davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26
A Mathematical Prodigy.

At or near Warrensburg, johnson county, in
this State, resides a poor widow woman, who
has a son, Reuben Field, a mere boy, un
tutored, and seemingly almost incapable of
literary culture, who yet possesses most remark
able powers of mental calculation. As evidence
of this, among many other evidences that
might be cited, gentleman of ST. Louis, who
had heard of his possessing this faculty sent
him the following figures viz. /: l45, l45. l45,-
l45, asking him to square this number by IT.
self, and send him the result, with the time
taken to perform it, scarcely believing, how
ever, notwithstanding the extraordinary ac-
counts related of him, that he would be capa-
BILE of the task. In this, however, he was
mistaken, as were others to whom the PROPOSE
ton had been named. A letter has been re-
ceived by the gentleman named, from highly
respectable and reliable citizen OF Warrenshurg,
who states in three minutes time the boy Field
mentally and accurately pronounced the result,
81 067, lib, l59, l63, 1901 OPS, or written in
words, twenty-one sixtilliOns sixty seven quin
tilons one hundred and thirteen quadrillions
one hundred and fifty-nine triions one hundred
and sixty three billions one hundred and sew
enteen millions seventy one thousand and TWEEN
ty five.
Though such exhibitions of mental powers Of
calculation as the one exhibited in the above
IRE not altogether unheard of, they are never
theless exceedingly rare. In this instance i
will appear all the more marvellous when it is
stated that this boy, Reuben Field, is almost
entirely pneducated Indeed, the letter refer
red to above says Field maintains it is " of nj
use for boys to go to school, as he can't learr
ANYTHING, and never could" In fact, excep
in this matter of calculation in which he is
marvel, he is said to be very ignorant in al
other matters lazy, uncouth, disposed t.
wander idly from place to place, and worst o
all, perhaps, lis very fond of drink" Ye
the letter states, he can repeat the eighty
seventh line in multiplication backwards anC
forwards and does many marvellous things il
calculating mentally"
| Let those who think the solution required il
the proposition given above cannot be diff
cult one, because rendered by an illiterate ant
uncultivated boy, call to mind that this solu
tiOn, by the usual forms of multiplication, re
quires the use of l9l figures, l44 multiplica
tions % additions and Is combinations of fig
ures, and that this, by the ordinary process Q
multiplication, is to be performed and retaine
in the mind, until the process is completed
When they realize this, or attempt the sOlu;io
itself, they will very likely come to the conclU
sion that Reuben Field is prodigy in ments
calculatious.-St Louis Republican, Jan. !.
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26
An Inventive People.

In recent speech by the Commissioner Of
Patents, Hon. s. S. Fisher, occurs the follow
ing passage, which may afford food for both
amusement and reflection:
In spite of our examination, which rejects
over one-third of all the applications that are
made, or, more properly, because of it, inven-
tion has been stimulated by the hope of protec-
ton.
But few days ago l took up a volume of
Italian patents to see what progress the new
kingdom was making in invention, when | WSs
amused and gratifed to find on every page the
name of the universal Yankee, repatentiDg
there his American invention, and, | suspect,
much the best customer in the Patent Office
of united Italy. The truth is, we are an inven
tive people.
Invention is by no means confined to our
mechanics. Our merchants invent, our soldiers
and our sailors invent, our schOOlmasters in
vent, our professional men invent, aye, and our
women and our children invent. Cheap pro-
| lection has been fertilizer that has produced
much growth of brain and much fruit Of dis
cOvery.
One man lately wished to patent the appli-
cation of the Lord Prayer, repeated in loud
voice to prevent stammering another claimed
| the new and useful attachment of q weight OF
other article possessing gravity, to COW : tai
to prevent her from switching it while milking
another proposed to cure worms by extracting
them by delicate line and tiny hook baiteG
with seductive pill while lady patented q
crimping pin, which she declared might also be
used as a paper cutter, as a skirt-supporter, a.
paper-fle, as a child's pin, as boquet-hold
er, as shawl-fastner, or as book-mark.
Do not suppose this is the highest flight
which the gentler sex has achieved. 1t ha,
obtained many other patents, some Of which
have no relation to wearing apparel, and are o
considerable value.
But, am asked, what proportion of all pat
ented inventions prove to be valuable to then
projectors or to the public One-tenth
be remembered, there are few failures SO harm
less as that of useless invention.
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

LIQUID GLUE.-Liquid glue, and other ad-
hesives requiring no special preparation for
use, but always ready to hand, have become q
necessity of modern times; and we give seve-
raj receipts that are hghly recommended by
those who have tried them. One of these is
made by dissolving two pounds of good glue in
a pint of water, and adding gradually, with
constant stirring, 81 ounces Of nitric acid. An.
other, which it is said is even a better prepa-
opaque, and solid at ordinary temperatures,
requiring to be only slightly warmed before
using, and is made by dissolving one hundred
parts of the best glue in one hundred parts OF
water, by weight, adding about six parts Of
nitric acid and six parts Of sulphate of lead.
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

ADULTERATIoN OF CANDIEs.-The adultera-
ton of candies in New York has become of
late years alarming, and in order to produce
cheap articles manufacturers are adulteratiDg
with various extracts aud substances which
are either injurious to consumers or a deadly
poison. Many children are doubtless yearly
sacrificed by the absorption into their systems
Of these denominations inadvertently given by
parents. Terra alba, or white earth, costing
but Ii cents a pound is extensively used in-
stead of sugar, and lozenges are produced by
cheap dealers at ffom 2 to cents pound less
than the cost Of sugar at wholesale. In the
manufacture of gum drops, glue is used IN lieu
OF gum arabic, the former costing but few
cents pound, and the latter about 40 cents.
Verdigris, Tonka beans, Paris green, chrome
yellow, Berlin blue, aniline, and sublumate OF
mercury are all used, each of which Is either
deadly poison or very injurious to the system.
The common method of favoring candies, in
order to producal them economically, can be
readily accounted for. Poisons are much
cheaper than genuine extracts. Peach havors
| in candied almonds and sugar plums are OBJ
tanned from fusil oil, which is very poisonous
The bitter almond flavor is obtained from una
duIteratcd prussic acid; pineapple is produced
from very rotten cheese and nitric acid. Can
dies are made purporting to be tavored with
fruits from which no extracts can be obtained
| The limitations are all poisonous. Cheap can
dies are a means Of desolation in numberles'
households. The foregoing is from state
ment by Henry Maillard.-Nelo for6 Sun.
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26
Who Would be a Boy Again2

In company one evening when the song,
Would | were boy again" was called for,
gray headed old boy" di>coursed thus:
A boy again |" Who would be boy
again if he could? to have measles, itch, and
mumps, to get licked by bigger boys and scold
ed by older brothers, to stub toes, to have the
belly-ache from swallowing cherry stones, to
have chapped hands and frozen toes, to slip
upon the ice, to do chores, to get your ears
boxed, to get whaled hy thick-headed school
MASTER to be made to stand up as the Ounce"
Tor the amusement of the whole school, to
have visitors to come to school and tell you
how miserably weak and stupid you were when
you were born, and to ask you what would
have become OfyOu at that interesting time in
life if your parents had not been so patient
with and so kind to you, to eat at the second
table when company comes, to set out cabbage
plants and thin corn because you are little, and
consequently it wouldn't make your back ache
so much, to be made togo to school when you
don't want to, get spelled down in school, tC
lose your marbles to have your sled broken, tC
get hit in the eye with frozen apples and soggy
snow balls, to cut your finger, lose your knife
| TO have hole in the seat of your only pair oil
pants when your pretty cousin from the city
comes to see you, to be called a coward a.
school if you don't fight, to be whaled at home
| If you do fight at school, to be struck after ;
little girl and dare not tell her, to have a boy
too hig for you to lick tell ydz@that your sweet
heart squints, to have your sweetheart cut you
dead and affiliate with that boy John Smith
whom you hate particularly because he set ~
your nose the week before, to be made to go t,
bed when you know you amt bit sleepy, t.
have no ire crackers on the Fourth OF July, nj
skates at Christmas, to want a piece of breaC
and butter with honey and get your ears pull
ed, to be kept from the circus when it comes II
town and when all other boys go, to get pound
ed for stealing roasting ears get run by bul
dogs for trying to nip watermelons, to have tn
canker rash, catechism, stone bruises, to be call
ed up to kiss old women that visit your mother
to be scOlded because you like Maggie Low
better than your own dear sister, to be told G
a scOrching time little boys will have who te
lies, and are not like George Washington, I
catch your big brother kissing the pretty schoC
ma am on the sly, and wish you were big $
you could kiss her, too, and-and-why who
be boy again2
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

ONE DAYS Work AT THE HEART The
effect of everything that touches the heart is
multiplied by the intensity of the hearts own
changes. Hence it is that it is so senstive-so
true and quick an index of the body's state
me remind you of the work done by our hearts
in day. A mans total outward work, his
whole effect upon the world, in twenty four
hours, has been reckOned at about three hun
dred and fifty foot tons. That may be taken
as good "hard days work" During the
same time, the heart has been working at the
rate of one hundred and twenty foot tons. That
is to say, if all the pulses of day and night
could be concentrated and welded into one
great thrOb, that throb would be enough to
throw ton of iron one hundred aud twenty
feet in the air. And yet the heart is never
weary.
Many Of as are tired after but feeble abors
few OF US can hold poker out at arms length
without, after few minutes, dropping it. But
healthy heart, and many an unsound heart
too,-though sometimes you can tell in the
evening, by its stroke, that it has been thrown
off its balance by the turmoils and worries o.
llte-goes on beating through the night while
we are asleep, and, when we are awake in the
morning, we find it at work, fresh as if it haC
only just began to beat 1t does this because
upon each stroke OF work there follows pc
riod, brief but reai period, of rest becaus,
the next stroke that comes is but the natura
sequence Of the rest, and made to match it
because, in fact, each beat, is, in force, il
scope, in character, in everything, simple OK
preston OF the hearts own energy and state.
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

HENRY WARD BEEoHER in recent sermon
said that I" men got the notion that they had
committed the sin against the Holy Ghost very
often as the result Of bodily weakness opera
ting upon the mind. 1t assumed the form OF
a religious melancholy or insanity; but when
men had any anxiety at all about it, is showed
that there was a conscience left and they were
not reprobate. Good Christian men sometimes
got that notion One of the predecessors in
s;i bis fathers chuIchMDr. Ghampin, Of L,tch, Itch
showed himself 30 much Christian as when he
thought that cd was about to send him to hell /;
for if it was His will he said he would 60 will
ingly. Well, he was very miserable about il
until one bright day the thought struck him
that when he got to hell he would open pray
enmeeting there"
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26
POetrY.
WHEN MARY WAS A LASSIE.

The maple trees are tiuged with red.
The birch with golden yellow;
And high above the orchard wall
Hang apples rich and mellow;
And that's the way through yOnder lane
That looks so still and grassy
The way took one Sunday eVe'
When Mary a lasSie
You'd hardly think that patient face.
That looks thin and faded,
Was once the very sweetest one
That bonnet ever shaded.
But When went through yonder lane
That looks so still and grassy,
Those eyes we're bright. those cheeks were fair,
When Mary was a lSssie.
But many tender sorrow.
And many patient care.
Have made those burrows on the face.
That used to be so fair.
Four times in yOnder churchyard,
Through the lane So still and grassy.
We've borne and laid away our dead.
Since Marry was q lassie.
And so you see I've grown TO love
The wrinkles more than roses:
Earths winter flowers are sweeter far
Than all springs dewy posies
They'll carry US through yonder lane
That looks so still and grassy,
Adown the lane used to 90
When Mary was a lassie.
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

Theodore Rulinson, piano forte maker,
whose wages were $lSa week, and whose lager
beer bill averaged 80 day, committed suicide
ON Sunday of last week because, as he is said
To have alleged his "illluck kept him poor. -
Similar practices are the secret of many a
mans alleged +" ill-luck" as well as that of that
poor suicide.
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

The UPAs TREE-It is one of the curious
facts in the history of delusions, that scientific
mrn once had an unqueStiOning faith in the
deadly influence Of the Upas tree on all living
things within its range DIR. Fersch. an emf
nent surgeon in the service of the East India
Company, first described the tree and its de-
structive powers in "Ponnocks Outlines of
the Globe" published at the close of the last
century. AS he gave the account from his
own observation. it seemed entitled to greater
weight. He said, Il saw it myself, the sole
individual of its species, standing alone, in a
scene of solitary horror, in the middle of a
naked, blasted plain, surrounded by circle of
mountains, the whole area of which is covered
with the skeletons Of birds, beasts and men.
Not vestige of vegetable life is to be seen
within the contaminated atmosphere, and even
the fishes die in the water"
Mr.. Darwin. the distinguished botanist, ac-
cepted the theory as a scientific fact, and in
his " Botanic Garden" exercised little poetic
license, making the miasma penetrate over ten
leagues square, and destroy alike the eagle in
the air or the lion on the plain.
A more careful investigation of the facts has
found the tree to be perfectly harmless, and
that the destructive power is due alone tc
fumes of sUlphate and carbonic acid gas com
| ing from volcanic openings in the region.
There is famous "Valley of Poison" at the
volcanic Papandaging, in Java, where scientific
travellers have found great number of deaC
animals of various kinds as dogs, cats, tigers
rhinocerOses, squirrels, birds and snakes The
soft parts Of the animals, as the skin ant
muscles, and hair, and feathers are preserved
while the bones crumble and disappear NJ
living thing is found in the vicinity Of the Upa
tree, and it is not surprising that superstition
notions of its maariOus power should hav,
been wide-snread Rut the true cause Of deatl
in this case is very obvious, as there are man,
crevises and openings in the side of the noun
tans, from which carbonic acid gas and sui
phurous fumes are emitted in great quantities
1t was by such emissions that the elder Pin
and his companions were suffocated, at th
time Of the destruction of Herculaneum
Though they were miles away from Vesuyius
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26
First Love.

had just donned my 1rst tail-cost.
Ny whiskers had but started
When raminta crossed my path.
And left me broken hearted.
fRncied she hal auburn hair.
CTwus more like ucw bernt brlchs3
Her favorlte MAS number one"
HSr saiter number Sly.
But "a pressed her freckled hand,
"a rather clumsy ycyen)
shut my eyes--bate earth farewell.
And drearnpt was in heaven.
vowed she was ETHEREAL,
An angel and a saint;
msdiy kissed her b.ushing cheek,
Alas the blush was paint.
And whom another she es?oused,
Aud asked Ma TO the bridal.
My brain WAS turned, my spirit crushed,
Ny thought was suicidal
But somehow, with another now
l share connutial joys,
And shea buxom widow-haa
A dozen red haired boys.
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

It is q beautiful legend of the most ancient
poetry that Love drew forth the world from
chaos, and bound the creatures reciprocally to
each other with the bonds Of desire and long
ing; that by those tender ties she keeps all
things in order leads all to the One-the great
fountain Of all light, as Of all love.
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

Said distinguished politician to his son. :
" Look at me Look at me began as an al
derman, and here | am at the top of the tree ;
and what is my reward2 Why, when l die
my son will be the greatest rascal in the world.
To this the young hopeful replied +" Yes, dad,
when yea die, and not till then"
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

An ugly old bachelor, about town whom no
woman would have, being rallied on his matri-
monial prospects with, don't dispair there
are as good fish in the sea as ever was caught,
you know" is said to have replied es /
know--but somehow il seems to me that they
don't bite as theg used to.
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

lus.asis luSss 10 WATT.-0f all the lessons that
an.. has to learn in life's lessons, the
d M a, Is to learn to wait. Not to wait with
n Ss aed hands, that claim life's prizes With
osI's osSIssslous s, effort, but having struggled and
.suI ~ me slow years with trial, see no such
aps ehort seems to warrant,-nay, per-
IL. ssaster y instead. To stand firm at such
ID ~ existence to preserve ones self -poise
~s.ss;resspect; not to lose hold or relax eff.
va als 10 greatness, whether achieved by
s,ss woman; whether the eye of the world
e6Sor u Is recorded in that book which
As .. OF eternity along shall make clear to
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

> IL Is'eenhtly ne the number of bishops opposed
ew a.llaihbllity dogma is decreasing. 1t is
ly Ssa that not less than one hundred and
ensss s ialen of from the opposition, and
aSDer now in favor of the dogma is plae-
ias ssen ! 80 hundred and thirty six. This
er N tne adoption Of the dogma which,
anisI !. = no doubt the true policy from the
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

The more talents and good qualities we have,
the more humble we ought to be, because we
have less merit in doing right.
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26
v,.r,od 20 col, vor .hort mn v;to,s

I started to tell you about my wifes bridal
tour, but the fact is. never could find out
much about it myself / believe she had a
good time. She came back improved in health,
and found out before che was N the house
twenty-four hours, that she'd gained also in
strength don't say how fund it out.
simply say | found it out
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

In conclusion, would say to all young men
Marry your second wife first, and keep out Of
debt by all means, even if you have to borrow
money to do il
Smyrna times., 1870-01-26

A Vermont landlord, famous for being deaf
just when he wanted to, when rallied upon his
infrmity, one day, told his amused guests the
following story: When a young man. he
worked on farm for a stingy old farmer, in an
adjoining town. On leaving him balance Of
two dollars was due for wages. Having called
repeatedly for his money, the old man had some
excuse for not paying. A SOW of the old mans
had litter of pigs consisting of four; one cf
them, which is generally the case, being small
runt, as they call them. George told the old
man that he would take pig for this money
the old man said he might have the small one.
George jumped into the pen and seized the lar
gest pig The old man shouted: Take the
small one y " Let him squeal," said George.
" l eau hold him." The old man, excited
Take the samal onel'' "I'll risk his bit
ing" replied George. Old man desperate,
and as loud as he can below: "Take the
small Onel" 9 Let him squeal; l can hold
him." answered George. TAKE him along,
you deaf cuss; l cant make you hear any.
thing" George carried off the pig in triumph
Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-12-24
Thc Great PICTORIAL Annual.

osetters California Almanac for 1871 for distrbution
9rat throughout California Oregon and other States and
Territories Of the Pacific SLOPE will be published about he
first OF January and all who wish understand the te
philosophy of health should read and ponder the yauobe
suggestions it contains In addition to an admirable medical
treatise on the prevention and cure of great
ETY. Of diseases it embraces large amount of information
interesting to the merchant, the mechanic the miner e
iarmer the planter and the professional man and The cal
cuaons have been made for merans and atitudes
as are most suitable for and comprehensive CALEN
OAR
The nature uses, and extraordinary sanitary effects of
I0STETrERs STOMACH BITTERs, the staple tonic and
Alternative of more than half the Christian world are fully
set forth in its pages which also interpreted with pic
toral Illustrations valuable recipes for the household and
farm humorous anecdotes and other instructive anus
ing reading matter, original and selected Among the An
nuas to appear with the opening Of the year this will be
Of the most useful and may Jc had j5r he aSfng Send
for copies to the nearest dealer in lOSrETTERS STOMACH
BITTERs The BTTTERs sold in every city town and
village and are extensively used throughout the entire civ
fzed world. dee. 1o.1m
Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-12-24
THE WAR IN EUROPE.

Late dispatches from Europe are very conflict
ing Occupations and excavations are reported
every day and contradicted the next Below is a
resume of war news for the past week.
The French have occupied Ham and St.
Quentin
General Manteufel has occupied the seaport
of Diep2e.
Gambetta has decided not to ask for an armis-
tice because, he says the prospects of France
are improving.
Paris refuses a summons to surrender and
say they will fight to the last man.
Garibaldi has resigned his French command
and will return to Italy.
The French say they will defend the city OF
Havre to an extreme and a siege is expected.
The German residents have appealed to the
American Consul for protection.
The French Government has been established
at Bordeaux.
The bombardmcnt of Paris is set for the 10th
instant.
The Germans have occupied Pfalsburg, in the
Vosgcs, after long siege. 1t is strong fort
ress commanding one of the routes from Ger
many TO Paris
Montmcdy has also surrendered to the Ger
mans.
1t is reported that Luxembourg has been
sold to Germany.
1t is said that there is growing belief that
Napoleon will be restored to France, and that
Bismarck fayors such scheme.
The Germans are reported to be retreating on
the Loire, the French having been heavily rein.
forced.
Baden has ratified the treaty for union with
North Germany.
Latest news from Paris indicates that the city
is healthy and has supplies which may enable i
to hold ont three months longer.
There is further news which leads 20 the be
lief, so says the Union that the Germans are
growing anxious about the military situation
and want to hasten peace, even if it has to bC
done by reiustating the Empire.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1870-12-24

drinkers and other adherents of the flowing
bowl. Armed with a blackng brush and stem
ell plates, he intends to traverse the State,
and seems to have no doubt that the effect will
be to convert this whisky loving generation from
the worship of John Barleycorn to that of Adams 5
Ale. Verify this world is made up of strange
people, and not all of its lunacs are in the asy-
lums.
A CORNER GROCERY NOMINATION.
Forty sanguine and deluded individuals have
affixed their marks and signatures (mostly
marks) to a roll promising to support Governor
Hoffman, of New York, for President of the
United States, and Congressman johnson for
Governor Of California. The corner grocery
man (where the club meets says the movement
is already a success. ScRlBBLER.