davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26
Bathing Beauties.

One Of the bathing place gentry
writes: Did you ever see thin girl
take bath in the surf and come out
with her bathing dress sticking to
her like a poor woman's plaster ?
Funny, wasn't it? Well, it's moth
ing compared to fat girl in the
same "posish." | do think, of all
the comical sights in the wide world,
the funniest is a fat girl when she
comes out Of the surf. | have seen
puppy dogs with blue ribbons on
their tails, and neatly embroidered
flannel shirts on their dear, dear lit
tie necks, and ii I've seen Horace
Greely at party, but they are as
naught, and the dust in the balance,
alongside Of a wet fat woman in her
bathing clothes. I don't think men
look any better, but we don't expect
grace and beauty in our sex, and can
stand the sight. IF you are very
much in love with a girl and want
to break the spell, take her to the
Branch and see her in her surf tog-
gerry. If that don't knock the spoo
ney out of you, you'd better marry
her and call it square.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26
The Prejudice against Murder.

There are ten commandments, one
of which is, .Thou shalt not kill"
No particular prominence is given
to this, but it is thrust in, so to
speak, among several others, all of
which, it is fair to presume, are of
equally binding authority. Never
theless, the transgression of the 9th
ers is esteemed venial. Stealing, it
is TRUE, under certain conditions, is
punished, but these are exceptional,
for thousands of men in the highest
positions are known to be rioting in
the enjoyment of ill-gotten gains.
Adultery rather adds an eclat to
the transgressor to the man, at
least, and the distinction of sex in
this respect, is rapidly breaking
down. Bearing false witness is le-
galized; cOvetousness hardly eXcites
a remark, and is never made mat
ter of church censure.
For many centuries, however, mur-
der has constituted an exception to
the leniency with which violations
of the decalogue are treated, and the
stabber or poisoner has been regard
ed as a wretch unfit to live. But
the eyes Of mankind are gradually
opening to the inconsistency of this
view, and the exaction of the death
penalty for homicide is now fast be-
coming obsolete; in some States it
has been done away with by statute.
At the same time the license of com
hitting murder is extending, as if
by an instructive protest of nature
against a barbarous prejudice. Fa-
cile notions of indulging the inclina-
ton for homicide are also getting
into vogue, poisoning, for example
"a method within the reach of all,
even of the febler sex-taking the
place of the bludgeon and the dag
ger, which almost gave a monopoly
of murder to the strong arm of the
male man.
We live in an age of progress, as
we are told too often to be in any
danger of forgetting it, and, from
present appearances, the progress
of the holhicidal idea will, in a few
years, reach the point when the dun
geon as well as the gallows will be
abolished, and the murderer be adj
mitted to the most select circles of
society on his or her own merits, the
commission Of an occasional tres
pass of a particular kind not being
suffered to prejudice the mind against
sterling worth in every other regard.
Mobile RapiStar.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26
ALICE CARY's SWEETEST POEM.

= Of all the beautiful pictures
That hang on Memory's wall,
Is one of dim old forest,
That seemeth best of all. t%
Not for its gnarled oaks olden,
Dark with the mistletoe;
Not for the violets golden
That sprinkle the vale below;
Not for the milk-white lilies
That lean from the fragrant hedge,
Coquetting all day with the sunbeams,
And stealing their golden edge;
Not for the vines on the upland,
j Where the bright red berries rest;
Norfor the pinks, nor the pale, sweet cowslip
It seemeth to me the best.
once had little brother, ..= .-
With eyes that were dark and deep:
In the lap of that olden forest
He lieth in peace asleep.
Light as the down of the thistle,
Free as the winds that blow,
We roved there the beautiful summers
The summers of long ago;
But his feet on the hills grew weary,
And one of the autumn ewes
made for my little brother
A bed of the yellow leaves.
Sweetly his pale arms folded
My neck in meek embrace, .-
As the light of immortal beauty
Silently covered his face;
And when the arrows of sunset
Lodged in the tree-tops bright,
He fell, in his saint.like beauty.
Asleep by the gates o. light. N
Therefore, of all the pictures
That hang on Memory's wall,
The one of the dim old forest
Seeneth best of all. .sts o-0
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26
ALICE eARY,S DYING HYMN.

Earth, with all its dark and DREADFUL Ills
Recedes and fades away;
Lift up your heads, ye heavenly hills,
Ye'gates of death give way!
My soul is full of whispered song;
My blindness is my sight;
The shadows that feared so long
Are all alive with light.
That while my pulses family beat,
My faith doth so abound, .
/ feel grow firm beneath my feet
The green, immortal ground.
That faith to me courage gives.
ss Lowfas the grave TO 60;
1 know that my Redeemer lived
That shall live know.
The palace walls I almost see,
Where dwells my Lord and King:
O grave where is thy victory
o death where is thy sting9
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

A COOP MovEMENT.-The plant.
ers of Marion county, Va, have
formed an association to be called the
I" Marion Branch ofthe Cotton States
Association" the main objects of
which are set forth in the two follow
ing resolutions /. Motto plant more
than one third of our cultivated lands
hereafter in cotton, and the other
two-thirds we agree to plant in the
cereals. 2. We solemnly agree thatwe
shall not dispose of any cereals made
by us to any planter not agreeing to
the proposition herein contained.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

=
The velocity of electric waves
through the Atlantic cables has been
ascertained by Professor Gould to
be from 1000 to 5000 miles per sec
ond. Telegraph wires upon poles
in the air conduct the electric waves
with a velocity more than double
this. It is a curious fact that the
of the transmission increas-
es with the distance between the
wire and the earth, or with the hight
of the support. The Journal des
Telegraphes says that wires placed
upon poles slightly elevated trans
NIT signals with velocity of $4,000
miles a second, and those at a con-
siderable hight give velocity of
10000 or 20, 600 miles.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

I have finally cum tew the kon-
klusion that the majority of mankind
kan be edukated on the back better
than in the brain, for good clothes
will often make a phool respectable,
while edukashun only serves teW
showhis weak pints. Josh Billings.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

Profanity, habitnal intoxication
and other vices are offences against
Masonry, because they violate its
plainest incnlcations; bnt it is your
duty as Master Of d Lodge, before
proceeding to infict punishment, to
approach the offender, point ont to
him the evil Of his ways, the Ger
tainty that BY continuing in them he
will not only bring contempt and
detestation upon himself and family,
friends and the fraternity, but that
he will ultimately subject himself to
the severest penalty known to our
laws - permanent exclusion. This
failing, and the downward course
continuing, there is nothing for il
but to have charges preferred and
let the law take its course.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

T never knu a man yet whose
name Waz George Washington La
fayette Goodrich, Esq, and who al
WIZ signed his name for the full
amount, but what wlz bigger man
on paper than he wuz by natur.
Josh Billings.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

Somebody has written book ell
titled "What shall my son beN
Upon which some one replies, " If
the boy be as bad as the book the
chances are that he will be hanged"
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

he "could tell God he had seen a
railroad,n and has never since ex-
pressed any curiosity on the subject.
We can truly say tnat Kansas City
has lost her Oldest and most noted
citizen.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26
What Masonry Does.

The following incident illustrates,
in a small degree, some Of the good
effects produced by the teachings of
Masonry when properly understood
and practiced, and shows how it
conciliates true friendship among
those who might have otherwise re-
mained at a perpetual distance:
/" Two young men had been fast
friends. In an evil hour they quar-
relied. They did not speak and had
not spoken for years. Mutual friends
tried the art Of reconciliation in
vain. They were avoWed enemies
for life. One Of them became ma
son after the estrangement, and it
happened that the other remained
ignorant Of this fact. One evening
he too was admitted into a Lodge.
Almost the first voice he heard, and
certainly the first face he saw, was
that of his enemy, who presided
over the ceremonies of initiation,
and was obliged, according to usage,
to address him by the title of bro
ther., This was a most peculiar sit
nation, and severe ordeal for both.
After the Lodge was closed the Ap-
prentice sought the Master, and
without any preliminaries, the fol-
lowing eolloquy ensued, commenced
by the newly made Mason:
~ Are you q member OF this
Lodgea
aThe answer was, 4 am
nsWere you present when ! was
elected?'
tss'I Was.'
aSMay I ask if you voted 2
tssI did.
~ Now will YOU tell me how ma
ny votes it requires to reject a can
didate, on ballot for admission 2
The Master answered One.'
aThere was nothing more to say.
The initiated extended his hand
which was warmly grasped BY the
other, and uttered with thrilling ac-
cents, deep emotion melloWing his
voice, Friend! Brother! you have
taught me a lesson I shall never for
get., This is a little ray Of Masonic
LIGHT. No language is as eloquent
as the silent throbbing of heart
fun of tears. While this kind OF
cement is used in our moral edifce,
should it not be enduring9 Who
can wonder that it is so strong 7
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

A young man stepped into book
shop and said he wanted "A young
mans companion" "Well, sir" said
the book seller, "there's my only
Iounhto,. y
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

A sign in Albany reads, Boots
BACKED inside" Most persons prefer
the old way of backing them on the
outside.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

Gloss of China packet-ship"
exclaimed liberal-minded old lady
as she laid down newspaper. g |
should think 50, when not even iron
ones are ALWAYS safe "
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26
THE HUMORISTS' COLUMN.
A little nonsense now and then,
Is relis!ied by the wisestmen.

Why should young ladies set good
examples? Because young men are
so apt to follow them.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

"Why don't you get down and
lead the horse That is the way to
keep warm" NO." replied the boy,
i" its a b-b-b-borrowed b horse, and
Til ride him if I freeze"
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

An old maid, speaking ofmarriage,
says it is like any other disease,
while there's life there is hope.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

WEIGHT OF PEoPLE.-The aver
age returns show that a citizen of
the world, on the first appearance in
public, weighs about six pounds and
a half; a girl baby a little less.
Some very modest babies hardly
turn the scale with two pounds and
ahalf, while other pretentious young
sters boast of ten Or eleven pounds.
When Shylock asked for his pound
of flesh, he asked for an equivalent
to d little lese than sixth of a baby.
How the tiny one grows during
childhood, We need not trace here
but it may be interesting to know
that boys and girls Of twelve years
of age are nearly equal in weight;
after which limit males are heavier
than females of the same age. Young
men of twenty average 143 pounds
each, while the Young women of
twenty average 120 pounds. Men
reach their heaviest bulk at about
thirty-five, when their average
weight is about 153 pounds; but
women slowly fatten until fifty,
when their average is about 100
pounds. Men and women together,
their weight at full growth averages
about twenty times as heavy as they
were on the first day of their ex-
istence. OF course averages are here
only meant. The averages We're form
ed from men ranging from 1OS to
22O pounds, and women from SO to
2O7 pounds. The actual weight of
human nature, taking all ages and
conditions obles, clergy, tinkers,
tailors, maidens, boys, girls and
babies, all included, the average
weight is almost 100 pound avoir-
dupois, for each human being; a
Equantity easy to remember, at any
rate.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

The ephemeral character of many
newspaper publications is illustrated
by the fact that in 1916. there were
Ia dailies in Boston, and that now
there are only eight. 1t is an easy
matter for a man with a little money,
or with decent credit, to start a
newspaper, but somehow ''Vol. T.,
No. II always has to us a melan-
choly and funereal appearance nor
is it pleasant to reflect upon the mo-
ney and the talent and the real, hon.
est labor sometimes wasted upon
these experiments, which in so ma
nv instances are predestinate fail
ures. The question whether the
projected sheet is really wanted, is
one which the speculator rarely puts
to himself or to anybody else.--[N.
Y. Tribune.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26
lumber! Lumber ! Lumber !!

faH0I0E EMPRESS a. PINE LUMBER,
&.S Of every din,ension, and In unlimited
quantities.. supplied by the undersigned At
Mount Pleasant Hills, near Washington We
are seeelying alarge LOT Of chain logs, and
will fiIl with promptness and dispaseh all
billA entrusted Id III.
Orders addressed I'd ahe undersigned, at
Washington, will receive immediate attention.
All kinds and any amount of Geasoned
IsunaEex always on hand, at - Reduced
Prices
TERMS Cash as the mill.
nssss FRANK NcNICOI4L.
Ms. Pleasant Mills, July 8. 1871.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

His HEAD WAS LEvEL.-A New
York wholesale grocer, who had be-
come rich in his business, has lately
made the following revelation. He
says his rule always was when he
sold a bill of goods ON credit to inn
mediately subscribe for the local
paper of his debtor. So long as his
customer advertised literally and
vigorously he rested, but as soon
as he began to contract his advertis-
ing space he took the fact as eyi-
dence that there was trouble ahead,
and he invariably went for his debt.
"Forn said he, +" the man who feels
too poor to make his business known
is too poor to do business" This
withdrawal of an advertisement is
all evidence of weakness that bust
ness men are not slow to observe.
= Washington Star.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

"Good morning, Mr.. Henpeck,"
said a printer in search Of female
compositors. "Have you any daugh-
ters who would make good type
settlers - "No, but I have a wife
who would make a fine devil.'
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

| One stormy, clustering night in
January, a verdant couple presented
themselves at the residence of q Ger
tain Norfolk clergy man, requesting
to be married. After the ceremony
was performed, the happy groom,
pocket book in hand, asked, " Well,
squire, what's to pay 2" The asto-
nished and expectant reverend mo
destly replied that he never named
his price for any such service, but
accepted whatever any one was
pleased to give him. The money was
returned to the capacious pocket
with a grin and bow. wall, Pm
obliged to We, I declare; TIL do as
much for you some time" I" Yes"
chimed in the blushing bride, with
an astonishing courtesy, ''much
abliged to We as far as | am consar1l-
ed. If it hadn't stormed we should
have gone to Dedham!o
Some twenty-five years ago, when
was pastor of q church in -, /
took occasion one evening to attend
social meeting in the church of that
place. AS is their custom on such
occasions, one after another gave his
or her experience. After a time q
man in humble circumstances, small
i'm stature, and with an efeminate,
squeaking voice, rose to give his ex-
perience, which was done in the fol-
lowing manner:
Brethren, / have been,a member
of the church for many years. L have
seen hard times; my family has
been much afflicted, but / have for
the first time in my life to see my
pastor or any one of the trustees of
this church cross the threshold OF
my door,"
No sooner had he uttered this part
Of his experience than he was sud-
denly interrupted by one OF the
trustees, an aged man, who rose and
said in a loud firm voice:
"My dear brother, you must put
the devil behind you." .s'.
On taking his seat, the pastor in
j charge rose, and also replied to the
little man as follows:
/, My dear brother, You must re-
: member that we shepherds are sent
| to the lost sheep of the house OF
Israeli
j, Whereupon the little man rose
4 again, and in answer said in a very
loud tone of voice:
!, ;" Yes, and if I'd been a fai one,
!, YOU would have found me long ago"
81 The effect upon the audience can
be better imagined than described.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

A Norfolk lady has . copy Of the
Bible which was printed in 16l2.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

An old lady from a rural district
astonished a clerk in one OF the stores
a few days ago by inquiring if he
had any "yaller developments such
as they did up letters in"
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26
i COTTON PRESSES
@ HORSE POWERS. .
The t.Reynolds' Revolving Wrought
M H5far Iron Screw

TAS at.EN&yu0l15 NSNQkF1IS W10tz6At
UOTTO M Pr ESS
Is an Improvement on 81 lfsse popular Screw
Presses, and Is pronounced TO be the most
complete, durable, and easy working Press
now In the market. The whole weight 0f the
Press With the Gotten in the box stands on q
pivot, enabling two men or cne horse to press
q 500 lbs bale with ease
Tine ReBss0Esfs AEOs;se zs0aUeys
Is unsurpassed for strength and durability.
They Are manufactured expressly for Cotton
Ginning, Corn Mills and other plantation
mork. aa II
these articles took the PREMIUM at the
TEXAS STATE FAIR 1871.
Manufactured IN New Orleans. at
RH,YNoLDs IRON WORKS,
Corner South Market and Fulton Sts,, +,
Near st. Mary's Market.
wv, III. REYNOLDS, Proprietor, Box 1690.
Once and Depot. Sc Carondelet Street,
BLOCH u DUPRE. Agents.
ss Opelonsas, Ia. Y
Agents wanted everywhere. E Send fol
Price List. sssas JeA-6m
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

"My boy" said a clergyman,
don't you know that it is wicked TO
catch fish on Sunday" Guess l
hadn't sinned much yet" said the
boy, without taking his eyes off the
cork. Hhain't had a bite"
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26
ssaa wv. BIACKMANS ~ aa
COMMERCIAL COLLEGE,
sts 6f CAMP STREET, a-

Corner Of Commercial Place, New Orieans, "a.
- OPEN DAY AND EVENING THE
@M ENTIRE YEAR.
A Penmanship, Book keeping, Math.
ematics and Languages are practically taught
by ] experienced d professors. Persons from IF.
teen % fifty years Of age attend. Instructions
given privately to each student. who has .
Separate desk to himself and is put through a
thorough and systematic course to quality hlIn
for the situation, he intends to fill. Persons
who have neglected their education are here
speedily prepared for business; Students from IRON,
tie country may obtain board in the family
CT the Principal. .e .ssaa 49, ..,,oo..
TERMs-Twenty per cent. less than other
Commercial Colleges in this city. Cost OF
full Commercial Course only $lOO. Average
time, three to four months.
The Principal has been professional teach-
er in New Orleans since 1851. ... r -...,s
For Circulars address
~, j. w. BLACKMAN,
Febrs-Iy1 New Orleans.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

9. q. PICKETT, Master, ]. D. EUHMIT, UlefK,
Leaves Washington every Sunday morning
at 10 O'Clock, and New Orleans every We'd
nesday evening at 5 o'clock. The SELMA
.connects at Churchville with the steamer
Camelia running III Bayou Rouge, and takes
freight and passengers for oil landings on
Bayon Courtableau, Atchafalaya River. and
the Coast. Through bills given to Bayou
Boeuf. For freight Or passage, apply on
board, or to the Agents .s5 Il
a. Gamard, Opelousas. 4 ,3..
Pitre Il Csrriere, Washington,
I'D. p. Saixan, Port Barry,
~. n. Carlin, 4 Tchoupitoulas ST., N. O.
Feb18-1y !s4 sssss,
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

JACQUES ARNAUD,
NofaFy Pnhlfe and Jusflee sf the Peace.
OFFICE AT
Iscnville, Parish # sts Landry.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1871-08-26

WHAT PRUssIA's VICTORY HAS
CosT HER PEopLE.-The following
extract from a German paper, the
Valkszeitung, shows the reverse of
the picture whose bright side was
seen at Berlin, on the occasion of
the triumphal entry of the German
army in that city,
" The war has not only interrupted
work, but has destroyed thousands
of places of work. The four million
thalers which are to be spent for the
assistance of those who have suffered
loss are as a drop ON a stone, which,
kissing, drops ON to it and in an in
stant disappears in smoke. Thou
sands of men of the landwehr and
reserve return to their homes crown
ed with victory and covered with
wreaths, but they find their dwell
-ings destitute, their wives in want,
their children neglected, their work
shops destroyed, their customers
dispersed, their credit shaken and
the want Of their manufacture lessen
ed. Their rent is still due, which has
accumulated for year. New tools
have to be bought, which their wives
in times of distress have either pawn
ed or sold. Materials have to be laid
in stock, to enable them, in case of
an order being given, to begin work.
Repairs and clothes are necessary.
The bakers, butchers and retailers
have got to be paid. IF work is not
begun at once the cry of distress
will soon be as distinctly heard as
the cry of rejoicing.