davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
EVENING CHIT
What is a. thief?
BIZ RUTH CAAdNRoN.

What is a thief?
That sounds like a simple question,
doesn't it? And yet 1 know great many
people who apparently do not know how
to define that term.
Just recently young girl who belongs
to an excellent family, and who has al
ways seemed to me like a girl of prin-
ciple, showed me with pride a collection
of souvenir spoons bearing the mono
grams of various hotels. Jack is COL
lecting them for me-" she said. You
know he attends so many of those ath-
letic banquets, and he almost always man
ages to bring me a spoon as a souvenir -
Jack is her fiance. We are often told
that one of the first duties of women is
to inspire men folks to live up to higher
Again, the travellers who visit places OF
historic interest are notoriously among
those who do not know how to define the
term thief" How the homes of famous
people. which have been thrown open to
the public have suffered from these KEEP
tomaniacs, only the caretakers really
know. Nothing is too small, nothing too
large and nothing too sacred for the
souvenir hunter to bear away. 1 believe
tirely robbed of its worries by this variety
of thief.
Now perhaps you think it is only this
intellectually lower class of people who
it. Surely we might expect to find the
real upper classes of society in the col
hearing a college girl tell that the hotels
always charge an unusually large
for a college dinner because they had to
reckon the silver they would lose.
On a recent sea trip had insight
into one of the saddest features of this
souvenir hunting. Tell me, Mrs. Souvenir
Hunter, when you make way with spoon
or a butter plate or some other bit of
bric-a-brac. from whom do you think you
are stealing? You don't like that word?
It's the right one, but I'll panper you
this time-from whom do you think you
are collecting this souvenir? The hotel.
you say, the company. Sometimes.
DeThaDS. ALWAYS Let fAl
you how the matter is arranged on the
ship in which 1 travelled, and how it prob
ably is arranged in many cases. At the
end of the trip the china and silver is
counted, he loss reckoned and divided
among the table stewards, and that loss.
an officer assured me, often comes to $40
or SIS a trip.
Think of it, 80 or SIS stolen every few
days from those poor folks, by people
who must be at least decently well off.
The thief who steals her jewels from
a wealthy woman is a greater criminal in
the eyes of the law than this kind of
thief. but to my mind he isn't half so de-
Spicahle.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
BLACK DEATH. MAY COME

Bubonic plague, the BLACK Death"
of Medieval Europe, is threatening the
United States. Our country is TODAY
confronted with problem of mo-
mentous importance and one the verv
gravity of which should awaken the
entire people to immediate action.
Plague has manifested itself in Porto
Rico and Cuba, two of the princiDal
islands of the West Indies. The idea
of bubonic plague ever ravaging the
Mississippi Valley or sweeping the
Atlantic seaboard, may be regarded
by some persons as an absurd fancy
Notwithstanding popular opinion to
the contrary, these sections of the
United States will probably have to
consider this problem in the near flu
ture- This is the opinion of DIR. How
ard B. King OF New Orleans instructor
in tropical medicine in Tulane univer-
sity. This is rather an alarming
prophesy. Its fulfillment depends on
the attitude which will be adopted by
the health authorities of the threat
ened states and the extent to which the
working forces of the different organi-
cations of the national government
will cooperate. Plague on the east-
ern coast of the United States is al
ready a national health problem and
not a sectional one. The situation in
South America, Porto Rico and Cuba
and the possibility of the importation
of either human beings or rats af-
f1icted with the plague is by no means
a pleasant one to contemplate. The
Journal of the American Medical As
ISOLATION, in which DR.. Kings article
appears, considers the situation one
of utmost seriousness. It says editor
tally, cit is time to face the situation
soberly but with a full appreciation of
what is in store for us. Our ports on
the gulf and Atlantic coast are to a
considerable degree rat infested. If
plague infected rats should be intro
duced into any of our coastal cities.
it would be a difficult. and in the opin-
ion of some, an impossible task to
prevent the gradual extension of the
disease in this country. Plague still
fected ground squirrels have been
found in California during one week
in June. The opening of the Panama
canal will unquestionably increase the
danger. while the possibility of such
infection over the Mexican border cam
not be overlooked. We do not wish
to appear as alarmists, but we feel it
desirable to recognize the situation as
one of great gravity, worthy the earn
ficials. The general public should be
made definitely aware of the plague
and should be urged to cooperate in
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
CROP AND BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

THE United States seems to have
| taken in Mother Nature as a special
partner, and once more the country
promises to be favored with good har-
vests, writes Henry Clews, the New
York banker, and well-known econo-
mist, in his current weekly financial
review. IF present calculations are
realized we shall gather 700, 100000
bushel wheat crop, 1900, 100000
bushel corn crop and a 1900, 100000
bushel oats crop. The yield of pota-
toes and hay is also likely to be con-
siderably ahead of last year. The TO-
tai value of these five crops is esti-
mated at $500, 100000, or about
5000, 100000 ahead of last year. In
all probability the aggregate of all
agricultural wealth produced this
year will be about $4,000, 600, 0Oe, as
against $500. O00,0 900, the figures of
the department of agriculture last
year. What this annual production Of
new wealth means to this country may
be estimated when it is remembered
that the capital stock of all the call
roads in the United States is placed at
$S,47O,OOO,OOO. An increase of $780,
900, 900 in agricultural products in
single year cannot but be powerful
stimulus to business.
Bankers in all portions of the
west are agreed that the crop situa-
ton is satisfactory. that business is in
more promising condition than for
several years past and that the bust
ness men of the interior have decided
to eliminate politics from their ealcu-
lations. This is a practical expression
of increased confidence based upon
positively improved intrinsic condi-
lions. The cotton crop seems likely
to fail below early expectations, but
the yield will, nevertheless, be large,
and planters are securing prices which
afford good profits. The south en-
joyed exceptional prosperity last year
and is not likely to fall behind ser
iously during the next twelve months.
August is usually a month of deterior-
alton, so a moderate falling off in
condition need cause no surprise in
the final reports
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06

In Bar Harbor, according to a re-
cent story, they get cocktails out OF
canes. but that's nothing new. Dowr
in Jamaica they get rum out of canes.
Might as we'll settle the question be-
fore 1t comes up in November. Shall
1t be referred to as getting Teddy's
scalp, skinning the Bull, or stretching
the Moosepelt?
Down in Muskogee a deputy sheriff
lost his eyesisht as the result of shoot
ing dog. The gun didn't kick and
explode, but the dog owner did.
1t doesn't matter whether man
lives or merely exists. il he doesn
know the difference.
mo matter how the cards fall to-
day" says Hondo Murphy, tomorrow
will find me without any sore spots;
shall not scuss the man who killed
my vote-but I shall pity the poor
misguided, narrow minded simp."
Roosevelt, in 10000 well chosen
words, accepts the nomination he ten
dered to himself. He could have saved
a lot of time and cut Just as much
ice in November by following the chi
nese custom of shaking hands with
himself, and remarking: Thanks' py
George"
Congress has overlooked a chance
for economy Instead of sending last
years battleships to the junk heap
they should be saved for life boats on
next years crop of battleships.
Maybe the reason the June bugs
like to eat the chinch bugs is that the
chinch bugs are full of corn juice
It's just as we'll that some people
can't take their wealth with them.
There is no asbestos currency.
Every man has some other man TO
quote when he wants to clinch an ar
gument about politics, but a woman
goes further than that. She quotes
some other woman on everything from
politics to planting onions.
The chances seem good that, ere
another breakfast time, a lot OF bull
mice will realize that something has
been laying for them-and that II
wasn't the Helpful Hen, either.
There is eminent authority that
camel can go eight days without a
drink. but no evidence that a camel
likes to go eight days without a drink
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
GLOBE SIGHTS
.-~-o@Nx ~ AD-

man who always magnifies ms
wrongs always has plenty of trouble.
What has become of the old-fashioned
man who called 'em pantaloons?
Talking is generally so tiresome that It
seems wonderful lecturer can get paid
for it.
Does it ever occur to women worried by
the servant problem to try going to work.
There is no doubt a man has lost some
pleasure in life when he has to quit eat
ing too much
A boy has an early ambition to get
shaved, which doesn't amount to much
when he realizes it.
If Society were as important as Daugh-
ter imagines, the rest of the world
wouldn't amount to much
Poets prefer to work the Harvest
Moon, as against the harvest field, where
in the poets have pretty fair judgment
'I have no great admiration for an
agent who merely robs the public But
when he also makes them like it, that is
something else again.'-Rufe Hoskins.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
"our mission in Nicaragua

Before the fall of Estrada the govern
snent of Nicaragua had asked the United
States to designate a competent specialist
to investigate its financial affairs and ar
range for loan to extinguish its debts
and to meet accommodating claims. The
delicate mission of reconciling political
jealousies fell upon Thomas C. Dawson, of
long experience as American diplomat
in Latin America, and the study of the
financial problem upon Mr.. Ernest II.
WandS, an expert of much experience in
Latin-American affairs. The government
asked also that the currency standard
should be lifted from the quicksand #
governments since 1893 and put upon
stable basis. Inevitably the arrangement
suggested itself which has been so Sue
cessful in San Domingo-that a loan
should be made by American bankers to
the republic, secured by the direct col
lection of the customs. Such loan has
been offered by two well known banking
houses of New York. The total of the
loan, if original plans are carried to COIN
pletion, will be about SIS, 900, 600 OF this
amount several millions will go to extin-
gushing old obligations, both foreign and
domestic, about 81. 100000 to the establish
ment of a bank and the reform of the
currency and the remainder to building
railways and developing the rich nat1If-I
Already the amount required for giving
stability to the currency has been adj
vanced, and Nicaragua will soon be on an
effective gold basis.
At prpesent a single railroad about liz
miles in length runs from Corinto, on the
coast, to Grenada, close by the Lake OF
Nicaragua The coffee plantations in tire
higher districts, the gold mines of the
East Coast, the rubber forests, the banana
plantations. and the great expanses Of
nard woods are practically untapped nv
railroad communi cal ton or even by good
roads. With stable government and
sound currency foreign capital is likely
nant in the July number OF the North
American Review
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06

man at last, and he was soon in COM
munication with the sheriff.
Mr.. Hazleton hadn't reached the
first farmhouse outside the village
when he found a posse of six mec
calling upon him to halt and give an
account of himself. He could have
convinced that gang in ten minutes
that he was respected memDer Oh
humanity, but what did he DO pu.
take to his heels and seek the fields
He was commanded to halt, but ms
wings grew faster at the command.
There were some good runners among
mis- pursuers, but they couldn't over
haul Stephen. The best they could 40
was to keep him in sight most OF the
time and to waste many bullets hrlns
at him.
Mr.. Hazleton skipped over fences,
jumped bitches and flew across wales
Why, he didn't stop to ask himself
Every man of the posse knew why the
chase continued. however. They were
after the Bad Man of Kalem, and they
meant to get him dead or alive.
Even a stern chase and a long chase
cannot continue indefinitely.
There came a time when stephen
Hazleton staggered out of a bit of
woods and made for a barn about ten
rods behind a farmhouse. The hi2
doors were wide open, and as he wa5-
bled in he bumped against a girl com
ing out with a dozen or more eggs in
her apron.
"Stephen!''
"MiIdredi"
What is it?
''They-they want to arrest mel"
''Oh goodie, goodie! They must take
you for that outlaw! How nice! How
romantic! Stevie, I'll fight to the death
for you and then marry you after
wardi"
And Aunt Eliza is a witEess to the
fact that the posse didn't get Stephen
until they first got the eggs, and that
when they did get him they apologize
ed handsomely for the mistake.
The actor? Oh, he had come and
gone. He found the country too rich
for his blood.
Miss Mildreds promise? She kept
it. All she had been waiting for was
for Stephen to show that he had the
makings of an outlaw in him to give
a romantic turn to Copyright.
1912, by Associated Literary Press.)
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.

IFrom the Chicago News.1
When man is drunk he forgets that
has no sense
- Keep your worries we'll pruned if you
would prolong your lie
The less some people have the bigger
the bluff they put up.
guess is equal to good judgment If
you happen to guess right
Too many people are willing to forget
and forgive-for consideration
The more they can annoy you the bet
ter some people seem to like it.
Any man who has made a fortune never
wasted time wishing he was Tlch
A girls appetite for steak and fred
onions is a sure sign that she has no
secret love affair
Ask friend for his honest opinion Of
you and you'll likely not care for 1t after
you get it.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
FROM OTHER PENS
THE DEADLY CUCUMBER


Those interesting apologists who
are ever ready to fly to the defense
of the deadly cucumber point smugly
to the fact that it is not so doubtful
in its character as the mushroom nor
so utterly unwholesome as a diet of
ice cream and shrimp. They lead US
into the fields and show US the inno-
cent gherkin, greening under the
parent leaves, and argue that a nurs-
ling so innocuous, so bland, and de-
Iectable could do no wrong when it
reached maturity. This specious ar
gument has done much to swell the
bills of mortality. 1t breeds a dan
gerous confidence altogether unjusti-
fled by the facts. 1t overlooks the
clear and convincing teachings of
history and waves aside the pharma-
copoeia in which colocynth, that DOW
dered pulp of the cucumber, is duly
registered as one of our most power
ful poiSonS. 1t leaves out of sight a
deferred malice on the part of this
bravo of the kitchen garden which
would seem human if it were not
fiendish. An estimable lady in Della
ware has just paid the penalty of this
misplaced confidence. For So years
she had eaten with impunity what
ever pleased her fancy. Cucumbers
were her faVorite dish. Indeed the
insidious vegetable had acquired
hold upon her from which she found
il difficult to shake herself free.
Throughout the day and during the
restless watches of the night she
felt that craving for cucumbers such
as the Israelites felt for the leelxs and
garlics which they did eat in the land
of Egypt. She had reached a point
where she congratulated herself that
her system was immune to any toxic
principle the cucumber might con-
tain. Her eye was not dim nor her
natural strength abated, so that the
evening before her death she made
two large bed quilts without the aid
of spectacles. But the day of reckon
ing overlook her. surprised her in the
midst of her loving confidence in the
enemy. "She died last night" say
the dispatches, "as the result of eat
ing cucumbers." The blind adder
would not have treasured its venom
so long. The cubless cougar would
have relented in less time. Warned in
her youth. this worthy woman cut
off at fourscore and five, might have
lived out her allotted span and died
of old age. What is still more pathe-
tic, others will not be warned by her
fate. The upas of fiction is known
to be a very harmless sort of tree.
The upas of fact meanders through
our gardens like the serpent in
Eden, and frail humanity continues
to be tempted to it's Washing
ton Post.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
NYHAWKER JOT.y

Every time a girl sees a handsome
| young man, says the Sterling Bulletin,
she wonders whose sweetheart he is.
Some mems bravery is boundless.
points out the Scranton Gazette #
they have the assurance of safe dis
lance.
1t is true that you always find trash
on top, says the Kinsley Mercury.
cream, too.
There is one advantage of being d
Bull Moose, thinks the Esbon Times.
Taking to the woods will come easy
and natural.
Pleasures on a farm, thinks NJ. A.
better described by good writer who
is living in luxury in a city.
If man is a great favorite with
the ladies, he hasn't much show in the
political game, points out the Film
wood Leader, where the men who hate
him count
Julius Caesar was a brave man, says
the Clyde Farmers Voice, but he had
nothing on the fellow that told his
wife her new gown fitted her like a
gunny sack on fence post.
We never noticed before, says
Brother Valentine of the Clay Cen
ter Times. Has it always been the
custom for young ladies in the summer
time to wear very thin dresses and ap-
parently no petticoats?
One farmer here in Meade county,
reports the Meade Globe, asked an
other tiller of the soil what the word
progressive means, as applied to poll
tics. "It means higher taxes, in this
state" answered Farmer No. 2.
A cucumber weighing two and
three-quarters pounds and over tgC
feet long was grown this season near
Conway Springs and can be seen in a
happens to pe doubtful about it's d.
mansions
This is mighty hot weather to get
all heated up over political cam
paign, suggests the Valley Falls
Farmers Vindicator. Why not change
the date? Have the primaries about
the middle of December and the cleo
ton the 18th of February. That
would be often enough.
The Stuewe boys have been using
all the help they could get to dig po-
tatoes, related the Alma Signal. and
the other day they accosted a tramp
counting the ties, and wanted him 70
work; What d9ing Iwe,l he r a7kea
the tramp. you had better get the
man who planted them. He will
know where they are
From the Mt. Ayr correspondent OF
that BODILY exercise prof1teth little"
but when Will Bales large bull got
after him and chased him to the
house, we expect he thought as did
the thief on the cross When ne sAlo
to Christ, ''Save myself" and pro-
ceeded at once to act accordingly,
without any prompting. We would
rather take our exercise some other
way.
Those Kansans, who have been COM
ing to the front with stories about I'M
usual eggs, as to their size, shape
and markings, will probably give re-
spectful attention to the one related
by the Lenora News, as follows: ID.
c. ~ hI-a, hi m office Th11rG-
day an egg that he found within an
egg. While Gambling eggs he noticed
a spot in one that did not conform to
any of the rules of Gambling SO ne
broke the egg to see what the foreign
substance was. He found it to be n
complete egg within the egg.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
JOURNAL ENTRIES

Too many people get angry without
good and sufficient reasons.
n 4 y
Beating around the bush is favor
lite pursuit with any number of folk.
X X
Most persons who are easily embdr-
raised feign a whole lot of it.
< X
What has become of the old-fash-
Toned father who used to give his boy
saucer haircut?
X
Immediately after marriage a EGs-
band has whole dresser for his ex
elusive use. A year or two later he's
lucky if he has a single drawer.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
CARDIGAN.

The little brown streams of Cardigan,
1 hear them calling low.
Where the slow and sullen Thames slips
It's shall hear them till die
They call, and I must go.
I dream of the bridge in Cardigan,
The water brown and cool:
The ladder where the salmon leap,
Kline in the shadows half asleep,
And foam on the still pool.
1 will go away to Cardigan,
Land of all lands the best,
Where the air is kind, and Gods winds
are free,
And the river meets with the roaring sea-
1 will lay me to sleep in their melody,
And there I shall find rest.
Pail Mall Gazette.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
HUNOR or THE DIP

small applicant for assistance was be-
ing interviewed by the charity work.
What is your father?' asked the latter
..o les me father" Yes, but what is he:''
what does he do? Does he sweep chin
neys or drive buses, or what?'' "O-ow'
exclaimed the small applicant. with
oawning light of comprehension. mo e
amt done nothin' since we've 'ad 'im.'-
Argonaut.
A workman called at the home of Presi-
dent Tafts brother, Charles. in Cincinnati
note the priceless paintings in Brother
Charles private gallery. He was attract
ed to small original Van Dyke and moved
up closer to get a better look ABR he
nome. Yes, it's exactly like that. My
wife got Il some place here in town. Are
they worth much2" THAT one is worth
$4,000" he was told. ''Humr' he muir
His Composition.-srlow Johnny" said
the teacher, after she had explained the
write a sentence containing the word de-
feat" After a struggle. which lasted for
about twenty minutes, Johnny announced
that he was ready to be heard please
rected. When you git shoes OATS too
tite," Johnny read, fits hard on de feet
Chicago Reeord-Heraid-
Does he love her?" Does he love
her? I should think he does. He's
promised to march with her in the
suffra gette parade."-Detroit Free
Press
There is a vast majority of us very like
the old colored woman who said: 'Lordy.
chile, IL could Jest use my haid 1 could
sho' save my Iaigs.',-Fizz-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06

Railroad officials are predicting that
there will be a serious car shortage in
side of sixty days. That sounds good,
even if it will inconvenience many ship
pers. and add a few gray hairs to the
heads of the railroad men who will be
up against the problem of providing
mere freight cars than they have in
their possession. A serious car short
age is the real signal that General
Prosperity is marching on with much
vigor
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06
HOME NEWS WHILE AWAY.

Subscl Ibers OF the state Journal
away from home during the summer
may have the paper mailed regularly
ten cents a week or thirty cents a
month Cby nail only. Address
changed as often as desired. While
out of town the State Journal Will be
to you like a dntly letter from home.
Advance payment is requested on
these short time subscriptions, to save
bookkeeping expenses.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-06

Isn't this an opportunity for the
California trust busters to get busy?
A few men controlling the grape pro-
duction there have combined and for
mulated a plan whereby they will
keep up the prices of their products.
Governor johnson of that state,
though, has no time to devote to trust
busting at home More important
matters demand his attention. He is
one of the boy scouts of the Bull
Moose movement