davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01
Oil Dispatches,


Some idea Of oil men, their manner of
expression, their ambitions, their likes
and their dislikes, may be had from an
article in the Petroleum. Monthiy, for
January, from which we make this ex-
tract
One evening in November, 1871, while
occupying my accustomed corner in the
Telegraph office at Titusville, / iotted
down upon my paper cuffs and shirt
bosom few of the messages that were
going and coming over the wires, which
/ give below as a sample of the elmer
life" with which an operator is familiar
emitting real names and dates
"Shall [ let a thousand go at 90? S
is the buyer, and may want more"
"What is Browns well doing at Par.
ker's =? Run up the yield as she will
bear, and | will buy in Bennie's spot"
"Dear Theodore, come home quick
twins, market busted, and futures
tumbling-brlng home Goldfish for
breakfast.
Browns well doing LOO barrels q
day by actual measurement, with tools,
sand pump and pair of bull wheels in
the hole. Is good for 1000 as soon as
she is cleaned out"
"The production reports for the next
month will show an increase of 5000
barrels an hour you can bet on that,
for the reporters are fixed The Erie
ring has got one, the bears the other
while old Reality is owned by both,
and will pull off either tug as circum-
stances may warrant
"Get me slice of old Gibson's farm
before he hears of that strike near him ;
fix up the lease 50 that the new royalty
will be paid at the end Of the year, Twill
be in Europe then"
"You must strike a. thousand barrel
well at Brady's Bend. I am shorter
than pie crust and have got to cover this
week or never.
BE sure and strike the well so far away
that it can't be found for day or two.
"Sell the oil to responsible parties on
ly. Take no orders on Pittsburgh at
any price. Spot cash, cask spot only in
that direction"
Twins tne tnunuef you say ana
here I have two dry holes at Pithole and
tools stuck at East Sandy Goodbye.
Address me in Europe. | can't stand
prosperity"
Cant you increase the yield of the
Pithole we'll again Another start and
grease will weaken so I can pay my
board ahead"
81 am coming home if / can borrow
dollar. Our well Is dryer than pow
der house Take George out of college,
cut off Susie's music lessons, and sell
your wedding jewelry. The French
cook and chambermaid will have to go
too"
Eureka I have struck it One
hundred barrels, and increasing Open
fresh can Of peaches and let the chill
dren have butter on their bread, Will
be home Saturday with your diamonds.
What is the size of Mrs. Lollipops pin =?
/ will pay over that in size if | don't
accumulate cent. Jenkins we'll, is as
dry as a bone. Cut his family acquaint-
ance at once"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

The SPIDER DANcE,-Among the extra
ordinary effects that have been ascribed
to music, no one has been oftener as
serted than its cure of the poison of the
Tarantula spider. In the northern parts
of Italy, sometimes persons are bitten by
a Carye spider called Tarantula. At
certain periods Of the year the person
who has been once bitten feels a pain
about the wounded part, which is accom-
panied with gloomy feelings, etc. If
sprightly music if played, land a certain
jig called Tarantula, is generally Played,
the patient gets up and begins to dance,
with irregular gestures; the quickness
of the movement generally increases to a
certain degree, and the dance sometimes
continues for hours, without intermission
At last the patient, fatigued and exhaus-
ted throws himself down on the floor, or
on a bed, etc, to recruit strength, and the
fit is over for the time. The remarkable
part is that this exertion of dancing can
not be produced without music. The
true facts are, that the spider is in real
ity not poisonous, nor is it doubted that
it has any share in the illness. The dis
order, probably nervous or hysterical
affection, may arise from other causes,
especially in climate like that of Italy.
That dance and exertion may bring re-
lief, is very probable. But we doubt
whether music is indispensibly needed.
The strange gestures and odd fancies
which the patients are supposed to have
are in all probability dictated by preju-
dices, love of singularity, or the desire
to create establishment in the minds of
spectators, who are always numerous on
such occasions.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01
FiSk'S First Mistake.

Col. James Fisk used to often tell
about his first mistake in life.
Said the Colonel, "When | was little
boy on the Vermont farm, my father
took me up to the stable one day, where
a row OF COWS stood in the stable.
Said he, flames, the stable window
is pretty high for a boy, but do you
think you could take this shovel and
clean out the stable ?"
81 don't know Pop said James. 81
never hare done it,"
"Well, my boy, if you will do it this
morning, I'll give you this bright silver
dollar" SAID his father, patting him on
his head, while he held the silver dollar
before his eyes"
Good" said James, "I'll try, and
away he went to work. He tugged and
pulled and lifted and pulled, and, finally
it was done, and the father gave him the
bright silver dollar saying
"Thats right, James; You did it
splendidly, and now I find you do it 50
nicely, l shall have you do it eoerv morn
ing all Winter !"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01
Saved by a Horse.

Some years since party of surveyors
had just finished their days work in the
northwestern part of Illinois, when q
violent snow storm came on. They
started for their camp, which was in n
grove OF about eighty acres in a large
prairie, near twenty miles from any other
timber. The wind was blowing very
hard, and the SHOW drifted so as to near
ly blind them. When they thought
they had nearly reached their camp,
they all at once came upon tracks in the
snow These they looked at with care,
and found to their dismay, that they
were their own tracks. It was
now plain they We're lost on the great
prairie, and that if they had to pass the
night there, the chance was that not one
of them would be alivein the morning
While they were shlvering with fear and
the cold, the chief man of their party
caught sight Of one of their old horses
gray pony known as cold Jack. I"
Then the chief said If any man can
show us to our camp, out of this binding
snow, Old Jack can do it. | think he
will show us our way back to camp The
horse as soon as he found himself free,
threw his head and tail into the air, as if
proud of the trust put on him. Then
he snuffed the breeze, and gave loud
snort, which seemed to say: "Come
along, boys, follow me; I'll lead You
out of this scrape" He then turned in
a new direction and trotted along, but
not so fast that the men could not follow
him. They had not gone more than a
mile when they saw the cheerful blaze Of
their camp-fres, and they gave a loud
huzza at the sight, and for old jack.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

GENEROUS "A story running about as
follows is now going the rounds Of the
press: A Boston man proposed to marry
a widow a short time since, and as proof
of the sincerity Of his intention gave her
a deed of one-half his property, which
was in real estate located near Bangor,
Me. The deed was duly recorded. 1t
was soon found that the man already had
a wife, but he insisted on the spurious
betrothed keeping the property, and
forthwith appointed an agent to sell it for
her benefit, which that agent has recent
ly done. The property decided to the
lady was worth about seventy-five thou
sand dollars"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01
Broken Flowers.

Twas years ago one summer eve,
While walking out with Jane,
To take lovers farewell leave,
Down in the shady lane,
|, careless, crushed tiny flower
did not mind it then;
1t was needless act of power,
A common thing with men.
We parted there were words unkind
Her eyes were filled with tears,
And was proud and rough and blind
But, oh the after-years
Two voices, like my shadow, haunt
My way at every step
The signing Of the murdered plant,
The wall Of her who wept.
/ crushed flower, [ killed heart;
And now, where'er | go,
l find myself thing apart,
With "heritage of Woe"
Whene'er little flower | meet,
1t bends its head away,
Shrinks from my sNcrilegious feet,
And crouches to the clay;
And then it sounds little moan
| heard it in the lane
That dreadful night so long agone,
When | was there with Jane.
But now never crush n flower,
Nor pluck one from its stalk,
And all are safe in field OF bower,
Wherever may walk.
All flowers forgive, but hearts do not
Human inhuman all are we.
don't believe Jane had a thought
That was not all of love for me-;
And vet ! crushed her like the plant,
With coward doubts about her truth {:
And since, my only prayer is, grant
Forgiveness for the sins Of youth
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01
Newspapers and their Influence.

We shall not attempt to define the eX-
act influence of newspapers but, most
assuredly, it is most extensive. A book
lives longer than newspaper, but a
newspaper is constantly at work. The
book is read by the few, the newspaper
by the million. As a Photographic i'm
preston Of the lights and shadows of
passing life, everybody takes an interest
in newspaper. 1t is the record of the
daily history of our own time (; it is, in
fact, in our age, the history of tele-
graphic communication, and that is the
history for the world each day. Its col
umns contain transcript of the deaths,
the marriages, the accidents, the COM
plants, the calsmities, the excitements,
the fears, the enthusiasm, the rejolclngs,
the sorrow and wants of living men.
How, then, can it fail to be generally
interesting.
But the newspaper does more than
this-it forms opinions, sometimes lead
ing, sometimes following. 1t cannot go
too far ahead, neither can it lag too far
behind. 1t acts and is acted upon.
Perhaps it is oftener an echo of what the
majority of newspapers read and think,
feel and desire, than anything else.
This indeed is necessity of a newspa-
per existence. But it often leads opin-
ION, too, by reiteration, by repetition, by
line upon line, and by precept upon pre-
cept. AS the water drop wears hollows
in the hardest stone, so does the newspa
per mold and shape the local and politi-
cal opinions of the community, and
bring about important and extensive
changes. 1t does not follow that these
opinions are always valuable Or excel
lent. The newspapers may form false
views as well as true; may defend injus-
tice, strengthen prejudice, and propagate
error. The only corrective for all this is
freedom. Said Milton in his plea for
unlicensed printing. "Let truth and
fulsehood grapple, who ever saw truth
put to the worse in free and open en-
counter"
The qualities Of a successful editor,
however, are Of a much higher kind than
Carlyle defines them to be. 1t is not
mere - JnfeSnlng SuraWS WltnOuU WneaG
that is required by him. He must have
ability, energy and tact. His illustra-
tons and arguments must always be
within call The best newspaper writ
ing is only brilliant talking; but what a
rare gift is that Let any person who
thinks it easy to write a newspaper arti-
Gle, try it. But one article or even
dozen, will be no test of success. An
editor must be able, like the celebrated
French cook of the play,t prepare twelve
courses of fish, flesh and fowl from one
square lump Of veal. He must be ever
sparkling and fresh-never tagging or
dull for moment. He must mingle
the grave with the gay, the lively with
the severe, fact with comment, specula
ton with experience. He must have a
versatile taste, a well-stored memory, a
light and playful imagination, logical
mind,an unanswering Judgment. If any
one thinks it is an easy task to edit a
newspaper, day after day and year after
year, just let him try it.-Erchanqe.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

The current number of the Gotha Al
manac contains some interesting postal
statistics showing the number of letters
passing through the post-otlcos of the
principal countries of the world, 1t
would appear that the aggregate is not
far from three thousand million letters
yearly. The private correspondence of the
different countries for last year was as
follows Great Britain, sos, 900, 600 let
tiers; United States, 531, coo, 900; France,
354 900, 900: North German States, 24S,-
000O00; Austria. 80, 600, 600 Italy 49,
100000; Spain, 72,OOO, 600; Switzerland,
45,000,000; Russia, 2l,OOO, coo. To
these figures must be added some 36O,-
100000 official letters which are counted
separately; making in round numbers
the total above given. Still more inter-
esting, however, are the results of cal
cuhtion showing the relation between
the number of letters sent and the pop
ulation of the different countries. In
Great Britain the number of letters
mailed was 25 per head of population
in Switzerland, lS; in the U. s., 10 ;
in the North German States, So; IN
Austria, 40 in Spain 4 4; France, SO;
in Italy, 81; in Russia, B. 1t will be
matter of surprise to many that in the
little kingdom of Switzerland the pro-
portion of letters to population is so
large, while in France it is so small i but
the figures above given may be accepted
as indicating with considerable accuracy
the decree of business activity and the
popular intelligence, and education OF
the different countries abroad.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01
AgriculturaI.

The following information is extracted
from the January number of the monthly
report of the Department of Agriculture
Of the United States.
A convention of delegates representing
the interests of State agricultural and
horticultural societies, boards of agricrll-
ture, and agricultural colleges of the
United States will meet mt the City Of
Washington on Thursday, the 18th of
February next, to confer upon subjects
of mutual interest, and to take such
action as shall be deemed expedient for
the promotion of agricultural education,
and to secure Il more intimate connection
between the department and the several
institutions mentioned. The meeting
will take place in one of the rooms of
the department building, at ten o'clock
in the morning. The call for this con-
vention was issued by the Commissioner
of Agriculture, after full interchange OF
views with the officers of agricultural
colleges and with other prominent agri-
culturists The Department is now re-
ceiving, principally for distribution in
the South, in liberal portions for expert
mental purposes, improved varieties Of
field and sugar corn, field and garden
peas and beans. Italian rye grass, bro
mus, schroeder and lucerne, mangold
wurzle, and sugar beet, and cabbage and
onion seeds 1t will also receive during
this month fresh seeds of the ramie and
iute plants, the latter of which cannot
be grown successfully north of Tennes-
see. Oats and barley of approved varie.
ties have been ordered from Scotland
and Germany, and will be distributed in
ample time for spring sowing A choice
variety of white spring wheat grown in
Oregon from seed imported from Aus
tralia has just been distributed to the
Northwestern States and Territories.
The department has just distributed n
quantity of Cooley's early white field
corn to a selected list of farmers in diff
ferent States, who will make trial OF it
in their respective localities AID report
the results of their experiments ut the
close of the year. This corn is new
variety, originated by Mr.. c. c. Cooley,
Of Manchester, Adams County, Ohio,
and introduced to the public in the fall
of 1870. 1t is said to be remarkable for
its early maturity. Mr.. Cooley states
that he planted it the past season on the
Sd of May and it was ripe and ground
into meal on the 9th of August the time
of its growth having been fourteen weeks.
4 farmer in Wisconsin is reported to
have raised a crop and had it ground into
meal in thirteen weeks from the day Of
planting. Another in Minnesota raised
fifty bushels from one pint and half of
seed. Cooley claims that this corn is
equ in productiveness to any variety in
cultivation.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

A Masonic QUEsTIoN.-The New Jer.
sey Grand Lodge of Freemasons has de-
cided a question which created a good
deal of interest in Massachusetts, owing
to the similarity of action i'll certain
lodges there III admitting colored men
to the Masonic privileges. 1t appears
that the Grand Master of New Jersey re-
voked the charter of the Alpha Lodge of
Newark because of its admission of a me-
gro to membership, and the Grand Lodge
spent whole day in discussing the ques-
ton of reinstating the Lodge. Able
speeches were made, principally in OPP
position to the course of the Grand Mas
tor, and on reaching vote the Lodge
was ordered renewal of its privileges
10 to 1903
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01
Sacrifice of a White Dog.

In accordance with a custom which
has prevailed among the Onondaga In-
dams from period 50 remote that it is
lost in q dim myth, the tribe recently
celebrated the solemn sacrifice of the
White Dog. The cernmony always takes
place during the old moon nearest to the
month of February. 1t seems to have an
astronomical as we'll as a religious mean
NJ and one with assing the ceremonies
a most fancies that he detects trace
OF the Egyptian worship OF Anubis. The
principal actor was Captain George. who
was the only person present arrayed i'll
full Indian costume. The dog sup
posed to have re sins Of the whole ma
lion cast upon him, was perfectly white,
aud was stran3led to death in order to
prevent the effusion of blood, which
would render the sacrifice not accepta-
BILE to Ha-wah-ne-a, who is the creator
Of the world, the holder of the heavens,
the maker of men and animals and the
controller of destiny. The day preced
ing this sacrifice is spelt in preparation
for the great event in the history of the
nation, and on the great day the Whole
nation is expected to meet at the council
house. Early in the morning large fires
are built, guns discharged and various
devices employed for making disturb
ance with as much success as is achieved
by the pale faces on the Fourth of July.
About noon the white dog was strangled,
and became the subject of long address
from Captain George, which, being in
Onondaga, was not well appreciated by
the whites who were present,as it might
have BEEN After the whole tribe had
marched around the lifeless dog three
times, the priest of the occasion faced
the east and solemnly devoted the body
to the flames. While the dog was burn
ing solemn chant was kept up by Capt.
George Journal.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01
Good Night, NV Sweet.

Q sweet, my love, the hour is late,
The moon goes down in silver state,
AS here alone watch and wait;
Though far from thee, my lips repeat,
In whispers low, "Good night, my sweet"
Somewhere beneath these gracious skies
NV bonny love dreaming lies,
With slumber brooding in her eyes;
Go seek her, happy wind 30 free,
And kiss her folded hands for me.
While life is dear and love Is best,
And young moons drop adown the west,
My lone heart turning to its rest
Beneath the stars, shall whisper clear,
GOOD night, my sweet" though none may
hear
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

MrLK.-The London Milk Journal
says We open the new year with list
of twenty vendors of deteriorated milk
and not one single genuine milk. Bad
as our last years report showed the con-
dition of the milk trade, we fear that tho
average level of Sthe trade is still worse.
"Take of as much cream and put in as
much water rs you darel and the more
courageous you are the more money You
will make behold the principles of the
London milk trade in she years of grace
1871 and 1872.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

DID Nor LIKE IT, During the recent
illness of H. r. H. the Prince of Wales,
a well known London physician ordered
his servant to 90 every night to the gate
at Marlborough House and wait until the
midnight bulletin was posted. On one
occasion the servant lost his temper at
having to wait in the cold and said he
wished the Prince wasdead. The words
were scarcely out of his mouth before he
was set upon by the mob, and was so
maltreated that on his return to his mas
ter's house he had scarcely stitch of
clothing left upon his back.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

A Western paper speaks of The house
cleaning season rs that when woman has
her own way at the house, while the "old
man" takes his solemn repast from the
top of the -four barrel, and in sleeping
enjoys the freedom of the interval be-
tween his bedroom and the front fence.
1t is season of meditation, whitewash,
and calm, unimpassioned profanity.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

THE mother, wife and two daughters
of DR.. N Klumb, living in the suburbs
of Louisville, KY, were poisoned at sup
per, by eating some fruit put up in jars.
They lay at the point of death for some
hours, but the energetic efforts of physi-
clans finally reused the victims from their
stupor. There are some hopes now for
their recovery.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

OLD TINES AND PRESENT TINES One
hundred and twenty of the descendants
of Franklin still are alive and all owing,
as the great-grandson said, on Wednes-
day night, to Deborah Read. When we
think of Franklin as one out of II chill
dren, by the same parents, and remem-
Der the fact that from IL to Is children
by the same father and mother were COM
mon enough in the olden time, and that
mothers, almost without exception, nur-
sed their own children, the contrast with
three or four children now in and of the
family is striking enough to awaken sur
prise.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

A Michigan paper thus delicately an
nounces a death from non-explo-
sive." "Mrs. Maria Farmley gave up
the bad habit of using kerosene for kind
ling fires, recently"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

DURING the crisis in France caused by
the threatened retirement OF President
Theirs, the Bonapartists are reported to
have been very industrious.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

GENERAL Cabral, having organizeda
new provisional government in Santo
Domingo, is reported to have defeated
the followers of Baez near Neyba,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

Here is amarvel. The police commits.
sioners of Chicago have voted to reduce
their salaries from $4,000 to $780,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-02-01

TRUE PoLITENEss. A poor Arab going
through the desert, met with sparkling
spring. Accustomed to brackish water,
a draught from this sweet well in the
wilderness seemed, to his simple mind,
present to offer to the caliph. SO he
filed his leathern bottle, and, after
weary tramp, laid his humble gift at his
sovereign's feet. The monarch, with
the magnanimity that may put many q
Christian to blush, called for a cup, and
filling it, drank freely; and, with smile,
thanked the Arab and presented him
with a reward. The courtiers pressed
eagerly around for draught of the
wonderful water which was regarded as
worthy such princely acknowledgment.
To their surprise the caliph forbade
them to touch a drop. Then, after the
imple-hesrted giver left the royal pres
ence, with a new spring of JOY yelling
up in his heart. the monarch explained
the motive for his prohibition, During
this last journey, the water in this leath
ern bottle had become impure and dis
tasteful; but it was an offering of lore,
and, as such, accepted it with pleasure.
l feared, however, that if l allowed
another to taste it, he would not con-
ceal his disgust. Therefore it was that
1 forbade you to partake, lest the heart
of the poor man should be wounded"