davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
The Success of sIediocrity.

Rockford Star: Though in his S2nd
year. Shelby NJ. Cullom seeks to be re-
turned to the senate for the sixth con-
secutive time.
Do the people of Illinois desire his
services six more years? He has been
in public life over half a century Is
his name connected with any great
piece of constructive legislation? Is
he the recognized leader of his party
in the state? With all his great OPP
portunities, with all the great honors
that have literally been heaped upon
him, is he known countrywide as a
statesman?
II he were the leader of his party,
if his name were attached to a great
Legislative act. if he ranked among the
statesmen of his times, these ques-
lions would not seek an answer
They are propounded because Senator
Cullom's success in politics is little
less than marvellous. He has been a
member OF the legislature, governor,
member of congress and United States
senator. Each Office came to him
without a struggle. He secured them
for the mere asking.
And that is the strange thing about
his success. He is not a magnetic man.
He has no particular personality He
does not attract men to him. though
he is not metallic in his bearing. He
is not an orator. He Is not an organ
izer. He is not a good campaigner.
He is simply man of ordinary abili-
ty.
How does this man of mediocre abili-
ty secure so many honors? He pos
sesses much tact and common sense
and is loyal TO his friendl. That he is
honest there is no doubt. But are tact,
common sense and loyalty to friends
the only requirements needed TO vouch-
safe an ordinary man political career
extending beyond so years?
Do the people OF Illinois wish to
keep Senator CulIom in the senate
until he 'shuffles of his mortal cciI"?
He is in very feeble health. There
is little left OF him physic ally. but his
mind is clear and active. He seldom
occupies his seat in the senate but
rests in his committee room where a
nurse attends him. He takes no part
in the proceedings
During all the years he has been in
the senate he never cast an indepsr-
dent vote. He has never failed to vote
with his party, right or wrong. He has
always moved along with the crowd.
He never took the initiative. never
olazed the way. He has simply followed
where others led. He even followed
the leaders IN voting to save Lorimer
from expulsion.
The signs point TO Mr.. Cullom's re-
election. Thus far there is no rival
In sight If he succeeds himself il
will border on the miraculous. Amert-
can political history can record no par
allel case.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
President Makes Another Mistake

1t is difficult TO see how President
Taft's 13,000-mile swing around the
circle can end in anything but a sorry
spectacle for himself.
II he tells the people the truth
about how he vetoed the honest at
tempt OF both branches of congress TO
reduce the high cost of living in this
country; how upon taking office he
filled his cabinet with men connected
with the law breaking trusts, and how
he tried and nearly succeeded in Sc
cretly giving Alaska away to the land
grabbers, he will discredit himself
If Mr.. Taft juggles with the facts in
the slightest degree, the insurgents
Swinging along In his trail, will
point out his Misrepresentation with
such truth and logic that the presi
dent viii be more discredited than if
he had remained at home
The record of the Taft administra-
ton is not one that can be debated
with any credit 10 the president The
president has only himself, and men
like Aldrich, Guggenheim, Peurose
and Lodge. 20 whose advice he listen
ed exclusively. 10 blame.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Baltimore has made a dead set for
the next democratic national conven-
tiCh, and it is claimed that enough
members of the national committee
have been pledged TO carry it there.
The city has raised q fund of 100000,
and a convention hall large enough to
hold $1,000 people is to be built. Be
fore the war Baltimore was a favorite
democratic convention place. There
Andrew Jackson was nominated, as
well as Martin Van Buren,, James K
Polk and S. A. Douglas. The Birming
ham (Ala) Age-Herald comments:
In the coming campaign democratic
hopes will be high-higher indeed
than they have been since the war,
and Baltimore is therefore an appro-
pirate place at which TO hold the ma
tiopal convention"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
THE FIRST kERONAUT.
Kinssley's Queer Idea and an Embar-
RAISING Coincidence.

Kinssleys Queer Idea and an Embar-
RAISING Coincidence.
{ Charles Kingsley was at a dinner
once with the aeronaut Coxwen- 1t was
shortly after Coxwen and a companion
had made a fight in which they had
risen so high that Coxwelps hands
were frozen and he had time only to
tear open the air valve with his teeth.
A. c. Benson tells the story in THE
Leaves OF the Tree in the North
American Review. After dinner Kings
ley suddenly said:
81 have often thought that the first
man that ever went up in a balloon
must have been a d-dentist."
Some one laughed and said, ''What
an extraordinary idear'
"I don't know" said Kingsley. "a
man who is always looking down
peoples threats, and pulling their teeth
about, and breathing their breath. must
be inspired with a tremendous desire
to get away and above it ALL"
CoxweIl leaned forward and said
very good humoredly, "Well, Mr..
Kingsley, it is true that I am dentist,
but it was not that that made me be-
come an aeronaut."
MY d-dear Mr.. Coxwen," said
Kingsley. flushing red, Il am sure 1
beg your pardon. had no idea it was
so. You must have thought me singu-
larry Ill hammered to make a joke OF
it."
Kingsley could not recover his spirits
for the rest Of the evening. He hated
giving pain to any human being more
perhaps than anything in the world.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
The Alaska of Today.

When William II. Seward for few
paltry millions purchased Alaska, like
Thomas Jefferson when he bought the
Napoleon for s15 200, 900, he was over
whelmed with scorn and dertsion.
Louisiana had proven itself a bargain
and Alaska is doing the same. No
men could have been wider apart in
their political or partisan ideas than
Seward and Jefferson, but It is a good
thing for the United States that they
both had that shrewd Yankee fac
ulty of knowing a good thing when
they saw it" Here is what the New
York Tribune has TO say of Alaska,
formerly known as Stewards Folly"
and other ventures of the United
States:
yet today the almost incalculable
wealth of that territory figures con-
spicuously among the nations re-
sources and the development and ad-
ministration thereof form commanding
issues in national politics. The few
millions which Seward paid for Alaska
are a negligible trihe when contrasted
with the vast actual and potential
value Indeed. the purchase price was
far more than repaid many years ago,
through the eartvr and more print
tive products of the territory, before
the later revelations of resources
which show the purchase of Alaska to
be not unworthy of place in the same
category with the acquisition of Lou
isiana and Of California, as investments
exceeding in returns the expectations
of any-but an inspired seer.
The ridicule of Stewards Folly
was, of course, not without a prece-
dent. nor has it been without a sue
cessor. The purchase of Louisiana had
been similarly rallied against as a waste
of money for worthless wilderness.
IN recent years there have been like
diatribes against OtI.er enterprises or
acts of the govern lent with a pros
pect of like results. But it would
seem that this present reminder of the
wisdom of Stewards visiOn-for he
predicted the settlement of a great
population and the development OF
opulent resources in Alaska-should
have some admonitory effect upon
even the most perverse OF those who
are quick to condemn everything
which does not bear vindication upon
its forefront. II may be that the pres /
ent moment is seeing the development /
Of processes which will ultimately /
prove as impressive as those which |
have transformed esteem of Alaska |
from that of an Arctic desert to that /
Of an FL Dorado"
Many remember how in the geogra- !
phies of youth, Siberia and certain !
parts of Canada were pictured as Arc
tic deserts where people existed under .
the most rigorous conditions of eli |
mate, but they are raising big crops I.
Of wheat in these countries today and !
with us for the markets of |
the world.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
Taft's Campaign Speeches.

President Taft is about TO make a
speech 1900 miles long. That is a
good deal of taking, but the dog days
are over and Indian summer is at
hand. AT the worst not much harm
will be done.
II is assumed by the wise ones that
this string of speeches is 10 be made
BY way Of repair 10 the presidential
political fences. There is doubt that
much can be accomplished now by a
candidate talking over 1900 miles OF
railroad. but this need not worry those
of US who are not called on 10 do the
talking This trip is the presidents
personal venture and the big end OF
the work will be on him.
But it is in order 10 venture the re-
mark that the president Will show
better on this speech making trip than
he did TWO years ago. He will not
start out this time with a repetition
Of that Winona speech; ne viii do bet
ter than that. He has had a heap of
practice in the two years and of course
he has been learning something all
the time.
1t is assumed that Mr.. Taft viii make
campaign speeches on this trip. He is
TO be nominated next year. and there
IS getting 70 be a tradition which says
that il is g little indicate for a man
Vi ho IS president TO get out and stump
the country while the actual cam
paign is or. Hence the need OF Mr..
Taft is to do his campaigning at this
time.
No one imagines be is making this
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

"No; they're both alive"
They had a spat and separated"
NO such thing"
Then they were separated by that
crusty looking old woman whose pic
ture hangs there. She was the mother
in-law of one of them"
Not at all. She is my mother and
perfectly lovely"
"One more guess. One or the other
was extravaganza, and that broke them
up"
You're no guesser. None of those
guesses is right"
We'll, tell me-"
MY married sister lived here; that's
all. Her husbands father died and
left him a better farm. They had to
go right of and left everything as it
was. They've been trying to sell this
one ever since"
What do they ask for itT''
81 don't know, but can find out If
you want to buy 1t. Pa can tell you.
You'd better come over to our house.
We have a spare room
Covering the fire. 1 went with the
girl. met her father and mother and
remained the night in the house.
apoiogized for breaking into the vacant
place, which they said was under their
care, and asked them what 1T was to
be bought for. They named a fair
price, and 1 told them they might
write the owner that would buy the
property Somewhat surprised. they
asked why I wished that particular
property.
Because" 1 replied, 81 am full of
romance
What did you say your business
is ~ asked the old lady, she by whose
picture had judged her to be moth
er-in-law.
"a tin peddler."
"Humph."
The girl who had discovered me
laughed.
"And what are you going to do with
It after you have bought it ?" asked the
old man.
Live in It"
"But you're not married, are your
put in the old woman.
mo, but Pm going to be-"
gave the girl look, and she blush
ed. She was the only one present who
suspected my intentions. The others
had no conception of them.
The next morning before leaving 1
shook hands with them all, the girls
hand lying in mine longer than the
others. 1 told them that 1 would be
along that way again in a week and
If they would have a deed for the
farm and everything on 1t just as it
stood would give them a check for
it. Then 1 went to the barn, got my
team and drove away. The girl look
ed after me rather curiously, as If she
could not believe her senses, for with
out speaking word to her had made
her understand that 1 wished her to
marry me and set up housekeeping
with me I'm the vacant premises. This
out the proposition was another mat
ter.
That day week I was on hand and
found a deed made out just as want
ed it. / had a certified check for the
amount with me, and the transaction
was ended. Then drove away again.
I went by and stopped with my new
made friends quite regularly after
that, saying nothing to the girl about
what was nearest our hearts till one
day when 1 was going again 1 saw a
tear in her eye. Then 1 put my arm
around her and kissed her and asked
her to set day for the wedding.
Who says there's no. romance in a
tin peddler?'
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
The Solar PIexua.

The Scriptural expression "bowels Of
compassion" is justified by the discov-
cries of modern science. Whenever
anything affects our nerves we feel it
more or less IN our "innards' II is
the solar plexus which is concerned
in such emotionalism. OF course in
itself it cannot feel. but It sends
MESA es TO the brain, which inter
prets them as coming from there. The
solar plexus is a mass of nerves and
nerve structures in the abdomen at the
back of the stomach.-New York Trib-
une.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Senator Moses E. Clapp of Mime
sofa, the '1nsurgent" republican, is
making speeches through California
and having large attendance where
he goes. His principal argument is
against President Taft's vetoes. The
senator can say things that sting and
startle He has our well wishes.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
Sept. ii in American
History
16o9-Henry Hudson discovered the

16O9-Henry Hudson discovered the
river bearing his name.
1S14-Commodore Thomas Macdon.
ough's brilliant naval victory Cd
Lake Champlain, defeating Brit
fish squadron superior in strength.
1S94-Pio Pico, last Mexican governor
Of California, died; born 1901.
1910-Ex- President Roosevelt returned
home from COCO mile speechmaking
trip.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Extreme Wow.
'"They are engaged"
Are they?"
THAT Is what Is said"
81 didn't suppose he was rich enough
to ask a girl to marry him"
HE isn't"
"Then how does It happenf Has
the girl money!"
"Oh, no. But they are both % poor
that they don't know anything about
money"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

A physician says lighter headgear
and less false work will give women's
brains a better chance. II certainly
ought to minimize the dangers OF hot
headedness.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

George Fitch. the quaint humorist Of
the Peoria Herald-Transcript has
been signed up by the Chicago Rec
ord-Heraid. Fitch will shine in Metro
politan newspaperdom.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
CHINESE INGENUITY.

Es>~ One Cow Was Maze 20 Fit a
ReomfUl of Slsepers
A writer in French magazine tells
q curious story about how they man
age cheap lodging houses in China.
Along Chinese roads. it seems. there
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

The suspicion is not without rea-
sonable foundation that the annexation
bogy raised in Canada 10 hurt reel
procity has its abettors on this side
of the line
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Now is that Long View line quibbls
10 be prolonged through another win
ter?
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

When the conversation lags think
of something good to say of your own
town.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
Hunfor and
Philosophy
~ DUNCAN ~. .SrssTu
THE LATEST.

HEIGHOI
But weren't we q slow.
Poky race
When out on the chase
After pleasure
Once upon a timer
No longer do we care
For the county fair
With its prize porkers.
Premium ducks
And the plethoric garden trucks
Soul stirring appeal.
The guaranteed patent meal
And. in short
The whole array OF that sort
Those simple joys
Are ours no more,
And. tell the truth.
They make us sore.
We have expanded.
Gone up, one might say.
For now we while the time away
With a spectacular and neat
Aviation meet
No town Is too small
To hear the cali
The call OF the skies
And to offer a grand prize
For the first one to ny
In its own private sky.
And the aviator. naughty and proud.
Takes q look and thinks cut loud.
And what does he say?
Call that enough pay
For the chance OF q broken neck
And the wreck
or q $1,000 machiner'
He doesn't want TO be mean.
But II they'll double the prize
He lies.
And IL not
There's a lot
or towns that WIN.
And they double II ar ne PASSES than
by.
The man bird comes high,
But We must have him
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
Mixed Fruit.

Mixed Fruit.
His daughter is the apple of his
eye"
II can hardly understand that"
"Why notT'
ANY one can see that she Is a
peach"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

The Beattie verdict shows that Vir-
GINA still respects its women
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
THE ARGUS.

Published Daily and Weekly at 1924
Second avenue. Rock Island, Ill IEn-
tered at the postofflce as second-class
matter.l
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Friends of David Jayne Hill per-
sist, despite denials and explana-
tins, in believing his resignation as
United States ambassador to Ber-
lin and from the diplomatic service
WAS forced They attribute his re-
trement to the influence of Secre-
tary of State Knox over the presi-
dent John G. A Leishman, Knox's
friend, is believed 70 be slated for
DR.. Hills post.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

long and hard trip 10 keep La Toilette
from getting a nomination.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
PERT PARAGRAPHS.

/ If we had 70 take the advice we give
! probably there would be a great re-
! vision in the matter handed out.
| Be suspicious of the man who sees,
/ everything as you see II. 1t may be
that he is getting close enough to make
a touch.
The milk OF human kindness should
yield a rich cream of goodfellowship.
People who have castles in the air
may soon be called upon to pay an air
tax.
Many a gown fits the wife a great
deal more satisfactorily than the bill
for II fits her husband.
There may be quite a difference 10 a
man between having a draft in his
pocket and draft on his pocket.
A tall man is often short after mar.
Rage.
The man who doesn't invest money
AZ i4S Nv "A Slliri piASto may AApiD
charity for himself than faith IN his
business.
One reason why some people change
their minds readily is undoubtedly be-
cause II f. so little trouble.
Trouble is a tiresome thing, but some
people seem greatly to enjoy taking IT,
Don't waste your money buying
plasters when you can get a bottle of
Chamberlain's Hniment for 25 cents. a
piece of flannel dampened with this
liniment IS superior TO any plaster for
lame back, pains In the side and
chest, and much cheaper. Sold by all
druggists.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Natural infor-
enco.
'I want you to
meet my friend
Mrs. Fetching"
"a widow 2"
"Yes, Of the
grass variety"
"Why do you
particularly want
me to meet her 7"
why, you are
a vegetarian, you
know"
= = Z
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

The milk OF human kindness should
yield a rich cream of goodfellowship.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Jules Cambon, French ambassa-
dor to Berlin, and one of the cley-
crest diplomats in Europe, was Sc
Iected TO play Frances last hand
in the Moroccan game when
France extended to Germany,
through him, what practically
amounts to az ultimatum.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

People who have castles in the air
may soon be called upon to pay an air
tax.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Many a gown fits the wife a great
deal more satisfactorily than the bill
for II fits her husband.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Provided For.
you don't seem worried about the
results"
~ am not"
Don't you think there is any doubt
about the outcomeT
PLENTY of doubt"
"You don't seem to have taken any
precautions
"Oh, I'm married. My wife viii
take precautions and do all the wor-
rying."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Trouble is tiresome thing, but some
people seem greatly to enjoy taking IL
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

The man who doesn't invest money
IN his own enterprises may have more
charity for himself than faith IN his
business.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

There may be quite difference 10
man between having a draft in his
pocket and a draft on his pocket.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

One reason why some people change
their minds readily is undoubtedly be
cause It f. so little trouble.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

A tall man is often short after mar
Rage.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

BY THE J. w. POTTER co.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

If we had TO take the advice we give
probably there would be a great re-
vision in the matter handed out.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

Be suspicious Of the man who sees
everything as you see II. 1t may be
that he is getting close enough to make
touch.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
The ANGLER.

The Angler.
"He is a record breaker"
''That lazy fellowp
Eyes"
"At fishing"
"Naw."
what record does he breakY
"Ananias'."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11

TERMS-Daily. 10 cents per week.
weekly, 81 per year in advance
All communications of argumentative
character, political or religious, must
have real name attached for pubIica-
ton No such articles will be printed
over fictitious signatures.
Telephones in all departments: Central
Union, West AS and 1145; Union Elec-
trio. 5145.
5 EsHza
TNApEs G Insl COUNCIL 20
1sT cN
Monday, September II, 1911.
Charlevoix county herald., 1911-11-18
Presbyterian Church Notes
Rev. A. d. Grissby, Pastor.

Divine worship as usual next Sun.
day morning at 1880 and evening at
TOO in the Presbyterian Church.
Strangers and all those not In the
habit OF attending church heartily
invited. Too manv good people in
our city neglect church going. You
are urged TO turn over new leaf
and for your own sake and others
begin to make practice Of attending
church. Many who stay away allow
their children and even insist on
their being at Sunday School. Why
not come with them at ll:45? The
Pastor and Superintendent Northon
will teach Bible classes.
Junior e. e next Sunday afternoon
at 3:l5 and Mrs. Grigs5y has charg e
and makes the young people welcome.
Senior Y. Z. 5. G.. e. meeting at
6:l5 Miss Maude Cross is the leader.
Topic for morning sermon True
Goodness"
Charlevoix county herald., 1911-11-18
First Methodist Episcopal Church
Rev. 7, Porter Bennett. Pastor,

1880 "Up, this the day" will be the
subject OF the morning service. DC
not fail to attend this service the be-
ginning OF the special revival services
Of this church. All are Invited TO be
present. aud assist US. Hat
ll:45 Sunday School. The scholars
did well In attending the Sunday
school last Sunday when the weather
was so disagreeable. About l30 were
at this school.
800 junior Epworth League. The
pastor would like 10 meet all the
Juniors next Sunday.
600 Senior Epworth League. ALI
son Pinney. Leader,
700 "When do you sefve?", Evange-
listic service. GOOD singing, a, wide
awake service. Come. So
No service on Monday night on ac-
count of The Minstrel association at
Mancelona. Tuesday night at 1880
there will be services. All are invit-
cd to attend and assist In the special
services.