davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The fool-killer., 1911-12-01
. SERMON ON TATTLERS.

trap! The FOOl-hlller is out at
ter your scalp this trip. You
old long-tongued social viper
and neighborhood nuisance, if
you don t want me to ruiz a red
hot pitchfork through your old
Shiny tongue, you had better
reel in about IS yards Of it and
tie a blanket over your mouth.
The tattEer's tongue is the
nearest approach to perpetual
melton that has ever been dis
covered. It is loose at both ends
and timber in the middle, and
forked poison plays over it like
lightning on a telegraph wire.
It is the devils Jewsharp, and
he plays on it all the time.
The only thing a tattler knows
to talk about is her neighbors,
and she never lets one escape.
If she hears something good a
bout somebody she is very care
full to forget it, but anything
that can be twisted into a scan
dial is her greatest delight. She
begins early and talks late, and
the pore she tells it the bigger
it gets, until some innocent life
is wrecked by the poison of a
tattler's tongue.
A tatt1er is a gossip; a gossip
is a liar; and a liar is the devils
yaller dog.
Wherever you find a tattler
you find. trouble-unless she is
the leading lady at a funeral,
and then everybody is glad and
IN a good humor.
And say, you old breaches
wearing Gabbyjacks, l amt
through till I give your old rusty
simlins a few whacks. I know
some Of your kind Of tattlers
who IRE just as bad as the petit
coat variety, and you every one
ought to be Shot in the mouth
with a 48-calibre bucket Of mud.
Yes, doggon your hateful pic
lures, you've always got your
big dog-ears propped open to
catch a bundle Of news, and
everything you catch is multi
piled by four times the length of
your venomous tongues and pub
lished in The Tattler's Trumpet,
which circulates all over the
world.
Friends, beware Of the tat
tiers tongue. The man or wo-
man who will backbite other
people to you will backbite you
to other people. Don't forget
that. Treat a. tattler as you
would a rattler-keep out Of it's
way.
The fool-killer., 1911-12-01
THAT ITCH AID.

for the soul, Ill just take my
10000 readers into my conf
dence and do a little stunt Of
medical practice on my inner
man.
I got myself and The Fool
| Killer into an awful scrape last
month. | guess you saw that
ding-busted itch advertisement
that / printed on the last page,
with an old hellian clawing his
old rusty shin like the devil
a shovelling birthstone. Well.
boys, there ain t no dickens i'll
wouldn t rather have taken a
good beating than to have print
ed it. But I had walked into a
trap with my eyes shut and got
caught, and there was no way Of
getting out only to print the
blamed thing.
And this is how it all happen
ed: That "great family news
paper" known as Crit" pub
lished at Williamsport, Pa, con-
tracted for some ad space in The
Fool-Killer, and paid me in adj
vance for a double-column adj
vertisement. | signed an agree
ment to print their copy in the
space they had paid for, never
dreaming that Crit was in the
business Of selling itch medicine.
Z took for granted that they
wanted to tell my readers about
Crit their "great family
newspaper as they call it. But,
Lord help my soul, when 1.-THE
copy came it was that awful itch
ad, and Il was mad enough to
fight my own shadder. Yet ac-
cording to contract | had to
print it. Never hated to do a
thing so bad in all my born days.
But [ bought me a key of twenty
), penny nails to bite on and went
to work. When I started the
press [ thought | was as mad as
a Christian could possibly get
but | kept on getting madden al
, the time. Didn't get more thar
, half done printing till [ had tt
i, stop and go to the store. after
more nails. Every time a shee1
went through and came ou1
with that devil of a, looking
l scratch-ankle picture frownine
UP at me like Bob Ingersol
spending his first day in hell,
wanted to rip the mortal CUTS
out of the old press and cram thu
whole blamed thing down tn,
}, throat Of the rascal who sent m,
e that ad.
Q Then I sat down and wrot,
. Crit a letter. [ told 'em t,
p take their old itch medicine AM
The fool-killer., 1911-12-01
SERMON TO THE SOCIAL
lists.

boys, and We'll have a good old
heart-to-heart talk right here by
ourselves. / have other sheep
that are not Of this fold, but 1
have fed them enough orthodox
fodder to keep them busy while
| get acquainted with you fell
lows.
/ went out fishing for sub
scribers "a few weeks ago, and [
happened to drop my hook right
kerdab into the Socialist pond,
with the result that more than
two thousand Socialists have
been added to my books within
the past month.
Of course you Socialist COM
rades are anxious to know where
The Fool-Killer stands on Social
ism, and right here is where you
find out. | am going to tell you
in the plainest language [ know
how to use.
In the first place, 1 beg to say
that [ started out to make The
Fool-Killer strictly an independ-
ent paper. And that is still my
aim. But in carrying on my
work of "fool-killing''~ | have
had to preach SO much good So
cialist doctrine that some Of the
comrades have marked me as
their own.
Some of my friends advise me
to keep The Fool-Killer out of
politics altogether. That would
be mighty nice. But how in the
very Old Scratch is a fellow go
ing to do it? Nearly all the big
gest fools are in politics, and I've
simply got to wade in after 'em
What's the use to have a Fool
Killer if we are going to let al
the biggest game get away?
Being a poor devil myself, my
sympathies are naturally will
the under dog in the fight. Fol-
fifteen years [ have been hunting
for a good sound eason why on
set of people should do all tn
work Of the world and anothe:
set reap all the benefits. | hav'
wondered why the hardest work
ers have the least to show for it
And my comments along thes'
lines have been sorter Social
istic. And why not? Confount
a man who is too big a cowar'
to speak his mind and stand u
for his honest convictions.
[ don't agree with everythin
that some Socialists advocate
not by a dickens of a sight. Fo
instance, there's Dick Maple an
Fred Berry with their blasphen
Gus infdel dope-their denial G
God and their scofing at a
-
The fool-killer., 1911-12-01


We spend some little money to
send missionaries to China, In
dia, Africa and even Mexico,
while the Christian CD people
Of the United States spend two
billion dollars for Old Booze, and
four billion dollars more to keep
up the poor-houses, jails, law
courts and insane asylums made
necessary by the use Of Old
Booze. Yes, your uncle wanted
to ask soma sort Of a mean ques-
ton about this, but he has for
gotten what it was,
The fool-killer., 1911-12-01

The doctors have got so smart
these days that they can cure all
diseases known to the human
race except old age and politics.
The fool-killer., 1911-12-01

One or two of the exchanges
| get are printed so dim that I
cant read them above a whisper.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
CANT ITEMS.

l.. McCarty has moved into hi
new house.
j. w. McC ammOn is working on
his house. They have it raised
The little baby of =. w. Blake
is dangerously i'll.
We are sorry to state that ChaS
Sellers is no better.
Born, to V. V. Smith and wife
Sunday, Feb. >, IA girl.
Cleveland Brown is having hi
house papered this week. lie vii
move in few days.
NJ. Il. Sits had the misfOrtun,
to get his jaw broken Sunday from
a mule kicking him.
Ray Triplett's sale was well al
tended and stuff sold well
Horses brought 800 TO 1902 80
cows, 5000, and corn 36 cent
per bnshel.
The Knights and Ladies u
Security gave pie social Frida,
night.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
HoLLENSVILLE NEWS.

Sunday we had a fine prospect
for another big sleet, but in the
night it disappeared.
Il. G. Maddox, who has the
pneumonia, is improving slowly.
j. G. Crawford believes in fer
talizing. Recently he purchased a
hundred dollars worth of clover
seed, and last week he brought
from Paris a hundred and ten dol.
lar manure spreader," and Sat.
urday he ordered twenty dollars
worth of imported fertilizer.
Mrs. Mary Bybee, who has
spent the last few weeks with her
daughter, Mrs. q. II. Cawthorn, re
turned Friday to her home at
Santa Fe.
Miss Lena Galloway of Mexico
visited homefolks here Saturday
and Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. English, after a
few weeks visit with relatives and
friends returned last week to their
home at Gallo, Mo.
Miss Minnie Berrey entertained
a number of her friends Tuesday
evening at Progressive Az" ]
G.. Crawford came out victorious.
while Mr.. A. b. English was given
the bottle of "Catchup," All pres
ent had a mighty nice time, and
think Miss Berrey an ideal enter.
tainer.
Everyone come to VIM. f.
Worthman's sale Thursday, Feb.
10th.
Through the kindness of Mr..
Geo. Clark, II. r. carrier of Mex
leo, +. l.. McGee received a very
fine Collie dog "Mack" from Col
umbia Saturday. Sunday night
he left and f. L. would be very
glad to hear from anyone who
sees him.
Miss Madge Householder re.
turned Saturday from a visit to
relatives in johnson county.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
Bible Study for Everybody.

The International Press Bible
Question Club is affording the OPP
pOrtunity and stimulus for every
body, either at home or in classes,
to study the International Sunday
School Lessons. The Adult Bible
Glass Movement has brought to-
gether thousands of men who
study the Bible in classes every
Sunday, but the |. p. b, Q. c. with
its "Suggestive Questions" lays
out for them a most fascinating
lot of questions to discuss and at
the same time affords the oppor-
tunity for the still larger number,
who do not attend Sunday School.
to profitably study the lesson at
home.
We are glad to report that our
effort to enlist the masses in Bible
study is being appreciated by our
best people. Sunday School
workers, and others, interested in
Bible study, are giving us en-
enlargement. Non-church goerS
may capture some Of the best
prizes.
We advise everybody to study
these questions right along, so as
to be ready to enter the contest
with the lesson for Sunday, Apri
9th. If you are not IA subscriber
to the Message send in your sub
ScriptiOn at once.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
VANDALIA NEWS.

Messrs Clarence and Fletcher
Slavens of near Laddonia were the
guests of u. S. Goran and family
Friday and Saturday.
Mr.. Ernest johnson and Miss
Jesse Brandon went to Louisiana
Sunday and were quietly married.
They returned Monday and will
Immediately go to housekeeping
here.
Miss Neva Ball returned Mon
day after a few days visit with
her parents in Farber Miss Ball
is a student in Vandalia High
School.
Willie Goran spent Sunday with
his uncle, jeff Slavens, near Lad
donia.
Vie Olebar was found dead in
st. Louis. 1t is thought he met
with foul play. lie was burie,l
last Saturday in Louisville Gene
terry.
The Farmers Institute which
was held here last Wednesday
week was success.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
NORTH MOLINO.

Quite little storm of rain and
snow fell last Sunday.
Most all that have been suffer
ing with the grippe are better.
Mrs. Sharp is visiting friends
near Long Branch church.
The Ladies Aid Society me-
with Mrs. DR.. Flynt last Friday
afternoon. All enjoyed the after
noon very much.
Mrs. Almer Mundy who visited
her father. Mr.. Creed, in Mexico
for several days, has returned
home.
John Cauthorn, our accOmmo-
dating II. F. ID. mail carrier, has
moved to Moline. He has rented
his farm to a Mr.. Lamery, out on
Long Branch. Mr.. Lamery will
move there in a few days.
Jake Gardner will move onto
the Virgil Stuart farm soon.
Walter Fisher and wife of Okla
homa have been visiting his
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Fish
err for several weeks, will start
back to their home in Oklahoma
in short time.
Frank Taylor, who moved hi
saw mill on the old Ellis farm, Is
saving lots of nice lumber. liz
thinks he will soon be thru there
then he will move his mill farthc1
east.
:. II. EmmonS and DR.. MclGtyr'
made a visit to Mr.. Emmons' stoci
farm. on Long Branch last Satur
day.
Miss Anna Baker and brother
VIM, made her sister, Mrs. Fell
| Martin, a nice visit last week.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
NORTH CALLAWAY.

Weather still continues spring
like. A light sleet last Sunday.
The growing wheat is looking
green over the fields. Health ~
North Galloway generally good.
T.. T.. Kennon bought of Louie
Craighead last week an extra good
span of mare mules at 1920 for the
span.
Our roads are getting real good.
North Galloway farmers are drag
ging the public highways, which
is a keynote to good roads.
T. b. johnson and family were
visiting Mr.. johnson daughter
near Thompson first of the week
Harry Henderson, one of our
cnterprising farmers and mule
feeders, bought the 80 acre farm
west of Concord, known as the
Tommy Henderson place, for
$1,000. or $37 so per acre.
j. j. McPheeters and son finished
saving 10000 feet of lumber on
\. b. Johnson s farm last week
and have moved their mill bacl,
onto their 400 acre farm and will
saw up their surplus timber the
coming spring.
Mrs. Annie 1Iuddleston has
pneumonia, but is getting along
fine at present writing.
Taylor Brett will move the frs
of next month onto the 800 acre
farm known as the Curtis place
near Benton City, which Mr.. Bret
has rented for the next year.
\. l.. Boyd & Co. traded then
stock of dry goods and grOcerle!
at Concord to Mr.. John Foley foi
his so acre farm just over the linz
in Audrain county.
Prof. Jas. S. Porter, one of OIL
oldest tried teachers, closed fiv
months term of school at Concor,
last Friday.
e. Y. Porter, owner of the Sun
ny Slope Fruit Farm, was lookin
at his fruit trees this week and re
ports all peaches and apples aliv
yet and bids fair to make a goo
crop if not killed later.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
st. Louis Live Stock Market.

National Stock Yards, H., Feb.
7, l911.-Cattle receipts 22OO. To
days market active and Zoe high
er on all classes of killing cattle.
Compared with a week ago, steers
are Zoe to 15c higher; heifers l5c
to 25c higher; cows, bulls, stock
ers and feeders steady.
Hog receipts $1,000, Market
steady. Top pigs $500; medium
weight hogs $7.S5; heavy weights
1855.
Sheep receipts $500. Market
strong. Top Colo. lambs 500
handy weight native lambs $3.50
western wethers $4.35; native
ewes 800; yearling wethers
1925.
National Live Stock Com. Co.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
Mr.. Snedeker Married.

The LaddOnia Herald contained
this item last week;
George Snedeker and bride OF
Mclean, Ill.,, arrived here Friday
afternoon and are visiting his
mother, Mrs. Rebecca Snedeker,
southwest of town. He was mar
ried to Mrs. Hattie Turner OF
Bloomington, H., January 10
The Herald wishes for George and
fair bride a long and happy life
They will go TO the farm he pur-
chased some time ago southeast
of Mexico.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
A GHOST AFTER HIM.
Is it That or a Guilty Conscience
John Jenkins.

The Paris Mercury relates tn >
following "harnting' story:
John Jenkins, a single man liv-
ing east of Paris, was adjudged
insane in the probate court Mon
day and taken to Fulton. lie hal
tried TO cut his throat Saturday
and had left home. being found
near Granville by Sheriff NOlen
Sunday. He was either in tn"
mob that hung Abe Witherup ten
years ago, or thinks he was. AMI
the particular hallucination which
pursues him is that u mob, seek
ing to avenge the death of Wither-
up. is constantly after him with a
rope. His attempt to kill himself
was made in the belief that he was
escaping a worse death at the
hands of his imaginary enemies
and hc awakened Sheriff Nolen
twice Saturday night in IA par
oxysm of fright due to the belief
that he heard them coming. The
matter has evidently been preying
on his mind for years, and from
the fact that he lived alone finally
drove him insane. The supersti-
tious, black and white, point to the
fact that the three main leaders OF
the mob have gone, leaving within
year after the lynching, and de-
clare that cold Abe" came back
after death and has been "harnt-
ing" his executioners ever since.
If ever a man looked like he
would make an ideal " harnt' tn"
| old murderer did as he trottei
down the street with "A rope
around his neck that moonlight
night in June ten years ago.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
BENTON CITY ITEMS.

Miss Ella llildebrandt is visit
ing in Wellsville.
j.. NJ. Owen and wife visited
their parents, south of town, Sat
urday and Sunday.
Miss Pinkie Douglass was shop
ping in Mexico Saturday.
Mrs. Carry Rich returned from
st. Louis last week where she Wis
tied her husband who was i'll.
While there Mrs. Rich purchased
her spring stock of goods.
VIM. Coil was in Mexico on
business Monday.
lMesdames Alex. Paris, Roy
Wright and f. e. Okey, werr
guests of Mrs. w. II. Douglas,
last Friday.
Mrs. Jas. Dowell is entertain
ing Mesdames Chas. Morris an,
Chas. Glendi of Mexico.
The Training Glass will NEE
with Mrs. VIM. Coil Saturda,
afternoon.
Mrs. F. f. Okey, just north o
town. entertained quite numbe
of her friends at a quilting Mon
day. An elegant three-cOurs,
lunch was served. Ii was an en-
ioyable day to all present.
Miss Grace Collins of near Mex
leo is the guest of her sister, Mrs
| III. j. IIofsess.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
THE WEATHER.

Feb. 8. Mercury playing around
40 in the shade. Clear and sun
shiny Doesn' t look much like
,,;pter The grounding saw his
shadow last Thursday, all right.
If he went back in his hole for SIX
weeks of cold weather, he is miss
inc lots of fun he might have roll
ing in the sunshine today. A few
days of dampness and dripping
moisture. but no extreme cold, no
snow as yet that you could track a
rabbit in. The fruit is thought to
he safe, so far.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
WEST LICK.

Mrs. Susan Moomaw is on the
sick list.
Mrs. NJ. f. Berrey of st. Louis
was the guest of her niece, Mrs
5. i. Dubray, and family last
week.
George Menefee will have a
public sale. Wednesday, Feb. IL.
lie will move to Laddonia to re-
side. on the property he recently
purchased from C.. q. Stotler in
the north part of town.
Jack Brown sold a mule to-
Roht. Ferris for 5000.
Miss Rena Rouse of Mexico was
the guest of Miss Leila Dubrdy
last week.
s. p. Beadle and wife entertain
ed q. w. Mcintyre and family
Sunday.
j. T. (Bud) Anderson bought
two heifers and two calves from
Tom Anderson for $105.
Jack Brown bought a fine span
of mules from Mr.. Waterson of
Rails county, paying $3.50 Mr..
Brown also purchased span of
mules from Mr.. Thompson for
$40.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
FROM THOMPSON.
Stock Shipments During 1910
M. ]. Decker, Black
smith.

Oscar Donovan and family of
Centralia were the guests of Jack
Pulls and family from Thursday
to Friday afternoon.
Porter TinSley will have pub
lie sale Friday, Feb. 10. Having
moved to Mexico he will dispose
of all of his live stock.
Mrs. Norah Meyers went to Cen
tralia Saturday to visit her siste.'
Virgil S,irber of Oklahoma City
who is attending school at the
State University, came up Sunday
morning to spend few days with
his cousin. j. 4. Surber. near here.
Mrs. Thomas Creasey left
Thursday to spend a couple of
months visiting in the South.
She goes from here to Marlin
Spring, Texas, to visit son.
Il. +. Elliott, our efficient Cir
cult Clerk. came down Sunday ia
mix with old friends and neigh.
bors. We feel an especial pride
in Eppa, as he is virtually a
Thompson product.
Rufus Rearick returned from
st. Louis Friday night and will
spend several days visiting his
uncle, NJ. j. Decker.
Geo. Cooper, G. & A. section
foreman here. who recently sold
his farm near here to Elijah Rob.
inson, has rented the Widow
Tinsley property and will move
between now and March LIST.
From Feb. l, 1910, to Feb. |
1911. the Wabash r. r. has ship.
ped 11S cars of live stock. The
shipments were divided as fol
lows: Cattle, 80 cars; hogs. g.
cars; sheep, IA ears, and mules !
cars.
Col. j. T. johnson, ON
auctioneer farmer, shipped 3 load,
of cattle and one OF hogs to tn,
National Stock Yards, East 81
Louis, Monday night. This stocl
was of his own feeding.
M. j. Decker, proprietor of thu
blacksmith shop here, is branching.
out and pushing his business to tn,
front. He will handle a complete
line Of farming implements of al
kinds, also will carry complete
line of paints and oils. Those de
string anything along this line
will do well to investigate hi,
prices before purchasing else
where. The people of Thompson
and the surrounding countr,
should show their appreciation o
this enterprising concern by Civ
inS him their patronage.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
BEAN CREEK.

Plenty of sleet and ice.
Charlie Iloltcamp will have a
sale this week. He and his family
will leave for Colorado soon.
Mat. Blum gave the young
folks of this community party
last Tuesday night. Quite num-
Der was present. All had a pleas
ant time.
Charlie Hubert delivered seven
head of hogs to Charlie Powell of
Mexico last Monday at 7 cents a
pound.
w. f. Byars and wife, Emmett
Byars and wife and Miss Alice
Byars were the guests of Neal
Watts and wife, south of Mexico,
last Saturday and Sunday.
Dave Thompson butchered hogs
Tuesday.
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09
WEST DULY.

Mr.. ParsOn who has been quite
i'll all winter doesn't improve any.
Been so much grippe in this
vicinity this winter, all will be
glad when spring comes.
Mr.. Burke has come to his farm
where Arlie Winterhalter lives to
prepare for his family to move the
1st of March. Mr.. Winterhalter
will move near Holiday, Mo.
Moving time is here. Can see Il
load of household goods most any
day.
Next Sunday will be preaching
day at Sun Rise. Everybody goes
to hear Rev. Taylor. He is a
teacher in the Bible School al
Columbia, Mo. You will miss a
good sermon if you are not here,
Mexico Missouri message., 1911-02-09

Mrs. Withers of this city is suf-
fering from second stroke Of
paralysis within the past few
weeks. The left side of her body
is affected.