davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05

in a paper newspaper clipping and
a letter
Puzzled he unfolded the cracking
thing in his hands why" he said
half aloud, "it's-it's deed made over
to me-" He overran it swiftly. Part
Of an old Colony grant a
plantation in Virginia, twelve hun
dred odd acres, given under the hand
of vice-regal governor in the six
teenth century. I had no idea titles
in the United States went back so far
as that" His eye fed to the end.
1T was my father's What could he
have wanted of an estate in Virginia
1t must have come into his hands in
the course of business"
He picked up the newspaper clip
ping. 1t was worn and broken in the
folds as if it had been carried for
months in pocketbook.
1T will interest readers OF this sec
ton of Virginia (the paragraph be-
gam to learn, from recent transfer
received for record at the County
Clerks Office, that Damory Court has
passed to Mr.. John Valiant, minor
He turned the paper over and found
a date; it had been printed in the year
of the transfer to himself when he
was six years old-the year his father
had died
John Valiant, minor, the son OF
the former owner.
There are few indeed who do not
| recall the tragedy with which in the
public mind the estate is connected
The fact, moreover, that this old home
stead has been left in it's present state
(for, as is well known, the house has
remained with all it's contents and fur
nishings untouched) to rest during SO
long a term of years unoccupied, could
not, of course, fail to be commented
on, and this circumstance alone has
perhaps tended to keep alive melan-
choly story which may well be for
gotten"
| He read the elaborate, rather stilted
! phraseology in the tWenty-year-old pa
per with wondering interest AN
) old house," he unused, with a bad
name Probably he couldn't sell it,
and maybe nobody would ever live in
it. That would explain why it re-
NAMED SO long unoccupied-why there
are no records Of rentals. Probably
the land was starved and run down.
It's an offset to the hall-bedroom
idea, at any rate, he said to himself
humorously 1t holds out an escape
! from the noble army of rent-payers
! When my twenty-eight hundred is
gone, | could live down there landed
proprietor, and by the same mark an
/ honorary colonel, and raise the cab
bages | was talking about-eh, Chum
while you stalk rabbits. How does
| that strike your"
He laughed whimsically. He, John
| Valiant, of New York first-nighter at
its theaters, hail-fellow-well-met in its
| club corridors and welcome diner al
any one of hundred brilliant glass
misunderstanding supper tables, en-
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05
CHAPTER v.
On the Bed Road.

The green, mid-May Virginian
afternoon was arched with sky as
blue as the tiles Of the Temple of
Heaven and STEPPED in a wash of sun
light as yellow as gold Nothing in all
the springy landscape but looked
warm and opalescent and inviting-ex-
cept tawny bull that from across a
barred fence-corner switched trucu-
lent tail in silence and glowered sui
lenly at the big motor halted motion
less at the side of the twisting road.
Curled worm-like in the drivers
seat, with his chin on his knees, John
Valiant sat with his eyes upon the
distance For an hour he had whirred
through that wondrous simmer of
color with a f1ippant lettering breeze
in his face, sweet from the crimson
clover that poured and rooted over the
roadside.
"Chum, old man. said Valiant, with
his arm about the bulldogs neck, IF
those or-photograph chaps had
shown us this, we simply wouldn't
have believed it, would we? Such
scenery beats the roads we're used to,
WHAT" He wound his strong fingers
in a choking grip in the scruff Of the
white neck, as a chipmunk chartered
by on the low stone wall. No, you
don't you cannibal! He's a jolly lit
tie beggar, and he doesn't deserve be-
ing eaten!"
He filed his briar-wood pipe and
drew in great breaths of the fragrant
incense. What a pity you don't
smoke, Chum; you miss such a LOTT
After a time he shook himself and
knocked the red core from the pipe
bowl against his boot-heel. i hate to
start" he confessed, half to the dog
and half to himself ITO leave any
thing so sheerly beautiful as this!
However, on with the dance By the
road map the village can't be far now.
So long, Mr.. BULL"
He clutched the self-starter But
there was only protestant wheeZe;
| the car declined to bulge. Climbing
| down, he cranked vigorously. The
motor turned over with a surly grunt
of remonstrance and after tentative
| Something was wrong. With a sigh
he flung off his tweed Jacket, donned a
smudgy Jumper" opened his toolbox,
and, with a glance at his wrist-watch
which told him it was three o'clock,
| threw up the monsters hood and went
bitterly to work.
At half past three the investigation
had got as far as the lubricator. At
four o'clock the bulldog had given it
up and gone nosing afield. At half
past four John Valiant lay fat on his
back, like some disreputable stevadore,
| alternately tinkering with refractory
valves and cursing the obdurate
mechanism A sharp stone gnawed
| frenziedly into the small of his back
and just as he made final vicious
| lunge, something gave way and q
prickling red-hot stab of pain shot zig
Tagging from his smitten crazy-bone
through every tortured crevice of his
| impatient frame. Like steel from flint
! it struck out crisp oath that brought
an answering bovine snort from the
! fence-corner.
! Worming like a lizard to freedom,
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05

his eyes puckered shut with the
wretched pang, John Valiant sat up
and shook his grimy fist in the air.
You silly loafing idiot" he cried.
''Thump your own crazy-bone and see
how you like it! You-oh. lord!"
His arm dropped, and flush spread
over his face to the brow. For his
eyes had opened He was gesturlng
not at the bull but at a girl. who
fronted him beside the road, haughti-
ness in the very hue of her gray-blue
| linen walking suit and, in the clear
cut cameo face under her felt cavalry
hat, myrtle-blue eyes that held a
i smolder of mingled establishment and
| Indignation An instant he gazed, all
the muscles of his face frightened with
| chagrin.
Il beg your pardon, he STAN
mered. Il didn't see you. l really
didn't l was-I was talking to the
| bull"
! The girl had been glancing from the
| flushed face to the thistly fence-corner,
while the startled dignity Of her feat
!, ures warred with an unmistakab Bile ten
| dency to mirth. He had struggled to
| his feet, nursing his bruised elbow,
! irritably conscious of his resemblance
| to an emerging chimney-sweep. Il
don't habitually swear" he said, but
Id got to the point when something
had to explode
Oh she said, don't mind mel"
Then mirth conquered and she broke
forth suddenly into a laugh that
seemed to set the whole place aquiver
with a musical contagion. They both
laughed in concert, while the bull
paved the ground and sent forth a
rumbling below of affront and chal-
lenge
| She was the first to recover. You
/ did look so funny" she gasped.
Il can believe it," he agreed, max
ing a vicious dab at his smudged ell
bow. THE possibilities of a motor for
comedy are simply stupendous."
She came closer and looked curious
ly at the quiescent monster-at the
steamer-trunk strapped on the carrier
and the bullying portmanteau peepine
over the side of the tonneau. rs it
broken?'
Merely on strike, l imagine. Are
we far from the village?'
About a mile and half
TIL have to have it towed after me
The immediate point is my traps
wonder if there is likely to be a team
passing"
I'm afraid it's not too certain" an
swered the girl, and now he noted the
liquid meditation, with it's Slightly
questioning accent, charmingly South
ern. There is no livery, but there is
a negro who meets the train some
times. l can send him if you like"
You're very good" said Valiant, al
she turned away, land I'll be enor
mously obliged. Oh-and if you see {
white dog, don't be frightened If he
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05

livery have been the very day on
which he had elected poverty? Here
was Reorganization as pointed as the
index-finger of guide-post. " Every
man carries his fate" he repeated.
" ON riband about his neck Chum,
do you believe in fate?''
For answer the bulldog, cooking an
alert eye on his master, discontinued
his occupation-a conscientious if un-
successful mastication of the fattish
packet that had fallen from the folded
deed-and with much solicitous tall
wagging, brought the sodden thing in
his mouth and put it into the out
stretched hand.
His master unrolled the PUPPY wad
and extricated the object it had en-
closed-an old-fashioned iron door-key.
After a time Valiant thrust the key
into his pocket, and rising, went to a
trunk that lay against the wall
Searching in a portfolio, he took out
small old-fashioned photograph,
much battered and soiled 1t had been
cut from larger group and the name
of the photographer had been erased
from the back He set it upright on
the desk, and bending forward, looked
long at the face it disclosed. 1t was
the only picture he had ever possessed
of his father
He turned and looked into the glass
above the dresser. The features were
the same, eyes, brow, lips, and strong
waving hair. But for its time-stains
the photograph might have been one
of himself, taken yesterday.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05
HIS LIBRARY A SMALL ONE
AS a Boy Lincoln Had Few Opportu-
mites for the Acquisition of
Much Learning.

e.s--s-1HEN Abraham Lincoln was
NAE small boy, says st. Mich
~ olas, he had very few
| w books. There was no need
>.-1s"-'"1~'e for him to consult list of
the hundred best books. His earliest
possessions consisted of less than half
dozen Volumes pioneers library.
First, Of course, was the bible, a
whole library in itself, if properly I'M
derstood, and containing every sort
of observation-disclosures, poems, dramas,
addresses, orations, histories, some
simple enough for the youngest child,
others taxing the wisdom of the learn
ed. Second was Pilgrims Progress"
with it's quaint characters and vivid
scenes related in simple, vigorous En-
glish. "Aesop's Fables was third,
and introduced the log-cabin boy to a
wonderful range of characteristic
gods of mythology, the different ranks
and classes of mankind, and every
animal under the sun. Fourth was
History of the United States, in
which there was the charm of truth
and a more modern tone, and from
which were learned the lessons of
patriotism that Lincoln's manhood
put into action. Last came Weems'
Life of Washington" a queer, stilted
book, but one full of detail that made
Washington seem a living example.
These five books were the begin
ming Of Lincoln's education; and what
wise man has outgrown them all?
From the Bible, Pilgrims Progress,
and Aesop the boy Lincoln learned
the power and beauty of plain Eng
lish words, and saw that the grandest
thoughts and most poetic imaginings
needed only the strong little words
of every day. When, therefore, In
later life he wished to be sure he I'M
derstood any matter, it became his
custom to translate it into words such
as a child can understand.
Read again the Gettysburg address
and second inaugural, and learn how
Lincoln could make the homespun
words of common use move the
hearts of his fellowmen.
Who will tell Us what books were
read by other great men and women
of the past when they were young
readers?"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05
DIPLOMACY Needed.

Women were holding market in ?
Columbus store when the supply oil
cottage cheese began to run low. The
demand for the cheese was so great
that the women worried because they
had not brought in a larger supply
Finally one of them declared she
could present a solution for the
trouble. She seized a real egg and
broke it. She beat the egg to a frothy
mass. Then she worked the beaten
egg into the rapidly diminishing sup
ply of cottage cheese and, behold, one
quart had grown to three quarts. A
merchant bought the whole supply.
"Just leave it here until noon and
1 will take it home" he said.
When he returned the beaten egg
had collapsed and there was only the
original amount of cottage cheese in
the can. The explanations required
Observation-Disclosures News.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05
WORLDS JUDGMENT AT FAULT
Writer Claims That Proper Apprecia-
ton of Lincoln Has Never
Been Expressed.

Lincoln, one of the
IYT%MMl greatest of observers, was
W. MI himself least truly observed.
IosS6&s9T God had built him in the
backyard of the nation, and
there, wrapped in homely guise.
had preserved and matured his
pure humanity. He was heard, but
seems rarely, if ever, to have been truly
seen. The reports we have of him do
not satisfy, do not justify themselves,
are inconsistent. The eastern, OLD
world eye could not read beyond the
queer hat, bad tailoring and boots you
could not now give away-and he was
so long he fairly had to stoop to look
the little world in the face.
Never have bad tailoring and home
ly, deferential manner so completely
hidden seer, jester master of men, as
did these simple accouterments this
first great gift of the west. The world
ever reads simple, deferential manner
true evidence Of innate refinement
as weakness, timidity and indie
cision, just as it reads strength In
noise and power in abuse. 1t Is said
of sound that volume will start tear
more quickly than quality of tone. But
it is surprising that professional OBJ
servers, artists and writer's alike, have
drawn and redrawn an untrue picture
of this man. Out of the hundreds or
Lincoln's pictures few are reliable,
even as records of fact, and the hum
dreds of copyrighted lives of him, in
their personal description, are largely
reiterated popular opinion and hear
say-Everybody's Magazine.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05
For Long Time John Valiant Sat
MotionIess, the Opened Letter in
His Hand, Staring at Nothing.

tombed on the wreck of a Virginia
plantation, a would-be country gentle
man, on an automobile and next to
nothing a year!
He bethought himself of the fallen
letter and possessed himself CT it
quickly 1t lay with the superscrip-
ton side down On it was written, in
the same hand which had addressed
the other envelope:
For my son, John Valiant,
When he reaches the age of twenty
five.
That, then, had been written by his
father-and he had died nearly twenty
years ago! He broke the seal with a
strange feeling as if. walking in some
familiar thoroughfare. he had STUN
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05

stricken, the nations are bankrupt and
without resources for the future; for
the next hundred years taxes will be
of abnormal proportions; worst of all,
there are no young men left to breed
a future race. 1t has all caused many
to ask if wars accomplish anything
in the long run that could not much
better be gained by judicial and peace
able methods. | have lurking sus-
picion, from what l heard in Italy last
year, that many Italians feel the same
way after the war in Tripoli. Every
where, in England and America, as
we'll as in Germany, many have been
asking: who starts war scares ?
Who advocates increase of ornaments
and big navies?" Yes, who origi-
mates wars themselves?
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05

to New Orleans from here recently by
f. w. Allen, a progressive farmer. re-
siding seven miles east of Magnolia.
Mr.. Allen has a mill made specially
for grinding file and he shipped a
small quantity of it last year. While
the article is used extensively in the
preparation of "gumbo file the de-
licious soup which has made French
cooking famous, the demand for it
is very limited. The leaves are gath
cred in July and August, and are thor
oughly dried in the shade before being
carried to the mill. 1t requires about
three hundred pounds of green leaves
to make one hundred pounds of meal.
Magnolia News.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05
The Great American.

One hundred and five years ago the
First Great American was born in a
cabin in Kentucky.
Great men were not lacking in
America before Lincoln, but they
were not OF the soil Of our new land.
Washington was a colonial country
gentleman; Jefferson a cosmopolitan
revolutionist; Hamilton a reincarnate
patrician of old Rome.
1t was left for Abraham Lincoln TO
gather up and embody the character
istics of the nation he was born to
save; boyish humor. homely wit, keen
vision and unflinching purpose.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05
He Couldn't Remember.

New and old Lincoln stories were
told at the meeting of the New York
Genealogical end Biographical society
by men who heard them originally
from Lincoln's own lips. The speak
ers were Gen. James Grant Wilson,
Henry Clews, Col. Albert B. Chandler,
Charles A. Tinker and David Homer
Bates. The last three we're connected
with the telegraph station at the war
departmeDt ct Washington during the
Civil war.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05

tries to follow you. He's perfectly
kind"
She looked back momentarily.
"He-he always follows people he
likes, you see"
Thank you," she said The tone
had now small, yet percepti
ble-of aioofness. I'm not in the least
afraid of dogs And with little nod
she swung briskly on up the Red Road
John Valiant stood staring after heI
till she had passed from view around
a curve. "Oh. glory!" he muttered
Ito begin by shaking your fist at her
and end by making her wonder if you
aren't trying to be fresh! You poor
profane, floundering dolt!"
(TO BE CONTINUED
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05
Postane Stamns.

The postage stamp first made its
appearance in 1899. It's inventor was
James Chalmers, a printer of Dundee,
who died il 1853. England adopted
the adhesive stamp in 1889, and issued
the first stamps for the use of the
public in 1910. A year later stamps
were introduced into the United
States and Switzerland, and soon aft
erward made their appearance in
France, Belgium and Bavaria.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05
New Industry in Mississinni

The advent of the Mexican cotton
boil weevil has caused at least one
new industry to spring up in Pike
county, namely, the gathering, drying.
grinding and shipping leaves of the
sassafras tree to be used as an article
of commerce. The product is known
as file" and seven barrels of it, ag-
gregating $50 pounds. were shipped
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05

Gen. Wilson began by telling of his
first meeting with Lincoln in Illinois
in October, 1853. He said:
1--WE found Lincoln occupying a
shabby little uncarpeted Office over
grocery store. Something was said
about his first ancestor. He said,
Well, my young friend, the first an
cestor that / know anything about was
one Tom Lincoln, who come over in
1884 and settled at place, bingham
or perhaps it was Hanghim. Which
was 1t, judge?"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05

at profit. That Albany cigar dear,
er discovered something that is max.
ing money for him. That little idea OF
individuality he is applying to every
line of his goods that incline to ego
slow
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05

Nobody must underestimate the
worth of the event known as the
proclamation of emancipation, by
Abraham Lincoln. 1t was the newt
able and, therefore, timely manifesto
ton of a worldwide evolutionary
process in the realm Of human ideas
and sentiment If Washington made
real the Declaration of Independence
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05

I in the form of constitutional govern
ment, with the help of his mighty
compatTiots, and thus surpassed
Cromwell, he also marks for us a
stage in the evolutionary process by
which Lincoln, with his emancipa-
ton proclamation, is an immediate
prophecy Carl Schurz in McClure's
Magazine
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05
SYNOPSIS.

John Valiant. rich society favorite,
suddenly discovers that the Valiant cor
poration, which his father founded and
which was the principal source OF ms
wealth, has failed He voluntarily turns
over his private fortune 10 the receiver
for the corporation
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05
Enclosure

He turned to the memorandum 1t
showed a stable initial deposit against
which was entered a series of annual
tax payments with minor disburse-
ments credited to inspection and
care" The tax receipts were pinned
to the account.
The larger wrapper contained an un-
sealed envelope, across which was
written in faded ink and in an unfa-
miliar dashing, slanting handwriting,
his own name The envelope con-
tanned a creased yellow parchment,
from between whose folds there
dumped and fluttered down upon the
floor a long fattish object wrapped
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-02-05

No, Cordelia, you can't settle a doc
tors bill by returning his calls.
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-19

Of either of the three arms of the SER
vice, cavalry, artillery or infantry
Some of the maneuver problems are
one sided, taking the superstition thai
the exact whereabouts of the enemy
was unknown, and how best could a
regiment of cavalry be disposed upon
the Fort Bliss terrain, or area con-
involves G. regiment Of cavalry on the
offensive against a squadron Of cav
airy on the defensive, and there are
many other plays"
Studying Defensive and Offensive.
AS far as map maneuVerS and field
engineering problems go, nothing IS
being left unstudied in the defensive
line. Supposing that a hostile infan-
try brigade managed TO cross the Rio
could Fort Bliss be prOtected2 This
is another problem being worked Ou-
by the officers
After the defensive tactics have been
definitely planned offensive opera
tons will be studied. The geography
Of Mexico involved in an advance on
Chihuahua or on Monterey, will be
studied and discussed. The geography
Of the republic that would be traVersed
gulf coast will be another offensive
tactics topic, and military disposition,
in the event of an invasion of Mexico
will also come up for study.
The instruction officers for this
course Of study are Mai. Charles D.
Rhodes, Capt. Howard r. Kickok, regi-
mental adjutant, and Capt. Leroy FL
tinge
Besides the map work there will be
a number of terrain exercises and tao
teal rides out in the territory sur
rounding Fort Bliss
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-19
Freight Warehouse and
Eating House Destroyed

Yards. the man boarded the
train. Being elected, by the train
crew. he waited until after the train
had started, when he made a run to
catch it. While running, he fell eX-
hausted. Company officials had an
ambulance called and he was taken
to the hospital His condition Is
serious
Herman Colbert, night caller for
the Texas & Pacific, at Ell PasO, laid
off Saturday night. His place was
filled by extra caller Eddie BaUma.
J. C. BOgardus, extra switchman for
the Ell Paso yards Of the G. H., is lay
ing off.
IT. G. Richmond extra engine FORE
man for the G, H., at FL Paso, is lay
Joe D Thurman, regular switchman
for the G. H., at Ell Raso, is laying
Off
A. B. Snyder, engine foreman for
the G. H., at El PasO, is laying off on
account of Illness.
T. ". George. engine foreman for
the G. H, at Ell PasO, is laying off.
W. r. Stewart, engine foreman on
the day lead engine of the G. H, at
FL PasO, is laying off
Charlie Gillespie, extra engineer for
the G.. H, between Ell PasO and VAL
entine has been assigned to a regU-
lar day switch engine in the local
yard. Fireman W. c. Barksdale is his
fireman.
R. L Smith, extra switchman for