davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
FIRST CHlLDREN'S BOOKS.
Sheets of Horn Protected tho Pagd
From SoiIed Fingers.

Sheets of Horn Protected tho Pag&
From soiIed Fingers.
The earliest English book for oh
dren was THE Babies Book, or
Lyttl Report Of How Young Poor
Should Behave" The horn books q
listed in Elizabeth's reign. The WIZ
ing was covered with a sheet of hoI.
In order to protect the lettering froS
contact with dirty fingers.
The chap book contained most
the familiar nursery rhymes and st
ries which have appertained to nurseI
lore for generations. They exhibs
very crude woodcuts. often daubd
with inappropriate color. and the coI
monest paper as a rule was used. The,
were hawked about by the chapman 4
peddler and cost only a few pend.
apiece.
They served to perpetuate such n
miliar ditties as Sing a Song Of Sid
pence" which dates from the sid
teenth century; Three Blind MiceI
In use. with music. in 1909; 1.-THE Fred
and the Mouse" in existence in 1854
and "Girls and Boys Come Out 4
Play" which was sung by the VII
layers in the time Of Charles ii. "Lil
tie Jack Homer" we know. is Odd
than the seventeenth century. and last
but not least, Lucy Locket." the tunl
from which originated yankee bod
die"
A few Of what were called "batta
door books" have been handed down 4
us. They were three leaved card
which were folded up into oblon'
pocket shaped volumes. These taugH
reading and numerals in the dan.
schools In town and country. The II
tie gilt books. as they were called
adorned on the outside with gilt Dutcl
paper colored flowers. were mud
priced gift books of that period Chi
dren were employed coloring such pd
ture books by hand. one child doing al
.he red in the series of illustrations
another all the blue. and so on. 0!
course they gained precision by repeti
lion. but we very often find the tint
overlapping as IL carried out by an In
experienced hand.-London Queen.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
Alaskan Glaciers,

An interesting fact about Alaskan
glaciers is that some are dead anc
others are alive" Davidson glacier
which is really a tongue of the Muir
glacier. has been assembled by travel.
ers for a number OF years. 1T is "A dead
glacier. having moraine Of several
miles between 1t and the sea. Looking
at 1t from the boat. II represents a
kaleidoscope appearance as the sun
shines upon 1t. and the surface seems
scratched with tiny pin lines. These
are in reality deep crevices. which
must be approached cautiously. fol
they are lurking pitfalls for the I'M
wary.-Vancouver Providence.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
PRESENTING Arms 70 a Cat.

About the middle Of the last century
a very high English official died in
fortress at place that is one of th}
centers of Brahmanic orthodoxy. and
at the moment when the news of BIZ
death reached the sepoy guard at thl
main gate black cat rushed out of Il
The guard presented arms to the cd
as a salute to the flying spirit Of tbl
powerful Englishman. and the coined
dence took so firm a hold of the local
ity that up to few years ago neithsI
exhortation or orders could prevent 4
Hindoo sentry at that gate from pre-
Benting arms to any cat that passed
out at night.-Bombay Times.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
Ldea hidIp, on a rubberneck. though.

idea hidIn' on a rubberneck. though.
I'll remember that"
Softly through the megaphone came
the advice of the conductor:
Better step on. sir. and explain.
The car must proceed ON It's tOUT."
James Williams belonged among
the level heads With necessary slow.
ness he picked his way through the
passengers down to the steps at tue
front of the car. His wife followed.
but she first turned her eyes and saw
the escaped tourist glide from behind
the furniture van and slip behind a
tree on the edge of the little park not
fifty feet away.
Descended to the ground. James VIII
liams faced his captors with a smile.
He was thinking what good story
he would have to tell In Cloverdale
about having been mistaken for bur-
glar. The rubberneck coach fingered
out of respect for its patrons. What
could be a more interesting sight than
this?
my name is James Williams of clio.
verdale. Mo-" he said kindly, so that
they would not be too greatly morti-
fed. ~ have letters here that will
show
you'll come with us. please" an-
nounced the plain clothes man.
"Pinky McGulre's description dts you
like flannel washed in hot suds. A de-
tective saw you on the rubberneck up
at Central park and phoned down TO
take you In. Do your explaining at
the station house"
James Williams wife-his bride Of
two weeks--looked him In the face
with a strange. soft radiance In her
eyes and flush on her cheeks-l0oked
him In the face and said:
go with 'em quietly, Pinky, and
maybe it'll be in your favor"
And then as the glaring-at-Go m
car rolled away she turned and threw
a kiss-his wife threw kiss-at some
one high up on the seats Of the rubber
neck.
''Your girl gives you good advice,
MCGUIRE" said Donovan. Come on"
And then madness descended upon
and occupied James Williams. He
pushed his hat far upon the back OF
his head.
"My wife seems to think ! am n
burglar" he said recklessly. 81 never
heard of her being crazy; therefore
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

1T TOOK FIVE OF THEM TO PLUCK TIE PINK
must be. And II I'm crazy they can't
do anything to me for killing you two
fools In my madness"
Whereupon he resisted arrest so
cheerfully and industriously that cops
had to be whistled for and afterward
the reserves to dispense a few thou
sand delighted spectators.
At the station house the desk ser
geant asked for his name.
"McDoodle the Pink. or Pinky the
Brute. forget which," was James
williams answer. But you can BET
I'm a burglar. Don't leave that ont
And you might add that 1t took five OF
'em to pluck the Pink. I'd especially
like to have that in the records"
In. an hour came Mrs. James VII.
Iiams. with Uncle Thomas of Madison
avenue. in respect compelling motor.
car and proofs of the hero's innocence
for all the world like the third act of
a drama backed by an automobile
manufacturing company.
After the police had sternly repri-
manded James Williams for initiating
a copyrighted burglar and given him
as honorable a discharge as the de-
partment was capable of Mrs. VIII
liams rearrested him and swept him
into an angle of the station house.
James Williams regarded her with
one eye. He always said that Dono.
van closed the other while somebody
was holding his good right hand. New
err before had he given her a word of
reproach or of reproof.
IF you can explain" he began rath-
er stifiy. "why you
Dear" she interrupted. listen. 1t
was an hours pain and trial to you.
l did 1t for her-l mean the girl who
spoke to me on the coach. 1 was so
happy. Jim-so happy with you that
didn't dare to refuse that happiness to
another. Jim. they were married only
this morning-those two and want
ted him to get away. While they
We're struggling with you 1 saw him
slip from behind his tree and hurry
across the park. That's all of it. dear.
l had to do it
Thus does one sister of the plain
gold band know another who stands
in the enchanted light that shines hut
once and briefly for each one. BY rice
and satin bows does mere man become
aware of weddings. But bride know
eth bride at the glance of an eve. And
between them swiftly passes comfort
and meaning In a language that man
and widows wot not of.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
The Perverse Comma.

That curious and now stereotyped
blunder of punctuation which gives
us God rest you. merry gentlemen"
as an inferior substitute for the
quaint old greeting. God rest you
merry. gentlemen" turns up regularly
every Christmas. 1t is pity for the
ancient formula to be thus perverted
since God rest you merry or Resi-
you merry" was a recognized form 0i
salutation In Elizabethan days and
may be found in the works of Shake
speare and of many contemporary
writer's, while for the underlined
form. which obscures the Original
sense of the phrase. there is. Of course
no authority whatever. If any one
will have the curiosity to look up the
old Christmas carol which begins with
the words in question he will find
them correctly punctuated. = London
World
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

stopped at the fash Of the badge I'M
der the coat of the plain clothes man.
whats eatin' your" demanded the
megaphonist. abandoning his profess
sional discourse for pure English.
Keep her at anchor for minute"
ordered the officer. There's man
on board we want. II Philadelphia bur-
glar called Pinky Mcclure. There he
is on the back seat. Look out for ih,'
side. Donovan"
Donovan went to the hind wheel and
looked up at James Williams.
"Come down. old sport" he said
pleasantly. We've got you. Back to
Sleepytown for yours. 1t amt bad
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

Otto Il. Max Unger of New York
was divorced and married Saturday
in IL minutes. At three o'clock +,
when the decree was granted, NAL
enie Anne Progel, whom, he was to
marry. sat beside Unger in court
Before the ink had dried on the
papers the pair hurried to the city
hall in taxicab. and at 3 05 had
taken out a marriage license. In
the meantime Alderman White had
beeu summoned to city hall by tele-
phone. He arrived at 3 10 and at
S.l2 the pair were married.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
A Man of Straw.

Many years ago in England men
could easily be found TO give any evil
dence upon oath that might be lie.
quired, and some of these persons
walked openly in Westminster hall
with straw in one of their shoes &c
signify they wanted employment as
witnesses. This was the origin of the
saying. HE is a man of straw" But
the custom has high antiquity. A
writer In the Quarterly Review says
that such were common in Greece.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
PIE FOR BREAKFAST.
Once Considered As Much a Virtue
Early Rising.

Once Conaidored na Mucn q Virtue
Early Rising.
1 am aware that, according TO
latest edition OF the revised statute
eating pie at breakfast is now PEI
Tertiary offense, punishable by la
labor on the farm for period not
ceedlng eighty-five years, But It on
shared with early rising the repu'
ton of virtuous act. There are I'd
pie today who are well thought OF
the COMMUNICATIVE even dress
dinner" bless your heart-who had
none the less. eaten pie for breakfs
and have tipped back on their chat
hind legs and sat thus with such
smile upon their faces as spoke
peace with all the world. themso "
included.
But nowadays merely to talk or
much fried stun. pork and eggs a
potatoes and pancakes and so mut
sweet stun. molasses. fruit preserv4
coffee cup a puddle of sugar. pie
all that. sends us who hear 1t to
kitchen cupboard, where the cooldl
soda is. first aid to the indigestlvl
To eat such meal seems hardly ID
barbarous than wearing feathers IL [
scalp lock. But remember that 4
didn't work all day yesterday fN.
before daylight till after dark.
didn't tumble into bed and fall soui
asleep ere ever our heads had toucht
the pillow, so anxious was the nigl
shift OF the body's repair gang TO 4
on the job of tearing out old tissu
and putting in new. We didn't wak,
In the morning to find hurry ord
for more raw material hanging on L,
hook. and we didn't put an edge like
broken bottle ON that hurry call
stirring around at fifty-seven kinds
temper snarling chores.
We haven't before us whole loI
morning with n mall and glut, spul
ting rails or breaking up new groul
with a balky team-a morning so lot
that 1t becomes young eternity aboI
1920 o'clock, when the front of Il
body below the waist begins again
chafe and grind on the backbone
spite of all the fats and sweeps thI
can be put In between at breakfast
act as fender.-Everybody's Magazine
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

before a wheel turns listen to a brief
preamble through the cardiaphone,
which shall point out to you an object
of interest on life's sightseeing tour.
Swift and comprehensive is the rec
ognition of white man for white man
in Africa wilds; instant and sure is
the spiritual greeting between mother
and babe; unhesitatingly do master
and dog commune across the slight
gulf between animal and man; i'm
measurably quick and sapient are the
brief messages between one and ones
beloved. But all these instances set
forth only slow and cropping inter-
change of sympathy and thought be-
side one other instance which the rub
berneck coach shall disclose.
You shall learn Qf you have not
learned already what two beings of
all earths living inhabitants most
quickly look into each others hearts
and souls when they meet face to face.
The gong whirred. and the glaring
at-Gotham car moved majestically
upon its instructive tour.
On the highest rear seat was James
Williams of Cloverdale, Mo-. and his
Bride.
Capitalize it. friend typo-that last
word-word of words in the epiphany
of life and love. The scent of the
flowers, the booty of the bee. the pri-
NAL drip of spring waters. the over
ture OF the lark. the twist of lemon
peel on the cocktail of creation-such
is the bride. Holy is the wife. revered
the mother. galliptious is the summer
girl, but the bride is the certified check
among the wedding presents that the
gods send in when man is married to
mortality.
The car glided up the golden way.
On the bridge of the great cruiser the
captain stood. trumpeting the sights
Of the big city to his passengers.
Confused. delirious with excitement
and provincial longings. they tried to
make ocular responses to the mega
phonic ritual.
Bidder to observe the highlands of
the Hudson, they gaped unsuspecting
at the upturned mountains of new
laid sewer. To many the elevated
railroad was the RiaIto. on the sta.
lions Of which uniformed men sat and
made chop suey of your ticket.
And to this day in the outlying dis
tricts many have 1t that Chuck Con-
nors, with his hand on his heart. leads
reform and that but for the noble
municipal efforts Of one Parkhurst. a
district attorney, the notorious "Bish-
op" Potter gang would have destroyed
law and order from the Bowery to the
Harlem river.
But beg you to observe Mrs. James
Williams-Hattie Chalmers that was
once the belle Of Cloverdale. Pale blue
is the brides, II she will. and this col
or she had honored. Willingly had
the moss rosebud loaned to her cheeks
of its pink and as for the violets. her
eyes will do very well as they are.
thank you. A useless strip of white
chaf-oh. no. he was guiding the auto
ear-of white chiffon. or perhaps 1t was
grenadine or tulle, was tied beneath
her chin, pretending to hold her bon
net in place.
And on Mrs. James Williams face
was recorded a little library of the
worlds best thoughts In three vol
umes.
Volume No. contained the belief
that james Williams was about the
right sort of thing.
Volume No. was an essay on the
world. declaring II TO be very excel
lent place.
Volume No 3 disclosed the belief
that in occupying the highest seat in
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

NGluNC0 " NANa " 'aHa0t ~ e0As~
time. as he would talk OF personal
matters. but now she turned 10 him
anxiously
"Sam'l, | cant bear ter leave 20 by
yo'rself ag'in terulght."
II guess won't die Of yo're anxious
ter go. Percilly"
~ amt anxious ter go. an 20 know
It."
Then stay an let folks talk eff they
want ter."
II can't ford ter do that, Saml,"
Then there was another long ST.
lence Miss Priscilla looked down the
road anxiously, finally going down 10
the gate TO see II she could get
glimpse of any one.
HE might git worse In the night"
she murmured TO herself, II never
was so put out In all my life"
Samuel looked Into her eyes as she
came In.
"See anybody" he asked.
She shook her head.
"Percilly. wy. say. do yo' member
what | asked yo' onctT"
She made no reply and looked stead
lily down the road.
WELL" he went on. "thems still my
fee.ln's."
She shaded her eyes as II to see bet
ter and did not answer.
IVY. Percilly, say. ef I'm not dead
by mornin'. won't yo' hook up old Kit
to the buggy an drive over fer the
preacher an fetch him over an hev
i'm marry yo' an mer'
Miss Priscilla sprang to her feet
Her face was crimson with anger
"SamI Clayton amt 20 'shamed ter
insult me in yo'r own house? Do yo'
think that's what ] come over here
fer? Shame on yo'w
And. covering her face, she burst
into tenrs.
Fer the Lords sake, Cilly. now
don't do that! | wouldn't "a made yo'
cry fer this farm. Course yo' didn't
come here fer that I've been wantin'
ter say this. howsumever. even sence !
said II that time 80 long ago. But 20
know 20 wouldn't ever let me talk
bout IT, I'm lovin' yo' all this time.
an. PercilIy. yo' jest can't know how
lonesome am"
Miss Priscilla wiped her eyes and
looked at him.
THAT broth made yo' heap better.
didn't II. Sam'lT"
"A heap better" he answered smil-
iDgly.
well. yo're well 'nough ter leave by
yorself. amt yo'T"
1.-THE 'xcitement of yer goin' away
would upset me. I'm shore"
Anyhow I'm goin', Sam'l."
"Yo' amt give me no answer to that
question. Cilly. A Yes, said good an
strong. would cure me-
I'm goin home an do the milkln'
an feed the chickens an do the
chores"
II hate ter stay by myself mother
night. that do. he'd sech oncom-
Portable night las night"
"Yo' pore mani she said kindly.
"Well. as was sayin'. I'll go home an
do the chores. an while I'm there III
change my dress. | think Ill hook up
old Belief amt ust ter Kit--aD' I'll
send Bob Coldron over tSr stay with
yo' while I'm away. I'll hev his wife
come too. They'll do fer witnesses. yo'
know"
DO yo' mean yo're going ter hev me.
PercillyT' he asked eagerly.
81 reckon do" she answered. fin
gering her sunbonnet.
"Cilly. they's one thing | wish yo'd
give me fore yo' start. somethin' ter
keep up my strength till yo' git back"
He looked at her wistfully.
"More beef tea. Sam'lT' she asked.
but there was a twinkle in her eyes.
"Yo know better-somethin' l asked
ago"
She hesitated for an instant. then
leaned over and kissed him.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

OF the GA teachers in the grade
and high schools of the city of Rut-
land, 81 have served the city ten
years or more. Thirteen Of this
number have taught in the city
schools for 16 years or more and
there have been teachers for over 20
years OF the latter, one has taught
81, one 20 and the other 25 years
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

Fl 9. Baxter and brother of Bruins
wick. Me. whe operate the canning
establishments'in Brattleboro, Wind
SIR and Westminster. have closed
their factory in Cornish. Me. and
the -marhipery will be moved to
Bradford, where the firm recently
bought tract of land for the pur-
pose of building large factory in
the SPRING
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
tier Proof.

Why" asked the judge. do yOu
think your husband is dead? You SAT-
you haven't heard from him for morl
than year. Do you consider thai
reasonable proof that he has passed
out of existenceT
Eyes. your honor. If he was stiA
alive he'd be asking me to send him
money."-Chicago Record Herald.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

George Stevens, of Birmingham,
Ala, the son of a prominent mine
operator. shot and killed three Of
his children, and shot and fatally
wounded their colored nurse on Sat
urday. and then turned the pistol
on himself and ended his own life.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

TOP prices for live hogs at the
Chicagn stock wards advanced Fri
dav t" 50 AL hundred. gain nf
y cents over Thursday. and fixed a
new record since 1870, when the
animals sold for $40.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
SISTERS or THE
GOLDEN CIRCLE,
Tale of a Queer Happening on a
Sightseeing Car.
BY o. HENRY.

copyright, 1906 by Mcclure. Phillips 6
Col
The rubberneck auto was about
ready to start. The merry top riders
had been assigned TO their seats by
the gentlemanly conductor.
The megaphone man raised his in
strument of torture; the inside of the
great automobile began to thump and
throb like the heart of coffee drinker.
The top riders nervously chung to the
seats; the old lady from Valparaiso,
Ind, shrieked to be put ashore. But
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
His Point of Nie,.l.

What part of the railway train do
you regard as the most dangerousY'
inquired the nervous man.
The dining car" answered the dys-
Washington Star.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

Charles r. Colburn of Nashua.
n H. was lighting a fire when a
quantity "f gasoline which he had
poured over the kindling exploded.
He had mistaken it for kerosene
He was so badly burned about the
arms. head and neck that his recov-
cry 10 doubtful.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
Her Mild COMPLAINT,

Patient Parent-Georgie. what Dbl
you think l found In my bed last
night? George What was it. man
ma? Patient Parent-A railroad train
and fire engine.-Harper's Bazaar.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

Pardon me-" said Il gentleman at
tie entrance to a downtown restau.
rant. ~ have something on you"
And may / ask what 1t is?'
my at"-Birmingham Age FL era Id.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
Sure.

Mrs. Church-Are your children be
Ing brought up to- help themselves
Mrs. Gothem.-Ch. yes: ! never lock
the cooky jar!-Yonkers Statesman.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
Pretty Ancient.

what is the Oldest form of litera.
tureT
81 dunno, but I guess some of tb.
musical comedy jokes must reach back
pretty nearly that far."-CleveIandI
Plain Dealer.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

The First Universalist church of
Ludlow has voted to call Rev. F. L.
Payson of Clifford, Mass. as its pas
tor to succeed Rev r. E. Griffith,
who went to Westburo.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26
Albania Kick.

Eve-What makes you look so cross'i
ADAM wish you wouldn't be so loud
In your dresses. 1t isn't necessary for
you to pick the most highly colored
eurumn kaveS.--Gsw York Pr0ss.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

Lawyer-Am ! to understand that
your wife left your bed and board?
Uncle Ephraim-Not 'xactly. boss. She
dun TUX nah bed an bod along wifi
her.-Puck.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

Eight today's temptation as it
comes" is good advice. And If it
seems to be only trifing fight 1t the
harder.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

F w Cowle, chief engineer of the
Montreal barber b ard. has announc-
ed that floating dryd"ck capable
of Accommodating vessels of twenty
thousand toms. is to be built at Mon
treal by an English firm to whom
the Dominion will grant a three and
one-half per cent. bouus Montreal
has no drydock at present
1t is estimated that 1000 people
are i'll with the grip in VerGennes
and vicinity In some cases whole
families are suffering with IT.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

Subscribe for The Age. $1UO
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-02-26

A Tactful Politician.
knicker-Does he mend his fences?
Booker - Yes, but leaves the knot
holes. Judge.