davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15
Facts about the Origin of Meteorites.

It is asserted that we are profoundly ignorant of the origin of the meteoric matter that falls to the earth from the sky.
 The fact is that the origin of the mete- orites, @rolites, uranolites, bolides, or star-dust, as they are called by various writers, is now we'll known. It has been demonstrated, as fo1cibly as the fact of the earth's diurnal rotation, that they are neither thrown out from lunar volca- noes, nor the results of whirlwind nor volcanic action on the earth's surface.
 They are genuine planetary phenom- ena, coursing in orbits around the sun, till drawn therefrom by the earth's at traction, when the motion in the orbits cause them to approach So near to us that the terrene attraction on the little has hitherto kept these minor worlds in known that untold millions of these bodies revolve within the boundaries of the solar system in elliptic orbits, just as the planets and comets, many of them forming large bands of matter which spread out over great part of the cir conference of the orbit.
 The orbits of these bands intersect that of the earth, and our globe some times passes through one of them, when some of it's constituent particles are drawn to the earth by her superior attraction, and give up their separate world existence. The form and extent, and position, the time of revolution, and the rate of motion in the orbit, has been calculated for several of these groups, and we really know as much and more about them than we do about the comets some of which form parts of these serolitic bands
 It has been often asserted that if these little masses are really of inter- planetary origin, they must be fragments of some world which has been burst asunder by an internal convulsion. Not only is there no necessity for accepting this theory, but we have good reasons to suppose that exactly the reverse is the truth.
 The universe of what we may call cos mical matter is still segregating nebu- lous masses are forming into worlds, and the greater world masses which have nebulous aggregations have left behind them greater percentage of still un- formed matter, which is being gathered in slowly to the large centers of gravi- tative energy.
 The million of notes that dance in the sunshine probably present very close analogy to the unaccountable bill lions of specks of matter that have yet to be gathered in to swell the masses which were long since formed, and have annually grown larger at the expense of this matter, as they encounter it in jour- neying round the sun.
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15

A FISH MYsTERY.-A fish mystery is troubling Council Bluffs. Spoon Lake, placid sheet of water near that city, has never been known to contain fish "to any extent until recently, when it's waters not only swarmed with myriads of finny monsters, but the surrounding shores are alive with fish. They have come in such enormous numbers that the waves wash them high and dry on the shore where they lie knee-deep, dead and putrefying. The fish trade in Omaha and Council Bluffs has become prodigi- ous. The fish seem to be greatly aston ished at their new surroundings, and stick their heads from the water and open their mouths as if they wanted air, A little boy takes @ flat board and wades into the water and in ten minutes throws out as many fish as wagon can carry, varying in weight from two to five pounds. People who have lived in the neighborhood for years declare the phe- nomenon unprecedented, and various wild theories are put forth in explanation
 The prevalent belief is that the swarm came into the lake by subterranean passage, during late storm, while few venerable observers contend that the Missouri overfowed it's banks and flooded the lake with catfish and perch.
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15
Very Bad s' Spells. :"

At late session of New York State Teachers Institute, each teacher was given certain words to spell, and was re- quired to write them out on paper. The list of the words-ffty in number-dic- tated to the teachers, were the same that had been used in Institutes held in several of the counties in the State, with the following results In Ulster County sixty per cent. of the words had been incorrectly spelled in Greene County sixty-six per cent; in Saratoga County sixty-seven per cent; in Scho- harie County sixty-four per cent; in Madison County seventy per cent; in Chenango fifty-seven per cent. The re- port showed that the word "cachinna- tion" had botherer the teachers more than any other. In the ninety-fve pa pers examined there were no less than fifty different spellings for this word. In the ninety-four papers examined, there were two thousand six hundred and aixty-three mis-spellings-an average of twenty eight.
 The "hard words" were as follows Intermittent, Heresy, Bilious, Coercion, Ecstacy, Clarionet, Surcingle, Paralyze, Licorice, Traficking, Suspicion, Ellipsis, Apostasy, Mortgaging, Singeing, Skill fully, Subpoena, Allegeable, Ignitible, Phosphorescence, Sibylline, Cachinna- tion, Vacillation, Catechise, Trisyllabls, Tyrannize, Apologise, Gauging, Saccha- rine, Hemorrnage, Rendezvous, Fahren- heit, Galilean, Sadducee, Erysipelas, Canaille, Cannibal, Mignonnette, Ka- leidoscope, Hieroglyphics, Apocrypha, Daguerreotype, Idiosyncrasy.
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15
By Candle Light.

During the season at Saratoga, the gas gave out, and society had to depend upon tallow dips. Listen to the scene as described by a correspondent l It was ten o'clock. The stage drove up from the depot. Almost every lady expected her husband on the train. Many young ladies expected their sweet, hearts. Neither the stage, the driver, nor the horses were visible. From force of habit the passengers felt their way to the reception room. I got mixed up in the crowd. Twenty-Five married ladies, seven old maids, and four young ladies commenced greeting the passengers in the darkness. My dear William why did you stay so long ?" exclaimed 8 sweet young wife, and then she threw her arms around my neck-our lips met. I wasn't going to be a darned fool.
 Far different.
 Now, dear, sweet, iquid-eyed bru, nette threw her arms wildly around me. 70, Eugene, why did you not write oftener ?" she sobbed, and then she sank sweetIy on my bosom. I said, "weer not, Julia," and then kissed her twenty two times. It was delicious. It made me think of my first wife and my college days at Yale.
 A sweet, golden-haired blonde now took my hand. She pressed it gently, saying: "Dear Albert, know it is you, and I'm so glad to see you! You wont dance with Lizzie Smith, now, will you: Now, do you promise me!' I said wouldn't. Then she held her cheek close to mine. It was hot with loves young hope and pure, sweet affection. We were very happy. None but wicked mar would have brought sadness to this sweet, pure young affection, and beauti full with splendid girlishness.
 "Do you still love me, Albert ?" she whipered.
 Undoubtedly, I remarked.
 "How much, darling p
 "A heap"
 70, am too happy" she murmured as she twisted her. fingers in my auburn hair and held me in sweet embrace.
 This sort of thing went on for seven teen minutes, when c. Leland appeared in the distance with tallow candle. quietly withdrew and mingled unobservec in the crowd. As the candle appeared twenty-seven young gentlemen were seer shaking hands with as many young ladies in the different corners. I have seldom seen such an affecting scene. Ii was great display of affection. One married gentleman was holding the hands of two ladies. The hair of the ladies was generally crimpless, while tho hair of the young gentleman did not dis play parting place. reflected, "hov kin such things be, and overcome u like summer shower? ?" I consulted with J. Billings. He says they kant. SC I resolved to leave the place.
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15
A French Convict Colony.

New Caledonia, the French convict col ony, where so many female communists have been sent, is long island, sloping from Northwest to Southeast, among those coral-reefed seas of which poets delight to sing. It is inhabited by a race of savages called Kanaks, whom Cook found to be delightfully."- mild but he did not happen to make their acquain- tance at the conclusion of 8 war, and left without the knowledge that they were cannibals.
 The first beginning of convict es- tablishment was in 1864, when two hun dred prisoners were sent out from You lon and established just outside the port of Toumea. The mortality was at once found to be much less than that of the dreaded Cayenne. The Government then tried ticket-of-leave system, and eighty-four of the most hopeful of the convicts were sent to Boraie, with con- sessions of land, while others were al- lotted to the free colonists as assistants. Another set are employed on 8 model farm. Up to December, 1867, nearly a thousand convicts had in all been sent out, of whom only forty-six had been kept in real prison life. So far the re- suits have been satisfactory, but what will they be when the island is flooded with discontented Paris workmen ? A large body of troops will have to be sta tioned on the island. Be that as it may, says the London Spectator, we must, it seems, make up our minds to a great perpetuatien of human misery, at an epoch of human history when we have been moving heaven and earth to ameli- crate convict colonies and jails. It is a sad subject. The French official docu- ments describe country much favored by nature, and chances of colonial pros perity of high order if nature be not corrupted and overborne by man. But to the normal difficulties of the French creating substantial prosperity in Age ria, will here be added so many extrane- ous ones that good results can hardly be hoped for. A sort of cooperative farm created by the authorities of Noumea some years ago proved signal failure, though the settlers were free and the farm stock was supplied by authority. The personnel comprised laborers, smiths, stone cutters, brickmakers, baker, a machinist-in fact, what might be called complete selection of workmen. Three hundred hectares of land was allotted to the group, and beasts, seeds, tools, &c. were advanced. This was in 1864, and in two years the experiment failed, and the members had split asunder, amidst bitter dissensions. The political hatreds of the new convicts will go far to make the renewal of such experiments in New Caledonia very hopeless.
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15
Such a Law Suit.

A West Virginia paper. tells the fol lowing story of Ohio county: A citi- zen of this county, whom we will desig- nate as Y, had goat that sometimes tresspassed upon the premises of his neighbor w. On an unlucky day, w, being much annoyed, took his gun and shot the goat. Y sued for damages oc- casioned by the loss of the goat, and the case was tried before Justice of the Peace in the spring of 1870. A jury of six citizens was impaneled in accordance with the provisions of our code, and the arguments of attorneys were heard. The jury failed to agree upon 8 verdict, and a second trial was ordered. At the sec- ond trial the jury awarded damages to Y and appealed to the Circuit Court. The case was heard at the June Term in 1870, and the jury of twelve men disagreed as to the proper finding in the case. Anoth- CT trial was had at the October Term, and verdict of SIP. 10 was found in favor of Y. In the meantime, and prior to fiud- ing this verdict, w claimed to have ten dered to Y the sum of $15, the effect of Y's non-acceptance of which would have been to make him responsible for the costs that had accrued during the pro- gress of the suit. This alleged tender was denied by Y, and at the March Term in 1871 jury was impanelled to ascertain the fact whether or not the ten. der had been made. The jury failed to agree upon a verdict, and again at the June Term in the present year, another jury was discharged before arriving at Q decision of the case In this shape the case stands at present.
 In the meantime the costs have been growing enormously. Four jury trials before the Circuit Court have been had, and their cost has been paid out of the people of the State the time of the court has been occupied the time of the citizens, as jurors and witnesses, has been consumed the attorneys on each side are to be paid by the parties them selves and unless some decision is soou made the costs will probably exceed S500
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15
BeeCller on Sin.

MT. Beecher, in recent lecture-room monologue, gave birth to the following There can be no question that many of the things which are called sinful are in the eye of God simply infirmities. Many of the things which men call sin are simply inexpertness, untaughtness, rude ness of beings that have to be educated into capacity through faculty. But ad- mitting all that, is there nothing beyondf Is there no such thing as deliberate choice against knowledge, and not from want of 1t ? Are there no such things in men as setting aside what they under stand to be the best part of their nature, in favor of what they admit to be the worst part It is not in the conscious ness of every man, that, while he goes through a probationary or apprentice system by which he is learning how to use his faculties, when he has learned how to use them he perverts that know ledge ? And who does not know that ii he were to bring up every separate feel. ing of his nature, and arraign it by the side of reason he would find that in his practice he comes short of his know ledge?
 If man were to ask himself, |" Does reason approve the way ln which exer- else my affections ?" he would be obliged to say, "I act unreasonably every day in my affections. Bring up the engineer ing passions, the master forces of the soul, by which God meant to drive life, as steam and the engine drive the ship, and ask every man, Have your passions been piloted, or have they run away with the hull ? Are you conscious that when you sin great deal it is largely on ac- count of ignorance and undevelopment And are you conscious that when you have reached certain point, sin multi plies, and you deliberately employ facult, after faculty for gaining things that you know to be wrong beforehand, and after ward attempt to cover up and tone dowr by promises and excuses
 The question is here plainly put. How many of those habitually pursue the wrong can justly claim that they do not know the right
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15
The Fall Fashions.

Among Fall importations the plaids show novelties both. in combinations Qt color and in. fabrics. The tartans all res appear. There are also the favorite greeN and crimson plaids, so comfortable-looka ing for children and young girls in mid winter -' .-<. 7..'..s .eat. aA Cashmere will continue to be favorite wool fabric for costumes. The first quality of cashmere is called Thibet cloth, measures forty eight inches il width, and costs $3. 50 a yard Lightet qualities of cashmere in the choice shades just mentioned, and in many others besides, are $250 yard, double fold. '@ 3 ' In plain goods are many English lus- tres, ranging in price from 50 cents tC $1 yard. Among these are silk wrar Palermo poplins of light quality and very lustrous melange lustres ,.in dark shades, sligh tly chine, for 55 eeats yard new and pretty white and black crape cloth at 75 cents ; cheap tartan lustres for 25 or 30 cents.
 Cicilian cloth is new black fabric. It is a lustrous mohair, sort of basket woven alpaca, but far softer than ordin- ary alpaca, and capable of being draped as gracefully as 8 cashmere. It is 8 pure, full, deed black, yard wide, with. out center fold, and costs from 65 cents cents upward.
 Soft wool shawls cost $6 for ample squares. Gay Scotch plaid squares are $4.50, if of American manufacture from $6 upward if imported. The Leonora shawl-a good warm plaid, basket-woven, is $6. The Jacquard shawl, of soft white wool, with twill effects in color, is $6.
 Fall wraps begin to arrive. Buyers say that prune-color and the deepest green cashmeres will rival the longtime favorite black this season, and dark gray and brown will be the popular colors for cloth garments.
 Sleeveless Zouave jackest of rich dark colors-scarlet and black-are trimmed with intricate cor2ings of gilt, or jar diniere embroidery in bright colors These are for afternoon wear in the house.
 The new velvet polonaises are simply elegant, and some will cost as high as $500 on account of their fine lace and cording or embroidery.
 An opera cloak of soft white cloth ir raised diamonds, figures in circular trimmed with two broad bands of blue velvet richly wrought with rich blue and white fringe of tassels borders this lovely wrap.
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15

A Doc CAsE.-A very exciting dog case was settled in Washington Co.,, N.
 Y. It seems MT. Henry Burch owned q very quiet, peaeeable but knowing New foundland dog, (which had been trained to draw the baby's carriage, to drive cattle, churn, run a sewing-machine,
 and we know not what other useful tricks.
 Now this dog, on Sunday, trespassed on the premises of John Whitaker, aneigh- Dor, who owns a small rat-terrier dog,
 and the latter, (the dog,) jealous of the requirements of his shaggy neignbor, or forgetful of the respect due to great attachments, resented his intrusion, and did make an assault on him, against the peace and dignity of the State. Attempts were made to part them, but inefectu- ally, and at length Whitaker drew pis- tol and shot Burch's dog dead. These facts appeared upon the trial and the jury rendered verdict of $45 for Burch.
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15
THE RoTHsoHnDs. The firm was es-

THE RoTHsoHnDs.-The firm was es- tablished at Frankfort in 1771, by Meyer Anselm. Being left an orphan, he obtain ed employment in a bank at Hanover, and by his industry and economy suc- ceeded in amassing little capital, with which he founded his own establishment. In 1901 he was appointed agent for the Elector of Hesse, whose fortune he saved, at the risk of his own, when the French army entered that State. For that ser vice the Emperor of Austria gave titles of nobility to all the members of the family, with the motto, to which they have always remained faithful, Con- cordia, Industrd, Integrftds. The founder of the dynasty left ten children, of whom the youngest was the late Baron James, of Paris. ..F ..s~. {. 2. g a'.
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15
Terms, $2. co e Yeas., Strictly iss
 A1asnHAr0
In the Harvest Field.

Glory to Him who bids the field s Its blessing to our toil to yield,
 Who giveth much, who giveth more, Till store and basket runneth o'er Thus, ere the golden skles grow dim,. Come, let us sing our Harvest hymn. His finger on the land doth lay
 Its be luty, stretching far away 1:
 His breath doth fill the opal skies With grandeur dread to mortal eyes: He gives man harvest from the wild, And drops the daisies for the child. But oh, how shall we dare draw near2 Such power is yelled in midst of fear. What can we be to One who fills
 The awful silence or the hills,
 Who knows the secrets of the sea, 9-. The wild beasts in the forests free1 But, Lord, we know Thee otherwise A siighted man with loving eyes, Toiling along with weary feet s. ..s. Such paths as these among the wheat Come from the light of Heavens throne To call no honeson earth Thine own, OLord, Thou givest bounteous spoil . To the poor me asure of our toll,
 For our few grey dank sowing days The glow of August's evening blaze. And what can we give for the pain With which Thou sowed immortal grain Nothing-for all we have is Thine, Who need'st not corn, nor oil, nor wine; Nothing-unless Thou make us meet To follow Thee through tares and wheat And from the storm of wrath and sin To help Thee bring Thy harvest in.
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15

MORTALITY STATISTICS. The mortality statistics of the census office show that the homicides in the United States and Territories during the year ending May, 1870, including "killed by Indians, '" reached the number of 2,O60 The highest number is credited to Texas, and the next highest to Tennessee. The to- tai number of homicides in New York was 70. New Hampshire reports but a single case, while Connecticuti is credited with six, Delaware with four, Maine with seven, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island and Minnesota each with five. It is notable fact that the number of vio- lent deaths other than those caused by Indians, was, as rule, less in the new Territories than in the oldest States.
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15

TOBACCO AND INSANITY. -Dr. Boyd, in the American Builder, traces some re- markable proportions between the con- sumption of tobacco and the prevalence of insanity. He cites two Belgian phy- sicians, Messrs. Grislian and Hagon, for the statement that from ISIS to 1880 the production of tobacco being 2S,000, ,000 kilogrammes, there were 10000 insane reported annually. In 1S42, with pro- duction of sO,O00,O ,OOO kilogrammes of to- bacco, there were 15,000 insane. In 1852, the tobacco product being 120. 900, 900 kilogrammes, the number ofma. niacs had increased to 22,000. In 1864, with tobacco product of ls0, ,O00, ,O0C kilogrammes, there were A,000 crazy Belgians.
Connecticut western news., 1871-09-15

AGRICULTURAL WAGES IN ENGLAND From 8 recent Parliamentary return we get pretty full account of agricultural wages in England. In the southeastern division of England, very rich and pro- ductive region, laborers earn from los. to It's. week, and find themselves south midland, los. to 14s. southwest ern; 9s. Sd. to Ills. west midland, 9s. to 13s., north midland, 12s. to 14s. northern counties they range from Is. to 15s. Women earn from 3s. to 6s. a week children from 2s Sd. to 5s. It is something better i1r> harvest time, and there are local customs of allowing gar dens, potato planting, bacon, &c., which somewhat improve the condition of the working population but the average of agricultural wages over England cannot be more than fifty cents a day for men, twenty cents for women, fifteen cents for children-a small enough sum for rent, fuel, food, clotning-all the necessaries of life. These are cheaper here than in America, excepting food, drink and tobacco, which are much dearer. Food is imported from America and must cost more. The others are heavily taxed.