davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-17
An Earnest FOrger.

4 young man of Philadelphia, now ae-
cused of forgery, was reared in the
house, and in due course became part
ner. He distinguished himself by close
attention to business. His life was re-
markable for decorum, economy and nb
stemiousness. He studiously avoided
bud associates, and was never known to
visit haunts OF vice, or even frequent
places of innocent pleasure. II appears
certain, however, that for years he had
contemplated yillainy on a grand scale.
The narrowing business Of the house
bore heavily on his mind. He resolved
10 restore its old position, and to this
end he took the steps rthat have led him
to ruin. About three months ago he
prepared a note drawn by u well-known
firm, and payable to his own order. This
he offered at bank where he was in the
habit of dealing, and where it was read
lily discounted. by the stroke the sum
of 50, ,0OO was placed in his hands. With
this money he invested in speculative
purchase of Rock Island stock. With
fatal CELEBRITY he doubled his money, and
with uncommon sagacity he deposit
ed ii in the bank already victimized.
In this way he got other forged notes dis
counted, thus increasing his resources,
and enabling him to embark in fresh
specnlations. He bought and sold va
rious stocks usually Mt profit, extending
his operations to Reading Lake Shore
and Michigan Southern. Pursuing!his
original plan. he forged other notes. got
them discounted at various banks, and
on realizing by his speculation, deposited
the proceeds in the same bank AT last |
he went too far. He resolved to carry |
into effect n scheme involving round
million of dollars. An amount of seven |
thousand or so was needed to exc out the |
needful margins. For this another note
was forged in the usual way BY some
accident the date was made 1870 instead
Of 1871. This led to close examination
md to discovery. The criminal, how
ever, escaped and has not yet been ap-
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-17
4 Dominican Soldier.

The first evening | went on shore m,
attention was attracted to wild -loOkin.
sort of II man walking rapidly to an,
fro on one side of Il small square nea
the landing-place. He wore a long rud,
sword at his side and carried in n yer,
nnmilitary style, rifle. gave him. n,
the sailors say, n very wide birth at first
because was not altogether certain thai
was not crazy, and did not care par
t.odlarly to come within close range OF
his rusty barrel. which he threw around
i'll an exceedingly reck'es way. asked
one of the crowd of loungers, always
numerous i'll the streets of Santa Barba.
I'll, who he was, and was indeed. sur.
prised at the answer-"A soldier on
guard. | thought OF the uniformed
marines on board of the TwaeSsee and
could not help smiling at the remarkable
embodiment of the might and power
of san Domingo, which marched so sol
emnly before me. This soldier (for
suppose must call him a soldier wore
IA shirt, the color of which might be i'm
proved by an acquaintance with tho
g1lrgling stream close by, and few
days repose on bending bow i'll an adj
iacent woodland. His pantaloons were
OF n coarse linen. fastened around the
waist with a red handkerchief. There
We're no shoes to his feet, and his head
was warmly wrapped up III another hand
kerchlef on the top of which was an old
felt hat, very brown, and not very fash
ionablc. And yet there was pictur-
esquenesS about this citizen soldier which
pleased and delighted me, and as looked
ut his sinewy arms and frame. and
thought that within dozen years he and
his brothers had driven off the naughty
cavaliers Of Spain, | could not help look
ing at him with even something more
than admiration.
The guard house or barrack was merely
a rude hut covered with palm bark, and
to be the headquarters of all the
idle men and boys in the settlement.
When the soldier tired of walking, he
sat down on the black boards, unwished
since they were laid down. and chatted
with his neighbors Ii consisted of one
rectangular room about ten feet square,
along one side of which was stretched
line mahogany set of stocks with accom-
modatlons for seven persons. II seemed
20 he very little used. except by very
inc rooster as sleeping perch The
ence around it seemed to be useful for
nothing except as sort of block on
which to open cocoanuts. the shells of
which were plentifully scattered around.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-17

A FACT which is very significant of
the feeling of the Russian Court has
been communicated The Emperor en-
tered the room of the Empress one morn
ing, just at the time when the newspapers
brought the announcement of the begin
ming of the bombardment of Paris, and
overheard the words of maid of honor,
" Poor Paris, was this cruel lombard
ment necessary ?" "Was the burning
OF the krenhn necessary was the bonn
bardment Of Sebastopol necessary 2"
exclaimed the Emperor turning round
and leaving the room in an angry mood.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-17

CHEAP SILKS. So many importers
were stuck with large stocks of cheap
silks, the articles are now drug.
The prices of these ranges in New York
from one dollar to one dollar and half
per yard, and japanese silks from seven
ty.fve cents to one dollar and half per
yard, light French striped prints at for
ty-fve cents per yard, English striped at
twenty-five cents per yard, and very
pretty new wide American striped prints
at fifteen cents per yard. Fine black
French cashmere for costumes can be purs
chased at two dollars per yard.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-17
JOB PRINTING

OF all kinds neatly executed at the lowest living
prices. Our office IN well furnished with mater.
ial and stock for this department, and we now
have experienced and competent workmen to use
them. II you want any printing done you mead
not 20 TO the city or out Of the county, for you
can get as good work and as low prices at this
Office IN at any other.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-17

An Englishman recently hanged him.
self in Oxford because he had contribut-
ed nothing to the bronze statue of
Gutenberg, made by Thorwaldsen for
Mainz, which was put up some years
ago near the theater of that city This
is one of the most remarkable reasons
for suicide we have heard Of The self
slayer must indeed have thought poor
excuse better than none.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-17
The Island of San Domingo

The correspondents with the Commits
sion give us some very interesting letters.
We copy the following items
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-17
RATES or SUBSCRIPTION.

One copy one year in advance, .,",,".,'N 70
II not paid within three months, s,.,...... . 90
No variation whatever from thes, rates.
No paper discontinued until oil arrearages
are paid, except ut the option of the publisher.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-03-17
BUYING AND SELLING.

1t cannot be said that the people here
are an unhappy people they are quite
the reverse, but, of course. their happi-
ness is in accordance with their capacity
for approaching it. They are quiet "a
little too quiet, I imagine, } and orderly,
and would be the last people in the world
who, from their appearance. would be
charged with possessing revolutionary
instincts. They seem to be patient, sub
missive. and the easiest governed, OF any
race in the world. Their honesty can
not vouch for, but / think they are as
honest as the tradesmen. who are cheat
ing us numerically. We are said TO he
objects of derision to the smartest class
of English-speaking residents on account
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-09
Comfort for Travellers.

The Boston Transcript says, for the
benefit of railroad travellers, that the
desideratum so long sought for by in
ventors, namely, practical spark and
dust arrester, after repeated expert
ments and failures, has at last been
brought to what may be termed perfec-
ton, by gentleman of Massachusetts.
The invention is simply curved smoke
stack, in nearly the shape OF " horn of
plenty" attached as ordinary smoke
stacks are, the mouth running backward
toward the centre of the locomotive.
Within, near the enlargement at the
upper curve, is placed wire screen at
an angle of about forty-fve degrees
with the direction of the smoke, and the
usual screen is placed over the immedi-
ate outlet.
just below the first screen perfor-
ated steam-pipe is run horizontally
through the smoke-stack, connected
with the boiler by valve-pipe under
the control of the engine driver. As
the refuse matter from the furnace passes
through the stack, it is moistened by
the fine spray elected from the perfor.
ations, thus deadening the particles and
increasing their weight. Striking al
the inclined angle named above against
the first screen, they are prevented from
passing through, and fall to the under
curve of the stack, whence, through the
natural motion of the engine, they art
directed by tube to beneath the boiler
and thrown upon the track in mois
and consequently harmless condition.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-09

ter to the one aoho shall show me the
sohiteSt hands" tf. .f.f....-.,.. rf %
Father Hugh uttered these last words
with marked emphasis. ....---. .....
Micoutet was almost ready to die with
grief. Working in the fields had made
his hands drier than so much pumice-
stone. The baker and barber, on the
contrary, always working in butter or
soap, had hands as soft as the satin folds
of a duchess's dress.
The poor rustic felt that he was set
aside, regarding the forthcoming strug-
gle as calculated only for city gallants.
The latter, animated by equally we'll
founded hopes, spent the week in getting
their hands in proper condition, using
unguents of the most modifying charac-
ter, and they became as fragrant and as
white as possible, which stimulated their
pride to the highest degree.
Micoutet had not even the courage to
wash his hands in the brook, 80 inferior
did he regard himself to these town
gentry. His grandfather Simon, per-
fectly familiar with the world ever since
he had stumped through it on his old
crutches, and who was covertly regard
ing him through his white eyelashes,
comprehended his embarrassment and
came to his assistance.
Micoutet, my boy" said he, handing
him little gray bag covered with dust,
"put that in your pocket and keep your
appointment at Father Hugh's. When
the time comes to show your hands,
plunge them into this bag, and fill them
with the unguent it contains"
uD,,l <x,o,, 20 r,,u eriu q q dark
| and coarse as the bark of an old tree.
How can you--T
"Follow my advice, my boy. The
washball gave to you is so eficacious,
that the most obdurate spots will not re-
sist its action. Its use is of very ancient
date, and time has not diminished its
virtue"
Micoutot took the soap-bag, and re-
sorted to Bernadotte's house. The baker
and the barber were not far behind him.
Casterez first showed his fingers; they
were whittier than the blossom Of the
dogrose. The hair-dresser then display
ed his, and they looked as fresh as u lily
but Just in bloom. 1t now came Micou-
tets turn. Firmin and Casterez began
to laugh as he drew his huge hands from
his pockets and held them forth, when
Father Hugh uttered cry of admira-
ton, for they We're filed with bright and
beautiful crowns.
"Ah my boy, that is the real dur
able whiteness which I love. Bernadotte
is yours, for you have courted her with
out leaving your field, and you know
the whiteness most appreciated in the
hand of a son-in-law."
The two abashed and mute candidates
returned to their shops with their ears
hanging lower than hound after losing
hare. Bernadotte and Micoutet good
naturedly invited them to their wedding,
and they had wit enough to go, as
townsmen hardly ever neglect to enjoy
what is good in the dwelling of dis
dained peasant. The happy couple,
happy as everybody is with as much
money as good temper, labored through
out their lives to swell the contents OF
the soap-bag, the gift of their venerable
grandfather.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-09
Brazilian Turtles.

The size of these creatures may be
imagined from the fact that the fippers
and feet of one, in crawling over the
sand, leave the tracks of two irregular
grooves, three or four feet apart, as
though great wagon with cog wheels
had been driven over the ground. 1t
is an easy matter to find turtles nest
by this track. She comes out of the
sea and travels far up on the beach to
lay her eggs in the sand. digging hole
a foot and half or two feet deep for
the nest. Professor Hartt, who was in
Brazil with Professor Agassiz, says that
he saw u turtle deposit one hundred
and forty-three eggs in one of these
nest. The eggs are all laid at one sit
ting, then covered up closely with the
sand and left to hatch. The eggs are
rather larger than hens eggs, round
and covered with tough white skin.
The Brsz,lians eat the eggs, and also the
flesh OF the turtle. The creature is cap
tured in curious way. Two persons
go behind it, and taking hold of the
she'll, turn the animal on its back, in
which position it is at the mercy Of its
captors, as it is impossible for it to turn
over on its feet again. The hunters are
obliged to creep up behind it cautiously,
for as soon as it is alarmed, it thrusts
its fore paddles into the sand and
throws it behind, 80 that if the pursuers
do not quickly close their eyes they are
likely to be blinded.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-09
The Datch Churches in New York.

The Christian Iotelligencer, alluding to
the approaching centennial of the Re-
formed Dutch Church says: it
Down to the year 1900, the Dutch
language was used in nearly all the Re-
formed Dutch pulpits in New York.
The minutes of our ecclesiastical bodies
were in q foreign tongue, and our Con-
stitution was not printed in English
until 1894. With the general. introduc-
ton of the English tongue, there came
progress, enterprise, and improvement.
Rutgers College at length, in 1925, was
placed in fair working condition.
twenty-five years of educational train
ing and aggressive work of many kinds
brought the Church down to the year
1850. Then began those elemental throes
of conscious power, feeling after de-
velopment. The development followed
on the heels of much friendly agitation,
and what has been gained within the
last twenty years is an inspiration and
encouragement to larger efforts than
have hitherto been attempted. Within
this latter period, our collegiate and
theological institutions have been nobly
endowed.
Our Church boards, twenty years ago,
were but two in number, viz: the Board
of Education, and of Domestic Missions
the Foreign Board being then only a
nominal affair. But now the Reformed
Church has the complete apparatus for
large and effective work, and its several
boards find their fields and their oppor-
tunities widening and increasing every
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-09
A Hairy Family-but no Chance for Bar
mum.

The following account of hairy fami-
ly appears in the Indian Daily NeeoS, an
East India journal
The hairy family of Mandalay consists
of woman of about forty-five years of
age, a man of twenty, and girl OF
eleven, with hair over every part OF their
faces, forehead, nose, and chin, varying
in length from three inches to a foot,
and exactly the color and texture of that
on Skye terrier. The hair of their
heads, ON the contrary, is just the same
as on any ordinary Burman: they ap-
pear to be quite as Intelligent as the Or
dinary Burmsns. phe father of the wo-
man was the first of the hairy progeny.
He married an ordinary Burman woman
and the issue of the union was the pre-
sent hairy head of the family. She mar
ried an ordinary Burman, and has issue
son about twenty-three years of age
not hairy, and the boy and girl alluded
to. The Burmese explanation of th'
phenomenon is, to say the least, curious
and might possibly possess a special in
terest for Mr.. Darwin. These hairy peo
pie would be worth a fortune to the en-
terprising Barnum if he could get holc
of them, but the king will not ALLOW
them to go out of his dominions.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-09
The Man Who Cooks,

Every old Californian, having in 40
baked his own bread and boiled his
beans, writes Prentice Mulford, deems
himself good family cook. He main
tains even greater conceit than this:
He deems himself a cook superior to any
woman in the world, when he chooses to
concentrate his mind on culinary af-
fairs.
On such man, when duly married,
there breaks out once or twice year a
culinary mania. He must cook; he will
cook. He watches the opportunity
when his wife has prolonged her after
noon visit little longer than usual. He
invades the kitchen. He kindles fire
in the stove. He brings all the frying
pans he can find into use. He sets their
sooty bottoms on the clean pine table.
He contemplates making tea. He re-
fleets as to the quantity he used in the
mines for making" He cannot re-
collect exactly. He Grams several fist
fuls into the teapot. He will have
enough anyway. No one who drinks
thereof sleeps that night. Nervous.
He essays to make biscuit. He won-
ders how much saleratus they used in
| tuc iniAcs W ScL BOOu ihoc Ohs LAG
uses enough. He kneads his dough, and
wandering vacantly about the house,
leaves traces of flour at every step. L. is
in the parlor, on the door knobs, on the
bannisters. He can cook. He says he
can cook better than any woman in the
world if he "was only a-mind to give
his mind to it," This conceit is never to
be taken out of him. 1t is peculiar to
all old Californians for he made bread
in the mines. 1t was good bread, too
good to kill. They say that two "pard.
ners" who "cabined with him, died Of
heavy bread indigestion. He was given
twenty-four hours to leave that camp.
In the midst of all this culinary riot
chaos, smoke, grease, SCOT, rags, and
flour, the wife comes home. She openl
the hall door, and Is oppressed by th'
cloud of smoke. She knows then tina
the culinary fit is ON her husband. Sh,
) steps into the kitchen. There he stands
red, heated, Austered, caught in the act
with big spoon in one hand, tormen
J tor in the other, spot of black on hi
} nose. The frying pan is full OF hot
smoking lard. 1t sizzles and sputters al
, over him as he stands there with hi
back to the stove, and all over every
thing for many feet around. Their
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-09
Treed by Bears.

The Detroit Free Press, of the 4th inst,
gives the following account OF how the
hunter became the hunted:
A man named Chas. Tyrell was hum
ing on the st. Clair river when two bears
appeared. Somewhat excited, he lev
elled his rifle and fred, and the next
moment both the bears were coming
down upon him at full speed. The hun
ter saw that they meant business, each
uttering fierce growls, and he dropped
his gun, caught hold of the limb of a
small oak tree, and swung his legs up
lust in time to save his boots. AS he ex-
pected, one of them was not long in at
tempting to secure closer acquaint-
ance. The animal got up about seven
feet, and then the limbs refused to let
him by. He paved, bit, and growled at
a great rate, and, in making big effort
to push away the limbs, fell to the
ground. Tyrell commenced shouting
which excited the bears, and one OF them
was quickly up to the limbs again, when
the hunter struck match and dropped
it down on bruins head, frightening
him so that he went down the tree at Q
lively rate. The hunter had about {
dozen matches with him, and every timt
the bears started to climb he would
light one and let it fall, the trick nevel
failing to stop their ascent. After {
time both seemed to 60 away, and tn,
hunter carefully commenced to descend
He was Just about to touch the grounC
when both the bears came charging a
him out of the darkness, and he had t.
go up again, one of his boots being rake
by claws before he was above the limbs
The animals made no further effort t
climb the tree, but tore around for
full hour at its base. Tyrell dared nc
descend for fear that they had laid
snare for him, and passed the entir
night astride of limb. In the mornin
he found the bear he had fred at dead q
the foot of the tree, but the other ha
disappeared, and the hunter got safel
off with the spoil.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-09
The First Baby.

In these pleasant days, when peram-
bulators fill all the pleasant places,
pushed by their neat attendants, and
filled with priceless parcel that, out of
all its foam of laces and embroideries,
winks and wonders at the world around
it, we are constantly led to remark upon
the transcendent qualities, not of the
sixth or seventh half as much as of the
first baby. The lovely little beings that
follow may tumble up in such clothes as
are already at hand, with only here a
ruffle and there scollop of their own
good enough for vagrants-but the first
heir is to be, and is, a mass OF delight
fully dainty newness. Flannel is not
warm enough for it, swans down is not
soft enough, and, if the hoar frost of the
hedges, bediamoned with the dew of
the morning, were available, lace would
not be good enough for it.
What rapture that first baby is in
the house where it comes. What impor-
tance belongs to all related, with their
new dignities and weighty titles, while
the young mother, just escaped from the
awful gates, sees the little bundle on her
pillow, composedly sleeping or starting,
as if it had an equal right there with any
one else; and she feels surprise as great
as if she had never expected it, together
with, perhaps, something like an awe OF
herself on account of the great mysteries
through which she has passed. And
either parent looms in the others eyes
into wonderful and mighty guardian
angel, to be venerated, for the time
being, beyond words.
Truly what q pathos, as well as a rap
ture of hopes and anticipations, hovers
around those folds of ffannel-the pity Of
it lest the half of those anticipation;
should never be fulfilled. And what
moment the minor matters take upon
themselves What contentious arise re-
garding those chameleon eyes! what re-
semblances are discovered to family por
traits, ugly yesterday as unknown shad
ows, but glorious to-day as baby's ances
tors! by what divine instinct does i
suck its thumb! and what miracle tina
it should not happen to be misshapen
To think of the day when it will g
alone to conjecture the voice in whicl
it shall repeat "The Stag at Eve;" t,
imagine the hours when it may underg,
these same experiences in its own turn
to dream concerning the fate before it
to know that this atom now of a day
experience already inherits eternity.
The time is too bright, the success G
the thing is too intoxicating, not to nee
the shading of the reflection OF stille
moments, when the mother, lying an
holding that tiny hand in hers, feel
that what she has become herself sh
has made this child; that where any 81
has struck its dark tsp-root into nc
blood, that sin has gone to her child
, that wrong wishing, evil imagining
selfish acts. now all come back to plagu
J their inventor, and more than that,
plague and clog this precious spirit o
, its upward fight, till she expiates tn
, faults of years in the apprehension an
suffering of an hour.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-09
RIDGWAY Pa THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1871.

comes from the oven door suspicious
smell of smoke-his biscuit are burning.
All sorts of things in pots are boiling
over. She rushes to his assistance. Both
burn their fingers. He has mislaid half
the stove-covers, and cannot find them.
One is discovered fortnight afterwards
upstairs, under the bed. How did it get
thereP He says he didn't know he was
carrying it up at the time. Absent
minded. He was looking for clean
towel.
His wife, in despair, goes to her room
and cries, and thinks of her happy girl
hood days.