davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14
A Strange Wind That withers

The name of hamattan has been
given a periodical wind which blows
from the interior of Africa toward the
Atlantic during the three months Of
December, January and February. It
sets in with a fog or dry haze, which
sometimes conceals the sun for whole
weeks together. Every plant, every
leaf Of grass in its course, is withered
as though it had been scared by heat
from a furnace. Often within an hour
after il begins to blow green grass is
dry enough to burn like paper. Even
the hardened natives lose all the skin
on exposed parts during the prevalence
OF this whitening wind.
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14
The oueerest Hoosier is Dead

indianapolis, Ind, Jan. 11.-Alger-
non Wintermute. the strangest charac-
ter in Indiana, has just died at his
home in this city.
He was about eighty years of age
and for fifty years had been a fortune
teller and mind reader. He had been
divorced from his wife, but she occu-
WED the rear of the house, owned
Jointly by both, but the doors had
been nailed up and wired.
For twenty years Wintermute's chief
occupation was going daily to to the
dumps, picking up old tin cans and
other rubbish, bringing it home and
decorating his lawn. In some places
this rubbish had been piled up till it
reached the lower limbs of the trees.
The apartments occupied by Winter
mute in the cottage were equally
strange in appearance. In the living
room is roughly constructed chicken
coop and inside it two live chickens.
Tin cans arranged on strings, suggest
i've of Japanese bells, are hung about
the rooms. There are piles Of bould-
ers, Junk and trash in all the three
rooms occupied by the man; he even
stored them away in tin pans in the
drawers of a dresser, the closets, and
other places.
1t is believed that the man pos
sessed a fortune and that it is hidden
somewhere on the premises. The cor
oner had an administrator appointed
and the police took charge of the
place. Two thousand people gathered
around the house when it was learned
the old man was dead.
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14
May be Humble, but There's Comfort

In the midst of the present extrava-
ganza Of automobile and aeroplane rae
ing it is refreshing to take notice, oc-
casionally, OF the horse. Witness the
feat OF an Illinois horse who belongs to
a mail carrier. He has travelled
twenty-six miles day for twenty-five
months, or a total of over $1,000
miles.
1t is impressive to note that in all
this distance this horse did not pune
ture a tire, lose a bolt, wear out a
bearing, foul spark plug, or run out
OF gasoline ten miles from home.
Moreover, he did not once exceed the
speed limit, run over hog or skid on
a corner. His chauffeur never killed
his engine on a hill, nor did he have
to get out after an hour or two and
crank him from in front. The horse
climbed every hill and pulled through
every mudhole, and at the end of the
1900 miles his owner did not find
that it would cost about 800 to re-
place his bearings, rebuild his mag
neto, and take the carbon out Of his
cylinders.
Truly, the horse may be humble,
but there is much comfort in him.
Aurora Beacon.
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14
May Change Color of Your Skin

Boston, Mass, Jan. 100. T.
Simpson, before the American Society
for the Advance Of Science, at its jan
uary meeting, declared that eventually
the dark-skinned races can become
light, and the light people darker in
hue.
my experiments with plants and
animals" said Mr.. Simpson, have
shown me that once a perfect control
can be made of chromosomes, the life
giving forces of colors, injections or
baths can be made which will result in
future generations becoming lighter or
darker as may be desired. The black
est negro can be made into perfect
Albino by this process"
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14
A PuCkerleSs Persimmon

Washington, D. c., Jan. IA
puckerless persimmon is the hope OF
the future. Department Of agriculture
officials are figuring on fruit that will
not draw the jawbone out Of place, and
yet can be transported reasonable dis
lance without spelling.
Japanese persimmons hold the rec
ord for size. They also have all medals
for drawing the mouth through the
back of the neck. It is proposed to
mix the Japanese kind with some
softer tongued brand from the southern
United States, and thus gradually
weaken the astringent properties.
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14
Supreme Justice Howard Says Things

The age Of patriotism has yielded
to the age Of commercialism. Upper
most in the human mind today is not
the Stars and Stripes, but the dollar
mark"
Such was the declaration Of Supreme
Court Justice Wesley o. Howard, in
an opinion rendered few days ago re-
ducing the compensation of members
Of a commission appointed to appraise
damages to property resulting from the
construction of the Ashokan reservoir
in Ulster county, which is to furnish a
water supply for New York city.
While the commission furnishes
avenues for the reckless escape Of
many dollars, there are other channels
of leakage and waste fully as appall-
ing said Justice Howard. It is
greatly to be regretted that no public
enterprise can be projected and con-
summated without this appalling loss
called graft. Graft is not necessarily
an illegal expenditure. of money, but it
is that unnecessary, wasteful use that
characterizes the construction Of every
public venture. At least 40 per cent
of all money appropriated for public
use is lost in graft. All things could
be possible if this frightful leak could
be stopped-roads, canals, libraries,
asylums and hospitals.
Graft is as much an element to be
reckoned with in computing the cost
of public structure as is cement or
labor. It has come to be matter of
course-this rake-of-a loss recog-
nized by all who make estimates Of
cost in such cases. A public structure
built honestly would be freak.
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14

Chas E Buttles to Jas T Fisher, lots
"A, Is. 10, blk 43, replat first add to
Wen; $1,000.
M Horan to Col Valley Bank, NV 5
22-20; 81.
II Crollard to Lambert Cadwalader,
half lot /, blk 81, replat first add TO
Wen; 81.
w w Rice to R A May, frac lots !
and 2, blk 7, Leav Land Co first add
to Leav; 81.
Geo w Payton to Jas H McGohan,
lot "a. " IS # lot IS, blk D., G n
plat, Wen; $500.
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14

How countryfed your streets look, !"
says the visitor, gazing out Of the Office
window. See all those big wagons
loaded with hay going here and there. B"
Hay, nothingP' calculates the
other man. That's the way the de-
partment stores send out their retail
orders Of false hair for the women. .
Chicago Post.
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14
What's This?

During the absence Of the family Of
Charles S. Fell, editor of the Gle Elum
Echo, from home one night last week,
burglars entered the house and carried
of $40 in cash, 500 in nuggets, and
watches and jewelry, the total value
being about 5000. The thieves were
not apprehended. -.
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14

why, John, your face is red and
almost raw. Have you been getting
into another scrape?"
Yes, my dear. I went TO that
cheap tonsorial parlor again.
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14
Young Rockefeller Not a Good Finander

The annual report Of the Rockefeller
Bible class in the Fifth Avenue Bap-
fist church, New York, shows that the
average Sunday morning contribution
was ten and one-third cents. The
class treasury is alarmed because this
average shows falling off of slightly
more than two cents from last year S
reDOrt
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14
OUR CURIO CORNER
Odd Facts and Fancies That Go to Make Up the Sum
Total of Human Existence

A man has just been captured in
Chicago who has been making his liv-
ing by writing sacred songs and steal
ing horses.
The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1910-01-14

Maize Dingwell offered to sell
kisses at the church bazaar for dollar
apiece
Dear me! Did she do well?'
No. She made the mistake Of
giving away a few samples, and then
nobody would buy"
Fort Pierce news., 1910-12-16
Gladiators.

The gladiators were originally male
factors who fought for their lives or
captives who fought for freedom. They
were first exhibited at the funeral cere-
monies Of the Romans. 26S B. c., and
afterward at festivals about 215 B. @.
When Dacia was reduced by Trojan
1000 gladiators fought at Rome for 123
days in celebration Of his triumph. 1t
is said that in the triumphs Of Pompey
the Great 10000 fought through a
series of many days. These cOmbats
were suppressed In the east by the
Emperor Constantine about A. D. 325
and In the west by Theodore in A. D.
50O-New York American.
Fort Pierce news., 1910-12-16
Christmas Eve
In Rural England

It was a brilliant moonlight night
but extremely cold. Our chaise whirled
rapidly over the frozen ground, The
postboy smacked his whip necessarily,
and a part Of the time his horses were
on a gallop. HE knows where he Is
going" said my companion, laughing,
"and Is eager to arrive In time for
some Of the merriment and good cheer
OF the servants hall, My father is a
devotee of the old school and prides
himself on keeping up something of
old English hospitality. He was al
ways scrupulous In exacting our holl-
days and having us around him on
family festivals 1t was the policy of
the good old gentleman to make his
children feel that home was the hap
piest place In the world, and / value
this delicious home feeling as one of
the choicest gifts parent can bestow."
The squire ushered us at once to the
company, which was assembled in
large. old fashioned hall. 1t was COM
posed Of different branches Of numer-
Gus family connection, They were
variously occupied and a profusion of
wooden horses, penny trumpets and
tattered dolls about the floor showed
traces Of little troop of fairy beings
that had frolicked through a happy
day.
While the mutual greetings were go
ing on between Bracebridge and his
relatives 1 had time to scan the apart.
ment The crate had been removed
Fort Pierce news., 1910-12-16

"Yasak" 1T is forbiddenI, said the
custom house,
"Yasak." echoed the sentry on duty'
The foreigner said whatever was
the equivalent to rubbish" and de-
manded the tree.
Here was a nice quandary Tor the
authorities. Evidently 1t was a most
fearful thing to receive a tree from
abroad, and yet the consignee was
capable Of getting some one into very
serious trouble II he did not get bis
tree. and he said he must have 1t with
In forty eight hours.
Some one at the custom house scared
above the difficulty. The tree was sent
on to Stamboul on the Orient express
an eight hours journey. 1t came back
to Adrianople by the next train, ana
the person for whom 1t was intended
received notice that "a tree from
Constantinople" had arrived for him
and would at once be handed over
to his messenger.
So the wretched little Bulgarian tree
had become a Turkish one, brought
from Constantinople, and by that
means 1t satisfied officialdom and serv-
ed its purpose In the end.
Fort Pierce news., 1910-12-16
A PUZZLING PINE.
Peculiar Tree That 10 Something Of q
Mystery to 5otanists.

Peculiar Tree That ls Something Of q
Mystery to 5otanists.
Upper California is the home Of a
tree that has puzzled botanists. 1t is
a pine which will grow only near the
seacoast Its growth Is slow. and 1t
does not attain to great size.
The strange thing about It Is that
there are, to all appearances. insur-
mountable difficulties In the way Of
the perpetuatlon Of the species. Some
specimens Of 1t exist In Kew gardens.
In London. They have been carefully
examined by competent authorities,
and all admit that the tree presents
problem unlike anything elsewhere
met with.
This pine produces at regular inter-
vals the usual cones containing seeds;
but, strange to say. the cones are so
thoroughly protected that the seeds
cannot be released. The cones are
hard and tightly closed and have
strong overlapping scales.
More extraordinary still Is the fact
that the pine. after producing its al
most invulnerable cones. keeps them
hanging on its branches year after
year. Unless through some peculiar
accident the seeds would apparently
remain attached to the parent tree for
ever. Many Of the cones on the trees
In Kew gardens have been there for
years. as Is shown by the size Of the
branches and the formation Of the
bark.
II has been found that the seed YES
sels which this tree 90 powerfully re-
tain are 30 well protected that 1t re-
quires q strong knife with the assist
ancs Of a heavy hammer to cut the
cone into sectionA No ordinary con-
dffiOns Of temperature can make a
eoue opea-
The following IL the only explana-
don Jet offered that seems to have any
degree Of plauslbility: The species
may be perpetuated by fire. One who
has studied the tree asserts that moth
ing bat the intense heat Of a forest
6re could compel the cones to release
their seeds 1t has been found that
under the influence Of intense heat
they crack open and the seeds fall
out uninjured.-Harper's Weekly.
Fort Pierce news., 1910-12-16
THE WREN BUSH.
An Old Custom Still Observed In Ire.
land at Chnslnas.

Among the many odd customs still
observed In Ireland at Christmas few
are more curious than the practice of
carrying about "the wren bush" on st.
Stephens day, and antiQuarles are puz-
zled to explain why the poor little
king Of all birds should be put to
death on the festival of the first mar
tyr.
The most probable explanation is
that the wren was sacred to the Druids
and was used by them in divination
and other pagan rites at the festival Of
the winter solstice, which almost coin
cided with Christmas, and consequent
ly the clergy urged their converts to
destroy the birds which were associ-
ated with such unholy rites, just as st,
Patrick's relentless destruction Of the
images Of serpents, used in the ancient
pagan worship Of Ireland, gave rise to
the legend that he
Gave the snakes and toads a twist
And banished them all forever!
This seems the more likely because
"drean," the old Irish name for
"wren," also means "a Druid" and old
folk still call Jenny" the "Druid
bird" and say that she has the gift Of
prophecy and that those who can in
terpret her twitterings as she hovers
about a house or flies from bush to
bush can read the future. In the H.
brary Of Trinity college, Dublin, there
Is a curious document describing how
to interpret the notes Of the wren.-
Maud e. Sargent in Longman's Maga-
sine.
Fort Pierce news., 1910-12-16
A W0MAN'S HAT.
There's q Large Pot Of Trouble Brew
ina For One Milliner.

There's q Large Pot of Trouble Brew
ing For One Milliner.
Mr.. Standish was mad when he went
into the millinery establishment, and
the longer he stayed the madder he
got Presently he walked over to a
stunning black creation that hung on
peg near the window and said;
This is the hat want to see you
about"
The proprietor came forward.
"What can l do for you?" be asked
"You can fix this hat over the way
my wife asked you to-" said Standisb
explosively. "She wants the feather
put on the other side. that bow moved
to the front. and she wants the rim
to bulge a little more over the tenn
pies"
Seeing a guilty flush creep over the
proprietor's face. Standish went on
with increased heat:
"She says you have refused to make
any alterations on the ground that a
stitch added to or subtracted from the
hat is bound to ruin 1t, but tell you
that's all nonsense. My wife knows
how she wants her hat to look, and II
she can't stand up for her rights I'll do
it for her. She is coming around this
afternoon to try the hat on again. II
1t isn't ready by that time there will
be no end Of row."
The proprietor twirled the black hat
on his foreinger and looked from II to
the head saleswoman lugubriously.
II remember" he said, that the lady
who ordered that hat did bring it back
yesterday to be remodeled. Perhaps II
will be possible to make the altera-
lions suggested after ALL"
The managers humility made Stand
tsh feel very proud Of himself.
That's the only way to deal with
those fellows" he said when he left
the shop. You've got to meet them on
their own level 1t takes q man to do
that No wonder women get cheated
out Of their very eyeteeth. They
haven't got sand enough to say the
things that have to be said to secure
their rights"
Throughout the day Standish con-
tinued to revel in self congratulate
and he actually went home half an
hour ahead Of time TO see II his wife's
hat had been metamorphosed into the
thing Of beauty be had suggested.
We'll" said he jubilantly, twas the
hat all right7"
IAN rightr' said Mrs. Standlsh.
They hadn't even touched It. How
could you expect it to be all right when
you didn't stop in to see about it?"
"But I did stop" protested Standish.
Il saw everybody about the place and
laid the whole establishment out In
great shape Here's their card to prove
l was there. picked 1t up as l was
passing out"
Mrs. Standish took up the card and
read the name aloud.
"O-o-o-hF' she cried. els that where
you wentl Why, you got Into the
wrong place. What on earth win that
manager thinkl He must think you
are crazy"
Il don't care IL he does" said Stand
ish Imply. but would like to know
what the owner Of that black hat win
say when she sees It made over ac-
eording to my directionA"-New York
Herald.
Fort Pierce news., 1910-12-16
TURKISH RED TAPE.

Getting the Kinks Out Of a Custom
House TansIs.
In the far east rules and restrictions
may be made to yield to influence with
a latent force behind 1t, as instanced
By this serio-comic incident found in
Captain A. B. Townshend's book. "a
Military Consul In Turkey" A certain
highly influential foreigner at Adrian
cple wanted q Christmas Tree and or
dered one from Sofa TO come By train.
but when the tree, an unpretentioua
little ar about ten feet high. arrived
AZ Adlianoole etali0R asme ene tlncos.
sEe0 tsat Il els flssnl - roesivo
'plahts- from abeOad
Fort Pierce news., 1910-12-16
A uniaua Bell.

A pretty bell may be made by wrap
ping a large sized hoop with holly or
pine, connecting this with a smaller
sized hoop above by four wires or
stout cord. Hang strands Of popcorn
from upper hoop to lower one. Use
large red apple for a clapper.
Fort Pierce news., 1910-12-16

aerial and seemed to accord with
quiet and moonlight | listened ana
listened They became more and more
tender and remote, ard as they grad
ually died away my head sank upon
the pillow. and fell asleep Wash
lngton Irving.
Fort Pierce news., 1910-12-16

from the wide, overhanging fireplace
to make way for a fire of wood, In the
midst of which was an enormous log,
glowing and blazing and sending forth
vast volume Of light and heat. This.
I understood, was the Yule log. which
the squire was particular In having
brought In and illumined on Christmas
eve. according to ancient custom.
1t was really delightful to see the old
squire seated In his hereditary elbow
chair by the hospitable flreside of his
ancestors and looking around him like
the sun Of a system, beaming warmth
and gladness to every heart. Even the
very dog that lay stretched at his feet,
as he lazily shifted his position and
yawned, would look fondly up In his
masters face, wag his tail against the
hoor and stretch himself again to
sleep, sure Of kindness and protection.
supper was announced shortly after
our arrival. 1t was served up In a
spacious Oaken chamber, the panels
Dof which shone with wax and around
which were several family portraits.
decorated with holly and ivy. Besides
the accustomed lights, two great wax
tapers, called Christmas candles.
wreathed with green's, were placed on
q highly polished buffet among the
family plate The table was abun-
dainty spread with substantial fare.
but the squire made his supper of
frumenty, a dish made Of wheat cakes
boiled In milk. with rich spices, beinS
q standing dish In old times for Christ.
mas eve. l was happy to find my Oil
friend. minced pie. In the retinue OF
the feast.
The supper had disposed every one
to gayety. and an old harper was sum-
moned from the servants hall.
The dance, like most dances after SUP
per. was merry one. Some OF the
older folk joined In ii. and the SQUIRE
himself figured down several couples
with partner with whom he affirmed
he had danced at every Christmas for
nearly half century.
The party broke up for the night
with the kind hearted old custom Of
shaking hands As I passed through
the hall on the way TO my chamber
the dying embers OF the Yule log still
sent forth a dusky glow. and had it
not been the season when no spirit
dares stir abroad should have been
half tempted 10 steal from my room
at midnight and peep whether the fai-
cies might not be at their reyeIs about
the hearth
had scarcely got into bed when a
strain OF music seemed to break forth
In the air just below the window. 1
listened and found It proceeded from
. band which l concluded to be the
waits from some nelghbOrIng village.
I drew aside the curtains to hear them
uqra distinctly. The moonbeama fen
threeeA the uppsf part o. t6s cpss-
nsfnt. pasitall7 iishting 20 tho and
1uatef 1p4rtmaRt The sodnfe e.
kheY ncoe1ed became more soft ana
Evening journal., 1910-08-17
BRIDGEVILLE WOMAN
DIES IN HOSPITAL HERE

The death of Mrs Hester Gray.
widow of William Gray, OF Bridge
Vile, died in the Homeopathic Hos
pital yesterday afternoon, aged "a
years.
The funeral will take place from
the home at Bridgeville at 2 o'clock
tomorrow afternoon. lnterment will
be in Bridgeville cemetery.
Since the death Of her husband in
1888. Mrs Gray has lived on the Gray
estate on the outskirts Of Bridge
Vile
She was the mother of John G
Gray. OF this city, director Of tn,
Street and Sewer Department an,
wei known attorney The surviving
children besides Mr. Gray of this cit.
are Thomas j. Gray and william L
Gray. both Of Bridgeville. and Missc
Esther and Miriam Gray, both o
Bridgeville. Mrs. Gray was formerl,
Miss Hester Goslin Of Sussex county
Thomas j. Gray. one Of the sons
is the Delaware railroad station
agent at Bridgeville and was tn,
Democratic candidate for State treas
urer at the last State election.