davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
SUSPICION JUSTIFIED.

Il Was Not Mouse the Master Heard
In the Kitchen.
The late Rev. DR.. Wightman, sitting
one night later than usual engrOssed
in the profundities Of great tome.
imagined he heard q sound In the
kitchen inconsistent with the cautious
ness of a mouse; 80, taking his candle.
he proceeded to investigate the cause.
His foot being heard in the passage.
the servant began with much noise to
rake out the fire as II preparing for
bed.
"Ye're up late tonight. Mary"
'I'm jist rakin' the fire. sir. and
gaun to bed"
'That's right. Mary. I like timeous
hours"
On his way back to the study he
passed the coal cellar door and, turn
ing the key, took it with him. The
next morning ut an early hour there
was a rap at his bedroom door and a
request for the key to get some coal.
"Ye're up too soon. Mary. Go back
to your bed"
Half an hour later there was an
other knock and a similar request. In
order to prepare for breakfast. Il
don't want breakfast SO soon. Mary.
Go back to your bed
In another half hour there was an
other knock. with an entreaty for the
key, as it was washing day.
This was enough. He rose and
handed out the key. saying. go and
let the man out" As the preacher
shrewdly suspected, Mary's sweetheart
had been imprisoned all night in the
coal cellar.-London Family Herald.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
HIS OWN COIN.
Knox Gave Root What Rect Had
Passed Out 70 0epow.

Knox Gave Root What Rect Had
Passed Out to Dspsw.
Senator Depew told q little story on
himself and Senator Root In q speech
at a dinner In Washington to Mr..
Root by the New York Republican
congressional delegation.
"When Root was secretary Of state. :"
said Senator Depew, II went over to
see him and asked him II he couldn't
do something for me In the line Of
consular appointments. He said: Sen
ator, I'm sorry. l would like to do
something for New York, but'-and
Mr.. Root picked up q paper from his
desk-'I see that New York's quota Is
now exceeded by II per cent
"Well." continued Senator Depew, II
kept going to see Senator Root for q
year. Every time l went to see him
he would remind me that New Y0rk's
quota was exceeded by II per cent
Finally said. Mr.. Secretary, think
you're a great statesman, but your
mathematics are inclined to be auto
matte
AFTER awhile Mr.. Knox became Sec
rotary Of state" Senator Depew said
when the laughter had subsided. ''Sen-
at0r Root went up to see him about
consular appointments. I'm sorry,'
said Mr.. Knox, 'but'-and he turned to
q document file-I find that New York's
quota is now exceeded by II per
cent New York Sun.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
4 WONDERFUL SNAKE.
q 0ossod the Attacks Of the Serpsnt
killinQ l0uana.

& Dssisd the Attacks Of the Serpent
Killing lsuana.
Snakes on the pampas Of South
America have many enemies. Burrow-
ing owls feed on them. and 50 do herons
and storks, which XIII them with
blow of their javelin beaks. The IT,
rant bird picks up the young snake by
the tail and, flying to q branch or
stone, uses the reptile as q 1ail until
its life Is battered out. The large liz
ard Of the pampas, the iguana, IS "a
nous snake killer. It smites the snake
to death with its powerful tail Mr..
: Hudson In his Naturalist In La Pla-
tn" tells this story:
One day q friend Of mine was riding
out looking after his cattle. One end
Of his lass0 was attached to his saddle.
and the remainder Of the forty foot
line was allowed to trail on the ground.
The rider noticed q large iguana lying
apparently asleep. and. although he
rode within q few inches, It did not
stir. But no sooner had the rider pass
ed than the trailing lassO attracted
the lizards attention. It dashed after
the slowly moving rope and dealt 1t
q succession Of violent blows with its
tail When the whole Of the lassO,
several yards Of which had been pound
ed in vain. had passed by, the iguana,
with uplifted head, gazed after 1t with
establishment. Never had such a Won
derful snake crossed its path before.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
An Old Welsh Custom,

The kindling of bonfires On hills is
the simplest of celebrations at any
time. The Druids made four great
fires at their festivals in February.
May. August and November Wales
seems to have been a country espe-
cially tenacious of this custom. Each
family used to make its own fire. and
as it was dying out each member
would throw a white stone into it. the
stones being marked for future iden-
tilication. Then all said their pray
ers and went to bed. and in the morn
ing they tried to find all the stones
again. II any stone was missing it
betOkened that the owner Of it would
die within year. Some superstitions
are pretty and picturesque and attrac-
tive. This WAS one of the mary which
We're cruel rs well as picturesque. 1t
would take but a slight accident to
cause fright that might be actually
dangerous to a superstitious person.
and 1t would not be hard for an enc
my of such Il person to cause that
fright by stealing his stone from the
fire.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Self Examination.

Every mans life Is an imperfect sort
Of circle which he repeateth and run
meth over every day. He hath q set
Of thoughts, desires. and inclinatiOns
which return upon him In their proper
time and order and will very hardly
be laid aside to make room for any
thing new and uncommon, 50 that call
upon him when you please to set
about the study Of his own heart and
you are sure to find him pre-engaged.
Either he has some business to do or
some company that he must entertain
or some cross accident hath put him
out of humOr and unified him for
such a grave employment And thus
It cometh to pass that man can new
er find leisure to look into himself, be-
cause he doth not set apart some por-
ton Of the day for that very purpose.
but foolishly deferreth from one day
to another until his glass Is almost
run out and he Is called upon to give
q miserable account Of himself In the
other w0rld.-Dean Swift.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
An Acute Sense Of Taste.

William and Lawrence were In the
habit Of saving a part Of their dessert
from the evening dinner for consump-
ton the next morning. and In accord
ance with this custom two small cakes
had been placed in the cracker jar for
them. William, being the first up on
the following morning and being hum
cry, went to the jar. He found only
one cake. and a large piece had been
bitten out Of that. Full Of wrath. he
went upstairs and reused his brother.
Say" he demanded, Il want to
know who took that big bite out Of
my cake"'
Il did," sleepily answered Lawrence.
"What'd you do that fOr:"
'Well, when l tasted 1t I found 1t
was your cake, and so l ct the other
one."-Youth's Companion.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
CARE OF PARROTS.

The Proper Way to Fsed. Cage and
Teach the Birds.
As few people who own parrots real
u know how to care for them. u few
good rules may be Of interest.
As to their food. It should be seeds
canary. hemp (but not too much), MIL
let. boiled maize. linseeil. rape and the
like. Bread soaked in hot water Is
good. given twice day. and fruit In
moderation and In variety Is whole
some. such as grapes, apples and
pears, an occasional r~isin and let
tuce.
Gray parrots are very fond OF rice.
and almost oil parrots appreciate rice
pudding and have taste. too. for
bread and butter. Meat Is bad for
them. Clean. fresh wood should be-
given them to snaw-bits Of elm. birch.
iarch and chestnut. Fresh dry gravel
must b. sprinkleti mt the bottom OF
the cage every day and fresh water
be put I'm the glass.
1t Is important that parrots should
have the opportunity 10 stand nat foot
ed. ~ II the cage has wires at the
bottom It Is well to remove them. Al
ways to have his claws cE'sping
round perch is injurious to any bird.
and two perches Of different size are
advisable. SD that he may change his
posture at will.
When a parrot continues to scream
he wants water or food or feels Ill
and uncomfortable or maybe Is mere
Is dull. Music. which he loves. will
cheer him up ut all times.
A parrot learns to tai: only from
one who speaks very slowly and dis
tinctly to him and preferably when he
is about to fall asleep. Last. but not
least. u parrot should be carefully
covered at nisht.-LOntlon Mail.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Mild Result.

The courtroom was crowded. A wife
was seeking divorce on the grounds Of
extreme cruelty and abusive treat
meDt. Guns, axes, rolling pins and
singing invectives seemed to have
played a prominent part in the plain
tin's married life.
The husband was on the stand un-
dergoing a grueling cross examination
The examining attorney said: You
have testified that your wife on one
occasion threw cayenne pepper In your
face. Now. sir. kindly tell US what you
did on that occasion"
The witness hesitated and looked
confused. Every one expected that he
was about to confess to some shocking
act of cruelty. But their hopes were
shattered when he finally blurted out:
II sneezed-'-Everybody's.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04

4 Great Asst In Business % Well %
In Society.
There have been great advocates 1t
the bar whose charming manner. hke
the presence in court OF some OF tho
worlds famous beauties. would %
sway the jury and the judge a to en-
danger and sometimes actually divert
justice. says Oriscn SWEET Marden IN
Success Magazine. A gracious. genial
presence. a charming personality.
refined. fascinating manner. are vel
come where mere beauty u denied and
where mere wealth - turned away.
They will make q better impression
than the best education or the highest
attainments. An attractive PERSONAL.
u. even without great ability. often
advances one when great talent and
special training will not
There Is always premium upon a
charmin. presence. Every business
man likes to be surrounded BY people
Of pleasing personality and winning
manners. They are regarded rs splen-
did assets.
What is It that often enables one
person to walk right into position
and achieve without difficulty that
which another. with perhaps greater
ability. struggles In vain to accom-
plish: Everywhere q magnetic per-
sOnality wins its way.
Young men and young women are
constantly being surprised by offers
Of excellent positions which com" 10
them because Of qualities and charac-
teristics which perhaps they have new
er thought much about-a fine man.
ner. courtesy. cheerfulness and kindly.
obliging. helpful dispositions.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Subtle f1attery.

Walters Nos. l and 2 peeped out at
the baldheaded man, then ducked be-
hind the screen.
"None of him for me-" said Waiter
No. I. HE doesn't tip"
Same here" said Waiter No. ..
"I'n fix him." said Waiter No. 3.
He took an order for soup. Before
serving It he showed the two mutt
neers q hair floating on the surface Of
the soup. They marveled then. and
they marveled still more when at the
end Of the baldheaded mans dinner
the waiter returned with dollar bill.
'Ninety-nine baldheaded men In u
hundred can be worked that way" he
said. IF the customer doesn't see the
hair himself I call his attention to 1t
and make him think 1t fell out Of his
own head. The fact that he had a
hair to lose SO appeals to his vanity
that he loves me for finding 1t and
gives me a tip big enough to cover the
cost Of q dozen plates Of soup."-Chi-
cago Tribune.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
A Roman Dinner.

A Roman dinner at the house Of a
wealthy man consisted chiefly Of three
courses. All sorts Of stimuIants to the
appetite were first served up. and eggs
were Indispensable to the first course
Among the various dishes We may in
stance the guinea hen, pheasant. night
ingale and the thrush as birds most in
rePute. The Roman gormands held
peacocks in great estimation. especial
ly their tongues. Macrobius states that
they were first eaten by Hortensius,
the orator. and acquired such repute
that a single peacock was sold for 80
denarii. the denarius being equal to
about eishtperce halfpenny of English
money. Journal.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Testing an Explosive.

One Of the most dangerous Of ex-
plOsives IS iOdide Of nitrogen. a black
powder which the slightest touch will
often cause to explode when dry with
great violence. In experiments to de-
termine the cause Of its extreme ex-
plOsiveness some damp iOdide Of nitro
gen was rubbed on the strings of a
bass viOl. 1t is known that the strings
Of such an instrument will vibrate
when those Of q similar instrument
having an equal tension are played
upon. In this case. after the explO-
sive had become thoroughly dry upon
the strings. another bass viOl was
brought near and the strings sounded.
At a certain note the iOdide Of nitro
gen on the prepared instrument ex-
plOded. 1t was found that the explO-
sion occurred only when rate Of VI
bratiOn Of sixty second was COM
municated to the prepared strings.
Vibration Of the G. string caused an
explosion. while that of the L string
had no effect.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04

Finnish Respect For the Law.
In Finland there Is q deep and pre-
vailing respect for law.
Can have a shot at an elk!" asked
a stranger Of a peasant who lived on
the fringe of forest well stocked with
this noble game.
NO. sir. It's against the law"
What Is the penalty?'
Two hundred Finnish marks"
IAN right. viii you come along with
me IL l agree to pay the finer
NO, won't. It's against the law,
and I'm not going to break itr'-"Rus-
sian characteristics"
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Aar WAY of PUTTING It.

A gentleman stepping ON board Of
IN ocean bound steamer just before
she started inquired Of the captain
where the old steward was. ''Oh," re-
piled the captain. "he was discharged
some time ago." why did he leave?
He seemed q first rate fellow" "Well.
to tell the truth. he got too big for
his breeches and We had to get rid
of him." This was overheard by q
bright little girl, the daughter Of one
Of the passengers on the steamer. Soon
after another passenger arrived. and.
after looking around. said. Il don't
see the old steward. What has be-
come Of him:' IL think he was dis
charged" said some one. what fOr:'
81 know" said the little girl, but l
do not like to tell" "Oh. but you may
tell me. surely" said the passenger
kindly. The modest little maiden
hung her head and slowly answered.
"'Cause his trousers were too short"
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Old Times 1t the Capital.

In recalling the lively and pictur-
esQue incidents which the old timers
enjoyed in Washington one Is moved
almost to tears over the commonplace
nature Of his own times. John Adams
used to battle in the Potomac every
morning at daylight because he had
no bathtub In the White House. and
no one ever pulled a kodak on him.
President Taylor used to walk about
the town and stop and chat with ev-
cry one he met, like a policeman. A
reception In the White House In these
days Is relieved of monotOny only by
the great crush Of guests. who trample
the clothes off one another's backs.
Another president set up in the east
room a COO pound cheese and invited
the multitude to come In and help
itself, which the multitude proceeded
to do.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
How He Remembered.

A Cifiident young Roseville man went
to a party. II you are difiident your
self and know how hard it is to re-
member names when you meet q
crowd Of strange and lovely ladies'
you will be able to understand why It
was that the young mans dance card
read "a follows:
l. Twostep-Helen.
z Waltz-Harry's friend.
3 Twostep-Tall girl.
Waltz-violets.
s. Twostep-Swell eyes.
6 Waterbury hair.
z. Twostep-Little blue.
4 Waltz-Beauty spot.
8 Tw0step-Pink ribbons
10 Waltz-Helen.
Newark News.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Major Pond and Bill Nys.

More than one successful lecture star
had to thank Major Pond for his start.
He had keen discrimination and not
infrequently sought out and dragged
upon the lecture platform an obscure
genius who never thought to see him.
self before the footlights. Such a
genius was Bill Nye. When the major
found him he was acting as postmas-
ter and editing the Laramie Boom
erang over a livery stable. c'Walk
down the alley, twist the gray mules
tail, take the elevator immediately
Pond persuaded him to try lecturing,
and as there proved to be both money
and useful publicity in 1t Nye was
grateful and used for years to remem-
Der the major with characteristic
notes, one of which had the following
exhaustive signature:
Yours with heart full o. gratitude and
Q system full Of drugs. paints. oil. turpen-
tine. glass. putty and everything usually
kept in q first class drug store.
p. S.-Open all night
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04

The teacher Ut one Of the grades In
. primary school was astonished to
receive the following communication
from the parent Of pupil:
Dear Miss-Thinking II might become
necessary. l hereby give you permission
to beet my son anytime 1t Is necessary
to lern him his lessons. My Tom II just
like his father: you have to lern him with
q club. Just you pound noledge into him
the way l want. Don't pay no attention
TO what his father. says I will handle
him.
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
The Matter Explained.

"Why do they say as smart as =
steel trapY" asked the talkative board
er. II never could see anything par
ticularly intellectual about steel
trap"
"A steel trap Is called smart" ex-
planned the elderly person In his
sweetest voice. because 1t knows ex-
actly the right time to shut up"
More might have. been said, but in
the circumstances It would have seem
ed unfitting.-LOndOn Tit-Bits.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Out At First.

The hammock was built for two.
but she was occupying 1t alone.
II have noticed" said the man on
the porch chair. that the prettiest
girls always marry the biggest fools"
Say no more. Mr. SlOwbOy." rejOin-
ell the fair maiden. II appreciate your
friendship. but l can never be Your
wife"-Chicago News.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Aoar and Evarts.

On one Of his later birthday anniver
saries Senator HOar wrote to William
NJ. Evarts and congratulated him upon
his length Of years. In his reply the
aged lawyer said it brought to mimi
an old lady in New England who had
occasion to write to a friend about
some matter of. triflins Importance and
when she had reached the end of the
thirteenth page awakened to the fact
that she had been rather diffuse and
added. please excuse my longevity"
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04

The two women encountered each
other ut q dance. They had not met
for several years.
"How thin you have grown!" ex-
claimed one.
"How fat you've got to be!' the 9th
er cried, and they stood gazing at each
other in some dismay.
Before you come to blows" re-
marked q mutual friend who stood by.
lets take q vote as to which Is worse.
to get too fat or to get too thin."-New
York Press.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
A Pheasant's Blind Flight.

~ V0SoSouSS 0uoU0 Vu9uts
Speaking of the habits Of pheasants.
Bailey's Magazine says:
"A very curious incident was record
ed in October. 1896 A hen pheasant
was flushed In q field of turnips, and
as she got up dew into a piece Of rot
ten. wet leaf. which chung around her
head. completely enveloping 1t and
blindfoldins her. She kept ahead to
wind. so that the wet leaf still re-
manned plastered over her eyes. and
in this plight 6uttered higher till she
became exhausted and gradually sank
to earth again.
The frequency with which pleas
ants fiy through windows. sometimes
with fatal results. IS thought to Ike due
TO the bird In its haste being deceived
BY the reflection In the glass Of the
landscape behind It."
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04

The period Of mans whole history Is
not sufficient for an express train to
traverse half the distance to Neptune
from the earth. Thought we:Eies and
fails in seeking to grasp such dis
tances. 1t can scarcely comprehend
100000 miles. and here are thousands
IF them. When We stand on that the
Outermost Of the planets. the very last
sentinel Of the outpOsts Of the King.
the very sun grows dim and small In
the distance.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
An 0nspieation.

"What's the name Of her successful
story?
"Byljoxjperhoofr'
Gracious: What does It mean"
"She doesn't know
where did she get it!'
why. she was on a train wonder
ing In q discouraged way where she
would get a name for the story. And
just then the brakeman opened the car
door and called the next staion."-
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Saved by His Wits.

The Duke of Wellington once met
by accident an officer i'm a state of in
ebriety.
Look here. sir" said the Iron Duke,
What would you do if you met one of
your men in the condition i'm which |
find you?'
The officer drew himself up. gave the
military salute and replied with great
gravity. Il would not condescend to
speak to the brute" His wit saved
him his commission.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
THE PYGMIES.
Curious Gaode Of Life Of the 0warfs Of
Rhodesia.

Curious Gaode Of Life Of the 0warfs Of
Rhodesia.
or the pygmieS Of northwestern Rho
desia modern traveller writes: "Thr
Ratwa stand about four feet high AMI
are Ion. armed. short LEGGED AMI ugly.
being unusually prOgnaihOus. The
legs are di>prornrtiOnately short. the
feet large. md the body is covered
with u sort Of down Both sexes af-
feet state Of complete nudity. They
have their own tongue. but usually
know u little Of the language of their
biz neishlOrs. No attempt Is made to
TIL the open forest glades. They de-
pend for focd Oh game and what they
steal from the fields and plantations
Of the surrounding tribes.
Though there are seven different
tribes Of pygmies. they appear to have
no tribal organization. 1t Is The Gus
tom for a group of families tr attach
themselves to negro chief ara in re-
turn for food to assist him to fight his
enemies. The standard Of morality of
these little people is high. and. strange
to say, they are remarkably intelli-
gent.
The wild beasts living in this for
est are killed for food. even the eie
plant. Pitfalls. snares and heavily
weighted spears are used. but their
favorite way Of hunting an elephant
appears to be with bow and arrow.
Poisoned arrows are shot into him.
and the great beast Is followed until
he falls. when the little hunters camp
around the body and feast Oh the car
cass until Il is finished
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Courtino a Belle.

would 1t be any harm to deceive
her about my age?' inquired the elder
" millionaire.
probably not"
I'm sixty. How would It do to con-
fess to 6fty?'
II think your chances would be bet
ter with her IL you claimed seventy
fve."-Kansas City Journal.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04

Muriel Getting him down easy)-I
should advise you not to take it to
heart. l might prove a most unde-
sirable wife. Marriage Is lottery,
you know. Malcolm (bitterlyl 1T
strikes me as more like a rattle. One
man gets the prize and the others get
the shake-Smart Set.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
What He Had Done.

I'D be ashamed to beg II was
big. health: looking man like you"
said the sarcastic woman. You ought
to look for q job Of some kind. Have
you done anything ut all during the
past year:"
Yes. ma'am. l hev." answered the
husky hobo meekly. Il jist finished
dOin' thirty days. ma'am." Chicago
News.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
Appreciation.

"Father." said little Rollo. "was
George Washington greater man
than Santa CLAUSE
Il won't shy. my son. that he was
greater, but he has proved much less
expensive Washington Star
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
The Difference.

Mrs. Dash-The idea Of Mrs. Rash
having society aspirations! Why, her
father was q peddler! Mr.. Dash-Yes.
she's entirely too forward She ought
to hang back until people have forgot
ten 1t. Now. In your case. my dear.
1t was your grandfather who was
peddler.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
The Rioht 70 Work.

Drum Of the Village Orchestral
don't care what you do shy. the tune
amt finished. I've only hit 'un dree
'underd an fifteen times instead Of
flower 'underd. Is Il my share.-Lon
don Punch.
The Columbus journal., 1910-05-04
The PIess,ntsr Route 10 Ruin.

The PleaSanter Route 10 Ruin.
prosperity has ruined many man."
mo doubt. but II were given any
choice in the matter I'd rather be
ruined BY prosperity than by adversi-
ty. The process Is more enjoyable!"-
Chicago Post.