These short stories and sketches were written in 1870-1871 for The Galaxy and The Buffalo Express and made up out of sixteen various tales. The Curious Republic of Gondor is probably the most memorable of the group. He relates that education and prosperity influence the individual citizen's political clout. As revolutionary as this may first sound, either the conception or the possible negative reaction from his reader, he neglected the mention of women and their political position in this unique republic.