davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05
Habits Of the 0possurn

1.-The American Naturalist has the fol
lowing interesting particulars concerning
the habits of the opossum The ami
NAL is widely distributed in the United
States. 1t dwells in hollow logs, stumps,
and in holes at the roots of trees-does
not burrow, but takes possession OF holes
already made. Into these he will carry
leaves. usiug his tail for the purpose,
and provide himself with a. comfortable
bed when bad weather threatens. 1t
does not hibernate, but hunts its food
at all seasons, is slow of foot and not
very wild. 1t will eat bacon, dry beef
and carrion, any kind Of fowl, rabbits,
any kind of small game, almost all the
insects and fruits of every variety, being
esrecially fond of musk-melons: and it
is eaten in turn by many people, the
flesh being considered delicious. This
has flavor resembling that Of the flesh
of young hog, but it is sweeter and
less gross. Negroes and others are ex-
ceedingly fond of it; dogs, however,
hold very different opinion, and will
sooner starve than consume it. The ami
NAL is habitually incautious, aud when
attacked seems to possess little power OF
resistance literally suffering itself to be
eaten alive by the turkey buzzards,
while it lies on its side and protests
against the proceeding by a succession OF
grunts. Exceedingly tenacious OF life,
it Will survive severe crunching by the
dogs, when it seems as though every
bone in it's body had been cracked. Al
though sometimes found concealed under
the floors of houses and out-buildings,
it refuses to be domesticated, and is be-
lieved to dwell but short time in any
one place.
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05

"And is this man your brother?" she
inquired, holding up bill, and giving
ME look I shall never forget to my dy-
inc day-"JoHN BJTTINGER p
@That's his name, I answered. fright
ened half out of my wits. "But why do
you ask p -.
"The name is very familiar" she e1.
planned, in quiet voice, and then bent
over her task, determined upon guarding
her secret with her life if necessary.
Such pale, set, earnest wretched face
T never looked upon before or since.
took no notice; for, you see, gllmmer-
ing of the truth had dawned upon me,
and, although eager to know, L could
afford to wait.
Fifteen minutes, 1 think. passed in
perfect silence; otr hands busy all the
| time unfolding and sorting anew.
"What in the world is this, do you
suppose i? Here is letter, n love letter.
it can't be that John Bittinger ever
wrote Lore, ,letter-directed to Miss
Maude Tanning: Isn't this funny
Here is the way it begins My OWL
darling On, isn't this fun"
"Stop, Mrs. Sinclair p' said my com
panion, taking the letterSrom my hands
and holding it close to hcr heart. "That
is my letter, and claim the right to read
it alone" And without waiting for an,
other word, she turned away and walked
like queen into her own apartment.
I sat like one spell-bound until she re-
turned to my room.
q Whers il FOUR brother ." she said.
"Down stairs in the library an,
swered.
"Take me to him." was the next SEN
tence she uttered.
John lay just where [ had LETT him on
the lounge. With a sigh, which was al
most d eroan, she walked. to his side,
and said, "John I have just received
your letter"
It you could have seen him then, you
would have thought just as | did, thai
the fellow was going mad. He cleared
that sofa with one bound and tie next
thing I knew my dress maker was IL
John Bittinger's arms.
| WQaU Qlu IL all mean you N0A'
Only this, that my brother was for
merly in partnership with Mr.. Andrews
This Mr. Andrews was desperately II
love with the lady John was engaged to-
He succeeded in parting the lovers tins
very letter figuring conspicqously in the
separation. This John (who, it seems
up to the title must have placed entire
confidence in himJ placed with others tc
mail upon his desk Andrews must have
withdrawn it-not being able just ther
to destroy-and mixed with other pa
pers. This letter explained the whole
situation, which Andrews had been TO-
some time shrouding in mystery. A
any rate, he made trouble enough; an(
my dress maker married the wrong man
and the wrong man drank up all hi
money and died.
She is Johns wife now, and an
happy, for they both love me.
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05
A Mammoth Ship.

That the Devastation the new English
ship of war, is a success, 80 far as she
has been tried, is now admitted. The
ponderous monster which squats upon
the astonished waters with dead weight
of 10, 900 tons, takes any ordinary waves
with stolid Indifference, whether she
receives them end-on, or upon bow, beam
or quarter. The prodigious hill OF foam
which her stem piles up when under
way, washes, as was expected, clean
over her forward deck, and she IS often
submerged aft; but her massive mid
section rides quietly enough, and those
on board her when anchored in the roll
ling tide way at Spithead, say that she
was steadier than the hoU ashore. "
She turns with great readiness and IN a
a small circle, and her speed, as proved
in six trials along the measured mile, IS
not only equal to the promise OF her de-
signers, but it exceeds expectation. The
mighty engines driving this island OF
iron with an indicated power OF 6,ooo
horses. with seventy-seven revolutions
per minute, got fifteen knots and a hall
out of the ship, and her mean rate at full
steam is thirteen knots and three-quart-
ers. Here, therefore is a craft which Is
vulnerable only to very few guns, has
the swiftness of mail packet, and the
bandiness-thankst to her twin screws
of tug. while she could utilize these
qualities to hurl upon the sides OF al
onponent the awful force of all her ter
thousand tons moving with the velocity
of spear. On board this remarkable
man-of-war there are 10 less than thirty
four distinct and separate engines, ani
indeed. the value which she represent!
is as serious as her fighting capacity
What remains to be learned is the beha
vior of the ugly giant in a real Bisca.
gale; and whether or no the GU de-S9
which she carries aft will or will not
prove mistake in heavy following sea
With stability assured to So, with NJ
top gear to sci her over, and with deck
which can be hermetically sealed, sh
would be safe enough; but whene7e
she does roll, or pitch. or scud, the riv
cts and fittings in her huge body will b
shrewdly tried. Except the Russial
monitor Peter the Great, nothing float
ing could resist or even challenge such
vessel at once so strong and swift. Th
torpedo, no doubt, may yet be so devel
oped as to make the Devastation, an
all her terrible sisters impotent agains
a defended coast. On the high seas a
present she has no superior.
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05
The /" Fat" Sheep.

Some twenty-five years ago, When
WAS pastor OF church in --, TOOK
occasion one evening to attend social
meeting in the church in that place. AS
is their custom on such occasions, one
after another rose and gave in his or her
experience. After some time a man IN
humble circumstances, small in stature,
and with an effeminate, squeaking voice.
rose to give piece of his experience
which was done in the following manner:
Brethren, have been 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
nv life to see my pastor or any OF the
trustees OF this church cross the thres'
hold of my door,"
No sooner had he uttered this part OF
his experience than he was suddenly IN
terruptad by one of the trustees an asea
man. who rose and said in a loud, firm
voice:
"My dear brother, you must put the
devil behind YOU"
On taking his seat, the pastor IN
charge quickly rose, and also replied to
the little man as follows:
"My dear brother, you must remem
her that we shepherds are sent to the los
sheep of the house OF Israel
Whereupon the little man rose again
and in answer, said, in a very loud tone
of voice:
eyes, and if I'd been a tat one, yor
would have found me long ago."
The effect upon the audience can b'
better imagined than described
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05

ANOTHER WHARTON CAsE.-Anothet
story of suspected poisoning has just
come to light in North Carolina which
bears singular resemblance to the case
Of Mrs. Wharton, not yet fully and
finally disposed Of, in Maryland. Two
women have been accused of numbering
by poison the husband OF one and the
father of the other. By his death, so Tar
as appears, they have succeeded merely
in reducing themselves from the condl-
ton of comfortable dependence which
they enjoyed before it to & condition OF
uncomfortable reliance upon their own
exertions for support A chemical analy'
sis has been made, and the unmistakable
presence of strychnine was developed
by it,
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05
The Mansard Roof.

A French architect in Boston declares
that the Mansard roof, so-called in Amer
lea, could not be built in any portion OF
France, as it is q fraud and scandal.
Tee Mansard roof Of France is always
fre-proof, being built in accordance with
French law, of iron, brick and mortar.
In Germany, to save valuables at fires,
there is large box of strong sheet iron,
say, four feet wide, six feet high, and ten
feet long, with door, with lock, be! nd
we'll secured on two axles and drawn by
four horses. On alarm of fire the car
riages, each under the superintendent
of o sergeant of police, are drawn near
the fire; all 7aluables, such as books,
money, jewelry, &c., are placed in the
box and taken to the police station. No
person is allowed to touch anything until
all the persons having property in it are
present.
The New York Tribune in speaking Of
the roof says: The indiscriminating out
cry aga;n.t the Mansard roof, not be.
cause ill-built, but merely as roof the
editor writes), is not to be wondered at,
though it is quite irrational. y
The roof is not at all at fault: The fault
is in the municipal law of Boston Gas well
as New York aid ell other American
cities), which permits any roof, Mansard
or other, to be superposed upon a frame
work, and bossed with flagree ornaments
of kindling wood. The Mansard roof is
handsome; it lends grace and adorement
to eur thoroughfares. 1t liberalizes and
adorns the pinched and rectangular archi-
tscture of our cities. 1t amplifies and
renders more commodious any. structure
which 1t shelters. It has everything
aesthetic and useful in its favor, and there
is no valid argument against it. Let it be
built solely of materials that won't burn
and it becomes a helmet of protection
worn gallantly and gracefully upon the
brow which it protects and decorates, in
stead of an unkind torch ready to spring
into plumes of fire at touch.
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05

MOVING WEST. Rather the most novel
mode of emigration by rail, combining
economy and comfort, is mentioned by
IN Eastern cotemporary Attached to a
through freight train was common car,
containing a man and bis wife with all
their furniture and household goods, be-
sides their family horse and carry-all.
They were emigratlng from Boston to
Nebraska, having chartered this freight
car to take them through for $780,
they meet with no uncommon deten'
tions, there seems to be no reason why
they may not make a pleasant trip OF 1t.
If successful, this may be the inaugura'
ton of still another new way OF doings
and the time may be near at hand when
migrant cars, fitted up with special re-
ference to the accommodation OF emil
grant families, may be set running ovel
our Western railways, and become q:
familiar to the puslic as sleeping cars Oh
Pullman's palace
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05
$500 PER ANNUM.
tSinsle Copy 5 Coats.
Breviies.
Time is the chrysalis Of eternity.

Time is the cbrysalis Of eternity.
The best inn for poet-inspiration.
What is that which goes up the hi
and down the hill and yet never moves u
The road.
Dobbs thinks that instead Of giving
credit to whom credit is due, the cash had
better be paid.
The best conundrum out: In my first
my second sat, my third and fourth atef
Ans. In sat-I-ate.
An Evansville, Indiana, mother lately
sacrificed her own life IN saving ner
child from the flames.
The remnant of the Seminole tribe in
Florida is divided into three families OF
about twenty persons each.
A little girl was lately frightened TO
death in Michigan by two boys, while on
her way home from school.
A Chicago young man was recently
quite smitten by q neighbor's wife. she
smote him with a rolling pin.
ASt Louis girl has inherited S5,OOO,-
600 from her betrothed lover who was
an officer in the Spanish army.
A new use has been, found for mica.
It is now attracting public atten ton as
material for roofing buildings, for
which purpose it has been found to be
peculiarly adapted.
A painter being asked to estimate the
cost of painting certain house.. drew
forth pencil and paper and made the
following calculation " A naught is
nauoht :: three into five twice you can't;
I'll paint your house for fifty dollars.
sergeant Bates, tho American who
started to walk from Glasgow to London,
bearing unfurled the flag of his country,
is on his Journey, everywhere he is greet
ed with the cheers of the people. he re-
ports that he has in no way been moiess-
ed.
Those beautiful little creatures, flying
SQUIRRELS, are now bred in cages by the
itinerant dealers who display them in
the thoroughtares. The ones bred IN
CAPTIVITY are perfectly tame, allowing
themselves to be handled even Dy stran-
gers.
"Ma, why don't you speak ?" asked
little Jake. " Why don't you say suthln
funny ?" "What can say DonE
YOU see I'm busy frying doughnats !
Say something funny, indeed wal,
yer might say Jake, won't yer heV q
cake q That 'ud be funny"
Some practical joker suggested through
the Scisntifc american that rubbing the
beard off with pumice stone a ME
would answer the same purposelwas., Q
much better way than taking it oil with
a razor. Some fellow had the nerve to
try it, and the result was that he gos
his beard of, and skin, too.
A remorseless Terre Haute man ;" IS
keeping diary which was commenced
by his great. grandfather in England,
continued by his grandfather in the same
country and on the voyage across tno
Atlantic to this country, and by MN
kopt up in the United States till Just
before his death, when his son., the
father of the present diarist, took up
the task and brought it down to 1871
when the present keeper began it.
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05
The Invisible Songster.

The morning blooms On the frosty heights,
Gath'ring.the mists in his golden hands,
And slowly to view in the rosy lights
The shadow scene, like dream, expands.
No sound to gladden. the drear, bright air,
Which, but for the silence, were soft and
warm,
Save far-awsy note from cbanticleer,
Or . house-dog's bark from the distant
farm.
When suddenly, trilled from thicket dense,
A song pours out from an unseen bird,
That sooths the ear and charms the sense
With cadence sweet as e'er mortal heard.
Scarce a leaf has flushed the woods with green,
And the fields are still dark in their sober
hues,
Yet with color and beauty and joy the scene
That wonderful, beautiful voice imbues.
I know not the name of the feathered king,
Not glimpse can get of his lifted crest,
Butjhis song is the soul of the breaking Spring,
And it finds response in my weary breast.
Louder and clearer; the whole wide air
With its infinite, rapturous joy it fills,
Till soft grow the branches brown and bare,
And q green shape seems to cover the hills.
The little brook from his ice chain breaks,
And laughs in his sleeve as he leaps along,
And the frosty world to beauty awakes,
In the spell of the unseen herald song
Sing out, oh, darling of field and wood!
Our hearts, that were dreary, With thee
must sing,
Thou has caught the key Of our hopes renewed,
And thy song is the soul of the breaking
Spring.
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05
Swiss Working People.

The wages received by the operatives
of Switzerland are very meagre, being
from thirty three to forty per cent. low
er than in England, and from ten to
fifteen per cent. lower than in France.
In sthe French cantons the operatives
are better paid, but the expenses of liv-
ing arc higher. In Switzerland weavers
receive from S1.92 to S3.12 per week;
dyers from S1.6S to 81. 64 per week; silk
spinners from S192 to $2.4O per week;
printers from $2SS to SS.60 per week
stocking weavers from S2.40 to 4.32 per
week. Gas workers are paid Y cents a
day, powder makers 96 cents; tool and
furniture makers GO cents; paper makers
Sc cents; brewers and cigar makers from
3S to Is cents; vine dressers from 3S to
50 cents; and agricultural laborers from
q to SO cents. Smiths, joiners, tailors.
gardeners, book binders, shoemakers,
and carpenters, receive from 80 to 90
cents day; and watchmakers, bakers,
wheelrights, and ordinary mechanics re-
ceive from 20 to 81 cents day. Mowers
are paid 10 cents, and gunsmiths from
72 cents to 81. IA day. The average oI
wages is very low, and only in few
cases amounts to p cents day. On
the other hand the cost of living and the
prices Of provisions are very moderate
Male workmen can obtain board and
lodging at from 81 to S1.32 week, and
female operatives at from 81 cents tc
S1.0S a week. In country towns thu
price is much lower. In the northeast
ern cantons, where mechanical weaving
is carried on entirely by wome n. th'
girls are lodged, boarded and clothed a
the cost of the manufacturers in estab
lishments. Mutual aid and co-operativ
societies abound, while charity and pau
perism are almost unknown.
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05

RAPID VOYAGE Round The WORLD
Ad7ices from Rochefort state that the
s Rhn" steamer, just arrived in that port,
has accomplished one Of the most rapid
VOYAGES known. She left Toulon for
New Caledonia in the beginning OF Feb
ruarv. and has thus made the tour Of the
world in seven months and few days
The Jura," which preceded her by siA
weeks, is still at sea. If the I" Rhin'
does not stand in need of repairs, she will
Immediately recommence her service ii
conveying convicts.
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05

A letter from Ireland says " The
whole county of Wexford has been
excited by the reported elopement OF
Miss Agnes Barry, only daughter of
the Hon. Hugh Barry an ex-member of
Parliament, OF Newton Barry, with an
American tourist, Mr.. Fitzhenry, Of
Boston. Miss Barry is the absolute
possesser of the richest estate in the
country, and is heiress to over e3, 90, 600
sterling, sum represented by 81, 800,
900 gold, which she inherited from her
uncle,
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05

CEMENT FOR LKAKY RooFs. The best
cement for such purpose is made of enc
pound of rosin, one pound of Venetian
red, (or pure clay ground to fine pow
der will do instead of Venetian red,) with
sufficient raw linseed oil to reduce it to
such consistence that it will not crack
when cold. The materials should be
mixed and applied while hot, with q
paint brush, and two or three coats be
given the cement being worked well into
fhe cracks.
Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-12-05

A coal mine was inundated in Stafford.
shire, England, drowning twenty-five
men. Eleven were rescued.
, 1872-04-13
From the 81. THome TEdende, April 1O.)

ANTIGUA.-One of Thomp sons Road
ony, and is used for transporting produce
from the mandatory in the country to the
shipping place in the city, and returning
with supplies. It works very successfully.
The total population Of the Colony ac-
cording to the Census taken in April 1871,
was 35,157, In that year tn re were
1896 births registered, of which III, being
over eleven per cent, were stilI-born. OF
those born in that year, 500 died.betore at
tanning the age Of one year. OF the total
number of births registered 1000 were
iIlegitimate. 2l7 marriages were solemn
lied during the year and the death rate,
exclusive Of the stiII-born, was 46 per
mill.
ST. VINCENT.-This island has got rid
of the incubus Of paying for a useless gar
rlson of 100 British soldiers, which was
yearly involving the population in ruin.
The troops III the garrison were under Or
ders to embark, and the Commander has
been instructed to dismantie and sell all
the barracl furniture &c belonging to the
Imperial Government, and thus, says the
"Wltness, they are at length relieved Of
the difficulty into which their folly, in an
excited moment had plunged them, and
from which every attempt that had been
made to eXtricate them seemed but to
plunge them deeper into the mess. The
maintenance of the 100 men for six years
has cost the colony one hundred and sixty
thousand dollars.
MARTINIQUE.-Nuch dissatisfaction is ex-
pressed against the West India and Panama
Telegraph Company, for not having fur
nished since the completion Of their line,
the daily bulletins Of news from Europe
and America they agreed to do; and, there
fore, no subsidy will be paid the Com
pany until they fulfil their agreement. At
Martinique, a subsidy of $4,000 francs was
to be paid annually to this company,
GRENADA.-The "ChronicIe' also com
plains, and says that from some unknown
reason, although the Telegraph Company
have announced that the line is open to
Europe, they have not yet been given the
daily bulletins insisted upon by the law
and, therefore, no subsidy will be paid un-
til then; but it thinks that this hardness
on the part of the Company has arisen
from their not having completed the ne
cesSary arrangements for obtaining the said
news from the other companies with whom
they have been in q manner associated
but one good step has however been taken
since the opening of the line to all parts of
the world, and that is the reduction of the
tariff of charges.
, 1872-04-13

gTHIS Society, which confines its bust
a ness exclusively to assuring the lives
Of persons resident in the West Indies,
presents advantages such as no other AS
surance Company, Iabouring in the same
field, can offer. It's scale of Premiums,
although considerably lower than that of
any other Company, has nevertheless been
found quite adequate to provide for the
risk of life in the West Indies, and suf6-
cient to create large snrpluses, out of
which ReverSionary Bonuses, averaging
2 G per cent per annum upon the amount
assured have been distributed among tbs
Members of the Society.
Its career, during a period of 80 years
has clearly demonstrated the fact that the
lives Of persons residing in this part of the
world, are, when carefully selected, almost
as valuable as those inhabiting Europe,
and that they do not demand such exces
sive Premiums as are charged by every
other Company.
The following abridged Table shows the
Premiums required to assure $100, for tbs
whole term, upon a single life -
, 1872-04-13

Assurances of every description on sim
gle lives are granted by the Society for
any sum from 500 Dollars to 10000 Doll
lars.
Premiums are received Quarterly, Half
yearly, or Yearly, at the option of the
Assured.
Assures wishing to discontinue the pay
ment Of their Premiums, may either dis
pose Of their Policies to the Society upon
equitable terms, or obtain a free Policy
for a reduced amount.
Loans are granted to Members on the
Security of their Policies.
All claims occurring by death are
promptly met within 3 months after salts
factory proof of such death has been re-
ceiyed by the Society.
Strict Investigations into the position of
the Society are made quinquennially, and
the surplus then existing is allotted to the
Members, after a sufficient sum has been
set aside for the purposes Of the Reserve
Fund. The next investigation and D wi
sion Of Profits, will take place at the 31st
December, 1875.
The Society has Agencies in nearly all
Of the British West India Islands.
Actaary-ALEXR. S. BURNETT.
Secretary-HENRY CRUMPTON.
, 1872-04-13
BARBADOS
Mutual Life Assur n Society
ESTABLISHED IN 1910.
INCORPORATED BY SPECIAL ACT 1851.
CHIEF OFFICE :

No. 20, HlGHSTREET, BRIDGETo WIN, BAR BApo
, 1872-04-13

ESTIMATE.
For Aveling aud Porter's Iron Tyre
Road Steamer, s horsepower. .
Extras, as before.
3 Alton Wagons, at G46, ,,.,,,,