davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1911-08-27

An agent for the government appeared
and questioned him at great length.
Did you find any coal?' the agent final
ly inquired. In one.' the settler freely
answered, I found about a pint of lig-
Mite The old mans papers giving him
title. to the land were immediately held
up on the supposition that he had bored
into a valuable vein of coal. After the
case had dragged for a year, he came
to me, tired out by his long walk and
almost worried to death. No such ex-
asperating and humiliating espionage
would be permitted in Canada, where, as
have said, settlers are assisted with
counsel. and, after taking n homestead.
can purchase 160 acres of additional land
for $3.50.
Furthermore. all kinds Of laws in
Canada are enforced. even those enacted
to regulate the liquor traffic. In the
United States, laws arc passed only to
remain dead within the book In which
they are solemnly and ostentatiously
written. The farmers VINO are leaving
this country are good. solid men. They
are weary of law violation and OF the
national sentiment that favors money.
In some OF the provinces Of North
western Canada no taxes are charged
The Washington herald., 1911-08-27
Faithful Overseer of Feminine Destinies at
Big Terminal Has Many Strange Expe-
riences with Her Charges.

LAS long as there are women who
travel, I shall be kept busy"
This is the summing up of the matron
at the Union Station, whose duty 1t is
to look after the women who come
within her province-the 'womens wait
Ing room" An hour spent in her COM
pany at the entrance to this resting
place for migratory females proves that
she has excellent logic upon which to
base her prophecy of future usefulness.
Showered upon her devoted head are
queries of the most surprising character,
requests of all sorts, observations, ard
remarks that would drive less sophisti-
Gated person into nervous prostration.
In addition TO all this, she must see
that passengers who wait here do not
get left" or do not leave their posses
sions behind them, or do not leave on
the wrong trains. And she looks after
children who are tagged through and
have to stop in Washington. In fact, her
duties are legion; but. in spite of them,
her good nature is ineXhaustible.
There are two matronS at the big sta
ton. Their hour for changing is o'clock
in the afternoon. The writer came upon
the night matron just after the change.
She was a sweet-faced, white-halred wo-
man, with mother written large all
over her. Her name is Mrs. Hughes.
though she said she did not want her
name in the papers.
Sense of Humor NeedfuI.
IF it were not for a sense of humor
I have, of course 1 couldn't stand it
long" she said. Il used to get nervous,
but not now. Women come up and tell
me the most narrowing tales, or report
losses, and listen as unmoved as though
they were reading it from a book
have been a matron for twentyfour
years, and I have learned to take things
they come"
Pardon me, but are you the matron?"
inquiries a woman with a sharp face and
a voice to match. will you take care
of this satchel for me, please. I've got
TO go somewhere.
we are not allowed to look after
bags, madam; you may have 1t checked
over at the parcel ROOM
The idea exclaimed the visitor, and
then: For heavens sake, what are you
here for, I wonder"
ITO obey orders, madam retorted the
natron. entirely unmoved.
That often happens explained the
matron. Sometimes I have to say more
than that. 1 tell them that 1 did not
make the rules, but 1 must keep them.
Some women are very unreasonable"
viii you tell me where l find the
notices." asked an old lady in black.
The matron says that she does not know
exactly what is required; she knows
of no notices" The old lady goes on to
explain: They are up over the columns,
or elsewhere; written up, you know"
''Oh, you means the quotations. don't
you?" says the oracle. You will find
them outside over the columns"
Looked for ssMottoes',
That is the first time I have heard
those verses called notices said the
matron, and it had me guessing mo-
nent We have some of the queerest
The Washington herald., 1911-08-27
Senator Gronna Believes Tax on In.
comes Would Solve One of the
Gravest Problems of Present
Day Politics.

yearly coming to Washington. Such
Senators have always come, but their
coats have grown long and their mem
orieS short in their changed environ
ment. The people formerly We're far
away; now they are grouped under the
dome of the Capitol. Some men never
outlive their first principles. Gronna is
one of them. He was brought up on
Minnesota farm containing $50 acres
We lived forty-five miles from La
Crosse, in Wisconsin" he told me. I'VE
hauled our wheat there with oxen,
travelling twenty miles a day and SLEEP
ing in the open. When / was small, my
father tied me on top of the load with
a rope, so that I couldn't fall off"
The Norwegian immigrant, CAD in
hand. on his way 10 market, a frugal,
industrious, and religious man, makes a
prairie picture not hard to imagine. His
wife, no doubt, was on the wagon. The
boy. lashed to a bag of grain, will al
ways remember the dragging journey.
Associated with 1t are the customs and
teachings cc his parents.
BY the time I was fifteen years old, "
Senator Gronna said, II was business
man enough to manage my father s
thrashing machine We hauled It from
farm to farml and made considerable
money. l fed the sheaves into the cylin-
are now run by steam and feed them
selves automatically. The separator
man. as he is called, is paid 81 a day
for oiling the machinery and putting on
the belt when it comes off. My work
was much harder than his
On the Way to Fortune.
II this were a biography of Senator
Gronna 1t would follow him to the Gale
donia Academy, where he cooked his
own meals. and would describe his stud
les Of public men and the Constitution
Of the United States. He taught in
Minnesota and also in Southern Dakota.
where the schoolhouse was made of
sod. THE floor was the bare ground, 4"
he said. but the pupils, mostly chill
dren of immigrants, were the very best
of students. l have carried their bright
eyes and happy faces all through life -
An unsettled period followed, with
more work among the travelling thrash
ers. Senator Gronna says he thought
OF Congress, hoping some time - be a
legislator, but as a business man and
not as a lawyer. "a chance came to
keep the books OF a merchant at Bux-
ton. in the northern part of Dakota Ter
ritory." he said, touching an important
and deciding event in his history. Il
found a bad situation. In a short time
the creditors made me trustee OF their
interests and the business. under
took that relation in the spring BY
November, had paid all the debts and
had turned the store back to lis owner.
could have had a largeSf fee but asked
no more than my regular salary. Sew
eral wholesale merchants. became my
friends and offered to set ms up In
business. j was twenty-three years old
'sThe man whom saved from hank
ruptcy sold out and moved to Lakota.
The Washington herald., 1911-08-27

questions addressed to us. Madam, you
cannot bring your dog in here; it is
against the rules"
''Oh, indeed! 1 don't want to bring it
in here; 1 am only looking for a friend
she stood and stared into the waiting
room for few moments and then went
away with much dignity.
She was all right about it," resumed
the matron; sometimes they make an
awful row. for some women think as
much of a dog as others do of their chill
dren. Oh, yes: about the queer queS-
tions! When they are addressed to me
1 notice them, but in the changes that
are always before my eyes and the many
things / hear, l forget them. Once there
was a woman, though, who came in and
asked to be directed to the bazaar I
told her I Cid not think we had one here
in the station, but she insisted that l
must be mistaken. Haven't got a ladies'
bazaar! she said. 1 told her 1 thought
not, and what sort of a place would it
be, anyway? Why she said, a place
where 1 can wash my hands And just
then she caught sight of the sign that
had been staring her in the face all the
time, and hurried across the room"
You are the matrOn, aren't you?" The
usual sa1utation, this time from two
ladies, one young and the other evidently
her mother. Can you tell us of a re-
spectacle place where we might go, that
would not be too expensive? We are
strangers in the city, and do not know
any one"
Deaconess on Guard.
The matron mentions the addresses of
the Y. w. c. A. clearinghouse for
women, and the District Home, and rec
ommends them to the deaconess who is
always on duty around the station to as
siSt friendless women and girls in ener-
genCieS such as this.
That used to be our duty, too" she
said, as the women went to accost the
young woman with the white bonnet
strings. Then, there was only one dea-
coneSs, and we had to do 1t part of the
time; now there are two, so we do not
have so much of 1t to do. 1t was quite a
lot of work. We furnished addresses of
the places where the unprotected women
could safely stop, and had to provide the
fullest directions, and do everything
to insure that they arrive safely
OF course, we could not do as the
deaconess can, take them to the place
they choose, but we did all in our power
and You have no idea how many there are
in day. l send them TO the deaconess,
now, as she makes note of each case
while we have nothing to show for our
work at all, and never did when we did
all that in addition to our regular duties"
How are women about losing things
while traveling?" inquired the caller.
There was the case of a young girl
who asked the station man out there to
direct her to a good place near the sta
tlon where she could spend the night, as
she was due to go out on an early train.
lie told her of a hotel near, so she
checked her bag at the parcel-room WIN
dow and went over there. When she
arrived in the office of the hotel she dis
covered that she had been robbed of her
purse, which contained Ter money and
ticket. There was nothing to do but to
come back here. which she did, and she
The Washington herald., 1911-08-27
Fair, but False.

From the London Answers
1t was his first visit to London, and
some Of the sights filled him with won-
der, while others filled him with awe
But when he went to the theater abe
settled quietly down for enjoyment, pure
and simple.
Presently he observed that a long,
fair, silken tress was hanging down the
back OF the lady in front OF him.
Excuse me, miss" he said, leaning
over, but you hair is coming down"
Slowly she turned upon him a cold
and naughty stare.
My hair" she said, in tones Of ice
and acid drop.
But the country visitor was not to be
snubbed so easily.
"Oh, I'm sorry" he said cheerfully.
But really at first. you know, I thought
1t was your hair
The Washington herald., 1911-08-27
BY LANES b. MORROW.


Simple. vigorous, and sensible Americans
will like AISLE ]. Gronna. All others are
warned away from the lines that are
to follow.
He held the Office of deputy sheriff
: in Billings County, under Billy Jones'
Senator Gronna once said of Theodore
Roosevelt, in the House of Representa-
lives. He came there (North Dakota),
not as dude, but in blue shirt and a
slouch hat, and took up the life of a
ranCher"
Gonna is that kind of a man himself.
He operates 5000 acres of land and two
country banks. The lumber yard and
The big store that he owned We're sold
when he was elected to Congress. He
was born in Iowa, but his parents were
Norwegians, and he has the blue eyes,
the heavy. brown hair, and the burly
frame of the Vikings.
In his youth. Senator Gronna fed a
thrashing machine for a living. Last
month he talked for five hours, and the
best men in the Senate broke into his
remarks, three at time on several
occasions, with comments. inquiries, and
Endorsements. dull or unimportant
speaker is rarely compIimented by inter-
ruption. He goes on while others go
out. And Gronna, it should be known,
is not a lawyer. While he was answer
ing my questions with his coat off, 1
noted that he wore a dollar shirt and
bO-cent suspenders.
Years ago, as time is counted in the
swift movements of modern events. he
thought he saw the stealthy hand of
conspiracy in the chaos OF matters in
Alaska. Why should 1850 acres-four
full sections-he asked, be opened to en-
try on the application of a single indi-
vidual? The land, thought to be an
icy waste, later was found tremendous
ly rich in coal La Toilette, ardent
in his own behalf. generously and just
ly starts the sensational exposures OF
Alaska with Gronna's inquisitorial ques-
tion.
,ForciEn Bread and Other Evils.
The view OF James ]. Hill, so Senator
Gronna says, is 100 feet wide and 1000
miles long. He would probably measure
Morgan in money and Rockefeller in
petroleum. Gronna himself might be
cast up in wheat, in which. and the art
of merchandising. he is an expert Still,
his opinions go beyond land: but in the
soil is where he begins. All problems.
therefore, social and political, are merely
offshoots Of the main subject. Living
near the Canadian frontier, he looks
southwark across his own country and
sees Americans eating foreign bread A
rich man, he believes that property Is
unfairly distributed. Uneasily he watches
the movement OF farmers across the
Northern border. beyond which the laws
are obeyed, good citizenship Is exalted,
and taxes are laid on lands and not on
improvements. Even the Kitchen OF the
American home needs reformation.
More Senators OF the Gronna type are
The Washington herald., 1911-08-27
Diamonds In Pines.

In the South African diamond fields the
gems are found in what are called
pipes" which are round or oval stems
of peculiar kind OF rock, several acres
in extent at the top, and running down
to unknown depths into the earth. Near
the surface, this rock. which is rich in
iron, IS disintegrated by exposure to the
weather and assumes a yellowish color
The precious pebbles are readily extract
ed from the friable rock.
The Washington herald., 1911-08-27

Ostend has long been famous as the
king of watering places and the home
of fair women, who may be seen at any
time of the day disporting themselves in
bathing costumes commonly assumed by
men in other countries. So familiar
has the sight of these fair nymphs be-
come that the objection of the English
churchmen to their clothing or lack of
it, is taken as a personal affront by the
citizens of the town.
The Washington herald., 1911-08-27

Ostend. France, Aug. GA visiting
body Of English gentlemen of the cloth
has taken a decided exception to the
costumes of the women bathers at this
place. and have threatened to appeal to
the authorities to prevent indecent ex-
poSure" on the beaches. Their dis
approval centered on the Qne-piece, skin
tight bathing suits universally worn by
the women frequenting the Ostend
beaches.
The Washington herald., 1911-08-27

Zelxia, celebrated Greek painter In 4 paro1ysrn
Of laughter at the ludicrous appearance Of a hay
he mad Just depicted. suddenly gave up the ghost
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1911-12-22
German. but, most Of all, she taught

German, but, most Of all, she taught
them the love of Mother Nature.
The holidays were drawing near and
Eleanore had little time for introspec.
ton. She was busy helping the chill.
dren keep their Christmas secrets.
planning for the Christmas tree in the
church. making odds and ends to give
to friends. For the time, she was al
most forgotten.
But when Christmas eve had come
and gone and she sat in the small con-
servatory Of the rectory on Christmas
afternoon when the children, tired
from play, had gone to take an after.
noon nap and the good rector with his
wife had gone and done likewise
Eleanore began to have that lonely
feeling deep within her. She looked
out of doors where tiny snowfakes
were just beginning to blow here and
there as forerunners Of a glorious
Yuletide snowstorm.
Suddenly, as If to ward off the blues,
she sought her cloak and gloves. She
would go out in it if only because she
could!
Outside, she struck out briskly to-
ward the churchyard where the fir
trees were green. There was much OF
the yard that was made up of beauti-
full parkways with wonderful blue
spruce trees mingled with the old
green Christmas tree.
1t was toward these trees that she
walked and with every breath of the
soft, moist air, she felt invigorated.
The caress of each tiny snowflake as it
touched her cheek was sweet to the
girl who loved nature.
Presently, ahead of her, she saw a
group of boys. They seemed to be look
ing up at great green fir tree and
listening to man who stood in their
midst
Eleanore drew near. None of the lit.
tie group had seen her as she walked
softly on the snow covered grass. The
heart beat wildly-was
George Davidson.
Suddenly, as if he felt her presence,
he turned You" he cried, "Eleanore."
Then, as if remembering the boys, he
said, Boys, want to introduce you
Ill to Miss Marvelle. Perhaps she can
ell you more than can about-Christ-
mas trees"
Eleanore acknowledged the introduce
ion to each bareheaded lad even while
Ter hand was still in the big warm one
If George Davidson.
It's like this, Eleanore," he was ex.
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1911-12-22
w. F. & N. Grading

Last Friday j. W. Baughman,
Chas. Ellsaesser, Mr.. Copper of
Omaha and j. f. McWilliams
drove to the new town of Gate, in
the east side of Beaver county.
This is the first town to be estab-
lished in Beaver county by the
Wichita Falls 6 Northwestern,
and the lots in the new town are
now sale there by Mr. Hooker,
the land and tax Commissioner of
W. F. & N, A blue print of the
new town of Forgan which if to
be established as northern termin-
us of the railroad for the present
is now in print, and copy of it
will arrive next week.
There are now a number of men
and teams scattered along the
right of way in Beaver county
from Gate to the new town of
Forgan, where one outfit has fifty
teams ready for work as soon as
the weather moderates The Wich-
tia Falls & Northwestern is coming
along rapidly toward Liberal, the
Capital of the Southwest.
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1911-12-22
The Good Fellows BUSY

The Liberal Good Fellows are
b isy this year as usual. j. N. Ev-
ans and Charles Ellsaesser were
out with the subscription list on
Thursday, soliciting the Five Dol.
lar subscriptions for the Good
fellows club, and were meeting
with unusual good luck. The an
DUAL fee is Five Dollars and nc
donations for less amounts are ae.
cepted. Almost every business
firm in town was on the list, and
vt is a certainty that not a single
little boy or girl in Liberal will be
without the good things that go to
make Christmas the very best day
IN the year. Last year there was
A balance left over after the COM
mittee had been busy all day try
ing to find places where the Good
Fellows assistance would be ac-
ceptable. The fund is mighty
fine thing, and the spirit is the
best in the world. Those who
know of places where the Good
Fellows shouIG go on Christmas
day will help the good work along
ny notifying either j. N. Evans or
Charles Ellssesser before Monday
Everybody in Liberal
must have a Merry Christmas
that is All edict that has been given
out by the Good Fellows. and all
~ho can help make this movement
a success should do so.
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1911-12-22

planning. Tive sort of taken up some
settlement work on the East side late
ly, and when one of these boys asked
me-not long ago-where the Christ.
mas trees came from IL felt ashamed
to think he had been under my eye and
didn't know. He'd never been out of
the city in his life-had never seen a
fir tree growing"
Eleanore's eyes grew wide with sur.
prise. poor lad!" she said.
"Then and there, | promised the
whole crowd of boys that on Christmas
day would take them to see a real
Christmas tree growing in the earth
where 1t belongs. told them they
should not have their gifts until sc
stood under one of Natures own trees
and-well, here we are. Aren't we,
boys?" he asked turning 10 the
group Of young foreigners who adored
him.
81 was trying to tell them about
trees and things and"
The man broke off lamely.
And you didn't know very much
about them? Was that it?" Eleanore
asked, teasingly.
That's it, exactly" he said. Then
he drew near and spoke in an under.
tone while the lads, feeling instructive
ly that they were at liberty TO roam
about if they desired, left the two
standing together. =
rs it too late for hie-to learn"
he asked.
NO. she said. "but first, I'd like to
exchange a few lessons in how to be-
have in a fashionable restaurant for
them" she said.
"Eleanore!" he cried
Yes she admitted 1T isn't so
thrilling to sit on the porch all even
ing and watch the moon come up be-
hind the rees-alone-even II II is Ma
ture. I-suppose we combine our tastes
and live in the country, but not
so far that we can't get to town
we-you, l should say-feeI
like it."
81 feel now, dear, that l never want
10 see the city again Tiff you don't
want to-" he said. I'm so weary OF
living without you that I'd gladly
camp under haystack with nothing
but the lowing herJ for an outlook II |
you were with me-
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1911-12-22
WITH A HOPE FOR THE BEST
Elevator Man Willing to Coneede That
Republicans Might Be
Saved.

AS the elevator assembled In re.
Spouse to Mr. Tophoors ring on the
morning OF election day he heard the
elevator boy" hummins cheerfully
under his breath.
That's fine song you are singing.
Algernon," he remarked. 1T is a
hymn"
"Yessah, dat am a hymn. 1t bout
de mos beautifules' in de hymn book,
t'ink. 'Wot de wo'ds? Desc is de
wo'ds," and with appropriate gestures
he REPEATED them.
What were those lines about death,
Algernon?" asked Mr.. Topfoor Say
them over" And Algernon, with arms
extended and eyes rolled up, recited
dramatically: "Oh, Id, | stretch nah
hans to thee. Save me f'om English
death"
English death!' What's thatT
demanded Mr.. Torfoor.
Il never could fin out jet w'ot dat
was. Md. Tophoo', but 1t means some.
tin raight bad, l reckon. Mebbe 1t
mean de oberlistin' f'es.
"Maybee 1t does" agreed Mr.. Top
floor and to change the subject he In
quired If Algernon had voted yet.
"Yessah, voted befo' l come to
wu'k dis mornin'. Dis on'y de secon'
time In nah life Is voted. De +
time was las lection day. l made up
nah min den dat 1t was nah dooty
to vote. owes 1t to NAH wife an
family Eve'y one dat knows anyt'in'
ought to vote, an ef yo' has any bust
ness or wu'ke at somet'in, de way |
does at dis elevator, votin de bes'
way to make you'sef known to de pub
lie. Oh, Abs Democrat, sab, an
votes de Democrat ticket r-a-i-g-h-t t'ro.
Democrats is de bes'; Republicans day
ain much good, nohow. Yo'! Is yo'
u Republican? An is you famJe Re-
publicans? Well. well-wot-doe yo'
tink O. dat! Yo' cert'ny don seem
like 20 was one, sab; nuther do Mis-
Tophoo'; an | reckon dat wen de
good LO'd come to jedge de Repub-
licans he gwine to make rescrimina-
lions, so some OBJ dem will be saved"
New York Press.
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1911-12-22
"There's a Reason.D

May-You seem to prefer the beach
to the piazza.
Maud-Yes; prefer to be burnt by
the sun than roasted by the gossips.--
Judge. --...
The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1911-12-22

T would be perfect folly,
George" the girl was saying.
Thanks" the man re-
piled, a little hurt.
"You know very we'll what
l mean. 1t would be foolish
worse than foolish-for
US to marry and--it is not
because do not love you,