davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

better class. Her poor clothing is
worn with jauntiness which instant
ly appeals to one. We forget that it
is made of cheapest blue cloth, and is
so old and worn that it seems ever
on the verge of slipping from her
body. One day we asked her to sit
awhile, and, as she slipped her tea
she told the story of her life. Not
once was there a though Of complaint,
not once did she show sign Of
spirit Of rebellion. She is controlled
by custom and ancient rules, and
from their decision she knows no ap-
peal. She held her cup daintily, not
clumsily, as one might expect, with
so many self-evident signs of poverty.
She is always thanking US for letting
her come here to pull weeds and
grass. She sells these to men who
own ponies or cows, at one cash a
catty. OEo cash equals about one
thirtieth Of one cent, and catty is
one and one-third pounds. Let her
tell her life-story, in her own simple,
unaffected way, with truth and sin
cerity shining from her face as light
set on hill.
"I cannot tell much about myself.
There is not much to me. | know
worry little. When | was little girl
my father lived in a great compound.
High brick walls were on every side
and the houses were all made of brick
and stone. There were servants be-
yond counting, and many rooms in
the compound were occupied by the
members of the family. l do not
know how many brothers I had. Yes,
we had girls, too, but girls do not
count. My father had more than five
wives. One Of the first things | can
remember was my serving woman
beating me because l had torn the
bindings from my feet. We begin
binding the feet when the girl is
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

body and for the wood to cover him.
Then shall feel have done my DUTY.
mo, l do not know why | have
never had children. | have PRAYED
to every image have seen and made
prostrations in the dirt to each.
am thirty-three years old this year.
| suppose the gods do not love me
and have sent their greatest punish
ment to me. They have laid their
worst curse on my body. | have no
thought for the future. | have no
pain. have never had to think Of
what was best for me. | have never
been asked to express an opinion
about anything. l am only woman.
He will soon be dead. [ do not know
who will have me next. do not care.
L thank you for the weeds and grass.
| earn twenty to thirty cash day.
That is not much, but we do not need
much. l am glad the gods give me
strength to pull the weeds. | am
glad you have the weeds and grass
for me to pull. 1t would be harder
for him if you did not let me come
here every day l could not earn half
that much by pulling outside along
the roadways. There are so many
women and children outside, and the
goats are eating all the time. | am
not worthy. thank you. He will scold
if I do not hurry home. He does not
like me to leave him at all do not
like to leave him alone so long. He
might die while l am away. Then Il
greater sorrow might be laid on me.
l thank you. am not
worth :"
She balanced the heavy basket on
her back, jerked the shoulder~straus
to make both sides equal, bowed to
each Of US in turn, lowered her head
and drew her body forward to ba.~
ance the load, and started off toward
the gate, to home and hims
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04
The Curse

"My father gave me this piece of
jade when l was a little girl. have
always worn it about my neck. I
keep it wrapped in this piece Of old
cloth to keep people from knowing
what it is, Some man would take it
away from me if he knew it was jade
| carry. He does not know have it.
If he did know he would want me to
spend it for food and clothes. When
l look at the jade l think of my
father and mother and the nice home
l had when I was child. l have
never heard from them since l left
home. No, do not want to sell the
jade now. [ must keep it to bury
him. 1t will pay for a place for his
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04
Few of the Men Who Greeted the Nineteenth Century

y T IS indeed an interesting and
& valuable volume which has lust
~ been issued by the Bank of the
Manhattan Company "a collec-
ton Of more than four hundred auto
graphs Of leading citizens Of New
York City at the close Of the eigh-
teenth century. These names are re-
produced in facsimile from the sig
natures Of the original subscribers to
the capital stock Of the Manhattan
company, as signed by them in the
original subscription book April 20
and %, 1899, a hundred and twenty
years ago.
The volume at hand, so beautifully
gotten out, Is in honor Of the ami
Versary. The edition was limited to
1000 copies, printed on old Stratford
and Etruria handmade paper.
The Manhattan company began
business in capacity which would
be known today as that Of public
service corporation. In 1893 an epi-
demic Of fever broke out in New
York, due, in the opinion of authori-
ties, to an insufficient and contamin-
ated water supply. This company
was chartered ITO alleviate unsan;.
tary conditions by installing an ade-
quate city water SYSTEM" But
though this was the original function
Of the company, and although it con
tinued to supply water TO the city
for over forty years, its charter per
pitted 1t, from the very start, to en-
ploy its surplus capital Ia financial
hsDsactss ns.
|. 00guusnting u11n the signatures
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04
Her Wooir,g

cone day, when / was twelve, |
heard my mother talking about me,
with the old woman who had been
to see me before. They were talking
about my clothing. The middle
woman said | should have four pairs
l was also to have six white under
garments of cotton and four of linen
for the hot weather. My outer gar
ments were all to be of silk and all
must have embroidery about them.
Two heavy garments were to be lined
with silk and padded with new cot
ton. These we're to wear In the cold
weather. They talked half day
about my trunks. The middle
woman held out that I should have
four, all covered with pigskin, but
my mother was determined | should
have only two. At last it was agreed
that should have three pigskin
trunks and two boxes covered with
plain cloth. When they came to an
agreement about anything a teacher
wrote it down so there would be no
forgetting after. He would read it over
to them and had to change the writing
when one or the other said they did
not SO understand. The middle woman
grew very angry when they were talk
ing about the bedding I should have
and left the court. A servant called
her and she returned All the while
they were talking about me felt most
important, for l had never before had
value placed on me. Then thought
had not understood my mother all
my life. She had always treated me
with unconcern. because l was not a
boy, and now she was pointing out
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

home, so what more should I expect?
When l was eight my serving woman
taught me to smoke tobacco. At first
| did not like the taste Of the to-
bacco, but after she taught me to use
a water pipe I wanted to smoke all
the time. She also taught me to do
the embroidery I used on my shoes.
The servants did all the cooking, SO
I did not learn to cook until long
after, when / was older.
Sometimes we would go to the
fair. Ny brothers would go first and
then the cart would come for US.
When the boys reached the fair they
would wander all over, to sec the
things on sale. When the girls went
TO the fair we had to sit still In the
cart, outside the door, and all we
could do was watch the people pass
in and out. We might not even speak
to the girls in the other carts. Boys
and young men would pass among
the carts and speak unkindly to US,
Dut we hight UciLueT answer IRSN
nor look at thom. Our carter and our
serving woman carried sweets and
dried meats and fruits to the cart.
and we chose that which suited US
best. Sometimes they brought pea
nuts or bowls Of hot -four strings.
When the theatre was going the
carter would drive up as close to the
stage as possible, so we might hear
the music and see the actors. While
the day was still here we had to 20
home SO the cart could return for our
brothers. They would not come home
until the stars were all over the sky
and we were all asleep in our beds.
when l was ten years old my
serving woman made a mark here in
the middle of my forehead. 1t was
made with red face paint, and had to
be renewed every time | went out
side the compound. That meant that
| was old enough to become engaged
and that my parents would consider
offers for me. Soon after an old
woman came to see me. She made
my serving woman remove all my
clothing. Then she looked me over.
She made me thread a needle, to test
my eyes. She made me sew seam,
to try my skill. She looked at my
teeth and pinched my body all over,
to see if I was healthy. Then she
went away.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

~ He is only poor weed gath
%sM erer. With her basket strapped
\ to her back she comes every
morning to pick weeds and
grass in our compound. She always
has smile for every one she meets
and word of kindly greeting. She
radiates happiness and good will.
More than once we have seen her
share her pitiful gatherings with two
little orphan boys w.o come on the
same Grand One old woman, who
never seems able to fill her basket,
always seems to expect help from the
younger woman.
Life is lad at its hardest here,
and even ~ it's best holds neither
comfort ror pleasure for these over
crowded people. Mustard is gathered
little before the time when the oil
is present in the greatest quantity;
wheat is cut before it has hardened
properly; peaches are picked and sold
when the first faint blush of red APP
pears. All this is not from choice,
but from necessity. At the earliest
possible moment everything must be
turned into food or into money to
buy clothes.
Her feet are very small-no false
binding when she was a girl. Her
hands are shapely, in spite of the
hard, rough work she is doing every
day. Her speech is gentle and her
language high. These show good
birth and early association with the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04
Not E'ren a Soul


"My brothers went to school very
early each morning and were away
all the day. Only on birthdays, feast
days and temple days were they st
home. They would not return from
school until the sun was far down
beyond the houses and the darkness
was slipping over everything in the
courts. Once I asked one Of my
brothers to teach me characters. He
told mo as I had neither brains nor
soul knowledge of characters would
do me no good. Then my mother
said it was not necessary for me to
know anything. She did not know I
single character, and she had a good
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

thousand cash, and he had already
spent as much money on me as I was
worth. We were travelling for many
moons. We went only few miles
each day, and sometimes we stopped
at one city for many days. When we
reached the end of the long journey
he told me he would give me just one
year to bear him a son. At the end
of that time, if l had not fulfilled
my mission, I should be severely pun
ished. In his home he had many
daughters, but only one son, and that
son was not strong
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

veteran of Lexington and Concord,
member of the Continental Congress,
first Commissioner of the Treasury,
Postmaster General of the United
States and the friend and corresp ondent
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

themselves, "The New York Sun"
observes:
"Of all these men John Watts wrote
the clearest hand-a hand as hand
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin
and John Adams"
The first page in the book contains
the signatures of. the thirteen orig
inal directors, and Of these men,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

He signed without using the Henry
with which his name originally began,
for he had dropped it soon after the
Revolution. A more soldierly signature
than his is the fist Of Samuel Osgood.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04
His wife

Soon after, when lucky day had
been chosen, | went to his home as
his wife. He was rich, and l had fine
mirrors, clocks and silken hangings
in my room. On the second day
after my arrival at his home his
mother beat me with her stick-to
make me know she was master, she
said. My husband pulled my hair
when l did not light his pipe as he
wanted it. He took opium. He
cursed the serving woman who had
always roasted his opium and sent
her away. Then he made me do the
work for him. l had never roasted
opium before, but was soon able to
do it just as he liked it. Always,
when | lighted his pipe, l took two
draws, to see if it was going right
Soon l wanted to keep on drawing. He
took opium all the time. He could
not manage his business affairs prop
erly and lost much money. Other
men took advantage of him and took
his money away. Thus his property
rapidly dwindled.
"At the end of two years his mother
informed me that she was bring
ing home another wife for her son,
as / had failed to bear a son for him.
The new wife came-and still there
were no sons. / had told the mother
her son was a weakling and she
struck me in the face. The blow was
so hard 1t cut into my flesh and left
this scar you can see over nv left
eye. Another wife was brought. NV
husband liked her best of all. He
made the others wait on her. Soon
she was taking opium. She failed to
bear the coveted sons.
II was sold to a merchant in ex-
change for opium and Jumps of sill
yer. The merchant had a family. but
was going away to another province
and wanted me to take along, I
wanted to visit my mother before
starting on the long journey, but he
said the trip would cost him several
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

some as himself, and he and his wife,
Jane De Lancey that was, were &C.
counted the best looking couple in New
York. Burr's is the most cautious
chirography Of all: Richard Harrisons
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

This uirid sketch, achich
gices us neac insight into
Chinese life, is qca9tten By
William L. Hall, and appears
IN the April issue of "Asio."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

the most ornate, with many fourishes
and undertakings. Livingston's sigma
ture is as delicate as if woman had
written it rather than a soldier who
mad been with Schuyler and Arnold.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-05-04

all my good qualities and setting
value on each one Of them.
Then they told me I was to be
married. was to marry q man I
had never seen and they would not
even tell me his name. I asked nv
mother II he might come to our court
and play with me. She scolded me.
He lived eight miles away and could
not come that distance just to see
me. Silly TASld Then she sent me
away to another court and made me
go without food for the next meal.
One day, when was fully sixteen,
my serving woman made me dress in
my finest silk garments. She put my
hair up on my head in a way I did
not like and rubbed red powder on
my long tingernails. She pinched me
hard when I wanted to put my hair
back In braid. / saw the servants
sweeping the courts. By that sign
knew visitor of Importance was
expected, for nothing else ever made
them clean up like that. When the
day was past the middle the gateman
announced the arrival of the visitor.
II was taken into the best room, up
to the top Of the court, and made to
sit with my face turned partly from
the light This side of my face could
not be seen from the door. I was
told that I must not speak-neither
must | look up. BY the color Of her
trousers l knew it was the middle
woman who came into the room. She
walked up toward where 1 sat and
stood without speaking. Some one
was with her. He spoke. 1t was the
voice of man. He came near 70
where | sat. He spoke again. The
middlewoman took hold of my head
and turned me partly around toward
the door. My heart was full of fear.
SO / closed my eyes. / liked to hear
his voice and / wanted him to speak
again. Soon they went away. Then
my mother told me I was satisfactory
and that my future husband was
pleased with my appearance. He
came to our house just that one time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-16

consented. In the garden he posed In
a group with Nine. Foch and myself.
little girl ran out OF the house and
l spoke TO her. They explained. the
marshal and madame. that her name
was Madeline and that she was their
grandchild. After took her picture
she went after the others. They were
Jean, Anne and Henri. and they all
posed together. Two OF the little ones
were the children Of the son who was
killed in action.
After the pictures were taken the
marshal led us to the top OF hill
back OF the house that We might see
his favorite view. And there Is no
wonder. 1t Is one of the most beauti.
full views one could imagine. with the
great mansion and its magnificent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-16
Famous "Orient Express
May Be Lost to GERMANY

some continental port, and then, avail.
ing themselves of expresses through
North Germany, reach Copenhagen,
the Danish capital, entirely by land
except for very short passages over
inland straits. But. given the preju-
dice against being in Germany even
for few hours engendered by the
war, 1t is more than probable that
the bulk of travellers from England
will'go by steamboat across the North
sea and land at the Danish port OF
Esbjerg, or at Copenhagen itself. In
this way Germany will also be de-
privcd of much Of the through traffic
from England to Sweden, Norway,
Finland and northern Russia.
Germany also stands to lose the
great through express route along the
bank Of the Rhine to Switzerland, Of
which countless thousands Of Ameri-
cans and English travellers awaited
themselves in pre-war days. This
route will. in all probability. yield
first place to that through Belgium
and Strasbourg, now once more
French, to Basel. and thence to all
points in the Swiss lake and mountain
paradise that is such a prime favorite
with tourists.
There is mourning and apprehension
in Germany at the prospect of losing
pristine railway greatness. One of
the underlying reasons. it is said, for
the holding of the Frankfort import
fair this fall. and for it's contemplated
repetition twice yearly from now on,
is that the Frankforters. and with
them other Germans, are alarmed at
the dark probabilities concealed in
present-day railway projects in en-
tente countries. and are seeking to
stave off threatened disaster. Frank
fort. one Of Europe's principal railway
functions in the past, has one of the
finest railroad stations in the world.
and shivers at the thought of seeing
this grand structure crumble to decay.
In the meantime modest Stuttgart,
far away in the south of Germany, lie
brushing up in anticipation of having
the reformed Nord express run
through it.
Copyright, 1912
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-16
Good Icings for Cakes.
Copyright. 1912

Apricot or Peach Filling. Peel tho
apricots or peaches, and cut in thin
slices; beat the whites of two eggs
until light: then add gradually four
tablespoons of powdered sugar and
beat hard until it will stand alone. Put
a layer of this upon the layer of cake.
then layer of the fruit another layer
of cake on top Of this; repeat for as
many layers as you have; dust the top
with sugar, and serve.
Ice Cream Filling.-Two whites of
eggs, four tablespoons of powdered
sugar, f1avoring. Beat the whites until
only foamy, then beat in the sugar by
degrees and beat until smooth. stiff
and glossy 1t should be as stiff as
mcringue. not as stiff as icing The
same may be used for the top OF the
cake also.
Lemon Icing.-Squeeze and strain
. the juice Of a lemon; stir into it. by
degrees, enough sugar to enable you to
spread the icing. Having covered the
top of the cake. set away for one or
two hours in a cool place. If deeper
icing is required. after the cake has
stood for few minutes add second
layer Recommended.
Boiled Chocolate Glace.-Place a
small saucepan, with onc-half pound
sugar one-quarter pound grated choco-
late and one-half pint water. over the
fire. and stir and boil till it forms a
thread between two fingers; remove
from fire and stir till thin skin forms
on top of the glace; then use it at
once; spread over the cake and set for
few minutes in cool oven
Chocolate Icing.-To one pound OF
fine loaf sugar add half pint Of cold
water; boil over brisk fire until the
sugar. when pressed with the fingers.
presents the appearance Of strong
glue; add six ounces nf grated choco-
late; flavor with vanilla.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-16

gardens its climax. When We return.
ed to the house madame had gathered
me great bunch of flowers. They
were red gladioli, white dahiiac and
blue hortensias. Tho tricoloc of
France" madame remarked as she
handle them to lie. And OF my coun-
try. too.' I said.. an answer that seem.
cd to please her immensely.
Then reluctantly babe them adieu.
With the most courtly grace in the
world. the marshal expressed his fe-
licitations, invited me to visit their
town house In Paris. then kissed my
hand in farewell. And as the motor
sped up the beautiful road toward
Morlaix, and l looked back, 1 saw
the marshal still standing at the door.
waving his adieus.
Copyright. 1912