davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16

Aunt Martha sobbed back. "Oh. that
he had never gone into politios!"
succeeded in calming them after
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 or hurriedly
in the direction of the river road.
Hank, Barney Doolin and / at once
took a lantern and followed the trail.
About a mile from the villa on the
bank of the river is big ice-house,
and as we approached 1t 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, a sad spectacle in the Ian
terms light.
1.-THE villainsi" he shouted; "oh.
John. my boy, Pm SO glad to see you!
The villains! they lured me down here
with lying story that could see
Bunch Jefferson teaching lot of
italian floaters how to vote!"
l leaned against the ice-house and
nearly choked.
when they got me here they bolt
ed the door on me-" Uncle Peter
stormed. land they told me. the vii
lains, not to describe anything might
see here in my speeches against the
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16

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
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
some body In the front line pointed a
toy pistol at him, and he did back
flip off the platform and hiked for
home.
After that there was nothing doing.
At $3.50 only few night-hawks re-
NAMED of the once great audience.
The representatives and committees
on the platform dwindled away until
finally nobody was left save Bunch
and I.
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 fizzle. but
had a shade the best OF It.
| found Aunt Martha and Clara ]. IN
tears when reached the villa.
poor Uncle Peter!" sobbed Clara
j.; "oh, where is he7 where is her"
Hes been assassinated. | know It,"
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16

the wrong thing, or II perchance do
ing the right thing, then doing 1t at
the wrong time. causes loss of &c..
600 per day!
In no department of administration
have we more signally failed than in
dealing with the question Of the high
ways 1t Is time to face about and
make an effort to get better results.
is 1t any wonder people are sore"
when 1t comes to paying road taxes?
They have been at 1t for generations
and with here and there an exception,
the roads are no better than they were
to begin with.
The question now is what specific
things shall be done in order to get
better results. The first step in the
writer's opinion is to wipe out the
labor system of working out" the tax
by the annual picnic or talkfest, that
usually takes place in the early fall
when everybody turns out to Jim
prove" the road. There is no definite
plan; the practice is to pillow and
scrape, and fill the center of the road
with sod, weeds, brush and earth,
making what before was passable
road one that is impossible. The late
ness Of the season prevents proper
settlement before the heavy fall rains
and the winter sets in. The weeds.
sod and brush are sure to make trou-
BILE for a year or more. Many time
the writer has observed bunch Of
men and teams do hundred dollars
worth of damage to work out a fifty
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16

reqaireB considerable engineering en-.
perience the farmer does not and Is
not expected to have. 1t is no rehec.
ton upon him TO say he Is not sue
cessful road builder-any more than
1t would be to question his ability In
carpentry. To have the best supervi-
sion the township or road district is
too small unit The mileage Is too
limited to make 1t practical to have an
experienced road builder In charge.
Hence the present thought is that the
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 1t ought to be done. When grad
ing is necessary. the earlier in the
spring 1t 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 q unit, plan q
five-year campaign Of grading and
draining. beginning with the main
roads and extending the work in the
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16
John Henry
= Makes a Mayor
By GEORGE v. HOBART

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 Principals7
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
arose and made the blum of his life.
'Mr. Chairman. ladies' and gentle
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, I'VE accept without hesitation
the excuse put forth by the Hon.
William Grays spokesman. 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.
sent four of our committee out to
head off Uncle Peter and explain mat
ters, and when I turned around Beach
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
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16
WASTE IN HIGHWAYS
HALF THE MONEY SPENT IN
PUBLIC ROADS Is THROWN
AWAY.
GOOD ROADS, UNIVERSAL CRY
Everybody Wants Something Done,
>-Hsut Nearly Every Community 10
Cropping In the Dark-Time to Face
About and Try for Better Results.
BY HOWARD n. GROSS.

No one who is familiar with the way
road work has been handled for the
last twenty years will dispute that
half of the time and money expended
upon our public roads by the hit and
miss methods employed has been
wasted. Most observers will say the
waste Is even greater. The country
over. the outlay approximates 100000.
600. We have gone on from genera
ton to generation pursuing this alb
surd plan, or rather lack Of plan. 1t
Is most unbusinesslike and repre-
hensible proceeding. No business en-
terprise could last year with such a
fearful waste. A calculation made
with great care by one Of the best au-
thorities In the state. contends the d.
rect waste on Illinois roads by doing
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16

| nifty seems 10 be cropping IN the dark,
not knowing just how to accomplish
the desired end. IN many localities
we find that meetings are held. q sub
scriptlon Is started, and volunteers
beat up and down the street. asking
everyone to subscribe either money or
labor. A bank will give 500. mezs
chant another 800, the man next
door. who ought to do the same thing,
will give $40 A public entertainment
Is gotten up. and after campaign Of
number Of weeks. perhaps $4,000 10
raised for improving piece Of road.
In order to save expense some local
party will undertake the work. He
does not know much about road build
ing. and the result Is botch Job. The
money is spent and half-mile Of
road Is made, and while II Is poorly
constructed, 1t Is SO much better than
the previous conditions, that II Is hail.
ed with delight No effort along these
lines can amount to much, beyond the
creating OF an increased desire for
better roads. Experience shows be-
yond any question that the way to do
is to build as large a mileage as pos
sible at the same time, and have u
done under the supervision OF cap
able road engineer. II ten or twelve
miles are built instead Of one the cost
of construction will be much less; Il
will pay to have improved machinery
and the best facilities. Then the pay.
ment Of the road should not be made
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 a portion Of
The expense is contributed from the
state treasury. It simplihes 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. II showed
that first-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 general tax levy, and
che 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 10 true of ILL.,
nois will be found to work out very
closely along these lines In nearly all
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 first-class
permanent roads. We might state II
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 timea
more than the taxes to build the roadf
will impose. Why not convert this
waste into a permanent asset? VIII
not have better conditions when wi
can do SO so easily?
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16
WHY BATTLESHIP WAS SEMI
Because Of MlsInterpreted clphss
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 / relieved, told me that
several days prior to my arrival he
had made requisition upon the Office
for a revolver. There had come siren
ueus 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
in jeopardy, and the time had como
when correspondents felt the need Of
firearms to protect their lives. The
revolver sent to Mr.. Caldwell was
smnggled to him by o passenger on
the steamship Olivette, to whom the
weapon had been entrusted by an
agent of the paper In Tampa. By some
oversight no cartridges had been sent
with 1t, and 1t being impossible 10 Sc
cure any in Havana, the correspond
ent cabled to New York. Camera re-
ceived, but no plates; send by next
boat"
Through some strange error on the
part of the one who received 1t, the
cryptogram was construed to be q
cipher and was translated to read that
an attempt had been made on the life
Of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, American con-
sui general in Havana. This misin-
formation went to Washington and
reached there after the Havana cable
had closed. Early the next day Mr..
Caldwell received from the Herald the
following oryptogram: Send story
and pictures ordered on food-supplies;
we want 1t for main sheet" BY apply
ing the cipher key, the first sentence
was readily translated to read: "A
United States warship has been or
dered to Havana" The second evi.
IDENTIFY conveyed some hint which was
beyond the limitation of the code. but
tho word main" gave the clue. Meet.
Ing General Lee at breakfast that
morning, Mr.. Caldwell quietly In
formed him that the Maine was on
her way to Havana. The general was
incredulous. No warship, he assured
the correspondent, would be sent to
Havana unless he requested it.-Wai
ter Scott Meriwether, in Harper'a
Weekly.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16

Old Bill Gray, who was running
against Peter Grant for Mayor of Ru.
raldene, had challenged Uncle Peter
to joint debate, and was making
ready. Early Monday morning, 1 had
a satisfactory interview with the Bub-
BILE blower, who had come on from
New York to take charge of our new
auto for this particular occasion.
All day long the preparations for
the joint debate went forward with
enthusiasm, and everything movable
In the community threatened to be In
the public square when the gong
lounded.
1t was cinch that the Candidate
who got stage fright, or failed to show
up at the joint debate. would get all
his when the votes were counted.
The meeting was scheduled for 8
o'clock and by 1870 the Square was
packed with partisans of both sides.
Promptly at 7:15 I sent our auto
with the imported chauffeur painting
up to Uncle Williams villa, having
first assured myself that Bunch was
busy at the Square,. / was Uncle
Peters manager, and Bunch Jefferson
was second for Bill Gray.
Mr.. Jefferson sent me after you."
my agent told Uncle William.
But where's our own conyeyance?"
the old gentleman inquired, suspi-
lciously.
"Mr. Jefferson has gone to get the
referee. and didn't want you to be
late" the opposition candidate was
told as per arrangement.
"Oh; all right" said Uncle william,
climbing into the auto, and with this
the driver headed for the river road
and was off like scared rabbit.
stop! stop! where are you going?"
yelled Uncle William as they shot out
of town.
"Mr. Jefferson said to give you some
fresh air SOS you could handle your
mitts livelier when the fight started"
the Bubble tender yelled back, SO he
let out few more links and burned
over the bridges.
INF. Jefferson is Q jackass!" shout
ed Uncle William. i've been doing
nothing all day but getting fresh air.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16

Take me to the public square at once
sir | never rode at this speed in all
my life-stop it! stop i'll"
Cant do It'll" said the brave
stranger. There's something wrong
with the brake valve--hold fast!
here's hill"
Down they went and up the other
side and on and on for miles. Uncle
William yelling for the cops and the
Bubble blower bent double over the
steering gear.
Then all of sudden the machine
stopped and nearly pitched Uncle
William overheard.
"Now," squeaked the Opposition
Candidate; II hope you're satisfied
that have fresh air enough. Get me
back to town at once, sir!"
Cant do It," moaned the splendid
chauffeur.
"Why not?" inquired the excited
Uncle William, looking at his watch.
"The Bubbles bust!" groaned that
most interesting stranger.
Uncle William let yell out OF him
that set the trees back from the road
way.
'I'm due at the public square at
eight o'clock" he fumed, dancing
around the machine.
"And that's about eight miles from
here as the crow fiies," replied my
noble emissary, whereupon Uncle VIII
liam sat down by the darkened road
side and began to bite the night air.
/ In the meantime the platform In the
public square groaningly received the
committees, the bottle holders and the
referee.
sat next to the chair reserved for
Uncle Peter and began to wonder why
he didn't put In an appearance.
On the other side Of the platform
Bunch was beginning to rubber ner-
vously, and was using my sleeve to
hold fine bundle of laughs.
knew, within 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 1t was
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16

dollar road tax. The stories told, the
stunts of wrestling, jumping and other
athletic diversions, make 1t holiday
enjoyed by every one.
There is but one thing to do: Col
lect all the road taxes in cash and pay
to have the work done under the best
supervision obtainable.
This working out the road tax dates
back before the war, when there was
very little money in circulation, and 1t
was next to impossible for the people
to pay the tax in any other way. II
Is different now. The labor system
has outlived its usefulness and should
20.
Road building. even II q dirt road.
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16

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 well in print.
II the party In question had any ap-
probation of the fitness of things, he
would have driven along the side Of
the road, and left the dragged surface
SO 1t would shed water and dry
smooth A five-dollar fine with costs
would have been good lesson.
The sentiment is everywhere for
better highways. "Good Roads" is the
universal cry--everybody wants some
thing done. but nearly everv annaun
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16

Wnln RES Excited" Cried Barney.
Opposition. How could 1 see any
thing in this damn old ice-house?"
When told him about the joint de-
bate and of the non-appearance of
I 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-chucking painfully along.
We waited in the darkness to let
1t go by!
As 1t 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 dom the best can! the Bub-
ble's bust"
Oh! noble stranger! What would
have been our finish without you?
Great Scotti" exclaimed Uncle
Peter as the machine toiled slowly by.
Its old Bill Gray, or his ghost!"
Then I exploded and for five min.
utes rolled around on the grass to
the amazement Of the puzzled Uncle
Peter.
Though 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. / don't
know whether is was Uncle Peters
popularity or his check book or my
speech at the joint debate-bur, any.
way, he was elected by tidy ma
jority, and he was the happlest old
soul in sixty-four States.
In the midst Of our rejoioings that
Tuesday evening messenger brought
me note. l read 1t to our assem-.
bled friends to the accompaniment Of
much applause:
Ruraldene, Tuesday.
My dear John: Now that the cruel
war is over let me be among the first
to congratulate Urcle Peter and you.
1t may interest you to know that In
spite Of defeat Mr.. Gray has expressed
himself as being we'll pleased with my
work during the campaign His ap.
proval will take the form Of wedding
In January, and on that occasion Alice
and will be the Candidates. I for
give you everything including my
Advice to Society,"" but do tell me
where you found that chauffeur who
insisted upon giving Uncle William SO
much fresh air! l feel sure that
Uncle Peters trip to the ice-house will
be forgotten in his triumphal process
sion to the Mayors ONCE.
Sincerely yours,
Bunch Jefferson.
"Umph!" said Uncle Peter, II al
ways did like that boy, Bunch!"
"He's the real goods" agreed.
II wonder what I'll wear at the
wedding!" unused Peaches.
Copyright by G.. w. Dillingham; Coz
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16
A Wish cratIHed.

"Jiggs used to tell me that thu
dream of his life was to live some
day in big house on a hill"
Poor fellow! And now he 10 ID
the state penitentiary."
True. but that Is a big house tni
1t happens to be on . hill"
Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1911-06-16
Once only.

ibid you ever" said one preacher to
another, stand at the door after your
sermon and listen to what people said
about 1t as they passed outY'
Replied Hell did once-pause and
aigh--but I'll never do 1t again.
Modern Eloquence.
The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-22
HELD FOR MURDER. Arthur Jackson Bound Over to Mid- dIesex County Superior Court

Durham, Aug. Exchanged with murder in the first degree Arthur Jackson, fifty years old, was arraigned in the town hall before Justice of the Peace J. Franklin Bailey, yesterday afternoon and held for trial at the September term of the Superior court for Midd1esex county for the shooting and killing of Archer Walker in this town on the farm of H. M Bailey on August 13.
 q Jackson was brought here from the Haddam jail. where he has been con- fined since his arrest and on being put to plea entered a plea of not guil- ty. The state put on five witnesses, H. M. Bailey, on whose farm both men were employed. and where the shooting occurred; Medical Examiner E.. A. Martin, F. l.. Atwell of Durham, at whose store the shells he used in the shotgun with which Archer was killed were purchased; Sheriff Bert G. Thmopson and Diogenes Arrigoni, brother of Representative Frank Ar rigoni, who was instrumental in cap turing Jackson.
 The testimony was practically the same as that given before the cor oner No defense was offered and at the conclusion of the testimony of the states witnesses probable cause was found and Jackson bound over State Senator Thomas J. Spellacy appeared as counsel for Jackson, while Attorney Gustaf B. Carlson of Middletown rep resented the town.
 Interest in the case throughout this section is intense.