davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11
Punishment of the Wheel.

The punishment of the wheel, which
was suppressed in 1890, was one of the
most frightful that can be imagined
The criminal was extended on ST.
Andrews cross. There were on it eight
inches cut, one below each arm between
the elbow and wrist another between
each elbow and the shoulder one under
each thigh, and one under each leg. The
executioner, armed with a heavy trian-
glllar bar of iron, gave violent blow on
each of these eight places, and of course
broke the bone and ninth on the pit
of the stomach. The mangled victim
was now lifted from the cross and stretch
ed on a small wheel, placed vertically at
one OF the ends of the cross, his back on
the upper part of the wheel, his head and
feet hanging down. The sentence pro-
vided that he was to remain there as long
as it pleased God to prolong his life.
Many fingered there five or six hours,
some longer. son of jeweller in the
Place de la Dauphine, who had murder
ed his father, was only relieved by death
at the end of twcnty-four hours. These
unhappy wretches, often uttering horri-
bic blasphemies, always tormentcd by a
continual thirst, necessarily called for
something to drink. A priest never lett
their sides during the excruciating agony,
but necessarily put water to their parched
lips, wiped the sweat from their burning
brows, and pointed to a me-ciful God
above the scaffold, extending his arms
to receive him. This holy duty was al
ways discharged by doctor Of the Sor-
bonne.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11
That's What's the Matter,

When Condo was about to pass through
Berne be was met at the gate by the
civil authorities. After a glowing out.
burst Of compliment, the Mayor added
"To show our joy, we wished to greet
you with the reports of numerous ar
tillery. We have not been able to fire
the cannon, however, for eighteen rea-
sons. In the first place, we have none
in the second -" Ny good friend, -
interrupted.the Prince, "your first reason
is so excellent, we will excuse the other
seventeen" A ludicrous counterpart to
this story occurred the other day in
Peru. A Russian war-steamer arriving
at COllao saluted the Peruvian fleet, which
was anchored in the bay. TO the cha
grin of the Russian commander, the
compliment was received in silence.
After waiting for some time to see if
the omission would be repaired, he de-
handed an explanation. This promptly
came in the statement that "the Peru
Wan Navy had been disarmed by order
of the President. In word, there
was not a gun left aboard the fleet. The
object of the President in thus stripping
the ships of their armament was not set
forth. Manifestly, however, although
such consummation might be agreeable
to the Peace Society, or to an invading
enemy, its present consequences must
have been rather Notifying to the Pc
ruvians themselves.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11
The Prayers.

Still as glass was tho ocean,
In calm light and pale,
A hundred ships lay on it,
Each with MINDLESS sail.
A hundred shippers were fretting,
Each search'd the sea and tho skies,
Each for wind was praying,
But never wind would rise.
The prayers rose up to Heaven,
In English, German, Greek,
Each of tho hundred shippers
In his own tongue did speak.
Each of the hundred shippers,
10th in the calm to stay
Wanted the wind to waken,
TO blow him on his way.
Each in his own direction
Would have his good ship blown
And hundred winds were wanted
II each waa to got his own.
Each on the deck was pacing
With digcontcntcd mind,
And when the wind would come not,
All thought the Lord unkind.
Poor fools Had he granted their wishes,
Sad were the end to sec
The hundred winds would have hurled them
To the bottom Of the sea.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11
Modern Life.

sit in quaint old garden,
With wcathcr-stained, warm old wall,
Aud over the blaze of the flowers
Tho brown shadows cooling fall.
And the long lawns stretch before mo,
And ] battle my eyes in their green;
And tho clms in the park stop swNying,
For fear they should wake the scene,
Aud the tall white church on the hilltop
Shines like n lighthouse tower;
And the sun seems to nod In heaven,
AS he drips out his golden shower.
And the grey-cyod wife is smiling,
Half asleep, with her hand in mine,
To see how her baby is striving
To make the short daisies Irvine.
And | sit in peace in the garden,
And my soul has a sense Of homo
And my brain is strNining to bursting,
Thinking whence cash may come.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11
How TO ACQUIRE A GOOD MEMORY. -.

How're ACQUIRE GooD MEMORY. AS
a general thing, we read too much, and
think about what we read too little the
consequence is, that most of the people
we peet know something in superficial
way about almost everything, and very
little in thorough way about anything.
Not tenth part Of what is read is re-
membered for n month after the book,
magazine or newspaper is laid aside.
Daniel Webster, who had rich store of
information on almost every subject of
general interest, on being asked how it
was that he could remember SO accurate
ly, replied, that it had been his habit
for years to reflect for short time on
what he read, and so fix all the facts and
ideas worth remembering in his mind.
Any one who does this will be surprised
to find how retentive his memory will
become, and how long after reading a
book, or interesting article, the best
portions thereof will remain
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11

CRCAssIAN WoMEN-The CircasSian
women, concerning whom we have read
such marvcls, in prose and verse, are
declared by Mrs. Harvey, recent
traveller in Circassia, to be not generally
good-looking Though very great beauties
are sometimes seen among them), and
those of the Abasian province are decided
ly plain. "The national Dress" says
the writer, "does not highten their
charms. They usually wear loose Tur-
kish trousers, made of white cotton, and
a peculiarly frightful upper garment of
some dark cloth, made precisely like that
worn by High Church clergymen-tight
and straight, and buttoned from the
throat to the feet. A striped shawl is
sometimes twisted round them like an
apron. A blue gauze vail is thrown over
thc'head, and their hair, which is gener-
ally long and thick, is worn in two heavy
plaits that hang down behind. The
beauties who obtain such great reputa-
ton in Constantinople and the West, al
most invariably come from Georgia and
the valleys near Ell Beronz. In those
districts the women have magnificent
eyes and fair compilations.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11
A Weapon of Death.

The tcrpedocs which have recently
been devised for use in the Bosphors
posses some new and peculiar features.
They are Of two kinds-offensiv and
defensive. The latter consists of a
strong wrought-iron tank capable of
containing about four hundred pounds
of powder and lying at the bottom OF the
water; from fuse in the interior pro.
ceeds an electric cable containing n
double wire and communication with Il
yoliaic battery on shore. The tank is
also provided with an index which floats
within five or six feet of the surface of
the water, and which, on being touched
by the bottom of ship, Immediately
conveys n signal to the shore whence
an electric spark would be sent through
the powder in the tank, the explosion
either sinking or disabling the ship above
it. The offensive torpedo, for attacking
under cover of a dark night enemies
ships lying at anchor, consists of hol-
low iron poar-Shaped vessel containing
Il heavy charge Of powder and provided
with several percussion fuses. This
kind of torpedo is fixed to the end of a
boom some thirty feet long, which is at
tached to the head of a small steam
launch. To the boom, which hinges on
the head of the vessel, is attached a chain
which runs in board over pulley, and
which can be shortened or heightened
at pleasure, raising or lowering the tor
pedo in the water The upper portion
of the torpcdo-case is provided with five
percussion fuses, one of which is Ger
tain to strike a ships bottom when pro-
PEELED against it.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11

Miss JULIA W. DooLITTLE, of Brook
Ign, visited dental Office to have eight
or ten teeth extracted, preparatory to
using false set, and while undergoing
the operation died from the effects OF
chloroform.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11

The San Francisco correspondent Of
the Chicago Times describes visit to
the Chinese theatre :
The pit was full, the second tier cram
med, and every seat in the house oc-
cupled. Opposite us sat dozen moro
Chinese women, who were cut of from
the rest of the audience by board
partition. The orchestra consisted Of
one fellow who was smoking long pipe,
and who was saving furiously at Il sort
of fiddle with one string, of another i'll
dustrious youth who hammered away
with an immense pair Of cymbals, and Il
third who let himself out by whanging
savagely at a suspended gong. There
did not seem to he so much music about
il as there was noise. 1t may have been
an accompaniment, but | could not
perceive it. 1t drowned the words of
the actors, and set my tympana to shud-
dering with mortal terror.
A Chinese play is peculiar. 1t runs
for two or three hundred years, and Il
little of it is given each night. When
one actor dies, his place is taken by an
other, and the play goes on. Few
Cinnamon have ever seen the beginning
and end of the same play. The one |
saw had been going on for one hun
bred and sixty-four years and some
months in China, and for eleven years
and eight months, has been in progress
in this city, and they haven't got
through only part of the second act.
The part we saw was peculiar. if moth
ing else. All Young kept up running
Interpretation, of which, owing to the
war Of the orchestra, l did not hear u
single word. The supes stood around
among the orchestra with their hats on,
and took off or put on the furniture MS
was necessary The actors all came in
at door to the right of the Emusic,
and went out through a door at the left.
There was no dropping of curtains, no
shifting of scenes. A couple or three
actors would come in, iabber a moment
and then pass out.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11

WATER IN THE DESERT. Under the
sand Of the great desert there is a liquid
bed which the inhabitants of the borders
Of the Sahara have long been in the
habit of reaching by means of wells.
With rude instruments they penetrate
the successive layers of sand, gravel, and
clay, till they come toa schistoge or slaty
stratum at depth of one or two hun
drcd fathoms. This last covers the
precious fluid, and in penetrating ii the
indefatigabe workmen are often over
whelmed by the sudden ascent of the
water in great quantity. Sometimes
these wells are completed undera column
of a hundred or more feet of water of in
filtration which it is impossible to keep
out. The Arabs dive to the bottom, re-
naming not more than four or five
minutes, and bring to the surface, as the
result of each trial, only few pounds
of sand. 1t is evident that often many
years are needed for the completion of
these wells, under such circumstances.
The French have come to the relief of
these unfortunate inhabitants, and have
sunk Artesian wells in various parts of
the desert, some of which furnish more
water than the famous well of Grenelle.
EXPERIMENTATION is the gift of
Heaven and not the certain effect of any
thing upon the earth and it is as easy for
Providence to convey it without wealth
as with it ; it being the undeniable pre-
rogative of the first cause, that whNtso-
ever it does by the mediation of second
causes, it can do Immediately by itself
without them. The heavens can and do
every day derive water and refreshment
from the earth without either pipes or
conduits though the weakness Of hui
man industry is forced to fly to these
little assistances to compass the same
effects. Happiness and comfort stream
Immediately from God Himself, as light
issues from the sun, and sometimes looks
and darts itself into the meanest corners,
while it forbears to visit the largest and
noblest rooms. Every man is happy or
miserable, as the temper of his mind
places him either directly under or be-
side the influences Of the Divine nature,
which enighten and enliven the disposed
mind with secret ineffable joys, and so
as the vicious or unprepared mind is
wholly unacquainted with.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11
How Did il End !

IT'S packet of letters, timc-fadcd and worn,
Which have lain in dusty corner neglected
Undated, for lovers laugh time to scorn,
But signs Of their age are soon detected,
For their spelling is bad and their grammar is
weak,
And quaint are tho phrases in which they
speak;
They were written before you or was born,
And we see an old love through their words
reflected.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11

The Knights Templar of st. Joseph,
Mo-, drill and hold their reviews on
horseback.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11

A prudent man is like pin-his head
prevents him from going too far.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11

LONDON Ice TRADE.-The ice trade of
London is in the hands Of some half.
dozen merchants, and the article is kept
in what are termed wells or shades. One
of these when filed contains 5000 tons
of rough ice. As shot in by the ice
getters it is broken up and well packed
together and levelled with shovels, form
ing in time compact mass, 50 solid that
it has to be hewn with axes when re-
quired for the market. The shrinking
of this dense block from the wall on ii.
sides is only six inches.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-11

NEWSPAPER DECISIONS. 81. Any per-
son who takes Il paper regularly from
the post. offtce-whether directed to his
name or another's or whether he has
subscribed OF not-is responsible for
the payment. 2. If a person orders his
paper discontinued, he must pay all ar
rearages, or the publisher may continue
to send it until payment is made, and
collect The whole amount, whether the
paper is taken from the office or not
8. The courts have decided that refusing
to take newspapers and periodicals Fl I'M
the post office, or removing and leaving
them uncalled for, is prima fdcie evil
dence of intentional fraud.
The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-06-11

PAYMENT OF SMALL BILIs.-The prompt pay
ment OF small bills is matter of much more
Importance than is generally attached to it..
There are not a few who, in times whom BUSH
ness has been n little depressed, and tho pros
poets for the future seem moro than usually
unsettled, will hold on to their cash in hand,
and tell the collectors who wait upon them
with overdue bills TO "call again." while the
payment would not give them any serious in-
convenience, aud would accommodate large
and deserving class of creditors. Indeed, we
know of nothing that 10 quiet way, would
go so far to give animation to the markets
throughout the country as the universal
fulflment OF these obligations at the hrst
convenient opportunity. If all the little
debts, for the discharge of which the debtors
now have the cash actually in hand, were
promptly paid at once, the wheels o. business
would be fabricated, aud q general jollity
soon prevail throughout the land. The first
serious effect on trade of any public excitement
comes from the sudden check of these little
streams. 1t is true that large transactions are
arrested, but if every one went on paying these
little debts the check would be monetary, as
business would be forced along by the current
thus continually renewed. Let every Que
whose eye falls upon these lines pay out at
once his ready money for bills he knows to be
\ due, and stop not till his pocket is emptied.
Probably before this is realized the return
current will reach his pocket too, and he be
aoie to fulfil all his obligations. There is as
uou money as ever; as much currency as
ever. Who stops its flowf Let it move ON for
prompt payment of bills now due, and new
BUSINESS wlll catch the inspiration and start
OH upon fresh gallon
The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-06-11
The Overflow.

This great misfortune which has over
taken our city is fortunately more limited in
extent than the two last preceding ones.
It's principal field now is between the New
and Old Canals, embracing portions of the
First and Second Districts, and portion
of the Third District also being inundated
from q separate break. The responsibility
of this grave disaster has not yet been
fixed, although our city Journals have been
doing themselves great credit by the zeal
and energy with which they have entered
upon the task Of ascertaining all the truth
of the case. There can be NO donbt, that
q Quantities of dirt were carried away from
the spot where the crevasse took
place at Hagan avenue. The ernbankment
Of the New Canal Was SO much weakened
thereby, that it softened and gave way be-
fore the immense column of water that
swelled the Canal from the Lake. The
storm which caused this rise of the Lake
waters was not probably SO severe "a on
many previous occasions, bat it's effects
were greatly aggravated by the vast body
of Mississippi water rushing into the
Lake through the Bonnet Care crevasse.
In tn6 moauClmo, Tue misfortune ID acCu-
ally upon us, and for the moment the prin-
| cipal question is how to relieve the misery
and suffering of our submerged population.
The citizens have already raised large
contributions with their accustomed gener-
osity, but all must understand that these
funds will have been expended before the
real distress has appeared. Most of the
families liable to these misfortunes gener-
ally have little provisions or little
money on hand. This sufaces them for a
week or two. In the meantime they have
been unable to earn anything more sick
ness comes with the drying up of the mud
dy deposits of the flood, and poverty, in
it's full Significance, is upon them.
The St. Vincent de Paul Conferences nm
1 derstand the whole subject perfectly, and
all well-meaning persons will do we'll to
put donations under their control. A card
fn another column invites such action.
The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-06-11

ST. PATR1cK's OR HIBERNIA HALL.-We
are pleased to learn that there is great
probability of the work ON this splendid
building being commenced next month.
Nearly one hundred thousand dollars
worth of the stock has already been sub
scribed for, and from the enthusiasm gem
orally manifested, in connection with the
enterprise, we should not be surprised if
the whole amount was taken in q few
weeks.
1t is an enterprise in which we are all in
terested, aud every Catholic and Irishman
is invited to come forward and subscribe
the poor man as we'll as the rich, the stock
having been placed at the low figure of $25,
for the express purpose of enabling every
one to share in this splendid undertaking.
Stock books will soon be opened at a few
central places in various parts of the city,
but, should anyone wish to subscribe at
once, he can do so by calling on Mr.. John
Henderson, corner Lafayette and Tcbonpi-
toulas streets, or on Mr.. w. J. Castell, AZ
Camp street.
The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-06-11

ORDINATIONS AT ST. MARY's DIOCESAN SEMI
NARY.-We beg to acknowledge the receipt of
an invitation to the first annual ordinations,
which will take place at st. Mary's (Arch-
Church, on the mornings of Wednes-
day, Friday and Saturday next, at o'clock. As
We rarely have an opportunity of witnessing 30
solemn and imposing a ceremony, the present
being, if we are informed Alright, the largest
ordination of which the Archdiocese can boast,
we shall surely be present, and will, next Sun
day, give such of our readers as are unable to
attend, q full and complete report.
The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-06-11

CoNFIRMATIoN.-On Thursday, the 9th
of June, feast of Corpus Christi, the Most
Rev.'Archbishop confirmed thirty children
in the chapel of st. Josephs Convent, in
Galvez street, and fourteen persons of
divers ages in the Asylum kept at NO great
distance from it. for the aged and feeble of
either sex, by the Little Sisters Of the Poor.
St. IHercsa's Church. On the feast of
Corpus Christi, at 81 o'clock Macs, l6S
children made their first communion at this
church. Friday evening, at o'clock, 172
persons were confirmed in the same Church,
by the Most Rev. Archbishop.
The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-06-11

The H1BERNIA INSURANCE CoMPANY.-In
another column we publish the charter
of this new institution, just organized
by some of our leading Hibernian fellow citi-
zens, whose names are sufficient guarantees for
its success. The Company has commenced
operations by q very judicious step, the pur-
chase of domicile. The building, No, 81
Camp street, which brings in yearly rental
of $4,000 and is now occupied by the State
National Bank has been purchased for the
handsome sum of $4,000. Being centrally
located and complete in all its appointments,
having been used for many years as bank, it
is admirably adapted to the purpose intended.
Parties desiring to sign the charter and snb-
scribe for stock, can do so till the 18th inst
by calling at w. Castell's Office, No. AZ Camp
street.
The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-06-11

THE FAIR.-A large crowd il expected to-
night at st. stephen's Hall, Sixth District.
Those who have not already visited this en-
chanting spot should not fail to attend this
evening, when we promise them most de
lightful time. The ladies are deserving of
much credit for their untiring efforts, and
have made extra provisions for tonight. Tho
brass band, composed of young gentlemen of
st. Yinceut's Academy, will enliven the hours
with delightful music. Let the hall be
crowded. We have not been informed. when
this fair will close, but it is expected to con-
tinue on a few days longer.