davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

The most remarkable piece Of engineer
ing on this railroad is the Yellow
river bridge. which we crossed during
the night. Outside America 1t is the larg-
est Of it's kind in the world. It measures
almost two miles from end to end and Is
constructed entirely Of steel. There is no
stream which shifts it's bed more than
the Yellow river, 1t is called ChIna's Sor-
row, and is said to have changed its
course no less than nine times within the
last twenty centuries. each time choosing
a different mouth by which It enters the
sea. At the last great flood, when the
waters forsook their bed, many millions
were drowned.
The bed Of the Yellow river is Of quick
sand so deep that it was impossible TO
use any masonry in constructing this
bridge, Steel tubes were sunk in place OF
the ordinary concrete pillars ana these
were Joined together by steel bands. There
are eight Of these steel tubes, each OF
which goes fifty-nine feet down into the
bed Of the river. other steels tubes ex-
tend down from thirty-three TO forty five
feet. The arches OF the bridge have a
span Of sixty-five feet, where the current
Is strongest, and OF ninety-eight feet I'm
other places. The steel piles, or tubes.
nave been filled with cement TO give them
strength, and rock and stones have been
SUNK around their bases to solldify their
foundations. The stones were first
dropped down into the river, without any
support and were carried away by the
qulcksand. Later, mats made OF the
branches OF trees, bound together with
wire were let down around the piles, and
the stones dropped upon them. In this
way tons OF stone have been moored on
such rafts about each pile, and they have
made the bridge as firm as though the
piles were bedded in concrete. This bridge
was put up in a year and a half. and ON
the opening day a train Of twenty-one car
carriages passed over Il without causing
a perceptible vibration.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
Anecdotes Selected from the Story Teller's Collection

for seats In the last row, ehind a post
and in the middle of the row at that.
But these aren't what 1 want" objects
the man.
Cant help that, Got to take 'em or
nothin'," responds the ticket seller, OBJ
viously irritated.
Look here, young man, that's no way
to talk to people who come here TO buy
seats.'
Huh. You talk as IL you owned the
theater.F
Il do. 1 happen to be the new owner"
Then get away and let people that
want to buy seats nave a chance. You
know very we'll you can get in for moth
ing. "-Life
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21


had TO be given by President Diaz before
the trip to the states could be undertaken.
The famous cOterie OF musicians is now
enroute to the United States. They play
an engagement during the United States
Land and Irrigation congress In Chicago
and then come direct to Omaha. h trip
OF the band to Chicago and to Omaha is
considered a special tribute from President
Diaz and is further indicative Of the
friendly feeling existing between the two
republics engendered by the meetings Of
Presidents Taft and Dlaz. d. E. Thompson,
American ambassador to Mexico, specially
requested the presence OF the band in Chi
cago and Omaha during the expositions.
During the Corn show the band will give
concerts every afternoon and evening. The
national music OF Mexico forms an attrac-
tive part OF their programs but many OF
the greatest musical selections OF the great
composers ave been mastered by the
visitors,
Francisco Durin, director OF the famous
Mexican hand. which will play at the Ma
tional Corn exposition, has sent a list OF
the music which the band viii play during
It's engagement In Omaha Besides this
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

A lawyer came into court drunk, when
the judge said to him:
"Sir, 1 am sorry to see you in a situa-
ton which is a disgrace to yourself and
family and the profession to which you be-
long"
This reproof elected the following COL
loQuy:
Did your honor speak to me2"
II did sir. I said sir. that in my opin-
ion, you disgraced yourself and family, the
court, and the profession by your course
Of conduct"
May lit please your honor, l have
been an attorney in-in-in this c-court
for fifteen years, and, permit me to say
your honor, that this is the first correct
opinion / ever knew you to give,"-Dundee
Advertiser.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

Jake Hodges OF Texas had toiIed long
and earnestly at a county convention In
Lamar county. and the heat of the battle
had got into his head. He staggered out
into the cool night air and unknowingly
wandered into the grounds of an insane
asylum. mistaking a solemn, spectral figure
for a tree, Jake leaned against It. 1t moved
and spoke, saying:
peace be with you"
We'll I'm derned," said Jake hopping
his brow. Thought you wuz a post. 1
shore begs yoh pahdon."
you are forgiven" said the stranger,
my names Hodges said Jake, as he
sought to collect his fllttering wits and
make the amende honorable. what might
youths be-"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
when the Judge Won out.

Wilbur e. Williams, as a speaker at
the law enforcement convention held here
recently, told a story on a gas belt police
judge in explaining how men in such a
position had better be careful as to the
company they keep. He said some gam
blers, who were brought into this judges
court, were proven guilty. The Judge
frowned, the gamblers frowned and
marched in funeral fashion out to pay their
fines. They were digging when the judge
passed them. He poked one Of the men
in the ribs.
well, Bill" he said to the gambler, this
is not the first time 1 ever dealt with
you"
n judge" smiled the keeper.
But it is the first time l ever came out
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
one Hundred Million People.

nv
Can you give me some idea OF the
population the road will tapT7
Not in actual figures replied Mr..
Tsou. 1--WE are backwar in statistics.
and I can only estlmate the possibilities.
The three provinces through which the
road runs have a population OF about
100. OOO.OOO. There are man. larger cities.
Here at Hankow we have between 100000
and 100000. Canton is as big as Chicago
and there are other large towns all along
the way. The road will be the chief trunk
line of interior China, connecting the capt.
tai with Canton. and running from these
to the port Of Kowlooh, opposite Hong
kong. According to the estimates Of Mr..
Barclay Parsons. the average OF the
population numbers 200 to the square mile,
but 1 venture 1t is more than this. The
country is devoted to tea, silk and other
Industries. 1t is agriculturally rich, and
we believe that It contains extensive de-
posts of iron, copper and lead. There is
no doubt but that the road will payg'
But can you manage it well in four
divisions. with four sets Of officials di-
rected by four different governments?'
Yes" replied Mr.. TsOu. THE imperial
government has required that the same
gauge must be made throughout. that the
rolling stock must be standardized, and
that the rails be of a certain pattern and
weight. Most OF the iron work is now
being made here at Hankow, and the track
will be of Chinese steel. AS TO the manage
mont, the probability is it will be con-
solidated when the system is completed.
The different divisions win be Joined, ana
there may be one great government from
Picking to Canton"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
Not within His Rights.

Can 1 have two good seats, well down..
not behind a post and on the aisle?" asked
the quiet gentleman at the box office
window.
Three dollars apiece" replies the ticket
seller, slamming out two tickets that call
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
A Costly RaiIroad.

win the line be easy TO build?
NO, it will not. According to the first
estimates made by your American en-
gineers, the cost was put at about $4,000, 600,
or at something like 5000 a mile. The
probability is that it will he twice that.
The country is either mountainous or roll
ing. and there will be curves almost all the
way. our route will be longer than that
surveyed by the Americans. They fol-
lowed the custom Of the United States as
to such matters, forgetting that our ooun-
try most Of the big roads have been pioneer
lines. They nave been laid out through
the wilds, and the traffic has grown up to
them. China is already developed. We
have many large cities, and the road
should be built to join these together.
Your engineers planned the road without
regard to these cities, making it more or
less straight. We are building the road
for III people and the traffic, and are
diverging a little here and there to con-
meet the great centers. The moment the
road is completed we shall have an enor-
nous business"
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

that new republican prosperity tina you
were going to give usT"
why" replied the secretary, a little
piqued. lit is everywhere. Labor is being
employed; capital is becoming active; pros
perity is striking out in every direction"
'wen, it hasn't struck me yet" snapped
the ~disgruntled one testify.
You see," replied the secretary, ut is
pretty hard TO hit nothing. Judge.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

MEMBER Of the cabinet was
approached the other day in
Washington by a disappointed
and disgiuntled office seeker,
who said:
"Mr. SECRETARY. who're Is all
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

incomplete survey and then built about
thirty miles Of line and stopped. Later
on they sold LOCO shares OF the stock
to a French banking house and a con-
trolling interest to the Belgians. Much
Of the Belgian stock was taken by King
Leopold, who set about trying to gain
possession Of the concession. His people
already owned UGH Of the Hankow-
Picking road, and, If he could a Sc
cured the right to build into Canton, the
Belgians would rave controlled the chief
trunk line OF China. Worse han this,
it is generally believed here that the Bel
gians were merely tools in the hands Of
the Russians, and the Chinese could not
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
They Chnrre This 20 TIIinois.

In Illinois there Il an old law on the
statute books to the effect that in criminal
cases the jury is Judge Of the law as well
as Of the facts" Though not often quoted,
once In a while a lawyer with a desperate
case makes use of IT,. In one case the judge
Instructed the jury that IL was to Judge Of
the law as well as the facts, but added
that It was not to Judge of the law unless
It was fully satisfied that 1t knew more law
than the Judge,
An outrageous verdict was brought in,
contrary to all instructions OF the court,
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

afford to have the Russians W their
chief railroad. The result was that China.
upon hearing Of the Belgian plans. de-
clared that it would have to annui the
concession or buy back the road.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

Of the feature attractions at
the National Corn show in
Omaha will be the Mexican
National band. This Is the pet
musical organization Of Old
Mexico and special permission
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21

Of the game with your money" said
judge.-Indianapolis Star.
Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
ChInn,s New RaiIroad.

Chtmn'a New hulirOad.
How about the new railroad movement?
Is it to c~ontinue?'
Nothing can stop it. We Chinese are
slow to begin. but when We really start
we keep going. No one now questions
the value OF railroads. Both the govern
ment and the people realize that they are
an absolute necessity to our existence and
progress. We shall keep on building just
sa fast as we can raise the money. We
would ike 20 construct our railways as
far as possible with our own funds. In
our present condition we do not wish TO
mortgage our country 10 other nations.
and this We dc when We make heavy
foreign loans. The road from Wuchang
TO Cantor is now to be made with Chinese
money and by Chinese workmen. II will
be a Chinese railroad throughout.
Millions for Wooden NutmeEs
I asked Mr.. Tsou to tell me the inside
story Of the concession for this road TO
the Americans, and what hey made out
OF H.. He was chary in speaking Of the
matter. but said that China had not
been fairly treated. From other sources
I learn that the Americans played some
what the part OF the Yankee who sold
wooden nutmegs. They gave China a
gold brick, and carried away millions.
1 doubt not that our capitalists acted in
good faith in the beginning. and that had
Calvin Brice lived their contracts would
have been carried out. The conces-
sion was granted by the imperial govern
ment 70 Brice and others, through Mar
outs Sheng and WI Ting-fang, on the
ground that they would raise S0OoOo TO
build and equip the line. The Chinese
government was to secure the loan by a
mortgage on the road and an imperial
guaranteed: and also by the issuing OF
gold bonds. To be sold at 30 per cent,
and 10 bear 5 per cent interest. Calvin
RHce had no trouble In getting men to
, In with him. Among those who Of
fered to join In raising the money as Il
came due for building the road, were
Pierpont Morgan, John ID. Rockefeller, r
II. Hartman. Russell age George Gould.
Jim HIN n tho VanderbitA With such
Norwich bulletin., 1909-03-13
LETTERS FROM TOWNS IN TWO STATES
NIANTIC.
Norwich Town Missionary to Preaci at Congregational Characterized Stanton Marriage.

The Eadies' Aid society of the Con- gregational church gave supper and social Tuesday evening at the church rarlors.
 Rev. Edward E. Smith of Norwich Town, a missionary who has been la boring in China for number of years, will speak next Sunday evening in the Congregational church on missionary work in China.
 The mission study class and Sunday school board of the Methodist Episco- pal church met at the Methodist ar sorage Monday evering.
 There was large number present at the Lenten services in St. Johns chapel Tuesday afternoon.
 whist party was given Tuesday evening at the home of Mrs. John F.. Luce in Main street
 Rev. Franklin s. Moore of Black Hall was in the village this week.
 Attorney M. R. Davis has installed a fine pool table at his property in Penn avenue.
 Among the Mantle people visiting New London this week were Mrs. Frank Harris, Mrs. s. W. Mallory, Miss Mary Kirk, Miss Annie Beckwith, Mrs. Charles Holmes. Eugene K. Beckwith. Royce Beckwith, George B. DickiTNon. Pascal A. Daniels. Mrs. Erwin Luce, Mrs. Charles Leonard, Mrs. George Coneter. Miss Frances Luce, Miss Lucy Mott, Mrs. D. L. Gates.
 Charles H. Ames of Norwich was calling on acquaintances in the village Saturday.
 On Shore Leave.
 Capt. John Beebe, Harry Douglass and Perry Saunders, employed on the Cornfield Point lightship, are enjoying ten days shore leave at their homes in the village.
 Charles Hagstrom is suffering from a severe attack of rheumatism.
 Mrs. Walter Small of New London was the guest of her parents, MT and Mrs. John W. .Coroley, in Main street Tuesday.
 James McGeary of New London was in the village Tuesday.
 Rev. and Mrs. J. W. Knappenberger were in Flanders Tuesday afternoon. attending the Baptist conference.
 Ernest Spencer of Salean was visit ing his mother, Mrs. A. E. Spencer, in the village this week.
 George F. Griswold was in Central Village Tuesday on business.
 F. c. Wight of New London was in Pine Grove Monday.
 Joseph w. Hill was in New London Monday.
 George Van Woert is confined to his house with an attack of grip.
 Wilbur Wilcox of Westfield and Miss Anna Kiemle of Meriden spent Sunday with Mir. and Mrs. A. e. Hefffon in West Main street.
 Reed Stanton Marriage.
 W. P. Reed of Little Boston and Miss Bessie Stanton of South Lyme were united in marriage Friday after noon at the home of the bridegroom by Justice of the Peace Austin I. Bush of Pattagansett avenue.
 Mrs. Warren Chapman and children have returned to Groton after lengthy visit with relatives in Mantle.
 Deacon James R. White has return ed from business trip to Boston.
 A. J. Griswold has returned to his school duties at New Haven after spending a few days with local rela- tives.
 Miss Lacy Mott has been spending a few days with friends ia Westerly.
 Mrs. Henry Arnold has been enter taining Mrs. NJ. L. Gordon of Berlin for several days.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-03-13
BUZRAH.

Mir. and Mrs. Edward Aben and daughter of East Great Plain were at Mir and Mrs. William Long's on Sun day.
 Alice Bishop spent Tuesday night at Mir and Mrs. c. A. Gager's. Singing and plano selections were enjoyed dur ing the evening.
 Mrs. Charles J. Abell spent Wednes- day with her parents at Norwich.
 James Caldwell of Franklin was in- structed in the first and second de- grees at the Bozrsh grange Wednes- day evening. At the next meeting. March 24. instruction in the third and fourth degrees will be given to two new members. A supper will follow.
 D. W. Avery will finish saving on the Abell lot this week.
 pr. Samuel Johnson, who has been i'll for some time, shows some i'm provement.
 Robert Baker of Bozrah street has been in with the grip during the past week
 Friends of MT. and Mrs. J Harry Miner are glad to hear that they are improving.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-03-13
The Business and Social Life of Every Town and
 Settlement Reflected in These Columns.
OLD MYSTIC.
Three Large Deer Seen--Miss Clara M. Brown Gave Enjoyable Whist-otha CT Items of Interest.

Three large fulY own deer were seen coming around 'n the catalpa grove of C. Q. Eldredge at Riverview | Sunday afternoon. As there are many tracks in other parts of the grove it would seem they are fond of this kind of timber.
 z Entertained at Whist. Miss Clara Mae Brown recently en- tertained four tables at whist at River head farm in honor of Miss Edith Campbell of Norwich and Miss May was won by Miss Donahue and the geutleman's prize was awarded to John Moves.
 Miss Amy Eldredge and Charles Ed win Lamphere Were awarded the con- solation prizes. At the, conclusion of the games ice cream and punch were served by the hostess. Those present were Miss Abby P. Fish of NoanI. Miss May C. Donahue of Mystic. Miss Edith Campbell of Norwich, Miss Blanche Brown. Miss Amy Eldredge,, Miss Vfr- gia Hull, Miss Leah Johnson. all of old Mystic, and George Fish of No- ank. John Moves, Frank Barber and Harry Morgan of Old Mystic, and Roy rift, Charles Edwin Isamphere and E. A. Morgan of old Mystic.
 Ladies' Aid Society Entertained,
 Mir. and Mrs. Harry Freeman Hanks pleasantly entertained on Wednesday afternoon and evening the Ladies' Aid society of the Baptist church. About forty were present. An appetizing sup per was served to all by the hostess and the ladies of the society. The pro- ceeds were added to the amount in the treaslry of the society
 Personals.
 MT. and Mrs. William H. Harris have returned from Springfield, Mass. where they went to attend the funeral of Mrs. Harris brother, MT. Phillips.
 Mrs. Harry Denison of Ledyard is i'll with the humps.
 Miss Lillian Pendleton Chipman plucked 27 violets from the east ter race at Brushwood on the morning of March 9th.
 There is only slight improvement in the condition of Benjamin F. Crumb, who was taken seriously i'll a week since. He is attended by his son-in- law. pr. D. C. Chipman of New Lon- don.
 Mrs. Samuel Dennis is very slowly Recovering from a serious illness.
 Mrs. J. Harold Williams pleasantly entertained Tuesday Mrs. John R. Babcock of Riverside farm and her niece, Miss. Bessie Chipman of Hotel Hoxie, Mystic.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-03-13
GALES FERRY.
Home Missionary Society to Meet at the Psrsonsge--Rewsrds for Punotu-
 al Attendance--Gener News.

| Holy communion was administered at the morning service at the Meth odist Episcopal church Sunday. | The regular meeting of the local l auxiliary of the Woman's Home Mis- 1 sionary society, which is held the sec
 ond Tuesday of the month, was post poned until the 16th when the auxil- l iary will be entertained by Mrs. John Thompson at the parsonage. | Miss Fannie Bill Hurlbutt, member | of the senior class of nurses at the I Rhode Island state hospital in Provi- dence. has been i'll at the institution
 for the past six weeks with a serious | attack of rheumatism. | The KindersinfoDie orchestra met for rehearsal with Miss Alice Satteriee last Friday evening and with Miss Mary
 Hurlbutt Wednesday evening of this | week.
 Miss Amy B.. Satterlee was a recent guest of her sister. Mrs. Frederick
 Richards, of Laurel Hill avenue, Nor wich.
 D. c. Perkins was a business caller l in Groton and New London Wednes- day.
 Meritorious Pupils. Nine members of the Gales Ferry l Sunday school. Walter Mather, Har-
 mon Cramner, Harold Mcclure, Edwin Bracewel, Jennie Perkins, Richard Bracewell, Raymond Perkins, Irving Hurlbutt and Mrs. D. c. Perkins, re- ceived the certificates given by the secretary Of the school for the first two months of the third year of regu-
 lar attendance Sunday morning Rufus
 and Winthrop Hurlbutt exchanged their stars and Harold Frank received the gold plated pin. Mrs. Franklin H. Brown of Norwich called on friends in the village Tues day afternoon.
 Miss Sarah Latimer, who has been visiting friends at her former home in Hartford, returned to the village Thursday.
 MT. and Mrs. Herbert Crandall of New London were recent guests of Miss Amelia and Miss Susan Mathew son.
 Joined Ledysrd Grange. Rufus Hurlbutt, Tracy Smith and Irving Hurloutt from the village joined the Ledyard grange at the regular ses-
 sion of the society Saturday evening at the Ledyard Center church. Collector Moves B. Allyn is distrib- uting a circular letter which he has issued to those interested in the work of the Gales Ferry\ church, containing a statement of the amount received toward the permanent fund of the so- ciety.
 Mrs. Lucy Hurlbutt was the guest Ol TeldllFeS III OOndDzle anu NeW 1OH-
 don Sunday and Monday.
 R. H. Perkins of New London called on relatives in the village Tuesday evening.
 Mrs. Myrta Mather attended the fu-
 neral of Park B. Reed at New Lon
 don Thursday.
 About the Village. Assistant Postmaster Norman L. Brown has been serving this week as
 a juror at the session of the criminal
 court of common pleas in New Lon dor.
 Mrs. John Griswold and Mrs. Belle
 Tracy of New London visited their
 uncle Moves B. Allyn, Monday.
 The Bpworth league service Sunday
 evening was conducted by the pastor,
 Rev. John Thompson.
 Jonathan Satterlee was in Norwich h Wednesday.
 Ernest Maynard of Groton, Mass,
 who has been spending the winter with his grandmother Mrs. Eliza Maynard.
 left Monday for Canterbury.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-03-13
BULLETIN NEWS LETTERS FROM ITS BROADENING FIELD
SALEM.
Sunday School Realizes $17 from Va risty supper-Acoident-Auction al Webster Place.

Because of the storm last Thursday evening, the variety supper was post poned until Friday evening. The SUD- per was held in Grange hall and was quite well attended. The proceeds, about, SIP, will be used for the Sunday school
 A party was held at the home of MT. and Mrs. B. w. Jenkins on Friday evening which proved very enjoyable.
 Mrs. Earle Lewis and daughter, Miss Althea, of Norwich are guests of Mrs. Lewis father, Lewis Latimer.
 Judge Alfred Colt of New London was in town on business Monday.
 Mir and Mrs. Erie E. Mitchell were in Norwich on Monday.
 Rib Broken.
 While unloading ties recently, Charles Ray broke rib.
 Mrs. Ava Morgan and her sister, Miss Hattie Bailey. havo been quite il! during the week past.
 Mrs. May Daniels, Mrs. Chauncey Leffingwell and Misses Gertrude and Hattie Laff1ngwell of North Lyme were guests at the home of Selectman E. L. Latimer couple of days last week
 Fred P. Ladd is i'll. < Miss Kittie l.. Ray, only daughter of MT. and Mrs. Charles $. Ray, is seri- ously i'll with pneumonia.
 Illness Among Children.
 Considerable sickness prevails, espe- cially among children. Lawrence Bee be, -LeRoy and Floyd Bailey and Clyde A. Ray have been sick during the week
 Gurdon Avery of New London was in town on business Monday. .s
 Nelson D. Webster of Hillside farm sold his household furniture and farm ing tools at public auction on Thurs day. The many friends of MT. and Mrs. Webster regret their departure, yet wish them prosperity and happi- ness in their new home.
 Miss May c. Burke has returned to Thompsonville, Conn, after spending a brief vacation with friends in town.
 Mrs, Sherwood Miner and son Charles were guests of MT. and Mrs. Nelson Webster recently.
 Miss Dorothy Fuller was a recent guest at the home of Miss Celia A. Rathbone.
 Miss Lizzie A. DolbeareN spent sev- eral days in Leffingwell. the guest of Mir. and Mrs. John Rathbone.