as his mother
was carried to her last resting place
Ie wrote a letter''to the minister
one hundred miles away and asked
him to preach the funeral sermon. DID
that minister refuse? No; he came al
the way on horseback and neighbors
and families for twenty miles aroune
also came. Lincoln was many times
elected to the United States Legislature
and finally was elected president II
1865.
My papa takes the Tri-Weekly Cour,
Ter.
Hanna E. Sandahl,
Charlton, Ia.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20
Aged IL.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Ethel Frazier,
Eldon, Iowa.

Abraham Lincoln was born in Har-
din county Kentucky, February y,
1909
Abraham was seven years Old when
his father moved to the southwestern
part of Indiana.
He read every book he got hold Of.
Among them were: Robinson Crlsoe,
Weem's Life of Washington, History
OF the United States, Pilgrims Pro.
gress and the Bible.
Once he borrowed a copy of Weem' s
Life of Washington It got wet and to
pay for the book he shucked corn for
three days
His mother died when he was nine
years old.
He was taught to swing the axe
to handle the plough, to thrash the
wheat with the fail, to carry the grain
to the mill and all kind OF work about
the farm Besides this his father
taught him his own trade which was
that Of a carpenter. He was six feet
and four inches tall and of grea
strength. He could outfit, outworl
and outwrestle any man. He wa:
good natured and very popular Whe1
he was nineteen he went to New Or
leans on a fat boat
Soon after his return from New Or
leans his father moved to Illinois. Aft
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20
Aged 10.
THE LETTER THAT HAS BEEN AT
THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA.

Dear Editor:
I thought would write story. The
title is The Letter that has been ut
the Bottom Of the sea, and was rescued
by divers" | have an aunt that went
to Panama last July to live and We
write to her often. Last November
1t was the 18th day-we wrote her .
letter while on the ocean. One morn
ing there was dense fog and another
boat ran into this big boat. The name
of the boat that sunk was the Finance
and there were several women and
children asleep when the crash came.
Four women jumped into the sea, but
were rescued by life boats.
Well I will go on with my story.
And they had divers dive and they
got the mail and it was sent back to
New York and was dried and then
went on to Panama. My aunt wrote
back to us and sent the envelope that
the letter we wrote her was in. You
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20

wee sing. He has grown young again"
THAT comes from happy surround
ings, a loving hand to care for him,
and youthful companion who in
fuses new life into his little being"
explained Freddie's mother. There is
nothing like love and sweet sympathy,
my child, to make US happy and
young
And with their arms about each
other, mother and son went to the lib
rary, where they saw old Pee-wee
still perched on the picture frame,
mappy in possession of his voice once
more And there the happy Freddie
remained till Pee-wee of his own ac-
cord few into his open cage, ready
to have drink, a bite to eat and a
nap. And never was there a more
contented little pet in all the world
than that same Pee-wee, whose new
master had saved him from a miser,
able and sad old age and death.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

Abraham Lincoln was born in Hardin
county, Kentucky. February r. 1909.
His parents were very poor. They
moved very often, and when Abraham
was eight years old they moved from
Kentucky to Indiana, where his moth
er died year later.
The boy, Abraham Lincoln. had very
few books: the Bible, Pilgrims Pro
gress, Aesop's Fables, History Of the
United States and Weem's Life of
Washington. These five books were
the beginning of Lincoln's education.
EIe could not afford to waste paper
t,0on ',is compositions. SO he w0"'d
sit by the fire at night and cover the
woO.>n SHOVEL with essays and e'Sel :
cises, which he would shave off and
then begin again. Ee was fond OF
animals. He also loved to argue.
He soon started out for himself and
worked ON one of the river steam
boats. then served as a clerk in a
store at New Salem, where he began
in odd moments to study law. A little
later he knew enough law to become
an attorney. and went to Springfield.
After that it was only a short time
before he had won many clients. In
1884 he was elected to the Legislature
He furnished himself with a suit OF
homespun and walked a hundred miles
to the capital He was reelected
three times.
| In 1916 he was nominated for con-
gress and defeated that remarkable
preacher, Peter Cartwright.
Abraham Lincoln was elected pres
ident of the United States in 1860, anc
again in 1864. On the night Of April Il
| 1865, while seated with his wife in ;
Dox at Fords theatre in Washington
he was shot by an actor named Booth
| He died the next morning. April Is
1855.
My little brothers birthday was Feb
ruary u, too.
Donovan Hoy,
Ottumwa, Iowa.
|
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20
MARY's VALENTINE PARTY.

Mary was going to have valentine
rarty, so she sent invitations on large
red hearts. On the hearts the names
of all who were to be present. Each
child was requested to pick somebody
out Of the list and bring a valentine
for them Mary was going to have a
valentine box.
After the children arrived Mary
gave each one an envelope containing
pieces Of ugly valentines. which they
were to put together. The one that
got theirs put together right was tn
get prize Mary also had small red
hearts hid all over the house. The
one that found the most got pretty
valentine for prize
Then they had boy distribute the
valentines. After that Mary had fun
ny valentines cut in half. Giving halt
to the boy and half to the girl. The
ones that matched together went t.
supper.
Mabel Reifsnyder age ~.
OttumWa 631 e. Second st.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20

can tell that it has been in the water
and has been we'll soaked. There IS
some writing on the envelope. There
has been another letter right against
it and it was wet and stamped 1t on
this envelope. She has got the letter
and she sent us the envelope to keep
for a souvenir and she is keeping the
letter. She got Thanksgiving post
card at the same time, it had a large
turkey on it. One of her friends got Il
letter the same time and it had large
turkey stamped on the envelope. My
aunt told her that she thought 1t was
her turkey and he went to the bottom
Of the sea.
They are having their hottest wealth
er now. She said she went up town
Christmas and wore her white shoes.
That sounds funny to us, but 1t is so.
will close for this time. remain
Your friend,
Zella White, age IL.
Bloomfield F. D. No. g.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20
FOR THE CHILDREN.

was soon made the best, under tho
new Mrs. Lincoln's management. Den,
mis- Hanks said, "You jist had to bs
somebody when Aunt Sairy was
around" She was great help to
Lincoln in his boyhood. When study .
ing she would not let the other chill
dren bother him. His mother ana
step-mother were both religious woln-
en- and to both great credit is due for
the godly character that Lincoln had.
When his step-mother could not 60 to
church Lincoln would repeat every
word the preacher said from Beloved
Brethren to Amen which pleased her
very much.
He helped his father split rails and
other kinds of work to support tha
family and is known as "the rail split,
ter from Illinois,"
When he was twenty years Old Lin
coin made his first public speech in
reply to q candidate for the legisla-
ture named Pusey. In 1881 he made
a voyage to New Orleans on flat
boat built by himself and two rela-
tives. The sight of slaves in that
city, chained, fogged and otherwise
maltreated made a deep impression
on his mind and was no doubt the
origin OF the firm anti-slavery convic-
lions that controlled his future life.
Little thought the slaves or the slave
owner of the Crescent city that the
/ ungainly flatboatman in their midst
would one day be the president of the
United States.
| After this visit Lincoln settled In
New Salem village on the Sanga-
mon where he successfully served as
clerk in store, village postmaster
and surveyor until the year 1884, when
he was elected as a Wing member of
the state legislature. He served until
1892 when he declined further nom
nation. During this time he dill
gently applied himself to the study
of law. In 1887 when he was % years
old he was admitted to the bar. He
was also great leader in the Wing
party. He moved from Vandalia to
Springfield, the capital in 1899 In
1876 Lincoln was elected to congress
his opponent being the famous
Methodist preacher, Peter Cartwright
but he only served one term, after
which he practiced law. He married
Mary Todd in 1892 and to them were
born four sons Of which Robert Todd
Lincoln is the only surviving one.
Mr.. Lincoln was made fun. Of by
the northern Democrats because ne
had challenged Mr. Douglass to seven
debates, but history tells us how he
defeated his opponent and Lincoln
was elected senator as well as win
ming national reputation. He served
with great distinction and was later,
1860 elected president of the United
States. Mr.. Lincoln was reelected
for the presidency in 1864. He was
shot by ]. Wilkes Booth in q Wash
lngton theatre. April IA, 1866 and died
ON the 18th. Amid the tears and sor-
row of the nation, his remains were
taken to Springfield, where noble
monument was erected to his memory.
Lincoln said the following which
: shows he was God-fearing man:
"All that I ana, all hope to be-,
, owe to my angel mother"
81 know that the Lord is always on
the side of right. And 1t Is my con.
slant anxiety and prayer that I and
this nation should be on the Lord'n
| side"
From your little friend,
Norma Daniels, age II.
Eldon, Ia, box 223.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20
RAISED DouGHNuTs.

When making your light bread IN
the morning leave two cupfuls Of. the
sponge before adding any flour. Take
a pint of sweet milk, one small cupful
of lard, heat to the warmth OF new
milk. Add this to the sponge with
one cup of sugar. Beat well, stir In
-four to make stiff batter. Set In q
warm place until light which should
be in about two and a half hours. Beat
three eggs add these with another cup.
full of sugar, a teaspoonful Of salt and
grated nutmeg to the batter.
To guard against any posi-
BILE sour taste, add a teaspoonfuI
of soda dissolved in tablespoonful Of
water Add flour till the dough may
be kneaded as biscuits or light bread
without sticking to the board. Re
place in the crock, cover and keep
warm for another raise and when light
take out third at a time on a well
Toured boarc.
Roll about one-fourth inch thick, cut
with small biscuit cutter. Place
these on creased tins not to close tos
gether and let rise for about an hour
in warm place when they will be
light enough to fry. Have the lard hot
but not too hot. If cooked too rapidly
they brown on the outside at once
and are raw within.
, Clara Burnaugh, age IL.
| Agency, R. f. D. No. 2.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20

er seeing his father and family settled
now being twenty-one years old, ne
struck ont for himself. He had not
much money. He split rails and took
every employment he was offered. He
was once a clerk in country store.
One evening q woman came into the
store to buy half pound Of tea. He
weighed it out correctly as he thought
The next morning he found that he
had put four ounce weight on the
scales. He closed the shop and went
to deliver the tea that was due to her.
He was called Honest Abe. The farm
er backwoods boy, rail splitter, coun-
try store keeper and lawyer, became
the president of the United States.
Ruth Smith, age II.
Bloomfield, r. F. ID. No 8
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20
IS . . =
sToRIES-LETTERS.
o
EsTHER's COMIC VALENTINE.

Dear Editor:
Irene and Esther Mason were twins.
They were both alike, with blue eyes
and red hair, except Irene liked to
read and Esther liked to play Esther
was acquainted with little lame girl,
Bessie, who always was ahead OF
Esther in her studies at school,
Bessie had always assured Esther
that her hair was lovely, up to the
fateful day when Esther got ahead Of
Bessie in her studies. Since then
Bessie could not regain her former po-
sition at the head of the school and
began to tease Esther about her red
hair.
Bessie looked pale but she still
teased Esther about her red hair,
"Wait!" cried Esther one day, when
the horrible word carrot top had
been flung at her the tenth time, wait
until Valentines day, you'll see
Long before the fourteenth of Feb
ruary, Esther haunted the stationery
and toy shop windows. looking for q
valentine which would hit upon Bes
sic.
A boy noticed her and told her to
send that valentine in the window OF
lame girl to Bessie. She purchased
it and Will the boy, agreed to address
it for her so Bessie wouldn't know
who sent it.
When Esther arrived at home her
mother told her that Bessie was SICK
with the typhoid fever, and was dying
Esther stood stock still, then she call
ed up Will through the telephone and
asked him If he had mailed that val
entine. He said Eyes" She explain
ed matters to him and both were
sorry for what they had done.
Esther. told irene and she told he'
to go to Bessie's home and get the let
ter before the maid took it to Bessie
Esther resolved to try it and spent {
sleepless night, wishing she had never
sent that comic valentine.
! Next morning she got to Bessie:
home In time to get the letter and she
quickly tore it open. To her surprise
beautiful valentine fell out of thu
envelope which said From Esther.
She laughed and gave it to the mait
saying Give this to Bessie" She ra,
home laughing to tell Irene how vii
had fooled her. Your friend,
Juliette Eisenbeis, age II.
Otfnmwa d01 w Park Ave
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20
A coASTING ADVENTURE.

John and Harry were waiting for
something to happen, when their moth
er came into their room and told them
1t was showing. ooh good said Har-
ry. 81 knew something would happen.
Mother may we take our new bob and
ask the boys to go sliding with us
over on the hill?"
Yes, If you will be very careful and
not get hurt"
The next day was Saturday. John
and Harry went running about Friday
evening telling all their friends to be
over to their house at 10 o'clock Sa'-
urday morning. Willie Burns could
not go unless he brought his little
brother with him. John wanted him
to go so he said he could bring his
brother with him. SO his brother Ar
thur came with him. At 10 o'clock all
the boys and girls were waiting fol
John and Harry. At last they were
off
When they got to the hill they were
very much surprised to see that some
body had already been sliding before
! they came out. AT first when theS
started out the sled didn't go very
fast But when they did start to &C
| fast Arthur fell off No one notices
him. He was at the end of the sled sc
no one coould tell when he fell Off He
had seen something to attract his at
| tention and when they started to &C
fast he fell off. When they got to the
bottom of the hill they were very mucE
frightened to see that he was gone
So they took the sled to the top of the
| hill and went out on search. They
finally found the tracks of dog witt
Arthur's tracks right after them Whe1
Arthur had fallen off he had followed
the dogs tracks. The dog had crossed
a little creek and Arthur did not no
tice that the ice would break, SO whel
he went onto it the ice broke and b.
fell in. When he fell In he screame;
and the dog heard him and turne:
around and went clear back to tn
creek and pulled Arthur out and tool
him home When the boys got hom'
that morning they found Arthur ?
Johns home, having comfortable din
ner. All the children were glad tina
Arthur was safe. They all ate Dime
/! there and after dinner they playe'
games The next time they went slid
ing Al ur didn't have to sit on tn
end
Aletha KranZ, age II.
1O7 N Market ST. OttumWa.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20
ROSES LITTLE BROTHER.

Roses little brother is very kim TO
her and does everything she wants
him to do. One day he get sick and
could not play with her, so she did not
have very much fun. She played in his
room all day with her doll, and every
thing he wanted she would run and
get it for him. She was very kind to
him. Her mother said that he wanted
two much water, and would not let
Rose get it for him. Roses little
brothers name is Frank. Soon Frank
got well, and they were both glad for
they liked to play together.
Their mamma was glad to see that
her little ones loved each other SO
dearly. Rose IS ten years old and
Frank Is seven One d~v RoS" q
Frank went to town together, and on
the way they found a lode lame Diru
They brought it home and cured II
and then let it go. They went TO
school every day, and the bird, which
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-02-20
Hon Freddie Cared
For an Old Bird

Freddie Gray was one Of the best
hearted boys in the whole world. He
couldn't bear to see any creature pun
ished, mistreated or neglected. And
he was always on the outlook for
poor abused animals, using his little,
but noble, influence to prevent boys
from doing harm to the helpless crea-
lures that could not protect them
selves against their mightier foe, and
taking to his home such animals as
stray cats and dogs to minister to
their needs whenever the case de-
manded.
One day Freddie's mother sent him
on an errand to the home of an old
neighborwoman who lived only few
blocks distant, and while he was sit
ting in the living room Of the old
lady's house he noticed bird In a
cage near to the window. The sun
was beating through the glass win.
dow pane and falling directly on the
wire cage, the glare almost binding
the little feathered prisoner within.
For a few moments Freddie looked
pityingly on the woeful prisoner, then
he boldly addressed the old lady, who
was wrapping up several books and
magazines to send to Freddie's moth
er. Say. Mrs. JONES'" began Fred
die, don't you think the sun is too
strong on your bird? He seems to be
all doubled up in the bottom of the
cage, trying to get out of the awful
glare"
Mrs. Jones turned her attention -
Sac cage and going to 1t looked in a
its occupant. "Pee-wee!' she called
"Come, stir up, you lazy old fellow
Why you haven't bit of water, have
you? told Jane emphatically yester
day to put fresh water and seed IL