davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-04-20
IMPROVEMENTS.

IMPROVEMENTS. SO rapidly are
improvements going on in the city
that we can scarcely keep pace with
them. Wherever we go we see piles
of brick on the streets, and cellars
being dug. We were surprised tosee
that Charley Underestimate & Bro,
proprietors Of the Washington Foun-
dry and Machine Shop. have new
brick building, iron front, up to the
top of the second story. The build
ing is 70 feet front, rs feet deep, and
will be two stories high. 1t will be a
handsome addition to. that part of the
city 1t is located near the corner of
Elm and First Streets opposite He'll
mans Foundry Immediately be-
yond, onaithe same side of First
Street, Chris Kratz has commenced
the erection Of mammoth agricul-
tural and seed warehouse and gen.
eral machine depot. The building
will be of brick, handsome iron front,
three stories high, fronts q feet on
First Street, and is 100 feet deep. 1t
will be valuable Improvement, and
highly 9creditable to its enterprising
proprietor. Farr & johnson are the
contractors. t'Ts
+. Two new building are projected on
First Street, below Vine-one by Geo.
Stobel. as a bakery, and the other by
Simon Gumberts, as business house,
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15

with - 'devilish foine FORM" sweet face,
and charming smile, and a perfect adj
for somebody's taste in selecting
them to be the recipient of such favors.
1t is said BY those in the secret, that as
the hour of 4:30 drew near there was some
thing of excitement on Wisconsin street.
A we'll known lumberman might have been
seen promenading up and down, a we'll
known lawyer might have been seen peep
ing into Tunis' window. a dry goods gem
tleman might have been seen standing on
the corner opposite casting turtive glances
over the way. An exquisite insurance
man, Il dandy banker cashier, and num-
ber of well known :" lady killers" of vari-
ovs avocatons, also might have been seen
in that vicinity, all anXiously y looking for
a blue ribbon and a roll of music. There
were many incidents connected with the
affair which We have no time or inclination
to notice Somebody after waiting some
thing Ike an hour, and seeing 80 many ol
his friends in the vicinity, d" smelled some
thing" and the deluded gentlemen found
that they had been considerably sold out
They went home, we trust, wiser men, and
we hope will not be caught i'll SO foolish :;
trap again and that they will keep the lit
tie scented notes that tell OF blue ribbon
and roll Of music from their wives eyesi light
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15
- PLAYING Doctor"

We ask the pardon of the "medicals y
for relating the following suggestive anec-
dotc ut the same time We invite fathers
and mothers to nuke note of 1t
Harry was the SON of 4 physician, and
often amused himself by playing doctor,
compounding his powders and pills out of
the sand and gravel of the garden One
day, while thus engaged large toad
hopped near him, and seating itself leisurely
upon its launches, proceeded to open and
shut its mouth as if inviting the doctor ;
attention. II ,caS catching flies
Good morning, Mr.. Toad, said Harry,
delighted at the idea of having a live
patient Come to be doctored? Got de
dropsy, p'raps."
Mr. Toad winked and gulped, as much
as 10 say, Yes, sir, very bad"
Yes, YES, understands your case
'zactly You jes please to wait minute,
and I'll cure YOU, double quick"
Now it happened that Harry had seen
his father prepare some compound rhubart
pills that morning, and it occurred to him
that here was 4 favorable opportunity tC
test their efficacy. In less time than il
takes to write it, the aspiring young doctor
secured one of the pills and dropped i
into the open mouth of the confdingpatient
.Gues, Eve fixed YOU now soliloquizeC
the doctor When I cures. | cares, an,
when | ia nj cures, Kills"
Mr. Toad gulped and swallowed, an,
began to bloat, and bloat, until Harr,
thought he must he the very frog allude'
to in his reader, that tried to outdo th
OK \ moment more, and the poor patien
turned livid purple, gave one last gasp
and expired. His ty-catching days wer
ended, His doctor had killed him
Harry buried his dead patient with
grave face and sat down to mediate upol
the virtue OF compound rhubarb pills
Whatever was his condition afterward, h
could with difficulty be persuaded te tax
his fathers medicines. always ohiectin,
upon the plea, . They killed the toad."
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15
asu <iIailiu OH the Gorilla.

In his d" Journey to Ashango Land VI.
Du Chaillu giye- the following account of
his latest observations OF the gorilla:
had not been i'll the village long be-
fore news came that gorrillas had been re-
Gently seen in the neighborhood Of 4 plan
tation only half Il mile distant Early in
the morning Of the 18th Of June [ wended
my way thither, accompanied by one OF my
boys named Odango. The plantation was
large one, and situated on very broken
ground, surrounded by the virgin forest.
1t was a lovely morning the sky was al
most cloudless, and all around was still as
death, except the slight rustling of the
tree-top> moved by the gentle land breeze.
/ When | reached the place, | had first to
pick lny way through the maze of tree
stunps and half burnt logs by the side of
of field Of cas>ada was going quietly
along the borders Of this when | heard, III
the grove Of plantain trees toward which
| was walking, great crashing noise, like
the breaking Of trees. ! Immediately hid
myself behind d bush, and was soon graft
fed with the sight Of Il female gorilla
but before had time to notice its move
ncnts a second and third emerged from
\ the masses of colossal foliage at lengtl
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15

no less than four came into view. They
were all busily engaged in tearing down
the larger trees. One of the females had
young one following her.
| had an excellent opportunity of watch
ing the movements of the implsh looking
band. The shaggy hides, the protuberant
abdomens, the hideous features of these
strange creatures, whose forms so nearly
resemble man, made up picture like some
vision i'll morbid dream. In destroying
tree, they first grasp the base of the stem
with one of their feet and then with their
powerful arms pull it down, matter of
not much difficulty with so loosely formed
stem a. that of the plantain. They then
set upon the juicy heart of the tree at the
bases of the leaves and devoured it with
great yoracity. While eating they made a
kind of chuckling noise, expressive Of con-
tentment. Many trees they destroyed APP
parently out Of pure mischief. Now and
then they stood still and looked around.
Once or twice they seemed on the point of
starting off i'll alarm, but recovered them
selves and continued their work. Gradu-
ally they got nearer to the edge Of the dark
forest, and finally disappeared. | was so
intent on watching them that let 90 the
last chaice of shooting one almost before |
became aware of it. The next day ] Went
again with Odango to the same spot. |
! had no expectation of seeing gorlllas III the
same plantation, and was carrying IA light
shot gun, having given my heavy double
barreled rifle to the boy to carry. The
plantation extended over two hills with Il
? III ,,lantal
I cane.
Before had crossed the hollow | saw
on the opposite slope monstrous gOrlll;
standing erect and looking directly towarC
me Without turning my face ! beckonec
to the boy to bring me my rifle, but NJ
rifle came-the little coward had bolted
and lost my chance. The huge bea>
stared at me for about two minutes, an,
then, without uttering amy cry, moved OF
to the shade of the forest, running nimbly
on his hands and feet. As my reader
may easily imagine, | had excellent op
portunity Of observing, during these tw,
DAYS, the manner iii which the gorilla
walked when in open ground. They NOV
along with great rapidity and Oh all fours
that j. the knuckles OF their hands touch
liS tut Si'uii -At'l''7' az - II i''ii
the gorilla walking, generally make tn
arms too much bowed outward, and tn
elbows too much bent this gives the tgur
an appearance Of hcavine>s and awkward
ness. When the gorillas that watche
left the plantain trees, they moved at ;
great pace over the ground, with thei
arms extended straight forward towar
the ground and moving rapidly. | ma
mention also, that having now opened tn
stomach> OF several freshly killed gorilla:
have never found ANYTHING but yegetabl
f matter In them
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15
The Last Wager of Battle i'm England.

An English paper says: There has
died IN Birmingham poor old man. one
event of whose history forms an important
mark in the progress OF civilization in Eng
land. especially aS relating to the old bar
berou4 mode of settling disputes, and trying
causes by the wager OF battel' The de-
ceased. William Ashford. was the last person
who was challenged in an English court to
meet. IN single combat, man whom he had
accused "a the murderer of his sister On
the 1tith dav OF MAY, 1917. Il beautiful
Young woman named Mary Ashford, IN her
twentieth wear. Went To 4 dance at ErdIng-
ton, without proper protection. She left
the festive scene at Il late hour, accompa-
MED bv a Young man named Abraham
Thornton farmers son i'll the neighbor-
hood They were last seen talking together
at a neighboring stile near the place, but
next morning She was found dead in a PIT
OF water: and there were evidences that
she had been murdered General suspicion
pointing to Thornton, he was arrested, and
tried for murder at Warwick as>ize in Au-
gust but though strong circumstantial
evidence was against him. the defense,
which was an aiibi. obtained Il verdict of
Il not guilty
:" The feeling of surprise and Indignation
at his acquittal was 50 intense that new
trial was called for, and an appeal was en-
tered against the verdict by William Ash
ford. the brother, and next kin to the
murdered girl. Thornton was again appre-
/ hended, and seat to London III November,
to be tried before Lord E,llenborough and
the full Court of Queens Bench. Instead
of regular defense by arguments, evidences
and witnesses, Thornton boldly defed all
present modes of jurisdiction, and claimed
his right, according to ancient custom, &c
challenge his accuser to fight him, and de-
eide his innocence or guilt by the wager OF
battel His answer to the court was, MOI
gully, and | am ready to defend the sam,
by my body He accompanied these word,
by the old act of taking off his glove anC
throwing it down upon the floor Of th'
court.
- At this stage of the proceedings vii
liam Ashford, who was in court, actual,
came forward, and was about to accept tn
challenge by picking up the glove, when h
; was kept back by those about him. Witt
what wonder did the assembly, and indee,
: the nation, ask, Can a prisoner insist o.
so obsolete a mode of trial in such a tim
OF light the nineteenth century, Blu
with greater wonder and regret was tn
Judgment of the court received for, afte
, several adjournments, it was decided i
April. 1918, that the law of England wa
in favor of the wager battel : that the oil
laws sanctioning it had never been repealed
and that, though this mode of trial had be
come obsolete it must be allowed Thor
7 ton was therefore discharged, and, bein
+ set at liberty, left England for Americ;
/ where he died in obscurity"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15

SIR j HERSHEL on THE BRIGHTNESS OF
THE SUN.-Let me say something now OF
the light Of the sun. The means We have
of measuring the intensity OF light are not
nearly 50 exact a. IN the case Of heat-but
this at least we know-that the most IN
tense lights we can produce artiiciallv. are
as nothing compared surface for surface
with the sun The most brilliant and
beautiful light which can Ice artiticially
produced is that Of a ball Of quicklime
kept violently hot by Il flame of mixed
ignited oxygen and hydrogen gases playing
on its surface. Such a ball, if brought
near enough to appear Of the same size as
the sun does, can no more be looked at
without hurt than the sun-but if it be
held between the eve and the sun. and both
50 enttebled by dark glass to allow of
their being looked at together-it appears
as a black spot on the sun or a. the black
outline on the moon IN an eclipse, seen
thrown upon it 1t has been asccrtained
by experiments which | cannot now de
scribe. that the brightness, the intrinsic
spendor, Of the surface OF such 4 ime-ball
is only l4'ith part of that of the suns sur
face That Is to say, that the sun gives
out as much light as l46 balls of quicklime
each the same size of the sun, and each
heated all over its surface in the way |
have described which Is the most intense
heat we can raise, and in which platina
melts like lead And then in further
section Sir John iershel tells Us that the
nucleus or kernel Of the sun itself, at an
immeasurable depth beneath its intensely
luminous photosphere, emits so little light
as to appear, IN the comparison, quite
black though that does not prevent its
being in as vivid state Of fiery glare as
white-hot iron; when we remember what
has been said of the lime light appearing
black against the suns surface. And it is
fact. that when Venus and Mercury pass
across the sun, and are seen as round spots
on it, they do really appear sensibly black
er than the blacker parts of the spots :" so
that even the kernel of the sun is probably
a luminous body, though 80 much less lu-
minous than its outer envelopes as to seem
quite dark in the comparison.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15
The Musicians Marriage.

After having passed the summer IN visit
ing the principal towns Of Germany, the
celebrated pianist, List arrived at Prague,
in October, SIC
The next day after he came his apart
ment was entered by 4 stranger-;ul old
man, whose appearance Indicated misery
and suffering. The great musician receiv-
ed him with cordiality which he would
not. perhaps. have shown to = nobleuam.
Encouraged by his kindncs~, his visitor
said
a. come to you, sir rs a brother Ey-
cuse me if take this title, notwithstand-
ing the distance that divides as but for
merly could boast some skill iii PLAYING
ON a piano, and by giving instruction
gained It comfortable livelihood. Now i
am old, feeble, burdened with u large fam
lily, and destitute Of pupils. | live at Nu-
remburg, but | came to Prague 70 seek tc
recover the remnant OF It small property
which belonged to my ancestors. Although
nomnally successful, the expense Of Il long
litigation has more than swallowed Up the
trifing sum | recovered. To-day set
out for home-pennile~s.
And you have come to me? You
have done well, and thank you for thi>
proof Of your esteem To assist a brother
professor is TO me more than a duty, ii j.
IA pleasure Artists should have theil
purse in common and If fortune meelec
some, III order to treat others better than
they deserve. it only makes it more neces
sary to preserve the equilibrium by fra
ternal kindness. That's my system; =
don't speak Of gratitude, for feel that
only discharge Il debt"
As he uttered these generous worCi-
List opened drawer in his writing ease
and started when he saw that this usua
depository for his money contained bu
three ducats. He summoned his servants
Where is the money ;" he asked
There, sir replied the man, pontn
to the open drawer.
There. Why, there's scarcely any
thing.
Il know it, sir If YOU please to r'
member, | told YOU yesterday that tn
cash was nearly exhausted"
You see my dear brother" said Lisz
| smiling. that for moment | am no ric!
er than you: but that does not trouble IN
J | have credit, and can make ready none
start from the keys Of my piano. Ho'
ever, as you are in haste TO leave Prae
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15

measures by which so much has already
been done human nature can hardly stand
such a strain. "a laugh.) But trust that
the american people may persevere III the
vigorous prosecution of the decision at
which they have arrived as to the true
policy they have to pursue. and believe
that the same policy which is good there Is
good here, and good elsewhere. Really,
what the right honorable gentleman now
proposes, and what proposed last year,
shrinks into insgniticance III comparison
with what the Americans have done, and
the honorable gentleman, the member OF
Dundalk, takes advantage of that, and
says What is f24eo00, 600 out of tS00,-
600, ,000?' But | say it is something.
Do not despise small things. If we have
the selt-denial and courage to do this now,
the year after we may have sclt-denlal and
courage to do something more. (ilear
hear.) The language of the honorable
/ baronet seems To me like that Of the young
spendthrift, who, when he has reduced
himself to the last fragment of his prop
erty. finds that it Is 80 little that it Is not
worth keeping
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15
: MANY SLIP."-A Spanish paper

MANY SLIP."-A Spanish paper
gravely relates how an individual named,
being tired of life, resolved to take such
measures a. must insure his death To
that end he started for the sea shore provi-
ded with ladder, a rope and loaded pis-
tol, bottle ofpoison, and a box of matches.
Having some time before discovered post
standing little way out IN the water, he
fixed his ladder against it, and ascending,
fastened one end of the cord to the top and
passed a slip-knot around his neck. Swal-
lowing the poison, and striking light, he
set fire to his Clothes then placing the
pistol To his ear. kicked away the ladder
but in doing so his hand swerved and he
fired the same moment, the bullet instead
of penetrating his brain, divided the rope.
and he fell into the sea, extinguishing his
burning garments also, the quantity OF
salt water he swallowed caused him to
throw up the poison he had taken, so that
he scrambled ON the shore, convinced that
his time had not yet come.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15

pie French jeweler has adapted TO cravat
pins. The knob of the pin is of various
devices 1t is a hare with tabor, or Il
drummer with his drum, or a deaths head
with loose under jaw, or II dog. Who
ever chooses to wear such Il pin has con-
nected with it by a wire a small electrical
battery in one of his pockets He puts his
hand into his pocket, touches button
there, and off goes the pin. The hare be-
gins TO patter ON the tabor, the drummer to
beat on his drum, the DEATH head to chat
ter and roll its horrid eyes, or the dog to
bark and snap. When the hand is lifted
from the button, instantly all is quiet.
In the British Department Il curious
swan attracts great attention, When We
approach the bird We see him floating as if
in water, and resting his head behind his
wings. He Is wound up, and he begins to
raise his head with all the proper motions
of swan He curves his neck in pride :;
he espies some fish in the water before him ::
he lowers his head to seize one he holds it
in his beak for an instant he then swal-
lows it. and last of all. returns gracefully
to rest. The action is very pretty, and
calls forth loud applause. The bird, how
ever, is very old, though his plumage may
be new. Its mechanism was supposed to
have been constructed by a Mr.. Weeks,
who lived in the reign of George Ill; but
it was lately discovered that it formed part
of the museum Of Mr.. Cox, London Jew
eler, who lived in the reign of George Ii.
and whose collection must have been OF
some Importance, as he obtained an Act OF
Parliament to enable him to dispose of il
by lottery. Mr. Harry Emanuel has put
the clock work mechanism in order, and
has given the bird new and beautiful sill
yer plumage, hut this Is all he had to dc
with the invention Of the toy which proves
so attractive to the multitude, and which
seems TO eclipse all else IN Its neighbor.
hood
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15

\ HAPPY REJoINDER.-At Oxford, some
twenty years ago, a tutor of one of the col
leges limped in his walk. Stopping one day
last summer at railway station, he was ac-
costed by well-known politician, who rec
ognized him. and asked if he was not the
chaplain of the college at such time, NAM
ing the year. The doctor replied that he
was.
Il was there" said his interrogation,
:" and | knew you by your limp"
Well" said the doctor, g it seems that
my limping made a deeper impression on
you than my preaching.
All. doctor" was the reply, with
ready wit, - it is the highest compliment
we can give a minister, to say he is known
/ by his walk, rather than by his converse
ton.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15

The SANcY DIANoNp.-The Bombay
papers mention the transmission to England
by letter-poSt of the celebrated Sancy dia-
mond Although the story of the Sancy
diamond Is not a. remarkable as those of
some other historic gems, it Is still suffi-
ciently noteworthy. 1t was found on the
body of Charles the Bold, Duke of Bur
gundy, after his defeat at Granson. in l476.
by the Swiss. 1t was purchased in l479
by the King of Portugal, and ten years
later it was sold by him TO Nichols de
Bailly, Baron de Sancy, from whom it de-
rives Its name. The Baron de Sancv sent
it as a present to the King of France and
the servant who had charge of the gift be
ing attacked by robbers, proved himself
equal to the occasion and swallowed the
diamond We must assume that his death
speedily followed ON this act of devotion.
for, according to the story, the stone was
found in his body. 1t afterwards came
into the possession of James III. of Eng
land, by whom it was sold for go 600 to
Louis NV During the French Revolu-
ton the Sancy diamond, n well as the
more celebrated blue diamond, disappeared.
The latter has never been recovered, but
the former was purchased by Napoleon l.,
by whom it was afterwards sold to Prince
Paul Demidoff 1t is valued at from
100000 to Sl50,000, Is pear-shaped. and
weighs 53 ID carats
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-15

4 BLUE RIBBoN AND 4 Roll OF Music.
A very amusing little episode in real
life has Just been developed, after remain
ing dormant for eight days. Quite num-
Der of our citizens, on the lst of April,
received very tastily put up note, written
in pretty hand and on scented paper.
AS II the notes are alike, there is no harm
i'll giving copy Of them, and here II Is:
MILWAUKEE, March 81, 1867.
Mr.-: | have repeatedly met YOU
in society, but, az yet, have had no intro
ducton, an honor | have earnestly longed
for | concluded, if you were willing to
make an acquaintance formed in this way,
that would ask you to be near or at Tunis'
book store, on Wisconsin street, tomorrow
afternoon about t ID p. NJ. | will wear
blue ribbon about my neck, tied behind,
and have a roll of music in my hand.
This is not strictly in accordance with the
laws of etiquette. but | concluded to do
away with any such formalities, and trust
to your honor to hold this communications
strictly confidential. Hoping to see you
at the appointed time, | remain, yours ex
pcctantly. JENNIE T."
He must be more than ordinary who
could receive such note and not be " gov
erned accordingly" The parties who re
ceived the notes spoken Of were not of th'
no notice kind" Poor infatuated souls
they forgot the day-they forgot every
thing out Tunis-4:30 o'clock-blue rib
bon-roll of music, and connected all thi