davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Light Housekeeping Condensed

fervent words against the unstable .
mode of living called light housekeeping
are uttered foreefully by the health de-
partment in its bulletin. From a COM
plete canvas made in a downtown Sec
ton covering several square miles, ths
department carried away the remem-
brance of many large dwellings, once
private residences with one family In,
each, now tenanted by scores of light
housekeepers or transformed into ROOM
ing or boarding houses. In this tendency
toward light housekeeping the depart
ment finds grave danger against the rep
utation of Buffalo as a city of homes and
also against good housing conditions, says
the Buffalo Express.
Light housekeeping is without doubt
the forerunner of poverty says the bull
letin. "Those who drift into this form of
home life are feeling the effects of pow
erty or have lost their ambition THAT
tends to make the energetic citizen a
home owner The furnished room where
persons cook, eat or sleep is a travesty
on the word home Living under such
conditions should be discouraged by ev-
eryone interested In proper housing con-
ditions. Education seems to be the only
remedy Tor 1t. Business associations,
Boy Scouts, the chamber of commerce,
civic societies, educational Institutions
and the ministry can ASSIST the depart.
ment in stamping out the tendency by :
encouraging the home builder,
Education for the home builder, who
should construct on sanitary lines and
education for the tenant. who should be
careful with the plumbing, drainage and
other facilities, is advised by the depart
ment, which understands that these facil-
tiles in houses intended for rental by tho
por often mean financial loss to the build
ers. Careless children are allowed to tam
per with the plumbing and the lights ana
the added cost of keeping up this expen-
sive equipment calls forth some sympa-
thy for the landlords. Education begin
ming in the school grades and continuing
through the newspapers and municipal
departments, is declared to be the only
solution of this vexing condition. which
involves warfare between economy and
decent living.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
A Marriage Declined

AS she spoke little bell tinkled and
footman brought in letter bearing
the royal sign manual
The duchess tore 1t open and read:
"Madam-We graciously send you the
copy herein enclosed of the facts which
have been discovered regarding the
heir of Lord Clancharlie. 1t is certified
to by our Lord Chancellor.
I'VE have caused Lord Clancharlie
to be conducted to your residence Of
Corleon Lodge. 1t is our will and COM
mand as your sister and your queen
that the said lord--shall be married TO
you forthwith. You will wed him. This
Is our royal pleasure"
The duchess handed the letetr to
Gwynplaine and when he had finished
reading 1t she cried out In fury: Be
gone. Since you are to be my husband
do not love you. Begone."
Gwynplaine stood as II nailed to the
spot.
"Very well' continued the enraged
woman. II will be the one to depart.
l hate you"
She quilted the room and Gwynplaine
saw her no more. The little bit of re-
venge which the royal Annie had con-
cocted for her half-sister was not ap-
preciated by the Duchess Josiana
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Seeking a Refuge

He reached out his arms and cried to
those men to come back: but they
came not. Then he climbed a neighbor-
ing hill ana look ed out over the snowy
expanse of the neighboring country.
He walked down the hill and in the
whiteness of the plain to which he
came he heard sound. 1t was the cry
of a child.
Under the drift he found dying
woman and in the arms of that wom-
an was a child He waited until the
woman died and then, taking the child
In his arms. he trudged onward.
He reached Weymouth-and Wey-
mouth was asleep. He knocked at
many doors, but no one answered.
Then he saw a cart. 1t was one or
those carts which strolling players car
ry about with them. AS he approached
1T he heard a growl; the growl came
from a wolf chained beneath the cart
A light wreath of smoke came from
the cart and a man put his face to the
window of the van and cried out,
"What do you want?"
Il am hungry" replied the boy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
The Bundle That Walled

The face which appeared at the little
window of the van was the face of Ur-
sus. He called himself Ursus, and he
called the wolf, which he had chained
under the cart, Homo.
The door of the van was opened and
the wet and chilled child entered. He
threw his burden down in a corner, and
smelled of the saucepan in which Ursus
was cooking savory mess
Ursus looked at the child why do
you laugh?" he said
81 do not laugh
"Why that GRIM
The boy could not explain it. He did
not know that, years. before, he had been
operated upon by those kidnapers, who
were expert in the changing of the faces
of the young-could so transform face
that 1t looked as il 1t were one 0hideous
grin. Ursus saw at once what was the
matter with the boy-what had happened
TO him.
There came a cry from the bundle
which the boy had thrown upon the
transom.
''What is that?' cried Ursus. Does
your bundle wail?"
Ursus opend the bundle. Valley Of
Jehoshaphati" he cried 1t was an infant
female child which Ursus took out Of
the bundle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Wholesale Challenges

At the door of the chamber he saw a
group of lords surrounding Lord David
Dirry- Moir. Lord David was saying to
them, MY lords, l take it i'll that you
have made sport of Lord Clancharlie. |
have made his cause my own and shall
challenge you singly tomorrow"
Eagerly his proposition was taken up
and the lords began to choose their
weapons. Then came up Gwynplaine.
Lord David turned to him.
Here you are,' said Lord David.
This chances well. My lord. in your
speech you alluded to a woman who,
after having loved Lord clancharlie loved
Charles IL
1T is true" said Gwynplaine.
He had spoken of an old woman whom
he had seen sitting in the gallery not
knowing the relationship of that woman
to Lord David--only that she was the
aged mistress of great lord.
You have insulted my MOTHER con-
tinued Lord David.
I'm that case we are, 1 suppose
began the bewildered Gwynplaine, but
was cut short by Lord David, who said
sternly, 1--WE are brothers, And he gave
Gwynplaine a box on the ear.
1--WE are brothers." he repeated, which
renders it possible for us to fight. One
fights only his equals. ] will send you
my seconds. Tomorrow we will cut each
others throats.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Years of Search

Investigations were at once set on foot
They proceeded through years, but fin
ally, when Ursus brought his strolling
show from the obscurity of the provinces
to the southern shore of the Thames and
the reputation of the strangely disfg-
ured creature who acted in "Chaos Van
quished" began to be tall I'd about, a
clew was furnished
Long before Hardquanonne had been
discovered in the Chatham Jail.
There was a man who stood we'll at
court, one Barkilphedro, who was the
secret agent of Lord David Dirry-Moir-
and he betrayed them all. one to an
other But, as was becoming in pro-
fessional courtier, he mostly betrayed the
Duchess and Lord David to the Queen.
Queen Anne had set him at work on
the case-and he had given Lord David
hint of what the case meant to him.
This was why Lord David went so often
to the Southwark theatre to see The Man
Who Laughs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Old Age

The Oldest woman In London died a few
days ago. Her age was given. duly au-
thenticated, at 100 years. To be the oIdest
person in city of 100000 is certainly an
unusual prominence in longevity, bud
whether it is worth the trouble to wheeas|
along after the first century has passed
may well be doubted. The city of Ind
dianapolis today, has two, perhaps
more, centenarians, and James Hubbard
of Mapleton died a few years ago at the
reputed age of 105, says the Wisconsin,
News But these ages are not in the rum
ming with that Of DIR. Chao Choy. a Chin
ese doctor, who claimed to be 149 year!
old. and who died at Ellis Island, New
York. when he was detained following
his arrival from Cuba Many years as<
Indianapolis had an old resident named
Daniel Wood, who, at the northwest cor
ner OF the courthouse yard, had littl4
shed to shelter him from the weather II
which he sharpened wood saws, knive4
and scissors. Wood claimed to be NOR
than 100 years old, and said that he had
been guard at st. Helena during Ma
poleon's captivity on that island A littl
Investigations and comparison of tn
stories he told furnished the proof tina
the aged Munchausen, who was probabl
somewhere In the eighties, had taken tn
experiences of his father, who was
British soldier, and appropriated them
his own use. 1t has been observed tina
men. as we'll as women. as they advanc
in years are averse to giving the full teri
of their pilgrimage Up to 80 this especia
ly noticeable After rs or so there is di
position to lay claim to more years tba
really belong to them, and as they nee
so they have no hesitation, as there a
no statistics to refute them, to claim
half score or more years than really b
long to than
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Just a Few
From Pearson's Weekly,

From Pearson's Weekly.
Here Is a story that was heard durir|
the interval at a promenade concert
Queens hall the other evening.
A concert agent had sent to the print
the programme for a big concert he wi
organizing. At the last moment vel
great parsonage died. The programr|
was already in type and the prod
passed, but as soon as the news reach
him the agent decided that Chopin's "E
neral March, must be included as a, .si
of respect among the items perform
by the orchestra.
He telephoned to the printer to ask h
to make the addition. II want you
add one more item,'' said the agent. q.
you manage it?"
The printer said he would try. WI
do you want me to add?" he said. -
much. I hope"
mo, no, not much" said the agentl
only want you to put in at the beginn
of the programme Funeral Marcht
Chopin. ;" And he carefully spelt CHI
SO that there should be no mistake.
"All right replied the printer; IT tn
we can just manage it,
The agent heaved a sigh of relief,
when copy of the programme
thrust into his hands on the night
the concert his hair stood on end
message. 1t appueared, had got
added over the telephone, and at
beginning of the programme the horril
agent discovered that the printer
made the concert open with:
"A few remarks by Chopin
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Left to His Fate

TNHB storms of a winter night blew
fiercely over the Bill or Portland as
i a small vessel called the Matutina
cast off her moorings and hoisted her
worn canvas to the biting winds.
As the rough and hardy crew crossed
the grangpank a small child tried to
follow them. He was thrust back.
These men were the 'Kidnapers,
against whom a law had just been passed.
They had to flee the country. There were
men of all nations. The Swedish accent
interfered with the accent of the Basque
and the Provencal.
But mostly were they French and
English In Spain alone, at that time,
could that brotherhood of kidnapers who
had terrorized all of Europe hope to find
an asylum. The Matutina was bound for
spain-any, port in Spain!
The child whom the fleeing lxidnapers
left "marooned" upon the bleak coast
was about 10 years of age; his feet
were bare and his clothes were too
thin for the rigor of the climate.
Heretofore. as well as he could recol-
Iect. he had always been with these
men, And now they left him. Into the
darkness of g snowy sea he saw the
schooner disappear.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Peer, But a Prisoner

Where am I and who am II" asked
Gwynphine.
You are Lord Clancharlie and Hun
kerville in the peerage of England and
Marquis of Corleone in Sicily. You are
at your court seal near the castle OF
Windsor. Here are your little deeds and
your patents of nobility.
''You will be introduced into the House
Of Lords and here is a casket containing
200 guineas.''
"Ah," replied Gwynplaine, 'these shall
be for my father. Ursus. I will go and
give them to him."
impossible" replied Barxilphedro,
you cannot leave this place until you
have to go to take your seat as peer
of England. I will carry the money to
Ursus-for I am now in all things your
most devoted servant"
For several days Gwynplaine lived
In the palace to which he had been
taken. Meantime Dea mourned for him
and Ursus sadly thought of his loss. He
had loved the boy. after all, and now
felt desolate without him.
''He is dead" he thought, .,and it
will kill Dea."
He had seen a bier taken out of the
Jail with a body upon it, He had
thought-'It is the body of Gwynplainer'
But it had been the body of Hardi-
quanonne.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
A CL A SIC
IN A P A C E
Copyright. 1918, by irving King, All

Copyright, 1913 by Irving King, All
rights reserVed.)
This story of Victor Hugo's was intend
ed by the author as an arraignment OF
the aristocracy for their vices and crimes.
SO he said he should have called 1t "Aris-
tocracy," instead of THE Man VINO
Laughs"
Hugo chose for his arraignment the
aristocracy of England, and in the book
are set down some of the most extra
ordinary things about that aristocracY
that were ever told. The story itself Is
weird enough. but Hugos description OF
the English aristocracy is weirder still
Then his English names-they are evil
deity supposed to be the real thing"
but to receive Tom-Jim-Jack as COM
mon British appellation, or Barkipheldo,
is asking little too much.
The story is one of the best known of
Hugo's probably because of it's taking
title, and contains some fine passages of
prose poetry. But, on the whole, 1t is
TOO morbid TO appeal greatly to really
healthy mind.
Crime. horror, morbidness and lust are
scattered through the many pages OF
Its two bulky volumes with a free hand.
Yet 1t is the work of a master of litera-
ture, and he was proud of It.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09

So the poor mountebank with the hide
ously grinning face, the great soul and
the tender heart, was. with all due and
ancient rites ushered into the House Of
Lords
A whisper ran round the benches SO to
who he was, and indignation was so
great for a time as to keep in check the
laughter which usually greeted his ap-
pearance.
A proposition was brought before the
lords to increase the allowance of the
Queens husband. All the lords said
content" except Gwynplaine. He arose
and, saying mot content" began
speech.
There was confusion upon the benches.
A tumult arose and they greeted him with
derisive cries. But he went on:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
"COme and Join Me"

He looked in and Saw her form lying
tpon pallet.
Father" said Dea, ''you understand
perfectly that everything is over from
the moment when Gwynplaine is no long
er here. At is very good to die; 1t is not
difficult"
Gwynplaine entered the van and took
Dea in his arms. She at once became
delirious. When she regained her senses
Gwynplaine said:
"Dea, 1t is l. Gwynplaine. I am alive
and I am yours forever. What has hap
pened?" Ursus told him.
II am peer Of England" cried
Gwynplaine II will avenge you"
But by this time the sailors had cast
off the rnooring lines and the vessel
was heading for the open sea. Dea
arose and placed her hand to her heart
Then she fell back
Alas! you have killed her. cried
Ursus.
Gwynplaine extended his hands to-
ward the girl, crying out, "Dea! Dea.
Do not die. What is the matter with
your"
She was not yet dead. but dying.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Waits ON the Ocean Of Life

Ursus was one OF those people who
were amateur philosophers. He was
ventriloquist and also a bit of a physi-
clan, giving out his drugs and "sm-
ples,' which usually achieved good work.
according to the old and established rules
of amateur doctors.
This big wolf which he had under his
cart Ursus had tanned himself. When he
moved the van the wolf was harnessed
to it like a horse.
ursus took the child which the boy
had brought into the van with him and
fed it with warm milk, at which its
cries were stilled.
Then something peculiar about the
eyes of the baby attracted his attention.
He passed light before its face and it
ss.7 not wink.
"She is blind" he said.
The boy said that his name was
Gwynplaine. 1--WE will cal 1.-The baby
here Dea," said Ursus. now we all
have names"
For Is years these two waits upon the
ocean of life. Gwynplaine and Dea,
lived with Ursus and became a part OF
his stock in trade.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Rest at Last


Gwynplaine arose to his feet, went
outside and raised his brow to the dark
heavens. Then. unseen by ane one,
Yet beheld perchance from those shad-
ows by some invisible presence, he ex-
tended his arms toward the depths on
nigh and cried out: 81 comew
He began to walk toward the side OF
the rocking vessel as If a vision were
were drawing him A few PAGES dis
tant lay the abyss of the waters. He
walked slowly and did not look down.
He smiled as Dea had Just smiled
and in his eyes there shone a light,
which was like the reflection of q soul
perceived in the distance. He crieds
fesF' and then murmured. BE tram
gull, am following thee"
>There were no bulwarks, the void
was in front of him; he set his foot
upon 1T and fell. The night was dense
ana dull; the water deep-he sank.
1t was calm and sober disappear
ance. No one either heard or saw any
thing. When Ursus regained conscious
ness he no longer saw Gwynplaine. but
he behld Homo near the edge of the
deck. bowling into the gloom and gaz-
ing at the sea.
Next weeks one-page classic will be
Mercedes of Castillo" by James FEM.
more Cooper
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09

sterling, sent you by,one who wishes you
well'
The reader will remember the casket
of 1000 guineas which Barl1ilphedro had
carried off. Out of that money he
thought all he could spare to Brsus was
10' pounds. 1t was enough in all con-
sciousness. Had he given more he would
have betrayed himself.
He had taken the trouble to make
treasurer trove of Lord; he was begin
ming to develop him; 1t was just that the
first yield of the mine should be to HIM
self
Those who see a paltriness in the trans
action would be wrong to feel astonish-
ment. Barkilphedro loved money-espe-
cially stolen money. Committing crime
does not prevent one from having vices
Moreover, this was Bacon's school.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09

born to Lord Clancharlie and Ann Brad
shaw in Switzerland. That the son of
two such disloyal people shauld inherit
the great estates and the titles to which
he was, by birth, entitled, was, to the
mind of King James, horrible.prepos-
ferrous.
By his orders the child was stolen and
given into the hands of the kidnapers
with instructions that he be so disfigured
as to render it impossible that he should
ever be recognized, or be able to assert
his rights.
The order of the King was obeyed-
for price-and the result was The Man
Who Laughs-the mountebank of, the
travelling show of Ursus.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
His Stock in Trade

The mutilation which Gwynplaine had
suffered was frightful operation and
had been performed when he was 2
years old. The mouth extended from
ear to ear In a curve and the lips
had been cut away. leaving the gums
exposed.
The ears had been extended. Thert
were two holes where the nose should
have been and the eyelids had been
cut away.
Ursus saw possibilities in Gwynplaine
and he was not disappointed The boy
was brought up as mountebank.
Whenever he appeared upon the stage
At the entertainments the Who'll au-
dience began to laugh.
A laugh and a yawn are two things
which one can scarcely see without
imitating-they are infectious.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
One Who Did Not Laugh

When the Duchess had appeared in
the box at the Southwark theatre
Gwynplaine thought he had never seen
such splendid creature
Nor had he. Dea was to him a pure
white goddess. But this great Duchess
was something dazzling, sometime.
that blinded and scorched with it's fire.
strangely enough, while upon the ap-
pearance of Gwynplaine upon the stage
everybody else in the theatre had
laughed long and loud the Duchess
had not laughed. She had simply sat
there looking intently at him.
1t was a few nights after the ap-
pearance of the Ducness at the show
of Ursus that Gwynplaine was walking
about near the river. His hands were
held bthind him as he walked and med
itated.
A letter was slipped into his hands
and voice said: "At this hour tomor-
row be at the entrance to London
Bridge will be there to meet you and
conduct you where you are expected"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Taking His Commission

Then came to Ursus Barkilphedro and
told him that Gwynplaine was indeed
dead.
But here said he, ARE 10 pounds
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
A Simple Miracle

How simple is a miracle! 1t was
breakfast time in the Green Box and
Dea had 1mply come to ask why Gwyns~-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
His Maiden Speech

them rich and happy Without Dea
what are all honors?"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Temptation

Gwynplaine turned and recognized
the speaker as page who had ac-
companied Josiana upon her visit to
the inn and opened the letter, holding
1T close to a lamp. 1t read:
you are hideous: 1 am beautiful
You are a strolling player; am a
duchess. am the highest; you are the
lowest. Nevertheless love YOU
Come"
Gwynplaine read and reread the let
ter Those words were certainly 'I
love thee"
Was he mad7 No. there was his
name written plainly-"Gwynplain
Should he go? Yes cried Ahe flesh No,
cried the soul.
There was little sleep for Gwynplaine
that night. He tossed and tumbled
about his bed, considering what he
should do.
At the height OF his anguish, while
his eyes were still closed. he heard an
exquisite Voice saying, Are you asleep,
Gwynplaine?'
He opened his eyes with a start and
rose to sitting posture. The door of
his room was aiar and Dea made her
appearance in the opening. Her in
effable smile rested upon her face. Sud-
denly, by virtue of that angel Gwyn-
plaine became once more good and in
nocent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Son of Lord Clancharlie

fioated and was finally picked up on the
shores of England. The bottle bore upon
it the name of its former owner, Har-
quanonne.
1t was taken to the admiralty and
opened Upon the parchment inside the
story of Gwynplaine was written and the
gist of the story was at once commune
Gated to the authorities and became
known to the Queen.
:. 1t was in brief this: A child had been
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-09
Success

To Gwynplaine Dea was the only
woman upon earths The two loved
each other and were happy together.
Out OF their hell they created heaven
such is the power OF love.
So prosperous became his show that
Ursus bought another van and painted
it green. It was known as the Green
Box. In front of the Green Box q
large placard bore this inscription:
'Do not fail to see Gwynplaine. who
was deserted at the age of 10 on the
night of January 29, 1890, by villainous
comprachicos on the Bill of Portland.
This little boy has grown up ana is
now known as the Laughing Man."
From village to village they wan
dered and at length so much of success
had become the little comedy of "Chaos
Vanquished," which Ursus had written
for Gwynplaine and Dea, that he de-
termined to try q larger field and
brought his vans up to London, stop
ping on the Southwark side of the
Thames and hiring the courtyard of
the Tadcaster Inn as his theatre.