davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Growth of Baseball.

Nothing shows the growth OF base
ball more than a comparison Of gate
receipts taken In during the different
series played for the baseball cham
pionship of the world. In the year
1884 about 300 persons attended the
final game between the Providence
team and the Metropolitan club, cham
pions of their respective leagues, and
the total attendance at all three games
was less than 5000. Radbourne and
Keefe, the opposing hurlers, were at
the height of their respective careers,
but they failed to draw the throngs.
However, the players did not worry,
as there was nothing in it for them
except glory.
In the season of 1885 the series was
a failure from all standpoints. Only
5000 saw the six contests between the
men Of Arson and the Browns, led by
Charles Comiskey. The series was
marked by continual scrapping and at
times real fighting. 1t ended or broke
up with honors in games won and YER
bal scraps "fifty-ifty." In 1886 the
first real series for the world cham
pionship was pulled of in a success
full manner. The six games drew 40
900, and the net receipts were $4,000.
Philadelphia Ledger.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Stronq Even In Death,

A yew tree almost destitute Of
branches or bark grows abundantly in
the Caucasus to height Of from fifty
to sixty feet and diameter Of little
over two feet. 1t grows slowly, but
its timber is ALMOST indestructible ex-
cept by fire. 1t is considered superior
in durability, appearance and tough
ness to mahogany, which it otherwise
somewhat resembles. In some large
forests of this tree it is very difficult
to distinguish the live trees from the
dead ones, the latter being very numer-
GUS and said to stand for 100 years aft
er death without exhibiting decay.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
A Titled KIeptomaniac,

A titled kleptomaniac almost a cen
tury ago was the Countess of Cork.
She had reputation for stealing any
thing she could lay her hands on,
whether 1t was useful or valuable or
not. Once when leaving a country
house where she had been staying she
saw and quietly picked up a hedgehog
that was crossing a hall. a pet Of the
porter's, and took it away in her car
rage. Finding it an uncomfortable
foot warmer, she decided to dispose of
1t at the first town where she changed
horses and then offered it to confec-
toner in return for a sponge cake.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
xoies. of ths SEA-.

In 'The Log of the Shark" by Char
milan Kittredge London, is this bit of
sea description:
"The sea is not a loyable monster.
And monster it is. 1t is beautiful, the
sea, always beautiful In one way or
another, but it is cruel and unmindful
of the life that is in it and upon it 1t
was cruel last evening in the lurid
low sunset that made it glow, duly,
to the cold, mocking, ragged moonrise
that made it look like death. The
waves positively beckoned when they
rose and pitched toward our boat Ia
boring in the trough. And all the long
night it seemed to me that 1 heard
voices through the planking, talking,
talking, endlessly, monotonously, quer-
ulously, and / couldn't make out
whether it was the ocean calling from
the outside or the ship herself mutter-
ing gropingly, finding herself. If the
voices are of the ship they will soon
cease, for she must find herself. But
II they are the voices Of the sea they
must be sad sirens that cry, restless,
questioning, unsatisfed- quaint home
less little sirens"
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
The SpIit InfInitive.

The split infnitive is the term used
to designate the infinitive form Of the
verb that generally begins with the
proposition to-" when separated by a
qualifying adverb or phrase, as In the
following: ITO briefly designate" ito
readily understand" ito suddenly and
completely change 'front.'" "he knew
not which to,most admire" "to sweet
" sing" ito humbly walk" This use
is held by literary critics and gram
NAUTICAL purists to be highly improper,
but it occurs abundantly In English
literature, from the time Of Shake
speare to the present day. Nearly ev-
cry standard author is guilty Of it. and
it is very general in popular speech.
The splitting of the infinitive is often
dictated by a sense of rhythm, the
placing of the qualifying adverb after
the verb and before the weak adjunct
or object which follows the verb re-
sulting often in disharmony of rhythm
or stress.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
The Degradation Of Matter.

II we examine the life history Of
any substance with sufficient knowl.
edge and sufficient care, says the En-
gineer, we shall find that nature pro-
vides means and forces that little by
little are turning that substance into
dust. The manipulations Of man
greatly assist in the process. But ma
ture itself is always active in it and
even without mans aid Is quite COM
petent to achieve the task. At times
we strive to hinder the process, as, for
example, when we apply paint to iron
work In order to prevent it from rust
ing. But we can hinder 1t only for a
time, and even then we merely check
the degradation of one substance by
degrading another. Thus we have coni
stantly to renew the paint on our iron
work. The former coats disappear
wholly or in part, and the material of
which they were composed has turned
to dust. We may accordingly look
forward to a time when all matter will
be uniformly distributed as dust
throughout space, a condition that, &C
cording to the nebular hypothesis,
actually did prevail at one time, before
the universe, as we know it, was
formed.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
"Ouqh."

An exchange prints the following
lis: of words ending in "ough" and
:G.;s the pronunciation Of the more OBJ
Scu!e words, so far as ascertainable
from the dictionaries: Messrs. Cough
tsoi-l. Uough hun) and Clough (cluf),
titou@h tou@h enough. thought through
thl day that they would visit Mr..
HroCgh (brooD. who. having hiccough
QliccUp and a cough, lived in clough
tciuiT or clou). with plenty Of dough
and tame enough (chuf0 kept near
plough in a rough trough, hung to
Il bough over a Tough QOch). A SLOUGH
(Siufl Of the bank into the slough (sloo)
injured his thOroughbred's hough
(hockI.
No wonder the foreigner shudders at
those four terrible letters!
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Uncle Sans Bio Checks,

When the government pays a claim
or debt it is done by a treasury war.
rant, signed by the secretary Of the
treasury. In May, 1904, the secretary
signed a warrant for $40,O00,000, which
was delivered to ]. P. Morgan & Co.
Of New York as disbursing agents of
this government on account of the
Panama canal purchase. This was the
largest warrant ever issued. The
largest sum previously covered by a
single government warrant was for
S7,2O0,OOO, paid to Russia in 1868 on
account of the Alaskan purchase. The
next largest sum was $5.50O,O00, paid
in 1876 to the British government on
account of the Halifax award under
the treaty of Washington for infringe
ment of fishing rights in Nova Scotian
waters. In 1899 this government paid
Spain, through the French ambassador,
S20,OO0,OO0 for the Philippine Islands,
but this sum was represented by four
warrants of $5.OO0.OOO each.-Philadel-
phia Press.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Fixing the Fairies.

Remnants of the cave men living in
hidden places in the forests, avoiding
the more civilized human beings about
them, but seen occasionally by these
were probably the first of the fairies,
according to A. Z. Peake in a paper
that appears in the report Of the Pre-.
historic Society of East Anglia.
Long before the Danes came to the
British isles Ireland was infested by
a people called the Danaans, probably
the earliest of the Celts or possibly
antedating them. The word Danaan,
according to the London Lancet, may
be rendered fairy" They were of
puny stature, but their heads were as
large as ours, as is proved by the
skulls found in the boys. With their
little pointed caps and their retiring
ways they were only vaguely known
to their neighbors, and when they died
out they were dimly remembered and
soon became legend.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Amazing Transformation.

One may be u speckled trout u the
country and a Goldfish in the city, &C.
cording to an observer, who believes
that many country boys would do well
to stay at home.
"a farmer" he said, "once caught
a fine speckled trout, which he decided
to present to his aunt in the city. Ac-
cordingly, he wrapped it in green
leaves and placed it in a basket in the
body of the wagon. AS he stopped for
refreshment at a roadside tavern some
mischievous boys took a Goldfish from
a nearby grocery stall and substituted
1t for the finny beauty.
ARRIVING in the city, he presented
the fish to his aunt. What do you
meanr she cried. This isn't a trout;
it's a Goldfish
Rather crestfallen, he took 1t back,
but on the road the boys again made
a substitution, and when he showed
the fish to his wife it was speckled
trout. She listened to his tale with an
amused smile. Yes she said finally,
it's like you-a speckled trout in the
country and a Goldfish in town. FIX
change.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Eskimo Candy.

Tallow is the Eskimo's candy. 1t
Is put up in bright red packages made
out of the feet of Il waterfowl The
women cut off the red feet Of this
bird, which is called the dovekie, draw
out the bones and blow up the skin so
as to make pouches, which they fill
with reindeer tallow for their little
folk. None of the food that the Es-
kimos eat seems very inviting to US,
but they are extremely fond Of 1t and
are very apt to Overeat. 1t is said by
explorers who have gone into Green
land that 1t is no uncommon sight to
see an Eskimo man who has eaten an
enormous meal of the raw frozen flesh
Of the reindeer. seal or walrus lying
ON his back and eating blubber until
he cannot move.-Exchange
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Efss and Easy Servants In Japan.

In Japan domestic service Is very
honorable. Domestic servants rank
before tradesmen, who are considered
at the bottom Of the social ladder. In
the absence OF his master a servant
will receive the callers and chat away
Familiarity, but politely, until the ar
rival of the head of the house. After
rubbing his knees together and Kissing
and kotowing he will invite you to
take a seat-on the floor, or, more
correctly speaking, on your heels, with
q fat cushion between your knees and
the floor to make the ordeal a little
less painful. He will then offer you
five cups of tea. Even after his mas
ter has arrived he may stay in the
room and is likely to cut into the con-
versation and quite certain to laugh
at the smallest apology for joke. He
brings all his sisters and cousins and
aunts to be introduced when he takes
service, and the house is seldom with
out q few Of them engaged on some
business or errand. In the European
hotels in Japan the servants are all
men, who are dressed in indigo cotton
doublets and hose and run about bare
foot.-London Answers.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
APrince's Chilly Dip.

Prince Henry of Prussia is an ar
dent sailor, says Parsons Weekly, but
he is known among the bluejackets as
q great martinez. The following story
Is typical Of his methods, and shows
that although he expects those under
his command to put up with all kinds
Of hardships, he is by no means above
'troughing it, himself.
One day, when he was on board
warship in the North sea, he suddenly
gave the order, "All hands to batheg'
1t was a bitterly cold day and the
water was like ice. The order was
80 evidently distasteful that one of
the officers ventured to make q mild
protest to the prince. Without an
swering him a single word, Prince
Henry, although fully clothed, sprang
over the vessels side, swan out a good
distance in the icy water and returned
to the deck dripping from head to foot
After that the sailors took their bath
without demur.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Cairo Street Warnings.

In oriental countries the recklessness
Of drivers of vehicles and their disre-
gard for foot passengers are very
marked, but in Cairo they have a
series of curious cries with which they
warn a fOotman. They specify the
particular part of his anatomy which
is in danger. as thus: Look out for
thy left shin. o uncler' boy, have a
care for the little toe on thy right
FOOT" 20 blind beggar, look out for
thy starr And the blind beggar, feel
ing his way with the staff in his right
hand, at once Obediently turns to the
left. 20 Frankish woman, look out for
thy left FOOT" 20 burden bearer, thy
load Is I'm dangerr' 20 water carrier,
look out for the tail end of thy pigskin
water bottler'
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
? Som. Authors and Their Names.


There are authors who make the
most of their names, and there are
others who don't. When W. W. ia
cobs was commencing his literary ca
reer and hoping to make a name
why did he not make the best Of the
one he got at the font? What splash
he could have made with William Wy
mark Jacobs!
It Is almost as bad as Glberts neg
Iected name, which was Schwenck.
But perhaps that was too near
"swank" for a modest man. Ruther-
ford Crockett would have served the
author of 1.-THE Stickit Minister well,
but he was content with s. R Sir
Arthur Pinero's second name Is Wing,
Silas bookings is Kitto, Jerome Z.
Jerome's is Klapka, and Gilbert Ches-
terton's "K" stands for Keith. Charles
Dickens was christened Charles John
Huffman.
1t is a remarkable fact that nearly
all the greater novelists are simply
styled-Henry Fielding, Jane Austen,
Walter Scott, Charles Reade, George
Meredith, Thomas Hardy. William
Makepeace Thackeray ignored his Sec
ond name-St. James Gazette.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
First English Book on Sport.

The first book on sport ever printed
In the English language was a rimed
treatise called the "Boke Of St AL
bands" its author being a woman,
Dame Juliana Berners. Its second
edition was printed by Wynkyn de
Worde in 1896. 4 descendant Of her
family, Lord Berners, was the trans
lator of Froissart's Chronicles" 1t
Is true that old manuscripts existed,
such as the "Venerie de Twecy" Of the
time Of Edward H.. but 1t was Dame
Juliana who was the real ancestress
OF sporting literature in England, for
she also composed an essay on hawk
ing and another on Fishing With an
Angle" the last being Of such excel
hence that Izaak Walton himself did
take hint from its pages.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
The WolPs Dem

One of the most grewsome among
animal homes is the VOLTS den. This
Is simply hole dug in the side Of a
bank or small natural cave, gener-
ally situated on the sunny side Of a
ridge and almost hidden by bushes
and loose powders. Here the wolf
lies snug. In and about his doorway
lie the remains of past feasts, which,
coupled with his own odor, make the
VOLTS den not very inviting place
Nevertheless there is something so
dread and mysterious about this soft
footed marauder that it even lends a
fascination to his honest. Nicholas.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
More Than One.

The clergyman Of a country village,
experimenting one Of his parishioners
for quarreling with his wife so loudly
and frequently as to be source Of per-
petual disturbance to the neighborhood,
In the course of his exhortation re-
marked that the Scriptures declared
that man and wife were one.
aye, that may be, SIR" answered
Hodge, 'but If you were to go by when
me and my wife are at it you'd think
there were twenty Of us."-London
Globe.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Beating OFF a Doq.

If dog springs for a man the latter
should guard his face with his arm
and try to meet the animal with his
forearm. With his right hand he
should attempt to catch one Of the
animals front paws. The paw Of a
bulldog is ultra sensitive. If 1t can be
caught a vigorous squeeze Will make
the animal howl for mercy and retire
discounted.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Base Deception,

Family Physician-I am afraid, Mrs.
Gaybird, your husband cannot last
much longer. The trouble with your
husband, madam, is that he has over
drawn his account at the bank Of vi
tally. Mrs. Gaybird-I felt sure he
was deceiving me about something.
Doctor, l give you my word, l never
knew he had any account thereto
peka Journal.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
( PIuribus unun1.

The Latin phrase "E pluribus unum"
means From many. one" 1t Is the
motto Of the United States, as being
one nation. though composed Of many
states. The expression is found orig
inally in Latin poem entitled More
tum," supposed to have been written
by the poet Virgil
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Eiuhtino Fishes of Siam.

The Siamese devote great care to the
cultivation of their famous fighting
fishes, known as plakat. The interest
In the fights, on which the spectators
stake large sums Of money, Is 50 great
that the license to hold them brings a
large annual revenue to the king Of
Siam.-WestminsterG Gazette.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Consolation.

The mistress, not wishing to offend
her cook, who had been with her but
two weeks. announced In a low, well
modulated voice, II am sorry, Ellen,
but the master found fault with your
cooking today"
-Lor', don't take no notice Of i'm,
mum. It's his blessed nature to find
fault. Amt he always finding fault
with you r'-Argonaut.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Kent Him waitino

The Scotch clergyman who invented
the percussion lock for firearms In
1905 had to wait twenty-seven years
before 1t was tested by the British
government. thirty-two years before a
regiment was armed with 1t and thir-
ty-four years before 1t was used In
war.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
ParasoI MonopIanes,

The ''parasOl plane" is really BIZ
plane with the lower pair of wings re-
moved, the engine. pilot and observer
all sitting under the upper plane and
thus giving rise to the nickname Of
''parasol." This type Of monoplane is
chiefly used for directing the fire Of
the guns. In an ordinary monoplane
It is difficult for the observer to see
below him.-Pearson's Weekly.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Excusable.

Miss Short says she's only thirty,
and I'd swear she's five and thirty If
she's a day."
swell, you see. I've heard she was a
rather backward child, dear, and didn't
learn to count till she was fve."-Ex-
change.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Givinu Due Credit,

willie, / hope your teacher appre-
GATES how much teach you at home"
THAT'S what | keep tellin' her, ma.
She said yesterday. I wonder where
you learn your bad manners, WILLIE
and said right away. Ma teaches 'em
10 me- "-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Oak Mood.

The oak is historic wood. As early
as the eleventh century it became the
favorite wood of civilized Europe, and
specimens of carving and interior fin
ish have come down to US from that
early day, their pristine beauty en-
HANGED by the subduing finger Of time.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
John Hay on Stanton.

In 'The Life and Letters Of John
Hay" is this plaintive note to Nicolay:
my dear Nico-Don't, In a sudden
spasm Of good nature, send any more
people with letters to me requesting
tavors from Stanton. / would rather
make the tour of smallpox hospital"
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Masonry WEIGHTS.

Granite or limestone masonry, well
dressed, weighs 165 pounds per cubic
foot; mortar rubble weighs 154 pounds,
dry rubble 12S pounds and well dress
ed sandstone masonry IA pounds.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Well Named.

"a wonderful man Is my uncle" said
little Binks. $50 very original and wit
y. He says he called his dog Sau-
sage because 1t was half bread, bis
goat Nearly because 1t was all butt
and his prize cockerel Robinson be-
cause II Crusoe."
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
lnspirind Mords

what" asks a contemporary, are
the most inspiring words In the Eng
1ish languageY Much might be said
on behalf of these: Enclosed end
check."-Chicago News.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Saved!

A husband was waiting outside a
jewelers., growing with impotence
his wife emerged from the shop.
'They want a thousand guineas for
It." she said.
'Thank heavensr' cried the husband.
'Now come along"-Punch-
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
She Was So Precise.

"Do you 60 in for aviationr' he ask
ed the Boston beauty.
mo, not for aviation. One goes In
for sea bathing. but for aviation one
goes up."-Judge
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
A Dukes Maxin,-

1t was a maxim Of the first Duke Of
Portland, who was a great lover Of
race horses. that there were only two
places where all men are equal-on the
turf and under the turf.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Oiscouradind,

Jester-Poor old Skinfiint has his
troubles! Jimson-what! Why. he's
making barrels and barrels Of money!
Jester-I know, but the price Of barrels
has gone up.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
CONTEMPT of Court.

Defendant lin a loud voice}-Justice,
Justice! / demand justice! Judge
Silence! The defendant will please -.
member that he Is In q courtroom
Penn State Froth.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
SUSPICION.

Once give your mind to suspicion
and there is sure to be food enough for
II. In the stillest night the air Is filed
with sounds for the wakeful ear that
b resolved to listen.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
A Wise Child,

Johnny, do you know that your
mother has been looking for your ask
ed the neighbor next door.
"Sure do" replied Johnny. That's
the reason she can't find mer'-Judge.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
The ObIiaino Proprietor.

wont you please give me an or
derT' pleaded the persistent drummer.
Certainly" replied the crusty pro-
prietor. "Get outr'
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
liza ADVANTAGE.

Teacher-What Is the difference be-
tween the sun and the moon? Pupil
Please, sir, the suns bigger and health
Ter looking than the moon because he
goes to bed earlier.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Ma Willlnn-

Smith-You and Jones don't seem to
be as friendly as you were. Does he
owe you money! Brown-No, not ex-
actly, but he wanted to.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
ESpandino.

The Old Friend-I understand that
your practice is getting bigger. The
Young Doctor-That's true. Ny pa
tent has gained nearly two pounds N
the last month.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Ouita Ea~-

Mother (annoyed)-I don't see, Elsie,
how you can be 50 naughty. Elsie
Why, mamma, 1t isn't q BIT hard-Bos-
ton Transcript
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
The eo6ssbsrry.

Gooseberry bushes were originally
called gorseberry bushes. from the
plants having prickles similar TO those
of the gorss shrub.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04
Cause ard Effect.

There Is nothing so calculated to give
q young man that tired feeling as an
nexing rich father-in-law.-New York
Times.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04

Josh Billings was right when he said,
Il don't care how much a man talks If
he only says II In few words"
The broad ax., 1915-12-04

Knew What His Few Days Meant
Quackly-By the bye, have you got
80 about you that you don't need for
q few days? Smackly-I have. but ]
might need It some dme.-ExchangA
The broad ax., 1915-12-04

Remedy your deficiencies and your
merits will take care Of themseivea-
Bulwer.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04

: No man Is a good physician who has
nsver been sick.-Afabian.
The broad ax., 1915-12-04

The innocent seldom find an uneasy
piIlow.-Cowper.
Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-02-03

ing bulk and medicinal properties to
the morning meal. but during the cold
err periods of the year something of a
more sustaining nature will be re-
quired to maintain good condition in
the laying Of stock. Those who desire
to eurtail feeding expenses without
handicapping the laying stock should
make use Of boiled clover chaff. as few
things can equal 1t for adding bulk.
'nutriment and medicinal properties to
the niashes.
Clover is rich in protein and lime
salts. and such elements play an impor-
tant part in The formation of eggs. The
clover should be finely cut, and sufii-
cient to form fourth part of the masl,
should be boiled and added to the
meals used. The tea or as much OF II
as possible made in the boiling Of the
clover should also be used. One Of the
best mashes 1t is possible to use for the
production OF winter eggs may be Sc
cured by mixing together one part boil
ed clover chat. one part pea meal, a
tenth part OF meats and sufficient
sharps to render the whole crumbly.
Ground oats may be used in the place
Of the pea meal to give variety to the
menu.