davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20
THE SUBSIDING OF THEODOSIA

Out in the kitchen Theodosia was
mixing bread. Everybody was out Of
the house and everything was quiet.
except the inward voice OF Theo-
dosias discomfort.
Just think, you're nearly thirty
fivel Thirty-five isn't old IL you're a
married woman. but it's old. old If
you're not married"
a huttering sigh from Theodosia as
she Strengthened her, slim shoulders
and bent again, working fiercely at the
bread mixing.
If you'd been born homely. Theo-
dosia Carey-but you weren't You
were born pretty in a way. with your
hair naturally curly and lightish. and
sound white teeth"
TheOdosia's head dropped and her
white pique sleeve absorbed the tears.
scalding. salt-stinging tears that came
with the force of tnfreQuency.
oh" moaned Theodosia. Its not
just for me that IL matters. It's NOM
my's disappointment. Just as though
she lived. breathed and walked
through this house. / can feel her
about me- She knows I'm getting
On-On TO being an old maid. how I'm
wasting away and shrivellng up, thin,
thin as rain, and I'm 50 scared and
my hair doesn't curl any more"
The front gate clicked and some
one came up the steps on to the porch
and into the house. Theodosia rubbed
her face across her sleeve and looked
up. stii inS a sob, listening.
II Was Mss Merton. the young lady
who lodged in Theod oSia's top door
front room. She went running loudly
upstairs. trying TO sing and whistle
both. and all out OF breath.
Miss Carey-oh. Miss Carey!" She
was coming noisily down agalnA ny
lamp hasn't a bit OF oil In il. and
want 10 find something in my trunk
And somebody is waiting OUTSIDE
for YOU" thought Theodosia, ''or YOU
wouldn't be in such a hurry, some
man-sone young man in white fan.
neis and white shoes"
Theodosia kept on az the bread and
did not answer. She never forgot &c
hu the lamps When before IN her
life had she forgotten II? And she
was always nice and polite to her
dodgers, but now she answered out
sharply.
Take that piece Of candle in the
han and make IL do for now. I'll see
20 your lamp later"
Miss Merton dumped back upstairs
again, whistling.
Looking for a photo of herself 10
show him." TheodOsia speculated.
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20

wondered how she had come TO this.
She tapped her feet upon the lower
step n still the tinglinS in them-she
could almost have jumped up and
waltzed madly about the porch.
I'D look pretty. wouldn't land
have Mr. Alden come I'm the gate and
see me going on like a fool" Theo-
dosia muttered.
Just then she saw Mr.. Alden cross
the floor as the music and dancing
subsidized and step out on TO the ball
cony. He stood still n moment; ne
was smoking He was taller than
most men, and beside an unuistak-
able sQuareness Of shoulders, the light
from behind him cleaned upon a bald
spot, very slight one. right on top
OF his head.
Theodosa sat up. her mind cen
tered suddenly upon that spot OF Mr..
Aden's head. She wished something
could be done about II. His hair was
so thick and grew IN such a way, such
an original way. and he was young
TO lose It. She heard the scraping
OF a chair and then his head and
shoulders disappeared.
He's sitting down there all alone,
smoking" whispered Theodosia-
Her mind wandered fooIishly 10
hair tones. She tried to think OF
everything she had ever heard about
NANih- IL y a SIN. she unused, not
to preserve such things as your hair
and teeth when they're unusual
then that nagging little inner voice
began accusingly at Theodosia.
What about your hair? It's light
iSh and soft-if brushed and brushed
TO lustre and pulled the way the
summer girls do theirs and the natu-
raj waviness encouraged
oh" TheodoS tense hands
stifed her little scream. IT want 70
do ray hair fashionably-a pink rib
bon band Ia like and puffs and
punS- she hushed with a shudder
But I'm getting old and people
would say 'Theodosia Carey's trying
! for husband after all these years -
The music started again. She lean
ed forward. chin in her hands. The
night was exquisite, moonlit. starlit.
fragrant with honeySuckle. And Theo-
ooSia sat there alone. arguing with
the nagging little inner voice until
she was conscious of familiar figure
stepping from the shadow of the
roadway. toward the gate.
1t was Mr.. Alden. She had not
seen him leave the club balcony He
came on up the walk and stopped be-
fore her, hat in hand. smelling OF
Smok" and spoke in his friendly way.
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20

She drew her hands from the bread
dough and stepped TO the kitchen
sink 10 wash them. In the glass
above her face was reelected; pale.
with two little hectic spots. her gray
eyes red-rimmed and her mouth set
in hard. straight limo.
I've a notion TO break all the mir
roPs In the house." she muttered-
Il don't feel old. like that. I'm fool
10 care"
She turned away and covered the
bread over carefully. to rise.
Some nice raised biscuits for his
breakfast TO so with the fish he
caught this afternoon"
She carried the lamp into the next
room and there at the table prepared
a place tor one Busied at this. the
lines OF her mouth softened and the
corners tipped upward.
Miss Merton came tearing down
stairs, blew out the candle and look
ed in at the dining room door.
Getting ready for Mr.. Alden's
breakfast p she chirped out She was
she ala look pretty. Wish you'd give
me breakfast, Miss Carey. / hate go
ing out to breakfast"
Theodosia did not answer.
You hate IL because you're so lazy
you can't set to your breakfast until
90 NhS hiSh nave eaten ana gone,
was what she thought
Miss Merton did have a photograph
in her hand.
Hou ought to be on the porch this
lovely night" she said, and turned
and swished away
TheodoSia lowered the lamp and
went out slowly after her. She stood
! on the steps and saw Miss Merton.
I Joined at tho gate by the man in
R white fanneiS, cross the street and
enter the door OF the Yacht Club
II was Saturday night and they
were dancing there. She sat down on
the top step, quieted little under the
spell OF the music. The strains OF a
waltz reached her softly. Through the
long balcony windows into the lighted
cluoSoom she could see. the dancers:
girls pretty fluffy, beribboned heads
touching their partners shoulders.
she had known how 20 dance.
Mommy had me taught" she
whispered.
And she had danced in that very
clubroOm-it did not seem ten years
since. either-at least tonight IL did
not. Sometimes though. Indeed most
times, II seemed she had been born
and started upon another life since
Ter last dance. Looking back. she
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20
GIVES OPINION
OF new CONGRESS

WASHINGTON, d. c., Special
Colonel .. o. SteaIey. veteran news
paper man and warm friend OF Colonel
henry Watterson. on Tuesday witness
ed the opening OF the fifteenth con-
secutiNe Congress he has seen come
and go. Later he summed up his i'm
preSsions OF the new CONGRESS and
sent the following dispatch to his pa
per- the Louisville Courier-Journal:
. Colonel Stealey's Tribute.
EYerything here yesterday went of
beautifully II is not often that the
Democrats do things. but when they
do they do them handsomely, as thay
did today. II Is hardly necessary TO
say that the floors and galleries were
packed TO their utmost capacity as
early as 10 o'clock. Standing room
even was Impossible. Though the day
was cold and rainy, the crowds at
the Capitol were tremendous. Men and
women struggled for seats in The gal
ieries, and those who could not OBJ
tain them contented themselves with
mounting chairs they had brought
with them and peering over the heads
Of others who had. fortunately. got
within seeing distance OF the Hall Of
Representatives. Hundreds gained ad-
mission to the floor of the House, men
women and children. by the good ma
ture of the doOrk&pers, who were go
Ing out in a few days and who didn' I
care who got in. The Indiana delega-
ton. headed by Tom Hanlon of New
Albany walked in as IL they owned
the Capitol and the occupants OF the
galleries suffered or swore that they
were newly elected members.
An Inspiring Scene.
On the floor the scene was inspiring.
Not since the Fifty-second Congress
has there been seen anything like it
The Democratic cheers and cnthusi-
asm and hearty good nature was gall
ing To the Republican side. Demo
Gratis would walk over and slap Re
publicans on the back and say: Cheer
mp, old man, the worst is yet 10 come
And If a Republican did not laugh he
would wear a sickly smile. Uncle Joe
Cannon looked rs bright and dapper
as ever. He was not in the least out
OF humor OF Illustrated He looked on
the scene with an amused smile upon
his face. though John Dalzell, who sat
beside him. scowled and scOwled, as
did Payne, of New York, who occu-
pied a seat directly In front. Showore.
of Ohio. seemed TO be the best pleased
and most excited Democrat on the
floor. He would not sit still half a
minute. but kent running around, Civ
ing the glad hand 10 his Democratic
colleagues. The tall form OF Ollie
James lowered above them all as he
walked around greeting friends
Bryan'S Rousing Greeting.
And then the Hon. william jennings
Bryan came in on the floor of the
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20

the Government. high-sala ried Off
GERS drawing from $4,000 TO 10000
a year and actually doing nothing.
In few weeks l think this Con-
gross Will do 80 many things Of good
10 the people that next year the whole
country will recognize its worth and
give the Democratic party its candid
endorsement.
Anyhow, the Democratic party has
made good start I'm the opening of
the Sixty-second Congress. and il Is
dollars 20 CENTS that IL will keen IL
up from now on. I look for no mis-
takes or breaks, 1t looks good to me
all along the line.
The warm reception OF Mr.. W. j.
Bryan on the floor OF the House to-
day and his frequent applause OF the
personal points Of Speaker Clark was
noticed by all II is pretty well I'M
derstood here among politicians and
men who have taken note of affairs
that Mr.. Bryan is going to make the
nominating speech in the next Demo
cratic convention OF Mr.. Champ Clark.
Speaker OF the House.
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20

She began building a nre Dartinr
here and there about the kitchen. hand
ped by and she was conscious or moth.
ing but riotous thoughts, until she
upon the porch. talking shriuy
breathlessly.
Looking up. Theedosis saw a lOwsrl
ing sky and big drops OF rain Misc
merton looked IN to the kitchen
Awful storm over the Soundf"
lightning flash aud q CLAP q
very still, looking out at II s
dows?" questioned Miss Merton. -Your
Yes. please" Theodosia Just stooA
dumbly. as with a lightning flash the
the door blew open and raln beat IN
Its such a, little sail-0oat!!" she nua--
the rain. her seif-feSr Of a sGuSii i soS.
gotten.
There's something struck!-
a nearby tree split and cracked
oh. Miss Carey" 1T was Miss Mer-
ton calling, they're getting out a iifsN
boat from the club. saw 'em from
fishing in the Sound, too.
Theodosia clapped her hands to her
face. her frightened eyes looking out
in agony. She did not go to the front
or the house, but crouched In a cor
ner near the kitchen door. The rain
NAoNAS N61AhSN IL
-Oh. Miss Carey. come and look
Theodosia Shrilled back:
Let me be. can't your Oh dear
LORD, save him, save him love hrnF-
fingers.
Forgive me for what I'VE said ard
thought about not loving him / do.
She covered her eyes as there came
Hash and silence Then suddenYv
footsteps, strong. hurried. came along
the gravel walk toward the Kitchen
door. A figure in OiIskins passed the
window. stepped on to the low porch
ana tapping quickly at the door open
ed IL and came in.
Il started back ahead Of the souaA-
kept thinking OF you bcre-why. what1r
the matter? What is II. little girl
have you worried?"
was so scared" she breathed. "a
MT. Alden. I'm so thankfuI-oh. Tim
othy-"
Dripping in wet Oil-skins hs, huRre6
her TO him close, safe.
~ knew l was 20 hurry back TO you
thtooosia; something. queer little
inside voice. seemed TO say so--eVe-9
"hsn the sun was still shining"
THOSE little inside voices are alua -.
right, Theodosia quavered from his
shelterinR arms
But Theodosia's inner voice was glad
~ quiet.
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20

o'clock in the morning and stood
on under full steam ready TO Join in
the work OF relocating the liner.
On account of the position OF the
ErlnzeSs Irene, the Prinz Fredeyick
Mllhelm would not be able to get
Closer than 1000 feet from the strand
ed ship. The passengers would have
TO be transferred in small boats ana
with heavy sea running this would
De attended by great danger
Goes Deeper Into Mud.
As the wind freshed the vessel varN
rocked slightly and Embedded deeper
INTO the mud and sand.
captain Baker. OF the Lone Hun Life
saving station. returned to shore to-
uay Tor a short time after having
spent the night on board the vessel.
DO not believe there Is any dan
ger OF the Princess Irene breakirg
up. he said. She is a strong shin.
and the seas are not high enough TO
inture her badly
danger TO those on board. There VA.
little excitement on board during the
night. the majority of the passengers
making light of their predicament /
The passengers Will b. taken of n
the ship Is not soon fioated. WIN
I'm seas this would be an easy task
but with heavy ground swell run
ming IL would be accompanied by ex-
cltlng scenes and actual danger.
Even with the passengers off the
vessel VIII probably have to bt, HIGHT
ened before she can be pulled from
her stranded position"
The weather was threatening. al
thouSh not actually dangerous, DUR
ing the night and early hours of to-
day.
In. '''" CO. log SCI
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20
While
HOLDING CHILD

NEW YORK, Special.-"Can you
ter me what l should do with this
baby that has been left on nv hands >
nave no idea what to do with it
A well dressed, handsome you,..
woman. who had Just entered F. IL
Meyers drug store, 1910 Third Ave
nue.. tuesday afternoon with a babv
IN her arms, was speaking TO a clerk.
NheIe did you get the baby" ask
ed the clerk.
The woman. now becoming excited. II
am Miss Wilhelmina Scherer and live
In West Nyack- 1 have been nursing
patient in I4eonia, y. j., and this
morning got the day off 10 come to
New York. / crossed the ferry and
on One Hundred and Twenty NTH
street met woman with this baby
IN her arms. The woman asked me
please 10 hold the baby while she got
her ticket l consented and held the
BABY for more than an hour, but the
woman did not return.
Rcbuhed ut Founding Asylum.
appealed TO a policeman and he
ADVISED me to take the child to the
Founding Asylum. This I did. They
wouldn't take the baby"
why don't you take il to the police
station?" suggested the clerk.
And have this poor child arrested!
wouldn't 10 that for the world"
The drus clerk looked at the baby
ana rcma rked:
This child is hungry; I believe IL j.
starving"
The cle~k then ga the child barley
water and again advised the girl to
go To q pOl'"" station. She answered 4:
no; I'll go TO the phone. 1 want
n call TO Leonia. \. J"
Leaving the booth the nurse took
the baby away with her.
The girl next showed up at the
Founding Asylum for the second
time, and again the baby was refused
admi ssion. Then Detective MCGEE
took the nurse and the baby TO til,
East SiXty-seventh Street Police Sta
ton. There she gave her name and
address and repeated the story she
had told the drug clerk. The child
was taken 20 Bellevue. He was a boy
about five days old and so emaciated
he is not expected 10 live.
Pleads She Is a Benefactor.
Miss Scherer was arrested charged
with attempting TO abandon a child.
At first she took her arrest almost as
joke. When she realized she was
about 10 be locked up the nurse plead
ed she had only tried to befriend an
other woman.
What crime have l committed -
she asked. II did nothing but hold a
baby for another woman and here l
am charged with attempting to abRn-
don child never saw in my life. If
would have been easy for me to have
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20

House. and. my: my. what a wild
cheer went up, to be succeeded by an
other and another. and then the dis
tnguished Democrat was given a great
ovation. ending in his shaking hands
with nearly all the members on the
Democratic side.
About this time. to add TO the en-
thusiasm OF the occasion. and to make
the send-on a complete success, Gov
ernor Judson Harmon. OF Ohio, en-
tered the hall. Then there was an
other mighty outburst OF cheers. and
the great Ohio Democrat had also 20
shake hands with the Democratic
members.
Governor Harmon looked as happy
as big sunfiowvr. He bears a strik-
ing likeness 90 former Senator Aldrich:
in fact. IL is not easy to tell one from
the other.
AS prominent Democrats appeared
in the limelight they were greeted with
cheers. especially Ollie James. Oscar
Underwood. John Fitzgerald. Henry
II. Clayton-in fact, the Democratic
side of the House was In such good
humor that IL was ready TO applaud
any good Democrat mentioned.
Then came the nomination Of
Champ Clark for Speaker. to be fol-
lowed by the wild rebel yell. which
was repeated and repeated. Next the
NEGLECTED Speaker 10 his seat amid "A
most remarkable demonstration. The
Democratic occupants OF the floor Of
the House, including a number on the
Republican side. arose and shouted
and waved little flags which had been
provided for the occasion.
Finally order was restored, and
Speaker Clark made his speech. II
was short and crisp. and 20 the point.
His text was, He who serves his
country most serves his party most"
Clark Compares Well.
| have listened from the reporters
gallery to Speakers Carlisle, Reed.
Crisp. Henderson and Cannon through
fifteen Congresses. and the one today
OF Speaker Clark for a definite state
ment OF views, positiveneSs and firm
ness, rodestly expressed compares
favorably with them all. though the
terse and splendid way in which John
G.. Carlisle expressed his views on the
opening Of the Forty-eighth Congress
have not yet and your correspondent
does not think that they will ever be
eNcelled. They were so clear. clean
cut and concise in language. so chaste
and plain that the members of the
House were charmed and the whole
country gratifed.
But the new House which met Tues
day 3 all right. II will redeem its
pledges to the people make no doubt
OF that II will revise the tariff on
the necessaries of life as near a rev
enue basis as possible. 1t will adopt
the Canadian treaty. 1t will vote for
the admission Of Arizona and New
Mexico into the Union. IT will vote
FOR publicity of campaign funds be-
fore and not after the election. 1t
will cut down the tremendous expen-
oitures in all of the departments OF
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20

abandoned this child somewhere else
had / chosen TO take a chance On its
dying of exposure
Miss Scherer, taken to police head
quarters and questioned. stuck to her
Story. Then she was put in charge
OF the matron OF the Elizabeth Street
station. The police got into commu-
nication with the police of West
Nyack and Deonia. hoping To obtain
a clew TO the child's parentage.
Miss Scherer comes OF a highly re-
Spected FAMILY in West Nyack Ii was
sald there Last night she had been
away from home for some weeks
nursing patient. Where she had
been could not be learned from her
family.
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20
By EVELYN VAN BUREN,.
COPYRIGHT 1911

heart.
Love. love. love-" Il sounded like TO
her, and her head raised TO his kiss.
Theodosia turned from the piano.
She had gone TO it as soon as ne went
out
She heard Miss Merton come down
STAIRS. Poor little thing stuck up in
that hot rooml Theodosia decided
then to bring her down to a better
one and for the same money: how
mean she had been. as though her let.
uns rooms was "a necessity.
She rose and looked on, Of
the window at Miss Mer-
ton crossing to the club house.
and yet so up-to date.
Theodosia sat down. Timothy-It
vas quaint. cute name-Tirnothy Al
S ueni Well Timothy mustn't think her
she whispered. '
She planned TO fun her hair frs, OF
She would draw her inter eSpn u 0Snd;
from the bank and go to the city and
ony new clothes. Buy new clothes
Her Joy was 80 great that she paused
to think Of the reason. Mr.. Alden had
asked her to marry him, and she meant
to and she had said Yes" at once.
NOT TO live alone.-an old maid-but. IL
she was just taking Mr.. Alden for thai
Tue luouBnt. came quickly.
twisting her hands in her lap. abe Sat
with the horrible vision of herself as
ing. 0' IA
.. Swapping him up she said hercely.
Her suddenly tortured eyes turned
out OF window; she saw Miss Merton
anu a young man come gaily out of the
club house yard and go down the ave-
nue. TO the boarding house where they
lunched. NO'
Look at her. Theodosia cried II on,
She lives for meI, simply lives for
them. she dresses. smiles. talks. walks.
hVes TO please them. Am like that
She Jumped UP. walking about the
room. frantically 0
oh; If he'd come back now so / could
tell him. l couldn't. couldn't marry
him. | ioathe myself now and I'd go
on getting worse. Why, 1 suppose "a
nave said Yes to anybody
She dropped her face in her hands
ana after a moments sobbing drew nm
erect, her eyes steeled again.
,, Well. now I've come TO my senses
III get 20 work" She closed the plano
with a bang. II can simply explain
1 needn't be unkind TO him and drive
fast" $50
Theodosia few to the kitchen. There
was fruit there to preserve.
- VI snt going 10 do it," she said
Tor rear OF staining my hands"
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20

NEW YORK. April with the
liner Prinz Frederick Wilhelm speed
ing TO their rescue. the 1,T2O passen-
gers on the stranded North German
Lloyd steamer Princess Irene were
marooned today Off Lone Hill. Fire
Island.
Fearing an outbreak among the
1885 steerage passengers on board
the Princess Irene. all of the officers
on board the ship were given arms at
the direction of the captain OF the
vessel. a heavy ground current
which pounded the side OF the strand
ed ship caused a rain of spray over
her decks and caused much excite
ment among the foreigners in the
steera&e, many OF whom thought the
vessel would go to pieces.
At 10 o'clock the Prinz Frederick
Wilhelm cleared quarantine for tlre
Island, although at that time the
ocean had become so rough that the
chances of transporting the passen-
gers from the Princess Irene TO her
sister ship. for which arrangements
had been completed. had become
small. Deputy Health Officer Rimer
and his assistants were put on board
the Prinz Frederick Wilhelm at quar-
antine.
Lifesavers from the Lone Hill sta
ton at Fire Island advised strongly
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20
GIRL SPELLS $500 WORDS;
MISSES ONE AFTER IL HOURS
BOwLINK GREEN. NO snac,aI =

BOWLINK GREEN. MO-. Special
Seppulchre." spelled Miss Margaret
Patterson Tuesday afternoon. and the
two P's ended the longest spelling bee
ever held in Missouri. with Miss Ruth
Crenshaw. the winner. still standing.
The Pike County Courthouse was.
filled with friends and relatives Of the
contestants. who for seventeen hours.
with only an occasional intermisso-
mad withstood the bombardment OF
words until 10, 900 had been given ont
me contest was held under the SUI
pervision of the County School Com
missioner. 1t is estimated that of the
10000 words assigned to the contest
ants the winner spelled $500.
The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-04-20
SAME As CHEESE 1T"
DECLARES MIR. JUSTICE

WASHINGTON. April Some of
the slang phrases Justice McKenna
OF the Supreme Court OF the United
states picked up years ago still cling
in his mind. Frederic u. McKenney.
counsel in a case before the court
this week. was trying to explain to the
justices what a railroad conductor
meant when he said to an engineer.
"Oh, hell. back up" He was having
some difficulties with the abstruse
point when Justice McKenna came to
his assistance
Did he mean what was once ex-
pressed by the slang phrase, oh
cheese it'?"
Exactly" responded Mr.. McKenney
and the whole bench joined Justice
McKenna in a chuckle over his slang
of yesterday