davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

Says the Commonwealth, Topeka: A
curious and so far wholly inexplicable
natural phenomenon is to be seen in
the rear of Mr.. Weymouth's residence
on Harrison street. Over a space
about two rods square globules of
water about the size of half q small
pin.head have been falling for a month
past. The fall is constant and plainly
observable by holding a sheet of paper
so as to catch the drops. Another
peculiarly is that they retain their
sphericity when they rest upon the
paper. This phenomenon is observa-
BILE under a perfectly cloudless sky.
Several gentlemen visited the place
yesterday aud examined the surround.
ings, but failed to find any cause for
such phenomenon.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

Word came to the town council of
Edinburgh, Scotland, that the rope of
the chief bell had given way. 1t was
necessary to decide whether it should
be spliced at cost of two shillings, or
replaced with new one at a cost of
two and six pence. Three solemn
dinners were held, costing $40 each,
and it was finally decided, on the score
Of economy, that the rope had better
be spliced. They declared ''as faithful
stewards of the public funds they we,o
bound TO be careful
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

During the delivery of her speech
last night, Mrs. Laura de Force Cor,
don said; 81 am an American citizen
and over twenty-one years of age. - To
this crusty Benedict cried; "You
bet you are!" The effect was electrical.
Stockton Herald.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

The Spanish lady who has just mar
ried Mr.. Dan. Sickles is described as
young, lovely. fashionable, and the
daughter of a prominent official in An
dalusia. A more intimate knowledge
of society and politics in this country
would have taught her that it is not
absolutely necessary for a man to be a
gentlman in order to become an Amer
lean minister.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

A large number of Californians,
men of means and position, as well as
of many other States, will petition
Congress, at It's next session, to place
heavy restrictions ON immigration, so
as to stop the heavy influx of Chinese,
if not repeal our treaty with that coun,
Try altogether
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

1ERsrIRATIoy.-The amount of
liquid matter which passes through the
microscopical tubes Of the skin in
twenty-four hours, in an adult person
in sound health, is about sixteen fluid
ounces, or one pint. One ounce OF
the sixteen is solid matter made up Of
organic and inorganic substances,which
if allowed to remain in the system
fora brief space Of time, would cause
death, The rest is water. BESIDES
the water and solid matter, n large
amount of carbonic acid, gaseous
body, passes through the tubes; so we
cannot fail to understand that they
are active workers-and also we cam
not fail to see the importance of keep
ing them in perfect working order,
removing distractions by frequent
application of water, or by some other
means, Suppose we obstruct the :unc-
tions Of the skin perfectly by varnish,
ing person completely with a COM
pound mpervious to moisture. How
long will he live? Not over six hours.
The experiment was once tried on a
child in Florence. Pope Leo X, on
the occasion of his accession to the
papal chair, wished to have a living
figure to represent the Golden Age,
and so he gilded a poor child all over
with varnish and gold leaf. The child
died in few hours. If the fur of a
rabbit or the skin of a pig be covered
with a solution of India rubber in
naptha, the animal will cease to breathe
in two hours. journal Of Chemistry.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

An Indiana county clerk has found
in his office certificate which reads:
"Ihis is to certify that 1, VIM. Sands.
is agreed that Jim Brown shall have
my daughter Patsey to wife this 18th
Gay of genewerry, 1871"
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

John Ruskin in his last "Address
to the Workingmen of Great Britain, -
says Of his boyhood training; "My
mother forced me, by steady daily
toll, to learn long chapters of the BIZ
bic by heart, as well as to read every
syllable through from Genesis to the
Apocalypse about once year; and to
that discipline | owe not only knowl,
edge of the book, which | find occas-
ionelly serviceable, but mech of my
general power Of taking pains, and the
best par, of my taste in literature"
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

The Sioux City Journal has BALL
room conundrum founded on the locals
own sad experience: "Isn't it rather
a disagreeable occurrence when young
mans suspenders give way while no
dances a schottishe with young lady
who never wants to sit DOWN."
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

"Our Major" said an American
soldier, chad very long feet, and also
a horse that threw every one but the
Major" One evening the Majors ser
want was out on the parad, ground
with the horse, and, as usual, got
thrown of, when one of the boys spoke
up and said; 81 know why the horse
don't throw the Major "Whyg"
was asked by a dozen or more. "Well,
you see the Majors got such long feet
that the horse thinks he's in his shafts
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13
MASONIC FACETI1I.

Alta banquet or supper given by the
Mary Crmmandery, of Philadelphia to
the Grand Encampment Of the United
States, shortly after the recent trien-
NAL convocaticn at Baltimore, the
severe restraints df the Dodge we're
thrown oil, as they should be on such
occasions. The following report of
response to toast on that occasion
was written by one who was present:
The assemblage was large aud WAS
graced by the presence Of lalias as al
Masonic banquets should he. The
ladies We're there as guests, not as spec,
tators, aad sat down with Us, right by
pur side - and he's a mighty poor
iemplar wi o cannot get hdy to sit
by his side.
The toast to "womln' was respond
oil to by Sir James IL. Hopkins, Of
Pennsylvania, and We regret to say
that the newspaper report does great
injustice to his beautiful speech. We
sat next to this eloquent orator Of
the West, and will cndeayor to give
some Of the gems which fell from his
inspired lips. With qulking kneas
AMI tremulous voice he thus spoke
"Mr. M)st Eminent President, dear
sisters, beloved brethren, and You
other fellows: Woman is an institu.
tion-she is great institution.
Without her where would you be, sir?
Where would | be? Where would
any other man beI From early infan-
cy to dccrepid age, woman is our guar
dian angel-our protector-our joy
our delight-our- oh, "you know how
1t is yourself" The learned Black
stone, whose humble disciple | am,
saith of her
Fee simple and simple fec,
With all the fees entail,
Are nothing when compared To thee,
Thou best of fees fe,mae.
Applause She is the source Of al
the wit, wisdom eloquence and virtue
which the world possesses. With her,
man can accomplish miracles without
her, he is powerless, She originate.
ideas, we execute them. Who frs
started a salt mine? Why, Lots wife
and wasn't she a woman? WASH
Jel a good carpenter when she mailed
Sisera? Who can estimate her power
that mighty power to which we al
so willingly yield obedience? Wasn't
Eve wonan' And didn't she engsgc
in the fruit business, even before she
wore pantaletts? And hasn't DIR Creigh
proved, by ancient documents that tho
first who struck oil in the great state
of Pennsylvania were the five wise
virgins who filled their lamps before
they started to attend the marriage
feast? And dare We doubt that they
we're women? Amt S. b. Anthony,
and Victoria Woodruff, and Theodore
Tilton, women? And amt they the
great reformers of the age? What
man in the annals Of fame has ever
achieved greatness unless he had a
woman for wife or a mothsr2 Sin,
tsmina nulla fama, saith the classic
poet
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

An Eastern paper announces that
the Baron de Hell is the new French
Consul General at Frankfort. If a
Frenchman in Frankfort gets into trou-
bic now he may 60 to-him. Cou-
rier Journal.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

A clergyman posted the following
notice on the gate of the church:
Found two hats in my strawberry bed.
The owners can have the same by
proving property.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

A chap who was told by a clergyman
to remember Lots wife" replied that
he had trouble enough with his own
without remembering any other mans
wife.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

"When distinguished American
dies, said shrewd and sarcastic OBJ.
server, not. long ago, "his admiring
friends and countrymen Immediately
resolve to build him a magnificent
monument, and thcn-they don't do
it"
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

Jeu d'Esprit.-We are informed
that the Rpthschild family is about
"to celebrate the centenary of the
banking house to which it owes its for.
tune Would it not be more correct
to describe the celebration as a Jewbi>
lee2
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

NHCfl talll, COY. anu udIu 10 please.
But seen too oft, familiar with her face;
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.
LIVE AND LEARN.--Among oil
farmers, as well as all other Old people,
there is a feeling of being too old to
learn. Some object to reading papers
and books on improved modes of agri-
culture; they refuse to try experiments
in new things or old, because forsooth
they are too old to learn; they give no
thought to the best light of the age, to
Improvements i'll crops, stock. imple-
mehts, because they fancy they arc too
old to leariil they seem to think it Is Il
task TO learn after one has seen the sun
of life At its eenith. Now all this Gee
saw about being too old to learn is mere
twadllc. While ne lamp holds out
to burn one should always strive to
learn, Learning should be the busi>
ness of life, and nowhere more 50 than
among farmers.
Some old men have had right views
of living and learning; Socrates when
very old learned to play ON musical
instruments; Cato at eighty learned
the Greek language; Plutarch when
nearly eighty commenced ihe study
Of I."tin; Boccaccio at thirty-fye com.
moaced the study of polite literature;
Sir Henry spclman commenced the
study of the sciences when nearly
sixty; Ludovico at 1l5 wrote the
memoirs Of his own time; Ogilby,
the translator of Homer and Nir-
gil, was unacquainted with Latin and
Greek till he was past fifty; Franklin
did not commence his philosophical
pursuits till he was about fifty; Ac-
corso, an eminent lawyer, being asked
why he began the study OF law so late,
answered that indeed be began it late,
but, therefore, he should master it
sooner; Dryden at nearly seventy
commenced the translation of the Had,
and his most pleasing productions were
written in his old age; Milton wrote
his granlest works when quite old; and
our own Benton acquired his literary
fame after spending thirty years in
Congress, and just on the eve of his
election to the Congress above. His
tory is full of such instances, and yet
the impression everywhere prevails
that what is learned must be learned
when we are young. This is a mis-
take; live and learn should be the motto
Of every one, ard most especially so in
this learning age.
Fathers and mothers should set ex~
amples Of learning to their children
We write especially now for farmers;
they have need to live and learn, and
in order to learn while they live, they
should secure and read the best papers
aud books on their profession. Agri-
culture is becoming science as well
as an art; it is knowledge as well as
labor; it requires mind rs well as mus
Gle to prosecute it, The farmer in
times to come is TO be the genius of
intelligent labor, by which the fields
are to wave their golden haryests and
human life to be adorned and honored.
n. Colman's Rural World.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

How THEY ESCAPED. In the war
OF 1872 an enterp:ising, dashing Amer.
lean officer, with small boat crew on
one of the upper lakes, made what
nowadays we would call a raid to a
British post on the shore Of the lake,
and selzing some dozen English soldiers
as prisoners and a boat load of spoils.
made with all possible speed for the
American post some thirty miles dis,
tant.
A British boats crew was quickly
started in hot pursuit. With the first
morning light the pursuers were des
cried fast gaining on the pursued.
Every exertion. at escape was made,
but soon musket shot sending spray
OF water near the American boat, fold
that an attempt to escape by main
strength ut the oars was useless, and
safety could only be secured by some
witty device. Suddenly, rs a second
spray OF water was sent up by passing
shot, the voice of tho captain of the
American boat was heard, "Throw
overheard a red coat" and a moment
after over into the lake went ope of tho
British prisoners. The Yankees now
Plled all oars, while soon the pursuers
were busily engaged in rescuing the
struggling red coat from the water, by
which time the Yankees were out of
musket range. Bending with redoub,
led vigor to their oars, the British were
again in eager pursuit, and once more
did the musket shots fall about the
stern and sides Of the pursued. "Throw
overheard another red coat" cried the
American raider, md another British
soldier splashed into the water to delay
by his rescue tho pursuors.
This simple operation was so success
fully repeated that the raiders at last
entered under the protection of the guns
of the American post with half their
prisoners and all their spoils.
]
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

The Milan, (lcAas) Telegram says;
1--WE have been asked why we stopped
publishing the list of marriage licenses
issued by the clerk. Because a great
big stand-up-in-the-mud, out there in
the sand hills, said we published his
daughter rs married when she wern't,
and that he would hit us on the head
hard enough to knock our ankles out
OF joint for it. Is the explanation sat-
isfactory?"
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

a man in New Hampshire declined
to subscribe for paper because it
helped to build up the business Of the
place, and the Weather the town was
the higher his taxes would be.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

A Baltimore clergyman recognizes
in railroad accidents not "the mystic
rious Providence of God" but the
reckless carelessness of man. He is
right.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

One of our exchanges praises an egg,
which it says, "was laid on cur table
by the Rev. Mr.. Smith," Mr.. Smith
seems to be tay>man as well as a
minister.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

"a party wants to know if the dan
ger on a steamboat arises from an
engine near, or an engineer.
About half and half, we should say.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

Ninety six paper mills in this country
we're destroyed by fire during the year.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

"lf it wasn't for woman, who would
take care of babies Who would starch
our collars or darn our stockings?
Who would tie our cravats or part our
back hair? In fact, | don't believe
we could get along without her at all
do YOU? She is queen whose power
is absolute. We are bound in captiv.
ity to her, and our slavery is so COM
plete that We love to hug the chains
that bind us. When she Furnishes us,
don't we like to kiss the hand that
,mites us? How beautifully does the
poet thus describe the influence which
she eXerts over the rugged nature of
man:
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

If cleanliness is, as some people say,
one of the arts, all that helps it should
be known. Doors, walls, or anything
that is painted, may be cleaned with a
piece Of soft flannel, dipped in warm
water, then wrung, and sprinkled with
finely powdered white chslk. The
paint, on being rubbed with this, will
become quite clean, and will be saved
from the destructive action of soap.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

The learned author Of "The De.
scent of Man." in Noticing that the
animals often suffer from the diseases
that aftiict ourselves might have added
that, in some cases, they are not free
from our vices also. According to Il
recent letter from Darfur in Africa the
monkeys Of that region are nordinately
fond Of a kind of beer made by the
natives, who use the beverage to cap
ture their simial poor relations. Hav-
ing placed quantities of the beer where
the monkeys can get at it, the natives
wait until their victims are in various
degrees of inebriation, and when they
then mingle with them, the poor crea>
lures are too much fuddled to recognize
the differences between negro and ape.
When the negro takes the hand of one
of them to lead him off some other fond
creature clings to the hand ofthe latter
one, another to his hand, and thus a
single negro may sometimes be seen
carrying off string ofstaggering monk
eys. When secured, the beer is ad,
ministered in decreasing quantities, so
that they may only gradually awaken
to the sad results of their spree. 1t is
to be regretted that no philosimiast
has vet arisen to establish a Band of
Hope among his unfortunate fellows.
The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1871-12-13

Owoman in our hours Of case,
Uncertain, coy. and hard to please.
But seen too oft, familiar with her face;
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-10

The Cedar Rapids Times narrates the
results of an impromptu baby-show at that
place, cne day las. week. There were Eve
OF the 'weenty, teenty, issy darlina" present.
the eldest of six months, and the youngest
of ak weeks pilgrimage in this vale oftears
and catnip tea. As the assembling of these
precious Jumps of incip,ent mortality was
accidental, everything passed off pleasantly,
the mothers forming themselves into 4
mutual admiration society, and each one
lavish Of the beauty of her neishbors baby,
until some oficious individual, who didn',
know beans about babies, and still less abou,
babies mothers, proposed that it should
then and there be decided which WAS th'
incest. A vote was taken, and each bsb,
had Just one vote, whereupon every mothe
deemed herself insulsed BY the balance, ant
there wss general gathering up of small
clothes, basket, sha~ls, aud an immsdist
breaking up of that se. party.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-10
A New Enterprise.


A BOUT three years since. there was orgsa-
n ized in the city of New York, among the
most wealthy and prominent business men of
that wealthy and busy city. company, to com
mence the man utaeture OF the ip.prored .SeWin9
Machine, Hh,ch should lead the World.
Awaiting themselves of the experiences of ali
the pioneers who had introduced Sewing Ma
chimes, more or less crude and imperfect, and Of
their new and most valuable patents, owned and
controlled only by themselves, this new company
fel. at once the full fresh impetus and power, af-
forded by q guaranteed success
Year. OF time and hundreds of thousands Of
dollars we're spent in perfec lin the massive Al
the delicate machinery which should turn out st
Srst, with mathematical precision, At least ton
complete machines every hour. These IN achines
were to be finished with the game perfection of
mechanism and picety of detail a. we NAV ind
4, ,ha has, .bronomatsr cloos sen.ra,e m 9.
- 80 nnas a.ch sen.,.te n,rts IA a.cs IN.
s ,'. g - -. H., . -.
e.%o. 80 " 80,
Pe.y =. Tn 80. ;1
-, .Poi s.n.nn,a., :. s-rusa-s .nhs,;
- 80 - 50 .. - - - b. 80.
.t! AZ a, 80. :. -
'eI Al soN ~ INC -.
we nave seen 'ne uemon''Ia'ion ~ INV '"'s
,nss its shtch IL tue cro"9es', Nos' H'ds'e a"a
host fT"c,icds' 81 ace ''e ot'ehsS tdH.' ~ -N"-
cA'"eTy. That IN capacity Tor "ork, ], %erace'
eNeiy variety Vi PiaiH .iu oin- .Ai0uS
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-10

! ! I s s &

TO THE WORKING CLASS.-We are now
prepared to furnish all classes with constant
employ ment at home, the whole of the time OF
for the spare moments. Business new, light,
and profitable. Persons of either sex easily
earn from 4Oc. to s. per evening, and proper
tional sum by devoting their whole time to the
business. Boys and girls earn nearly a. much
40 men. That all who this n office may send
their address, and test the business, We make
the unparalleled offer: To such are not we'll
satisfied, We will send 81 to pay for the trouble
of writing. Full particulars, . valuable sample
which will do to commence work on, and copy
of The Peoples Literary Compnnion-one of the
largest and best family newspapers ever pub
lished-aI sent free by mall. Reader, il you
want permanent, profitable work, address
E.. ALLEN 4 CO., Augusta, MAINE.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-10

There is q deal of courage sometimes in
small boys, A lad in Bridgeport had three
fingers of his right hand taken of few
days since BY drop press in q brAs shop.
Looking upon his bleedin hand, the brave
little fellow exclaimed, 'Ill bet mother will
cry when she sees that"
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-10
a CARD.

A Clergyman, while residing in South Amer
ica ss IN visionary, discovered asafe and si uple
remedy for the Cure Of Nervous Weakness.
Early Decay, Diseases OF he Urinary and Semi
nal Organs, and the whole train of disorders
brought on by bsneful and vicious habits Or at
numbers hsve been cured by thi. oble remedy
Prompted by Q desi to benefit the afflicted ant
unfortunste, I will send th. recipe for prep.
ing and using this medicine. in sealed envelope
TO aoy one who needs it. Free IF charge ho
dre.s JOSEPH T. INN n, Station ID. biof
House, New York City.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-10

A few weeks ago Lucien Braman, . prom
inent boot and shoe merchant of Cleveland,
sold his house on Prospect street for eight
thousand dollars, and placed the money as
his wife's disposal. Then, starting on col
lection tour for his firm (Burgert, Adams &
Coy. he secured three thousand dollars, and
fed to the far West with q mistress. The
fugitive is thirty eight years old, and the
family he aband oned consists of q wife and
three children.
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-10
Friday, February 18th, 1871,

Friday, February 18th, 1871,
The following unclaimed goods for freight and
charges, unless sooner called for:
J. N. Bacon, Box seede.
c. II. stoddard, l Package Boards.
K. Guype Co., l Stave Cutter, worth be-
tween $500 an S6OO.)
J. A. Gather, Boxes.
II. Willis, Box.
VIM. Martin, l Stave Machine, boxed.
II. Stegeler, II Boxes.
8. 7. whitney, Box with Can.
Munger, lot Grave Stones and Sockets.
Dley, &"
T. Mcguire, l Box Distillery Machinery,
(cost 81, ,500.)
No name, Carpet Bags.
T. Kaufer, l Box.
F.. R., Box hardware.
Nonaus, 4 Meat Kegs, Beer Ksss.
D. E. Bailey. l Sack Husks.
L. A. Ketchum, Box.
is. RlwelI, Reaper Platforms.
l.. Morgan, Is Rustic Chairs, Reaper Wheels
lot Miners Picks and Sledges.
JH Hunter, Churn, lot sickles, lot Selves.
Corn Planters Wheels and Axles.
Counter and Drawers.
] Small Desk.
Lot old Gas Fixtures.
After the close f the above sale I will sell .
hne assortment of Agricultural implements, In
Guiding some No. Lawn Movers
GRO W. d HARRIS,
Levee, Rock Island.
Rock Island, Jan. 18th, ISL d"td
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-10

Pet Roney, of Locus. Lane, Winneshiek k
county, to test his muscle, lifted keg ofbeer
above his head. Pat slipped, and fell, and
the ksg oame down on his forehead crushipp
in the skull. The result will probably be
fatli. Pat lifted the article entirely too high
for safety,
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-10

The Parisians have now ascersained that
Hoff, the idol of Paris who sneaked out Of
the Notifications every morning and sneaked
back every evening with q helmet taken
from Prussian sentinel he had assassina-
tad, was spy. A female in Paris with
whom he qusrrsled, after weeks of insim ate
friendship, made the revelation, when Hofi
sneaked ou. for another helmet, and never
returned. The Parisiaus would like to burn
that idol
The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-02-10

The postmaster at Berlin is greatly puz-
zled as to whom he shall deliver q letter tha,
arrived there the other day, addressed "The
Most Honest Wheat buyer in Berlin" Ho
thinks he will be obliged to place it in the
'Iadver,ised' list