davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01
Curious Illustration of Chinese Su-
perStitiOm.

The Shanghai News Letter says the follow
iSg story has obtained large credence among
the Chinese recently, and is interesting as
showing the ease with which the Chinese mind
grasps superstition
cit appears that some time since man and
his wife, who together opened a bean shop in
the city of Tai-tsan, some forty miles distant
from Shanghai, had domestic imbroglio,
which resulted at length in the death of the
husband by suffocation, which the wife, by a
combination of means effected. The body was
concealed for time, a coffin provided, and at
suitable hour In the night was placed on
board boat and sent to q certain place in the
canal and SUNK large milestone from their
bean shop being used for the purpose. A few
nights after, the city magistrate was awakened
from his slumberS by fearful noise, as OF
some one beating on the " distress drum, at
the entrance of the yamen. Next morning in
quiries were made, but no one seemed to have
heard the alarm but himself. The night after
it was heard again, but no person was seen.
The third night watchman was stationed to
observe what took place. The noise came
again, but on being questioned by the magiS-
trate, the watchman said it was the wind. Go
and arrest the wind, then, he said, and forth
with issued warrant for the apprehension OF
the disturbcr The man charged Herewith
protested his inability to accomplish such 9
task, however, but departed on his rambles
and allowed the wind to snatch his warrant
from him and dash it into the canal. Follow
ing close after he secured it again, and bore i
all wet to the mandarin, and told him that tht
wind had taken refuge in the water Where?
exclaimed the excited button; go, forthwith
and dig him out
"Away went the man again, armed anC
equipped for contest, this time with both th
flIag (windl and shm (water). He probed AM
exerted himself but short while, before dis
covering its refuge; twas curious something
but on being hauled up to light was found t
be coffin, containing a dead man, and weight
ed down by miletone. The mandarin cam
and held an inquest; no marks OF vlolenc
were discovered but all the circumstances wer
so suspicious that the mandarin at once, takin
o the milestone as an index, ordered search tO
q the perpetrators A bean shop was soon fOunC
. and a woman in mourning for her husband
. . and as the other stone of the pair was wantir
:. in its place 10 the mill, and no satisfactory a
). count could be given of it, comparison W;
instituted by producing the one found attache
4 to the coffin No evasion could satisfy Il
q officer that she was not the perpetratOr of tn
= foul deed, so mysteriOusly communicated
, him in the watches of the night by the spiI
n of the departed. She was arrested and dra
4 ged to prison, there to await sentence, whiC
y according to Chinese law, is decapitatiOn. III
o above has recently transpired, and obtai
large credence among the ignorant Chinese
'Iis on such slender threads that the gre
superstition tmg Shui hangs, and not unfI
quently by such reports that mandarin su
succeeds in bringing himself into notoriety al
, secure promotion"
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

"Excuse me for troubling you, said gen.
tleman one day to a noted philanthropist, but
the last extremity of misery. If she has not
the necessary sum to pay her rent to-day, she
will be turned into the street. The sum need
ed is twenty dollars" The philanthropist
took the requisite sum from his pocket and
asked his visitor the poor womans address.
" You can give it to me- he replied, taking
the money and putting it in his pocket; II
am her landlord. Here is the receipt for the
rent How joyful she will be when you give it
to her u
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

In A PUCKER.-A mounted officer was riding
by field in which there were some apple trees
laden with early fruit and some sraggng per-
He saw some soldiers attempting to hide and
at once suspected that they were robbing the
orchard. So he halted, and the following col
loquy took place: " Halloa, what are you do
ing there?'' said the officer. We come to
git some simmons. Apples, | suspect.
Why, the persimmons are green enough to
pucker up your mouths That's jist what
we want with 'em We want to make our
mouths little to suit the size of our rations -
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

One of those devotees to Mammon once re-
ceived lesson from an humble follower, who
did not seem to pay him, the possessor of the
purse, sufficient homage. He said, = Do you
know sir, that l am worth million dollars?"
YES" said tie irritated but not broken spir-
tied respondent, g | do, and l know that it IS
all 4oM are tOorth T.
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

Monograms, initial letters, or other designs,
can be printed on such fruit as apples pears or
peaches by the action of the sun, with very
pretty effect of either light or dark color.
To do this, draw the monogram, letter, or de-
sign on a piece of writing paper, and paste it
with mucilage or glue upon the side of the fruit
exposed to the sun. just before the fruit be-
gins to color, and when the fruit is ripe, and
the paper is removed, the design will appear
in lighter or different color from the rest of
;he fruit; as for instance, if the experiment is
tried on yellow feshed peach with red
cheek, the design will appear in gold, surround
ed with red. II the opposite effect is desired,
take small oval or circular piece, of paper,
and cut out or pierce the letter or design in it
and paste it on the fruit, which, when ripe,
will have the design in high color on a yellow
of paper, and this again will be surrounded by
the brighter color of the fruit Hearth and
Home
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

AN EDTTOR's ASSESSMENT 1t does body
good to have his pride fattered once in while.
We realize the benefit of it at least once year,
when the assessors come round and ask how
much money we have at interest, how much
stock in government bonds or in banks, and
various other questions that are supposed to be
only for I" solid men," If there is anybody
around we straighten up slightly, expand our
can command, we answer, "about the same as
last year" They know we'll enough what it is.
So do we
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

DEATH OF A MODERN SAMPSON. Captain
John W. Russell died in Franklin county,
KY, last week, aged IS years. The Louisville
Courier Journal says
" He was famous among western pioneers for
his great strength and intrepidity. He served
in the war of 1912, was a member of the State
Senate, and an intimate personal and partizan
friend of Henry Clay. He was for many years
Mississippi steamboat captain. The incidents
Of his force of will and power of command
would fll a volume. On one occasion in New
Orleans, he had personal encounter with the
pirate La6tte, and unarmed, whipped him and
elected him from a ball room. On another,
while landed at Natchez,.a passenger of his
boat was robbed by the gang which then infes-
ted the portion of the town bordering on the
river, and known as "Natchez under the
Hill" By surrounding with his crew the
house in which the robbers took refuge, he
passed cable round it, under threat of pulling
| it, with its inmates in the river, he compelled
restitution of the money, and made himself 9
terror to the thieves and gamblers which theI
infested the river towns. OF his great strength
persons who knew him only in his later years
when enfeebled by age, would have haC
but little conception though when in his prime
it was known from Pittsburg to New Orlean
he had lifted shaft weighing l,647 pounds
and that he had carried entirely across the decl
of the boat an anchor of | ,242 pounds weight.
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

The doctors of Cincinnati have been inspec-
ting the soda water of that city, and in one
hundred different specimen, have found four
teen contaminated by the presence of copper
from the fountains, and in ten they found lead
also Then they boiled the soda-water and
"green scum rose on the surface" which,
upon evaporation, proved to be metallic.
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01
POetrV.
she WILL NOT WOO AGAIN"

Twas but a word-a careless word,
In pride and passion spoken;
But with that word the charm that bound
Two loving hearts was broken.
The hasty wrath had passed away,
But bitter words remain:
Invain she looks with tender glance
He will not WOO again.
No other love may light HER path;
No other move HIS heart;
Yet changing seasons come and go,
And find them still apart;
Her once bright cheek is paler now;
His bears trace of pain;
Their days are weary, sad-and yet
He will not WOO again.
They meet as strangers, calm and cold.
AS calmly, cOldly, part;
And none may guess that tranquil mien
Conceals a wounded heart.
To him the world hath lost its light;
For her all joys vain;
Nor hope. nor memory bring relief
He will not WOO again.
Alas that love, long tried and warm,
Should wither in an hour;
Alas that pride Ger human hearts
Should WELD such fearful power;
Oh weep not thou for those who die
For them all tears vain;
But weep DER living hearts grown cold.
Who neer can love again.
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

An indignant chap in New London, Conn.
makes this correction in the Police Court
report of the Norwich Adrertiser Mr.. Col
porter, Norwich Adrerti=ser. In your Tins
you sez | wuz up afore the pol ice Court for
britch of the Piece-this is fall surse-I was
up for being drunk hant hurt the piece and
| steam my caricature as we'll az family too
much to do it. Correct this--I have payed
Kosts of pursykution. Yures."
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

At the Arch Street Theatre, on the night of
the 18th. Lew Benedict received the last 500
of the $4,000 which he has obliged to raise be-
fore he could marry the daughter of 6, New
York millionaire. He telegraphed the fact to.
his brevet father-in law.
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

A story is told of two Yorkshiremen who
travelled together three days in a stage coach
without word ever passing between them.
On the fourth day one of them at length ven-
tured to remark that it was fine morning.
" And who said it WARMTH was the reply.
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

In the little village of .Mattue, Austria,
ShilIers William Tell was lately represen-
ted, the managers son taking the parto Tets
Son. In the apple scene the actor let go the
arrow before taking GOOD aim, and the child s
eye was put out. He shrieked aloud and fell
in commissions. The audience rushed upon the
stage to wreak vengence upon the manager for
having yentured his son in such place, but
the poor man ran for his life. This incident
impels the Paris Figaro to tell another story.
religious play OF 1.-The Mystery of the Pas
sion," was enacted before the king, Haquin.,
just as one of the actors was about to nail
Jesus to the cross, the king jumped upon the
stage and killed the executioDer. The people
furious that the play had been interrupted, pre-.
cipitated themselves also upon the stage and
killed their sovereign. And this is how the
dynasty Of Haquin became extinct.
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

An Alabama editor in putting grocery kept
by woman, says " Her tomatoes are as red as
her own cheeks; her indigo as blue as her own
eyes, and her pepper as hot as her own tenn
nar ~
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

Upon the shutter of little shop in Phiadel-
mia is a piacard reading thus: "Gootweel
and fgstyers fur SAIL The premises have
Just been vacated by German cordwain-
err who desires to dispose of his goodwill and
HvturaS -
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

THE LATE ECLIPsE-A correspondent of a
New York paper, writing of the late eclipse,
says:
Few people trouble themselves to think what
the effect would be if the eclipse of Saturday
were to last any length of time, and the sun were
blotted from the heavens Philosophy declares
that not only would horror of darkness cover
the earth, but the moisture of the air would be
precipitated in vast showers to the earth, and
the temperature fall to fearful point of cold
nothing less than 230 degrees below zero, Fab
renheit. The earth would be the seat of dark
ness, and more than Arctic desolation. Moth
ing could survive such freezing cold moment,
no more than one could breathe in scalding
water. In three days after the cooling process
began, nothing created would be alive but the
monsters that wallow in deep ocean, and the
eyeless reptiles that make their haunts in caves
which penetrate far underground.
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

"Wouldn't you call this the calf of the iegs"
asked John, pointing to one of his neither
limos No" replied Pat, ST should say ID
was the leg of calf 80
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

"Kieses,' says Sam Slick, "are like crea-
ton, because they are made out of nothing and
are very good -. They are also, says the Gal
axys "like sermons, requiring two heads and
an application.
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01
Snakes in Para.

1t is doubtless owing to the proximity of the
forest that the snake has domesticated himself
In Para, and lives on intimate terms of amity
and familiarity with it's inhabitants. Every
house has its pet snake, and the monster ap-
pears to occasion to his keepers neither repug-
nance nor alarm. The Biblical decree of en-
nifty between the serpent and the sons of men
appears to hold good everywhere except in the
Amazonian regions, where truce is proclaimed,
and serpents and citizen abide together in
peace. The snakes are of the boa constructor
species, but, so far as | can learn, they gener
ally refrain from constructing or otherwise mo-
testing the inhabitants. They catch rats and
"gobulate them, and now and then mon
key mysteriously disappears. Perhaps, as Her
culean exploits belong to the fabulous ages, it
would not be quite safe to trust small black
babies alone with them. But tough and indi-
gestible adults are perfectly safe. We asked
to see the snake at warehouse, which we
visited. He was hailed from his lair in some
back loom or closet by negro, who held him
| by gripping his neck just behind the head.
The snake appeared to be familiar with his rath-
er ignOmInious mode Of appearing in society,
as he only expressed his emotions in series
of fatuous and imbecile wriggles, and when
released coiled himself deliberately upon the
floor and proceeded to take ''forty winks, y
like the fat boy of Pickwickian memory. We
stopped street vender who had barrel OF
snakes for sale. Discerning in us possible pur
chasers he tipped them upon the pavement
and stirred them about with his foot, exhibit
ing their fine points to the best advantage, anC
Informed us, in Portuguese, that they were
much better snakes than usual, and that if we
missed that chance we were not the men h,
took us for. On consideration we determined
to miss that chance, and we left the snake
man cursing and bundling his snakes back int
, the barrel.-T. G. EVANS, IN Horpers Maga
| zine for Septenlber III.
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

A smart thing-mustard plaster.
Smyrna times., 1869-09-01

Music in the sole--a clog dance.
The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1869-09-07

in fact, every variety aIC style OF work in letter
press ntirg
The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1869-09-07
Es5


Extract from letter .rn.n Hon NA7lAy! 1Sps7r.
Comfy Judge Of Sheby Co.. Iowa dated liurl ~
April 49, ie6i 1t Is decidedly prG.,.,cd t. ANY iu-
aInenl -oll in his section
Extract oi letter from SAIirEL 8. lir-,u, dated
Fallsbura. Ohio July II, lNG6.-Iu june u-t l. slry
Shafile hud 4 yegrlHg COLI that baa .lt1t was sup
posed 10 ba Dyp'h-.i2 for more than t.r dAr- 80
thar II could not eat, ana the throat sNyOlcu gnos
shut. ana lhc rse Of three iuar applications Of
the dollar bottle. did tic desired effect
t.OIu Il. q. MEL, i.e~i4vit, 1OscAoctOr -. q .
March. l651-i have used YOUR Gnf,'ilg O iGr the
Scratches on my horse, and il cured with th1 nrst
application
The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1869-09-07

81
From DE-. n y. Et..l. Ga jar. 8 ls58 LII j
could receive both boxes of Tie GaIg.in- Cuit wal
not be TOO much. - 1 tltnk I could soon mi aa'n
for ii ALL Ae inquiry Uri-.G frequent ,ic' r. is -tp
posed that have IL icr sale
From! DE Wa 8 =. Gall, CD moi ,5'., .'nr. q.
iS5S-your Gargling Oil istlfiag -h.s,ine or .s,m
all the lin!Iuenis C. tire day II yCu Gr-i.el rhea
icOuj prucugn uuzcus II lariiG.lrr mona rha.s
who have been cared tg i'.
The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1869-09-07

INVITATION CIRCULARS PROGRaMM rs
CARDS, TICKETS Bic,
The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1869-09-07

From DIX. ! = IEREEJT., Warren, Ind. March
lSjd.-l am engaged il the prautica Of medicine.
md ind your Garglinc Oh an extremely otdctcit
remedy in all where ~ uXteru&, G;p.ic i'iou
is indicated
From DR. @. B. EBAt nuriis Iowa, Do- q ls5s.
II hsve prHoilccd inadiCinc in ,hi' county seven
years and cheertUlly recommend yoUc li.rgipc Oh
as the best linanent il. lI-e.. -.
The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1869-09-07
NEWS DEPARTMENT..

we receive tce-raphic despatch, o, uo to J. 7. II.
ana preseat them 10 our readers every evening. ON.
hFaclng news OF great interest from oil sectiops OF
we country We have made syccis, arrangements,
whereby we receive regular Petroleum, stock and
FToluce Market Reports every evoiisg BY telegram
i1om New York, Philadelphia ard Pi;tsbur.., which
together with Editorials and Local matters make +;
me of The most desirable newspapers published in
thc Oh Region. AS an
The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1869-09-07
Cd -

From CBuNP & BRos Cochrane Landing, ohio,
Nov 20, lSjt.-Wc are pleased with your mc,lcine.
IL has ncen the means Of curing great nGi4hcs o
different GlsCtIscs upOn persons, a also upon ursts
We think ii cures all yOG rcCoplWeIG Ii 10 DO. We
want you 10 scnd Va The larger proportion of the
variety for "FGuily Use iu small bottles. =
The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1869-09-07

MERCHANTS LSUyors Justices Of tho Peace Laird
Agenis, Gil Nea crs and Agens' Insurance 4 scnts,
F2melsmen and tthgr parties in want, are Informed
cnt we are prearai 70 execute 70 der XII 'ads Of
BLANKS, rusigJr7 Or lera, required in itis SON
Julniti
Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-27

ton mans remedy for overcoming tbs
gerrymander I? To vote against the
Constitution-to continue Wells in
Office under the military government
and suppose he succeeds, what then
Another vote may be ordered under the
same gerrymander, or the constitution,
gerrymander and all, may be imposed
upon us by Congr ess without another
vote. How silly
No-let us take the bull by the horns
at once, like brave and honorable men.
Let us como up boldly and squaroly to
meet the issue thrust upon us. We have
obtained some amelioration of the
rigors of the Constitution enough, if
adopted to place the government of the
State in the hands of our people. We
have the strength at the polls, which
only wants proper direction to overcome
and break down the gerrymander, and
overthrow the negroes, carpet-baggers
and scalawags in one decisive contest.
Let us cease such pitiful cries and
wailings as this Southampton writer
INDUCES, take the cause into our own
indomitable hands, and resolve thatVir-
ginia shall on'y be governed by Virgin
ians.
Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-27
THE NORFOLK AND ST. LOUIS
RAILROAD

at the last session of Congress bill
was introduced chartering the Norfolk,
Louisville, and St. Louis railroad. We
referred to it at the time, in connection
with other stupendous Mort ok enter
prlses. The bill was not acted upon,
but is expected to pass at the next ses-
sion. 1t provides that work shall be
commenced within one year, and COM
pleted within six years, from the date of
the incorporation. In Washington's
time it was proposed to unite the Allan
tic with the Ohio over substantially the
same route, and it is this route that has
lately been recommended in Virginia
for a combined railroad and canal. as
set forth in late numbers of the North
American. sg.
The route to be followed is generally
that of the Kanawha, James, and Ohio
rivers. A glance at the map will show
what this is. The argument sustaining
the efforts is that this route brings st.
Louis four hundred miles nearer to the
sea than by New York and thus enables
her to compete with Chicago. 1t is
further claimed that, 50 soon as the St.
Louis railroads have been connected
with the Pacific road, the distance from
Norfolk to San Francisco via St. Louis
will be five hundred miles shorter than
from New York to the same destination.
This saving of distance is certainly
enough to affect trade seriously
adelphia North American, 18th.
Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-27
PATRIOTISM OR PATRONAGE?

Truly, a native newspaper man must
have rhinoceros hide to his conscience
if he can expect that the people will at
tribute patriotic motives to him in his
endeavors to cast stumbling block in
the way of the Walker movement, under
the circumstance that that stumbling
block really enures to the benefit of
Wells and his party. To vote down the
constitution really assures the success of
Wells, as these obdurate newspapers tell
you. 1t not only secures the success of
Wells, but it assures the disfranchise-
ment of all who are disfranchised by the
Underwood constitution, and it retains
the test oath in that instrument. 1t not
only does this, but it places it utterly
out OF the power of the people of our
State to assume the control of State af-
fairs for a long number Of years to come.
This these obdurate native prints tell us;
and still they adhere to giving aid and
comfort to Wells. What causes this &C
ton on their part? Is it patriotism?
Surely, where the masses have realized
the necessity of judicious action, no such
Plea as patriotism can be set up. Is it
patronage? Truly,if Wells be elected lie
will have much patronage to dispense!
When the Day Book brought forward
4he new movement" the only course
we could find to extricate our people
from the difficulties the indiscretion of
their leaders had placed them in, there
more those who were not penurious in
lavlShlng upon us sucn suguIosiAinz
phrases as "traitor," "ren egade," &c.
We bore these meekly, because we knew
we were actuated in the whole matter
by the purest motives, and we were sat
isfied the people must soon see we were
right and our traducers were wron e.
But how now? We find certain pa
pers, who have heretofore endea vored TO
make the people believe that they held
an exclusive monopoly of the 'patriotics'
and other laudable virtues, now doing
all they can to ensure the election CT
Wells. May it not be that they have
claimed these extraordinary virtues
heretofore because they designed, when
the contest came on, to ally themselves
with Wells, because he would have so
much patronage to dispense in the event
of his election We don't say it is so,
but we say, may it not be so
Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-05-27
"Veni, Vidi, Wei"

The forthcoming number OF the Illus
rated Western World, printed in Oil
colors, will be the most beautiful paper
ever issued from the press since the art
of printing was discovered. Remember,
il is the only paper in the world whose
illustrations are printed i'll from one to
seven distinct colors at a single impress
sion. Aside from the beautiful illustra-
tions which accompany it weekly every
number is replete with glowing Ro-
mances, Love and Histrionic Tales. 1t is
q fit companion of every fireside-the
magazine of every branch of literature
the champion of all noble industries
the support of the farmer, merchant, ar
tisan. and the education Of the masses;
Send for specimen copies. sold by all
news dealers. Subscription S3 per an
mum. Address THE WESTERN WORLD
CO., Cor. Park Place and College Place,
T.. o. Box 1929, New York.