davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-08-18
Death Of Mrs. Lucre.ia Atwood.

Mrs. Lucretia Atwood died saturday ait
ernon al the home Of Mn David A., Minis
on High street, where she had made her
home Tor the past year or more. Mrs. AZ,
wood had had several paralytic shocks and
lad gradually grown weaker until the end;
She had suffered greatly from asthma and
rheumatism for many years. She was NJ
wears old. and was born in this town, hy'
| inc here most of her life, being the daugh'
ter OF Caleb and Emeline (Stearns)
Spencer.
While health permitted she was regu,
lar attendant OF the Methodist church OF
which she was a member. She. was twice
married. her first husband being Asahel
Perry. her second husband was Henry
Atwood, who died about 20 years ago.
Mrs Atwood j. survived by one sister;
Mrs Laura 4 Jefords OF this town, and
two brothers. William Y. Spencer OF Chic.
once Falls. Mass. and Fred b. Spencer OF
Cbicopee. Mass. There are also four step
children. Herbert Atwood OF keene,
Arthur Atwood Of Portsmouth, Fred At
wood Of Mortified, and Mrs. 4 +. Fisher
Of this town,
The funeral was held Tuesday afternoon
at the home OF Mrs Minis. Rev. \. l..
Porter OF the Methodist church ofhciated,
and the burial was IN Pine Grove Gene
terry.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
ALL ROADs LEAD HOME


From out the valley four roads wind away
Like pale brown ribbons in grassy sea,
And one leads south, another north lies
free,
And east and west afar the others stray
Which shall I follow? East, to the old
home,
Where once the hand of love held wide
the door?
Westward. where still adventure goes
And the great prairies welcome feet that
roam?
Shall go South, where winter roses
bloom,
And spring usurps all months OF the
bright year?
Or north, where the great pines make
music clear
And the long winters robe the world in
gloom?
Why should I choose? The home nv
youth held dear
Is but shell. with strange, unfriendly
mien;
Less weary hands adventures fields may
CLEAN,
Too far, too strange. the west whose
strength 1 fear.
The south would cloy me with its change
less sweet;
The north would pierce me with IFS icv
dart;
Roads wind away. but. OH fear not my
They all return. and here. at home, they
meet o'
-Ninette NJ. Lowater, in the New York
Sun.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05

a kind of fury. Heavy clouds make
noon as dark as night, the air is thick
and ominous, rain pours in sheets OF
gray that gusts of wind shake into
fine mist. Trees bow to the ground
under the rush of the whirlwind, and
thunder reverberates continually while
often a sharp flash of lightning gives
a sudden golden tint to the heavy rain
and shows the blackness Of the sky.
There is something startling and fear
full in the tumult of the storm; 1T is as
If the laws of nature had broken loose
and left the titanice lements to have full
swing Still it is beautiful, picture
in chiaroscuro. illuminated by the I'M
earthly fame of lightning. There is a
wild and awful sublimity in the ire
mendous power which has wrought
such darkness and foods Of water, such
breathless silence and responding crash
and whirl
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
AN EXCELLENT COMMISSION.

There should be general satisfac-
ton throughout the city over the re-
suit of the voting on the candidates
for the commissionerships. Commits
sioners Miller, Tandy and Bone de-
served a reelection. They have been
diligent in the discharge of their du-
ties during the first year of commits
sion rule in Topeka. Working against
unusual financial difficulties, legacies
from the old system of government,
they have administered the several
municipal departm in their hands
in excellent fashion. Their conduct of
the city's affairs has been responsible
in the main for the increasing conf
dence among Topekans in the commits
sion system of government. With the
valuable experience they have gained.
they are in a position to do even better
in the future than they have in the
past. And it would be surprising if
they do not make most enviable rec
ords that will be of immense advan-
tage to the whole people of the city.
Mr.. Holman, the only member of
the first commission who was not re-
turned to office, also seemed to be en-
titled to a reelection on the score of
past performances, out several Olner
vigorous campaigners were also in the
race for the commissionerships and
the brunt of their campaigning fell
against Mr.. Holman. The successful
candidate for the fourth place on the
commission. Mr.. Stotts, can be de-
pended upon to give a good account
of himself. He comes from the young
er element among the hustlers in the
city. is a hard and conscientious work.
err, and has always made a success of
everything he has undertaken He is
young man with progressive ideas,
and sticktuitiveness that counts in
working them out in a practical fash
| ion.
Several of the other defeated candi-
dates are most capable men and would
have discharged the duties of the offices
they sought in an acceptable fashion
had the honors fallen to them. But It
would be difficult to improve on the
commission. that has been chosen from
| the candidates who were in the field.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
NO CAUSE FOR ALARM.

Contrary to the views of the more
pronounced alarmists. the reelection
of Mr.. j. B. Billiard to the mayoralty
of Topeka means almost anything ex-
cept that the city will go to the bow
vows. Mr.. Billiard has been chief ex-
ecutive of the capital of Kansas for
whole year. During that period the
city has enjoyed unusual prosperity
and progress. Its affairs have been
administered intelligently and honest
ly. The prohibitory law has appar-
emily been as well enforced by the To-
cal authorities as it has been at any
time during the past few years. when
the rigid enforcement of this law has
been the rule here, and this despite the
fact that Mr.. Billiard is confessedly OPP
posed to the principles of prohibition.
But he seems to be one of those ex-
ceptionally constituted men who can
lay aside personal views when they
conflict with law that it is his duty
to enforce.
There is no reason to assume or be-
lieve that the future conduct of Mr..
Billiard in Office will be any different
from what it has been in the past.
This being the case, the continued in
tegrity of the municipal government is
assured, and Topeka will continue on
her way in the right direction. rejoic-
ing over her wonderful opportunities
for advancement and taking advantage
of them.
1t is regrettable, however, that Mr..
McNeal was defeated. and especially
as the vote was such a close one. He
seems to more nearly represent the
sentiments of the citizenship of To-
peka. and that should be the principal
qualification of a mayor. Mr.. McNeal
and his friends put up the strongest
fight they possibly could. The returns
indicate that they were beaten, and
the greater part of them will &C
cept the verdict with equanimity.
1t is fact that many men and wo-
men who are strong temperance people
and prohibitionists cast their votes for
Mr.. Billiard, and simply because they
believe him to be a man of large bust
ness ability and one who can be en-
trusted to enforce the laws as he finds
them, whether or not they coincide with
his personal views. He had served one
year and many believed him entitled TO
second term. There is an overwhelm-
ing sentiment in Topeka in favor of
prohibition. and the time will come
some day when the wet and dry
issue will be eliminated from local CAM
paigns. Prohibition is now the stated
policy of Topeka and Kansas. No one
but a fool would campaign for the
mayoralty of Topeka on a prom
Use of giving the town open
saloons or joints. He could not
deliver the goods if he should be
elected on any such issue. And if he
ever attempted to do so his tenure of
office would be so brief that it would
take his breath away. In order to
bring about any such conditions l.
would be necessary to have a county
attorney, a sheriff and a states attor-
ney general who would wink at tho
violations of the prohibitory law. And
the time is far distant in Kansas when
such an extensive combination of negli-
gent officials will placed in office.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
LAYHAWKER JOTS

AS the Jewell County Republican so
tersely puts it: Being content with
what you have is just like owning the
earth.
According to the Anthony Bulletin,
the favorite style of gambling in its
city is to put 100 eggs in an incubator
and await results.
The hen may not be well educated,
remarks the Onaga Herald, but 1T
doesn't take her long to scratch off a
few lines-in the garden.
The Osborne Farmer thinks that the
Kansas bank robbers, if they keep up
their lick, will soon find themselves ont
of a job. There will be no more banks
to rob.
How a marriage engagement was eff
fected at Canton, as reported by the
calling here night after night, taking up
my time and keeping other nice men
away" said the popular girl to her
steady. You want me to marry you,
don't your II do he gasped. Il
thought So" she added. "An right,
WILL"
Another Jim Lane story as related by
the Abilene Reflector: Once Jim Lane,
the famous Kansan, put up a flag at
Mt. Pleasant and some of the rebel citt-
zens took it down. 1t was reported 10
Lane. Put up another one" he said.
1t was put up. and all the town turned
out to see 1t defiantly raised. Lane
was pressed to make a speech. Those
who heard his remarks never forgot
them. He said: 1T am Jim Lane of
Kansas. If that flag comes down, Mt.
Pleasant goes up" He always began
his speech with 81 am Jim Lane of
Kansas"
A rather unusual fire as reported by
the Ports Independent: Fred Hull
started quite an excitement in the
country Wednesday morning by start
ing a fire under a COW that was lying
down. to make her get up. 1t is need
less to say the COW got up and the fire
got up too getting the greater part of
his fathers pasture, and timely inter-
vention of some neighbors kept it from
burning out Mr.. Moser. 1t is an undis-
puted fact that Fred was scared, and II
he lives to be 102 years old he will
never forget it. 1t was even more ex-
citing than the fire two boys started to
smoke out a wolf. After the two boys
left the wolf started out and in doing
so caught his tail on fire, and how did
If happen bOyS?
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05

visit me, you remember. My regards
10 your mother, and tell her not to let
you work too hard.
Yours. ROBERT H. ALTON.
fragrant flowers The wind had
changed, the moan had died out of it,
and it laughed and danced at her win
dow pane. He loves YOU" it called
gaily. The dying embers of the fire
were slowly dropping. He loves you
| loves uncertainty
Letters from Alton came often.
strong, helpful letters, full of his
wholesome philosophy. Edith felt in
| them the broad sweep of the plains,
the mans clean life, and only between
the lines she read his love. She PLAN
ned so that she and Mrs. Ogden would
be on the ranch when her first novel;
The Man of Promise" was given to
the public, and when she went away
asked that no mail be forwarded to
her. She had worked hare and she
wanted to play.
To both eastern women everything
was delightfully."- new and novel from
the minute they reached the red sta
ton where Alton met them. The ranch
was twenty miles from the railroad,
and as they rode along in Atoms COM
Portable ear they looked over the roll
ing prairie that stretched out, warm in
the sunshine, until they seemed to be
| lost in the blue of the skies.
"It seems to that have been enter
tanning an angel, but not unawares, 1
| assure YOU Alton opened a news
paper a few evenings later. II know
you don't want any news from home
but this is too good to keep"
Please spare me. It's about my
book. know"
MANY years have passed. Alton
read, ''since the public has been given
stoned nv
Edith Dougher's first novel; The Man
| of Promise 1t is an exceptionally
clever piece of work, and critics are
unstinted in their praise of it. me
man is a remarkably fine character
thoroughly western, and his wise phi
losophy savors of the wide expanse of
plains. May Miss Dougher furnish us
with more just such clean. wholesome
literature as "The Man of Promise"
When he had finished reading there
was a challenge in Edith eyes ana
hope in his own. He is yours, or,
rather, he is you,'' she acknowledged
and looked off where one by one the
stars came out and made the sky a
| jeweled canopy.
Lets walk down to the big gate.
I've something to tell you.'
She leaned her arms on the bars
and stood waiting. All through spring
he had seen her there in his dreams,
waiting for him as he rode home at
twilight.
| st wanted you to see it for yourself
| he said, this western home of mine
1 love you," there was tenderness in his
voice, "and I need you. Back in your
country there are other women to take
YOUR place in the charmed circle, but
| TOR me there has never been and there
never will be any woman but you
Come to me, dear, and let us look al
the old life from great distance
Could you, do you love me. Edith?
| She lifted her head and looked into
ewes that compelled and held her gaze
Somewhere, in the low catalpa trees, a
bird fluttered a little note of content
Iment-(Copyrighte 1911, by Assocl-
ated Literary Press.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
He FOOLED the English.

Pet Cronje came of the old Dutch
stock which was the malnstay OF the
South African republics. He was born
about 1885. Like all the veldt men,
he became a farmer, just as his father
and his fathers father had been farm
ers. At the time of the first Boer war
he came into prominence through his
work at Potchefstroom, which he COM
PEELED to capitulate by Withholding
from its English garrison the knowl-
edge that an armistice had been de-
clared. This was an exhibition of Boer
trickery that was typical. 1t was the
memory of it, no doubt that made
Lord Roberts so eager to defeat Cronje
in the second war. Cronje was sturdy
Christian, but when it came to little
thing like willfully deceivin3 an enemy
he never thought twice about it.
After the war Nicolas Smith, the
victor of Majuba. became the repub-
lies fighting general" but when
Smith died it was generally conceded
that his mantle fell upon Cronje'
shoulders. Piet Joubert was a tacti-
clan, a man of superior mental pow
ers, who stood in a class by himself,
beyond the line of the Drakensberg in
to the South Africa of the future. The
Beers admired Joubert respectfully,
but they did not wholly trust him. He
was too civilized, too English" Piet
Cronje, on the other hand. was a Boer
of the Beers, who never thought about
his personal appearance, and read few
books but the Bible. Therefore 1t was
to Cronje that the burghers looked
when Nicolaas Smith was laid in his
brick lined grave in the Pretoria ceme-
terry.
Besides, willy and far-seeing as Jou-
bert might have been, he was not the
equal of Cronje at handling troops IN
the fled. Cronje had the eye of a
hawk for position and the nose of a
iackal for signs of weakness; in an en-
envy. His maneuvering of DR.. Jane
son would have pleased Napoleon
New York Evening Post.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
QUAKER NfEDITATIoNs.

IFrom the Philadelphia Record.1
Club sandwiches make pretty good
board.
Many a man collects his thoughts
from other people.
Easter hats are blooming, and the
milliner is feathering her nest.
When girl with freckles goes to a
beauty parlor does she pay spot cash
Strangely enough it isn't when she is
under a cloud that woman reigns.
No, Maude, dear; it doesn't take a
telephone girl to make the welkin
ring.
There are few things more rare
than a promise that hasn't string
tied to it.
The people who are always blowing
about themselves are not always
breezy.
Guzzler-"My life was a desert till
I met you.' Miss Caustique-"Ah! al
last I have the explanation of your
wonderful thirst"
81 admit that 1 am fond of spIittine
hairs said the argumentative man.
I'D rather split a welsh rabbit with
you," replied the hungry one.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.
[From the Chicago News.

The north pole is cold and distant.
Being a good fellow has cost many
a good job.
The best way to settle an old score
is with a $50 bill.
Pride taketh a tumble to itself when
it goeth before a fall
Unless a thing is uncomfortable 1t
seldom becomes fashionable.
Don't wait until your bread becomes
stale before casting it upon the waters.
We admire girl who can make
good fudge-if she can also make
good pies.
There are two sides to every ques-
ton, as you will find if you lake the
trouble to investigate.
Man wants but little here below, but
he usually gets more than he wants OF
the things he doesn't want
When a man attempts to get some
thing for nothing about the only thing
he succeeds in acquiring is job lot
of experience.
The man who burns his bridges be-
hind him when he starts out to look
for trouble is foolish On second
thought. a man who looks for trouble
il foolish anyway.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
GLOBE SIGHTS.
[From the Atchison Globe,l

lFrom the Atchison Glooe.l
Very few white dogs take as many
baths as they should.
So many people think their rights
should be special privileges.
Things you ought to do are the things
you find hardest to do.
1t costs more to cultivate a thirst
than it does to maintain motor car.
You are so good at furnishing ex-
cuses; you may have found one avail
able for the bluejay.
A man buys a patent cigar lighter
to show his superiority. rather than to
save time or matches.
The sort of fame which is thrust
upon a man. is usually recognized at
about its actual value.
Men who have escaped being caught
are always a little chesty in the mat
ter of assumed morals.
On the other hand, Lent won't help
you much If you try to make up FOR
lost time after it is over.
1t never occurred to US that the pic
lures in the front part of a dictionary
fill any long felt want.
As a satorial suggestion. it may be
said that the derby hat was never in
tended to be worn with overalls.
When a young girl marries an old
man, she doesn't worry much about
the old mans health unless 1t is good
II u woman can tHiAh VI eah9 III :,
else in favor of her child, she will tel
how good it is about taking medicine
Reoollections of childhood are Otter
so much more pleasant than childhood
was when you lived it at close range
If you don't deliberately do lot OF
things you know you will be sorry fol
afterward. you are a most unusual
person.
Why wasn't the human animal con-
structed with a disposition to go tc
bed early and get up early, as he
should2
According to a farm boy, if there
were some way of lodging the chores
the rest of the work wouldn't amount
to much.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
JOURNAL ENTRIES

The people who hunt for sympathy
seldom get any.
Too many men think honesty is the
best policy only for the other fellow.
= =
There wouldn't be many jokes float
ing around these days if the old ones
didn't keep in circulation.
y x
With the approach of the baseball
season there will be greatly increased
mortality among the elderly relatives
of Office boys.
So many and divers are the laws that
If all the law-breakers were sent to jail
there wouldn't be many folk not under
restraint.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
Half the Town Scratches.

A practical joker has all this week
had half the residents of Conyngham
a country town near here, scratching
continuously. special commlttee
of the school board suspects that the
Joker is one of the older schoolboys-
If he is found, by Heck! he'll suffer.
"A public fogging is none too good
for him." one Of them intimated.
"Cowitch," that rural scream mas
been distributed in the school. in two
lodgerooms, the postoffice, and at a
horse sale. The school directors heard
enough to convince them that they
will be able to catch the joker They
understand that he bought the stuff
by mail for the purpose of having
some fun."-Wilkes- Barre (Pa.) dis
patch to New York Tribune.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
RuRAIYYAT XIII.

RUBAIYYAT XIII.
This solemn thought now strikes us
with a thud:
Our forebears, frequently by sheodins
Got good results, and oft times
scored point,
But NEVER, Clementine, by throw
ing mud. TAMAN.
Post mortem Investigation of Del
aware horse brought to light cholce
collection of snakes and Lizards. Tnls
would indicate that man is not the
only animal with perverted tastes.
Forecast for Topeka: Dry. as usual
Anyone with a thirst for knowledge,
can acquire a new package OF the
collection of snakes and lizards. This
department has just learned that
whether your noise at a political meet
ing constitutes enthusiastic applause"
or a "disorderly interruption" de-
ponds entirely upon which candidate
you holler for.
A rolling stone gathers no moss,
but it does acquire a polish. And the
stationary stone is still g stone under
the moss.
Reports from all over the country
indicate that, although the liquor
question" is greatly overworked, 1t is
still a favorite issue.
POST MORTEM.
Now may the knockers take a rest.
And gladly will we take the same.
For while they knocked their level
bes.
They failed. (sad word), to beat the
game.
So, let the anvil chorus cease.
And give us peace, Lord, give US peace.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
REFLECTIONS OF a BACHELOR.

IFrona the New York Press.1
Next to being good there is the least
fun in being sick.
II a man knows anything about SELL
ing dry goods he thinks it's about in
venting flying machines.
When a brides relatives begin to
visit her it's a sign her husband has
forgotten there ever was honeymoon.
The more pleasure a man could give
his family spending a holiday with
them the more he'd rather go fishing.
A woman is never prouder of her
husband than when. il she goes to
church, it rains and her husband comes
to meet her at the door with an UNI
brella so the congregation can see it.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05
RAIN.

The soft thud and patter of rain
upon the roof are as musical TO the
imaginative listener as is any SYM
phony, writes contributor to the
April Atlantic Monotonous dripping
on thick-leaved trees. soothes ones
WEAKNESS, and makes the opportunities
of life seem easily resisted. One can
be lulled to fair visions during tran
silent spring shower, and gain the sense
of sharing the destiny of nature. But,
sometimes, the storm brings moods far
from serene when 1t sweeps along with
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05

It's good thing for the peace of the
community that the final wind-up of
the local campaign did not last for
more than a week. Had it run on for
another ten days or so. several of the
candidates for the commissionerships
would have been compelled to settle
their differences in an cid fashioned
battle royal. There would have been
no other way out for them.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05

oh horrorsl Miles Pointdexter. the
new United States senator from Wash
ington, is going to demand another in
vestigation of the interior department.
He insists that the -Ballinger
investigation served no good purpose
because it was a pre-arranged white
wash for BallinRer
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-05

particularly the property owners and
business men along Kansas avenue, it
is the one which concerns the estab-
lishment of a great white way on that
thoroughfare. 1t is being pushed
with vigor by the committees of the
Commercial Club, which have charge
of the preliminary plans, and it ought
to have easy sailing.