davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08
Rats.

We notice the systematic attack made by
rats in New Haven, on some children, each
singing out his victim, and jumping with
simultaneous squeal uon the little girls
playing in yard. A little boy of two years
was caught by the knee and held until the
child's grandfather went to his assistance,
and then, as the rat scorned to run, it had to
be killed Attempts had been made to poison
these rats, with a partial success, and it may
have been in retaliation for the poisonous
attempts that this concerted charge was
made.
The rat is one of the most interesting
animals on the globe. In Europe he marks
historical eras-difterent hordes Of invaders
brought their peculiar rats in their train.
Europe has seen the rats of the Goths, the
Vandas and the Huns. Europe now has
its Norman rat, and its Tartar rat, and the
great rat of the Partisan sewer is of recent
date and Muscovte origin.
The brown rat, otherwise known as the
Norman rat, has established itself all over
the world by the commerce of civilized times;
it had possession of France for the last six or
seven centuries but within the last it has
found its master in the Muscovite, and Tartar
rat, called in Paris the rat of Mountfaucon.
These new rats previously unknown to
Europe, decended from the heights of the
great central plateau of Asia, from which
the Hun and Mongol horsemen descended,
who spread right and left, and took possession
of Rome on the one hand and Pekin on the
other
The establishment of the Muscovite rat in
France commenced with the extirpation of
the brown or Norman rat-that rat has
almost disappeared, and is found only in the
cabinets of the curious collectors-while the
Muscovite rat is daily increasing in size,
ferocity and courage. The Russian rat devours
the dog, the cat, and attacks the child asleep.
The corpse of man is dainty for the beast
and it always commences by eating out the
eyes. Its tooth is most venomOus; and the
author from whom we derive most of this
article, states that he has known ten cases
of amputation of the leg, necessitated by the
bite of this rat.
The cat turns tail upon this rat, in its
most ferocious state. A good rat terrier is
the best destroyer, but fortunately the rats
are ratophagus, eat one another, fight duels,
indulge in broils and intense feuds and grand
destructive battles. Were it otherwise, they
would make this world an unpleasant place
for man to live in We should have to fight
our way and not unfrequently, like the
Archbishop of Mayence, should be dragged
from our beds at midnight by an army Of
rats and devoured upon the spot.
The rat is an emblem of misery, murder
and rapine-a cannibal and robber-devo-
ted to the principles of war and spoilation.
Will it ever disappear?
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08
How they Read the Newspaper.

1t is proof Of the great variety of human
development to notice persons reading a
newspaper.
Mr.. General Intelligence first glances at
the telegraph, then at the editorial, and then
he goes into the correspondence.
Mr.. Sharper opens with stocks and mar
kets and ends with the advertisements for
wants hoping to find victim.
Aunt Sukey first reads the stories-then
looks to see who is married.
Miss Prim looks at the marriages first,
and then reads the stories.
Miss Marvellous is curious to see the list
of accidents, and the like.
Uncle Ned looks up fnnny things, and
laughs with a will.
Madame Gossip turns to the local depart
ment for her thunder, and having obtained
that throws the paper aside.
Mrs. Friendly drops the first tear of sym
pathy over the deaths, and then over tht
marriages, for says she, one is about as bac
as the other.
Mr.. Politician dashes into the telegraph
and from that into the editorial, ending with
the speeches alluded to.
Onr literary friend is eager for nice com
position from the editor, or some kind cor
respondent. After analyzing the rhetoric
grammer, and the logic of the production,
he turns careless glance at the news depart
ment, and then takes to his Greek, perfectly
satisfied.
The pleasure seeker examines the pro
gramme of public entertainment, and de
cdes which will afford him the greatest
amount of amusement.
The laborer searches among the wants fol
better opening in his business, and-bu'
enough, an extenuation of the list is useless
There is just as much difference in readers
as in-anything.
But the worst is yet to come. If each
does not find column or less of his peculiar
liking, the paper is good for nothing.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

LocoMor1vEs.-Wh locomotives were
first built, they weighed less than five tons
This was in 1928; since then passengers and
freight has increased, car after car has been
supplied for their accommodations, and ton
after ton has been added to the weight of the
engine in order to enable it to move the
additional burden imposed upon it, until
those Of the largest class upon the English
roads have attained the enormus tweight of
81 tons, and in the United States to between
20 and 80 tons. The first locomotive per-
formed % miles an hour. They now perform
from 40 to so miles. This increase shows a
rapid improvement. The first locomotive
cost So 900. The st Clair, belonging to the
Hudson River Railaoad, cost $l2,5OO. The
first locomotive nsed in the United States
was the John Bull" on the Albany and
Schenectady Railroad. The engine is now
at the Albany Nail Factory, where it is kept
rs a curiosity.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08
AUBURN, PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, MARCH s 1856

STEAMSHIP CoMMU NICATIoN BETWEEN ENG
LAND AND AMERIcA.-The London Meas, of
January Sth, says In and after May next
fifteen gigantic mail steam packets will leave
Europe for the American continent viz: Sew
en- English packets, four United States, three
Belgian and one Portuguese. Fourteen Of
these will start from or touch at England
the Portuguese packet being the single ex-
ception; eight of the fourteen steamers will
start from Southampton, and the remaining
six from Liverpool These mail packets will
cross the Atlantic by three different routes,
which will terminate on the American side
at the Brazils, Central America and the
United States. Rio de Janeiro will be the
most southern point touched at by them and
Halifax, in Nova Scotia, the most northern
point. In connection with these Atlantic
lines, there will be nearly twenty tributary
ones, some Of them as long as the Atlantic
lines themselves. BY these the whole of the
American continent, down as far south as the
river Platte, on the eastern side of the great
continent, and from Peru to Oregon, in the
Pacific; also the whole of the adjacent is
lands, including those of the West Indies,
will be supplied with European correspond
ence.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

Frozen FLEsH.-Mr. A. Bronson, of Mead
Vile, Pa says from fifteen years expernce he
finds that Indian meal poultce, covered with
young hyson tea, softened with not water and
laid over burns or frozen flesh, as hot as can
be borne, will relieve the pain in five min
utes. If blisters have not arisen before, they
will not after it is put on, and that one poul-
tice is generally sufficient to effect cure.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

The Power OF LovE.-The Toledo Blade
of the 10th inst, says: A woman who had
lain in Jail for some weeks, on charge OF
larceny, obtained her liberty yesterday, by
prevailing on the man from whom she stole
the property to marry her. The ceremony
took place in Jail, and when the man was
called before the grand jury as prosecuting
witness, he said the prisoner was his wife and
he did not wish to prosecute her. The grand
jury, therefore, ordered her to be set at lib
ertv.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

USE OF SALT IN COOKING VEGETABLES
Here is something every body ought to have
known long ago, and that every body should
now read and remember:
If one portion of vegetables be boiled in
pure distilled or rain water, and another in
water to which a little salt has been added,
a decided difference is perceptible in the
tenderness of the two. Vegetables boiled in
pure water are vastly inferior. This infer
iority may 60 so far, in the case of onions.
that they are almost entirely destitute of
either taste or odor though when cooked in
salted water, in addition to the plesent salt
taste, they have peculiar sweetness and q
aroma. They also contain more soluble
matter than when cooked in pure water.
Water which contains 1-420th of its weight
of salt is far better for cookiog vegetables
than pure water, because the salt hinders
the solution and evaporation of the soluble
and havoring principles of the vegetables.
Scientific 1mericdn.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

Mrs. Gaines Case.-The fact has hereto
fore been announced, that the Supreme Court
of Louisiana had decided that Mrs. Gaines
was entitled to the valuable estate in New
Orleans which formerly belonged to the
late Daniel Clark. In order to obtain actual
possession Of the property, she is now at
liberty to institute actions of eiectnient
against those now in possession ofthe estate,
but it is said she is disposed to make reason
able and liberal compromises with the occu-
pants or owners.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE's SIS
rER-The Glasgow (Scotland) MaH says:-
In the course Of argument by counsel, in the
case before the Court of Sessions last week,
respecting the legality of a marriage with a
deceased wife's sister, one of the counsel said
it was doubtful point whether such mar
riage was prohibited in the Levitical law; on
which Lord Ardmillan remarked, that he was
surprised none of the counsel had referred
to Jacob marrying two sisters, and to the
fact that our Savior was descended from one
of them.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08
THE PLACER HERALD.

PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY, AT THE OFFICE
Main Street, Auburn, Cal, (at the old stand,) by
TABB MITCHELL JAMES ANDERSON.
MITCHELL & ANDERSON.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08
FOR ADVERTISING:

One square of TEN LINES, or more than five' first
insertion $500; each subsequent insertion, $50.
For half square of FIVE LINES, or less $780, each
subsequent insertion Sl,OO
rF- Liberal deductions made to monthly adver-
tisers.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

THE Difficulties Multiplying.-By an ar
rival at New-York from Bermuda, difficulty
is reported to have taken place at Antigua
between the American and British command
ers in port, owing to negro having been
taken from an American vessel by the English
on the pretense that he was slave. The
Cyane on arriving in port, refused to salute
British ship there, but placed herself in a
very menacing position. She sailed again
after receiving explanations.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08
TERMS:

Subscriptions invariably in advance. For one
wear, $500; six months s4,OO three months $3.50
one month Sl,O0; single copies, twenty five cents
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

A correspondent of the S. F. Bulletin
gives the following recipes. He says these
cures can vouch for, as have tried them
personally, and have cured Others many
times.
"For nails growing down sideways" Cut
the nail square at the end; notch it down in
the middle till the flesh is slightly cut; then
scrape the nail very thin on line from the
notch to the back part of the nail; keep it
notched and scraped for two or three weeks,
and perfect cure is effected. There is no
pain in the operation, and the pain from
stepping is almost Immediately relieved.
"To cure Corns:" Cut the corn in the cen
tre until it bleeds slightly, then apply plas
ter composed Of tar, thinly spread on linen
rag, and the filings of cent filed on rather
thick. This applied at night will cause pain
enough to keep person awake most all
night One application of night will prob
ably cure-two certainly will.
"For hair falling off from Panama fever:"
mixture of sweet oil two thirds, brandy
one-third; stopped mine when nearly bald by
three thorough applications, one every other
day.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

Kitchen girls are now termed young ladies
of the lower paror.' People who 60 about
grinding knives scissors and razors are
termed gentlemen of the revolution Folks
who dig CLAIMS are termed profound investigs-
tors'
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08
JOB PRINTING.

Large additions have recently been made to the
Job Office, and work of all descriptions VIII oe
executed in q superior manner.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

The Ladies of Gallatin, Missouri, are al
ready using the privileges allowed the fair
sex during leap year. A Gallatin paper has
the following announcement: Lost-We
are requested by two young, ladies of this
few days ago, Cuff Pin and piece Of
black velvet, for which the finder will liberal-
ly rewarded if good looking and comes we'll
recommended. Two finders would be pre-
ferred, and they young men.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

The Almanacs say that Saturn's ring will
be visible all of this year, with the aid of a
telescope, their southern surface being now
turned toward the earth. This planet will
be evening star until June 81, then morning
star until December 81, then evening star
until the 10th Of July, 1857.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

MArR1MoNlAL.-During the last year the
venerable Father Streeter, pastor of the
First Universalist Society in Boston, united
1875 couples in marriage, and during the Pc
riod that he has served as a pastor of the
same society he has soemnized the marriage
ceremony for $3.50 couples.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

ANCIENT AND MODERN CIrIEs.-London is
now the greatest city in the world, and far
surpasses all the great cities of antiquity.
According to Gibbon, the population of an
cient Rome in the height Of its magnifcence,
was 1,2OO,O00; Nineveh is estimated to have
had 0OO,OOO; and DR.. Medhurst supposes
that the population of Pekin is about 2,ooo,-
600. The population of London, according
to recent statistics, amounts to 2,5O0O 1000
414,722 having been added to it during the
last ten years. The census shows that it
contains 3O7, inhabited, and 16,399 un-
inhabited houses.
TELEGRAPuIC PRoGREss.-lt is but eleven
years since the first telegraph line, of 40
miles in length, of Professor Morse was
built, and now there are no less than $4,000
miles of telegraph wire on our continent.
In Europe lines Of telegraph have been con-
structed to an extent rivang those in Amer
ica. The electric wire extends under the sea
of the English Channel, the German Ocean
and the Mediterranean. They pass from
crag to crag on the Alps, and run through
Italy, Switzerland, France, Germany and
Russia. They may yet extend through the
Atlantic Ocean.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

Inclined to run away--country horses and
half grown boys. The former, when they
pass bung.dum darby procession, and the
latter, the first time they read the life of the
Avenging Pirate, or Lone Star of Beelzebub.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

The Madrid Gazette, of December 18th.
contains royal degree sanctioning the bill
adopted by the Cortes, which declares Spain
an inviolable asylum for foreigners and that
the giving up of political refugees shall never
be consented to in any treaty for the extra
dition Of criminals.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08
Remarkable Fountain in Florida,

Taking a narrow path, | crossed through
some dense underwood, and all at once
stood on the banks of Wakulla Springs
There was a basin of water one hundred
yards in diameter, almost circular. The thick
bushes were growing almost to the waters
edge, and bowing their heads under its un-
rippled surface. | stepped into skiff and
pushed off. Some immense fishes attracted
my attention, and l seized a spear to strike
them. The boatman laughed and asked me
how far below the surface supposed they
were? | answered, about four feet. He as
sured me that they were at least twenty from
me, and it was so. The water is of the most
marvellous transparency. dropped an or
dinary pin in the water, forty feet deep, and
saw its head with perfect distinctness as it
Jay on the bottom. AS we approached the
centre, noticed a jagged grayish limestone
rock beneath us, pierced with holes; through
these holes one seemed to look into un-
fathomable depths. The boat moved slowly
on, and now we hung trembling over the
edge of the sunken cliff, and far below it lay
a dark, yawning, unfathomable abyss. From
its gorge comes pouring forth with immense
velocity living river.
L uSllIIS Oll JuSC DeyOHu ltS uIOp-
ped ten cent piece into the water, which is
there one hundred and ninety feet in depth,
and clearly saw it shining on the bottom.
This seems incredible. | think the water
possesses magnifying power. | am conf
dent that the piece could not have been so
plainly seen from the top of a tower one
hundred and ninety feet high. We rowed
on towards the north side, and suddenly we
perceived the water, the fish which were dart
ing hither and thther, the long flexible roots
and the wide luxuriant grasses on the bot
tom, all arrayed IN the most brilliant pris
matte hues. The gentle swell occasoned by
the boat, gave to the whole an undulating
motion. Deathlike stiffness reigned around,
and a more fairylike scene l never before
beheld.
So great is the quantity of water here
poured fourth, that it forms river of itself,
large enough to float fiat boats laden with
cotton. The planter who lives here has
thus transported his cotton to st. Marks.
Near the fountain we saw some of the re-
mains of mastadon which had been taken
from it. The triangular bone below the
knee measured six inches on each side. AL
most the entire skeleton has been sent to
Barnums Museum.
The Indian name of the fountain is beauti-
fully significant. Wakulla means "The Mys-
terry" 1t is said that the Spanish discover
ers sprang into it with almost frantic joy,
supposing they had discovered the long
sought "Fons Juventutis," or fountain Of
youth, which should renovate them after
their exhaustng marches and battles.
BaWou'S Pictorial.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08
NUMBER 26.

from the above collision; and that this is but
the beginning Of troubles.
A Mr.. Brown, who headed the free State
men in the above encounter, was taken on
the following day, while on his way to Lea
venworth, by party of border men, and
subsequently so severely maltreated by them
that he died of his injuries
The weather has been intensely cold
throughout the northern States-the ther-
mometer ranging from ls to 25 degrees be-
low zero. Railway travelling was much in
convenienced by the snow; and making
''time" was out of the question.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

The 'American Almanac gives the fol-,
lowing as the total population of the Globe:
Africa 90 ,0O0,000; America, 57,7o9,es2;
Asia, 100000; Australia, 1,414,000; Eu-
rope, 262 2,5l7,521; Polynesia, 100000
Total 1850, 400,
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

Ax1oMs FOR AMBAssADoRs.-"Keep good
table and be civil to the women" was Napo-
Icons summary of instruction.
"Above all no zeal" was the axiom Of Tai
leyrand.
"Listen and look said third epigrama-
tist, "but tell and show nothing
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

Quite a rumpus has been kicked up at
Chicago in consequence of the City Council
voting to themselves gold-headed canes which
cost $55 each, amounting in the aggregate
to about 81 900.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08
GENERAL ADVERTISING AGENCY
No. 81 MERCHANT STREET,
SAN FRANCISCO.
Advertisements and Subscriptions
RECEIVED BY

RECEIVED BY
THOMAS BOYCE, AGENT,
No. 81 Merchant street, and Room No. 9, up stairs,
Iron Building, northeast corner Of Montgomery
and Washington streets, for "THE PLACER
HERALD" AUBURN;
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

A PRAcTICAL SERMoN.-The New Haven
Register says few Sundays since, certain
highly popular and talented clergyman Of
the Methodist Church read to his congrega-
ton the second chapter Of Paul's Epistle to
the Ephesians, the 10th verse of which is
as follows:
"Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers
and foreigners, but fellow-citzens with the
saints and the houshold of God"
After reading this verse, he deliberately
raised his eyes to the congregation and re-
marked, "My dear hearers-St. Paul was not
Know Nothing" and without another word
of comment went on with his read. The rev.
erend gentle though opposed to making
political remarks in the pulpit, could not let
slip so favorable an opportunity of defining
St. Paul's position on Hindooism.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL SKrLL.-To show
how mechanical skill and labor add to the
value of raw material, the British Quarterly
Review gives this instructive calculations A
bar of iron valued at SIS, worked into horse
shoes, is worth $lO,5O; needles, 1855; pen
knife blades, 1925; shirt buttons, $29, ,4SO;
balance springs Of watches $25O,O0O. Thir-
ty-one pounds of iron have been made into
wire upwards of one hundred and eleven
miles in length, and so fine was the fabric,
that a part of it was converted, in lieu of
horse hair, into barrister's wig.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

SnoAL IN New YORK HARBoR.-In the
late re-survey shoal, it is said, has been
discovered in the main ship channel, south Of
the Narrows, near West Bank. The great
est depth of water found in the harbor is
twenty fathoms and the least one fathom.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

THE GRAVE OF MADlsoN.-A bill has been
reported in the Senate of Virginia providing
for the erection of plain tomb, of granite
or marble, over the grave of James Madison.
1t is somewhat singular and Notifying
fact that up to this time no stone has marked
the place where rests the mortal remains of
this ilustrious man. Should the tomb be
erected, it will bear the following inscription;
James Madison, born March S, 1851, Co. S;)
died 2sth June, 1886. Virginia marks with
sincere affection the grave of her son, the
author of the Federal Constitution the pa
triot and statesman"
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08

The HERMrTAGE.-The Nashville Union
says: We notice with pleasure the passage of
bill in the House to purchase for the State
five hundred acres of ground, including the
tomb of Jackson and the buildings Of the
Hermitage. The price fixed does not exceed
the actual value of the property, indepen-
dent of its association. We presume
there is no doubt of the passage of the bill
in the Senate, and that Tennessee will be the
owner, for all time, of the tomb Of her most
illustrous son, and of the beautiful fields
which he SO we'll loved.
The Placer herald., 1856-03-08
AGENTS.

GARDNER & KIRK, Sacramento, at their Book
Store, Post Office Block.
THOMAS BoYCE, San Francisco, No. 81, Merchant
street.
WELLS. FARGO & CO., and the PACIFIC
EXPRESS CO. are our General Agents for Placer
County,. Advertisements, Job Work or Subscrlp-
tions to the Herald lett at either of their offices
Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-05-05
MISUNDERSTANDING Giant.
Auvt..u,r Glob

Ntite Nlant.
AEricHuEE-Large GlOb
Bs.Ns-Lsrge Lima; small DO,
Rcd Cranberry; Scarlet Runners;
Broad Windsor.
SNAP Early Yellow; Six
Weeks: 30 Mohawk 20 China;
de- Valentine do Half Moon
Refugee 100 to one Red Gran
berry.
HEEr-EArly Blood Turnip
Rooted do yellow do; Long
Blood French Sugar Mangvi
WurtEel.
REocou-Purple Cape White
CAPE.
CARBAGE-Early York Large
do, harry Sugar Loaf. do Batter
sea do oNhear; Flat Dutch
Drum Head Large u rgen
Green Curled Savoy DruuIiead
Savoy Red Dutch Tor Picking.
CLULiTLowEKs-E and
Late.
CELERY White Solid Red do;
CARRor-Loug Orange early
HON ; Altringham; White Yield;
CAEs s-Curled or Pepper
grass.
CUcUNBEKs-Early Frame do
Cluster, Long green; Long Green
SouthgAts GheTkin.
C"KS-EaTly Sugar do Tusca-
rora do yellow.
FNpivg-Green Curled.
EGG PIASI.
K,LE-Sibrrian Curlrd.
LSrrrcK-Royal White Head
Ice Drumhrad Brown Dutch
Curlrd India or Cape.