davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20
Discomfort NOT ALL GOOD
True That It Has Its Uses, but There
Are Other Things to Be
Considered.

1t is perhaps true that some writer's
and teachers have over-emphasized the
gospel of contentment with our lot. 1t
is not always well to be contented with
our lot. Advancement in every line has
been made by people who were dis
contented with their present oppor-
tunities and bToke through to some
thing higher. But, even allowing this,
it is undeniably true that there is a
vast amount Of unholy and wasteful
discomfort. We are apt to think pref
ty constantly how much more and how
much better we would do if circum-
Stances were different. While history
presents many cases of people who
broke away from humhlS task to force
their way to something higher, it Is
fuller of instances in which a man CIR
woman, by doing with patient faith
fitness an insignificant task, has been
celled to greater things.
The answer to the problem is the
old rule of living by the minute. It is
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20

made out the license, stamped it, hand
ed it to me, and | paid him the usual
fee
How much will it cost to have your
town-crier announce the coming of the
circus?" l inquired.
That will cost ten sous if he drums
and reads the announcement from
here to the chateau
l gave the mayor ten copper pen
MES.
The mayor glanced at me.
Paris still holds out?" he asked,
with yawh.
"Oh yes" I replied
And the warts it still going badly
for us?"
There is always hope" answered.
Hope" he grumbled; "oh yes, we
know what hope is-we of the coast
live on it when there's no bread; but
hope never yet filled my belly for me.
Why, not a keel has passed out of the
port since August. Where is the fish
ing feet? Where are the sardine
sloops that ought to have sailed from
Algiers? Where are the Icelanders o.
Have the German cruisers fright
ened all your craft from the sea-"
asked, astonished.
Yes. partly. Then there's an ugly
French cruiser lying off Groix, yonder,
and her black stacks are dribbling
smoke all day and all night We have
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20

wall to a dock where presently a
swift river boat swung in for passen-
gers. And when the bateau mouche
| shot out again into mid-stream, Speed
and | stood silently on deck, watching
the silyer-gray facades of Paris fly
past above us under the blue sky.
We sat far forward, quite alone, and
separated from the few passengers by
the pilothOuse and joined funnel
waited Speed chewed his cigar
grimly.
Look here, Scarlet" he said. DO
you know what has become OF the
crown jewels of France?"
NO" l said.
Well, I'll tell you. You know, of
course, that the government is anxious
But you don't know what a pitiable
fright the authorities are in. The
crown jewels, the bars of gold of the
reserve, the great pictures from the
Louvre, the antiques Of value, includ-
ing the Venus of Milo, have been
packed in cases and loaded on trains
under heavy guard
Twelve of these trains have already
left Paris for the par-port Of Lorient.
The others are to follow, one every
tWenty-tour hours at midnight. A swift
cruiser-the Fer-de-Lance-is lying off
Paradise with steam up night and day,
ready to receive the treasures of the
government at the first alarm and run
for the French possessions in Cochin
China.
And now, perhaps, you may guess
why Buckhurst is so anxious to hang
around Paradise"
OF course l was startled. Speeds
muttered information gave me the
keys to many doors And behind each
door were millions and millions and
millions of francs worth of plumber.
Our eyes met in mute interrogation;
Speed smiled
DO you remember an application
for license from the manager of
travelling American show-a Yankee
circus?"
"Byram's Imperial American cir
cus?" ! said
That's it. They went through Nor
mandy last summer, Well, Byrams
agent is going to meet us at Saint
Cloud. We're engaged; I'm to do bal
looning-you know | worked one of
the military balloons before Peters
burg. You are to do sensational rid
ing. You were riding-master in the
Spahis-were you not?"
Il tanned three lions for my regi-
ment at Constantinople, l said.
Good lad! Then you can play with
Byram's lions, too Oh, what the
devil" he cried, recklessly; its all
in lifetime"
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20

orders to keep off and use Lorient
when we want port"
You believe the cruiser out at sea
yonder is going to bring you eyil?"
She has brought it. But it's all the
same to me. am mayor, and exempt,
and | have cider and tobacco and
boudin for a few months yet"
At that moment we both caught
sight of a peasant running and waving
packet of blue papers in the air.
Monsieur the mayor! Monsieur the
mayor" he called, while still far
away.
Gre cochon de malheur!" muttered
the mayor, turning pale. He's got a
telegram"
He turned to me, almost bursting
with suppressed prophecy.
ut has come-the evil that the black
cruiser brings US. You laughed!
Tenez, monsieur; there's your bad
, luck in these blue morsels of paper."
And he snatched the telegram from
the breathless messenger, reading it
with dilating eyes
When at length the magistrate had
mastered the contents OF his telegram.
he looked up with a stupid stare.
Il want my drummer. Where's the
town-crier?" he demanded, as though
dazed
He has gone to Lorient, m'sieu the
mayor" ventured the messenger
ITO get drunk. | remember I'm
beetle! Why did he go today? Are
there not six other days in this cursed
week? Who is there to drum? No.
body Nobody knows how in Para
disc. Seigneur, Dieu! the ignorance
of this town."
"Msieu the mayor" ventured the
messenger, there's Jacqueline."
"Ho! Vrai. The Lizards young one.
She can drum, they say"
The little witch can drum them
awake in Ker-Is," muttered the mes
senger
The mayor rose, looked around the
square, frowned. Then he raised his
voice in below: "Jacqueline! JAG.
queline. Thou Jacqueine!"
A far voice answered, family break.
ing across the square from the bridge
She is on the rocks with her sea
rake!"
The mayor thrust the blue telegram
into his pocket and waddled out of his
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20
NOT THE SHOCK EXPECTED
Seemingly, Debutante Would Have
Been Willing If 1t Had Been
Otherwise.

After the Spanish melon. while
awaiting the cold consomme, a young
Japanese diplomat took the fan from
the white hand of debutante. and
opened it-from the right to left del
icately.
You noticed how l opened it," he
said. From right to left?"
YES" she returned indifferently.
But, everybody opens fans from right
to left
And do you know why? No? Then
I'll tell you'll warn you-so that you
yourself may never, by any chance,
open a fan from left to right"
He slipped his amber-colored chablis
and resumed:
Fans originated in Japan, and from
time immemorial the Japanese fan
makers. whose morality is not like
western morality, have constructed
ANS Ia such a manner that, opened
from right to left, they reveal inno-
I'd lovely things-flowers and
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20

white hair, such hair as one sees at
a fancy dress ball. The powdered hair
now so fashionable in Paris is, as a
rule, quite dark in parts. 1t is obvious
ly powdered at the sides and in front
The great drawback to this fashion
is this: Powdered hair makes con-
siderable demands upon ones toilet.
and upon ones personality, generally.
1t seems to silently call for a special
style of dress. 1t cannot be worn, sue
cessfully, with Just anything"
In the evening these difficulties dis
appear entirely, for modern evening
gowns are so ornate and elaborate
that they seem to harmonic, natural
ly, with powder.
AS to the second fad" what can
be said? Red fox skins have become
ubiquitous in Paris. All through last
summer, and autumn, the most ex-
elusive Partisan beauties were making
sensational successes in white linen
and satin seaside costumes, accom-
panied by brilliant red fox skin, in
the shape of a fiat tie
Skins or the ordinary red fox looked
all right when adopted as an eccen-
trio fad" by ultra smart women. and
in conjunction with fragile summer
dresses; they look hopelessly common
when adopted as a regular winter fur
and worn with handsome tailored
suits of cloth and velvet. Neverthe-
less, the red-foXrage is apparently in
healthy condition. 1t seems likely
to last all through the winter. And
the pity of it is that already the shop
windows are filled with imitation red
fox skins, worthless furs which have
no meaning and which would make
any costume look ordinary. This was,
Of course, inevitable, but it is never
theless deplorable.
The newest combs are large and
fiat, tand the correct thing is to wear
them at the back Of the head low
down, in Greek style. Some of these
combs are of rare beauty. The artis-
tic jewellers of Paris are past masters
at work of this kind and the most
wonderful things are done with cary
ed jade, inset with precious stones,
and with transparent horn incrusted
with diamonds and traced over with
gold.
Sometimes these beautiful combs
are accompanied by an elaborate clasp
which is worn at the breast or is used
to fasten the wide sash, at one side.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20
CHAPTER VIIL-contlnued

The shock came almost immediate
iy, for, without a word, he suddenly
emptied the jewel-bag on the desk
before him. The bag contained little
pebbles wrapped in tissue-paper
Suppose you explain this farce?"
Mornac suggested, unmoved
Suppose you explain it," l STAN
mered
He raised his delicately arched eye
brows. What do you mean?"
Il mean that an hour ago that bag
contained the diamonds from the cru
cifix of Louis XI! l mean that
handed them over to you on my .arri-
val at this bureau"
Doubtless you can prove what you
say" he observed. 1T seems to me
that it is high time we abolished the
Foreign Division, Imperial Military Pc
lice"
Il refuse to be discharged" l said.
hoarsely ut is your word against
mine; l demand an investigation"
Certainly" he replied, almost wear
lily, and touched a bell Bring that
witness" he added to the soldier who
appeared in answer to the silvery sum-
mons.
Somebody entered the room behind
me, passed me; there was an odor of
violets in the air, .aint rustic of silk,
and gaw Mornac rise and bow to his
eTest and conduct her to a chair.
His guest was the young Countess
de Vassart.
Norma turned directly on me.
Madame, c : you know this officer"
Yes" SAT- the countess, smiling.
Did you see him receive a small
sack Of diamonds in Morsbronn?"
The countess gave me a quick glance
IF surprise. Yes" she said, wonder
'gly.
1Thank you, madame; that is suffi-
1t" he replied; and before I could
Aderstand what he was about he had
conducted the countess to the next
room and had closed the door behind
him.
Quick" muttered Speed at my ell
bow; Tets back out of this trap.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20
PART SECOND.
CHAPTER TX.
The Road to Paradise.

On the Bird of November Byram S
American circus, travelling slowly over
land toward the Spanish frontier, drew
up for an hours rest at Quimperle. l,
however, as usual, prepared to ride
forward to select a proper place for
our encampment, and to procure the
necessary license.
We were in seedy circumstances :;
an endless chain of bad luck had fol-
lowed US from Chartres.
The fortune that Byram had made in
the previous year was already gone;
we no longer Travelled by rail; we no
longer slept at inns; we could barely
pay for the food for our animals.
Got enough cash for the license?"
asked Byram, uneasily.
Plenty, governor; don't worry"
replied, and set my horse at a gallop
over the old stone bridge.
l passed stone house, another;
then the white road curved under the
trees and l rode straight into the heart
Of Paradise my horses hoofs awaking
echoes in the silent, stone paved
square.
A young girl with a face like the
Madonna stole across the square in
her felt shoes
Can you tell me where the mayor
lives?" l asked, looking down at her
from my horse.
'Iio. ia; oui, monsieur sill faut bien.
The mavOr is at breakfast in his kitch-
en- yonder"
Thank you, my child"
| turned my horse across the shady
square to a stone house banked up
with bed on bed of scarlet geraniums.
The windows were open; a fat man
with very small eyes sat inside eating
an omelet.
| told him that | wanted a license
for circus to camp for one night:
that l also desired permission to pitch
camp somewhere in the vicinity. He
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20

~" shaped piece Of the material.
There is plating of lace about the
throat and small ribbon decoration at
the right side by way of garniture,
short satin girdle of plated ribbon
fastens with hooks and eyes at the
left side under extremely small made
ornaments.
The hat is of hatter's plush, with
facing of velvet in black The para
disc wreath in shaded flame color
gives brilliance and distinction to the
entire toilette.
1t will be noticed that the long
gloves are glace kid in black. They
make the arms look very slender and
reduce the apparent size of all hands
not wear them. High surfaced black
is not for them. The sleeves are fin
ished with band of satin.
To study this costume is more con-
vincing than describing it TO show
that it has been carefully thought out
as adapted to the full figure
The narrow dropping brim of the
hat makes the most of the length of
the neck. since it does not conceal 1t.
The feather swirl is light, following
the brim line almost exactly The
shape is extremely graceful
1t is by such careful thinking out
and management of line that grace is
arrived at. Developed in black or
grey or mauve or taupe, this is
good model, but for the purpose of re-
ducing the apparent size of the figure
black is the best choice.
JULIA BOTTOMLEY.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20

of November of the present year, to
join the army of the Loire.
"Bretons! France calls! Answer
with your ancient battle-cry, Sainte-
Anne! Sainte-Anne!' The eyes of the
world are on Armorical To arms!"
The girls voice ceased; a dead ST.
lence reigned in the square. The men
looked at one another stupidity; wom-
an began to whimper.
The curse is on Paradise" cried
hoarse voice.
The drummer was already drawing
another paper from her ragged pocket.
and again in the same clear, emotion
less voice, but slightly drawing her
words, she read:
ITO the people Of Paradise! The
manager of the famous American trav-
cling circus, lately returned from a
tour of the northern provinces, with
camels, elephants, lions and magnif-
cent company of artists, announces a
stupendous exhibition to be held in
Lorlent at greatly reduced prices, thus
enabling the intelligent and apprecia-
tive people of Paradise to honor the
Republican circus, recently known as
the Imperial circus, with their benevo-
lent and discerning patronage! Long
live France! Long live the republic!
Long live the circus!"
A resounding roll of the drum end
ed the announcements; the girl slung
the drum over her shoulder turned to
the right, and passed over the stone
bridge, sahots clicking
The maids of Paradise were weeping
now by the fountain; the men gath
cred near, and their slow, hushed
voices scarcely rose above the ripple
Of the stream where Robert the Liz
ard fshed in silence
| walked across to the Quimperle
road and met Jacqueline, dancing
along with her drum. We stood in the
middle of the high-road looking
through the dust haze, she doubtless
dreaming of the splendors to come,
very, very tired
Suddenly, straight out OF the flaming
gates of the sunset, the miracle was
wrought. Breathless she shrank back
among the weeds, one hand pressed to
her throbbing throat. Then she caught
sight of something through the dust
that filled her with a delicious terror.
and she cried out. For there, uptow-
ering in the haze, came trudging a
great, gray creature, a fearsome.
swaying thing in crimson trappings.
tapping huge ears 1t shudled past,
swinging a dusty trunk; the sparkling
horsemen cantered by. tin armor blaz-
ing in the fading glory; the chariots
dragged after, and the closed dens of
beasts rolled behind in single file, fol
lowed by the band-wagon, where
heaven-inspired musicians played fran
tically and a white-faced clown bal
anced his hat on a stick and shrieked
So the circus passed into Paradise:
and turned and followed in the wake
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20

T OR the club woman. or one who
L attends any informal afternoon
function, here is a simple and smart
costume. 1t is designed on very con
sentative lines, but provided with the
most popular of the present style
touches to make it acceptable to the
most up-to-date wearer
1t is a model especially we'll adapted
to stout figure. The small coat
hangs closer than the majority of
those equally smart. It's cut sets the
material close to the arm and mar
rows the shoulders. The sleeves are
easy, in straight lines and three-quar-
ter length. There is a deep and rath-
er narrow "" at the throat and the
basque is long, sloping down toward
the back. 1t is unfinished except for
the sewing at the bottom. Thus the
long line of the figure is not broken
by the separate coat 1t is noticeable
that all the lines of the coat tend to
preserve length of line, in the figure.
The skirt is fuller than the average,
with the effect of being a double skirt
at the front. 1t is cut wide enough to
allow it to be caught up in plaits at
the left knee under a soft rosette of
chiffon. A piece is let in at the front.
but the split or overlapping breadth
is absent and there is worn enough
for a comfortable step. At the long
"V' at the front little soft white
chiffon is let ir and a strand of the
ever-present white beads finishes the
neck dress.
The jacket laps at the front with
fastening concealed by an inverted
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20
SYNOPSIS.

Scarlet. an American soldier of for
tune in the employ Of the French I'm
perial Police at the outbreak of the Fran
co-Prussian war, is ordered TO arrest
John Buckhurst a leader of the Com
munlsts and suspected of having stolen
the French crown jewels. While search
ing Tor Buckhurst, Scarlet is ordered to
arrest Countess de Nassart and her group
OF socialists and escort them to the Bel
CLAN border. Scarlet finds~ Sylvia Elven
OF the OdeOn disguised as a peasant and
carries her to La Trappe where the
countess and her friends are assembled.
All are arrested The countess saves
Scarlet from a fatal fall from the roof
OF the house. He denounces Buclhurst
as the leader of the Reds and the coun-
tess conducts him to where BuCkhurst is
secreted. German Uhlans descend on
the place and Buckhurst escapes during
the melee. Scarlet is wounded. He re-
covers consciousness in the Countess'
house at Morsbronn. where he IS cared
Tor by the countess. A fierce battle is
fought in the streets between French
and PrUssian soldiers. Buckhurst pro-
fesses repentance and returns the crown
jewels to Scarlet. He declares he will
give himself up to the authorities Scar
lett doubts his sincerity BuCkhurst urges
the countess to go to Paradise. Buck
hurst admits that he receives pay from
the Prussians for information which he
does not give. He secures passports to
the French lines for Scarlet the coun-
tess and himself Scarlet reports to
,-le secret service in Paris and finds Nor
nae, shadow of the emperor i'm charge.
He deposits the crown Jewels
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20
Character Told by LAUGHTER.

A French paper has discovered that
a persons character is expressed il
his manner of laughing. If you laugh
in "Ha ha" fashion, you are frank il
a man and inconstant and incapable
Of keeping secret if woman. II
you laugh Heb, heh," you are neu
rasthenic. melancholy and skeptical
If you adopt a deeper tone and laugh
in "Ho, hos" you are generous, easy
going and good-natured. The proper
pitch for the fair sex to laugh in is
He, he" while people who laugh
with a Hoo, hoo" effect should be
avoided as hypocritical. scandal-mon.
gering and misery.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20
PhilatelX and History.

An interesting chapter in philatelic
history, and in the history of Europe,
is closed by the decision to suppress
the foreign postal agencies in Crete
as the result of the union of that isl
and with Greece. Austria, Great Brit,
ain, France, Russia, and Italy have all
maintained post offices in Crete, as
in Turkey, and there is at the moment
much speculation in philatelic circles
as to whether the Levantine post of.
fees maintained BY the powers,
among which Germany is also In
cluded. will not be closed as well.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20
United States Superiority

According to a report issued by the
American bureau of foreign and do
nestle commerce, based upon study
of seventeen industries in the United
States and Great Britain, it requires
10 per cent more power and two and
one-half times more labor to do the
same work, in the industries examin-
ed, in Great Britain than 1t does in
the United States.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20

next heard, made by drawing the
breath between the closed teeth, in.
terspersed with complimentary
phrases uttered with great volubility,
each trying to Guido the other.
At last the climax is reached and
each endeavors to give precedence to
the other. For perhaps a full minute
the polite contest continues; then the
ceremony abrutly ends. as if the diff
Guilty were capable of none but a
brusque solution, and the two pass on
hurriedly, with a look of extreme re-
lief
The Japanese gentleman who has
many acquaintance must require an
hour to walk the length of block on
a city street.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20
PARTISAN WOMEN
OCCUPIED WITH
TWO NEW "FADS"

A T the present moment there are
"A two very prominent fashions gov.
erning Paris One of these is white
hair. The other is red fox.
Early last spring there was noticed
the growing fashion of wearing pow
dered hair. All through the summer
season one saw the most wonderful
and often very beautiful, heads of sill
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20
Japanese Greeting.

Nothing is more amusing than to
watch two acquaintance saluting in
the streets of a Japanese town. AS
they come in sight of each other they
slackeH their pace and approach with
downcast eyes and averted face, as if
neither was worthy of beholding the
other; then they bow so as to bring
the face on level with the knees, on
which the palms Of the hands are
pressed.
A succession of Kissing sounds is
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20

temples and tea gardens-while, open
ed from left to right, they reveal
scenes of an indecency and obscenity
passing belief
"Of course. all Japanese fans are
not of a double entendre such as this,
but many are, and hence Japan has
taught the world to open it's fans in
only one way-the safe way"
The young lady opened her fan, very
cautiously, the unsafe way. Then she
said:
"Pshaw, my fan Is all right
And then gave a little disappointed
shrug of her white shoulders.-Ch
cago Record-Herald.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20

There's no use; he's one of them, and
he means to ruin you"
But he's got those diamonds! Do
you think l can stand that"
Il think you've got to" muttered
Speed, savagely. DO you want to rot
in Cayenne? If you do, stay here and
bawl for a court-martial."
He seized me with a growl of
idiot! come on" and fairly showed
me through the colonnades of the insti-
tute, along the quay, down the river
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-11-20

almost never right to leave task
unfinished. This day. this hour, this
minute, puts task into our hands.
Because of the nail the shoe was
lost; because of the shoe the horse
was lost; because of the horse the
rider was lost; because of the rider
the battle was lost" So it was the
blacksmith, after ALL who lost the bat
tie If he had done his work well. the
cause might have triumphed.-Ch
tan Herald.