davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1871-11-29

The POWER OF ARTILLERY.-lhC he recent
conflict between the French and Prussians
mas been decided-like all modern conflicts
are nOw-nOre ty the power of artillery
than by mere hand-to.Eand engagements.
New inventions in the instruments of war
fare have placed mere physicsl strength Alto
gether in the minority. IL used TO be the
boast that the British soldier was superior in
the matter of bayonet charge to any o:har
soldier in TIE world. Now, however, times
are changed. The result of victory &C.
pend= not on the power of men individually.
but on the rower of the artillery collectively.
Yet this leads us to an old reflection, namely.
whether the men of the pIescnt day are
equal or inferior in stature to the warriors of
ancient times. TIE generally accepted be-
lief is that the men Of the present day are
quite as stout and stalwart ss they were in
the old historic ages long gone by. Even in
Lord EglintOun's famous tournament not
few of the knights found some difficulty in
finding armor large enough for them to
wear. And going even farther back, if we
take the Egyptian mummy cases in the
British museum, few of them would contain
an ayerage-sized Englishman. So much for
antiquity. The Romans and Greeks OF old
were shorter, Slighter race ttan the GaHls,
from whom they Il. first sprang, and shrank
In time. The sentries suffocated at Pompeii
are quite as short as the smaller French
linesman. without the bread, well-set look
so often observable in the latter sturdy little
race. And without fear CT vanity on the
part of Cegenerated race, We venture to
think that a brigade of our British ''guards"
would have made short work of even the
picked men of Roman legion.-Onee-a-
Fcs}
The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1871-11-29

1t the perplexing problem of the origin
of the species is not solved, it will surely
not be for lack of theories. la connection
with these theories a curious tale is told. lt
is said to be a tradition among the Seminole
Indians that when the Great Spirit came to
people the house he made three men. all
with fair compilations. and having led them
to the margin of small lake. bade them leap
in and wash. One instantly obeyed, AID
came out fairer than before. The second
hesitated and the water becoming foul, he
emerged of bright copper color, while the
tbirl hesitating still longer, came out black
as mud. The Great Spirit then laid before
them three packages, and out of pity for the
misfortune of his color, gave the black man
first choice. He chose the heaviest, and
found it to contain spades, hoes and imple-
ments OF labor. The red man chose the next
heaviest package, and received apparatus
for hunting, fishing and carrying on war.
The third aad lightest package was left for
the white man, and in it lie found pen, ink
and paper, the engines OF the mind, and
the foundation of tie white mans supe-
riority.
The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1871-11-29

The consumption Of hardwood timber has
greatly increased during the past half CEN
tury, and the market value of this class OF
timber has advanced very much. Take o1k
slaves as sample OF the advance In price.
In lS26, osk slaves We're worth six cents
each in Europc in 1856 they were worth
fourteen cents. There has been cores
ponding advance during the same period IN
the value of hard wood and of cak IN oShtr
form, for various uses. One who has col.
lected statistics 10 show the amount OF oak
timber consumed in France, claims that
during the past fifty years the quantity has
doubled. lie represents that in 1SGG S9o,-
OO0. 600 worth were consumed, OF which
So 900 OGU worth were imported, against
S25 100000 worth consumed in $50, Gf
which 81 900, 600 worth were imported.
This is but sample Of the increase OF con
SUMPTION all over Europe.
The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1871-11-29

The city of St Paul has certainly maize rap
id strides during the past twelve months,
both as regards population and increase in
the number of public and private buildings.
The last census was taken III the summer OF
1870, when the population was 2i,ooo. At
the present time, competent JUDGES are con-
fident that the population is not less than
2b 900
The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1871-11-29

GiimOrc's old colisc ian, at Boston. was a
baby compared with the one he is going TO
erect at Boston for his biz jubilee next Jure.
The plan contemplates & building SD long
by I2l feet broad, with Il tower 2l0 feet
high rising from the centre. The side.tow-
ers. OF which there will bc four, are each
l67 feet high. The building, which will
cover eight acres, will have seating accom-
mo5ations for Ia, 900 people, and will be To-
Gated OH the Rock Bay, near the Providence
Railroad, and not far from the foot OF New
Ton street,
The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1871-11-29

The WHEAT CROP IN EURoFE.-The re-
suit OF the deficiency Of the wheat crop in
Europe, about which so much noise has
been madc-amountS only 10 this: Wheat
exporting countries will be called upon to
export no more than 9,006 900 quarters to
England. 100 900 quarters to Belgium, and
II 600 ,0C0 hectOliterS to France. These
q uantities re not, however, to be rCckOned
as additional TO the average quantities, but
represent the totals needed Tor the coming
year. Nobody would for a moment contend
that there will be any difficulty III making
up the required quantity from out the full
granaries of otEcr countries, and we may
fairly conclude that the starvation cry is got
up merely by SPECTATORS. Nevertheless
the deficiency will tend to keep up the
prices of wheat in the ensuing year. Ii is
impossible to estimate the quantities which
each exporting country will be able to spare,
and If such Il calculation should be at
temptedi it would assuredly miss the mark.
The surplus of the United States may, how
ever, be set down at 1000, 600 quarters. As
a rule-an almost .invariable one-prices of
wheat tend high when England and France
compete in the import trade. In England
the present average is SlI - 10 Sl4 30 per
Quarter-a price TINT is attractive enough to
draw supplies from all parts OF the world,
and yet it is {; lon. way oil the prohi6itory
rate that would be necessary before famine
prices for bread ooall possibly be charged
10 the consumers
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29

color as those mentioned above and apply
it with common paint brush. Lay it on
smoothly, so that it will strike in uniform
ly over the whole surface and not stand in
spots. This may be done at night, after
I'll" davis ~'r~'': an" ttt Dlacr will hs rra6v
for use again the next morning. AS far as
the oiled surface is concerned, it might be
stepped upon at once without injury; but
there would be danger in that case Of
tracking the grease to other parts OF the
house. A new coat of oil, applied in this
way once or twice year is sufficient to
keep a floor in order.
This treatment is to be heartily recon.
mrnded for the floors of kitchens, pantrics,
vcrandas, closets, bathrooms, and laborers'
bedrooms. 1t is also good plan In chill
drcn's apartments, particularly in training
them to do their own house work, to leave
without carpet or mating that part of the
floor where the bed stands, with few feet
around it, and to oil the wood. The floor
under the bed can then be easily kept free
from dust, and the sweepings can be read
lily removed while washstands, etc, can
be SO disposed as to give the youngsters
free scope for their ablutions, without in.
jury to carpets.
In country houses, the plan might be
carried still further We recently had all
the floors ina newly built house oiled and
we think it wise economy Many well-to
do families in Europe have no carpets a,
all and, though there are some disadvan'
tages in such a course, there are certainly
some points gained. We think it gives
cleaner houses, with less house cleaning
Putting down, taking up, and beating car
pets is the most vexations and labOriOus
part of our domestic economy, as theil
cost and destruction constitute one of it
great items of expense. Still, we do no
attack carpets-though, speaking Of at
tacks, what a tax the tacks re!--we only
say, where you don't need carpet, by al
means oil your aoor.-Manufactw'er amt
RMlIder
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29
Romantic Story of Generosity and
Gratitude.

Here is a neat little story from Ken.
lucky: About twenty-fiv years ago a
young man from that State took horse
back ride to Virginia, where his father
came from, and on his way he met man
and his family removing West, SO poor
that they we're almost reduced to starva-
ton. He had compassion on the wretched
group, and gave them $40 bill with
which to reach their journeys end. In
about fifteen years the young man re.
ceive(l letter from the man he had be.
friended. saying that he was prosperous
merchant in Southern Kentucky, and in
closing a $50 bill to repay his loan. After
another ten years, which included the
great rebellion and its termination, he was
elected to the lower house Of the Ken
lucky Legislature, and, being man of
talent and influence, was chosen Speaker,
in the contest for which he had noticed
that stranger, and one ofthe other party,
was his strongest supporter. His curiosi.
ty was aroused by this, and he asked the
mans motive, as he never had, to his
knowledge, seen him before. Sir" re-
piled the member. "you will recall, when
mention it, little scene that occurred
when you were boy on your way to Vir.
ginia. 1t was you who saved my wife
from starvation. She has told me, time
and again, that never did morsel of food
taste so sweet-so utterly delicious-as
that you gave her then. She was just six
years old at that time; but when she saw
your name, during the late canvass, among
the prominent probable candidates for the
spcakership, she laid down the law as to
how l was to vote. This is all. Neither
she, nor her father and mother, brothers
and sisters, nor myself, can ever forget
you."
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29
A Strange Presentiment.
THE Scranton (Pa.) Republican tells the
ollowing sad story of one of the victims of

THE Scranton (Pa) Republican tells the
following sad story of one of the victims of
the late Pittston disaster:
civilian James expired about o'clock
on the afternoon Of the Tuesday following
the catastrophe, and was the last added to
the list of those upon whom the death
angel laid his hand in that awful havoc
He was Welchman, and had been in
this country about seven months On the
morning of the dreadful day in question
he had taken his breakfast and his wife
had made ready his dinner and set the pail
beside him. For some time he sat wrap
ped in thought, his arms folded, his eyes
fixed vacantly upon the stove, and deep
melancholy apparently hrooding over him.
He was aroused from his reverie by his
wife telling him that his dinner was ready,
aud that he would be late, as the bell had
rung. He started to his feet, and gazing
upon her for moment with look full Of
tenderness and significance, said to her, if
should not come back alive would you
be in such a hurry getting me out?' The
wife answered No. but remarked that if
he Was going at all, it was time he was
gone He lifted his pail without saying a
worl, and after kissing his wife, kissed his
four little children, who were sitting play
ing on the door step. When he had got
about fifty yards from his home, he return
ed again, and kissed his wife and children
once more with great ftrvency. His wife
noticed that he was the victim of gloomy
forebodings, and rs he turned away she
was about to entreat him not ogo to work
if he apprehended any danger. But hope
AMI courage and The neccssjtjrs of thcir
family Ovcrcame her intention, and she let
him go. She stood in the door and watch
ed him on his way to the fatal pit. When
at q point where he turned out of her
sight, he paused and cast wistful look to-
ward his home and little ones, and, seeing
his wife, waved with his hand last adicu.
He parted with his loved ones forever
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29
To the Boys.

WISH to call the attention of youths to
the importance Of beginning Life with
some definite purpose in view. With an
perience of half century, my observation
has led me to the conclusion that the
great mistake of large proportion Of men
and women is their not starting aright-
in not duly considering in the beginning
what they are fitted for, or what their aim
should be. Boys are put into an occupa-
ton temporarily, or permanently, as it
were, by accident, without thought of
their tastes or capacities, or any idea of
whether the occupation is one of useful
ness to society, or even proper for them
selves.
I think that to be of real use should be
the first thought in laying plans of life,
and the prosperity Of the individual will
follow as a natural consequence. l see
too many persons who grow up to man
hood with no trade or regular business,
except such as they may happen to light
upon, depending upon some kind OF specu-
lation in what more in 1ustrious persons
produce, instead of applying themselves to
produce food, or such articles of necessity
az mankind are constantly demanding.
Such persons are the ones loudest in their
complaints of "hard times and the difficult
" of getting along" A word to the wise
is sufficient Neao Yorker.
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29
A Word for Boys.

TRUTH is one of the rarest of gems.
MANY a youth has been lost in society by
allowing it to tarnish his character, and
foolishly throwing it away. 1t this gem
still shines in your bosoms, suffer nothing
to displace or diminish its lustre. Pro
family is mark of low breeding Show
as that man that commands much respect; :;
an oath never trembles on his tongue.
Read the catalogue Of crime. Inquire the
character of those who depart from virtue.
With but few exceptions you will find
them to be profane. Think of this and
do not let vile word disgrace you.
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29
Oiled Floors.

Oiling improves floor in several ways.
Grease spots, of course, will not effect the
wood thus treated and much less scrub
bing than is necessary for plain floor
will suffice to keep it clean. Moreover,
the appearance is improved by the oil.
Many of our native woods, prepared in
this manner, become positively handsome.
Finally, it gives the surface harder tex
ture, which makes it wear longer and more
uniformly.
Paint costs more, takes longer to dry,
and wears of more easily, since it simply
forms crust or coating upon the surface;
While oil penetrattS tbe wood. Hence M
oiled floor looks better than painted one,
especially if little color, such as Van
Dyke brown, umber, or burned sienna is
added to the OIL
To prepare a floor in this manner, take
raw linseed oil, or some cheap oil not Of
fensive in odor, and capable of drying mix
1t, if desired, with some such transparent
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29

A STRIKING instance Of progress, or de-.
generation, as some view it, is noted in
England. A London paper says twenty
years ago the name of the favorite in the
Derby was a household word' in every
English home for weeks before the race
was run. Now nine persons out of ten
are ignorant Of his name The turf seems
to be fast following the foot steps of the
prize-ring, and will probably at last be
landed in the same slush 1t has made so
many peers bankrupts and so many SER
wants thieves that both lords and fOotmen
now are cautious of meddling with it:
What was regarded as a noble pastime,"
is now no longer "pastimc," but mat
ter of business, conducted by low gam
blers in spirit of gain, and not as trial
of strength, speed and skill between we'll
bred and highly trained animals
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29
Never Late.

A SABBATH SCHOOL in Albany, N. Y,
has had the same superintendent for forty
years, and he was meoer behind time in all
his forty years service in the school.
Think Of that, boys. Chief Justice viii.
liams of Hartford, Conn, was teacher OF
the Sunday School, and the superintendent
always knew when it wanted three MIN
utes of the time to open the school by
seeing him enter. Think what punctual-
ity that was! Boys aud girls note these
fine examples of promptness in duty.
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29
Youths Department.
WHAT THE SPARROW CHIRPa

lat THE SPARROW CHlRPA
AM only little sparrow,
A bird OF low degree;
My life is of little value,
But the dear Lord caretn iof me'
He gave me coat of feathers,
1t is very plain, know,
With never speck of crimson,
For it was not made for show.
But It keeps me warm in winter,
And 1t shields me from the rain;
Were it bordered with gold or purple,
Perhaps 1t would make me vain.
And now that the spring time cometb.
will build me a little nest.
With many q chirp OF pleasure,
In the spot like the best.
lhave no barn or storehouse,
neither SOW nor reap;
God gives me eparrow's pOrtiOnr
But never Beed to keep.
If my meal is sometimes scanty,
Close picking makes 1t sweet;
1have always enough tofeed me-
<auu ,iie l44vs~ .2--.! -i-s@..
know there are many sparrows-
All over the world we are found;
But our heavenly Father knoweth
When one Of us falls to the ground.
Though small, we are never forgotten;
Though weak, we are never AFRAID;
For weknow that the dear Lord keepetn
The life of the creatures he made.
lily through the thickest forest.
Tight on many spray;
have no chart or compass,
But never lose my way.
And fold my wings at twilight,
Wherever happen to be;
And the father is always watching,
And no harm will come to mo.
am only little sparrow,
A bird of low degree;
But know the Father loves me-
Have you less faith than me!
The ,EhaLdrs Hper.
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29
Locusts...Is Their Sting Poison :?

The seventeen year locusts come SO rare
" that their true nature is not generally
understood. Their name is derived from
the two Latin words, locus "a place., and
ustus (burned), from the resemblance of
districts ravaged by them to place burned
over by fire. The ancient Jews considered,
aud the Arabs still consider, the locusts to
be the avenging armies of the Deity-the
latter asserting that statement to this
effect may be found on the wings of every
insect. This thousand.year- fantasy
has now assumed the shape of belief, on
the part of the superstitious, that the wing
of the locust bears the letter w, and that
it conveys prediction of war. An equal
ly plausible theory is that it stands for
woman, and indicates that woman's rights
shall soon prevail.
Locusts inflict more or less injury upon
trees, especially orchard trees. They
sting the branches, in order to deposit
their eggs therein. Generally they con-
fine their attention to small lbranches-not
larger than pipe-stem but this year they
are doing much more damage than usual.
Nuel Foster, whose fame as horticultur-
ist is State wide, communicates to the Mus
catine journal a resume Of their operations
on his orchard, three miles west of Musca-
tina He thinks one-fourth of his trees
will be killed outright, another fourth
will barely live, SO that the cheapest and
best way to deal with it will be to set new
trees; and the other half seriously dam
aged the total loss being nearly. $4,000
Iflocusts sting trees, the question arises,
will they sting persons? The answer to
this must be in the affirmative. The locust
is not all irritable insect like the bee or
wasp; but in selfdefence it will some
times sting. Then comes the question as
to the effect of their sting. It is danger
Gus but not necessarily fatal. Mr.. Foster
states that q son of Mr.. Cloud. one of his
neighbors, stepped OH locust, and it
stung his toe. The next morning it COM
menced swelling, and became quite pain
full. A physician was called, and the
second day the swelling, which had ex-
tended up his ankle considerably, was
going down, and much better. We have
heard that cases of death have occurred
from the sting of the locust, but have no
means of authcnticating the statement
n I
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29

--latest and best authority gives the
population of the globe at 1850, 200. 900:
In America, 72,S00,00O; in Europe, 267,-
100000; in Asia, 79S,600,00O; in Africa,
1SS, ,OOO, 600; in Australia and Polynesia,
3,SOO,OOO. These people speak about $500
different languages, and are cut up into
1910 different religious sects. The ad-
herents of the different religions, counting
the whole population, are supposed to be
nearly thus: Greek Church, 69,692, 700;
the six other Oriental Churches, $780, 600;
Roman Catholics, 195, 900, 900; Protestants,
9S, ,139 900; Mohammedans, 100, ,O0n,0OO;
Buddhists. $40 900 600; other Asiatic re-
ligions, 2G0O00,000; Pagans, 2OO,0O0,0 600;
Jews, 6,OOO,COO.
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29

California papers say that great tide
Of immigration has set toward Oregon, a
great majority of the immigrants being
respectable and comfortable farmers from
the Western States, who have sold their
old homcstea,ls on favorable terms, and
are attracted to Oregon by reports of cheap
lands, productive soil and abundant crops.
From $40 to 700 immigrants leave San
Francisco by each steamer for Oregon.
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29
Poetry.
PCS.S IN THE CORNER.

ALL day long In the corner che sits;
Ali day long in The corner she kllits:
But while her deAtrous needles play
Her eyes, 30 liquid, and large, and gray,
For she's " Puss in the Corner" and I'm the
mouse.
Ny puss hasn't got any taloned claws,
Aud white ns milk ATE her pretty paws;
And none of the feline cruelty lies
LuFking within her deep gray eyes;
fcS che holds me a;,,l keeps me about the house,
Esr she's Puss IN :c Corner" and TN the
mouse.
have heard thpt very long time ago,
When the world was yo"ng. and tho world was
slow,
lusty lion in a net was caught,
4 ad the Monarch of Beasts VAS like to T"'.
Tf!l the woven threads Of his prison house
Were gnawed away by II little mouse.
The antique tails IL reversed for mo-
In, mouse In net ana '"u Sot!'ec'
Fo, cru.swi.r around my poor heart tWin0S
wv. NJ. f love In II thousand lines:
''~-.c-'" =" Sttr~.- ,,.n..-
A nd fa-tcu. the knot with thousand wilce.
But know the way to break the chnins~-
A single course to me remains;
When once the marriage vows are said
When " Puss In the Corner" and | are wed.
Wen see who rules all over the house,
And which IA the cat and which the mousei
Mower County transcript., 1871-06-29

Buffalo has made some useful discov-
cries in boring for gas. Not only was a
flow of gas started GAO feet below the sur.
face, which yields 10000 feet day of
better illuminating gas than any now used
in the city, but a mineral spring with su-
perior mineral qualities was discovered,
and evidences Of pure bed Of salt.