davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
prove a debating club where such top

prove debating club where such top
les as these might be discussed:
Are, not the authorities derelict in
failing to serve Camembert to convicts
with the after dinner deIn1-tasse?
Should authors" and "old maid
and ping pong be added to the list of
prison pasttimes2
Is, 1t correct form for convicts TO
wear kid gloves during business hours ?
Is Beethoven sonata OF q Strauss
waltz preferable as dinner music in a
penitentiary?
If you cannot take trumps. Is 1t
proper to bridge" your partner?
Should not convicts be permitted
the week end in Chicago or some other
neighboring city?
Should not all convicts be made
TRUSTEES" and placed upon their hon
or? If not, why not?
The Iowa penal idea, the Inter
Ocean concludes, undoubtedly will
meet with the enthusiastic endorse
ment of the brotherhood of stripes and
cadet gray throughout the country.
Under Its benign influence peniten-
tiaries in time may become snug har-
bors for polite diversion and scholarly
leisure
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
a HEALTHY VIEW OF THINGS.

1t is cheering to read the thoughts
of a writer of optimistic mold. He
does not scold because we have fallen
little short Of the ideal in all things,
but is properly thankful for the good
things we have done and the future
progress that is promised. An editor
ial in this vein in the current Worlds
Work is well worthy OF reproduction:
We who could not be born at later
time may be grateful to live when we
do: for the world, and our country in
particular, becomes more. interesting
every decade And Mr. Taft, who can
not be president twenty Or fifty years
hence, has the satisfaction Of coming
into office at more interesting time
than any Of his predecessors. He is
as lucky as any man could be, up to
this point of our history.
Life in the United States during
the first half Of the last century was
pioneer life or life Of wrangling, or
both; for the settlement Of the coun-
try and the controversy over slavery
iIg the latter half of the century
| came the unhappy civil war and, after
| it, the long period of partisan bitter
iCoS diu SSCllOIdl ulSLiuSl. IL was
period, too, OF physical exploitation
We built railroads and settled new
lands and titled them as if they were
inexhaustible; we wasted our forests
all the while, regarding a wrangle
about partisan subjects as Of more
Importance than good government.
Much public energy was thus wasted
which ought to have been spent in
| saving our rich domain and in solving
the problems of our economic and So
cial life. How pitiful the waste If
words and of time and of thought and
OF money in all this forty-year parri-
san, sectional wrangle!
We have come into more fortunate
days anu have more inspiring public
tasks. Sectionalism in it's hinderilg
forms Is buried. The race problem is
less troublesome and distracting than
1t ever was before. We are making,
for the first time, {. comprehensive
system Of internal Improvements. We
nave an assured and strong position
among the nations. We have shown
the way to keep the peace in the far
east. We are for the first time, in a
helpful relation to the Central and
South American states. All the sub
jects that now press for discussion
are either such as make for the real
| well-being of our own peopla or of
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
CHAMP CLARK ON TOBACCO.

From the st. Louis Republic.-A
southern tobacco grower was before
the ways and means committee argu.
ing that higher tariff should be
placed upon Egyptian tobacco. He
said the American industry needed
more protection
Isn't it fact that the reason
Egyptian tobacco is sold in such
great quantities is because SO many
people have cultivated taste for it?"
asked Champ Clark, leader of the
house and member of the committee.
We'll, l suppose that is true" ad-
mitted the southern advocate.
and wouldn't they insist upon get
ting this Egyptian tobacco in their
cigarettes, even if 1t cost more?"
Yes admitted the witness reluct-
antly.
well, then, what good would a
higher tariff do you fellows?" asked
Clark.
ooh, it would do the country gen
orally lot Of good. Think Of how
much revenue it would mean to the
country
THE country would be a whole lot
better off," said Clark, eff tobacco
were done away with altogether-if
they did away with the whole thing,
cigars, pipe and plug"
Maybe you would not think so If
you were user Of it." said the wit
ness.
1--WE got good chaw of 1t in my
mouth this minute" said Clark, care
fully directing the overflow into a Gus.
pidor. Don't know what would do
without it." he asked, when the laugh
had subsidized.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
A GREAT SCHOLAR.

From Everybodys Magazine The
new minister in Georgia church was
delivering his first sermon. The darky
1anitor was critical listener from
back corner of the church. The minis
ster's sermon was eloquent, and his
prayers seemed to cover the whole
category Of human wants.
After the services one of the dea.
cons asked the old darky what he
thought Of the new minister. Don't
you think he offers up good prayer,
Joe?"
"Ah mos certainly does, boss. Why,
dat man axed de good Lord TO- things
dat de odder preacher didn't even
know He had!"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
A POOR MEMORY FOR NAMES.

From Success Magazine-The teach
er was trying to explain the word
TRANSPORTATION" Don't ou remem-
Der the TRANSPORTATION on the Mount ?"
she said. "Who was 1t who was trans
figured and changed in appearance on
that occasion?" she asked hopefully
After moment of thoughtful silence,
Barker hesitatingly raised his hand
Il just can't remember his name"
he said, but he was up there hunting
and he went to sleep and slept 20
years"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
& = G PURIFIES
Abe ~a0e 20 BAD BLOOD

Bad blood
cause 1t becomes
o Is follow Muddy
the blood
through the
oene OF pad blood
bru
neatny the place would heal
puIled OF the cause s. s. Natures
mace enty from roots herbs the cena
steadily
nenty
u .sess. BOOK on the blood medical
THE SWIFT SPECIFIC CO.. ATLANTA CA
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
HE ONLY OWNED THE HOUSE.

From Harper's-Two northern bust
ness men, passing through a barren
region of the south, paused one day
before HOPELESS, tumbledown habita-
ton, one of them exclaiming: Poor
creatures! How do they ever made
a living from such land!" At this the
sagging door of the hut slowly open
ed, tall, lanky, poor white appearing,
who drawled out to them: .Looky
here, strangers, amt so burned poor
ez you think am. I don't own all
this Yere land; jest own the house."
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
The Health Of Your Horse.

will be best promoted-best preserved
If you are ready to give the proper
remedy at the proper time. The proper
remedy for all strains, sprains. or collie
is Perry Davis Painkiller The proper
time to use 1t is when the trouble first
shows itself. Be prompt and you'll
not only save the horse suffering but
you'll spare yourself trouble and exs
pense-maybe save long time wait.
ing. You ought to have bottle ready,
The new size bottle costs 35 cents; ono
larger, SO cents. Be sure your drug
eRRist ziyes you Perry Davis,
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

Keokuk has a municipal election to-
day and the Gate City offers the fol-
lowing poetic suggestion for the con-
sideration of the opposing candidates:
Let me win. If l may, when the
games afoot
Let me master my Fate when !
choose her;
But my souls deep cry in the fight, o
Lord,
If fail-let me be a good loser!
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

While the Chicago Tribune may or
may not be right in it's position on the
Payne bill, it Is a fact that the edi-
torial policy of that paper has always
leaned to free trade It's advocacy Of
protection has always been confined
to the three months just previous to
national election.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

If Easter will only condescend to be
as nice day as yesterday the fashion
parade this year won't be altogether
slow. There was some parade, in
fact, yesterday.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

Over in Illinois they are having the
same turbulent time Of 1t we had a
week ago. And tomorrow morning
somebody will wake up with head
ache
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

An interesting human touch to the
story is the CONSERVATION and excite
ment of the maid, Rhoda, who, when
she found Peter at the door, was too
much overwrought to let him in, bur
ran back to the company to tell them
that Peter was there, all the while
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

me how the sick young man had said,
Father, have two homes, one here,
and one yonder, and shall be happy
to go to either" With glistening eyes
the man went on to say to me, II tell
you, friend, it's great to know, when
you're down in the Valley Of the Shad.
ow, that He is with you' That faith,
er knew. He had tested and proved
the truth that Christ conquers even
the fear of death. The Lords friends
share his victory over the grave.
They who live for eternity should
live as immortals. The prince may
not demean himself as does the beg
gar "Nobiesse oblige" A heavenly
crown calls for heavenly conduct. The
glory of the life eternal and supernal
should be brought down to irradiate
earth by all who possess it as an in
heritance.
1t is always Easter on Gods side Of
the grave.
The Christian religion is pitched on
an ascending scale. 1t begins with
an emancipation, and it ends with an
ascension. The path Of the just shines
more and more to the perfect day.
the day that Is refulgent with tho
TH"n presence Of the sun of righteous
ness.
Everybody who observes human ma
ture, whether he call himself
psychologist or merely a common
sense man, knows that there is
downward tug and pull to life lived
FOR material pleasure or sordidly sell.
fish ends. Sin is on descending
scale. It's slaves go from worse to
worse. All its roads lead downward.
On the other hand there Is power
of unfit In religion. Christianity
makes men better. Its followers
grow from grace to grace" An old
saint is holier and happier than
Young one. The longer Christ is fol.
lowed the higher he exalts life. His
risen power is impaired to his friends
to help them, too, to rise, until they
become partakers of his life and iden-
tilted with him.
SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS.
dare no more fret that dare curse
and swear.-John Wesley.
The spectacles of regret ALWAYS
magnify Henry Van Dyke.
self-reverence, self-knowledge, self
control,
These three alone, lead life to soyer
eign power. -Tennyson.
Choice and service-in these ara
the whole Of life.-Mark Hopkins.
We must live as the Saviour did.
his sorrows he divided with his Faith
er, his life with the world.--Maltbie
ID. Babcock.
In life's small things be resolute and
great
To keep thy muscles trained; know.
est thou when Fate
Thy measure takes, or wheny she.lI
say to thee,
II find thee worthy; do this deed for
me-? Lowell.
I have so ruled my life that when
death comes, might face without
| fear.-HeI: y la.. .. u
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

Perhaps If the. weather man keeps at
1t long enough the cold wave he Is
predicting will come.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

He has formed baseball mines and
basket ball teams among the convicts.
He has organized a convict glee club
and trained orchestra,
He gives a course of lectures to
convicts in the prison chapel during
the winter.
He has given the prisoners the priv
ilege of wearing boiled shirts ana
white collars on Sunday.
He allows TRUSTEES to make trips
unguarded through the town and into
an adjoining state.
He has made a convict clerk assist
ant warden.
He has established a night school
which all convicts who wish may at
tend.
Stripes have been abolished. The
convicts dress in cadet gray.
The solitary cell has been abandon
ed as a form of punshments.
An orchestra plays in the prison
dining room at meal times.
Flower beds turn the prison yard
into place of beauty and fragrance.
An additional touch here and there,
1t will be seen, would turn this Iowa
penitentiary into an earthly paradise.
1t need occasion no surprise if there
should be a concerted rush from all
parts of the country of dilettante
e criminals CuTTyiuS axes Win WHICH W
break into this charming retreat. Why
should the poor thief tramp the cross
ties or the soulful yeggman brave
wintry blasts on the blind baggage
or the bumpers" in periods of bust
ness depression, when such cozy
corner awaits them behind snug walls
at Fort Madison? Why should the bur-
glar with yearning for the true and
beautiful engage in the vulgar bust
ness of burgling when convict life IN
Iowa is one grand pink tea?
But why should Warden Sanders
stop at basketball and orchestral
symphonies at meal time? A vista OF
alluring possibilities opens before
such an uplifter. We would suggest
that casino, checkers, chess. and
bridge might add to the charm of
prison life. Beer and highballs might
serve to cheer the convict life. Bill
lizards and pool might furnish them
with amusement and mild exercise.
Occasional automobile spins through
the surrounding country might keep
them In good spirits. Why compel con-
v1cts to wear even cadet gray? Why
not permit them the latest thing in
college yell'' clothes direct from the
tailor?
Diverting, too, we imagine, would
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
VIEWING SANDERS FROM AFFAIR

Under the caption, 'Uplift Penology
in Iowa." the Chicago Inter Ocean
pays its editorial respects to Warden
Sanders prison reforms, which, 1t
says, amount to turning all the ira
ditions of penology topsy-turvy. War
den Sanders, says the Inter Ocean, be-
heves that criminal is not sent to a
penitentiary to be punished, but for
the safety Of society. 1t will do soci,
ETY. no good, he argues, to treat the
prisoner badly. Therefore, he believes
in making the convict's life as pleas
ant as possible. The Inter Ocean goes
on to say:
In carrying out his theory Warden
Sanders has done a number of start
ling things. Here are some novel prls,
on reforms he has introduced:
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

Entered as second class mater e
October II, 1868, at the postofnce. "
tumwa. Iowa. under the Act OF Congress
OF March 8. 1879.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

They who live for eternity should
live as immortals. The prince may
not demean himself as does the beg
gar "Noblesse oblige." A heavenly
crown calls for heavenly conduct. The
glory of the life eternal and supernal
should be brought down to irradiate
earth by all who possess it as an in
heritance.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

1t is always Easter on Gods side Of
the grave.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

The only noble thigh life is that
which is lived on the loftiest levels
Of altruism and service and sacrifice
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

The Christian religion is pitched on
an ascending scale. 1t begins with
an emancipation, and it ends with an
ascension. The path Of the just shines
more and more to the perfect day;
the day that Is refulgent with tho
Sc" presence of the sun of righteous
ness.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08

To give up is the first step toward
going up.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON AND
YOUNG PEOPLES MEETINGS
News of Interest to Church Goers BY a
Writer Who is An Authority on Religious
Subjects. The International Lesson for
Next Sunday.

the precautions which the Christians
adopted to escape persecution. They
comforted themselves and one another
not only by their songs and their
counsels and prayers, but by the in
scriptions still to be read upon the
walls. Perhaps the commonest of all
the catacomb pictures is Of the Shep-
herd caring for the feeble sheep. The
simple faith of these early disciples
was mistaken in the shepherdly over
sight OF Jesus. So, when necessary,
they could go to death with smile
upon their faces and song upon their
lips.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-02-01
BLAZE IN HOOSICK
FALLS WITH Loss
OF $4,000
Woods Opera House Building
Partially Destroyed
TOP STORY BURNED OFF
Lower Floors and Stores Badly Dam
aged. by Being Soaked Down
BY Water

A $4,000 fire occurred in Hooslck
Falls Saturday night when Woods
oprea house and the top floor of the
three story Walter A. Wood block
adjoining it were badly Quilted by
fire The blaze was discovered in
the basement of William H. Ely &
Cos store. in the opera house block
about II o'clock Saturday night The
flames, famed by the brisk north
wind. spread rapidly and before the
arrival of the tre department, had
eaten their way to the roof. The
work of the firemen was greatly
hampered by the cold and it was
nearly an hour before the flames
were under control.
Meanwhile the fire had spread to
the Walter A. Wood block and con
siderable damage was caused In this
building by smoke and water. The
roof of the opera house block also
fell in before the flames were under
control The release for the firemon
was not sounded until about o'clock
Sunday morning. The origin Of the
fire is not known but thegeneral belief
is that 1t was incendiary.
The opera house block was a three
story structure OF brick. The two
lower floors were used as offices or
stores and on the third floor, where
lAe greater damage occurred. was the
opera house or hall proper. The first
floor was occupied by William II. Ely
& Co., a gents furnishing store
Jones & Parsons. dealers In groceries.
dry goods and shoes. and by the First
National bank of Hoosick Falls.
Among the other occupants Of the
building was George h. Greene. sup
erintendent OF the Bennington &
Hoosick Falls division OF the Berk-
shire street railway, whose office was
on the second floor, c. A. MCGOWAN, a
tailor and a studio known as the old
Estabrook photograph gallery.
A conservative estimate of the loss
places It at $4,000 covered for the
most part by insurance. Some state
however, that the damage may prove
to be several thousand dollars greater
as at present 1t is hard to determine
Just how much damage was done by
water In the lower floors of the Wal
ter A. Wood block. II is without
doubt the worst fire Hoosick Falls has
experienced in several years, and will
leave the town. for some time at least
without a hall large enough for any
show or large fair,
The Hoosick Falls lodge of Elks
suffered considerable loss. They were
planning to hold monster fair begin
ming Wednesday OF this week and had
the hall beautifully trimmed with elec
trio lights and the booths constructed
in preparation for the event. The
lights and wiring were the property
of the Hoosick Falls Electric com.
pany branch of the Bennington
Electric company. The fair may be
postponed.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-02-01
INDIANA DEMOCRATS SPLIT
Can't Agree on Substitute for County
Local Option Law.

Indianapolis. Ind. Jan. S1.-Unless
the Democrats OF the state legislature
get together in caucus tomorrow night
there seems little chance to repeal
the county local option law enacted
by the special session Of the legisla-
ture last September. A caucus OF
Democrats last Thursday ended when
several members who opposed the re-
peal left the room during a heated ar
gument. A second caucus called for
Friday night failed for lack OF a quor-
UNI
A special committee OF six, three
OF whose members oppose the repeal
of the law, has thus far failed TO draft
a bill satisfying both factions. This
committee will meet again before the
caucus tomorrow night.
A bill prepared by the temperance
members will be considered by the
committee. The bill contains the
township and ward local option feat.
ures as advocated in the Democratic
state platform, but has no clause re-
pealing the present local option law.
The enactment of this measure would
bring about the so-called dual option.
The operation OF the county option
law has been watched with interest
by the legislature Thirty.two of the
ninety-two counties of the state are
now without saloons, nine of them
having voted out saloons since the
present county option law went into
effect. The other twenty-three were
made dry" because OF circumstances.
The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-02-01
"PoLLY OF THE CIRCUS"

An Excellent Play Presented in Ar
Excellent Manner.
Says the Rutland Herald: Polly oil
4 the Circus" was presented before q
big audience at the opera house last
night by an uncommonly fine cast
which held the attention OF the aud
fence from beginning TO end. II is a
! play OF great merit, remarkably
strong and very clever Fay Wallace
as Polly" before her Transformation
was brought about by Rev. John
Douglass" the character so excellent
ly interpreted by Herbert harrington
had vocabulary Of slang that would
make the irrepressible George NJ. Co,
han look to his laurels and she was
ably supported "in handing 1t out" by
big jim the boss canvasman.
The whole story revolves around
the words, WHITTIER thou goest, |
will go, for thy people shall be my
people and thy God my God"
Miss Wallace is an actress OF unus-
ual ability and in her particularly try
ing part had the sympathy and admir-
alton Of the audience responding to
four curtain calls in the second act.
Polly was circus rider who was
injured while playing in a small Yves
tern town and taken to the home OF
REV. Mr.. Douglass" where she re-
NAMED for eleven months studying
how to be grammatical just to please
the minister" in the meantime and
would have remained longer had not
the gossip mongers interested them
selves in her affairs and those OF the
minister The minister resents the
interference of Deacon Elverson, "
who represents himself as being SOL
icitous for the minister's reputation,
but Polly" finally rejoins the circus
month before its time to revisit the
scene of the accident.
When the circus comes TO town
again all Of the townspeople get out
to see her ride but she disappoints
them in the afternoon by feiging sick
ness. In the evening the minister
goes behind the scenes to see her,
She makes up her mind to do her
turn" after a heated argument with
the manager, but the minister, TO pre-
vent her, follows her into the ring,
where she faints in his arms and for
this and similar, though less sensa-
tional and dramatic actions, he loses
his position
All of the parts we're well taken
and the scenery is among the most
realistic seen at the opera house In
some time, the circus grounds at night
being as near the real thing as could
possibly be put together on the local
stage.
The play was delightfully."- staged
and costumed, and on a large scale
the company carrying four horses, a
troupe of acrobats, and a troupe OF
aerial artists, The local management
should be congratulated on such a
peerless attraction.