davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
Counties

It will be noted that much better
showing is made by Dubuque than any
other county in the list. Fewer d.
vorces in proportion to population
were granted there in 1905 and in the
twenty-year period from 1887 to 1905
than anywhere else in Iowa. The
greatest number relatively as well as
numerically were granted in Polk
county. The average for eleven coun-
ties for the twenty-year period is fifty
two. In Lee county there was one di-
vorce for every forty-four persons,
showing a number considerably in ex-
cess of the average. Either there is
more disposition on the part of Keo-
kuk people to sever marital bonds, or
they can more easily be severed here,
than in the average communit, in the
state.
How is the great discrepancy in the
case of Dubuque to be accounted for!
The Dubuque Telegraph-Herald sug'
gests what is no doubt the correct
answer In saying that "the remarkable
and gratifying record of Dubuque
county is due to the numerical
strength and the influence of the Cath
Ollie church, which holds divorce in alb
horrence. The church is stronger here
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09

The national senate has adopted
the Bacon joint resolution proposing
an amendment to the constitution of
the United States. permitting congress
to provide the manner cf succession
where there is no person entitled to
hold the office of President or Vice
President Such an emergency would
exist in case of the death of the Pres
ident-elect and Vice-President-elect be
fore assuming office, or in case of thu
death of the President, Vice-President
and all members of the cabinet.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
Pertaining From Violence.

Ward Lamon, marshal of the Dis
tr.ict of Columbia during Lincolns
time in Washington, was powerful
r,an: his strength was phenomenal,
and blow from. his fist was like one
from 4 sledge hammer.
On enc occasion when the fears OF
the ,oyal element of washington were
excited TO fever heat. free hght oc-
CURED near the Ole National theater
one night. Lamon, passing, observer
what was going en-, and, seeing the
great number of persons engaged
felt it to be his duty to command the
peace.
The inlpeiatiye tone of his voice
stopped the fighting for moment, put
the leader, great bully, roughly
nps,ed hack the officer and told him to
q away or he would xiii him. Lamon
MI his haad OH the mans snouider
and attempted to place him under ar
rest Hhen the bully struck the omcer
in tae face.
Lamon Immediately struck me
man a blow under the chin, hhoeN
ing him senseless. When the puiiy
was picked up the blood was
flowing from his mouth, nose ana
ears and it was believed MS
neck was broken. He was hurried 10
hospital, where the doctor SAID ne
had conclusion of the brain ana
would die.
Lamon felt very badly that he had
taken the life of fellow man. Be
ing on terms of intimacy with the
President, he went at O'Clock IN ~ne
morning to the white house, woke Mr..
Lincoln and told him the story Mt.
| Lincoln told him not to feel SO DIS
tressed and to go home and get some
sleep.
But said Mr. Lincoln, earnestly,
putting his hand on Lannon's Shout
der. don't use such violence AFTER
this. Never again hit a man with
your fist Use a club or an AK or
something that won't kill him."
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09

The Iowa Association of Southern
California will hold its annual picnic
February %, at Agricultural Park, Los
Angeles. The Santa Ana Blade in an
nouncing the event says:
At this great gathering Of resident
and visiting Iowans the opportunity
will be given, as in former years, to re-
new acquaintances and to promote the
fraternal spirit in those who come
from the grand old commonwealth of
Iowa. Should the weather be bad for
day or two preceding the 22d, CT be
rainy on that day, a postponement will
be made to Saturday, February q, al
the same place.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
Position Of the Dog.

Lincoln could not sympathize with
those union generals who were prone
to indulge in big promises, but never
accomplished anything In speaking
of a general of this type one day ne
said:
These fellows remind me of man
who owned a dog which, so he said,
just hungered and thirsted to eat up
wolves. 1t was a difficult thing, SO the
owner declared, to keep that dog from
devoting the entire twenty-four hours
of each day to the destruction OF
wolves.
"One day a party of this mans
friends decided to have a wolf num-
and as this particular dog was SO re-
rocious, they said they wouldn't take
any other dog. The man who owned
Nae dog didn't seem over-anxious to go
on the hunt, but he finally consented
and the party accompanied by the re-
rocious wolf dog, started out
"At last they sighted the wolves ana
tried to sic the dog on them. He
| WhlnG0 ana Wulnptlcd, Du1 NY AA-'
lly kicked some enthusiasm into him
and started him after the wolves
Wolves and dog soon disappeared III
tho timber
the hunting party got no trace OF
the chase until after few miles they
came to a farmhouse, where they saw
man hanging over the fence.
Have you seen anything OF a VOL
dog and pack of wolves aroune
here?' asked the hunters.
Yep was the short answer.
CHOW were they going?'
"sPretty fast
"'Mhat was their position when yo'
saw them?'
, well replied the farmer, the doi
I was a leetle ahead
: Now gentlemen" concluded Tn
President, "tha.'s the position in whlc
: y,ju md most os these Dragging ger
g erals wren they ge- into tight VII
l. the enemy. That's why don't Xix
military orators
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09

than in any other county in the state,
and it's influence has been felt from
the first days OF the city's existence"
Undoubtedly the church's influence in
the matter has been potent one, and
it is no less certain that the result is
highly creditable to it. Severance of
family ties is entirely too common in
most communities nowadays. 1t would
be better if the good influence of the
Catholic church in this important mat
ter were more generally felt.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
Secretary of Commerce and Labor

Secretary of Commerce and Labor
Straus has upset long line of contra
labor decisions by a ruling that a
woman studying to be trained nurse
is not to be treated as contract Ia
borer, even though receiving board
and pay from the hospital where she
works. The case was that of Ethel
Wright, who came from Canada to
enter a Chicago hospital as nurse.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09

In gunnery practice in Manila Bay
a few weeks ago our fleet showed an
average of from so to rs per cent of
hits at range of from 5000 to 5000
yards. with the ships in motion. Both
in hits and speed of firing the record
the navy
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
A State Marshal.

Davenport Times: The proposal to
have state sheriff whose business i
shall be to go to any part of the state
to enforce the law is, apparently, the
state marshal bill in disguise with the
provision for one marshal
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09

Replying to the inquiry of the house
at Washington, the Interstate Com
merce Commission has reported that
since the passage of the Hepburn rate
law there nave been sweeping advanc-
es in railway rates for all kinds of
freight, only passenger rates being
lower. In the advances the south has
been the chief sufferer.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
DIVORCES IN IOWA.

The following table. compiled from
special reports of the census office,
gives the population of the eleven
counties in Iowa having population
in 1905 of $4,000 q more, the number
of divorces granted that year and the
number granted in the twenty-year
neriod from 1887 to 1906 inclusive:
nj; nj
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
Iowa. February 9, 1909.

A congressman speaks of chinqua.-
pinny economy, thus introducing a
new adjective. The next thing in or
der is congressional inquiry to deter
mine exactly what the term means.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
Why He Did Not Reply.

About week after the Chicago
convention a man from New York
called upon the President, in COM
pany with Assistant Secretary of War
Dana. In the course of conversation
the New York man said:
''Mr. President, what do you think
is the reason General Mcclellan does
not reply to the letter from the Chi
cago conventions"
"Oh,' replied Mr.. Lincoln, "he is IN
trenching."
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
General Mcclellan's Talent.

President Lincoln one day remarkeu
to number of personal friends who
called upon him at the white house:
General McClellan's hardness and
unwillingness to fight the enemy or
follow up advantages gained REMIND
me of man back in Illinois who knew
few law phrases, but whose lawyer
lacked aggressiveness. During the
trial of the case, the man finally lost
all patience and springing to his feet,
vociferated:.
why don't you go at him with a
fl fa., demurrer, capias, sure
butter, or ne exeat, or nundam pac-
tum, or a non est, or any old fool
thing?'
Il wish" said Mr.. Lincoln, "McClel-
Ian would go at the enemy with some
thing; ] don't care what General NC
Clellan is pleasant and scholarly gen
tleman. HIS is an admirable engineer
but he seems to have special talent
for a stationary engine"
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09

The Iowa Staats-Anzeiger would
abolish tho New Years holiday. 1t be-
lieves the first day of the year ought
to be the best working day OF all the
year-starting the new year right.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
Human Side Of the Great Emancipation
ANECnnTEs TIIAI mIIIMINE HIS CHARACTER

One OF the stories told by Frank B.
Carpenter, who went to Washington
in February, 1864, to paint the picture
of the first reading in cabinet counsel
of the Emancipation Proclamation, is
of poor woman from Philadelphia
WAC had been waiting, with baby in
her arms, for three days to see the
President. Her husband had furnish
ed substitute for the army but some
time afterward became intoxicated
while with some companions, and in
this stage was induced to enlist. Soon
ed, thinking that, as he provided
substitute, the government was not en-
titled to his services.
Returning home, he was of course,
arrested, tried, convicted and sentenc-
ed to be shot. The sentence was to
be executed on Saturday. On the Mon
day before his wife left her home with
her baby to endeavor to see the Pres
ident. She waited in an ante-room for
three days. The President, who was
passing and stopped outside the room,
heard baby cry.
He went back to his Office and rang
the bell and asked his secretary If
there was a woman with her baby in
her arms in the ante-room. The Sec
rotary said there was. The President
ordered her brought in at once.
She went in, told her story, and the
President pardoned her husband.
AS the woman came away her eyes
/ were lifted and her lips moving IN
/ prayer, the tears streaming down hei
| cheeks. The secretary went up te
her and said:
Madam, it was the baby that die
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
He Pardoned Her Brother.

A distinguished citizen of Ohio had
an appointment with President Llu-
coin one evening at 6 o'clock. AS ne
entered the vestibule of the white
house his attention was attracted ny
a poorly clad young woman who was
sobbing violently. He asked her the
cause of her distress.
She said she had been ordered away
by the servants after vainly trying
many hours to see the President about
her brother, who had been condemned
to death She said that she and her
brother were foreigners and orphans.
They had been in this country only
few years. Her brother enlisted In the
army, but, through bad Influences, was
| induced to desert. He was captured,
tried, and sentenced to he shot.
| The poor girl obtained the sigma
lures of some persons who had FORM
erly known him to a petition for
pardon and alone had come to Wash
ington to lay the case before the Pres
ident. Thronged as the waiting rooms
always were, she had passed the long
hours of two days trying in vain to
get an audience, and had at length
been ordered away.
The Ohio mans feelings were
touched. He said he would do what
he could to get the girl an interview
with the President He told her to
follow him upstairs. Just before
reaching the door, Mr.. Lincoln came
out and, meeting his friend, said good
humoredly:
Aren't you ahead of time? have
been so busy today tina. have moi
had time to get lunch. Go in and si
down; will be back directly"
The Ohio man made the youne
woman accompany him into the of
> fee and when they were seated sale
: to her:
Now, want you to muster all thu
i courage you have in the world and d.
Q just as l tell you. When the Presi
i dent comes back he will sit down II
: that arm chair. 1 shall get up to speal
to him, and as do SO you must fore
d yourself between us and insist upol
e his examination of your papers, tel
J. ing him it is a case of life and deaf
n and admits of no delay
:. The girl followed Instructions to tn
n letter. Mr.. Lincoln was at first some
what surprised at the conduct OF tn
y young woman, and asked her to r,
:, tire from the room. She burst in
:, tears and sank trembling on he
knees, begging the President to loo
,s at her papers. He looked at the gi
:, for a moment, then, taking her p
- pers glanced over them while ST
sobbed out her story.
my poor girl" said the Presiden
you have come here with no governo
mo senator or member of congress
~ plead your cause: you seem hone
and truthful, and you don't we;
Dc hoops, and I'll be hoped if dor
pardon your brother
CHI A Favorite Verse.
m Mr.. Lincoln was very fond of Il
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
NOTES AND COMMENT.

Josh Wise holds that IT more
orphaned children were adopted, and
fewer resolutions, more good would
be done by women's clubs.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
DALY RY MAIL

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Blk months -. Leu One month 20. s.conu
Entered in keokun postofnce as se
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Postage prepaid; terms in ha,, adva aiWs the
All subscription orders should BY q, ~
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Address all communications " ANy
THE GATE CITY COMFAt 49,, q.
No. Is. North sixth St., keokuk. iowa.
THE GATE CITY is on sale at .he
lowing news stands: Iohnson
Hotel Keokuk. cor. Third !, an d sarest
e; H; Rollins & Co.. Co., 6s s,r Nan
Depot News Stand.
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09

The DEBORAH Republican notices
that some of the newspapers of the
state are disposed to laugh at the rat
tlesnake bounty bill. If the editors
of these newspapers, it says, lived
in Clayton county they would find it
no joke"
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09

*Records partially DESTROYED by fire.
Upon Analysing these figures it Is
found that the ratio of divorces to pop
ulation during the twenty-year period
was as follows:
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
The Fairfield Ledger observes that

practically every contested election
case in Iowa hinges upon the markings
on the ballots "Why not, in the name
of common sense" asks the Ledger,
make voting a matter so simple that
the voter cannot go astray and take
these guessing matches out of the
courts? 1t can be done by restoring
the circle to the ballot"
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
A Mothers Gratitude.

One day Thaddeus Stevens called
with an elderly lady, in great trouble
whose son had been in the army, but
for some offense lad been court mar
tailed and sentenced to death.
There were some extenuating CIR
cumstances, and after full nearing
the President turned to the represen-
tative and said:
"Mr. Stevens, do you think this is
case which will warrant my interior
ence?"
81 do" said Mr.. Stevens.
"Then,' returned Mr.. Lincoln, 4
will pardon him"
The gratitude of the mother was 100
deep for expression, save by her tears,
ana net word was said between her
and Mr.. Stevens until they were hall
way down the stairs on their passage
ont when suddenly she broke forth In
an excited manner with the words:
Il knew it was a copperhead lie
"What do you refer to, madam,
asked Mr.. Stevens
Why renl,ed the mother, they
told me he was all ugly looking man
He is the handsomest man l ever sa"
in my life
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
Seeing the. Blq Hoa.

A curiosity seeker went to Mr.. Lin.
coin and calmly asked for a permit
to pass through the lines that he
might look over the battle field of
Bull Run. Lincoln made the follow.
ing reply:
"a man in CORTLAND county raised
a hog of such unusual size that
strangers went out of their way to
see it. A man who went to see the
hog was stopped by the farmer who
owned the animal.
oval. yes, said the farmer, I've
mighty big hog, mighty big hog.
He's so big l guess I'll have to charge
you about two bits for looking at him.
THE visitor looked at the farmer
for moment, handed out the mousy
and started away.
Hold on said the farmer, don't
you want to see the hog?'
"'No,' said the visitor, I've seen as
big hog as want to see.''
The curiosity seeker went away
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
Threatened to Shoot.

An army officer, in a great state o.
Indignation over some trouble 40
had with General Sherman, presented
himself before Mr.. Lincoln and SAID
MIR. President, this morning went
to General Sherman and he threaten.
ed to shoot me-"
Threatened to shoot you?" asked
Mr.. Lincoln; then dropping his voice
to a whisper, he said very earnestly
to the officer, II would advise you to
keep away from him, he is liable to
do it."
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
Not Taking Chances.

One day at a meeting of the cabinet
it being at the time when it seemed
as though war with England and
France could not be avoided, Secretary
of State Seward and Secretary of War
Stanton, warmly advocated that the
United States maintain an attitude, the
result of which would have been
declaration of hostilities by the pow
ers mentioned.
why take any more chances than
are absolutely necessary" asked the
President.
1--WE must maintain our honor at any
cost" insisted Secretary Seward.
I'VE would be branded as towards
before the entire world said Score
tary Stanton.
But why run the greater risk when
we can take the smaller one?" asked
the President. 1.-THE less risk we run
/ the better for us. That reminds me OF
i a story | heard day or two ago, the
hero of which was on the firing line
during a recent battle, where the pui
lets were flying thick. Finally his
courage gave way entirely, and, throw
ing down his gun, he ran for deal
1 life.
i "As he was flying along at top speed
he came across an officer WAC drew
4 his revolver and shouted: Go back t
YOUR regiment at once, or | will shoe
you
Shoot and be hanged" the soldie
exclaimed. What's one bullet TO
whole hat full?'
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
On the Sick List.

A commissioner to the Hawaiian
Islands was to be appointed, and
eight applicants had filed their papers.
when delegation appeared at the
white house on behalf Of ninth. Not
only was their man qualified, so the
delegation declared, but he was also
in very bad health, and u residence in
that balmy climate would be of great
benefit to him.
The President was rather impatient
that day, and before the members Of
the delegation had fairly started in
suddenly closed the interview with
this remark:
Gentlemen, am sorry to say that
there are eight other applicants for
this place and they are all sicker than
your man."
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
A Favorite Verse,

a FaVorIte Verse.
Mr.. Lincoln was very fond of the
poem, "The Last Leaf" He often re-
peated this verse from memory:
The messy marbles rest
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
On the lips that he has pressed
In their bloom.
And the names he loved to hear
Have been carved for many wear
On the t. NIB.

Mr.. Lincoln, once speaking of this
verse, said: For pure pathos in NV
judgment, there is nothing finer in Tho
English language than those six lines
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09

Lincoln. Manifesting, however, no
more feeling that that indicated by
slight compression of the lips, he very
quietly arose. laid down package of
papers he held in his hand, and then
suddenly Selling the defunct officer by
the coat collar, he marched him fore
IDLY to the door and pushed him into
the hall, saying:
Il give you fair warning never to
show yourself in this room again.
can bear censure, but not insult
The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-09
Strict in Tennessee.

Mr.. Lincoln, being found fault with
for making another call for troons
said that if the country required It
he would continue to do so until the
matter stood as described by west.
ern provost marshal who said:
II met short time ago a butternut
clad individual who had succeeded in
making good his escape from Ten.
nessee. Somebody was asking him IL
the CONSUMPTION was very strict in
Tennessee.
Strict, stranger said the man. 4
should think it was. They take ey.
cry man who hasn't been dead more
than two days."
Smyrna times., 1909-09-08
Eiahsrmen Killed a Zig Shark.

Attacked by sharks while fishing
along the Delaware bay shore near
Lewes. Del. John Marshall and Wal
ter Beach had a thrilling battle in
their open boat, and only succeeded in
killing the shark after l. had grabbed
Beach's leg.
Marshall and Beach went out fish
ing with seines, and noticed, after
casting their nets, that there were a
number of sharks in the water, and IN
an effort tc scare them off pushed
their boat into the midst of the school.
Instead of being frightened, the
sharks attacked the boat, and one big
fellow became entangled in the nets.
Hoping to save it from being torn in
shreds. the two men hauled the net
in. and the shark fell over the rail
into the boat. 1t grabbed Beach by
the leg. but he quickly drew knlie
and cut the monsters throat.
Beach happened to have on two
pairs of heavy trousers, and the
sharks teeth produced only sligh'
abrasion of the skin. The big fellow
was towed on shore. where he wa'
found to measure over five feet Il
length and weighed over one hundred
pounds.
Smyrna times., 1909-09-08
Train His Auto; Three Dead.


A flve-day automobile trip ended
most sOrrOwlfu'ly. when the machine
occupied by William L. raul ad wife,
of Temple and Dr. and Mrs. Samuel
E Schlegel was struck while crossing
the tracks of the Pennsylvania rail
road at Douglassville, Pa.
Just IS the auto got on the cross
ing the market train came along at a
high rate Of speed striking the ma.
chine in the middle, and throwing It
some distance down an embankment.
People rushed to the scene of the
accident They found Mr.. Graul and
his wife and Mrs Schlegel dead. DR..
Schlegci lay near by. unable to move.
having both legs terribly mangled.
The bell at the crossing. it is said,
was ringing as the automobile ap-
preached, but the occupants apparent
ly did not hear it.
The automobile was hurled to the
side of the track, and almost sinultar-
eously with the collision the gasoline
tank exploded and the entire wreck
age was a mass of flames.
The clothing of the victims caught
fire. and had the bodies not been re
moved promptly they would have beer
badly burned.