davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
Hitherto Unrelated Story OF General
Arthur's Nearly Fatal Illness on
Dispatch Boat After Paying
a Visit to Savannah.

The people of the United States
have hitherto never known how mar
rowly they escaped double preslden-
tial tragedy between the years 1881
and 1883. OF course, the assassination
Of President Garfield was world
moving event. But there was time,
a night in April, 1883, when for a few
hours the danger was grave that Presi-
dent Chester A. Arthur, who succeeded
Garfield, would fail to respond to med
ical treatment. Had the apprehension
Of his physician proved correct, then
for the first time in our history the
duties of the Office of president would
have devolved upon the president pro
tempore of the United States senate.
In April, 1888, President Arthur was
invited to visit Florida. When the
citizens of Savannah learned that he
would on that excursion approach as
close to Savannah as the mouth OF
the river, they urged him with much
cordially and earnestness to become
guest of the city. The president felt
that he could not refuse so cordial an
invitation. He reached Savannah on
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
One.Third Of a Wife.

Before a crowded, fashionable in
intensely-interested audience, assem-
bled in the Philharmonic hall, Liver
pool, some time ago, DR.. Sven Hedin,
the distinguished Swedish explorer,
impaired much interesting informa-
ton regarding his recent expedition
into Tibet.
A few sentences were devoted to
the marriage laws of the Tibetans. 1t
was the custom for a woman to have
two or three. or even more, brothers
as her husbands. Three brothers
would thus have one-third of a wife
each-which ought to be quite suf-
ficient, for the women were extremely
ugly. When the eldest of the brothers
chose wife the others had to agree
And this was remarkable thing.
In European countries it was the Gus
tom to ask a father how many chill
dren he had got; in Tibet it was the
custom to ask tie children, How
many fathers have you got?"
And the answer might be, II have
three-my great father, my middle
father, and my little father"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
MascuIinity Has Never Lost Its Yearn.
ing for Brass Buttons and
Gold Lace.

There is no doubt that the human
male, like the males of other species,
and for precisely the same reason, has
an instructive yearning for personal
decoration, says the New York Times,
And though in recent years this in
clination has been fought and to con-
siderable extent conquered by the men
who are or call themselves civilized,
there still remains in them all the old
belief that fine feathers do make fine
birds, and not few gladly avail
themselves of any decently good ex-
cuse for returning to the bright colors
and elaborate ornaments which all
men who could afford them wore only
a few generations ago. Almost be-
yond question, therefore, gay uniforms
with many brass buttons and much
gold lace would appreciably increase
the attractiveness of military service.
But that buttons and lace would
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
Why the Women Fiv.

man observer has found out why
Washington society women are taking
such an active interest in aviation.
Many have delved deeply into the lore
of aeronautics and several of the more
daring even have been tempted aloft.
The reason is because the feminine
students of flying wish to wear the
strikingly becoming costume which
Gladys Hinckley has devised for her.
self and her sisters who soar. Miss
Hinckley, when she practices fights
from the Speedway, is dressed in a
gown of pale lavender corduroy, fitted
tightly. The waist, also of corduroy,
is made with what are known as
peasant sleeves" and has a Dutch
neck. The hat is an effective as it
is novel, but after all, it is the boots
which take the eye Of the women and
make them desire to play at aero
planning, even If they never get of the
ground. The boots are of soft tan
leather, and lace to the knee. The
skirt is short enough so the footgear
is by no means hidden. Many of the
aviation enthusiasts are planning to
have machines sent to their summer
homes, and in the fall it is intended
to have meet in which debutantes
and matrons will compete.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
New Saving for the Railroads.

Some of the British railroads have
been experimenting in the recovery
of lubricating oil from the cotton
waste used in the journal boxes of car
and locomotive trucks. The result of
the experiments premise new source
of conservation in railroad operation.
John Schaffer as an authority, tsk-
ing a total of 10,24e,462 of these jour-
nal boxes as basis, submits that
each of these journals will consume 30
gallons of oil IN year. AS contain
er for the oil, each journal box re-
quires about five pounds Of cotton
waste tamped in. Naturally in the
course of time this waste becomes fill
ed with flying sand and grits and dust
and must be empt!ed, repacked, and
again saturated.
Taking 90 pounds of discarded waste
in all states of sat1ration, Mr.. Schaf-
fer put the waste under press,
squeezed it dry of oil, and recovered
from it seven gallons and one quart
of clarified oil. Assuming that eight
gallons of oil may he saved from each
100 pounds of this packing waste, Mr..
Schaffer says that British railroads
might save 4,097,7s4 gallons Of oil
yearly, valued at $l,350.000.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
IDEA WORTH LOOKING INTO
Bloomington UII.) Man Thinks He
Has Thought Out Safety Device
for Railroads.

If the pilot of the railway locomo-
tive were built somewhat like ships
bow, and the blade or point Of the
Prov were always six inches to the
right Of the track center would the
innovation decrease the damage and
fatalities caused by head-on coils
ions?
o. L. Cheney CT Bloomington, ILL.,,
thinks it would, and has offered the
suggestion to railway men. The great
damage in collisions of this sort is by
the telescoping Of cars and engines.
With the pointed steel pilots the two
engines would strike glancing blow.
BY reason of the points being off-cen-
ter the locomotives would be swung
around and the lighter one at least
thrown from the track. But this
would cause, Mr.. Cheney contends,
much less damage than the present
solid impact.
The idea of diagonal platforms for
cars has been suggested before on the
same theory that 1t would prevent
telescoping. But tip to the present
the idea has not been given a general
trial, as it would seriously interfere
with the use of the platforms. Such
objection, however. does not apply to
the prowlike diagonal pilot for the
locomotive.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
In Defense of the Primrose

Poisonous or not, the primrose was
largely consumed by our forefathers,
who endowed it vita a variety of
medicinal properties The flowers
sodden in vinegar were applied ex-
ternally for the kings evil, and boiled
in wine were taken internally for
"all diseases of the breast and lungs, "
and one famous London practitioner
also prescribed the primrose boiled
as a strengthening diet for GONZALES.
cents. AS late as 1897 the primrose
could be found in English dispensa-
tories as a sedative. But, apart from
it's consumption by invalids, the prim-
rose had it's place in the bill of fare,
and primrose pastry, made of dough
and the flowers chopped up fine and
mixed with sugar, was common dish
in ncashire.-Lcndon Chronicle.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
The Land O. Dreams.

The world would 80 to pieces with.
out its dreams It is all that holds
any one of us to the grindstone-all
that forces US to support the chain of
convention, and the burden we call
duty. Somehow there has come into
us, a vision of thing we might do or
bet may be a picture of trivial or
fantastic thing. But 1t Is what we live
up to. Dreams rule us. They are the
compelling force Of the young, the
staying force of the middle aged. Dull
them and life dulls with them. Take
them from us, and we are sodden,
plodding beasts.-American Magazine.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
Ruling Passion Strong in Death

this information by limiting that if the
gambler wished to make any state
ment or to leave any message with a
man Of God, he had better send for
one Immediately. That the gambler
had done, but his messengers could
find no clergyman anywhere, and
when they so reported, the gambler
had asked that l be sent for. You're
the governor explained the messen-
ger, and he says that's the best thing
to being a clergyman, and besides, he
likes you
Though not very experienced in
giving religious consolation, I deter.
mined to do what could for the
gambler. Hurrying to his bedside l
saw at glance that he was very near
death. He looked up at me and smiled
family. We'll, Jim,' l said, you seem
to be pretty SICK
I'm reply, he told me that he knew
his time had come, and that he felt
he had something to say-he wanted
to leave the world squarely. I knew
what he meant, and as we'll as could
told him that the Good Book said
that if anyone confessed his sins, even
at the last moment, and was really
sorry for them, there was no doubt
of that mans pardon.
For moment he lay still, with his
eyes closed. Then he looked earnest
ly into my face. And if am really
sorry, l will go to heaven?' he asked.
eyes, Jim,' l said, I am sure you
Will
"'Do you expect to 60 to heaven ?
he asked, after another pause. And l
told him that l hoped to go there.
"'Shall we both be angels?' he
asked, with all sincerity, like little
child, and with child's pathetic
yearning in his eyes.
II could only answer, Yes
"A beautiful smile fitted across the
mans face. Governor he said, after
moment, and in the faintest of
voices, when we're both in heaven
and angels. I'll bet you five dollars l
can fly faster than you can
1T was the ruling passion strong in
death. And five minutes later he was
dead"
Copyright, 1911, by E. ]. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
Why Eiihu 3. Washburne, President
Grants First Secretary OF State,
Resigned in Two Weeks to Be-
come Minister to France.

No comprehensive history of either
Lincoln or Grant could be written
without the appearance many times Of
the name of Elihu B. Washburne. He
was one of Lincoln's closest friends.
All through the movement that result
ed in Lincoln's nomination for and
election to the presidency he was in
Intimate touch with Lincoln. When
Lincoln slipped quietly into Washing
ton for the Inauguration, Washburne
and William H. Seward were the two
men who met him at the railroad sta
ton and conducted him to his hotel;
and all through the war Washburne's
counsel was sought by the president.
1t was due to Washburne's recon-
mendations that Lincoln nominated
Colonel U. S. Grant to be brigadier
general, and many other times
throughout the war Grant had reason
to feel grateful for the friendship and
good Offices of Washburne, who repre-
scented the Galena Qll.) district in
congress from 1885 to 1869.
After Grant had become president
elect, and when he was turning over
In his mind the composition of his
cabinet, he fixed at once upon two
men for places in it, One was Elihu
3. Washburne for secretary of state,
and the other was Gen. Jacob D. Cox
OF Ohio, for secretary Of the Interior
He felt sure that Washburne, espe-
cially, would be pleased to be called
to the premier cabinet position, but to
Grants surprise this shortly turned
out to be not the case.
Il appreciate greatly the honor you
have in mind to bestow upon me"
was Washburne's reply when Grant
offered him the state department, but
I should rather serve as minister to
France. The situation in that empire
has been intensely interesting to me
for some time. I am sure that excit-
ing times await France, and l would
like to witness them at first hand as
our minister at the French court"
Thereupon Grant intimated strongly
to Mr.. Washburne that personally he
would greatly prefer to have his
friend remain in this country in
charge of the diplomatic business OF
the government; and he reminded Mr..
Washburne of the great prestige and
honor attached to the position of Sec
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
Story Of the Dying Gambler Of Nevada
Told by James w. Nye, Who Was
First Territorial Governor Of
That State.

James w. Nye, appointed by Presi'
dent Lincoln as first territorial gov
ernor of Nevada, and elected one of
the senators from Nevada after it was
admitted to the Union, was in his day
nationally renowned as political
speaker. 1t was said of him that bet
ter than any other man, Lincoln alone
excepted, Nye could tell a story to il.
lustrate point. To group Of east
ern friends he one day told a good
anecdote, illustrative Of the old say
ing that ones ruling passion is strong
in DEATH
Il suppose" said Governor Nye
with a reminiscent smile-he was
then member of the United States
senate-"the territory OF Nevada,
when l became governor of it, was
about the Weirdest and most lawless
community then existing anywhere on
the face of the earth. Every form of
vice prevailed openly there, and yet
there was in existence a kind Of rude
code Of honor which served better
than any written law to restrain the
lawless from carrying things on with
what might be called high hand.
Among this element when I arrived
in Nevada was a desperado, a gambler,
who practically ruled the territory.
His passion for gambling was SO in
veterate that he was willing to wager
bet upon any event. He was fond
Of betting upon the weather, and he
would even bet upon the course of the
wind as that might be developed the
next day at certain fixed hour. He
would take any conceivable chance l
got along very we'll with this man,
and he seemed to entertain some
friendship for me, so that when word
came from this gambler to me that he
was desperately I'LL think, with
pneumonia was genuinely sorry
"Thc doctor attending the gambler
had told him that he could not live,
and, knowing his patients mode Of
life, the physician had supplemented
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02

rotary of state-and great was the sur.
prise of the country, when after only
two weeks service in the cabinet he
resigned therefrom and was at once
nominated as minister to France. All
sorts Of surmises and explanations of
the move were made, but here for the
first time is told the real history OF
that unprecedented resignation OF a
superior office to take subordinate
place under 1t.
It should be added that Mr.. Wash
burne's service as minister to France
has become traditional In diplomatic
history. He was the only diplomatic
representative who remained in Paris
throughout the bloody part OF the
commune. During the Franco-Prus-
sian war he represented the German
interests in France and during the
siege of Paris he was of great serv.
ice not only to the United States but
also to the people of other nations
who were caught in Paris at that crit
ical period. At one time he stood be-
tween them and the most desperate
danger.
copyright, 1911, by E. J. Edwards. All
Rights Reserved)
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
Fast Trains in Europe.

Express speed in Great Britain and
on the continent is high. In Great
Britain there are II daily express
trains making runs o. from SO to
1855 miles without stop, whose av-
erage speed is from. 81 to 59.2 miles an
hour. The fastest and longest non
stop run is 225A miles, from Padding
ton to Plymouth, made at 54.8 miles
an hour. France has seven daily ex-
presses that run from TN miley to
147h miles without a stop, at speeds
Of from 51.1 to 618 miles an hour, and
there are nine Fre,,ch trains that run
from 102 to 147A 'niles without stop,
at speeds of from 5O.4 to 1913 miles an
Notwithstanding American.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
CAGE FOR THE sWTrc HMAN
IN Washington the Street Cars Are Al
+ Handled From an Ornamental
Tower. '~-

The accompanying illustration 10
not that of an ornamental, top heavy
street lamp, as might be imagined
from it's appearance. It is a switch
tower for street cars: This part1cu-
lar tower stands in front of tho new
Union station in Washington. In
making of the capital into a city beau
tiful the street car companies have
aided materially by doing away with
the old style switchman and his stick,
and in his place erecting several Of
these ornamental towers I'm various
parts of the city. Inside of this little
house on one leg sits the modern
switchman, who, instead of using his
old'time stick and chain, now oper-
ates little buttons which electrically
control his switches
The street car system of Washing
ton uses the underground trolley in
stead Of the overhead wire, and so
when switch is thrown the central
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
A Break in Hereditv

Mother" said little Willie, who had
ben whipped for storytelling, were
you always good when you were
little girl?"
Yes, always" answered his mother
And didn't you ever tell stories ~
mo, never"
did father ever tell them, them"
ae asked, after pause.
certainly not" she replied.
Nor grandma
NO"
Nor granddad?"
mo, of course not"
Willie's brows contracted for a mo-
ment; then he gave a sigh.
well. what 1 can't make out" he
observed pensively, lis where I got
It FROM"
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
Cabinet Mystery Is Solved

rotary of state. Mr.. Washburne con.
fessed knowledge of that prestige and
honor, and yet he frankly stated that
If he were to have any official ap-
pointment from the new administra-
ton, he much preferred to be made
minister to France.
So the matter stood between the
two men until General Grant declared
fatty that only by appointing Mr..
Washburne secretary Of state could
he express fully his appreciation Of
the relation that had been estabt
lished between him and Mr.. Wash
burne. But" the general added, If
you still desire to go to France after
you have been secretary of state for
awhile, you can resign-you can re-
sign as soon as you care to do so after
you have taken the Office, and then
your name will be sent to the senate
Immediately as that Of the new minis
ter to France"
So Elihu B. Washburne became sec
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
Incidents Of Census Takjno.

Many curious incidents cropped up
at the taking of the British census a
few days ago. An old woman at North
witch had to visit the churchyard to
ascertain how many of her children
had died; the number was four: II
have to keep him-I am the head of
the family" pleaded a wife in Kings
ton-on-the-Thames, but the enumerat-
or entered the husband first. A fam
lily of seventeen sons and daughters,
required second form at Barnton.
Northwich, as the ordinary schedule
has only fifteen spaces. Resenting the
persistence of census officer, who
had to knock three times before he
could get reply, Hoxton man struck
the enumerator badly bruising one of
his eyes; while a proud father in Ec-
clesall who had baby a few hours
old calmly explained on the census
form that the baby was single and not
married.
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
A Tragedy Narrowly Averted

the United States dispatch boat Tai
lapoosa. With him was Secretary of
the Navy William E. Chandler. A very
close personal intimacy had been es-
tablished between President Arthur
and Mr.. Chandler
President Arthur was entertained
with characteristic southern hospital
ity by the city of Savannah and by
some of the leading men of that city.
At about midnight he returned to the
Tallapoosa, pretty well tired out What
later occurred was told me confiden-
TALLY by DR.. Black, the surgeon and
physician attached to the Tallapoosa.
Il should say it ~was about two
o'clock in the morning when I was
summoned by President Arthur's valet,
who told me that the president was
suffering excruciating pain" said DR..
Black, who several years later lost his
life when the Tallapoosa went down
in Buzzard's Bay. II went as soon as
l could hastily dress myself to the
stateroom set apart for the president.
saw instantly that he was grievously
i'll. knew that speedy and heroic
treatment was necessary, and after
making a few inquiries, I diagnosed
the trouble as acute indigestion.
was certain that it was due to shrimp
salad, of which the president had eaten
heartily, a Wand for which Savannah
is famous.
Between his paroxysms of pain the
president said that he ought to tell
me something of which no one but
himself and one or two of his imme-
date friends had any knowledge. Then
he said that a certainly functional
and probably organic disease of the
kidneys had attacked him. l was sat.
isfied that this statement was correct,
for some OF the symptoms of the acute
indigestion were those that are fire.
quently observed when attacks Of that
kind are associated with Bright's dis
ease. You can imagine my sense of
responsibility. Here was the president
of the United States on board little
dispatch boat, desperately Ill, and, for
while, feared mortally i'll. And he
was d6OA1AAA6 pam.
1T was at least two hours before
Il began to observe any of
the first symptoms of relief. And in
that period-I shudder still to recall
it-there was an interval, l should say
of about ten minutes, when l feared
gravely that the president would not
recover Happily, those dread minutes
passed, but even after the trouble had
yielded partially to treatment, l did
not dare authorize the president to
return 10 Washington by sea. He was,
therefore, carefully and tenderly car
ried from the Tallapoosa to private
car which had been obtained, and
while still very sick man was taken
to Washington.
If the people of the United States
had known at the time how dangerous
ly i'll their president was, l am sure
there would have been universal con.
Germ and sympathy. But it was the
part of political as we'll as of personal
expediency that there should be no
revelation of that kind"
Copyright, 1911 by E. j. Edwards All
Pipht
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
"Robin AdaIr" and "Eileen Aroon.

"aobin AdaIr" and "EiIeen Aroon."
Perhaps in the whole range of songs,
new and old, none is so popular as the
plaintive Robin Affair."" the air of
which is based upon the very ancient
melody OF EILEEN Aroon," a piece
that dates back to very early times in
deed. At a venture l would suggest
about 1850, when living money was
still in use, as in the first stanza the
hero says he would spend a COW to en-
terrain his lady love. It is only fair
to add, however, that some authorities
think it is no older than the sixteenth
century. In any case, it was favorite
with the majority of the Irish harpers
and wandering minstrels, and most
emphadcally it is not OF Scottish or.
tgin, as one or two writer's have i'm
agined.-From Stories Of Famous
Songs" =
The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1911-06-02
STUPID Jamaican Negro.

"The stupidest person on the face
of the earth must be Jamaica
negro" said a traveller who has re-
Gently been visiting the island.
while was there there was some
excsvating going On, and big rock
fell over on one OF the workmen, I'm
prisoning his legs. The foreman, IN
stead of doing the sensible thing, took
one look at the e1tuation and then
hurried away and got stick of dyna'
mite. He got the rock away all right,
but there wasn't anything left of the
workman"