davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
Stevenson's Cup of Misery.


r. L. Stevenson, writing in 1893 to
George Meredith, in an epistle quoted
in his Letters" says. with heart
touching pathos:
"For fourteen years l have not had
a days real health. l have wakened
sick and gone to bed weary. and
have done my work unflinchingly
have written in bed and written out of
it, written in hemorrhages. written in
sickness, written torn by coughing,
written when my head swan for
weakness, and for so long, it seems to
me, have won my wager and recover
ed my glove. l am better now-have
been, rightly speaking, since first
came to the Pacifc-and still few are
the days when I am not in some phys
ical distress. And the battle goes on
i'll or we'll is a tritle so that it goes
was made for a contest, and the pow
ers have so willed that my battlefield
should be this dingy, inglorious one of
the bed and the physic bottle. At
least l have not failed, but l would
have preferred place Of trumpetings
and the open air over my head
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
ATOP THE FREIGHT TRAIN.
Walking the Cars a Hair Raising Elk
perience For Novice. 81.

perience For Novice < Il
There came over me as / sat in the
caboose that evening a wild desire to
ride with the engineer in the cab.
Planning to slip ahead along the half
mile or 50 Of train at the first stop. j
made known my desire to our con
tuctor over that part Of the run. .
They'll be glad to see you," he told
me. You won't have any trouble get.
tin there. It's a mild evenin.''. He
swung open the window Of the lookout
and called to his rear brakeman, Jim
ME, run along with this here party"
Jimmie pulled me through the window
OF the lookout before clearly realized
the entire plan.
1t was slippery path over the roofs.
OF sixty cars to the big engine that
was pulling us, and the wind that
swept. in from the shores of the ice
bound lake, along which the tracks ran
for many miles, snapped sharply over
those car roofs. Jimmie hung on to
his lantern with one hand, to his con
voy with the other. Long miles over
those slippery car roofs had taught
him to regard it as no very serious
business.
'This amt nothin'," was his assur-
ance. 1T sometimes gets nasty when
we get down to zero an a blizzard
comes a-rippin' from off over the lake.
Sometimes you have to get down an
crawl on all fours. 1t wouldn't be
much fun to be swept off the tops of
those cars
There. was no disputing that, nor
that the three lengthwise planks at
the gable Of the car roofs were not
wide promenades. You jump from one
to another to cross from car to car,
and man has got to have something
of gymnastic training and some cir
Gus as we'll as railroad blood in his
veins to do it many times without
dropping into one Of the hideous dark
abysses between them. ,.,
A hand out of the dark slapped me
in the face. Drop" said Jimmie, and,
fearing possibly that might not obey,
he pulled me fiat down upon the car
roof.
'"That was 'telltale,'" he explained,
and before 1 could ask further we
were in a short reach of tunnel, and
understood. We were whirled
through that tunnel like package in
tube, and if we had raised our arms
we could have touched the flying roof
of the bore. The smoke lay heavy in
the place. 1t filed our eyes and nos
trils.
'Not real nice," said Jimmie cheerily.
''But no danger in the holes, save now
and then an icicle gets crack at your
nut. You see, there amt much use in
arguin' the matter after that 'telltale'
strikes you."- Edward Hungerford in
Harper's
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
THE EARLY STAGE.
Boys In Female Parts and the First
English Actress. "

Boys In Female Parts and the First
e.. English Actress.
v Not long since critic, noticing the
advent Of new Ophelia In London,
observed that. while the actress &c.
quilted herself very well. she could
hardly be considered '.Shakespeare's
Ophelia," which was undoubtedly the
case. 1nasmuch as Shakespeare's Ophe.
ia was boy. either chorister or a
page in the service of one of the thea
ter's patrons.
NO English actress made her appear
ance before the restoration. On Jan. 3
Pepys records. ITO the theater, where
was acted the 'Beggar's Bush it be.
ing very well done, and here the first
time that ever l saw women come
upon the STAGE
But these, it is suspected. were mere
walking ladies'" few days later the
d1arlst went to see performance OF
1.-The Silent Woman" Among other
things here Kynaston, the boy, had the
good turn to appear in three shapes
nrst as a poor woman in ordinary
clothes to please Morose. then in fine
clothes as gallant and in them was
clearly the prettiest woman in the
whole house," He had year before
declared that "Kynaston as Olympia
made the loveliest lady that ever saw
In my life"
The distinction of being the first
English actress has been variously
ascr1bed to Mrs. Davenport. Mrs
knipp and Mrs. Davies. They all ap-
peared the same year Q661). Mrs. Da.
vles. together with the principal ac-
tresses in Sir William Davenants com.
pany, being boarded in the managers
own house."-London Strand Maya
Zino
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
A CONVERT.
He Is Now Firm Believer In Psychic
Phenomena.

He Is Now Firm Believer In Psychic
Phenomena.
do believe in the occult? Sure,
d." said the suburbanite as he set
tied down into his seat in the snok
ing car and filled his pipe. II was
just as great a skeptic as you are until
a week ago. was firmly convinced
that table manipulation was a fake,
that mind reading was pure guess
work and that all alleged psychic phe-
nomena could be attributed to natural
causes. But now Pm willing to ac-
cept the entire propaganda. Nothing
is too obscure for me to accept on
blind faith. I've experienced a com
plete change Of heart, as they used to
say in the old camp meetings.
"You see, it was this way. My
friend Buggins, who is really a bug
on the occult, induced me to go to a
seance with him the other afternoon
and prevailed upon me to have sit
ting. In spite of my nonbelief he said
I was a good subject, and l guess
was. The lady who was delivering the
soul fluid told me should have trou-
BILE with a stout, dark woman. All
the way out on the train that evening
the idea haunted me. I couldn't get
it out Of my head.
"And, say. she was right What
happened? Why. when l got home
found myself up against the PROPOSE
ton of firing the colored cook Sure.
I believe in the'occult Got light?"-
New York Times.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
The Baths of Old Rome.

At the end of the third century after
Christ there were in Rome II large
public baths and 926 smaller ones. The
baths of Caracalla could accommodate
at one time 1000 people; those of Do
cletian. 5000. Taking 1.500 as the av-
erage of each of the public baths and
SO as that of each of the private baths.
it appears that at any minute bathing
accommodations were possible for g.
900 people in ancient Rome. Counting
on population of 100000. the figure
generally given as the correct one. it
would thus seem that ample privileges
were afforded every day for every in
habitant of the Imperial City.-New
York American.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
When Matches Were Introduced.

The Atlas. a London newspaper,
published on Jan. 10. 1880, the follow
ing paragraph under the head of 'In-
Simultaneous Light" Among the diff
ferent methods invented for obtaining
light instantaneously ought certainly
to be recorded that of Mr.. Walker.
chemist, Stockton-on-Tees. He sup
plies the purchaser with prepared
matches, which are put into boxes. but
are not liable to change in the atmos-
phere. and also with a piece of fine
glass paper folded in two. Even Il
strong blow will not inflame the
matches. because Of the softness Of
the WOOD underneath. or does rubbing
upon wood or any common substance
produce any effect except that of spoil
ing the match. But when one is pinch
ed between the folds of the glass pa
per and suddenly drawn out it is in
stantly infamed. Mr.. Walker does
not make them for extensive sale. but
only to supply the small demand in
his own neighborhood."
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
A DOES sTRATAGEM.
Threw the Dogs Off the Scent ans
Saved Her Fawn.

Threw the Dogs Off the Scent and
Saved Her Fawn.
The following anecdote is related by
M. K. Raspail. 1t is worthy of com
parlson with the most remarkable of
instances Of the same kind:
The author one day perceived a doe
In full fight before two dogs in the
A1gle woods that form a part of the
forest Of Chantilly. The doe was &C.
companied by very young fawn,
which appeared quite exhaused and
ready to drop. The mother, doubtless
we'll aware Of this. slackened her pace
and presently stopped close to some
thick bramble bushes. She remained
some time there with lowered head as
If awaiting the onset Of her pursuers.
Suddenly an idea seemed to strike
her, and with butt Of the head she
tossed her fawn right into the middle
of the thicket.o Then, first advancing
gently as if to make sure it was we'll
hidden, she soon set off by rapid bounds
in front of the dogs. The latter bark
ing close upon her heels, she made a
sudden bend and thus drew them far
from the spot where this incident oc-
Cured. The bowling of the dogs be-
came fainter and fainter. the valiant
animal having doubtless led them two
kilometers away into the Canardiere
peat bogs. where the dogs often lose
the scent. .<s .-..
In fact, later they were seen return
ing to the village in an exhausted con-
d1tion, while the intelligent mother
doubtless returned to the bushes to
find the little fawn she had so cleverly
hidden and placed in safety.-Vulgari-
sation Scientifque.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
PARIS RAGpIcKERs.
An Occupation That Is Passed Along
From Father to Son.


From Father to Son.
The ragpickers Of Paris are born to
their work, the occupation being pass
ed from father to son for generations.
Each ragpicker family has it's own dis
trict, which is inherited by the chill
dren and grandchildren. ....
In spite of all the progress made in
modern and elegant Paris barrels of
waste are piled up on the streets in
front of many buildings on beautiful
boulevards in the early morning hours,
and it is the privilege and in fact the
mission of the ragpickers to examine
this refuse.
They have use for everything, and
but little is left after they have passed,
their thoroughness being one reason
why the system is still allowed. Ev-
cry scrap of paper has it's market;
rags are gathered for paper manufac-
turers; shoes go back to leather deal
ers
Old sardine and preserved meat tins
are used for making playthings. old
bones produce gelatin and glue. lem
OnS and orange peelS are greatly
sought after and sold at the rate of a
cent q pound to perfume and sirup
manufacturers, old metals are highly
priced, cigar stubs go to tobacco fac
tories. and even stale vegetables are
carted away.
The quarters of the ragpickers of
Paris are just outside the confines of
the city-sections carefully avoided by
most people who do not belong to the
guild. Every member of the family.
from the oldest to the three-year-old.
takes part in the sorting of the spoils.
and it often happens that members of
a family die either from poisoning
from stale food or from cut from
one of the tins.-Popular Mechanics.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
SAFES IN BIG HOTELS.
VaIuables Kept In Them by Guests For
Years at q Time.

vaiuables Kept Ia Them by Guests For
Years at Time.
A woman walked up to the counter
Of fashionable hotel and asked for a
package Of valuables which was in the
safe.
IF had not wanted one particular
thing suppose should have left the
package where it was for another
three years." she said to the clerk.
YES" said the clerk in answer to q
question after the woman left, .'that
packet had really been in our safe for
three years. Why, we have all sorts
Of valuable papers, jewelry and even
money that are intrusted to our keep
ing for years at time. People seem
to prefer hotel safe to a safety de-
post vault. One reason perhaps is that
it costs nothing. Another is that the
standard of hotel clerks has improved.
1T is astonishing the amount of jew
elry that people keep in hotel safes Of
course the owners have originally stop
ped in the hotel, but they go away,
leaving their valuables, and have
known such persons to be gone as
much as two years and never make an
inquiry about their property in that
time.
'"To show you how much confidence
people have in hotels and their en-
ployees l might mention that the other
day man came in here and put four
$1,000 bills in an envelope, wrote his
name on the latter and asked me to
put it in the safe. Not long ago an
other man actually did the same thing
with seven $4,000 bills"
The clerks of several other hotels
talked in similar strain without any
outside suggestion.
"Pll bet l have handled more than 4
million dollars worth of jewelry to-
day." said one. Look here" and he
opened the safe and piled six or eight
big jewelry cases on the counter, but
hurriedly put them back I'm one of
those l know there is over 100000
worth. and what l showed you was
only few of what the safe contains. :"
New York Sun.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
"A Nine DAYS Wonder"

The memorable reign of Lady Jane
Grey is said to have given rise to the
phrase "a nine days wonder" Lady
Jane was proclaimed queen of Eng
land July 10. 1853. four days after the
death of Edward vi. After the lapse
of period of nine days, on July 10.
she relinQuished her title to the crown.
thus terminating her reign in the short
space of week and half. 4 noted
English historian says. '"rhus we come
to the end of the diary of that short
and troubled reign that from it's
length is said to have given rise to the
now Q62O popular phrase. a nine
days wonder'''
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
Could Prove If.

A few days ago an alderman was
glancing over the register at one Of
the local hotels to see if a friend of
his was registered there. Near him
stood man who was holding on to
the desk for dear life in a semisuccess-
full attempt to maintain his balance.
Il s-s'pose you think I'm drunk?''
said the stranger. looking belligerently
at the alderman.
No; not in the least.'' replied the
alderman. anxious to avoid the posi-
bility of row.
'Well, you'd know l was if l let go
this DESK" answered the man.-New-
ark Star.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
A Gilbert Story.

Sir w. S. Gilbert. who was one of
the few playwrights who defended
the stage censor. is noted for his caus
tic criticisms on anything which does
not meet with his approval.
While dining out once some one hap
pened to ask him his opinion of Burne
Jones' women. TOO long in the neck"
remarked the author of 1.-The Mikado."
when look at one of them always
feel that she ought to have joint in it
Bits.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
How to Know the Twins.

The Beverly twins, Fred and Frank.
were such exact counterparts Of each
other that none of the neighbors could
tell them apart. and even their mother
sometimes had her doubts. The re-
semblance is accumulated by the fact
that they are dressed exactly alike.
''How in the world can you yourself
tell which is which, Mrs. Beverly"
asked caller one day.
ITO tell the truth" she answered.
II can't always. But if hear noise
in the pantry and call out. Fred is
that you? and he says, Yes, mamma,
I know it's Frank and that he's in
some kind Of mischief" -Exchange
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
A vINDlCTlvE KNIFE.
fhs Weapon That Tried Several Time.
to Kill kipIina. s.y<

fhs Weapon That Tried Several Times
r, to Kill kipIing. III Il
Ny mind has flown back down the
years to London and into the large
corner room on the second floor. Vii
liers street, Embankment Gardens. On
the wall fronting the Thames hangs
the most vicious looking knife have
ever seen. It is serpentine in shape.
and its downward point is as sharp as
q needle.
what villainous weapon!' said.
EYES," replied Kipling, and l forgot
the name he, gave it or the section of
India from which it. came THAT
knife has tried to kill me several
times. It's always on the watch.
When / got it there was affixed to it.
like button on a foil, one joint Of a.
mans backbone. The knife had been
run into the vertebrate, given u savage
twist and brought away with it a piece,
Of human framework. .
AS he spoke he approached the gilt
tering, snakelike knife
"Don't touch it!' l cried. You
ought to keep it in locked box
! He didn't touch it, SO far as saw.
but as he raised his hand the knife
dropped like plummet and stood
quivering in the floor within an inch
Of his boot.
"Look at that!' he said and stood
there without moving a muscle until
saw how nearly the sinister blade had
come to impaling his foot. = Robert
Barr in London World
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
A TIRED MUSICIAN.
How Strauss Once Snubbed Russian
Court Diqnitary.

How Strauss Once Snubbed a Russian
.- Court Dignitary.
When Johann Strauss took his or
chestra to Russia he had some unusual
experiences not generally vouchsafed
to those who live outside an autocratic
government.
One day he received the czarina's
commands to play before her at her
summer resort and was told on arriv-
ing there that he would have to re-
hearse his program three times before
the performance. He begged to know
the reason for that, but no explanation
was given him. These were her mai
esty's orders, and he could only COM
ply. Still. his astonishment grew when
he saw during the three rehearsals an
empty court carriage drawn by a pair
of horses slowly going back and forth
in front Of his orchestra.
Throughout the final performance
the mysterious act was explained. The
empress. having a sharp attack OF
govt, was obliged to recline in the
carriage, her foot on a cushion. while
the concert took place, and the object
of rehearsal had been to accustom the
horses to full string band lest they
should take fright and bolt with her.
At the end of the performance an
exalted dignitary Of the court babe
Strauss follow him to splendid grand
piano, saying:
Nov be good enough to play me all
tho nawoSt Vienna mncic -
Although he was pretty fatigued by
his three rehearsals and state perform
ance, Strauss thought it expedient to
comply. but after he had played con-
tinuously for over an hour he stopped.
saying. II presume that will be sufti-
cient?"
II am not ut all tired coolly re-
joined his excellency
"But l ann said Strauss and rose
from the instrument.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
The Parthenon.

The destruction of that famous
building the Parthenon took place in
1857 during the siege Of Athens by
the Venetians. The Turks held the
city, and the Parthenon was used for
powder magazine. One day during
the conflict Venetian bombshell drop
ped into the building, and the explo-
sion followed which badly shattered
the structure. From that date the re-
nowned building has stood roofess and
exposed to all the inclemencies Of the
weather. For more than 1000 years
the temple stood entire, and in it's
ruins Is the architectural wonder of
the world.-New York American.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
Wonderful cactuses.

The largest cactuses in the world are
those to be found in parts of Mexico.
The curious bristling plants common
in greenhouses and even in botanical
collections give but poor idea Of the
size and beauty of this variety. 1t is
common, for example, to find a single
plant growing to height Of eight or
ten feet which will weigh several hum
dred pounds. The cactuses grow in q
bewildering variety of forms and col
ors. Their blossoms are corresponding
~ large and varied.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
A RESTRAINING HAND,
Its Action Followed by a Voice That
Warned.

Its Action Followed by Voice That
Warned.
Patrick II. McCarren once told me
OF funny incident that happened in
Rome" said a Brooklyn lawyer. NC
Carren said that on his first visit to
Rome, after he had seen the Coliseum
and the Forum, he visited the Ara
Coeli church, on the left of the Can't
toline hill. He climbed the grand
stairway leading to the church, the
finest open air stairway in the world.
He pushed back the heavy leather cur
tain, and, entering, he found a service
in progress. So he put his hat on the
marble floor at his side and took a
seat.
"After ten minutes or so he decided
he would go and reached down for his
hat. But a restraining hand was laid
on his, and he desisted. He knew, Of
course, that some churches don't like
people to leave in the midst of a serv-
ice
'Ten or fifteen minutes more passed.
The service still continued. Senator
McCarren got impatient and again
reached for his hat. But again the I'M
seen hand restrained him from the
rear.
"A little later, however, the senator
quite lost patience. This was, he told
himself. an important service. Of
course. Nevertheless he did not pro-
pose to miss his luncheon. and it would
harm no one if he slipped out quietly
so third time he reached for his
hat. and the invisible hand third
time detained him. He. persevered.
however. The silent hand pushed, and
his silent hand pushed against it. But
just as he was conquering in the strug-
gle voice said in good American:
"'Cheese it, boss; that's my hat
you're taking "-Exchange.
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
"Chinese" Gordon.

It was there that l saw General
Gordon for the only time He was a
curiously listless looking, nervous lit
tie man, with a sort of furtive look
and expression as if he always antici-
pated something unpleasant He was
not agreeable or encouraging, and he
gave very little outward evidence Of
the power and influence he possessed.
He spoke little and seemed bored when
he was addressed or asked any ques-
tion.-Lady st. Helier's Memoirs
The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-01-06
HIS NOSE WAS SAFE.
But His Nerves Were In State Of
Cold Chill Collapse.

6Oe his nerves were IN q State Of
Cold Chill Collapse.
Il was sitting on the veranda of a
mining town hotel one afternoon
good many years ago." said veteran
engineer, 'and was lazily smoking one
OF the incest meerschaum pipes you
ever saw when out of the tail of my
eye saw that bad man down at the
other end Of the veranda had his gun
sighted at me. They were a wild lot
around there, and couldn't tell
whether he meant to shoot me or the
pipe The chances were in favor of the
pipe, however, and. it seemed good
chance to test my nerve. l made up
my mind to let him shoot and to pre-,
tend a careless air, but Pm telling you
in the ten or fifteen seconds of waiting
the sweat came out at every pore, and
my heart pounded my ribs sore felt
a sort of tick at the bowl of the pipe.
heard the crack of the gun and knew
that bullet had passed through the
pipe. got brace with my hands and
feet and waited for a second bullet.
and it went through the bowl after the
first. l sat there until his fourth bull
let had hit the pipe and knocked the
bowl off the stem. and then the shooter
sauntered up to me and laughingly
said:
"'Excuse me, stranger. but thought
it was imitation
Same as you are replied.
my gibe hurt him, but he was man
enough to tell everybody about my
nerve. and the boys Clipped in suff1-
Gent nuggets to buy me new fifty
dollar pipe. Say, do you know what
happened to me when l made an ex-
cuse to go upstairs after my old corn
cob? I had no sooner got into my
room than my knees gave out, chills
galloped up my spine. and I'll be hang
ed If l didn't faint away and lie there
for ten minutes. 1t had suddenly oc-
Cured to me that the bowl of that
pipe was only six inches from my nose
while the fellow was doing his shoot
ing, and have not yet got over touch
ing my nasal organ now and then to
see if it is safe"