davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

TOPEKA, Kan.-Kansas was the
! first state to abolish the common
drinking cup in hotels, railroad trains
and stations, and in the common
schools. 1t has gone one step farther,
and the common towel will soon dis
appear from all public places. After
an exhaustive investigation the chem.
lists and bacteriologists OF the Kansas
board of health recommended that the
common roller towel be forbidden as
dangerous to the people of the etate
and the board adopted the order tina.
the stiffly starched boarding house
towel be cut up into individual tow
els, and everyone have a clean face
wipe whenever the exigencies Of che
occasion demanded facial bath.
At a meeting Of the board an IN
vestigation Of the Keller towel was
ordered. Towels were collected in the
hotels and public schools of several
cities of tho state. Railroad trains
were boarded in different lines. and
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04
Uncle Sam Issues a Million Patents

THE United States government will
] soon issue its one millionth pat
ent for an invention. Commissioner
of Patents Edward Bruce Moore has
been looking forward for some time
to a celebration of the issuance of pat
ent No. 100000. 1t was his hope that
this distinguished number should go
to some epoch-making invention.
The United States patent Office will
be 122 years old when the coveted
number is issued. The bureau was
established in 1890 as an adjunct to
the treasury department. Early in
1885 there was fire which destroyed
not only the building Of the patent Of
fee, but every record, all the import
ant drawings and papers, and every
model owned by the government
Prior to the fire the Office had issued
1887 patents.
The destruction of the records CON-
PEELED an entire reorganization and
therefore the system of numbering
was started with No. / again.
The first strictly American inven-
ton to receive a patent from the orig
inal United States patent Office was
tho cotton gin. The patent was issued
March IA, 1894. to Eli Whitney. The
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

THE lid on the seething cauldron of
l Indian affairs is loose 1t is to
be taken off without further delay by
Chairman Graham, of the committee
on expenditures in the interior depart.
ment.
For years there has been endless
rumor and vague accusations of graft,
trickery, jokers in legislation, of ap-
preparations nominally designed for
tho Indians, but actually going to land
grabbing rings; Of looting of the In
dian estates all over the country, of
waste in maintaining the Indians and
policies that tend to pauperize them.
Mr.. Graham has been removed from
the committee on Indian affairs to
craftsmanship of the probe committee.
Now he is going to find out whether
things are as bad as his experience in
the committee led him to believe.
The facts are to be dug out. II the
charges are true. they are to get light,
If not, they are to be disproved. The
investigators expect to stir up very
bad odor.
Where do the millions appropriated
each year in the Indian bill go? II
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04
Committee Is to Sift Indian Charges

has been constantly charged that they
go in large part to about everybody
except the Indians. For instance.
100000 was appropriated in the last
bill for irrigation of the Flathead
reservation lands. If the stories now
being laid before the probers are true,
this money is to be used, not for the
Indians, but for lands that have been
taken from the Indians and are held
by SPECTATORS The ella irrigation
project is alleged to present some
what similar situation.
Another case that the committe IL
going to probe is that Of the Grow
reservation in Montana. A case of
Uintah Indians Of Utah is going to be
taken up in the effort to locate re-
sponsibility for the woes of this tribe.
The charge is that the Indians were
allotted their lands on map, without
reference to topography. Some got
bottom lands and some got mountain
tops, and on these they were expected
to live while the rest of the lands
were deftly manipulated into the
hands of enterprising white men who
managed the deal.
The committee is told of a case in
which the attorney of record for ono
Indian tribe, to prevent the Indians
being robbed of their lands, is himself
defendant in a number of suits.
brought by the department OF justice.
charged with grabbing these same
lands
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04
Government to Wipe Out Moro Pirates

TT is somewhat startling to learn
! that piracy as bold and fierce as in
the days of Captain Kidd still -four
ishes under the American flag. The
Moro pirates Of the Philippines have
begun their attacks on peaceful mer-
chant ships once more. A patrol of
American gunboats was maintained
over the Moros in the Sulu seas until
recently. and withdrawn in the belief
that they had been pacified. The
Moros believed that the Americans
were afraid of them, and piracy imme-
diately famed out afresh. Now the
patrol will be re-established
The Malay pirate of the eastern seas
is perhaps the most notorious of all
freebooting types. He excels Captain
Kidd in reckless daring and ruthless
cruelty. To kill a white man is al.
ways a commendable thing, but to tor.
ture him as preliminary. cutting him
to pieces, bit by bit, or by other in.
genious means, is hette-. He never
gives quarter and he never expects
it. If he receives mercy he regards it
as cOWardice. In action he kills to the
last man and takes home the heads of
his victims as souvenirs
Instead Of sailing bodily forth In
fleets Of outrigger boats, after the old
time style, with I: force numbering
hundreds Of armed and intrepid war
riors, tho Moro pirate Of today estab-
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04
Millionaire Gives a Swimming Party

RI ACON, GA.-The smart set Of Ma
AVA con is agog because of the fact
that 20 young men and 20 young wom-
en-, all prominent socially. passed a
whole night in swimming pool at
tired only in bathing costumes. The
costumes were Of the daintiest, and
also of the scantiest, and the telnpera-
ture OF the swimming pool was pleas
ant but the 20 couples did not enjoy
themselves. They passed the night In
abbreviated costumes in the pool. not
because they wanted to, but because
they had TO.
w. D. Billinsslea, millionaire. with
magnificent home to which a spa
cfous swimming pool is attached.
has been giving swimming parties
during hot weather, which have been
attended by the young men and WON
en- of the smart set. Billingslea on
this occasion invited 20 men and ~
women of the most exclusive set to q
swimming party.
The couples splashed about in the
water, firted bit and then splashed
some more until after midnight Then
some one noticed the lateness of the
hour, and a rush was made for the
dressing rooms. Then 1t was discov-
cred that the clothes of the 40 had
been taken, and that the swimming
pool had been locked. Billingslea
himself was one of the victims.
Efforts to make themselves heard
were in vain, and the 20 men and the
20 girls were forced to spend the
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04
Chicago Boys Work During Vacation

rH1CAGO.--With the closing Of the
~ schools it is estimated that there
are about 100000 boys between the
ages of IA and 20 years who look for
summer jobs. That is. there are 100,-
600 the first week. When the second
week comes along there are about
$4,000 who still think they want to
work, about 10000 tie third week and
about $4,000 who retain their determi-
nation throughout the summer
The average high school youth Of
this year expects to earn at least SO
a week to start, with raise at the
end Of every fortnight. Alas! It
seems employers have not the proper
respect for their culture ost Of
these Toys. the really valuable ones
get over their se;f-esteem after being
rebuffed a few times.
One high school student, who had
completed his sophomore year, and
who during the winter had been one 81
the most popular boys in the school
started looking for a SO job and end
ed collecting bundles in . department
store for $3.50 week He had Soma
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

M EW YORK.-The tramp evil in
~ this state may soon be solved. A
bill provides not only for the appoint
ment OF commission to inquire care
fully into the conditions of vagrancy,
but also makes m appropriation for
the purchase of 500 acres of land
upon which to establish a tramp col
ony. That there is need of some
more adequate method of dealing with
the vagrant class than has formerly
obtained Is known to every person.
and the establishment of farm
where Migrants might be employed
and reclaimed is believed by those
who have made a study of the subject
to be the proper solution of the diff
Guilty.
The Migrants now in this state
would form population as large as
that Of the city Of Albany. The jails,
penitentiaries and almshouses are put
to an, expense of 100000 annually
In endeavoring to cope with the prob
lem which has arisen through the ex-
istence Of this undesirable element.
But far more serious than this rs the
loss caused by the destruction of
property. robberies, fires and kindred
misdemeanors which cost the state.
the railroads and other private inter.
ests over $10.000.000 yearly.
The immense number of tramps
trespassing on railroads and the ia
talities which overtake many of them
may be estimated from the fact that
in period of five years 23,964 tres
passers were killed and 1926 we're
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04
State of Kansas Bars Public Towels

the roller towels in the wash rooms
conflscated. These were taken to the
states health laboratories at the state
university and examined
In some instances. the bacterial
count ran as high as 1,333.000 bac-
terra to a square centimeter of the
towel. The tests showed that Is per
cent of the towels examined baccullus
coli was found. Thousands of skin
scales were found on each towel.
showing how the skin rubs of in min
ute particles whenever the face and
hands are wiped thoroughly.
Two men in Kansas have each lost
one eye and the other has bee;a per-
manently impaired on account 1T dis
eases injecting the eyes AMI the
source of the infection was traced d.
rectly to roller towels in hotels. One
case of smallpox has been traced d.
rectly to roller towel in a hote.. Tho
smallpox germs were found on the
towel.
The order means that all the schools
will furnish paper towels for the chill
dren. These come In rolls and are
about as cheap for 100 towels as lsun-
dering one towel The railroads prob
ably will put In paper towels or have
individual towels for rent, and tho
hotels are expected to put individual
towels into the washro0ms
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

fishes headquarters on some small
island, and therefrom as a base Of
operations conducts furtive raids II
successful, he becomes bolder. and
ventures further af1eld in quest OF
booty. Finding ship in trouble, he
attacks it and murders everybody on
board Coming across a village that
looks peacefully inviting, he sacks it..
massacreing all the adult male inhab-
itants.
Then, with his load of loot, he does
not return to the place from which he
started, but seeks another island.
where, with his comrades, he remains
until they have eaten up or otherwise
disposed of the proceeds of the expe-
dition. Meanwhile to hunt down the
piratical band is much like looking
for a needle in haystack, for the
Philippine group comprises many thou
sands of little islands, which toward
the south are scattered all the way
from Sulu to within sight Of Borneo.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04
70 PUBLISH a WORLD PAPER

Another movement is now under
way to bring the nations Of the world
into closer and more friendly rela-
tons. The International Journal.
soon to be published in Paris and
which will essentially be an fnterna-
tional organ. and it is thought will
be a long step in promoting harmony
and friendship among nations.
The promoter of this new step in
journalism is Theodore Stanton. son
of the late Elizabeth Cady Stanton.
one of the noted women of her time
and a pioneer in the cause of woman
suffrage. He has sounded the senti-
ment in the various capitals Of Eu-
rope relative to the project and has
found it favorable.
While French will be the language
mainly used in the publication. other
languages will be employed. The pa
per will have no policy, in the re-
stricted sense of the term. but will
aim to publish truthfully and acct
ratelv both sides of all questions of
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

night In the swimming pool clad in
their scanty costumes.
The hours from midnight to dawn
were not cheerful. The girls were
cold, as they had little covering, and
the men were cold for the same rea
son. The girls were also sad, for they
were fearful about what their parents
would say.
Finally, about five o'clock, Billings.
lea made some Of his servants hear
and the doors of the pool were forced
and the party of men and girls re-
leased. 1t was not a merry crowd that
emerged. Taxicabs and autos were
summoned. The girls, wrapped in
sheets, were sent to their homes.
The men were wrapped in any old
thing and also hurried away.
Billingslea thinks some one played
a practical joke on his guests. but he
is mad clear through, and has offered
a large reward for discovery of the
person who stole the clothes and
locked the pool. At any rate, there
will be no more swimming parties In
Macon for the present.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04
New York May Establish Tramp Colony

! stealing rides. Most of them were
tramps and at least one-fifth Of the
accidents took place in this state.
The bill proposes as solution the
establishment Of labor colony. The
latter, briefly, is state owned ceseny
for the detention, reformation and tn
struction in agriculture and other in
dustrial occupations of persons cem-
mitted by magistrates as Migrants and
tramps.
In Switzerland there is such col
ony, located at Witzwill, in the canton
of Berne, and it has proved most sec-
cessful. Practically all of the work
is done by the inmates. Not only Is
agriculture carried on, but other en-
terprises are also conducted. The
buildings of the institution have been
erected by the inmates and all of the
furniture is made by them. They
even make wagons and carriages and
the various tools and appliances used
on the farm.
An essential part of the Witzwill
system is the homes for unemployed
men. Liberated convicts are given
an opportunity to work and prepare
themselves for getting a solid foot
hold in the world. AS result OF the
Witzwill colony there is no such thing
as tramp problem In the canton
where it Is established. The pro-
fessional hobo, who is beyond redemp-
ton, steers clear of the region; the
amateur is caught and usually re-
formed and made a desirable cit
izen.
With the establishment OF such
colony the vagrant in New York
would find himself between the horns
of an uncomfortable dilemma-either
detention at the farm colony or the
giving a wide berth to the state In
which he now is found most often.
Whatever choice he makes should
mean an annual saving to the public
Of millions of dollars.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04
Influence of Money in Capital Clubs

clubdom are punished If they seek the
companionship in clubs such as they
would obtain in their home cities.
One Of the most exclusive clubs In
Washington keeps on its rolls a man
who deserted his wife and six children
to elope with the wife of fellow
member of the same club, while it re-
fused admission to man who had de-
feated the ambitions of certain high
officials. Ten years ago the late Gen.
Henry C. Corbin. then adjutant gen.
eral of the United States army. was
kept out of this same club through the
efforts of men whose sons he would
not appoint to fat positions lu"ing the
Spanish-American war. S. many such
incidents have occurred in the past
decade that they cease to surprise.
Time was that when new cabinet
official, a new senator or even mem.
Der of the lower house came to Wash.
ingtor, some courtesy was accorded BY
society. Now that richly clad dame
inquiries about the home status of the
raw officials and II the report is not
up to the standard, Madame Cabinet
Official or Senator or Representative
will have lonesome time. unless she
has some personal friends In the great
realm.
The president and his vita will be
courteous. They will follow the ira
ditions, and will ask them to the
functions decreed by century Of OBJ
servance. But except to visit among
those whom their husbands rank
makes natural alliance. they need
not hope for amenity from the real
leaders Of Washington. the wealthy
women whose palaces are clustered
up and down 10th street and Massa,
chusetts avenue and about Dupont
circle.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

number of the Whitney patent was not
preserved. Neither was the number
Of Fulton's steamboat. for which q
patent was issued Feb. II, 1909.
Following the resumption of regu.
lar system of serial numbers for pat.
ents the first important American in.
vention to be granted a patent was the
Colt revolver.
The next great American invention
to receive a patent was the Morse
telegraph instrument. The patent. No
1.647, was issued June 20. 1910. Tho
patent issued to Charles Goodyear,
June Is, 1874, acknowledged his in.
vention of the process of the vulcaniz
alton of india rubber. The basic pat.
ent of the pneumatic air brake was
issued to George w. Westinghouse
April Is, 1869. 1t bore serial number
Ss,e29. b..
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

good stuff in him, however, az was
shown by his raise to IS a week BE-
fore the summer was over and the
offer OF a better Job when he Tad fin,
ished school.
In one department store last year
there were no less than IA boys from
one Of the local high schools, all of
them selling gents furnishings.' 1
These were the older boys and in 9th.
er stores there were high school
men doing everything from collect.
ing bundles. wrapping them. helping
with stock, doing the work Of four
assistant ONCE boys. to jobs payin9
80 a week, q remarkably high. waee
for the inexperienced youth Of teade|
years.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04
FOSTER AND HIS MODEST FEE

John w. Foster, ex.secretary of
state and known the world over
through his connection with the Dip
lomatic corps of the United States,
has come into the limelight through
the publication of alleged facts con-
corning the collection of claim
against the Chinese government. II
was the claim of the heirs of Freder-
lex T. Ward, an American soldier of
fortune, who was killed in 1862 while
in the military service of China. China
paid to the United States more than
$24 100000 indemnity for outrages
during the Boxer outbreak. OF this
less than $11, 100000 was awarded to
claimants by this government and the
remainder was returned to China
with the exception of 100000 re-
served for belated claims.
Mr.. Foster received for this work
a fee Of $4,000. The matter is now
in the hands of congressional CON-
m!ttee for investigation. The amount
maid the claimants was $368,237
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

A Chicago doctor Is quoted as say
Ing that GO per cent. Of the dogs that
bite people are infected with rabies
Then the popular impression that be-
ing bitten by mad dog is fatal seems
to be pretty thoroughly refuted, mas
much as no rabies epidemic among hui.
man subjects has been reported.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

A Philadelphia woman gets q di.
vorce rather than live in Chicago.
Quoting George AIDE: Somebody
must live here" However, the time
from Philadelphia to New York has
been cut to less than two hours.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

A man in New York who has
achieved an international reputation
as an inventive engineer while out on
bail on charge Of larceny, now goes
to jail for two years and six months.
The state can we'll afford to see that
he has leisure In captivity to 60 on
with his inventions.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

Out at Omaha debating society has
decided that the horse is more desir-
able than the automobile. The So
ciety must be made Up of people who
get wages instead OF salaries
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04
.nQS } WEN
HAS UNWATERED THE MAINE

General Bixby, chief OF the army en-.
gineers, who has had charge of the un-
watering of the Maine, recently ex-
pressed the opinion that the destruc-
ton of the battleship was caused by
the explosion of her magazines. No
external explosion, in his judgment.
could have caused the conditions OBJ
served in the remains Of the vessel.
But General Bixby added that the pri-
mary cause of the explosion would
likely never be known, so the mys-
terry of the Maine. unlike the hull It.
self, may never be revealed. General
Bixby said that unless the fragment
of torpedo could be found there is
no way of connecting an outside
agency with the blowing up of the
vessel.
The destruction to the vessel was
such, says General Bixby, and the de-
Ierioration has been so great that 1t
is impossible to tell whether the ship
was blown up from a force within or
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

A punch in the jaw" delivered by
a wife laid her husband up for TWEEN.
ty-twO weeks. With passion. for ex-
act detail, he also reports that the
third vertebra was displaced one-stx-
teenth Of an inch.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

Certain vague illusions in the pa.
pers lead to the suspicion that Keo-
kuk is building a dam across the
Mississippi which will conserve all
the water Of that eccentric old stream
that is not needed for the mainten.
ance of its catfish. keokuk hitherto
has been called the gate CITY, Hence.
forth it will be known as-but this ia
merely conjectural.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

The people OF Charleston, S. c., are
jubilant because fifteen babies were
born there In one night recently.
Charleston may be expected to imme-
census.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

The kaiser's only daughter is Is, of
sunny disposition, and will marry
whom she CHOICES. Other recommen-
dations may be had by addressing her
father at his Berlin residence.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

A professor of chemistry stopped a
runaway horse by dashing ammonia
into it's face. There's a device that
might be tried OH runaway husbands.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

without inside
sympathetic
explosion
inquiry right
atbutng distinct first of which
courts findings the view of General
baleship
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

A New Jersey woman is said to
have been inoculated with rabies by
being hit by bullet which passed
through a mad dog. Fast thing, the
germ that can hook onto a bullet.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-08-04

Wheat from an ancient Egyptian
tomb" has been successfully planted
In Colorado, so good wheat must have
been selected by tho cute Arab guides
who put it In the tomb.