davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06
WITH MARRIAGE AS MOTIVE
Leap Year Originally Was Given TO
Proposals by Women by
Royal EdIct.

Although most women are we'll aware
enjoy during leap year, 1t is not to be
presumed that they are all equally con-
versant with the fact that their pre-
matrimonial right was originally Sc.
cured to them by statute law Of Eng.
land enacted in 1906 under James 7.
(1603-1625) which readeth thus: "Albe-
1t 1t Is now become part of the COM
mon laws, in regarde to the social re.
laytions of life, that so often as
everie besextile year doeth returne,
the ladyes have the sole privileges,
during the time continueth, of max
Ing love unto the men, which they may
doe, either by words or looks, as unto
them seemeth proper, moreover, no
man will be entitled to the benefit of
clergy who dothe refuse to accept the
offers Of ladye, or who dothe in any
wise treat her proposals with slight
and contumely."
A Scotch statute of 1928, under Alex
ander II. (1214-1249), however, proceed.
ed the above, and will appear to DO
even more stringent:
1T Is statet and ordaint that during
the year Of his maist blissit majestic,
Xix fourth year known as leap-year, Xix
maiden lady of both high and low es-
TAFT, shall haze liberty to bespeak ye
man she likes, albeit, II he refuses to
tax her to be his wit, he shall be
mulcted in the sum of one pounds
(9D or less as his estait may be, ex-
cept and anis If he can max 1t appear
that he is betrother to ane woman,
that he shall then be free."-From
Harper's Weekly, 1865.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06
Catholics in Japan,

The annual statement of the March
OF christianity in the diocese OF Ma.
gasah, Japan, has just reached us
and is very interesting. In this dio.
cese the Church counts 4809 Catholics
out of eight millions of people. The
diocese has 80 European Catholic
priests and 2G japanese priests. The
Brothers of Mary (called Marianist
Brothers) have charge Of an APOSTOLIC
school and college. There are three
orders of Sisters, the Sisters of the
Holy Child, the Franciscan Sisters and
Inc Sisters Of st. Paul of Chartres,
who are in charge OF orphan asylums.
hospitals and schools. Within wear
G66 adults and 773 children of pagan
parents were baptized.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06
Choosing a Name.

Joseph Evergreen Ryan of Chicago
says the Saturday Evening Post, has
friend in the priesthood who has
Keen sense Of humor. The priest told
Ryan about a christening at which he
ofticiated a short time ago.
The christening party consisted of
the proud father, the baby-a girl
the grandfather and all the rest of the
folks The grandfather stood nearest
to the priest during the ceremony.
whats the childs name?" asked
the priest Of the grandfather at the
appropriate moment.
"I Dunno" the grandfather replied.
And he turned to the father and whis-
pered hoarsely: whats it's manner"
Hazel" replied the father.
"What?" asked the grandfather.
Hazel" repeated the father.
The grandfather threw up his hands
in disgust.
what dye think av that?" he asked
the priest. with the calendar av the
saints full av CUR ri names-an' him
namin' his after bush!"
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06
Tho Worlds Great Machine,


Woman has always done the greater
part Of the labor Of the world, and
has done 1t surprisingly. even aston
ishingly we'll, when we consider the
fact that many Of her tools are still
exceedingly primitive. Man has inces-
sanity devised implements by which
his work has been lessened, but wom-
nn has plodded on, achieving as much
as he, with onehalf the help from in.
ventfons and appliances.
1t is an encouraging sign Of our
times that experience and economy of
effort are beginning to be studied by
women. 1t is more difficult to man.
age the average house with It's varying
needs, occupations and problems than
it Is to run an average business enter
prise, yet the housewife does not, as
rule. study the science Of reducing la
Dor to its minimum. She perfccts the
output of her hands continually, but
does not spare herself. and this is her
greatest mistake. The wife and moth
er Is the great machine which keeps
the world going, and she deserves no
less consideration and care than that
which we accord to the mechanical de-
vices of our brains.
No woman would think of running
her sewing machine without having
properly oiled 1t, but she will run her
own delicate and complicated self with
out the fabrication Of pleasure, or the
necessary adjustments of easy work
and we'll poised actiOn.-Armour'g
Farmers Almanac.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06
LIKE A MATRIMONIAL BUREAU
Wherever Young Women Are Publicly
Employed Cupid Has His
Hands Full,

Not very long ago a restaurant
keeper let it be known that he wanted
plain woman as cashier, because he
was tired of teaching pretty girls their
task only to have them whisked away
to matrimony. Many girls in semi
public places find their occupation in
some sort the equivalent of matri-
monial agency, which is exactly what
some practical persons would call any
sort of organized social life. Wher-
ever young women are thus publicly
employed Cupid seems to have his
hands full. There is always some man
talking confidentially to the girl be-
hind the eating bar, and grizzled
!riflers display their overmature van
ty to the laughing young women who
dispense coffee at cut rates in dozen
neat little shops. 1t is happily given
20 most girls to see no farther than
they choose to look, so that they are
able to carry on the romantic little
game day after day, and get out Of it
all the fun Of the most amusing sport
ever invented without troubling their
pretty heads too much about the fu-
;ure, while the bewildering number
and variety of men that go and come
beneath the eyes of such women in
creases the romantic interest in the
situation, and lends it a. convenient
lndefiniteness. In community where
there is feminine surplusage of many
thousands the position Of the few that
have daily speaking acquaintance
with several hundred men each is
unique and picturesque. They acquire
the taste Of the connoisseurs, and have
definite opinions as to the kind Of man
that is worth bit Of extra trouble.
and the kind that deserves to take his
coffee and crullers unsweetened by
even the ghost Of a smile.-Boston
Herald.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06
I I

like a chump and bobbed his fishline,
and he paid no more attention to me
than as IL were q goose on the other
bank"
And everybody says you are so
handsome!"
eyes,"
"He must be so near-sighted that
he can't see the end Of his nose. And
you had to walk off alone?"
Eyes, but I broke down bushes and
dubbed trees to show how l felt
about it. Since he was trespasser
on mothers property he might have
had the manners to ask me IL farmers
didn't feed pigs acorns to fatten them.
l looked back four times before the
bushes hid him, but he sat there
bumped up just the same"
"And wasn't looking after you?"
mot q look. There is surely mys.
terry about him."
There surely is. but we'll get to
the bottom Of 1t. Well go after acorns
this very afternoon, and We'll see If
he ignores both of us. He may be
suffering from unrequited love. but
he needn't be a cad about it. Just
wait till we march up to him!"
Dwight Pelham had graduated as an
M. D. at Columbia. His health was
not Of the best, and he had had hard
time to pull through. Then friend
had said to him:
go up the country and find a quiet
place to rest. Fish, hunt and loaf.
Don't think Of hanging out your shin.
gle for weeks yet, and don't fall in
love-"
And the bearer of tho new sheep.
skin had taken the advice. That is,
he had hunted without shooting any
thing, flshed without catching any.
thing, and had escaped the snares Of
Cupid for two whole weeks when dis
covered sitting on the log among the
acorn trees. Oh, yes, he had seen and
heard the whistling girl, but DIR. Pei.
ham was shy-very shy. He hoped to
remain unnoticed himself, and he
fattered himself that he had. He Wis.
tied the hill second time. not in the
hope Of seeing the same girl, but real.
1y to catch fish or two. He enjoyed
the chatter Of the squirrels, the voices
Of the bluejays and the murmur of
the stream, and he felt annoyed when
the laughter Of two girls suddenly
reached his ears. He arose to go
away, but they were in the path he
must take, and he sat down again.
Two minutes later two young ladies'
appeared on the bank at his left. One
whistled and the other sang. Then
the whistler sang and the singer
whistled.
Then they threw sticks into the we,
ter!
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06
Weather Prophets Of $50 Years AGO.

A century and half ago people used
to depend upon the weather prognosti.
cations of Partridge's Almanac. One
day Partridge himself put up at a
country inn for dinner. The hostler
advised him to stay the night, as It
would certainly rain. Nonsense"
said Partridge. and proceeded on his
way. Soon heavy shower fell, which
80 impressed the traveller that he in.
stantly rode back to the inn and Of.
fered the hostler half a crown II he
would tell how he knew the rain Yves
Imminent.
WELL" replied the man. with a
grin, pocketing the coin, 'the truth is,
we have Partridge's Almanac here;
and he's such liar, that whenever he
promises a fine day we know it will
be foul. Today is set down as fine"
Tho weather prophet, like many other
weather prophets before and since,
passed on discounted.
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06

mere sound Of voice, the sight of
form. Was it only 20 years ago,
Or 10000, since the morning he
had found her alone in the old
rose garden at Twin Towers? He
had been such an eager, boyish wooer
In spite Of his sober clerical garb.
And she, in her blind, girlish narrow
ness, had sent him from her. She did
not care for the life of clergyman's
wife, she told him. She loved society
and movement and action. She would
share no dreamer's lot. She meant to
travel and revel in variety. She had
told him that man who donned the
cloak Of the prophet in these days
was shirker of the real battle of
life.
Now, they called him the fighting
bishop. She had followed his career
closely, tenderly, through the years.
Wherever there had been chance to
raise the standard Of the church mill
tant, he had pressed forward. She
who had loved action, had slipped
into her serene old-maids life down
at Twin Towers in Virginia, and he
at whom she had laughed had be-
come the fighter, the man of action.
Bettina was actually introducing
them in her eager, girlish fashion.
The bishops rich, deep voice broke
In on her words.
"But we are old friends, are we
not, Miss Carruthers? Do you still
teach the roses how to grow?"
He had drawn her little apart
from the others. Tall, lean and
clean shaver, with his keen, merry
eyes. he made her think Of the young
rector. Most unaccountably, Miss
Carruthers lost her sense of humor
and her tender, beautiful lips quiv-
cred.
paul, Paul, how 1 wronged you!
Oh, don't be kind to me now and try
to smooth it over. l was a selfish,
untaught girl. I hope life has given
you in full measure all the happiness
you deserve"
The bishop smiled down at her
whimsically. What sort of happi-
ness, Rose? I am bachelor"
Here Bettina swept down on them
and bore the bishop away to the tea
table, where her mother wished to
speak to him. Rose slipped back
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06

sion that times, good or bad, could
never again affect her personally.
Aloud she said. II think myself
that Hannah would do as we'll for
you as anyone; she knows the ways
Of the house and is honest and faith
full"
After they had satisfactorily &C.
complished this domestic errand the
ride progressed without further Incl
dent, while Mr.. Hanson furtively
watched the quiet woman at his side.
1t was dusk when they reached home
and Mr.. Hanson, with increasing fear,
assisted Mary into the house, then
left her again just long enough to re-
turn the horse to the stable and leave
word for DR.. Jones to come to the
Hanson house that evening and be
prepared to stay all night. The sub
ject of supper was not preached. Mr.
Hanson made lights, which instead Of
cheering only revealed those dreadful
preparations everywhere.
The time dragged YEARLY until the
doctor came, then James recited the
facts of the case and told of the fate
full end predicted by Mary. DR.. Jones
looked puzzled and thoughtful.
Mary lay quietly and comfortably
In her bed, but Mr.. Hanson was now
on the verge of a collapse and needed
constant reassuring, which the doctor
supplied with a patience acquired
through years of experience.
Slowly the hours dragged by.
'sThe night is not over yet" Mary
would warn them occasionally, and
the clock licked on.
Finally James detected the first ray
Of light in the eastern horizon.
'tMary!" he cried joyfully. 1.-THE
night Is over and you are still here!"
s'Why, so 1 am!,' in apparent sur
prise. ut was such a strange idea
that had, James; 1t seemed to pos
sess me through and through. Well,
{ had a real happy day yesterday,
with the ride and getting ready for
company"
DR.. Jones rose and started YEARLY
for home. AS the door closed after
him Mr.. Hanson said tenderly: "Now
you lie still and rest, Mary, aid by
and by Hannah will bring you up
some breakfast" Then he added, not
without a pleased anticipation in his
own voice, "And, Mary, I've been
thinking that perhaps it would do
you good If we went away for a little
"trip. believe that with the house
work and making over the carpet and
the summer boarders maybe you've
pverdone a little without realizing it."
He hurried away to send Hannah
up with the breakfast and left Mary
looking affectionately after him with
q strange smile on her face.
Then, maybe I didn't realize it and
again maybe l did," she whispered
oracularly. M<
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06

mind" Mr.. Hanson made himself
ready in haste, noticing meanwhile
the air Of preparation that the whole
house presented. Upstairs on the
best dresser stood huge bouquet Of
sweet peas of Mary's own raising
which breathed out a welcoming fra
GRANGE. The entire effect sent his
heart to his throat and he fastened
put with anxiety on his face.
He was gone only q few minutes,
however.
1.-THE doctor isn't in, nor won't be
until evening"" he announced trem-
blingly. "How are you feeling now,
Mary?"
tits Just as we'll he wasn't there,
James," his wife answered cheerfully.
"You know I'm not going till tonight,
anyway"
What would you say, Mary, to get.
ting out for a ride? It's beautiful
day and 1t might do you good,' Mr.
Hanson suggested, at his wits end
to know what to do next.
"Why, think that would be very
pl0dSduL. We uA6AI do well mdho Cuo
best Of the time-and haven't been
beyond Main street in more than two
years."
Once more Mr.. Hanson hurried out,
this time to return with comfortable
vehicle. Then followed the task OF
helping Mary get ready, which he full
filed dutifull--.
'Your bonnet doesn't look very well
and your coat isn't what it ought to
be; you'd better get some new things
when you feel like looking around a
iittle," with his voice full Of a mo.
mentary hope that Mary's strange
fancy was passing even now as
quickly as it had come. Not SO, how.
ever.
1.-THE hat and coat are well enough
for one more wearing" Mary an
swered, significantly.
Carefully Mr.. Hanson lifted his wife
into the carriage to take the ride I'm.
der these most unusual circum-
stances.
We'll go first and hunt up Han
nah and see If she will come back to
work." he proposed. 'Times are 60
ing to be better now" he added lame
ly.
Mrs. Hanson smiled responsively
at the better prospect for the world
IN general, but conveyed the impress
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06
The Hour"
of the Rose
BY Dorothy Arthur

Copyright. 1911, by Associated Literary
Press.)
''It's SO dear Of you, Aunt Rose, to
come all the way up from Virginia,
Just for my wedding"
'Why, child, don't you know what
romantic old maid l am at hearth"
laughed Miss Carruthers, laying off
her wraps, and sinking restfully
down in an easy chair before the fire.
II wouldn't have missed it for
worlds. 1t needed the joy-bells of a
wedding to rouse me from my sleep
iness was turning into a regular Miss
Van Wrinkle.
"The idea! You don't look day
over 20, auntie." Bettina knelt down
on heap CT cushions, and looked up
adoringly at the face over which the
freight played. 1t was piquant,
changeful face, that time had been
too much In love with to deface with
many lines. The eyes were tender and
endearing under their long tastes.
II am 40, Bette, and proud of it,
proud to have attained such a du-
bious age and found life sweeter, fill
ed with richer opportunities than ever.
Why, am just beginning to wake up
to what a really splendid old world
1t is. When was your age, dear, I
felt hundred years old, and was"
The door opened hesltatingly. It
was Bettina's younger sister, Grace.
sBettie, the bishops here" she
said. Don't you think you ought to
greet him? He asked for you the first
thing"
"Well be down in a minute" sang
back the little bride-elect. "Aunt
Rose, did write you that I am to be
married by the bishop himself-the
dear splendid bishop, that I've loved
and cherished ever since could tod
lle?"
Miss Carruthers looked attentively
at Bettina.
'sWhat bishop, shild?"
"Hepburn. Don't you know him,
dear? He used to be rector of St.
James, oh, years and years ago."
Rose smiled Fate had surely played
strange trick on her after 20
years. 1t was foolish, she told her.
self, that at 40 her pulses should
play traitor and start to beat at the
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06

" Aoi IOOm. 0uo WOulu not Do
missed in the wedding rush Of guests,
she knew, and she wanted to look
at the face the bishop had just seen
| after 20 years. Unsparingly she
raised the window shade and threw
: back the softly tinted curtains. Then
she moved the little dressing table
over in the full daylight and sat down
before it to look at herself. And
presently she put her head down
on her arms and sobbed quietly, al
/ most pityingly for the stupidity of
that girl who had taught the roses
how to grow 20 years before.
do you know, auntie," Bettina told
her in strict confidence that night,
when she came in and sat on the
floor before the fire to braid her
hair, 81 am almost sure our bishop
is seriously smitten with Grace.
Wouldn't it be interesting to have a
bishop in the family? Keep us all
in good order, l think. He admires
Grace immensely, and she's 19-al-
most. How old is the bishop"
"Forty-four," answered Rose, smil-
ingly.
"That won't do at ALL" But he Is
such dear, and I do want to keep
him in the family"
$50 do I, Bette" laughed Miss Car
ruthers.
But the bishop remained heart.
whole and very circumspect. The
! wedding was a Junior function, and
| the girls eddied around him like brook
| wavelets around the roots of a sturdy
oak.
Miss Carruthers was to take an
early train. 1t was in the dim win.
ter dawn that she found her way into
the southern express, and as it start
ed, saw the bishop placidly arrang-
ing his suit cases in the section
across from her. When he found out
he was discovered he crossed the
aisle.
"But I said goodby to you last
night" exclaimed Rose.
could not contradict you, dear, for
there were too many spectators. You
know, Rose, I never liked spectators.
Therefore, / am going down to Vir.
ginia with you"
"To Virginia? Why?"
| 81 am going into the old rose gar.
den with you, and ask you the same
question I did 20 years ago, Rose"
"But-" g.
"Now, don't scold. OR plead, for
am surely going. And, dear, If
could have seen your eyes and lips,
I should have come years ago. They
have grown SO tender, SO infinitely
tender, dear. Surely, they betray
you, they are betraying you ntow."
Rose looked at him wistfully.
"But-the roses are gone"
The bishop laughed
"You can't scare me off this time,
spring is too near. We will brush the
snow off the sundial and read the
odl legend on 1t. See how we'll
I remember it, dear, I only record
the hours that are bright Let us
forget our own lost hours and gather
the bright ones while we may. Shall
we, Rose?"
Don't ask me-" she answered,
softly. II would rather tell you that
in the garden"
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06
Then they threw clubs at the chip


hunks!
Then one Of them asked is tramps
were ever seen in those woods
Then the other replied that they
hadn't better be seen there if they
knew what was good for them. Then
both giggled and kicked up the dead
leaves and walked away. DR.. Pelham
smiled. He was shy, but he knew
their actions were girl-like. Ten min
utes had passed, and he was smiling
indulgently when fish took his hook.
Then squirrel who had miscalculat-
ed his leaping distance fell short and
came plump down on his head. He
was in the midst Of trouble when he
heard scream, and before he could
locate 1t one Of the girls came tearing
through the bushes and halted before
him to exclaim:
"Oh, sir, right out there!"
Eyes What is it?"
"She-she climbed a tree!"
"Well?"
Il told her not to, but she would
do it,"
els, she CllWDeu
"And she'd got up don't know how
many hundred feet high when she
thought you We're coming and-and-"
Lost her hold and fell?"
Yes, yes. She's crying and laugh
ing, and l think she has broken her
arm. We gig-giggled at you, but we
want you to come"
Most certainly"
1t was Miss Cathy Dalton who sat
with her back to the oak she had
climbed, though there was a bushel
of acorns on the ground around her.
Yes, 1t was her right arm that was
broken. and that wasn't the worst
of it-not with her-not with a good.
looking girl. In making her descent
she had passed through several scrag-
gly branches, broken down the hazel
bushes and hit the ground with a
great jolt. Her hair was hanging-her
garments torn-fnce and hands
scratched and one pink ear bleeding
from a cut. Even her limpid tears
We're leaving streaks down her cheeks.
iii have to run for help, but
won't be gone long," said Dr. Pelham
when he had assured himself of the
nature Of the injury. And then to
Miss Molly, who was also weeping in
sympathy:
"Wet your handkerchief in the
creek and rub it over her face and
forehead and don't get excited over
this thing"
In twenty minutes the doctor was
back with first aid, and in thirty there
was 4 farmer with his wagon there
to convey the patient to the Durham
homestead. There was considerable
trouble before that broken arm was
set and strapped, and so it was three
Miss Molly had opportunity to say
to the girl in bed:
"Thnk you're awfully smart, don't
you'll"
What do you mean?"
ITO go and climb that tree"
"But you dared me to-"
Eyes, but l didn't dare you to fall
and have a doctor and all that. I'm
sorry If 1t hurts, but can see your
! little game"
/. Game? Cameo"
Eyes, Miss Innocence You are 60
Ing to marry the doctor!"
And a year later when Miss Cathy
told Miss Molly that she and DR.. Pei
ham were engaged, there was q
"humph!" followed by the words:
"Of course you are! Don't know
you fell out Of that tree on purpose!
Well, l don't like doctors, go you can
have him!"
The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-01-06
Nothing In II

Apropos Of the winter cold, De Wolf
Hopper said at the Players club:
"A night so cold as this suggests
warming pans and hot-water bottles.
I'll tell you a hotwater bottle story.
"A city chap asked his country cousin
at breakfast one December morning:
al hope you slept all right, John?'
ooh, yes, right enough John re-
piled. But what was the good of that
bottle in my bed?'
why, wasn't the water hot?'
IDIOT as blazeg,' John answered:
but you forgot to put anything in it,"