davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-01-11
CHAPTER l.

Nll-AI LII L.
"HE wardens ~ce in Sing Sing
prison is not pleasant spot in
which to linger, whether you
may be innocent or whether
guilty of a crime. And no more reas-
surfing could be termed the abrupt,
dominating parsonage who presided
over the dismal destinies Of the office
and institution when occurred the
events chronicled in this narrative.
That man fated by his choice of
occupation TO daily associate intimate
ly with criminals of high and low de-
gree and to come constantly in per-
sonal contact with all the misery and
depravity going to form the life Of a
states prison-that man so fated
should find exquisite enjoyment in ac-
centuating these depressing conditions
Is surely a contradiction of what ordi-
narily would be expected. Humans of
normal mold are generally occupied in
ameliorating the evils and annoyances
OF their surroundings. That is natures
way. Not so with Warden Handler.
That which is bad can be made to be
worse. Innocence can be shown TO be
guilt-with the aid Of trained wit
nesses. Repentance is always insin-
cere. and If II is not II can be made
30. A murderer should be made to re-
member always his ignominy. A thief
should be reminded OF his amateurish
clumsiness which led him into the
clutches of the central Office men.
That was Handlers philosophy. That
was Handlers way.
And underlying all his petty oppres-
sion and gross inhumanity was a
cause. deep rooted In a system Of his
own and of a race OF jail keepers that
went before him. Exposure2 Re
moval? Bahl He had considered all
that. And, II worse came to worse,
had he not friends in the state senate
Was there not a governor who would
need his assistance In the state con,
vention when 1t came TO a question OF
delegates? Clearly the possibility OF
removal was the least Of his worries
Warden Handler sat at his polished
oak desk In the middle Of his once
At his left was another desk used by
Smith. his secretary. At his back the
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-01-11

1.-THE Armstrong drama, of which the
following is the novelized version, IS based
on o. Henry's story, "A Retrieved Refor-
mation.l
The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1911-01-11

Continued next week.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21
THE DUTCH TREAT"

New York Tribune: The National
German.American alliance has under
taken large contract in its proposed
campaign to substitute the Dutch
treat" for the present indiscrtminate
abuse of the spirit Of hospitality
prevalent among drinkers at public
bars. Promiscuous treating Of the kind
which "set 'em up for the house" SUR
wives now in few places, but the treat
ing to liquors and cigars by one MEM
Der and another and another OF a
group Of acquaintances is still an
American habit. The casual fashion In
which an American will offer to "buy
drink or a Smoke or insist on
paying street car fare for q mere ac-
quaintance would he construed az an
insult by person of almost any other
nationality. Yet here the man, who fire.
quents public drinking places is con-
sidered not "a good fellow IL he
doesn't stand treat in his turn. He Is
classed as being almost as undesirable
as theEsolitary drinker.
This condition Of things inevitably
leads to the drinking by the individual
of more than he expected to drink at
first, and probably more than he
should drinlc at all, even'if that is not
enough to make him drunk. The
Dutch treat carries no obligation,
real or fancied, to invite the other
fellows to drink at your expense be-
cause you have drunk at theirs. It
forces nobody to spend more money
than he wishes to spend or drink more
intoxicants than he wants. II the Ger
'man-American alliance can relieve the
Dutch treat" from the stigma which
the name now carries among those to
whom this custom would apply it will
have struck heavy blow for sense
and temperance.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

public limelight or remaining there
when once the vantage point is gained.
Unreasoning striving of this char
acter partakes of the character of
vanity. in measure at least,
and vanity is always getting bumped.
The end of one process is always the
beginning Of another. Life here is but
a preparation for still higher order.
And no effort, for betterment here is
ever lost.
Fame itself, as rated by fallible
man. as the venerable Missouri valley
editor observed is not worth while.
Writing names on the scroll of earthly
fame is but an idle dream. But this by
no means signifies that men should
not worthily strive to serve them
selves by serving their fellowmen.
The real scroll Of fame Is beyond
human ken. On its pages will be found
those whom the world does not know
at all-those who patiently do their
daily tasks with thought not of them
selves, but with infinite compassion
for their fellowmen. The really great
men of the world are those who regard
the scroll Of fame set up by men as
either accidental or Incidental and Of
no lasting or material value"
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21
Due-DRlLLED WELL DANGEROUS.

Almost any community in which
wells have been drilled can boast OF q
number of combination dug and drilled
wells. The owners congratulate them
selves on their, wisdom in utilizing an
old dug we'll fifteen, twenty or thirty
feet in depth, and drilling through the
bottom OF this to good flow OF deep
water. The cost of drilling that
twenty or thirty feet has been saved,
certainly an economy worth consider
ing. AS a matter Of fact. this com
bined dug and drilled well is a partic-
ularly dangerous type. 1t may readily
breed malarial fever or even typhoid
fever, which is more prevalent in the
country than even In the overcrowded
cities, in spite OF the supposed pure
water supply of nearly all farming
sections. Such we'll is all the more
dangerous because it is fancied to be
safe. Although the water encountered
by the deep well may be perfectly
pure at the start, contamination may
take place almost Immediately by the
entrance, especially after rains, OF
seepage water. into the open well and
thence into the casing of the drilled
well. The remedies are obvious.
Either the casing should be carried to
the surface of the outside ground, or
at least above the highest level ever
reached by the water, or the open well
should be converted into water-tight
system by applying thick coating Of
cement over both sides and bottom.
(From Water Supply Paper 223,
United, States Geological Survey.)
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21
ovERcRowpED ITALY.

'In the statistics which have ap-
peared since the Tripolitan war be-
gan there has been much emphasis on
comparisons between the two COM
batants." the Boston Herald observes,
"but the Italian cabinet which voted
the war was as deeply concerned in
comparison of Italy's economic situa-
ton with that of her European, neigh
bors. Italy is much more densely
populated than France, Austria or
Germany, and the density of her
population mas steadily increased in
spite of net loss through emigration
eof 100000 souls year. The moder-
ately fertile soil Of Italy supports lis
inhabitants per kilometer, whereas the
well-tilled soil Of Germany needs to
care for only 104, and that Of France
tor only 49, To maintain her constants
ly increasing population Italy's wealth
would need to grow in the same pro-
portion. But there has been no such
increase in her wealth. The Journal des
Economistes of Paris gives the fol-
lowing statistics as to the wealth per
inhabitant in the different European
countries: England, $500 francs;
France, $3.50 francs; Germany. 2S4O
francs: Austro- Hungary, 1860 francs,
and Italy is at the bottom of the list
with 1900 francs. Applying this calcu-
lation to the sum of wages apportioned
among families Of five persons living
by their own work it appears that a
family of five persons would earn 1910
francs a year in England and 1876
francs in Italy. startling contrast of
economic conditions. The italian land
tax is four times as large as that over
the rest of Europe, and "a per cent OF
the income from the land is absorbed
by the tax gatherers. These figures
explain the poverty and ignorance OF
a large part Of Italy's population and
indicate why she seeks territory be-
yond her borders.
ut may be doubted that Italy will
find Tripoli an ideal colony, but all
travellers who have returned from
there are agreed that under Turkish
rule no colony can show its possible
ties Although the merchants who
have migrated from southern Italy
and Sicily to Tripoli have worked un-
der the handicap of Turkish indiffer-
|ence and Arab interference. they find
the present-day trades of Tripoli far
more lucrative than that in which
they were engaged at home. They
point to the wonderful progress of
Tunis under French rule as an indi-
cation of what they could accomplish
lin Tripoli with a free hand More
over, Tripoli is the terminus OF the
three caravan routes along which the
products of central Africa find their
way to the coast. The possibilities Of
these routes might well stimulate the
ambition Of any European country.
"Tripoli, then is a more tempting
prize than casual observation would
deduce. and Italy is in a more des-
perate economic situation than gen.
orally supposed. These two factors
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21
NINETY YEARS EXPERIENCE;

n Ths editor of Missouri valley
ranar who died recently at the al
rarced are Of 80 years, prepared an
articla few days before his death III
witch he derided politics as career
He said: ~, NO ct
,;ratv years history of our life, we
faal that with our experience i we nau
the ionrney to make over again we
wonid shun politics az we would a
10 aua Il never pays for the labor ex-
nended, and the idea that any man caa =
climb the lofty sleeps OF fame :; ana y
wreath laurel around ms prov 80 l.,
myth of gigantic proportions. but lev
81 the many ambitious men ever suo.
coed in reaping a reward equal 10 .ne
effort expended, and OF all the mighty
men of America but few nave sue
ceeded in placing their names on 1he
scroll Of fame. Think OF 1t, how many
names of American statesmen can you
name today? How much better 1of
then, and perhaps for the country
Nod most Of our would-be great men
turned talents to other pursuits
The Council Bluffs Nonparell, com
venting on this view, cites an incl
dent that happened in that city re-
cantIv al an evidence that men who
occ,,ny places in the limelight OF pub
liz view soon pass out OF the light.
- ..During the recent meeting OF the
society Of the Army of Tennessee,
saws the Nonpareil these truisms
were reaffirmed. There came among
others to. attend this meeting Gen.
.John w. Noble Of st. Louis, man
nromtnent in the civil war and
member OF President Harrisop's cabi-
net General Noble laughingly referred
In conversation with friends to no.
tice in the papers of his arrival in
which reporter had described him as
a lawyer with more than local repu-
station.' Another incident OF similar
character comes to our attention. A
naner in southwest Iowa noting
the departure of some Of the citizens
Of the community where it is pub
lished. to attend this meeting, said
that they had gone to attend a reunion
of Col. N. P. Dodge's regiment
men are forgotten by. the great
masses of the people even while they
still live. But virtue is nevertheless a
great and sufficient reward. Men
should not cease to strive because
there is SO little hope of getting in the
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21
IOWA PRESS COMMENT.

Council Bluffs Nonpareil: Karl
Kuehnle of Denison announces that
he will not be candidate for the re-
publican nomination for governor of
Iowa, His reputation for wisdom is en-
HANGED thereby.
Keokuk Constitutional Democrat: Ger
tainly China is progressing with re-
markable speed. About the darkest
country on earth a decade or two ago,
it is now grasping out for a republi-
can form of government founded on
the broadcast principles Of democracy.
Some day China will have Fourth OF
July.
Cedar Rapids Republican: The Man
chester Press thinks that what DR.
Webster needs is an allopathic dose OF
what England gave DR.. Crlppen. But
in England they are not such big fools
as we are in America when 1t comes
to treating murderers. They are not
SO swampy in England.
New Hampton Courier: What is pro.
gressive craftsmanship? Is It not the
utilization of every means within
reach for the peoples good, maintain.
ing sound currency. keeping such
control Of the forces of nationality as
to preserve worldwide peace. secur.
ing a steady market and nationwide
prosperity. II such is the definition OF
progressive craftsmanship then VIII
liam H. Taft is real progressive
statesman.
Des Moines Capital: Once upon q
time-three taiiors of Tooley street
London. met together and solemnly
declared: "We, the people Of
England
A fly perched on the hub of q rap
idly revolving carriage-wheel wa!
heard to soliloquize. my, what dus
l am raising
Two hundred alleged representa-
tives Of a minority scattered owe
thirty states assembled in Chicago
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

her husbands folks with boiled cab
bage and lima beans. The trouble is.
you never can tell the storage capa-
city of hungry relative with feet like
a boiler. top by the size of his waist
line. You can take a Georgia cracker
who is charged with hops up to his
arm pits, and you will find that he has
a receding stomach which will stretch
like fat woman in q 1O0-yard dash.
Then again, we have seen men who
look as if they could eat the lining out
of a hay cooker, and if you lead them
up to business mems lunch their
appetites will shrink faster than a
modest gent before the dance OF the
seven wells. The next time horde OF
relatives with elastic side walls des-
cend upon our sisters happy home, we
advise her to flavor the consomme
with hair oil and charge the olives
with strychnine. II this doesn't give
her brief period of Sabbath medita-
ton, the case is hopeless.
s =
We notice that the hand-painted
coffee pot is backing in again. 1t is
now found in the most exclusive homes
along with the crayon portrait OF
father In a string mustache. Thus do
outcroppings Of the artistic tempera-
ment multiply.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

NJ. o. Leighton in the Worlds Work
says that the sum of all the unre-
claimed land in the various states is
.74,OO0,O0O acres. Swamp land that
will not make a gross return Of $50 per
acre annually is very poor" he says.
"Seventy-four million acres at that
rate will yield S3,70O,000,00O Reduce
this figure one-half if you please, and
what an addition we should still have
to our annual wealth production!
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

rest resort about
four Sundays q
month, thereby
causing her Sat
urday baking to
resemble the pal
lid fragments of
a free lunch.
There is nothing
in our marriage
laws which says
that the peace
and quiet Of the
Sabbath d a y
shall be disturb
ed by the efforts
Of a wife to stall
the appetites of
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

George Fitch contributes the follow
ing On football and why it is played:
Football is played mostly by col
legians because by the time a mall is
out of college he has sense enough
not to play it. An old player
can be, told by the quiet way
in which he doesn't dodge street
cars. automobiles. hoodlums and
lightning. If they hit him it is their
own fault, and he does not hold him
self responsible for the consequences.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21
James c. DahIman, Cowboy" Mayor
Of Omaha, Throws the Lariat,v

Mayor Jas. G. Dahlman started hts
career as O. cowboy, and is at present
Mayor Of Omaha, and has the follow
ing record. Sheriff Of Dawes Co., Nebr.,
three terms; Mayor Of Chadron, two
terms; Democratic Natl Committee
man, eight years; Mayor of Omaha,
six years, and in 1910 Candidate for
Governor Of Nebraska. Writing to
Foley & Co., Chicago, he says: II have
taken Foley Kidney Pills and they
have given me great deal Of relief 80
II cheerfuily recommend them" Yours
truly, (sgned) James G. Dahlman.-
Clark Drag store: owl Drug Store.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21
rHE LAFoLLETTE MEETING.

-
The much advertised 'insurgent con
ference ct Chicago turned out to pc
pretty much OF q .'frost." It was an
nounced that the meeting would be
made up Of 200 political leaders from
thirty states in the union. but TINS mum l1o,
Der dwindled down to nearer Ivy anu
there wasn't anyone present VINO couiu
properly be called a. political leauel'
There was not. one man there VINO
could lay claim to being pohtlcal
figure OF national Importance. sen
ator Clapp OF Minnesota and senator
Coe /. Crawford of South Dakota were
the only representatives OF the senate
insurgents there. James r. Garneid,
who has had a grudge at the party
since the president refused TO reap
nnint him a. secretary of the interior
and since his defeat for the guberna-
torial nomination in Ohio, and Amos
Pinchot. a brother of Clifford Flncnot'
the former forester, were two otners
whose names were given prominence
n the news report. Certainly none OF
This four can lay claim to national
prominence. .aa
Not one Of the men who have MADE
the progressive movement was tnere:
The meeting was not representative OF
the ,nroeressives. No name was al.
loved to be mentioned except one, ana
the meeting was not a progressive re-
nuh,ican meeting, but a LaFollette
meeting. ~ con.
terence were selected is not mace
c1aar There were no primaries ana
no caucuses to salsct men to represen.
their states at this meeting. It seems
to have been case OF come you
want. to. and that so few came may pc
taken as evidence that there was llttie
interest felt in the affair.
The conference endorsed Larol-
,ette's candidacy, but this may be TAX
on however. only as the individual Gu
dorsement OF the delegates present, ior
- far a. has been shown the delegates
were not empowered to represent any
organization or any faction ana me-
gathered on their own initiatiVe.
81 does not seem that anything mas
heens gained BY. the Chicago meetlng.
T ,aE,ollette was put forward as can
d;data for the nomination, but he was
airaadv IN the field and it Is diff1cuit
tn understand just where MS cnances
are helped by the endorsement OF .
conference that only may be considered
important because of Its absences; ~
enforcement from few men WnuSe
names were never heard before "hle
the leaders are silent cannot pc con-
sidared much of political ASSET.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

1naD1l1ty 10 rule maJOrlIy ,uuu IN
clared: 1--WE are the saviors OF the re
publican party.
The comparative Importance o
these events may be safely left t
the philosophers OF history.
Sioux City Journal: AS a matter
Of fact the attitude OF the voters hal
not been ascertained, and there is M
way Of ascertaining II without
popular referendum All that has
been made perfectly clear is that a
few politicians and number OF
newspaper editors are for the pri.
mary. And none Of those who have
declared for it has made clear how
1t can be obtained without costing
more than anybody thinks It 10
worth, 81
Burlington Hawk-Eye: Mr. Taft
may carry his heart on his sleeve.
to the dismay OF more timorous men
who would adapt themselves to the
shifting winds of popular opinion
but the great mass OF the voters,
when they discern the true and inner
character of a man like Mr.. Taft
have a growing respect for his per-
sonality and begin to warm up to him
in a manner that Is surprise to the
trimmers. That is the process now
going on in the great west and there
is ample time between now and the
presidential election to bear fruit
that will assure his election.
Burlington Gazette: Basing ones
judgment upon recent antics of the
political wind In California, yester4
days election whereby the recall OF
judges and other officials was adopted
will cause no surprise. The state was
bent upon making a fool Of itself and II
is succassful In its purpose. Itgadver'
tises to the country that It believes in
the rule Of passion over common sense
and that it is mighty unsafe place
for the investment of alien capital.
The recall of judges is q hideous mat.
ter. It's danger to the republic is un-
bounded. In plain language It means
that snap public opinion and not JUS
tice and the law is to govern the de.
cisions Of judges. But perhaps 1t is
we'll that California has adopted the
recall. Trying it on the dog first may
tend to the general health OF the other
states. We can all afford to wait and
see how it acts. But we will predict
right here that 1t will not be long be-
fore the people OF California repent OF
the asininity and by the ballot admit
their grievous mistake.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

There were $4,000 automobiles in
Iowa on July /, 1911, the greater num-
Der owned by the farmer and small
town resident This is five to one as
compared with New York state on the
basis Of population
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21
Take Your Common Colds seriously

Take Your Common Colds Seriously.
Common colds, severe and frequent,
lay the foundation OF chronic diseased
conditions OF the nose and throat, and
may develop into bronchitis. pneu-
monia, and consumption. For all
coughs and colds in children and In
grown persons. take Foley's Honey and
Tar Compound Clark Drug
Store; Owl Drug Store.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21
Foley's Kidney Reendy VS.. Hopeless
a CasA -. -

Hon, Ark J. f.. Freeman says: Il
had q severe case of kidney trouble
and could not work and my case SEEM
ed hopeless, One large bottle Of Foley's
kidney Remedy cured me and have
never been bothered sine. always rec
IommAnd it.v--Clark Drug Store: Owl
DR. A.ore.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21
Farm Notes
Not Written for Farmsra
Nv n. 1. RANN.

We have a confidential letter from
! good sister who says that her hus-
,and's relatives have fallen into the
,heerful habit of making her home q
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

Our idea of modest man is one
who keeps his opinions of himself UNI
der cover
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

yesterday to express indignation owe
inability to rule a majority and dc
clared: 1--WE, are the saviors OF the re-
publican party.
The comparative Importance o
these events may be safely left t.
the philosophers OF history.
Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-21

1899 GnAT lem W..
But Mr.. Yancy was only at the be-
ginning Of his trouble. Three days
latter there appeared on the borders
Of Scratch Hill lank gentleman
armed with q rifle, while the butts OF
two pistols protruded from the depths
of his capacious coat pockets. He
made his presence known by whoop-
ing from the edge Of the branch. and
his whoops shaped themselves into
the name Of Yancy. 1t was Charley
Balaam, old Squire Balaam's nephew.
The squire lived at the Cross Roads
to which his family had given its
name, and dispensed the little law
that found it's way INTO that part OF
the county. The whoops finally
brought Yancy to his cabin door
Gu + see you friendly, Bob