davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
He II Was Who First Supplied the
information That Resulted in
Uncovering the Huge Star
Route Postal SWindIes.

Sometimes, when l have heard OF
the great service rendered by the
late Senator Stephen b. Elkins of
West Virginia through the drafting of
what is now known as the Elkins law,
the most effective instrument for the
prevention of railroad rebating, have
thought of another great service rem
dered by Senator Elkins of which the
public never had any knowledge. The
time has now come when l can tell
the incident.
Il think IT was on the second day
of March, 1881" continued Thomas l..
James. postmaster general during the
Garfield administration, that Mr.. FL
kins. whom l had learned to know
well when he was a delegate to con-
gress from the territory of New Next
CO, called upon me at my office in
the New York postoffice. After the
greetings of cordial friendship we're
over, Mr.. Elkins explained that he
wanted to send telegram to James
G. Blaine, and he presumed he would
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
Join In War Against Tuberculosis.

From statistics published ia the
new tuberculosis directory OF tho
National Association for the Study and
Prevention OF tuberculosis Il II 40
certained that over 600 cities and
towns OF the United States. besides
about 100 I'm Canada. are engaged In
the war against consumption. and that
on April LIST there were nearly l,bOO
different agencies at work in the cru
SADIE, an increase Of nearly 700 per
cent. in the last seven years.
The new directory lists 42l tuber-
culosis sanatoria hospitals, and day
camps; Eli associations and commit
tees for the prevention OF tubercul-
osis; 342 special dispensaries, IS
open air schools: gs hospitals for the
insane and penal institutions, making
special provision for their tuberculosis
inmates; besides giving an account
Of the anti-tuberculosis legislation In
every state and I'm about $50 cities.
The new directory is sold by The
National Association for the Shady
and Prevention OF Tuberculosis, lOb
East Twenty-secoDd street, New York
city, at cost price. so cents POSTPAID.
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
CURED ITCHING AND BURNING

Il was taken with the itch in April,
1904. and used most everything. I
had a friend pay me visit from
Cumberland. and she advised me to
use Cuticura Remedies which I did.
The cure was certainly quick. and I
use them to this day. I had IL terri
bly, under my knees. / only used one
box of pills, but two boxes of Cuti-
cura Ointment, and / use the Cuu-
cura Soap all the time. / hope this
will benefit others. as 1t has me, after
DR.. - and others could do moth
ing for me-" (Signed) Miss Lu John
son. 1923 Ninth ST., N. W.. Wash
ington. ID. c., April 3, 1910.
In a later letter Miss johnson adds:
1.-THE trouble began with an eruption
under my knees, and extended up
wards toward my waist. until / was
not able to sit down. II kept a con-
slant itching and burning all the time.
night and day. l went to my doctor.
but he could do me no good after I
do not know how many medicines he
gave me, and then told me / would
be compelled to go to skin special
list. which I positively refused to do. !
cried all the time. Finally / made
up my mind to try Cuticura Rem
edies, and tried Cuticura Pills. Oint-
ment and Soap. and was entirely
cured of the itching three days after
started using them. The healing
took about eight days. ! consider
Cuticura Remedies marvellous. and
would recommend them everywhere"
Cuticura Remedies are sold through
out the world. Send to Potter Drug
& Chem. Corp, Boston. for free book
on skin aflictions.
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
Atm Nfs '|!.1s 3
= ~ Z. s.. E&nzsrtM

Dental appointments Why did you
fail to come to me 1T the time this Jew
ell matter was In progress 1t the New
York post ONCE? J would have
stopped It Instantly
We'll Mr.. President. explained.
I did not want to annoy you about .
matter of that kind
but 1t was q matter Of principle.
and that would not have annoyed me-
the president replied. However. I win
overlook 1t this time
AS he said this. President Grant
took a box of cigars from the drawer
and offered me one. A mere cursory
inspection of the cigars told me that
their strength was beyond my capacity,
He laughed, and then took up again
the subject of my call. Don't let
this happen again. he cautioned. grave
ly. Always remember that you're next
to me; md will tell you frankly that
you are not going to be bothered very
long with the present postmaster gen
eral'
1T was only few weeks after that
that / learned that President Grant had
peremptorily demanded Marshall Jew
ellis resignation. That was an almost
unprecedented occurrence, the only
similar case, I think. having arisen
when President johnson demanded the
resignation of Secretary of War Edwin
NJ. Stanton.
Copyright. 1911. by E. J. Edwards Ap
Rights Reserved.)
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
Merchant Almost President

presidential ticket of Taylor and Law
renee would appeal to a majority of
the voters of the United States. and
when, prior to the assembling of our
convention. the split came in the Dem
ocratic party which resulted in Martin
Van Buren, being nominated for presi-
dent upon Free Soil platform we
were more than ever sure that our
ticket, as agreed upon in conference.
would be elected.
But we had overlooked one little
thing Shortly before the convention
met a Louisiana Wing wrote to us
saying that it would never do to have
Abbott Lawrence on the ticket, and
for one reason. General Taylor, he
said. was cotton planter; Abbott
Lawrence was manufacturer of cot
ton goods-it would never do to have
cotton at both ends of the ticket
1T had never occurred to us, but
we-saw instantly the force Of the ar
gument- Therefore we reluctantly
Mr.. Lawrence and at the
last minute Willard Fillmore of New
York was selected as the Wing can
didate for vice-president. And that
is why he and not a manufacturer and
merchant, through the constitutional
succession. became president of the
United States in July of $780,
Copyright 1911. by E. j. Edwards. All
Rights ReservedJ
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
A God Burner.

A Georgia woman who moved 10 the
city found she could not be contented
without the coiored nanny who had
been her servant for many years. She
sent for old nanny and the servant
arrived in due season 1t SO happened
that the Georgia woman had to leave
town the very day nanny arrived.
Before departing she had just time to
explain to- nanny the modern con-
veniences with which her apartment
was furnished The gas stove was the
continuance which interested the col
ored woman most. After the mistress
of the household had lighted the oven.
the broiler and the other burners and
felt certain her old servant understood
its operations the mistress hurried for
her train
She was absent two weeks and one
of her first questions to nanny was
how she had worried along.
DE fines ever" was the reply. And
dat air gas stove-oh. my. Why, do
you know. Miss F1o'ence. dat fire Amt
gone out yit"
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
Thomas L. James Story About Grant
That Throws Light on the Psremp-
tory Removal Of Marshall Jewell
From the Cabinet.

Twice in my experience as an ON
Ger under the administration of Presi-
dent Grant / found him to be OF the
most unfiinching integrity. and most
loyal in his support of administrative
officers under him who were trying
to do their duty. One of these occa-
sions was when, after an interview
with him occasioned by his summons
TO me to call upon him at Washing
ton. he said to me: Mr.. Postmaster.
you are absolutely right in your at
tempt To establish a civil service in the
New York postoffice. Don't pay any
attention to the politicians. Always
remember that you have a firm sup
porter in me-"
The second occasion was one which
threw light upon President Grants re-
lations with Postmaster General Mar
shall Jewell" continued Thomas L.
James, postmaster of New York under
Grant and Hayes and postmaster gen.
eral under Garfield. There have been
many surmises as to the reason for the
peremptory demand made by President
Grant upon Marshall Jewell for his res
ignation as the head Of the postoff1ce
department. Jewell himself professed
never to know the reason of his dis
missal. ] think can throw some light
upon 1T incidentally while showing you
what sort of man / found President
Grant to be-
1T was in the winter of 1915 that
there appeared at the New York post
Office an inspector whose home town
was Oshkosh, Wis; he had never been
in New York until that time. He
began to make a most drastic investi-
cation Of the postofiice. and l aided
him all that l could
1T happened while this inspection
was under way that Gen. La Rue Har-
rison, VINO was chairman of the
committee of the postofice department
whose authority was over inspec-
tions Of this kind. called upon
me. I asked him what the mean
ing of this peculiar inspection was, and
/ told him frankly that l was sure
some political purpose was behind 1t.
General Harrison smiled queerly for
moment, and then said half confiden-
TALLY that Postmaster General Jewell
wanted to cut down the appropriation
for the New York postoffice $4,000. He
clearly intimated that there was poll
tics behind this purpose
IN reply / said that / would do
everything in my power to reduce the
surplus of the post ONCE; that an
inspection was not necessary to
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
Early Homo Of Dickens.

Johnston street, Somers Town, where
the London county council have de-
cided to erect a memorial tablet to
Charles Dickens, was associated with
what was practically the first ray Of
sunshine that broke through the cloud
ed sky of the novelist's childhood. It
was in 1925, when Dickens was thir-
teen. that sudden Improvement In
his fathers finances enabled the fam
lily to leave the Marshalsea prison and
take a house in Johnston street.
For Charles, who had boarded out
during his fathers detention In the
debtors prison. this meant the re-
sumption of home life. 1t meant also
relief from the slavery in the black
ing factory, for his father was now
able to send him to fairly good
school in the neighborhood OF their
new abode. The Dickenses rem aimed
in Johnston street for four years and
descriptions Of the locality occur. 1t
will be remembered. in Nicholas
Nickleby" and BLEAK House'-Lon-
don Pail Mall Gazette.
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
Elkins Helped Reveal Fraud

receive an answer within an hour He
added that the telegram referred TO
something that concerned me.
When We returned to the postomce
after luncheon. we found a telegram
there awaiting Mr.. Elkins' return
Hastily reading the message, he said
that he had telegraphed Mr.. Blaine.
who was to be secretary of state in
the new administration, to know If
there were any change In General
Garfield's cabinet plans, and Mr..
Blaine had replied that there had been
none. Then Elkins said to me: You
are to have a great opportunity, and
very difficult and perhaps dangerous
task. before you, as soon as you enter
the postonice department.
You doubtless have seen In the
newspapers lately a good many vague
limitations that the government is be-
ing wronged by the star route con-
tractors. I tell you. Mr.. James. that
these reports are true l know from
personal observation in New Mexico
that the government Is being robbed
by star route contractors, and gov
eminent officers are being bribed by
these contractors. / can furnish you
some details. The first thing you do
after you have got fairly well ac-
quainted with the postofiice depart
ment should be to make an investiga-
ton of the contract department Tear
1t up. The contract department IL ex-
plotting star route service to the
amount of millions a year. when no
service Is given, and men the contrac.
tors are whacking up with some Of
the postofnce authorities You Will
run counter to some very influential
politicians. l am here to tell you,
however, that you will have absolute
support from the president. from Mr..
Blaine as secretary of state. and from
Mr.. Wayne MacVeagh. who is to be
attorney general
Mr.. Elkins thereupon gave me
some information regarding the
frauds. Upon that Information I was
able to base the investigation of the
contract department of the postomco
department We speedily uncovered
huge swindles. l have estimated that
the government was robbed of some
where between six million and eight
million dollars by these frauds
We prosecuted criminally the lead
ing conspirators, but we found 1t I'm
possible to obtain q jury at Washing
ton which would convict But we
broke up for good and all the star
route swindle-a service that was due
in the first instance to the information
given to us by Stephen b. Elkins. 1t
was one Of the greatest services rem
dered to the government of which
have any personal recollection. But
until now, President Garfield and his
cabinet were the only ones, excepting
Mr. Elkins himself, who knew that
it was through the Initiative of Mr..
Elkins that this work of reformation
was begun"
(Copyright 1911. by E. J. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
PASSING OF THE BIG GAME
The United States Has Been Wantonly
Extrava9ant in Its Waste
full Destruction.

The story of the game hog" Is too
familiar 10 dwell upon. We all remem-
Der with disgust photographs publish
ed in sporting journals and newspa-
pers OF long rows of deer hung up
after days slaughter These were
not generally sportsmen. and they
took no steps TO interfere with or pre-
vent the wanton destruction until
sportsmen's clubs organized and
forced the issue. but this was very
late in our history-almost too late to
save the animals
Almighty God gave US country
Astounding in vast natural resources,
and We have not only given ourselves
over to extravaganza, but wasteful-
ness. We have not confined our ex-
been lavishly drawing upon the prin-
cipal of our inheritance, never halt
ing in our wild career 70 think that
the end OF 1t must at some time be
reached
For example, one of the noblest OF
our big game animals, the wapiti, or
American elk. which formerly ranged
throughout our northern states and
Canada, is now practically extinct east
Of the Mississippi saving perhaps a
few stragglers which still inhabit
northern Michigan. Our eastern
mountain regions such, for instance.
as the Adirondacks, the Green noun
tains, and the ranges of Pennsylvania,
should form ample cover for them and
would support them today had proper
means been taken in time for their
protection. Some sixty years ago the
last of the wapiti in the east wal
killed in Pennsylvania.-Dillo Wal
lace. in Outing.
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02

I s Part Of Cultivation Of More
Importance.
Ind That Has 0oen Well Orol<sn
Ifeeeds Only 70 y Thoroughly Pull
vorixod Few Inehoe-0on't
Plant Among cieds.

There II certainly no part Of the cul-
dfatfon Of more importance to any
s4Op than the preparation of the seed
bed before planting. Land that has
b4en well broken needs only to be
thoroughly pulverixed . few inches
deep; but under no consideration be
willing to plant among clods and
weeds or on poorly broken soil I
have actually seen cotton being plant
- and fertilizer being applied where
ts7ere Vas more plant food tied up In
tne ciods than was being applied In
the form Of commercial fertilizer.
When . crop IL planted In poorly pre-
pdred soil 1t 10 almost impossible to
cultivate properly or to get the soil
I'M good condition during that season
TIE disc harrow and other labor-sav-
ing implements can be used to such
good advantage before planting.
When your seed bed IL thoroughly
prepared. II planting cotton. plant very
shallow and not more than one-half
bqEhel Of good seed per acre. Should
. lain come before the cotton comes
up run over with section harrow,
which IL almost equal to . cultivation
AZ breaks the crust for the plants to
cotne up. After the cotton is a few
days old run over again with a Sec
ton harrow. going diagonally across
the rows. II this does not thorough
ly pulverize the top of the soil. run
oygr again. always with the teeth
q pting back at an angle OF As de-
etes BY this means one hand is
d6I8 to cultivate Is or 20 acres of cot
ton per day. This same method can
be used equally as well with corn
Thin out cotton and corn to one
stalk in a place as early as possible.
This Is more necessary with cotton,
since 1t is impossible to get the best
developed stalks without giving them
distance from the first. The best plan
for thinning cotton in drill is to cut
down the first hoeing to one stalk In a
place half the distance you expect to
finally leave 1t. After you are sure
your stand will not be destroyed, cut
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
How Abbott Lawrence Of Massachu-
setts Was Nearly Nominated for
Running Mate to Taylor
In 1o40.

Every president of the United
States. at the time of his election. was
either a lawyer or else had gained
great military renown. Yet there was
time when, but for the narrowest
chance and the queerest sort Of politi-
cal sentiment. a manufacturer and
merchant would have been nominated
for vice-president upon a ticket with
candidate for president who. two
years after his inauguration. died.
1t was in 1S4S. The great Wing
leaders OF that time had pitched upon
General Zachary Taylor of Louisiana
as the man for presidential nomina
ton who would be more likely to ap-
peal to the voters of the United States
than any other Wing. General Tay-
1or had gained renown in the Mexican
war. and after its termination had re-
tired to his cotton plantation in Lou
isiana. He himself was reported to
have said that he didn't know exactly
where he stood politically, he wasn't
sure whether ne could properly call
himself a Whig or not, but he was a
protectiopist-and that was enough
for the party leaders. one of the most
prominent among their number being
ThurlOw Weed. Indeed, it was Mr..
Weed who hrst suggested General
Taylor for the presidential nomina-
ton. and he 1t was who convinced his
fellow leaders that they could make
no wiser choice.
After we had decided upon General
Taylor" Mr.. Weed was fond Of telling
In the closing years .: his life. we
Of one accord felt that 1t would be
well to select for the vice-presidential
honor a man from New England. We
also felt that the candidate should be
a strong advocate Of the principles Of
protection SO strongly advocated and
supported by Henry Clay. and SO,
finally. we decided upon Abbott Law
renee of Massachusetts as Just the
man we were after.
Mr.. Lawrence was . manufacturer
Of cotton goods. He had utilised the
water power Of the Merrimac river,
built great mills upon the banks of
the river and thus founded the city
which bears his surname. He was .
splendid man-a public-spirited citi-
zen, man OF much cultivation. and
one Of the leaders of the development
In manufacturing interests In the
United States. We were sure that tho
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
FEED YOU MONEY
Feed Your Brain, and IL viii Feed
You Money and Fame.

Ever since boyhood I have been
especially fond OF meats, and am con-
WINGED ate too rapidly, and failed to
masticate my food properly.
The result was that found myself.
q few years ago, afflicted with all
ments of the stomach, and kidneys.
which interfered seriously with my
business.
AT last / took the advice OF friends
and began to eat Grape-Nuts instead
of the heavy meats, ETC., that had con-
stituted my former diet
Il found that l was at once bene-
1ited by the change. that was soon
relieved from the heartburn and indi-
gestion that used to follow my meals.
that the pains in my back from my
kidney affection had ceased.
MY nerves. which used to be un-
steady. and my brain. which was slow
and lethargic from q heavy diet OF
meats and greasy foods. had. not In q
moment, but gradually. and none the
less surely. been restored to normal
efficiency.
Now every nerve Is steady and my
brain and thinking faculties are quick
er and more acute than for years past.
After my old style breakfasts used
70 suffer during the forenoon from .
feeling Of weakness which hindered
mo seriously In my work. but since
began to use GTaps-Nuts food can
work till dinner time with all ease
ana comfort" Name given BY Poe
tum Co, Battle Greek. Mich
"Thero'e . reason"
Rad the littls boob, The Road -
MELVILLE" n pigs.
uvog poo1 ~ ooovo Dseteys = nsW
~ $3.50 ~ - ~ g b1166
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02

outisvery other stalk: this gives you
- chenceG for q stand, and ut the
Xm4 time gives your cotton all the
distance It reeds from the first
Just here I would like to say that
believe we yose as much cotton from
having the plants too close in drills
and rows as from almost any other de-
feet In our present system of farming
There should always be ample room
for the sun to get through to the mid
dies, even when the cotton Is full
grown. The only fifty acres OF land
ever saw make a bale and one half
per acre was in Georgia and the rows
were six feet apart, plants three feet
In drill. one stalk in a place. This
much distance is not necessary. how
ever, unless soil Is rich or a large
amount Of fertilizer is used.
No man should have more cotton
than he can get over once a week.
We have either got to cut down our
acreage or increase our horsepower
and implements. This, however, can
be partly overcome by cultivating
shallow, for by shallow cultivation We
can cover more area In a given time.
with the same team and labor, than
we could possibly do by blowing deep
It requires about the same draft to
pull q plow four inches deep cutting
ten inches as it does to cultivate one
inch deep and forty inches wide. This
IL very important, as there are only
. few days after each rain that the
average soil IL in an ideal condition
to plow. II we can get over 1t all at
this stage moisture will be- conserved
and no weeds will ever come.
Here the question OF implements
seems to present itself and In farming
a in every line of business we should
use the very latest and best machin-
cry: for man labor II the most ex-
pensive part Of the running OF any
business, and the only way to make
Q profit from his labor lie by giving
him machinery whereby his power
II increased many times.
went through several of the big
cotton mills in the New England
states not long ago and one thing
that attracted my attention was along
this line saw machinery practically
new sitting to one side and other
costly machinery working In its
place. On being asked why this was.
the manager said later machines had
been put on the market, were more
complete, and one man could do the
work Of several In some cases and
they couldn't afford to use the other.
though It was ~ good as new. This
should be done In farming and IL go
ing to have to be done in the near
future II q man succeedR
The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-06-02
The New Agriculture.

II calc'late my boy Seth is goin' ter
come back to the old farm after all
when he gifts through up there to COL
lege," said Granger Timothy Seede
as he leaned on the top rail of the
acre-lot fence and conversed with
board in the road.
"Sho! You don't say!" said Joel. Il
thought the boy was goin' ter quit the
farm
We'll, 1t did look like that fer q
spell. but l guess he's thought better
on it. fer he sent his ma and me home
a newspaper piece which says that he
'plowed up the field for many yards
and his team never pulled better to-
gether.' Gosh, he'd never touch .
plcw at home here."-Puck.