davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
LUXURY IN PRISON.
cOnviets In Switzerland Seem TO Enjoy
the Life.


Prison life In Switzerland is a luxury
instead Of punishment The comic
opera jail at Thornburg. where the in
mates did as they pleased, has only re-
Gently been suppressed by the Berne
authorities, yet details are published
today of a similar institution at Sar-
men, in the canton Of Oswald.
Sarnen is apparently an ideal penal
resort, for the happy criminals who
are sentenced to terms of detention"
In that institution have a far better
time than hundreds OF free" Swiss
citizens who are forced TO earn their
bread.
A correspondent of a Lausanne paper
states that be was passing through
Sarnen when he saw a number OF men.
dressed In dark blue clothes with white
stripes. walking about the village
smoking and joking.
Others were seated In a cafe. and
some were working in leisurely man
ner, carrying bricks for the construc-
ton of a new building. To his aston
ishment the correspondent found that
the men were convicts from the can
tonal prison close by.
These convicts are permitted to leave
the prison early in the morning and
find work around Sarnen or walk
about the country until nightfall. when
they return of their own accord to the
prison.
They are unaccompanied by warders,
and there is nothing to prevent their
escaping. but they are far too comfort
able to think of relinquishing their
quarters, for they have as much liber-
ty as other men and are. moreover. fed
and lodged for nothing.
The money earned by those convicts
who choose to work can be spent as
they like. One convict, who is en-
ployed as a gardener by a local magis.
trate, sends his monthly salary to his
wife and children.
Two or three convicts escaped"
some weeks ago, but they eventually
returned to the prison in a half fam
ished condition, and after being severe
ly reprimanded they were allowed to
return to their apartments.
One convict was discharged recently
after the completion OF his sentence,
and he remained in Sarnen for the pur-
pose Of continuing TO earn money as a
bricklayer. but his colleagues" In pris-
on uniform made things so unpleasant
for him that he begged the governor of
the prisoner to allow him to resume
his uniform" and status as a convict
London Express.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
A Cabinet Record.

Almost 800 men have served in pres
idential cabinets since the formation
of the government. and of the whole
number the record for long service il
now held by James Wilson, secretary
Of agriculture. He achieved this dis
tinction recently, when he passed the
mark set by Albert Gallatin. who was
secretary of the treasury from May
IA, 1901, to Feb. 9. 1914. or twelve
years, eight months and twenty-siX
days. The third in length of service is
William Writ, who was attorney gem
eral from 1917 to 1929. almost equal
ing Galatians record. Very few cabi-
net officers have served over eight
years. Secretary Wilson was appoint.
ed by President Mckinley March 4.
1897. and so at the beginning of 1910
he had been in the Office twelve years
nine months and twenty-seven days.
Youths Companion.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
SKATING IN HOLLAND.
fhs Provinces Differ In Customs. Cos
TUNES and Courses.

fhe Provinces Differ In Customs, Cos
TUNES and Courses.
Holland is the paradise Of the skater
without doubt, but Holland. contrary
to the prevailing notion, is not all Of
the Netherlands, which is the official
title of the country, but only one OF
the provinces. so that a Frieslander
may say that he is going down south
TO Holland for the skating carnival
and still not leave the boundaries of
the Netherlands. And also we must
not confuse the peoples Of the east
and west banks of the Zuyder zee
pronounced Cider seal with the free
Friesians of the north. who are a diff
ferent people, have their own skating
customs and costumes and hold rigid
ly to their clan rules. While their
skates are very long. thin bladed and
rather Fat on the foot. those Of the
south are heavier, thicker and much
curved at the toe.
The Friesian skates swiftly and
straight. while the Hollander around
Amsterdam and Rotterdam is more
phlegmatic and in movement more &C.
centric. too, as he glides along with a
wide rolling movement. taking long
curves and using the outside edge Of
his skates. This is what we know as
the Dutch roll.
There is a difference. too, in the
skating courses. that of the alert
Fresian being straight and narrow,
while the Amsterdamer or the Mar
kenite viii sweep for himself broad
four or FIVE yard pathway as clean as
he knows how to make it.
When l first saw these pathways |
rather marveled at the care of the au-
thorities In cleaning away the snow so
that we might better enjoy the sport,
but upon saying so 10 my indefatiga-
bic Dutch friend be laughed and shrug
ged his shoulders at me. then told me
that ii was necessary to keep them
open for traffic and that the beautiful
" swept iceway was for business.
You see the Dutchman has no senti-
ment. He skates because he has TO.
1t has been said that the Dutchman
shows a most admirable system of
cleaning away the snow. And no won
der. He has been at il for centuries.
Near the large cities II does not seem
as wonderful as in the country, where
the villages are sometimes widely sep
arated. But after each snowfall the
sweepers are seen busily at work, and
the surface of the ice is cleaned in
surprisingly quick time. Large iron
shod constructions are used. drawn by
horses and, curioHsly enough, the
cracks or assures and the uneven
places are mended by pouring hot wa
ter into them at night and then plan
ing the surface smoothly the following
morning. The courses are then mark
ed by wisps of straw stuck upright in
holes I'm the ice.-George w. Edwards
in Golfers
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
konher and Goitsr

One of the Nobel prizes recently
awarded at Stockholm, that for the
most Important discovery in medicine,
went to Professor Theodore Kocher of
Berne, Switzerland, who is now sixty
eight years old. Before DIR. Koeher
goiter was considered incurable. He
was the first. about 1880. to attack
this plague in the Valais canton, and
to deny that the taking away of the
golfer Mt first provoked cretinism and
then led TO death. He discovered the
causes of these phenomena. At the
surgical congress Of Berlin he commu-
nicated the results Of his researches.
He showed that the goiter could be
removed. but that 1t was necessary to
guard against the extirpation of the
gland to which 1t was attached.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
rrinidad,s Lake of Asphalt.

Notwithstanding the enormous guam.
tty of liquid asphaltum. or btu.
men, removed every year from the
great lake of that substance in the
island Of Trinidad the supply is un-
diminished. The lake covers about
a hundred acres and is higher In
the middle than at the edges Near the
center the black pitch is semi-liquid,
but toward the sides crust. inter
sected with assures, covers the sur
face. and on this crust a man can
walk, although when he stands for a
time the crust gradually sinks about
him. forming a kind of basin some
yards across. Between $4,000 and 3d.
600 tons of asphaltum are removed
from the lake annually.-Harper's
Weekly.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
GLASS HOUSES.
The Many Advantages That Are Claim
ed For Them.

within ten years people IN this
country VIII be building houses Of
glass which win excel in sanitary APP
pointments, beauty and durability and
also low cost of maintenance any type
OF structure OF the present time. In
other words. the American people
within ten years will be living in glass
houses. They viii thenceforth be I'M
able TO throw stones"
This was the interesting declaration
made recently by Roger S. Pease. one
of the oldest glassmakers In the Unit
ed States, a man who has taken an
active part in all the improvements
that have set the glass world face
TO face with new conditions and placed
II in line for the greatest development
In its long history. BY glass houses
Mr.. Pease said he meant just what
he said = foundations of concrete
which are now recognized as stand
ard; the walls of wired glass. the cell
ings and roofs Of wired glass and the
floors OF tile. covered with a light
sheeting Of wood. Such a building
win prove practically indestructible
can be made of any set of colors de-
sired and requires no painting. no pa
pering inside, will be sound proof
moisture proof and fireproof.
Mr.. Pease has planned a house tha'
will be composed of glass and is go
ing to have it finished in some color
that will make 1t attractive. and such
colors will be permanent
The moment this idea is started. Mr.
Pease declared. the public will be
quick to see the value of the material
Its cheapness and reliability ar, un
derstood Glass. be said. is the most
honest and most easily understood ma
terial in the world Ii is not mysteri-
Gus. and people will not have TO EN-
ploy experts to see that the quality Is
right. The glass for the walls of
houses need not be transparent. but
dense. like slate or stone. 1t will. how
ever, be hard ana durable. The roofs
can be of the same character of glass
1t withstands heat and cold alike. and
whatever patents may Interfere with
the cheapness of the material now are
so nearly expired that 1t will be but a
short time before these will be elimi
mated as a cost factor.-Pittsburg Ga
zette-Times.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09

Petroleum has been introduced into
medicine with beneficial results. and If
a Paris contemporary be not misin-
formed the properties of petrol are lin
itless. 1t is claimed. says the London
Globe, that from the residnals of crude
petrol a chemist has succeeded in ex-
tracing butter. 1t is said that butter
can be made from a base of nitrogen
and carbon. but that the residuals of
petroleum produce these elements, in
greater proportions even than milk. It
is further claimed that this artificial
butter is better than the natural. The
that of dairy butter.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
Machine Guns.

trovsrsy as to the identity of the mar
who invented machine guns. The in
vention has always been attributed Il
Calling and Nordenfelt, but 1t. was
recently asserted on some authority
that the real inventor was a japanese
In 1To4, who was promptly killed fol
being too clever. 1t has now been put
forward and hotly argued that what
may be called French patents existed
as far back as the fifteenth century
and some pieces in the artillery mu
scum are cited as evidence.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
A Practice, prsv.r

"And now. Lawd-uh." continued
Brother Fagg during a recent prayer
meeting in Ebenezer chapel, I'VE
would mo- especially ak thee to-
Well-uh, bless us to goodness. If dat
amt Brudder Dickery Wagstad come
back and uh-settin' right dar on de
left hand side! Sawtuh slip uh-twixt
him and de do. Lawd. and keep him
fun slidin' out befo' l kin git to him
and AK him how bout dem dar two
dollahs he borried offm me most a
yeah ago and den went away and
isn't paid back twell plumb yit!
Amenr'-Puck
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
New Metal For watchmakino.

The alloy called ''invar.' consisting
of steel mixed with about SO per cent
of nickel. which is practically invari
able in volume with ordinary changes
of temperature. was adopted IA yeaI
or two ago by Swiss watchmakers foI
making balances in the majority of
their best timepieces. The compensa-
ton for temperature thus obtained is
superior TO any hitherto known. For
many years watchmakers struggled
with an outstanding trouble in the
best compensated thermometers. due
principally to the nonlinear variation
of the elasticity of the steel of the
hairspring. By the use of the ''invar'
this error. it is stated. may be prac-
tically London Mail.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
What Bothered Her.


"Some women are very selfish said
a woman speaker al banquet. They
remind me OF the woman who visited
a fortune teller
Lady said the fortune teller.
shutting the cards. fate DEGREES that
you viii visit foreign lands, You viii
mingle in the court life of kings and
queens. Conquering all rivals. you
Will marry the man of your choice, a
tall, dark. handsome gent of distin-
guished ancestry-in fact, peer OF the
realm
xviii he be youngT
"'Yes; young and rich
1.-THE visitor ia her excitement clutch
ed the seer's arm.
but how. she cried eagerly-fhow
am / to get rid of my present hus-
bandT"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
The MALAY Shark.

The Malay shark, called the ''ikan
yn." is the one most dreaded by the
natives. During the terrible disaster
of the French steamer La Seyne from
its collision with the British ship On
da in the strait of RHO last Novem,
Der, many of the ninety passengers
lost were as soon as they reached the
waters of the strait, seized by the
sharks and dragged beneath the sur
face to be devoured by these fierce
Malayan fish. which are especially
feared by the native fishers and pearl
divers. Seventeen species iRhabit the
far eastern seas. some of them attain
ing length of twenty-five feet II is
reported that a black fin shark was
captured some time ago whose liver
weighed go pounds. The largest is
the basking shark. which ranges from
the Cape of Good Hope to Ceylon and
often exceeds fifty feet in length
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
Goaded.

Saving became a passion with the
man and the woman. No privation
was too great If so by it they might
add to their denominations. And they
labored jointly. The woman's sacrifice
was In every respect equal to that of
the man.
But when they had amassed $4,000
the man. because he had the power,
took the money and purchased with it
not the automobile which he had led
his faithful wife to expect, but a
home. ''Bruter' she cried. and when
next a mob of suffragettes came that
way she Joined them. Who could
blame her?-Puck.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
Remains Of a Famous Ship.

In scientific annals the Beagle. In
which Darwin made his first exploring
expedition. is almost as sacredly re.
membered as "Old Ironsides" in Amer
lean history. This ship has long been
lost from sight, and nobody knew ex.
actly what had become of it, ToyoZ
Noda now writes to Nature that the
Beagle was broken up in Japan, where
1t was used as a training ship unit
1899. and that part Of its ribs has
recently been found in use as stand
for stones piled up near the temple OF
Suitengu. near the oak shipbuildiDe
yard.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
Painless PAYMENTS.

Robbie often heard his father
plain of customers who were slow
lit is just like pulling teeth tC
money out OF them" the father v
say. and Robbie, who had wat
the work of the dentist next
pitied the poor creditors greatly.
One day a misery customer car
to pay bill. and the boy gazed
pathetically at the unwilling paw
he slowly and caressingly unf,
each separate banknote and laI
lingeringly on the counter. sud-
an idea came into hobbies head,
he turned excitedly to his father
"Why don't you give him gas, pa
he cried. Then 1t won't hurt hi
much."-Success Magazine.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
FRIENDLY ADVICE.
Josh Billings Parting Shot to Cheeky
Drummer

Josh Billings Parting shot TO Cheeky
Drummer.
About Christmas time once the some
time famous Josh Billings. humorist.
was on his way to his old home at
I.anesboro. Mass. On the train were
three travelling men who wanted a
game of whist One of them pointed
to unpretentious and unprepossessing
Josh and said:
Lets ask Rube into the game and
comb some of the hayseed out of his
hair"
MY venerable friend he said as
he laid his hand on the shoulder of the
old man, will you join us in a game
Of whist?'
"Ya-as; we viii get there in abaout
three hours" replied Josh. putting his
hand to his ear.
You don't seem to understand" said
the young fellow in a louder tone. I'VE
want you TO take a hand
"Ya-as; the stand o. corn has been
unusual good this year,
MY friend" the young fellow then
yelled. will you take a hand In
game?"
1d-dS, WIS TENN Mauuy tnlS
morniD' how plenty an how fat the
game is this year.
"Oh, you go to the devil!" shouted
the young fellow as he took his seat.
while the other drummers unmerci-
fully pestered him.
When Lanesboro was reached the
old fellow got up. handed one of his
Josh Billings cards to each one of the
trio and then said to his interlocutor:
young man, while you are travel
ing on your cheek don't get any hay
seed on your clothes or the other
drummers will take you for RUDE
and get you into some game and skin
you Pittsburg Dispatch.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
Madam Millionaire.

Price Hill want to marry your
daughter.
Grandin Road-Impossible, my son
My daughter has expensive tastes,
and
Price Hill-But l can crafty them.
have chicken farm that yields
more than three dozen eggs a day.
Grandin Road-Take her, my boy.
had no idea you were a millionaire
Cincinnati Commercial Tribune.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
AN IMPEcUNloUs sHoPpI

am woman. 50 of course love |,
gain well.
/ soy TO read the daily ads OF wha, 4.
is TO sell.
And II 1 had the money should hasa
buy a lot
OF stun 1 didn't need-oh. yes, nd
as like as not!
ia buy silk stockings No. s. n dozen
box.
And hats with plumes a-waving "a
foolish. frilly frocks;
Some pairs OF dainty boots. size 3, I'd
ed down from six to four"
And gloves and gloves and gloves
gloves--lxid. silk and suede galors
But. oh. cannot spare the cash. hee,
we have to eat.
And / cannot ind n market that has
gain sales of meat
"A tender sirloin. part price OF. Y
outlets, strictly calf"
''Roasts warranted at cost" and IA
marked smartly down TO half
bargains in meat" Oh. much raj
to see a truthful ad.
Like that I'd 30 to market then, SCI
and blithe and glad.
But where ah. where. is such a nd
Nowherel So repeat
/ can't have T.ifty clothes because
family has TO eat
Grace Stone Field in Pua
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
JUVENILE COURTS.
Modern Methods of DeaEns With De.
linquent Youngsters.


linquent Youngsters.
Before the days OF the juvenile court
the youngster arrested for ball playing
or shooting craps was taken before
n judge and tried In much the same
way as the burglar or sneak thief who
was perhaps arrested at the same
time and carried to the court in the
same patrol wagon. The procedure
today. described by Judge Baker Of
Boston In the Survey, is entirely diff
ferent. Here is a case which Judge
Baker cites as typical There is no
pretentious bar of justice, no frowning
judge, just the boy and the man.
John, do you know what you have
been brought to court for?"
81 suppose it is about Mrs. Does
money"
"What have you got to say about il T.
Il took IL, but IL was the first time"
etc.
The attendance of at least one par
ent at court at the beginning of the
case is of course always insisted on,
and after the above conversation the
parents and the police officer in charge
Of the case and sometimes the aggriey-
ed parties are brought into the room, If
they were not admitted with the boy,
and the judge says:
'John says it is true that he took
Mrs. Does money, and l adjudge him
delinquent, and he has the right to APP
peal"
The police officer is then dismissed.
the child sent out of the room, and
the judge talks over the case with the
parents and the probation officer, and
the parents can thus be admonished,
II ACCOMPLISHMENT is necessary. without
the risk of lowering them in the esti-
nation of the child and thereby fur
Their impairing their already INSULT
Gent control. Then the child Is
brought back and informed OF the dis
position of his case, with such com
ments on his past behavior and such
admonition or encouragement as seem
appropriate.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
Daniel K. Pearsons.

Daniel IL. Pearsons. who has given
away more than $4.000.000 TO forty
seven colleges in twenty--four states,
was born in Vermont in 1920 and grew
up among the granite hills in poverty.
He was successfully a schoolteac her.
a physician and a farmer. but finally
began to make his fortune as a real
estate dealer in Chicago. Mrs. Pear
sons died recently. and since then DIR.
Pearsons has lived quietly at Hins-
dale, Ill. looking after the colleges in
which he is interested through his
gifts. AT ninety years of age he is
still strong and vigorous.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
The Palace of choraaan.

The palace of Choragan. in Constan-
tinople. recently destroyed by fire. was
built by Sultan Abdul Aziz and was
the finest of the palaces on the Bos-
porus. 1t was constructed of marble.
and the interior was remarkable for
the beauty of the sculptured orna-
ments in marble and wood. For many
years it was the home of the deposed
sultan. Murad v. and was inaccessi-
BILE to visitors 1t was occupied by the
Turkish parliament when that body
was formed little more than year
ago.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
Old snx oak.

What is known as the-"old spy
oak" stands close to the intersection
of Westminster, Hobart and Morris
Park avenues, in the Bronx 1t is a
tree of fine appearance. having a diam
eter of five feet at a distance of five
feet above the ground. There is nc
defini%e history of the Old monarch.
but tradition has 1t that 1t was the
tree from which spies were hanged
DUNG the Revolutionary war. Efforts
are being made to preserve it--New
York Press.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
Eorns of Habit

Seeing that you divorced
would it not be more proper to
to him as your former husband n
than as your late husbandT'
Il suppose it would, but l 60
used to having to refer to him as
late husband while we were maj
that l don't seem to be able to b
myself of the habit. Chicago Rex
Herald
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
Eneraver's Name on Hungarian Co

Ensraver's Name on Hungarian Coin.
1t is reported from Budapest that
10000 five-kronen pieces have been
called in by the kormozer mint to be
remelted owing to the fact that the
sngraver had placed his own name be-
meath the effigy Of the sovereign in
Ftead of the monarch's initials. The
name had been impressed in such
small characters that it was not no.
ticed until the coins had been issued.
The man was under the deIusion that
be was the monarch and shortly after
ward, owing to an acute attack OF in
sanity, was sent to an asylum.-Bsr-
liner Morgenpost-
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
EPIGRAMs or THE SHOP.
Weekly Bulletin Issued BY Cynical
Manager Who Thinks He's Funny.

weekly Bulletin Issued by Cynical
Manager Who Thinks He's Funny.
The office manager OF n wholesale
house. who has something like 800
men under his supervision, each week
issues a set of business epigrams TO
his assistants and department heads
This Is what be said last week:
I'm hiring a man ask him IL he ever
worked for any OF our competitors. IL
he has take him on. You can get out
of him in a week all he knows about
The other fellow and Ere him In two
weeks If he isn't any good.
''Don't~fef past performances weigh
too heavy in judging an applicant
Look at his eyes and chin. There's
more to be learned in two minutes in
n mans face than in ten years Of his
past record
'1f you think that one OF your men
has outlived his usefulness with us
ask him If he can get another job. IL
he says Sure and means II keep him
with you. His slackness probably is
your fault, not hjs.N Stir him up.
Don't for minute let your men
see that you know there is anything
more important in the world than get
ting out the days work | knew
man once who disorganized a whole
department by talking ancient history
during lunchtime.
Don't overlook your Office boys.
The man who owns this business was
once one himself
Remember. the growth of this firm
and the increase of competition de-
mand that this weeks work be just
little better than-last
Think II over nowr'-Chicago Trib-
une.