davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
SAW ONLY SIGNS OF BADNESS
Charaeter-Readine Professor Discov-
cred the Criminal Type but Over
looked the White Flower.

The professor who reads character
from physiognomy. pointed to the boy.
opposite. He belonged to the criminal,
type, said the professor. Look at his
eyes, his ears, his cheek bones, his
mouth-criminal, every one of them.
The boy sat very still. All about
him were other boys swinging ball
bats, and cutting each others ears, but
that, the professor said, vas only the
natural overflow of animal spirits; the
quiet boy was too thoroughly stepped
in criminality to have any animal
spirits. Just as the professors COM
panion was beginning to wonder if it
was safe to ride in the same a with
the youthful degenerate the boy
reached down into his pocket and
brought forth a white flower. 1t was
a common field flower, a cluster Of
tiny white blossoms topping a slender
stalk. The boy seemed very fond of
1t. He twirled the stalk, he stroked
the leaves and petals, and every touch
was soft and tender. But the pro-
fessor had NJ eyes for those gentle fin
gers, he was intent on the unmistak-
able signs of inherited depravity.
"A bad one, he is, all right" said
the professor with a solemn shake Of
the head.
But the other person looked at the
flower again. A bad one, was he!
Maybe; but the other person had
doubts.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
LIVES AND WRITINGS UNLIKE
Men Of Letters Often Have Described
Best That Which They Never
Have Experienced.

Finally, a man Of genius. when he
writes a book, and "all the good
comes rushing into his SOUL" is in an
abnormal state, and hence, the lives OF
men of letters have often been In glar,
ing contrast to their writings. Mon
taigne tells us that he always OBJ
served super.celestial opinions to be
accompanied with subterranean NOR
ais; OH the other hand, the most latij
%tudinarian professors Of e~picureanism
have often lived like anchorites or
trappists. Some of the best sea songs,
have been written by men who never
snuffed a salt water breeze; stirring
war songs have been written by ttmid,
men and women who would have
shrieked at the sight of a mouse; and
hymns stepped in the very spirit OF
devotion have been written by men OF
doubtful morality, who were never
less at home than in a Christian
church. Charles Lamb was ready to-
wager that Millions morning hymn in,
Paradise was penned at midnight; and
we know positively that Thompson,
who sang the praises of early rising
in the Seasons" used to lie abed till
noon. Sir Richard Steele could dis
course el%oquently on temperance
when he was not drunk; Woodwork,
in his odd Oaken Bucket" sang tho
praise of cold water under the inspira-
ton Of brandy. Doctor Johnson, who
wrote so we'll on p~oliteness, interrupt
ed his opponents with "You lie, sir!'
"You are a vile Wing, sir" Burns
was a compound of dirt and deity;
Rousseau, who was always filling peo-
pies eyes with tears, betrayed and;
%slandered his benefactors in turn. and
sent his children to the %foundlings,
hospital. When Moore proposed to
Scott 10 go and see Melrose Abbey, as
Sir Walter had described it. by moon
light, Pooh, pooh," said Scott, you
don't suppose ! eve saw 1t by moon
light!"-William Matthews.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
He Called L Luck.

Michael Meehan was the proud pos
SCISSOR of a brand new silk high hat.
AT the wake of his dearest enemy he
had guarded 1t carefully, and as a con-
sequence was strolling home with the
tile unscathed. As he passed the site
Of q building operation, a woman ac-
q%uaintance nodded pleasantly. With
an ostentatious wave of the hat, which
exhibited 1t to excellent advantage.
Michael bowed. At the same moment
q brick sailed down from IN upper,
floor and bounced from his barred
skull. Upon coming to, he inquired
anxiously for the hat. A bystander re:
stored It unframed. Mike felt the
egg-size lump on his head ~occasioned
by the impact Of the brick, and then
regarded his unchanged tile. "B'gor-
ry," he silied in satisfaction, FITS
lucky 1t IL I saw the loidy in toime!"-
Lippincott's Magazine.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
WHAT L!szT DID FOR MUSIC.
His Compelling Personality, Genius
and Inspiration Made Possible
tho Later Wagner.

But he introduced into the musty
academic atmosphere Of musical Eu-
rope a strong, fresh breeze from the
Hungarian puzta; this wandering
piano player of Hungarian-Austrian
blood, a genuine cosmopolite, taught
music a new charm, the charm Of the
unexpected, Of the improvised. The
freedom Of Beethoven in his later
works and of Chopin in all his music
became the principal factor in the
style of List. Music must have the
shape of an i%mprovision. In the Hun
garian rhapsodies, the. majority of
which begin in a mosque and always
end in a tavern, are the extremes,
Of his system. His orchestral and
vocal works, the two symphonies, the
masses and oratorios and symphonic
poems are full of dignity, poetic feel
ing, religious spirit, and a largeness
Of accent and manner. Yet the gypsy
glance and gypsy voice Turk behind
many a pious or pompous bar. Apart
from his invention of a new former
rather the condensation and revisal
of an old one-the symphonic poem
Liszt's greatest contribution to are is
the wild, truant, r%hapsodic extempore
element he infused into modern mu-
sic; nature in her most reckless, un-
trammeled moods he interpreted with
fidelity. But the drummers in the line
of moral gasoline who controlled criti-
lcism in Germany refused to e List
except as an ex-piano %virtuoso with
the morals of a fly and a perverter Of
art. Even the piquant triangle in his
piano concerto was suspected as pos
sibly suggesting the usual situation OF
French comedy.
The Liszt-Wagner question no long
er presents any difficulties to the fair
minded. It is a simple one, for men
still living know that Wagner, to
reach his musical apogee, to reach
his public, had to lean heavily on the
musical genius and individual inspira-
tion of List. The later Wagner would
not have existed-as we now know
htm-without first traversing the gar
den Of List. This is not a theory but
a fact.-From Franz Liszt-The Real
and Legendary" by James Huneker,
in Scribner's.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
NEW YORK HARD ON TROUSERS:
Western Visitor Wears Out His Pock.
ct Edges Digging Down After
the Money.

The man from the west was in q
clothing emporium in Broadway Sc,
lecting a pair Of trousers.
by heck" he said as he paved
over the pile before him, this here
town Of New York is the beatin'est
place on pants l eve got up against.
Out in my town any hand-me-down
pants l buy are good for a year, start
ing in with Sundays for the first three
months and week days for the rest Of
the time. These I've got on were my
best and not quite three months old.
Now look at EN-" and he showed the
clerk the left hand pockets, hip and
side. The cloth was entirely worn on
the edges and the white showed like
q line Of surf.
"How did that happen?" inquired
the clerk, surprised, but sympathetic.
"This town did it, that's what. I
carry my change and small bills in
the left side pocket and my bank roll
In a book in the hip, and, by heck,
I've been going down into them
pockets so d. frequent for money
6luC0 i We UcCA LII ANcW xO1A CAoI v0
wore the edges off till they don't look
as If l had a cent to my name. Every
where l go, everything I do. every
body l meet calls for the stuff, and
I've got to W I've got it all
right, but it's mighty hard on pants.
And the wear and tear is just the
same whether / go after a dime or a
dollar. I've been wearing pants for
40 years and this is the first time any
thing like that ever happened to EN-"
"Have you ever been in New York
before?" inquired the clerk kindly.
Never till two weeks ago, and I'm
getting out of it day after tomorrow"
I'm sorry" said the clerk. I'D like
to sell you another pair of trousers,
soon."
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
The National Tree Of China.

I; The ,ung. or wood oil tree, is worth
lily named the national tree Of China,
lit is stately in appearance. with
smooth green bark and wide-spreadine
branches, afording a fine shade. It
bears q fruit resembling a shellbark
hickory nut, but as large as a small
orange. Each nut contains three trt'
angular seds similar to small Brazil
nuts. The oil is pressed from these
seeds and the refuse is used as q fer
tilizer. The OIL is used principally for
polishing woodwork and dressing
leather. Considerable quantities are
exported.
The wood OF the tung tree is used
for making musical instruments, fine
boxes and the framework Of small
houses. 1t is believed that this tree
might flourish in warmer parts Of the
United States.-Scientiic American.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
sparine the Rod.

The bishop Of Carlisle, Esq, is no
believer in "sparing the rod" and
spelling the child" In q recent ad-
dress he deplored "the soft notions
now being preached. by people calling
themselves humanitarians." 'It ia
said to be degrading to hog q boy"
said the bishop. well, I am truly
thankful that l was often degraded in
that sense in my boyhood. II I had
not been 90 degraded then ! should
be more degraded now. We need to
eliminate these enervating, foolish,
soft and therefore cruel notions from
our educational system. This IL q
matter not only for teachers. but for
parents"
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08

Fannie as a matter OF course and
when Fannie left the room she ex-
ploded at Mrs. Sander, why on
earth do you dress that girl 70 hide
iously?"
Mrs. Sander tried to bristle with
resentment and then she collapsed.
She saw that she must enlighten her
cousin. "she doesn't look well in any
thing" moaned the %despairing moth
er. "She never has and she never
will. Nothing becomes her. And IL
IL did it wouldn't be any use. because
she's so awkward and-homely!"
Indeed" remarked Cousin Kate,
She screwed up her eyes as though
studying something in the distance.
Then she announced calmly that she
thought she'd take Fannie along with
her to Europe.
! All the while they were gone Mrs,
Sander and every n else who knew
Fannie remained In a state of wonder
lin regard to Cousin Hates singular
state of mind.
When Cousin Kate and Fannie got
home a short time ago Mrs. Sander
(felt that she needed an introduction
land a chart to the young person who
fell upon her neck. That young per-
,son was Just as lank and long and
Todd az ever. but It was with a differ
fence.
After she had got her breath and
really studied her daughter Mrs. Sand,
Her saw that Fannie's garb IL any.
thing accentuated her absurd lankness,
Fannie, too. seemed to have an en-,
itirely new way Of Topping into chairs
land draping herself across tables,
quite as though she had about 40
much backbone as a piece Of Irvine,
Her mother could not keep her fas.
cinated eyes OF Fannie.
I'll can't stop looking at her." she
,stammered In bewilderment to Cousin
Kate.
. "Of course not" was the response,
That's the idea! Neither can any
one else! Everybody has been per-
fectly crazy about Fannie ever since I
gave her a talking to and bought her
some things such a. she ought to
wear. II a, girl can't be pretty she's
an idiot II she can't be unique!"
by the way. there's q young man
coming on here IN q day or two who's
going to marry Fannie II he car wiring
consent from the parents Of such .
racing hoanty and nrfnaloaa f-raasnrn
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
A Professional Paradox.

The study Of science is not neces-
sarily all gray; 1t may have its rosy
patches. 1t is said that a learned pro.
lessor of Heidelberg forbade his stu
dents the repetition Of a certain ex-
pertinent.
But" they protested, ut has al.
ways been successful"
Nevertheless" he said, Its position
among experiments is absolutely un-
tenable from an Intellectual point Of
view"
The boys stared.
The thing may answer very Well In
practice" said the professor, 'Hbut It -
not sound in theory."-Youth's Com.
panion.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
Habits Of Hedgehog.

The hedgehog passes the winter In
sleep, with circulation almost sus-
pended and body fires banked. It car
fies a reserve of glycogen and fat,
however, and recent Investigations
have shown that loon after awaken.
ing it warns up by a rapid burning Of
glycogen. This carbohydrate proves
to be the chief fuel, the fat being quite
unimportant. The animal may be
awake at a low temperature, for the
awakening is distinct from the warm
ing up, and whether the latter 10 vol
nntary or an automatic process IL mot
yet determined.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
Providing
for Fannie

When any OF Mrs. Sanders girl
hood friends first saw Fannie they
we're certain to exclaim in startled
tones. "Oh, is this your daughter
Their unconscious accent on this"
made Mrs. Sander set her even white
teeth in anguish Of spirit.
Each time this sort OF thing hap
pened the harshness Of her fate a
borne in upon her anew. Having
been a decidedly pretty girl herself.
1t certainly was hard to be afflicted
with a daughter who was so unattrac-
tive. For wherever Fannie should
have been broad she was narrow.
Her nose was too long and SO was her
waist. and the length Of her from hip
to heel was nothing short Of appal-
ling. She was indisputably lank and
her hair was lank and dull and she
was generally colorless.
Nothing looked we'll on Fannie. so
she dressed in anything that was
handy. She did not object. because
she herself had long ago given up the
struggle. She had the faculty OF turn
ing the most stylish garment into a
,caricature, and as for hats, a perfect
Ily airy, coquettish piece Of headgear
was instantly resolved into a hope
less .bedraggled joke when it was
Iperched upon her head. Sometimes
she rebelled f%uriously against her lot
in life, but she usually bore herself
Iuyifh Grim fortitudo TNharo WAS moth.
Ing to it-Fannie was hopeless.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08

After years of this kind Of woe it
was a good deal amazing when Cousin
Kate Givler, arriving for a short stay
on her way abroad, regarded Fannie.
whom she had last cen al a baby,
without any start disclosing a positive
shock. Cousin Kate seemed to take
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
judicial Advice.

Il nope you won't be hard on me.
Judge" he said. You see. I was under
the influence Of liquor whom I done
It,"
You seem to have been under the
influence Of something equally bad
when you studied grammar. During
the spare moments that you are going
to have. permit yourself to indulge In
judicious study Of the construction Of
ample sentences. Here is one to be.
gtn with-sixty days
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
No More Puddlns.

Margaret. q little girl Of four, was
visiting her grandparents. There.
were q number Of aunts who were:
somewhat careful Of her looks @ well
as morals. When ready to 80 home
Margaret said: when ! get home TIM
not going to wash my feet, I'm not
going to say my prayers, and I m
not going to put pudding On my Aass.ss
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
Tired O -Tsmpsrmansntal.

Backer-I am going to have . reel,
Ipsocity understanding with the star
you have selected bsfore the show
goes out.
Manager-What 10 IT.
Backer--If sho takes the engage
slnsnt, ! must arst take her tsmpsEa'
msnt
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
All About
a Discord

/ Having slammed the front door Wig.
orously, Kate burst into the library.
where Mary and Janet we're embroi.
aering linen towels before the crate
fire. She threw her nun on the dav-
export at the other end Of the library.
Hoped her music roll down on the Ia
BILE and then slid weakly into a big
chair.
There are times" she began ON.
lnously. when I'd marry a Sioux In
dian, war paint and ALL"
Il heard of a girl" Janet's tone
was conciliatory.
"Everything's wrong" Kate was not
TO be stopped. Il hate a career. !
loathe music. L hate the professor,
abominate my oil. No, I'll never
say that, but l abhor Gounod for writ.
ing Romeo and Juliet He's at the
bottom of all this trouble"
Poor Gounod." said Mary. What
lid"
That's right. Sympathize with the
old dead demon instead of me. No
body loves mel"
"Gracious!" Mary was moved out Of
her absorption in the careful turning
of an M" Whats the matter,
child?"
Kate was serious. rs it nice to be
engaged, Molly? Do you feel as il
you were in a harbor safe from the
cold, unappreciative world?"
/. Mary blushed, dropped the towel
and smiled into the fire with an alb
stracted expression.
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08

Turning from the window toward
Janet, Mary, with a surreptitious ges-
ture, indicated Billy Collins swing
ling down the street
by the way said Mary, BILLY Col
Inns phoned just before, you came in
that he was coming over to take you
somewhere"
IT won't 60" Kate was quite de-
|termined. I've got to practice that
scale and. anyway. i might catch
cold"
"Cold nothing! He's about to ring
the door bell now. III lend you my
hat with the red roses" This was
pure bribery.
The bell gave Q strident clang. Kate
|dived about for her Belonging. 70.
marking meanwhile in. Q stage wits
|per: II won't see him. I won't 80. I
won't! ! WON'T"
But when Mary came hack from the
door Kate smoothed her hair meekly
land went in. Conversation never Ian
guished with Billy.
Get on your buds and come with
me-" he said.
4 few bars Of the .'waats Song
sounded on the piano. Through them
came q rather mufisd. not too dstsr-
mined voice; Thanks. but ! can't !
have to practice
Then I'VE minutes later Kate cana
Eout. looking reluctantly happy.
~ n ssia that 0nRHActs
The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1911-12-08
Janet came to the rescue.

WELL" interrupted Kate, quite OBJ
livious to Janet's voice, Il simply sail
ed over the first page Of the Waltz
Song;' you know I've practiced on
those grace notes. and thrills until my
voice actually shutters when try
to sing straight. That the professor
said, is good business Just think!
i felt good clear down to the roots
of my teeth. He said I looked as If l
really wanted to dance. and you know
my facial expression usually sets him
wild always look too absorbed and
serious"
= IF he could only e you now!"
murmured Mary.
"Of course l was feeling tremendous
Qy encouraged and then ! got to that
awful chromatic scale from A to 4.
and he made a dreadful discord on
the piano and said l was of key. and
wasn't-wasn't!. Wasn't" Kate
beat her gloves on the chair emphat-
hcally.
But l didn't tell him SO abruptly.
i Just remarked s%oothingly that. GER
tain critics said Geraldine F'arrar sang
OF key and stood with her toes In,
and I didn't care il I did. OF course.
girls, 1 do care, but I just couldn't
say so"
I'm the lull Mary made another at
tempt. "Poor child! Somebody tele'
phoned-"
"And then he exploded" sputtered
Kate. because he thinks Farrar's
perfection. I cried spasmodically all
the way home"
Two big tears rolled down Hates
plump, flushed cheeks. Mary and
Janet patted. her. consigning the pro
fessor and all his works to realms
|unspeakable.
you're both angels" Kate sat up
and rubbed her cheeks vigorously.
1--WE got to stop crying. because it's
Ib.bad for my v-voice and I'm going to
practice that old scale all night"
Taking the hatpins from her hat,
Ishe added: II don't mind never eat
hing candy or cake or pie or pickle.
or anything else that's good and al
ways going to bed at nine O'Clock and
|trotting out for an airing 80 many
minutes every day to keep my
voice nice, bat when he tells me thst
t'm of key"
She sat down at the piano and crash
led out a few chords.
III Billy Collins comes over to-
might. for goodness sake tell him I'm
mot at home, for just a u as he
proposes I'll accept him."
Great idea!" Mary was enthusiast
Etic. Il was her table linen to be that
she and Janet were embroidering.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-12-25
HIS CAR ON TOP.
w. q. Means in Accident With
His Christmas Present.
Is Injured Internally When 1t
Leaps Down Bank.

Kansas City, Dec. 25.=The first at
tempt of w. G. Means of Kansas
City, Kan. a postoffice inspector, to
drive motor car which he had pur-
chased as a Christmas gift for his
family came near becoming a tragedy
for him and four other persons.
Means was driving the car over the
approach of Turner bridge, seven
miles west of Kansas City, in Wysn-
dotte county. He turned the steering
wheel sharply to avoid hole In so
doing he lost control of the wheel.
The car plunged through the fence of
the bridge approach and twenty feet
down an embankment, where it over
turned.
Means was pinned beneath the car.
The four persons who were riding with
hlm jumped and escaped without in
jury He was taken to St. Margaret $
hospital in Kansas City, Kan He
probably will recover
Means several months ago told his
family he was going to buy them d
motor car for a Christmas gift. The
car, a 1912 model. 5-passenger Buick,
was delivered Saturday
Hull started the car After several
blocks Bert Means took the steering
wheel and drove west on the Turner
road across the Turner bridge and out
into WyTlndotte county. Then the party
decided to return home.
Takes Turn at Running 1t.
I believe I'd like to take a hand at
to Hull, the instructor
Means seated himself at the steering
wheel and drove the car without Incl
dent until the bridge was reached on
the homeward trip. In running over
the approach Means saw a hole in the
flooring ahead. He turned the wheel
too far, to avoid it, and the car went
ove- the bank. The steering wheel pre-
vented him from jumping. and he rode
over the en-. bankment in the car. The
others jumped when they saw the car
turning to the side of the roadway and
they alighted in the soft mud.
The four men who were uninjured
at once proceeded to extricate Means
Members of the party went to a farm
house and telephoned to the city. Dr.
E. D. Williams of Kansas City, Kan.
FASTENED to the place Of the accident in
a motor car and after he had given
emergency treatment Means was taken
to the hospital in an ambulance.
The softness Of the earth along the
river bank, which saved 4our mem bers
of the party from injury, likewise pre-
vented serious damage to the car.