davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06
The Fight in
The Desert.

noble English sport of boxing" was
in its prime; when the sporting
prints which we so fastidiously col.
lecJ nowadays were being made;
when even the King-at least old
George IV-had his man at the
ringside 10 run back as fast as ever
he could with news of the result /:
when the challenger cast his hat into
the ring before he stripped. and the
men sat on their bottle-holders' knees
between rounds and fought with
bare fists on a little circle of green
turf enclosed by carts and gigs before
the swells in their white box coats
and the admiring fancy.
They were fights then. going TO an
incredible number Of rounds. Men
wrestled as well as boxed. and grab
bed each other by the hair with one
hand and hammered with the other,
and hurled each other to earth in
true Homeric style. and lay battered
and bloody only 10 rise magically in
a moment and go 10 il again.
Our own John L.-"Y Yours truly,
John L.. always on the levels
about the only relic we have Of those
days. The fight he won from Jake
Kilrain in 1859 was the last cham
pionship under the old London prize
ring rules. And as he drifted through
the crowd at Reno. with his little
gray cap above his big warriors
mustache and once terrifying eyes.
and his top-heavy body swaying
above his tight trouser legs with a
black band Of braid down the side
as he shook hands like an absent
minded old mastif with whoever
tried 10 shake with him. growing
huskily. How are you? Glad 20 see
YOU. What's your name?-he was
still an undefeated champion. a relic
OF the time when. as Mr.. Billy De
laney rather sententiously remarked
the night before the fight. 1t was
just a case Of brush of the snow.
strip 20 the bun. double up your bare
fists. and 90 10 It,"
wonder what simple old gladiator
OF the pre-Sullivauite Randall
or Tom Crib. Sayers. Heenan. the
TiWon Slasher. o. Jim Belcher. the
Pet OF the Fancy would have
thought OF purse of S121.O0O and
movingpicture royalties. vaudeville
engagements. and so on which meant
20 the winner. II the white man had
won. something over half a million
dollars? OF wine agents and war cor
respondents, and all the curious. top
heavy accessories which surrounded
this argument between two not par
ticularly Indispensable citizens?
Every night for a week before the
fight between 100. 600 and 10000
words-two popular novels-tO be
doubled many times before they
reached the newspapers 10 which
they were telegraphed out 10
the world from Reno.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06

Strange. Wonderful. but True are
the Awe Stricken Tests given by
The Great Australian Medium.
PROF. ID. ID. BRUCE. NJ. ID.
the only living Apostle OF Science
of the Mysteries.
$4,000 I'm Gold to any one I'm the
World to compete with him. Pos
eessing more power than any four
mediums combined.
No card. trance or hand humbsg
Greatest Hindoo Medium I'm the
World.
60 GREAT IS HIS POWER that
he can tell you while in . Ciairvoy-
ant state. all you wish to know web
out woe being spoken. Come.
all ye unbelievers. scoffers and jssr-
ers: bring all your skepticism 9Th
you-he will open your eyes to the
private chamber mystery. Come ali
ye broken hearted wives. all with
low spirits and let him lift the bur
den from your aching and Jealous
heart He challenges the World 70
compete with him in causing q
speedy marriage with the one you
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06
THE AFTER.EFFECT.

The white race. whose supremacy
this contest was going TO establish.
must naturally. have been as dead
as the Aztecs or the InCas: but the
representatives Of it in Reno seem
ed TO battle their way into the over
flowing restaurants tonight with
their usual interest. 10 smoke their
black cigars with their customary
zest, and gaze out at the pink and
lavender lights turning 20 purple
and ashes in the distant mountains
with the usual air OF equanimity.
They reasoned, I believe, that there
hadn't been any fight, that JEFF
fries was only q shell OF q man and
IL wasn't certain that they were con
WINGED that he even had any arms.
That was all very we'll after the
event and for those who forget how
things stood when the battle open.
ed. But any one who happened 20
see. from Johnson's corner. the face
of Jim Jenries as he climbed into
the ring. and felt the focused mind
and heard the taunts and jeers OF
the hostile crowd. knows that IL
took something more taan boxing
skill for that black man 20 go out
and meet his fate; that he had con-
centration right enough II IL didn't
show on the outside. and stood on
his own feet and thought for himself
and fought and vanQuished a brave
opponent cleanly and like a brave
man.-Collier's Weekly.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06

gin. but az least ones notes need not
sound as stilted as though a letter
form were copied. Be natural. CRATE
ful. neither fowery nor gushing. and
do not forget 10 include the name OF
your aance In your acknowledgment.
Though sent To the bride. and really
hers. wedding presents are sent to
both
When the sender lives IN your town
II Is customary in your note to tell
her you will be glad 10 have her come
In TO see your presents. This is par
ucularly thoughtful where there Is to
be no reception.
Besides seeing gifts more IeisureIy
intimate friends enjoy looking at
cards. which are always removed be
fore formal display.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06

The holder illustrated must be made
In proportion TO the scissors II is des-
tined TO contain. and consists OF an
oval piece OF stout cardboard covered
on both sides with watered silk. and
In the center there is a strap OF silk
into which the scissors may be slipped
point downwards and held In their
place. The holder Is edged all round
with narrow frill OF ribbon and there
is loop OF ribbon with a bow at the
top by which il may be suspended
from the wall
The colors Of the materials in which
II is made should be chosen 70 har-
monte with the colors OF the wall pa
per on which Il is TO hang.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06
A New Dessert.

This new dessert occurred 70 me one
day when arranging TO entertain guests
at dinner. To four tablespoonfuls OF
powdered tapioca I added half a cup
full OF cold water. letting the two stand
undisturbed for about an hour then.
added four tablespoonfuls Of sugar and
one and half cupluls of boiling wa
ter and cooked the mixture until the
tapioca had become clear. At this
point added half cupful Of the sirup.
from Jar OF preserved ginger and n
quarter Of cupful % ginger itself.
first cutting e into small pieces When
nearly cold the result was poured into.
sherbet glasses and before being
served was piled high with WhIpped
cream that had previously been ia
vorCd with vanilla. The quantity
given will an six glasses.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06

love; uniting the separated and
bring back the lost one. Traces l0at
or stolen goods. UneaFths htSidsn
treasures. Removes evil influences
Crosses. Spells. Ill Luck, cures tricks
and COMPUTATIONS. gives LUCK and
Success In all you undertake. Cures
the Tobacco and Liquor Habits. Al
lows the Captive to be set Free.
He is the only one that viii give
Written Guarantee TO complete
your business or refund your moneJ.
Are you sickG Do you know what
the trouble is with yos2 Come ano
Consult Natures Doctor.
Rheumatism. Insomnia. Hysteria
and all Diseases cured. Points given
on Horse Racing and all Games OF
Chance.
No matter what ails yeu, come
and see this wonderful man. Read
er have you noticed that some peo-
pie have q hard time to get along,
no matter how they toll. while 9TH
ers have success Many wealthy
men and women their success
TO this wonderful NAL
He will tell you win
marry. VIII you be napy ne
will tell you who your friends ana
enemies are. Can you tell7 Don't
take leap In the dark. but be aTi-
vised by this wonderful man. Great
est Prophet In existence
he always Succeeds when others.
fall. This Ia the chance OF q life
line. Don't let 1t pass you.
ONCE hours: A. NJ. TO $50 p. M.
Sunday: z:S0 to 1880 p. M.
N. B.-Our consultation Fec Ia
SO cents. sittings, 500. An let
ters containing 500 win be an
swered In full.
MAIN OFFICE:
$40 8. sth Street. Philadelphia. Pa
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06
EdaIna coIlariess ErnoL

The frills OF net, linen and lace are
dainty and smart
But they are by no means universal
ly becoming
They have a tendency TO make the
neck longer and the shoulders mar
rover.
For those who cannot risk this eff
feet there are various devices.
Traceries OF braid are effective. set
on an edging band TO about an inch
in width. in running design.
A piping OF black or Of plain color
makes a pretty finish.
band OF French knots with a sus.
gestion FOR the embroiderer.
There are many combinations and
braiding which even the amateur
might achieve with little time and
effort
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06
FIGHTING WITH THE MIND.

He thought the negro ought to
win. He had the strength and skill,
yet he couldn't quite make himself
sure of that seemingly vague, good
humored will.
Mind" he said to me one day.
squirting through the half-Opened
eye and tapping his temple with one
finger, Its all mind. If you go into
a contest with your mind right
you've got the other man beaten al
ready. And that negro" he waved
his hands vaguely. loose No con.
centration. If he don't wake up, he
might get knocked out in the first
round. Look at Jeffries. He's going
into a fight. Temperament. that's
the whole thing. Give me eleven men
and time enough and I'll put into
their hearts the idea that they are
going TO win and you can't beat 'em.
That's what training is. Roosevelt
would make a good trainer"
"Ha!" he cackled, that's the way
we used TO beat Harvard-we had
'em beaten when we came onto the
field" He tapped his chest mysteri-
ously. Here"
and parts. In the contagious bite
and snap of his words was the very
mysticism and poetry OF fighting.
On the Saturday before the fight,
Mr.. Tom Shevlin, who used 10 do
terrific things TO the Harvard line.
now a glittering lumber king or
something of the sort, came to cast
his practised eye over the warriors.
AS the three of us rode back TO town
together. the old trainer tapped his
head and murmured the one word.
Bad" Mr.. Shevlin put his mouth
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06

seemed to know everything that was
going on in and out of the ring with
out at any time paying close atten-
ton. deliberately turned his head
and smiled. He looked fierce occa-
sionally. but that was only when he
Tented. When something real and
dangerous was TO be done. he was
apparently dreaming placidly as the
flowers of May.
A MIRAGE FOR THE MULTITUDE.
The rest is an old story now-how
the big man, bleeding. beaten. but
glazing stubbornly out Of his one
good eye. bored steadily in as the
bull charges the matador toward the
end of his fight; how. suddenly. the
main drama about which had gath
cred such a curiously modern and
topheavy mountain Of accessories.
rushed 20 its swift and unexpected
conclusion. In the thirteenth round
the crafty black turned loose for a
moment. and il was all over then
but the shouting.
In the fourteenth and fifteenth
rounds, however. the old champion
came crOuching back. groggy but
willing, in the fifteenth there was
a quick clash. and all at once his
tree-like legs cavej in. and the great
hairy-brown hulk, which had never
been Knocked down before nor
beaten, sank close 20 the ropes. The
crowd didn't cheer. II rose and
stood and stared. as II the solid
ground beneath IL were turning to
mirage
At the count of nine Jenries got
to his feet. only 20 be sent back again
this time between the ropes. His
camp followers. forgetting them
selves in the desperation of the mo-
ment. pushed him 20 his feet. but
IL was only TO staEger across the
ring and go down again. and for
the last time, on the other side.
They lifted the fallen idol ami
slapped his big shoulders and led
him away; men rushed down and
hoped over the sputtering tele-
graph instruments. TO cut the ropes
and floor canvas into souvenirs. and
Mr.. Jack Arthur Johnson. with only
a slightly cut lin. rode back TO camp
in his automobile with a harder road
ahead OF him than any ne ever yet
has travelei-the gilded. beguiliug
pathway of him who is not climbing
but has arrived.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06

Colossus of white man, not a fight
'er in the ''scrappy" sense of the word
rather a sort of grizzly bear. bored
by people and photographers and
noise, and much preferring 10 bury
himself in the mountains and fish.
He didn't want TO fight again. Pub
lie clamor made him.
And yet you had but 20 look at
that vast hairy body. those legs like
trees, the long projecting jaw. deep
set. scowling eyes, and wide. thin.
cruel mouth. to know that here was
an animal who would stand up and
give battle as long as il could see.
whom cleverness could not rufle.
nor blows dismay.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06
THE HORDE OF SPECIAL
WRITER'S.

In addition TO the regular war cor
respondents, most OF the prize-fght.
ers temporarily disengaged from tho
practice OF their profession were also
writing daily critiques for the pa
pers. Seine, 20 be sure. merely con
tributed the color Of their signatures
and photographs while weary bu.
more articulate reporters did the
actual work; but there was at least
one shining exception, and the sight
OF Air. Battling Nelson. with his caul-
FLOWER ears growing redder and red
der as he struggled nightly in the in
tricacies of the literary art with the
public stenographer in the crowded
lobby of the Hotel Golden, was one
Of the fights most fascinating pie
lures.
And this had been going on more
or less similarly not only for DAYS
but for months. Several newspapers
had regular Office headquarters, as at
a political convention. One san
Francisco paper had fourteen fabul-
ously-paid special writer's, including
two red-blood novelists one of whom,
was accompanied by a manager at
least. IL not by trainer. and all try
ing 10 say each day the same thing
in fourteen different ways. One OF
its rivals. not TO be outdistanced.
threw its papers OF the train AID into
an automobile on the west side OF
the Sierras and shot through the
night over Nevada and to Reno two
hours ahead of the train. These two
newspaper automobiles raced over
the same course, and after that
another paper loaded it's papers into
an automobile as they fell from the
presses In San Francisco at two
O'Clock in the morning. flew clear
across California and over the
mountains. and arrived in Reno the
next afternoon considerably ahead
of the train.
There were correspondents from
London and Australia, and even NJ.
Dupuy, of the Paris Figaro" trav-
eled across those American deserts,
mysterious and immeasureable, Ito
deserve NJ. Jen and NJ. Jack John
son make the box. One overland
train, white with alkali dust. would
pull in with Big Tim Sullivan of
New York or Charlie Millett of Null
len Centre, Iowa, and his friend Bill
<AhOAutl Nouiu COME III from the
West and out would step a little
band of Australians, speaking a
quaint, modified cockney of the col
onies
And fighters were SO thick that
as you pushed through the mob in
front of the Golden, with the faro
chips and roulette wheels clicking
in Jim Mays and the Fafner-like
believing of the megaphone filing
the street with betting odds. you al
ways looked first at each mans left
ear to see whether 1t was Topped over
and grown together like an oyster or
the ear of the ordinary non-fighting
man.
No one who was not there can
easily understand what a curiously
enthralling drama a simple fight can
be made into when thus isolated in
quiet little desert city ami ana
lyzed. colored. and vitaliZed by the
nervous intelligence of two or three
hundred keen and imaginative men
with nothing else to do. All the raw
material was there. They only need
ed to be made interesting.
On the one hand was this brown
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06
THE IMPULSE OF TRADITIONS

But what 90 was thought he didn't
have-and this is what made the
fight between the mature thinking
white man and the light-hearted.
seemingly careless. negro most in
teresting- that logged courage
and intellectual Initiative which is the
white mans Inheritance. For in any
supreme effort there comes a mo-
ment when cleverness and technique
count for nothing and the issue is
decided by that something which
goes down through painting lungs
and beating heart and straining mus
cles and calls for the very core and
soul of the man. And IL is here, other
things being equal. that a negro is
always at a disadvantage. He has no
traditions behind him. He stands
alone. The white man has thirty
centuries OF traditions behind him
all the supreme efforts. the inven-
tiOns and the conquests, and whether
he knows it or not. Bunker Hill and
Thermopylae and Hastings Agin-
court
You should have seen Mr.. Mike
Murphy throw back his head. close
one eye tight shut. and with just a
crack showing in the other like the
eye OF some curious withered. wise
old bird. and with the insight gained
from training generations of runners
and football men, go straight TO the
heart OF things in his cacKling, half
quizZical drawl. He didn't believe,
even when the talk was widest, that
Jeffries could come back. NO man
ever did" he would say. and no
man ever will. There are three things
You can't beat-nature, instinct, and
death"
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06
LOUISA BURFORD,
Beneficiary.
HOLDER FOR THE SCISSORS
Novel Receptacle Intended for Hang
Ing IN conVenient Place
Upon the Wall.

Bright and decorative little articles
are always desirable additions to a
room. and we give a sketch OF a novel
holder for pair Of scissors intended
for hanging upon the wall by the side
OF the writing-table y.
Scissors rank among those things so
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06

necessary TO have. either on OF within
unless some special place Is assigned
10 them. they are generally missinf
when most recri' cd.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06

Midlothian. Va. July %. 1910,
This is to certify that our Grand
District Deputy Sir John Bland came
20 Midlothian Lodge No. 14O. paid
the death claim of our deceased broth
er. Sir John Burford, Jr. one Humid
dred and Fifty Dollars in a public
meeting, in the presence of witnesses
Paid 10 his mother.
LOUISA BURFORD.
Beneficiary.
Witnesses:
Sir Henry Choice, Jr.,
X. OF r. and s,
Sir Harry Robinson, NJ. f.
Sir Henry c. Jones.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06

close 10 Murphy's ear-for the latter
is hard of hearing now--'Rotten,' 80
ne shouted. NO concentration. He's
going mp against a locomotive for
TWO hours. and he don't know il. I
want 10 see a man worried Go of
by himself and not want 20 talk 10
people. When ] played football"-he
tapped his dove-colored waistcoat-
All gone here. Couldn't eat. could
mt sleep. Took two months 10 get
my digestion back after the season
was over. But when l went out into
the field''-Mr. Shev!in lifted his
excellent shoulders inquiringly. and
as J had enjoyed the sad pleasure of
seeing him hit the Harvard line. he
needed 70 say no more. Good heav-
ems. that mans going into a battle.
and be don't know II YETI"
RENO OR BUST"
Well. no ride with Tom Turtle
on top a stage-coach through the
finest English country I'm the snap
pest fall weather could have been
more splendid and exciting than the
morning of the fight. The day dawn
ed spOtlessly clear. one of those still
crystalline mornings which come in
the thin dry air of the mountain
desert country. The town was
jammed Miles. IL seemed. Of dusty
Pullmans stretched down the tracks.
above their dining-car roofs the
blue smoke of the breakfast fires.
From east and west other trains kept
pouring in, and dustier still and
honking Eaily as they came. touring
cars with ragged signs of Reno. or
Bust
There wera Indians. Cinnamon.
Hindus. New York wine-agents. and
other queer fish. bat above all IL
was mans crowd-of husky men.
boyish, in high spirits. talking at a
great rate, and i'm the Iiveliest good
humOr. about the difficulties of get
ting breakfast, getting shave. and
about the prospects of the fight.
You must imagine 2 bright green
little oasis, ten or fifteen miles across
set iu a sort of dish of bare enclosing
mountains-,brown mountains with
patches OF yellow and olve-green
and exquisite wells of mauve and
amethyst and at their tops. blazing
white through the clear afr. patches
OF austere snow. I'm the center of
all this "a great pine 0ear-pit had
been raised, glazing white and hot
in the blazing desert sun. and into
this at 1880 O'Clock that afternoon
1000 men were crowded with their
eyes fixed on a little roped square
in the center.
The betting was 10 TO or : on
Jedries and the talk about 1000 20
I. You couldn't hurt him-Fitzsim-
mons had landed enough times 20
kill an ordinary man I'm the first few
rounds. and Jenries had only shaken
his head like a bull and bored in
The negro might be a clever boxer.
but he has never been up against a
real fighter before. He had q yellow
streak. there was nothing 20 10. ana
anyway. lets hope ne kills the
coon"
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1910-08-06
A Gagged BEAR.

There was nothing winsome about
Jeffries. He was as surly and ugly as
a Gagged bear. He would tide sast you
on a country road. returning alone
from a fishing trip crouched in the
rear seat Of his automobile. swarthy.
glOwering. chewing gum, and never
so much as notice your greeting by
the flicker OF an eyelid. After the ma
chine had stopped at the gate of
his training quarters and a crowd
Of harmleSsly demented admirers
had gathered about il. he would
sometimes sit there without moving
for five or ten minutes, still glover
ing straight ahead. chewing gum and
seeing only. as il seemed. the vision
of his black rival coming TO meet
him across the ring. There was some
thing peculiarly sinister in this sta
tic ferocity, and he did not lessen
the impression when he climbed down
at last and walked slowly away. see
ing no one, with his huge right arm.
partly contracted and slowly saving
the air as If aimed for a blow.
He's John Ridd." said Mike Muir
ply 20 me one day. You've read
Lorna Doone' He's another John
Ridd"
Lii Artha' Johnson. the negro
was as different as could be About
twenty pounds lighter than Je0ries.
with a rather lathy underbody and
superb shoulders and arms. he was
as smooth and sleek and supple as
a seal just coming out of the water
Light-hearted. humorous witty even
as ne show ej-even during the thick
of the battle-w hen any one ven
tured 20 engage him I'm repartee. he
yet had the EoOd sense or Cleverness
TO keep the respectful ingratiating
ways OF the Southern darkey. He was
quiet. well-mannerd. generous I'm
what he said of his opponent. and.
indeed. not without an almost win
some charm.
In the ring he at once became fas-
cinating. There was mystery In that
slow. fat-footed shuttle. in the way
his gloves. moving slowly about his
opponents biceps. turned like light
ming either to block a lead or shoot
i'm a blow. With seemingly INDECENT
grace and his drowsy smile. he would
stand up before George Cotton. his
big black sparring partner. and catch
and turn aside a rain OF blows as
easily as big brother might play
pease-porridge-hot with his little sis
ter. Once during the fight, when JEFF
fries started a left swing for the
wind that looked enough 20 fell an
OK, the negro caught IL i'm just the
same way, and Jeffries's arm stopped
as his biceps met the black mans
right as neatly as il il were a ball
settling into the catcher's glove