davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01
A Bit Of Fine Description.

In Mr.. Parkman's Conspiracy OF
Pontiac" is the following descriptive
passage: "In the calm days of Sum-
mer, the Oiibws fisherman pushes out
his birch canoe upon the great inland
ocean OF the North, and, as he gazes
down into its pellucid depths, he seems
like one balanced between earth and skies
The watchful fishhawk circles above his
head and below, farther than his line
will reach, he sees the trout glide
shadowy and silent over the glimmering
pebbles. The little islands on the verge
OF the horizon seem now starting into
spires, now melting from the sight, now
shaping themselves into thousand fan
tastic forms, with the strange mirage OF
the waters and he fancies that the evil
spirits of the lake lie basking their SER
pent forms on those unhallowed shores.
Again, he explores the watery labarynths
where the steam sweeps among pine
tufted islands, or runs, black and deep,
beneath the shadows OF moss-bearded
frs; or he drags his canoe upon the
sandy beach, and, while his campfire
crackles on the grass-plat, reclines
beneath the trees, and smokes and laughs
away the sultry hours in a lazy luxury Of
enjoyment. But when Winter descends
upon the North, scaling up the fountains,
lettering the streams, and turning the
green-robed forests to shiyering naked
ness, then, bearing their frail dwellings
on their backs, the Oiibwa family wan
dered forth into the wilderness, cheered
only on their dreary track by the whist
ling of the North wind and the hungry
howl OF wolves. By the banks Of some
frozen stream women and children, men
and dogs, lie crouched together around
the fire. They spread their benumbcd
fingers over the embers, while the wind
shrieks through the fr-trees like gale
through the rigging OF frigate, and
the narrow concave OF the wigwam
sparkles with the frostwork Of their
CONCEALED breath. In vain they beat the
magic drum, and call upon their guar
dian manitoes-the wary moose keeps
aloof, the bear lies close in his hollow
tree, and famine stares them in the face.
And now the hunter can fight no more
against the nipping cold and binding
sleet. Stiff and stark, with haggard
cheek and shivering lips be lies among
the snowdrifts, till, with tooth and claw,
the famished wildcat strives in vain to
pierce the frigid marble Of his limbs.
Such harsh schooling is thrown away on
the incorrigible mind Of the Northern
Algonquin. he lives in misery as his
fathers before him. Still in the brief
hour of plenty he forgets the season of
want, and still the sleet and the snow
descend upon his houseless head"
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

SPRING STYLEs.-Among the designs
most admired this Spring is shades OF
ashes OF roses, another in French gray
silk and cashmere exquisitely embroid
cred, Louis XIII. costume in stone
color and blue, and charming dress,
perfect as gem, Of ecru silk Grape and
blue silk, trimmed throughout with the
finest guipure white upon the blue
waistcoat, ecru buff, the tint OF the Grape
upon the basque, overskirt, and body
part OF the dress, the founces and ac-
cessories to which are lined with blue
silk.
Perhaps the most fashionable method
Of trimming q handsome silk costume this
season is to scallop the edge of the basque
or the upper part OF the founces, and
line them with silk OF different or con-
trasting shade Of the same color. This
gives soft, rich body to the folds, and
gives glimpses Of color which are very
effective. Thirty-fve and forty yards Of
silk are frequently used to make one cos
tune
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

Boston is the fish market OF America.
There are about twenty-five wholesale
dealers in the city, who can handle near
" all the fish sold in New England.
This includes the stock packed and sold
from outports as well as from Boston.
The largest houses have agents in Glou-
cester, Provincetown, Marblehead, Bev-
erly, Plymouth, &c, where the large
fleets congregate. These agents purchase
fish for Boston account, and make up
many OF the orders Of Boston customers,
labor and storage being very much lest
in those places than in Boston. The
product OF the fishery is estimated a
$40, 100000 yearly, Of which Boston
alone handles little rising $40, 900, 900
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01
A Dreadful Death.

On Saturday evening occurred one Of
the most frightful cases OF burning to
death which it is possible to imagine.
Andrew Krauss, stopped at a drug store
and purchased small vial OF benzine for
the purpose of applyingit to e1terminate
some vermin which infested his bedroom.
As soon Us he arrived at home he went
into his room, and, with the fluid in Il
small tin vessel, poured it on the bed
stead !. in several places. In passing
around he stopped to examine whether
it had produced an effect, and holding
the candle which he carried too near the
infaming substance, it took fire, and
blazed up instantly. A little daughter was
in the room with him at the same time,
and discovering the fire began to scream.
The mother, who was out doors at the
time, hearing the cries Of her child,
hastened to the house. The father in
turning around either touched his candle
to the fluid in the vessel, or dropped q
spark upon it, when it broke out in a
fearful blaze. He rushed to the door
and threw the burning liquid out Just as
his wife was entering, the whole OF it
falling upon her clothing. The awful
realization of this act breaking suddenly
upon his mind, he was so confused that
he did not know what it was wisest to do,
and began with his hands endeavoring to
scrape down the flames from her body.
Two gentlemen hearing the cries from
the street, and seeing the flames, ran to
her assistance, but before they could
render any aid every particle of her
clothing was burned from her body, eI-
cepta small band around her waist. She
was taken into the house, her hair and
clothes burned off and her whole body
in q perfect cIisp-a ghastly spectacle,
indeed Medical remedies were applied,
but nothing seemed adequate to relieve
her suffering. She was tortured by the
most distressing agony, and gave express
sion In wild screams until fifteen minutes
after twelve, when death relieved her.
Her husband, Mr.. Krauss, was fright
fully burned about the arms in his des-
perate endeavors to save the life Of the
woman, but seems unmindful OF it, while
he mourns the death of his wife, declar-
ing continually that he himself has
killed her. The deceased was middle
aged woman, and leaves six children
between one and half and thirteen years
of age. .-Clereland Herald.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01
Sentencing an Old schOOlmate.

A singular scene occurred in Memphis.
One Poston was brought up in Court to
receive sentence Of death forp murder,
and the Judge who sentenced him had
once been his schoolmate. A local paper
says:
Judge Fippin spoke as follows
"Samuel H. Poston, this is one Of the
saddest eras in my life. Our parents and
their children knew each other. We
grew up together, went to the same
school, to the same church, and played
on hill and valley the same innocent
games in boyhood. Years have passed
since then. Our roads in life have di-
yerged. You now stand convicted
Of a great, capital crime, and l, the
minister of law, have imposed upon me
the painful duty Of passing sentence Of
death on you. We're it consistent with
my official duties, / would that this cup
could pass from me. But l cannot now
shrink from the performance OF this sad
official requirement, and must not, and
will not, in the future, though other
victims may fall to ayenge violated
law. 1t is, therefore, the sentence OF
the court that you be remanded to the
county Jail of Shelby County, the place
from whence you came, to be there
securely kept until Friday, the 26th day
of May next, when you will be taken by
the Sheriff Of Shelby County, between
the hours Of ten A. NJ. and three p NJ.
within one mile and half Of the Court
House OF said County, and then to be
hanged by the neck until you are dead,
and may God have mercy on your soul. u
When Poston was called, both the
Judge and Poston were very much moved.
Posten shook like an aspen leaf and had
to grasp a chair for support. At the
conclusion OF the sentence Judge Fippen
was in tears, as was nearly oil the large
crowd gathered there.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

In the market OF Tong Chow, to which
the stewards of the noble families OF Pc
kin repair to purchase viands for their
lords, tits good diversion to see the butch
chers when they are carrying dogs flesh
to any place, or when they are leading
five or six dogs to the slaughter-house I;
for all the dogs in the street, drawn to-
gether by the cries Of those going to be
killed, or the smell of those already
dead, fall upon the butchers, who are
obliged to go always armed with long
cudgel or great whip to defend themselves
from their attacks; they also have to
keep their doors close shut, that they
may exercise their trade with safety.
The statesmen enter the market place, or
step from their iunks on shore having
baskets suspended from poles hung over
their shoulders, in which are contained
dogs, cats, rats, or birds, either tame or
wild, generally alive-sea slugs, and
grubs found in the sugar-cane. The
species of dog most in demand is small
spaniel, and the poor animals seem par
ticularly detected at their imprisonment,
not even looking up in the hope Of free
dom the cats, on the contrary, main
tain perpetual squalling, and seem new
er to despair of escaping from q fate
which must otherwise be inevitable. To
a foreigner, Christian or Turk, the sight
is peculiarly trying, both regarding the
dog as among the most faithful Of ami
mails, and the cat as one of the most use
full. In the ancient Oriental writings,
cats are spoken Of as delicacy at the
table; but the species alluded to was
found wild in Tartary, and brought
thence into China and fattened up for
markets of the principal cities. As far
as appearances are concerned, rats, when
butchered-for they are brought to mar
ket alive-are by no means disgusting.
They are neatly prepared, slit down the
breast, and hung in rows from the car
yingpoles by skewers passed through the
distended hind legs.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

A HUSBAND AND WIFE KIILED.-At
the South Park Station, Chicago, Mr..
Edwin Marston and his wife we're run
over by train on the Michigan Central
Railroad and instantly killed. The
couple had crossed the track for the pur-
pose of getting on board the Hyde Park
train, which was about to start. At this
moment the Kalamazoo train approach
ed at high rate OF speed. Mr.. and
Mrs. Marston supposing there was no
danger, kept their position beside the
other train but, as the engine passed,
the long dress OF the lady was drawn by
the current of air under the wheels Of
the locomotive, and she was almost in.
stantly drawn under the fast-Hying train.
At the same time her husband seized her
with the intention OF rescuing her, but
he was also drawn under the wheels.
They we're young and highly respected,
and had been married but few months,
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

THE "FAr CoSTRrBUTEB," Girls, of the
Cincinnati Times, has the following in re-
gard to an old conductor promoted to
train-dispatcher: "Habit was very strong
with the ex-conductor. As he sat in the
Office he would start every time he heard
a bell ring, and yell All aboard Then
he would go about the Office at intervals
and try to collect fare OF the assistants.
We dropped in casually one afternoon,
and Billy wanted to know if we had a
pass. He couldn'tget accustomed to his
new position at all. He pined to be
again on the road. One day he begged
the boys to put him through collision,
which they did to his entire qualification.
They tore his clothes nearly of, blacken-
ed his eyes, broke kerosene lamp over
his head, and piled a red-hot stove on top
Of him. Billy was in an ecstacy OF de-
light, and declared he hadn't enjoyed
himself so much since he had a bile"
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

A NEW ExpLASAuoN.-It has been
generally believed that by the act of suit
tee. Hindoo wives declare their undying
attachment to their husbands, but DR..
Cheyer, in his recent work on Indian
Medical Jurisprudence, traces this Gus
tom to a very different origin. He brings
forward authorities to show that the Brah-
minis invented the law themselves as an
act of self-protection against their wives.
Before its introduction the wives were In
the habit of averaging themselves upon
their husbands for neglect and cruelty
by mixing poison with their food, and
at last things came to such height that
the least matrimonial quarrel resulted IN
the husbands death. An easier remedy
for the evil might have been found In
permitting the wife to eat out Of the same
dish as her husband, but this would have
involved too wide a departure from the
customs of society and it must be ad-
mitted that there is q peculiar refine.
ment Of cruelty in the expedient adopted
which would commend itself to the Asi'
attic mind. OF late years the law OF suit
tee was occasionally set at defiance, but
the widow cannot altogether escape the
consequences Of her husbands death.
His family degrade her, and put her TO
the most menial duties in the house
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

Nor so BAD.-A New York paper pub
lished some time ago story to the effect
that Jenny Lind's husband had squander-
ed all her fortune, and the Unmatched
pair had separated by mutual consent.
Three London journals were rash enough
to copy this bit OF scandal, and Mr.. Otto
Goldschmidt, having sued them for libel,
has Just recovered three verdicts with
damages amounting in the aggregate to
$4,000. He might have had more, but
he only demanded enough to reimburse
his expenses in indicating his reputa-
ton. It appeared on the trial that not
only are Madame Goldschmidt and her
husband very happy couple, but the
fortune which belonged to the famous
singer when she married, has since been
doubled, thanks in part to the excellent
management of Mr.. Goldschmldt and his
professional earnings. The wife testified
with some emotion to her husbands
kindness and domestic virtues and Mr..
Goldschmidt swore that, far from being
a gambler, he could not so much as play
whist, and instead OF being dissolute
spendthritt, he did not even smoke.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01
Az ENGLISH couar REoErnos.-of

An ENGLISH CouRr RECEPTION
late concession on the score ofcostume
has been made in favor Of the gentlemen;
they can go to Court now without put
ting on silk stockings and knee-breeches.
Ali they have to do is to turn up the
collar Of their coats and put little
silver braid round it, and another band
of silver down the seams Of their best
black trowsers, and then they are in full
dress for Court. But for the ladies, full
dress still means the undress ofevenings,
and it is impossible to conceive anything
more melancholy than the long string
of carriages in St. James Park, on q
drawing-room day in Spring, filed with
half-naked women, with pallid waxen
cheeks and red noses, half awake from
last nights ball, shivering in the bleak
wind and waiting the slow advance Of the
procession, amid the cynical scrutiny
and brutal jeers of the street lads: ''Oh,
my, here's fat 'un," cries one Lor T,
Jack, 'ain't she bag o bones" eIclaims
another, as the fine ladies are passed in
review.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

CAPACITY OF THE HUMAN MND.-I find
this problem stated and differently an.
swered by different philosophers, and
apparently without kno ledge OF each
other. By Charles Bonnet the mind is
allo wed to have distinct notion OF siI
objects at once by Abraham Tucker the
number is limited to four while Destnett
Tracy again amplifes it to six. The opin'
ion Of the first and last of these phi
losophers appears to me correct. You
can easily make the experiment for your,
selves, but you must beware of grouping
the objectsinto classes. Hyou throw a
handful of marbles on the floor, you Will
find it difficult to view at once more than
six, or seven at the most, without confu'
sion but If you group them in twos, OF
threes, or fives, you can comprehend as
many groups rs you can units, because
the mind considers the groups only as
units it views them as wholes, and
throws their parts out Of consideration
You may perform the experiment also oy y
an act Of imagination.-Sr VIM. Ha"i'S
TIM
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

GREAT GUNs.-There is gun at Fort
Hamilton, Long Island, that weighs one
hundred and sixteen thousand five hun
dred and iorty-nine pounds. It carries
ball Of one thousand pounds weight
Its service-charge is one hundred pounds
Of powder, which can be increased to one
hundred and fifty. 1t is twenty feet in
length, andis capable Of propelling ball
to distance Of three miles. There is
still larger gun, of Krupp manufacture,
ownedby the Prussian Government which
was at the French Exhibition, and which
according to a recent article in the Gar
tenlalJe, throws solid steel shot weigh
ing eleven hundred Prussian pounds, en-
cased in two hundred pounds Of lead
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01
A Road Locomotive.

A Montreal paper chronicles the sue
cess Of trial trip Of locomotive for
common roads, which took place in that
city recently. 1t says:
Yesterday the new road steamer
made very successful trip. 1t proved
conclusively that it can go up and down
the steepest hills, having gone up St
Denis street to Sherbrooke, and down
Beaver Hill. The performance of the
engine exceeded every expectation. The
noise, which was supposed to be one OF
the greatest hindrances to street work,
is not SO great as the noise of ordinary
carts the steam, OF course, makes some
noise under the present circumstances,
but this, in regular working order, will
be less, and the appearance OF steam and
smoke little or nothing at all, This ma
chine is, in every way, much more easi-
" handled than horses.
"Out of about five hundred horses in
carriages and wagons of all kinds on this
trial trip there could not be said to be
more than dozen who gave heed to it.
In other cities where such engines are
in regular use, the horses give no heed
to them at all after little while this
will be the case here. Every one knows
that difficulties have to be overcome in
the introduction OF every new kind OF
inventions and deviations from the old
beaten path, and some allowance at least
might be made but in the case Of the
road steamer everything has proved very
successful. When the omnibus ID at
tached it will still more lessen what may
be thought an uncommon appearance
but after all neither the appearance nor
the noise can frighten horse more than
ordinary vehicles with loads that make q
noise.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01
Ctr democrat.
Facts and Fancies.

Facts and Fancles.
A Missourian has the name Of Severe
Frost.
A poultry raiser in California owns 10
900 hens.
Barley on the Sacramento River is five
feet high.
a man whom we can put up with
good hotel-keeper.
In the Haytien army there are said to
be 1000 Maior-Generals.
In the New Orleans races, Defender
won in two straight heats.
Over twelve hundred churches were
built in the United States last year.
Spring suits in New York range from
$3.50 to $700-for ladies, OF course.
A little boy at Elizabeth, n. J., cut of
his sisters hand, while chopping wood.
Emigration to Kansas and other
Western States is unusually large this
Spring.
A number of Chicago merchants re-
fuse to advertise in Sunday papers, think
ing the tendency bad.
There are ore lodges in the newly ais
covered silver mines in New Mexico
which stand up like row OF stores.
The wife of Governor Clafin, OF Mas
sachusetts, has sewing class OF l50 girls.
in charity school in North End, Bos-
ton.
The Florida papers report that no less
than hundred deer are killed every day
in the Upper St. Johns and its tributa-
ries.
The first post-ofice in Nashua, n. h,
was kept in bureau drawer, and the re-
ceipts Of the first quarter were twenty
five cents.
New York policemen have habit of
using their clubs upon inofensiye per-
sons. City papers call this "abuse Of
the locust"
APennsylvania COW swallowed leather
nail pouch years ago, and when she was
lately killed every nail was found in the
pouch. She didn't lose one. Few COWS
are so trustworthy.
"How much did he leave ?" inquired
q gentleman OF wsg on learning the
death OF q wealthy citizen. Every
thing" responded the wag; she didn't
take dollar with him"
The cempositors of Paris have suf-
fered severely by the war. Les Franc
Tireurs de Ia Presse were nearly all COM
positors at the time of the formation Of
the corps and they have nearly all been
killed.
In Boston the tailors send out dunning
letters TO some OF their customers in the
following form "You will please call
and pay your bill or buy some more
clothes without delay. Idon't care
which"
The street railways OF Philadelphia last
year carried So, 400, ,926 passengers Dur
ing the year the accidents on the roads
footed up one person killed and five
injured, four of the latter being passen-
gers.
at school at Newcastle the master
asked class OF boys the meaning of the
word "appetite. After short pause,
one little boy said, az know, sir, when
I'm eatin' I'm Apply, and when I'm done
I'm tight"
A Scotchman who had put up al an inn,
was asked in the morning how he had
slept during the night "Ah, noun "
replied Donald, "nae vera weel either
but l was muckle better off than the
fays, for dell one O. them closed an
e'e the hale NIGHT"
A physician in Vermont was recently
thrown from his carriage, breaking one
of his legs. A lady hearing of the acci-
dent, remarked +" 1 am glad of it Every
doctor ought to meet with such an acci-
dent once in while, so that he can hear
an occasional groan from patient with
out laughing at ii"
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

SAID the distinguished Lord Chatham
to bis son, 81 would have inscribed on
the curtains OF your bed and the walls OF
your chamber, IF you do not rise early,
you can make progress in nothing. II
you do not set apart your hours OF read
ing, If you suffer yourself or any one else
to break in upon them, your days will
slip through your hands improbable and
frivolous, and unenjoyed by yourself
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

Az IpEA-Professor De Morgan, the
great metaphysician and mathematician,
lately dead, preferred during his lifetime
10 be accounteda o skeptic falsely and lose
BY it, rather than to be known asa ChTis.
tan and gain by it. But passage IN ms
Will reads thus AZ commit my future
destiny with hope derived from e1Perl,
ence, to Almighty God, who has been
and Will be, my guide and my support
TO 70 God. the Father Of our Lord Jesui
Christ Of whom 1 believe in my hear
that God has raised him from the dead
and . whom / have not confessed with my
nnu auth g in the sense usually attached te
these words, because such coniess'Gi J;
has been in my time the only way up II
the world"
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

Strawberries, SO per quart peas, 40
cents per half peck tomatoes, So cents
per quart radishes, to 10 cents per
bunch lettuce, 81 per dozen ;pie plant,
l6 to 20cents per bunch; spinach 20 cents
per half peck. AL this In New York
CITY.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-01

Though men boast OF holding the
reins, the women generally tell them
which way they must drive.