davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Blue-grass blade. [volume] (Lexington, Ky.) 188?-19??, 1909-10-24
Concluded from Last Week.)


Ring the changes on the fact that there
is no spook in all the universe, no matter
whether he be called "God," CANCEL
"Devil.' or "Demon." That is the I'M
assailable citadel of truth. If you admit
that there is god of some kind ruling the
world, why, then you let the bars down
for all sorts Of claims as to his relations
to men, and in a little while there is a
swarm of gods,-and their friendship
pearing, to claim the attention and the time
and the pocket books of men. We must
not give the savage host a foothold. Give
them an opening and they will pour IN
much after the manner Of the Barbarians
pouring into home once upon a time.
They will come and establish all sorts OF
systems Of belief as to the relations OF the
gods to each other and of their relations
to men, and of mems relations to them.
I used to believe in these sacred spooks,
too-in fact swallowed all the Christian
buncombe about Jesus having been born OF
q virgin, of having had a ghost for
father in truth, two fathers, the ghost
and the head spook called "The Lord, -
and of having arisen from the dead and
then going to sit at the right hand OF one
of the fathers in that country scientists
do not know anything about. / used to
believe, without thinking-just as the multi
tude does yet-all the absurdities which
have been manufactured by the spook
bouse schools of the last six thousand
wears about the supernatural world. DIS
carded all such beliefs years ago, and
god now is no more sacred to me than Is
a lie. than is hypocrisy, than is theft, than
is a rabbit foot To me all the gods ana
ANGELS have gone the road of the reindeer
team which I once thought secured the
heavens in search of stockings. Today, l
saw that there is no god or devil, no angel
or demon, and i say it just as l say thai
there is no reindeer team in the skies
on Christmas Eve gloriously on the hum
for cbimneys where little boys and girls
live. -.
Were called upon to prove to the satls-
faction of children that there was no such
being as Santa Claus, l might be httle
hard but to satisfy the minds OF some
believers in the majesty and glory OF then
head spook. But just as there is no Santa
Clans there is no god or devil, for they nave
all been built out of the Imagination OF
men. Science says that there are no sucf
things as ghosts, but superstition asks WI,
10 II not possible for us to have ghosts
Superstition might as well ask science al
m why it would not be possible TO nav
L:l u;tb 1u;nos four miles long. Th
Blue-grass blade. [volume] (Lexington, Ky.) 188?-19??, 1909-10-24
BLUE GRASS BLADE.
Cheering Words Sent to the Orient

knowledge of the world says now that there
are no ghosts, and the same knowledge IS
saving now that there are no gods. L speak
of knowledge like the negro in the picture
speaks of Armour's hams, "Hams what are
hams"
You see, the idea that there was god
and devil for us grew out of mems lgno-
rance. The time was when they could not
account for the commonest natural phe-
nomena. They could not explain the ex-
istence and movements of the clouds. They
usually attributed their actions to the
directing hand of some angel or demon In
the air who went along with them, little
after the manner of cowboys with herd
of Texas cattle Some terribly black cloud
in which were the whirlwind and the light
nings, and the thunders would inspire the
beholders with two fold alarm, one Of
the alarms arising from the power OF the
storm itself, and the other from the pres
ence of the demon, who could muster up
forces strong enough to level cities and tear
up forests.
Thew could not explain the existence OF
the lightning and the thunder. They could
NOT account for themselves, lakes and
oceans. The mysteries of the mountains
were past finding out. Now, we know how
the clouds are made, how the rain is dis
filled. how the mountains were built, now
the lakes, rivers and oceans came into ex-
istence and how the thunders and hgnt-
nings are produced; and we, now, know
that there is and was no more intelligence
is in the tearing of an apple from the limb
of tree to the ground.
These were all mpenetrable mysteries IN
aforetimes, and could be explained by no
one but the priest, and he always explain
ed il bv saying that there was supreme
Intelligence and a great plan back OF IL
all. AS the phenomena was often vast
and supremely great, away above the pow,
or of man to produce, the priest and all
the others who tackled the problem reason
cd that the Intelligence and the power
necessary to call it-this phenomena-into
existence. was also great. This power and
Intelligence when it seemed to work for
oodd thew called "God", and when II
worked for i'll they called it the "Devll.
After they once got the gods and the deV-
lis to going, it was easy enough TO SUD-
divide them into departments, as 1t were
for bv so doing they could explain phe'
nomena more readily. ,
When the priest and his followers strucF
tho Cod idea, they had something thai
would explain things. 1t would expai'
ANYTHING they wanted explained, much az
como medicines are advertised to cure al
Blue-grass blade. [volume] (Lexington, Ky.) 188?-19??, 1909-10-24

gently to all the mysterious proceSSoo Va
Nature 1t is still in vogue in even the
Goth century. Those who have been train
ed in the "Explain All" school system do
not take to the scientific, investigative
school system.
So many Of the impenetrable mysteries
these natural phenomena-have been ex-
planned by science that the gods and the
devils have evacuated the premises where
they used to reign supreme. They have
retired and gone back into the mysteries
which we have not yet succeeded IN pene-
trating They do not hang around the
lightnings and the thunders, and the clouds
and the mountains and the stars any more.
No cloud has had an angel to direct It's
course since the day when we discovered
how the rains were made. All but the most
ignorant have found that cloud comes up
across the sky with its rain with as little
regard to intelligence as an apple has when
it falls to the ground. Even the gods have
deserted the mountains, the great majestic
mountains, for we have found out the Sc
cret Of mountain manufacture, for no more
intelligence was required in their making
than there was in the making of the ridges
and the crevices across the asphalt streets
in San Francisco during the late earth
quake.
OF course, there are very many things
left to explain, but 1 reason that as so
very many things have been explained
without having to resort to the "Explain-
App system, it is only reasonable to sup
nose that in due time all OF Natures mys-
teries will be explained, or at least so many
of them will be explained that only the
most foolish will cling to the superstitious
"Explain-All" method, which has never
explained anything, in preference to the
explanations of knowledge and her hand
maid-Science No, no, there is no sucn
thing as a supreme intelligence called
uGodn If we had waited for what
call the "Spook House "-usually called
God 8 house, the House of the Lord, ETC.
n tell ms how the rain was made, how the
clouds fly, the lightnings weave their course
across the heavens on a stormy night, how
the mountains were uplifted, the stars
made. how the moon shines, how ecllpse'
come and comets appear, we would nave
waited a long time indeed. We would hav'
known no more about these things than w
knew six thousand years ago. In fact tn
worshippers of the spook creations used t.
burn men for trying to explain great nat
ural phenomena by any other method tna'
bv the "Explain-All" system. II tn
priesthood had had its way we would
even now explaining the eclipse of the SUI
or moon on the ground that 1T was a man
CONTINUED on Page 12)
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
PROMINENT CITIZENS
INvOL we'd IN TRAGEDY
SensatiOnd! Shooting ARRAY al
Huntington, ". Va.

Huntington, w. Va, Sept. Tone
of the most sensational tragedies in
the history of Huntington occurred
when I. ~ Chapman. supervisor of the
Huntington division of the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad, was shot down and
fatally wounded by Earle budding, a
leading business man OF this city.
Some time ago Chapman's daughter,
who was employed IN department
store owned by budding, was arrest
ed on a charge of theft After the
arrest of the young girl budding re-
fused to prosecute her. 1t was al
legged by the friends of the girl that
the charges were made by budding
as the result of her refusal to listen
to his attentions and damage suit
against budding was threatened.
budding went to the office of SUI
pervisor Chapman 10 endeavor to set
tie the affair He alleges that Chap
man attempted to kill him with q
Ratchet and he fired in self-defense.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
MELVILLE BELIEVES PEARY
Says Latter Was Well Equipped for
Reaching Pole.

Philadelphia, Sept. 7.--Admiral Mel
vile, when informed of the text OF
the Associated Press dispatch from
Lieutenant Peary, said: IF Peary
has telegraphed the Associated Press
that he has found the pole | believe 1t
and say bully for him.
Good for Peary," continued the ad-
miral, as a smile crossed his face.
II have known Peary personally for
long time and as he was well equip
ped for an expedition / think he had
at least as much chance as DR.. Cook
had for discovering the pole. Peary
was within 200 miles of the pole in
his last expedition and was prevented
from going there by the opening OF
the ice packs He has been gone long
enough to have reached there.
'Tt was the crazy dispatches pur'
porting to have come from DR.. Cook
about the conditions he found there
and other things that caused a doubt
in my mind about Cook having found
the pole. The later dispatches are
more sane and are more favorable t.
DR.. Cock"
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
NO EVIDENCE AGAINST HIM
Naval officer Says It Is Not Fair tc
Doubt Cooks Word.

Washington, Sept. TIT is not fair
to doubt DR. Cooks word In the alb
sence of any evidence whatever
against him."
This statement was made by Cap
tain A. G. Winternalter of the navy,
chief of the photographic office here.
in speaking of the doubt that had
been expressed in some quarters as to
whether DR.. Cook actually had
reached the North pole. mot one
time in a hundred thousand" he said,
"would Dr. Cook be able successfully
to fake astronomical observations.
have had much experience in making
observations and compilations from
them and speak from my own
knowledge in such matters. Fake OBJ
servations from day to day could not
possibly be continued for any length
of time without detection and why not
| wait until access is had to DR.. Cooks
| records and books? These, in my
opinion, will clear up every question
| as tc his actually having reached the
| pole. If they do not it will then be
\ quite time enough to cast aspersloi
| upon him."
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
PLEASING TO HIS FRIENDS
Report That Peary Had Reached the
North Pole.

Washington, Sept. 7.-''That dispatch
from Peary means that he has finally
achieved what he has so long been
after" said Henry Gannett, an cid
friend of Peary's and vice president
of the National Geographical society
81 am awfully glad that he has got
ten to the North pole, whether he was
the first to reach there or not He
certainly worked hard enough to get
there. Such a dispatch from Peary
would signify only his own achieve
ment, even If Cook was there first. i
always thought that Peary had the
best chance of all Of tho men who
have gone out in the effort to reach
the North pole He was fitted by long
experience and by his well known
high qualities. / repeat, am awfully
glad that Peary has reched the pole.
Peary is personally very popular
with the scientists in Washington and
O movement will be launched at once
TO give him a rousing reception when
he gets back to this country.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
Simply States That American
Flag Floats There.
CAN EASILY PROVE HIS CLAIM
Was Accompanied by White Men
of Good Repute.

New York. Sept. 1.-THE following
dispatch has been received here from
Indian Harbor, via Cape Ray, N. F..
from Robert e. Peary:
''Stars and Stripes nailed to North
pole"
The same telegram has been re-
cefved by the Reuter- Telegram COM
pany of London.
This startling and laconic message,
flashed from the coast of Labrador to
New York and thence to the four
corners of the globe, at the moment
when DR.. Cook is being acclaimed by
the crowned heads of Europe and by
the world at large as the discoverer OF
the North pole, adds a remarkable
chapter to the study of an achieve
ment that has held the civilized world
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07

up to the highest pitch OF interest
since Sept. /, when Dr.. Cooks claim
to having reached the top of the
world was first telegraphed from the
Shetland islands.
Two explorers, DR.. Frederick A.
Cock and Commander Robert IL.
Peary, both Americans, are in the
Arctic seeking the goal of centuries.
the North pole, whose attainment has
at times seemed beyond the reach OF
man Both are determined and cour-
ageous and both leave expressing the
belief that their efforts will be
crowned with success. Peary is well
known to both scientists and the gem
cral public as a persistent striver for
the honors of ''farthest north" Or.
Cook, on the other hand, has held the
public attention to lesser degree.
He made his departure quietly and his
purpose was hardly known other than
to those who are keenly interested in
polar research. Then, suddenly and
with no word of warning, steamer
touches at Lerwick and DR.. Cook
claim to having succeeded where eX
pedition after expedition of the hardi
est explorers OF the world had failee
Is made known. Three days later DR.
Cook arrived at Copenhagen and was
given welcome to an explorer un
precedented In history.
Five days after the receipt OF thu
Lerwick message, almost to the hour
comes the sensational statement from
Indian Harbor that Commander Pear.
also has been successful on his thir'
expedition to the coveted goal.
One point of supreme Importance i
Peary's report of his success is tha
the statement must remain ahsolutel
nnchallenged, because Peary 'lndouo'
edly is able to confirm his statement
by creditable white witnesses wn
made up the personnel OF his party
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
bulletins. to assist in producing bet

bulletins, to assist in producing bet
ter crop of sons and daughters.
In CHICAGO he told Of his plans for
the betterment Of Kansas children
and showed the bulletins Of advice he
is issuing from time to time. Dis.
cussing the subject he said
1--WE have special college courses In
poultry and pig raising and horse
breeding, while parents go right on i,
the good old way raising children 10y
guess. hearsay ard superstition. As
a Consequence, the first children In
many a family are used for expert
mental PURPOSES and though they ma,
be well born their prospects of q use
full career are often blighted forever.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
TROOPERS MAINTAIN ORDER
Anticipated Trouble at McKees Rocks
Does Not Materiaiize.

Pittsburg, Sept. 7-Conditions at
the Pressed Steel Car company's
plant at McKees Rocks are quiet not
withstanding a fear that recent dis
sentions among the strikers would re
suit in trouble, State troopers were
early on the streets maintaining a
strict patrol.
Following conference between
United States District Attorney Jor
dan and special government agents
here Investigating conditions at tho
Pressed Steel Car eompanys plant II
was announced that the employment
agent laws had been violated. re
port viii be made to Washington be
fore action is taken.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
DR.. COOK is CONGRATULATED
German Societies Recognize Amer'-
cans Achievement.

Berlin, Sept. 1.-TWO of the leading
societies of German geographers, the
Berlin and the Hamburg associations,
have congratulated DR.. Cook on ms
discovery of the North pole. The
managing committees of each society
met and decided duly upon this recog-
milton. The Berlin committee ex-
pressed the opinion that 1t had no
right to withhold its acknowledgment
from an honorable and experienced
explorer such as DR.. Cook and II sent
its congratulations gladly. ln DONG
this. however, the committee does not
consider that 1t formally accepts eV-
cry statement of fact made by Dr'
! Cook: 1t simply gives general recos'
milton to his fine achievement.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND DEAD
Official Statement Regarding Mexican
Flood Victims.

Monterey, Mex, Sept. IAN official
statement issued from the government
food sufferers headquarters shows
that the loss of life in Monterey by
the recent overflow of the Santa Cata'
rina river was about 5000 people.
1t is estimated that the number OF
victims outside of Monterey was about
500. making all told $500 casualties in
the overflowed district.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
VESSEL MAY BE TOTAL LOSS
Steamer Laurentian Runs Ashore Near
Cape Race.

st. Johns, N. F., Sept. THE Al
Ian line steamer Laurentian, Boston
for Glasgow, ran ashore near Cape
Race during a dense fog. Two holds
are full of water and 1t is feared that
she will be a total wreck. The pas
sengers, numbering about sixty. were
safely landed.
The steamer broke in two during
the forenoon, which renders hopeless
the work of floating her.
The Laurentian belongs to the Allan
line steamship company of Glasgow
and ran regularly between Boston and
Glasgow. The steamer is 400 feet
long, forty-two feet beam and has q
tonnage OF 1887.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
MILLloNRlRE's WIFE ON STAGE
Former Leader OF Pittsoprg's Most
Fashionable Colony.

Pittsburg, Sept. 7.-The more eXclu.
sive of pittsburg's rich set sat UP
quickly when it became known that
"Alice Rand" now featured at the
Belasco theater in New York in is
Matrimony Failure2" is none 9th
er than Mrs Lou Spelgel Woods, un-
Oil a year a9 the leader of Pittsburg S
most fashionable colony.
She is the wife OF William Woods,
a millionaire. and member of the Sc
wickley Heights colony, in which
move all of the very wealthy of Pitts
burg. The Woods separated about a
year ago. Woods going to Texas and
the young wife disappeared from hel
friends
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
CAR GOES OVER EMEANKk ENT
One Occupant OF auto Dead and An.
other Dying.

New York, Sept. 7-While William
Hobby, wealthy resident of Mount
Vernon, was running his automobile
at high speed between Mount Vernon
ard Pelham Manor the bursting of a
tire threw the car over an embank-
ment. Joseph Elsenger. one of the
passengers, was killed, and Henry
Clausen, another passenger, viii die.
Eisenger and Clausen We're musicians
whom Hobby was bringing home,
Hobby and his chauffeur escaped with
bad bruises.
Hobby, who was driving the car
was arrested and held in $4,000 bail.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
STRIKE NEARING THE END
Trouble at Mckees Rocks, Pa, VIII
Be Adjusted.

Pittsburg, Sept THE strike at
the Pressed Steel Car company at
McKees Rocks is rapidly nearing an
end. Within twenty-four hours it is
said a settlement will have been
reached.
Following conference between
business men and the strikers execu-
tive committee the demands OF the
strikers were made known. Later
Manager Rider of the company re
ceived the demands and practically
granted all of them.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
BANK LOSES ALL ITS CASH
Robbers EIcw Safe of Institution ar
Foxhome, MINI.

Fergus Falls, Mimi, Sept. THE
First State bank at Foxhome, fifteen
miles west Of here. was burglarized.
Robbers blew the safe and got all
the money in it. about $4,000. They
then escaped on handcar. which
they threw into the river near Breck-
enridge.
The bank is owned largely by Fer.
gus Falls men.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
MEXICO AGAIN SHAKEN UP
Widesprea ad Earthquake of Short Dn-
ration Is Reported.

Mexico City, Sept. IA slight shock
of earthquake, lasting fifteen seconds.
was felt here Reports from as far
west as Acapulco indicate that the
shock was widespread At the latter
place it lasted eight seconds. No
damage was done by the disturbance.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
BROTHERS IN FATAL FIGHT
One Dying of Gunshot Wound and the
Other Seriously Stabbed.

Salem, Ind, Sept. 7.-As the result
of desperate encounter between two
brothers on the McGinnis farm Lu.
ther McGinnis, aged forty-eight years,
was fatally shot and Horace McGinnis,
aged forty-five. was seriously stabbed.
Since the death of William McGinnis,
father of the men. who was found
dead in barn six weeks ago, i'll
feeling has existed between the broth
ers.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
BY THE KING OF SWEDEN
Dr. Cook officially Recognized as Dis
coverer OF Pole.

Washington, Sept. THE king OF
Sweden officially has recognized DR..
Cook as the discoverer of the North
pole.
Minister Egan, at Copenhagen, has
informed the state department IN ei-
feet that the king, through the Ameri-
can minister at Copenhagen, has con-
graduated the government of tho
United States ON the occasion OF Dr..
Cooks discovery.
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
vc rorsmen orusneu GO uearn.

nliopolis, ILL.,. Sept Awhile the
Roman CT oiic church here was be-
ing moved ONE OF the under pinning
gave way fell on workmen In the
basement Ferris Baldridge and Rob
ert Johnso were killed and Shelby
Sennett seriously injured
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
CHILDREN THE BEST CROP
Kansas Educator Would Improve the
Product

Chicago, H., Sept Charging Mid
die Westeners with neglect of chill
dren in their eagcrness to produce
amazing crops and thoroughbred cat
tie Professor William A. McKeever OF
the Kansas state agricultural college
has set about. bv the circulation of
The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1909-09-07
SECOND MESSAGE RECEIVED
Comes in Cipher and Is Undoubtedly
From Peary.

New York, Sept. IA telegram was
received here from Lieutenant Peary
for Herbert L. Bridgman, secretary OF
the Peary Arctic club of America. 1t
read as follows:
"Pole reached. Roosevelt safe"
The telegram to Mr. Bridgman was
sent in cipher. The cipher used was
a private one and indicates clearly
that the dispatch was sent by Com
mander Peary.
st. Johns, N. f., Sept. 7.-Command-
er Peary has just telegraphed the gov
ernor Of Newfoundland by wireless
from Indian Harbor, Labrador, an
nouncing he has discovered the
North pole and congratulating New
foundland on its part in this discov'
cry, seeing that the captain and crew
of Peary's steamer are Newfound
landers.