davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09

ed the door on me-" Uncle Peter
stormed, and they told me. the vii.
lains, not to describe anything 1 might
see here In my speeches against tho
Opposition: How could sec any
thing in this damn old ice-house?"
When I told him about the Joint de-
bate and of the non-appearance Of
the Hon. William Gray he Gained
down at once.
What do you suppose kept old Bill
Gray away" Uncle Peter asked, as
we walked up the road.
"You can search me. Uncle Peter"
I said as we reached the fence by the
road just as an automobile came
chuck chucktng painfully along.
We waited in the darkness to let
it go by!
AS it passed we saw an agitated old
gentleman in the rear seat, Tuning
and fretting and urging the chauffeur
to hurry on, but to all the Old mans
pleadings the chauffeur replied stolid-
ly, I'm doin' the best can! the Bub-
ble's bust
Oh! noble stranger! What would
have been our finish without you?
Great Scott" exclaimed Uncle
Peter as the machine toiled slowly by,
tits old Bill Gray, or his ghost!"
Then l exploded and for five min.
utes I rolled around on the grass to
the amazement of the puzzled Uncle
Peter.
Though l don't pretend to under.
stand the ms and outs of politics."
Uncle Peter said when we finally
reached home, still I've got pretty
sharp eye, and I'm not going to ask
for any particulars as to why old Bill
Gray was in our new automobile, but
I would like to shake your hand,
john"
Then We held family reunion and
Uncle Peter showed us how he would
have lit into Uncle William at the pub
lie sQuare-if he hadn't been locked
up in the ice-house.
The next day it happened. l don't
know whether is was Uncle Peters
popularity or his check book or my
speech at the joint debate-but, any
way. he was elected by tidy ma
jority,' and he was the happiest old
soul in sixty-four States.
In the midst of our rejoicings that
Tuesday evening a messenger brought
me note. read 1t to our assem-
bled friends to the accompaniment of
much applause:
Ruraldene, Tuesday.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09

crowd took up the chorus: "Gray!
Gray! why do you stay away"
Some Of my scouts returned with
the news that no trace Of Uncle Peter
could be found, and began to wonder
what would happen if the crowd call
ed upon me to produce him.
Half-past eight and no Candidates.
Quarter Of nine and no Candidates.
The crowd had its kidding clothes on
by this time, and Bunch was handed
some pretty lively language, but he
was game to the finish, that boy was!
At nine o'clock the crowd had
thinned out to such an extent that the
referee got up and went home Gabe
Malone arose to address what was
left Of the audience, but before he
served half-portion Of bad grammar
somebody in the front line pointed a
toy pistol at him, and he did a back
flip off the platform and hiked for
home
After that there was nothing doing.
At $50 only few night-hawks re-
manned of the once great audience.
The representatives and committees
on the platform dwindled away until
finally nobody was left save Bunch
and l.
l looked over at Bunch from time to
time and he looked over at me, but we
never cracked a smile.
At 10 o'clock we still sat there, but
we had our backs to each other.
At 1910 the audience consisted of
one sea-going hack, with both horse
and driver asleep.
The hack didn't seem to care what
happened.
At 1915 we arose, handed each
other the laugh and went home.
The joint debate was a f1zzle, but I
had shade the best of it.
found Aunt Martha and Clc J. in
! tears when reached the villa.
Poor Uncle Peter!" sobbed Clara
j.; "oh, where is he? where is he?"
He's been assassinated, know 1t. -
Aunt Martha sobbed back. "Oh, thu,
he had never gone into politics."
l succeeded in calming them after
a time, and by dint of much question:
ing learned that two strangers had
called to see Uncle Peter on very
urgent business at about 7:15, and
that the trio had started off hurriedly
in the direction of the river road.
Hank Barney Doolin and at once
took lantern and followed the trail.
About mile from the villa on the
bank of the river Is big ice-house,
and as we approached it we heard the
most unearthly yelling, swearing and
kicking of boards.
"Sure, it sounds like the ould man
whin he's excited" cried Barney as
We unbolted the door.
1t was Uncle Peter who stood be-
fore us, sad spectacle in the Ian
terms light.
"The villains!" he shouted; "oh
John. my boy, I'm so glad to see you!
The villains! they lured me down here
with lying story that I could see
Bunch Jeffer-on teaching ; lot OF
Italian doaters how to vote!"
leaned against the ice-house and
nearly choked
| when they got me here they bolt
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09
closely along these lines In neAtQ -
states of the central Wegt.

; g . = 81. / & b "a -
closely along these Zines In neAf0 -
states of the central West. -
The amount Of money wasted upon
the highways; OF any: state between
Pittsburg and Denver. and from Min.
nesota to Florida, would more than
pay the interest on the bonds neces-
sary to build and maintain frst-class
permanent roads. We might state It
in another way: That the economies
that can be accomplished and the
benefits that will accrue from improv-
ing the highways, will take OF. from
the burden of the people many times.
more than the taxes to build the roads,
will impose. Why not convert this
waste into a permanent asset? Why
not have better conditions when We
can do so so easily?
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09

men," he began, as he took an old
letter from his coat pocket, Il have
just received note from Mr.. William
Gray in which he states that an ex-
tremely important call over the long
distance telephone will detain him at
home for a few minutes. In the
meantime permit me to suggest that
the Hon. Peter Grant open the de-
bate"
Bunch sat down amid great ap-
plause and loud cries of Grant! Go
at him, Grant," filled the air.
Then saw my chance.
The Opposition had dropped its
guard and now to land a jolt.
"Mr. Chairman and ladies and gen.
tlemen,' began when silence was re-
stored, "We accept without hesitation
the excuse put forth by the Hon.
William Gray's spokesman. I am en-
powered to state that in Difference to
the opposing Candidates maturer
years and grayer hairs the Hon. Peter
Grant will not put in an appearance
on this platform until the Hon. WILL
lam Gray is first seen and honored by
his townspeople.'
A thunderous burst of applause
went up and Bunch nearly tainted.
I sent four of our committee out to
head off Uncle Peter and explain mat
tiers, and when turned around Bunch
and some of his friends had disap-
peared.
Presently the crowd began to get
impatient and cat-calls filled the air.
There wasn't anybody on the plat
form with nerve enough to get up and
tear off a speech, so we had to sit
there and look foolish
Bunch was back In ten minutes look
ing very pale and excited. while the
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09
Mother Might Detect 1t.

She and her husband were on their
wedding trip, and they had just
reached Philadelphia. In the station
she drew him in the direction of the
telegraph office.
Il promised mother I'd wire her
when we got here" she said, land
where We are going next"
''All right the bridegroom muir.
INJURED, reaching for telegraph blank
and scribbling hurriedly. "How's
this?"
The bride took the paper and read
it slowly.
Are in Philadelphia. Bellevue.
stratford. AtlanGc City on Monday.
Will write.-Ethel''
That's fine," she applauded him.
"You make them up beautifully.
never could" She reached for a pen
and another sheet Of paper.
Il must copy 1t now" she explained
1--WE could never send it this way
You see, mother knows that isn't my
writing"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09
WHY BATTLESHIP WAS SENT
Because Of Misinterpreted Cipher
Message the Maine Went to
Havana.

Probably very few know that the
Maine had been hurried to Havana be-
cause of a misinterpreted cipher mes
sage. Mr.. John R. Caldwell, who had
been in charge Of the Havana bureau,
and whom I relieved, told me that
several days prior to my arrival he
had made requisition upon the Office
for a revolver. There had come siren
uous times in the Cuban capital, riots
had been frequent, the lives of for
eigners, particularly those Of Ameri-
cans, had been more than once placed
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09

d Road, Near Conklin, Tenn.
trast than the two pictures in this article
In one there is an air Of shiftlessness,
It, progress and refinement. Can any one
community gets the most out of life.
able road engineer. II ten or twelve
miles are built instead Of one the cost
of construction will be much less; it
will pay to have improved machinery
and the best facilities. Then the pay
by passing the hat, where some
will do their duty and others will not,
but on the contrary tho amount should
be covered by issuing long time bonds
and spreading the burden over all the
property of the township. II FORUM
ately the state is operating under the
state aid plan, whereby portion Of
the expense is contributed from the
state treasury, it simplifies the matter
very much and lightens the burden.
The writer made a calculation COW
ering the state of Illinois, and that cal
culation was verified by the late DR..
Frank H. Hall Of Aurora, one Of the
best mathematicians in the country,
and he found it correct It showed
that f1rst-class hard roads could be
built over all the main highways in
the state of Illinois, under the state
aid plan, the state paying one-half the
expense from a general tax levy, and
the balance locally by the township,
and the combined expense spread
over a period Of ten years, would not
exceed ten cents per acre per year
on farm lands. What Is true of ILL.,
nois viii be found to work out very
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09

will wonder they ever tolerated the
old hit and miss methods. y
II the method suggested was adopt
ed and followed, It, would at least dou-
BILE the results for thei>taxes now paid.
BY having regular employment, both
the men and horses would become
proficient and do more in a day than
the 'greenhorn" would do in two days,
and the work will be far better done
as we'll.
The above outline is for the treat
ment of earth roads. When the time
comes, and come it will, when the
main roads will have to have a hard,
smooth wearing surface of stone,
gravel or brick, all of the work pre-
viously done as above set forth, will
be valuable as a preparation for the
permanent road
The inauguration Of such plan will
appeal to the people; they will see
they are getting something for the
money paid. Their attitude will
change from one of hostility to friend
ly cooperation, and this is of much
Importance. The writer once saw an.
enterprising farmer who had a road,
drag, He took 1t out in a rain storm
and dragged a mile of road, going
twice over it until it was in his Ian
guage as smooth as ribbon. No
sooner had he turned in under cover
than he saw neighbor with two
teams coming down over the road, un-
doing all he had done. The comment
made would not look we'll in print.
If the party in question had any ap-
probation of the fitness of things, he
would have driven along the side of
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09
MENTAL ACCURACY
Greatly Improved by Leaving Oft Coffee

The manager of an extensive cream
cry in Wis. states that while regu-
lar coffee drinker, he found it injuri-
sus to his health and a hindrance to
The performance of his business du-
ties.
1T impaired my digestion, gave me
distressing sense of fullness in the
region Of the stomach, causing most
painful and disquieting palpitation Of
the heart, and what is worse, it mud
died my mental faculties so as to seri.
ously injure my business efficiency.
Il finally concluded that something
would have to be done. quit tho USE
Of coffee, short OF, and began to drink
Postum. The cook didn't make It
right at first. She didn't boil it long
enough, and I did not find it palatable
and quit using it and went back to cof-
fee and to the stomach trouble again.
"Then my wife took the matter in
hand, and by following the directions
on tho box, faithfully, she had mo
drinking Postum for several days be-
for I knew It.
Wnen happened to remark that
was feeling much better than I had
for long time, she told me that I
had been drinking Postum, and that
accounted for it. Now we have no
coffee on our table.
my digestion has been restored,
and with this improvement has come
relief from the oppressive sense of
fullness and palpitation of the heart
that used to bother me so. note such
. gain in mental strength and acute
ness that can attend to my ONCE
work with ease and pleasure and with.
out making the mistakes that were 90
annoying to me while was using
coffee. 49,
Postum 10 tho greatest table drink
Of tho times, In my humble estima.
ton" Name given by Postum Co.,
Battle Greek, Mich. 49,.
Read the little book, 1.-THE Road to
MELVILLE" in pkgs. There's reason"
Ever read the shove lettsr1 A nov
go aDDeeFs from tine t. tine. Thsv
are 9enoinos txU0s ana full Of hnnA1
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09

'SuFe, u SOUNDS Like the OuIo Man
Whin He's Excited" Cried Barney.
vously, and l was using my sleeve to
hold fine bundle of laughs.
knew, within a few miles, where
Uncle William was about this time,
but why did Uncle Peter delay his
entrance?
Eight o'clock came and the vast as
semblage was called to order by
Squire Thompson, whose duty it was
to introduce the opposing candidates
and start the battle.
The Squire made his little speech
and sat down amid great applause.
Then silence fell and everybody
looked at everybody else uneasily.
Where were the two Principals?
/ knew that Uncle William was
about two miles further away than he
was the last time thought OF him,
but where was Uncle Peter?
Presently when the TENSION became
almost unbearable Bunch Jefferson
iarose and made the bluff of his life.
"Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentle
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09
Music Teachers Protest.

At congress of German music
teachers in Berlin an earnest protest
was raised against what was called
"scavenger or gutter music" Accord.
ing to the principal speaker, this class
of music takes the form of operettas
of degrading and silly character.
1T is art" said the speaker, (which
degrades composer, executants, and
those who hear the music and thiuk
OF the words sung to the most popu-
lar airs of this school. Alone and d.
vorced from their catchy melodies, no
sane man would willingly utter the
inanities contained in them"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09

~OOOITy o~uOOS s7V0oo VII -
1t would be hard to find a greater co,
show. They are only a few miles apart
while In the other there Is evidence OF thu
doubt which is the better school or which
county should be the road district, or
perhaps there might be two districts
in large counties. The road super
visor should be capable, experienced
engineer employed by the year, or the
season. Let him get the necessary
tools, men and teams and do the work
when it ought to be done. When grad
ing is necessary, the earlier in the
spring it is done the better. The sur
face ought not to be disturbed after
the first of July.
The first and most important step
is road drainage. No drain. no road.
1t is exceedingly important to have
one in charge who knows his business.
AS road drainage will be treated at
length in another article, the writer
will not elaborate upon it at this time
The drains can be laid at any season
when the frost is out of the ground.
Culverts can be built, the roads drag
ged, weeds cut, etc. This will give
work from early spring until fall.
With the county as a unit, plan a
>five-year campaign of grading and
draining, beginning with the main
roads and extending the work in the
order of Importance. In county OF
ten to fifteen townships. one good en-
gineer with three or four gangs of
men with machinery, each having a
good foreman, in three or four years
will make such q showing, that people
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09
Not AItooether.

A group of statesmen was discus.
sing, at luncheon at the New Willard
in Washington, certain millionaire.
Hes always boasting," said Repre-
sentative j. F. Johnston, that no ID
an absolutely self-made man, yet 4
know for fact that he bought hi
teeth In Chicago ana his wig IN Lon
don"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09
LOOKING Out for Number One.
DRAWING HIM ON.

Sydney had been given some dis.
earded millinery with which to amuse
herself. She trimmed marvellous
looking hat, and so arranged it that a
long red ostrich plume hung straight
down from the front Of the brim. over
her baby face.
Come here, Sydney" said her
mother. LET mo tack that feather
back, out Of your eyes,"
"Oh, no mother! I want it that
way, so I can see it myself. Most
always only other people can see tho
feathers on my ats."-Judge.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09
Real Work Of Art.

A biography Of King Edward, sc, 900
words in length, has been written by
a Capetown Rabbi on a single sheeA
OF paper. 80 that at q distance the
writing forms port1ait Of tho ~
monarch
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-09
Used to 1t.

Thompson-Wouldn' you hate to
nave death staring you in the face?
Johnson No. If you'd seen my
wife's stare, you'd realize that deaths
2as no terror for me,-9arper'3 Bazaar.
The Williamson enterprise. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1907-1911, 1911-02-02
NOW COMES THE NEW TURBAN
Expensive Models Shown In Which
Wings Are the Most General
Trimming.

OF course, the little top" hat, as a
few milliners call the closely fitted tur.
ban of fur and velour, has had Its day
and few nights, too, and it is not sur
prising that, the price having reached
the attainable, makers are exploiting
new and more expensive models.
Wings are the most general trim
ming. Such lovely wings, that ones
appreciation OF the beauty submerges
the humane instincts-iri descent
wings, snowy feathers and all the
made varieties that are more attrac-
tive than ever.
Some of the turbans are combine
lions of fur and wings, each being ap-
piled in square or pointed tabs that
are turned back over a maIine or satin
foundation.
Breasts are run through slots In fur
crowns and on brims; feathers are
used to edge fur wings, and fur edges
feather forms.
AS to the place at which wings rise
to the millinery occasion it would be
difficult to say. They are everywhere,
of all sizes and shapes, and give fair
ly durable ornamentation for hats.
They are decidedly less expensive
than plumes and are invariably be-
coming. So what more can you re-
quire?
The Williamson enterprise. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1907-1911, 1911-02-02

G ONE inventive designer of milli-
~ merry, taking note of the strong
points of the oriental turban, and
seeking for something new, brought
forth the new flexible hat Of velvet.
The queer but charming "ding-a-ling"
hat burst upon New York and prompt
~ captivated 1t. Naturally it has been
followed by any number Of soft hats
and caps of velvet and other mate
rails suitable for winter.
The "ding-a-ling' hat Is a pointed
cone Of velvet with a rolled up rim
next the face. 1t is guiltless of wire
except for a single small stirring
wire inserted about the brim edge. 1t
Is lined with silk or satin and inter-
lined with rice-net. The crown is
made of four conicaI pieces sewed to-
gether except in cases where manu-
featured cone of felt or beaver or
velvet is steamed into the proper
shape over a block. The original
hat was trimmed with single quill.
placed fiat against the crown at the
back. The whole affair is chic If ex-
IRENE, but becoming to only certain
types. 1t is full of snap and crisp
style. but impossible for many wear
ers.
For those who cannot wear this
jaunty mot to mention somewhat
rakish) little bit of new millinery any
number of new designs have been
and are. being invented. One of them
The Williamson enterprise. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1907-1911, 1911-02-02
HOW HE EARNED THE MONEY
Pretty Sister Persists In Her Question
Ing Until She Gets an
Answer.

A certain pretty girl has small
brother who is, as small brothers are
apt to be, the plague of her existence.
and over whom she attempts to main
tain rigid elder-sisterly discipline.
Yesterday afternoon she saw him
eating candy.
why, Phil" she said, where did
you get that candy ?'
20, bought IT, Philip replied, airi-
ly; and Philips sister, who knew the
deploTable state of his finances, raised
her eyebrows suspiciously.
Where" she began, where did you
get the money!"
Philip whistled, II earned It," he an
swered, with great assumption Of dig
nifty.
The big sister wondered for mo-
ment, Their laughed outright. you
never earned a cent in your life,
Phil" she exclaimed. You're too
lazy for anything. Tell me-" very
sternly, where you got that money. :
None o. your business" answered
Philip, impudently, you amt my
mother. I tell you I earned 1t, / did.
earned this all right. got it from
your beau yesterday afternoon when
/ saw him kissing the babys nurse.
Well, what's the matter? | guess !
earned 1t all right"
The Williamson enterprise. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1907-1911, 1911-02-02

is shown here. 1t is a crusher hat OF
black velvet, the brim lined with
white satin and edged with heavy
satin-covered wire-the only wire in
the hat Such a hat, with the brim
dented against the crown and orna-
mented with smart aigrette or stiff,
fiat, cockade, may be seen at any of
the cafes, completing very handsome
toilettes.
Odd effects in trimming are sought
for these odd hats, and many OF them,
for the street, are untrimmed. They
need finishing touch. however, but 1t
must be just touch. A single skele-
ton plume, In peculiar colorings, or a
long feather from the pheasant tail,
and illustrate the character Of trim
ming which is appropriate.
A soft turban of velvet and fur
with fur buckle, is partly flexible.
There are no wires except in the
brim, which is very cleyerly draped
with velvet. This is sensible hat
for mfdwinter. With the dark fur
crowns one sees combined the most
vivid and beautiful ycolors In velvet.
mink and coral, black fox and bright
green, plush or broadtail, dark mole
skin with cerise or coral velvet and
very dark brown furs with cardinal
red, have the Yigor and warmth OF
color needed for midwinter.
JULIA BOTToMLEY.
The Williamson enterprise. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1907-1911, 1911-02-02
Different Now, Of Course.


Civil service reform has given us
a splendid army Of civil servants. 1t
wasn't always So"
The speaker, Mayor Whitlock of To
ledo, smiled.
when | was writing my first short
stories," he resumed, 1--WE had civil
servants of different stamp. An
elderly resident of my native Urbana
sought out, back In those days. his
congressman.
Congressman he said, I support
ed you at the polls, and now / expect
you to get my boy good civil serv-
ice job
"'All right, friend the congress:
man answered, what can your boy
do?
dor snorted the other What
can he do? BY crinus, man, If he
could do anything, do you think I'd be
bothering your"