davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13
Bringing to Market.

The operation of raising the oysters
from the Princes Bay and other beds in
summer is interesting. In winter they
can lie long time IN vessels without de-
triment, but in hot weather they must be
taken to the consumer rs quick rs posi-
BILE after leaving the water. In former
times much Inconvenience was experience
ed by Staten Islanders in getting their
vessels loaded in time on summer morn
ings. They would have to begin at mid
night to suit the tides, because one pecul
iarity of the delivery of oysters is that
they should lie on hard, clean surface
under water during one shifting OF the
tide to clear themselves of mud From
this substance of course they obtain a
part of their food, and when first raked
from the bottom they have much of it
within their shells. Ii left few hours
on clean, hard sui'qce under water,
where they can draw in only water, they
clean themselves, and thus present no
unpleasant morsel of mud to the consum
er. The custom was formerly to put
them on a sandy beach, or if that could
not be had, a hard mud or soft meadow
bottom, where the high tide would over
flow them. The fishermen were often
much put out waiting for those high
tides, shifting little as they do every
day. Finally a man named Thompson,
who is still large dealer, invented a
remedy for the difficulty; he built the
first oyster-hoat These receptacles
might be called "oyster bathing houses"
They are seventy five feet long by twenty
two feet wide, and hold from five to nine
hundred bushels. They are made of logs
and plank, the latter half an inch apart,
to permit free passage of water. These
affairs save time and labor and greatly
equalize the work. For in the warmest
" weather even the oysters which are laid
On them from four to twelve inches deep
nay remain thus for days without detri-
nent The planter can go now to his
float (Which has been fill
,d by his men at their leisure day or
,wo before) Just in time to load up and
AXE favorable wind or tide for the
,ity.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13
What II IL tn be a Widow.

A writer in the Home Journal thus fit-
tinRly rebukes the fippancy and thought
lessness of some young women I" I
think it must be jolly thing to be ayonng
widow " i heard this remark the other
day in a group of laughing girls. I
think ! remember saying such thing
myself in my girlish times Do Won
k:ow, girls, what it is TO be Il widow ?
1t is to he ten times more open to com
ment and critici m than any demoiselle
could possible he. II is to have men
gaze as you pass, first at your black
dress and then Mt your widows cap, I'M
til your sensitive nerves quiver under
the infection. 1t is to have one illna-
tured person say, Il wonder how long
she will wait before she marries again P
and another answer, Until she can get
good chance, l suppose II is now
and then to meet the glance OF real svm-
path, generally from the poorest and
humblest woman that you meet. and
feel your eyes fill at the token, so rare
that it is, alas unlocked for 1t is to
have your fashionable friends console
you after the following fashion 'Oh,
well. it is dreadful loss. We knew
you'd feel it dear. And, in the next
breath, You will be sure to marry again,
and your widows capis very becoming
to you.
"But it is more than this to be a
widow. 1t is to miss the strong arm
you have leaned upon. the true faith that
you knew could never fail you. though
all the world might forsake you. 1t is
to miss the dear voice that uttered your
name with tenderness that none other
could give it. 1t is to hear no more the
well-known footsteps that you flew so
gladly once to meet. To see no more
the face that to your adorng eyes seem
ed as the angels of God. To feel no
more Ne winning arms that folded you
so lovingly, the dear eyes that, looking
into your own, said plainly, whatever it
might seem to others, yours was the
fairest face earth held for him. 1t is to
fight with mighty sorrow as man fights
with the waves that overwhelm him. and
to hold at arms length for while only
to have-in the hours of loneliness and
weakness-the torrent roll over you,
while-poor storm-driven dove-you see
no haven"
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13
cured OF HydrOphObia.

at <
Ihe Popular science monthly, IN
speaking OF man ir, VINO was oitten by a
mao dog says: ne wound was AT once
cauis lZeu' ou. III uue lime nyuropho-
oia was oeVeioPeu: Inc attack ltseil
was characterized by the usual hydro
phobic symptoms great difhculty OF
breathing ana OF swallowing, distress
at the p,t OF the stomach, convu'sions,
fright1uI struggling ana howllng, wild
expression OF couhtenance, frothy dis
charge from the MOUTH ana on one
r, 2Seaslon strong popehsity TO bite.
ne ParoHysIis succeeueu eacIi other
~ I,'eINa.s ol aoout zen minutes, ana
peLcepsiois Erew worse a. oney cohtin-
ueu shorty ai.eI oelhg called IN, the
at,elu'he phSsicia', began the admln-
is.Ia''ol' Vi ch,"aal-nyuia'e III twenty
eiaim ..ii uose A''ei .he lniru uose, the
To,. n,o'Inoe ~ ,h ne ssuip."'iis " pegai, 10
na h,, Iii ',ro,tor i,',ar,' tm 80 as ,o'io"
.% th. y tsf,h IA dosn s,",. . ,h np9aeaneh' I,s ana
uie.n se ,m w. tu' 'hv h,, sTixe i; !" s,eep.
Jnse p ~ "In innner 49, 49,, up IVY '''"s 'ne same
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13

The export of petroleum from New
York alone in the year 1871 amounted to
nearly hundred million (94 955, $500
gallons - an increase of more than seven
and quarter millions over the preceding
year Philadelphia also exported 56, 600,
600 gallons in lS7l-an increase of six
millions over 1870. The total export of
last year from these two ports, therefore,
was more than one hundred and fifty mil
lion gallons, to which must be added the
enormous home consumption, to repre-
sent the total yield of the wells. 1t is a
perfectly natural course for the produc-
ers to stop work-too much petroleum
on the market at one time sends prices
downward and shrinks the profits of the
business. Ergo, production mnst he sus
pended, before the consumer arrives at
the point where he pays cheap rates.
Two hundred of the petroleum men ac-
cordingly, have banded themselves togeth-
er in a non-producing league, mutually
pledging total cessation of work at the
wells for a period of six months from the
first of September next. The extremely
low price of dip is assigned ~ the reason
for this agreement, and it is further un-
derstood that each well-owner who may
fail to keep his pledge, shall forfeit the
sum OF So, 600 for every well opened dur
ing the stipulated period-an ingenious
device to secure steady dininution of
product and an equally steady advance in
prices. The chief argument used in de-
fence of this scheme is the impossibilty
of conducting business in the petroleum
market at the present scale of prices-and
the result will be the instantaneous in
crease of the fortunes of dealers who have
large stocks of oil on hand They vii!
hold on till the last moment, sell at the
highest figure, and reap handsome profit
without trouble, while the smaller men
in the trade will go TO the wall, and con
sumers all over the world be subjected to
the payment of enhanced values, while
nature continues to pour forth lavish sup
plies.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13

/ REfUsINa TO Run OVER A CHILD. -
There is horse at present in the Isle OF
Man, possessed of such singular intelli-
gence and amiability of disposi.ion that
the sooner he is bought from his owner
and transferred to London the better.
This good natured animal positively re-
fused to run over human creatures, and
will throw himself INTO the most intricate
contortions rather than iniure hair in
their heads. A few days ago, according
to to the Manx Sun, the horse in ques-
tion was proceeding through the market
place in Douglass, harnessed to an in
side car" While thus engaged In the
performances Of his duties, a child, aged
two years, the son of fruit dealer, ran
across the road in front of the car. and
was knocked down by the horse. Our
own London horses, encouraged by their
drivers, would have made short work of
the hapless infant not SO, however, the
Manx horse, which was observed to make
a sudden panse, move its right forefoot
about, and having placed it's hoof lightly
on the child's breast, to again lift il up,
putting it down by the rhild's side with.
out injuring it, The bystanders imme
diately extricated the child from its per-
ilous position, and the horse resumed its
journey, carrying with it the respect and
of all who witnessed the
scene, among whom it is stated, were
two gentlemen OF high position in Dou-
glass, whose names, If necessary, might
be given.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13

TELL THEM.-Ch Children should be early
Taught what to do in the emergencies
which are constantly arising in life.
Not long ago two boys and two girls
were playing near creek not far from
Buffalo. One little girl went beyond
her depth into the water, but was res
cued by dog in ample time to save her
life if proper means had been used.
Instead of carrying her to the nearest
house, or obtaining assistance from older
people than themselves, the other chill
dren knelt over the body and prayed for
the recovery Of their playmate. OF
course she diAa
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13
kidnapping In Mexico.

A late number of Ee Moador RepuJH,
cono, OF the City OF Mexico. mentions
sixteen cases of recent Kidnapping, all of
which were accompanied by the most
horrible barbarites. Among Others,
Senior Cervanres, a wealthy citizen, was
discovered in thicket near San Lucas by
Governor Montree and detachment of
police. Senor Cervantes was captured
by five robbers while in a coach going
to his family to his hotel.
His mouth was bandaged and his ears
stuffed by the Plagiaros or kidnappers.
While in the hands of the kidnappers
tfey gave him but one egg a day to live
upon. In house adjacent 70 where he
was found important documents were
discovered which show the existence of
secret society composed of vlrious
natlonalities and known as Lower | alv,"
but more commonly termed the "Ter ille
Society,"
OF the five robbers who were eng ed
in the Cervanter affair, three we're
captured, two Spaniards, aged respectively
eighteen and twenty two years, and one
Mexican, aged twenty-five years. They
confessed their deeds, and stated that the
" Terrible Society was formed outside
the republic of Mexico. On the afternoon
of their capture the three men were
publicly shot in the plaza of San Lucas
before an immense assemblage. In the
pockets Of one of the victims was found a
list of forty persons who had been kid
mapped.
One case of atrocity il mentioned which
probably has never been excelled for its
brutality. The baDd above mentioned
kidnapped u Frenchman named Bassot,
and then cut ont his eyes and tongue.
Basset died in their hands. Fifteen per-
sons have been arrested on suspicious of
being connected in the shocking affair.
The Terrible Society. and the great
number of Plagiarios independent OF it,
have of late created the greatest con
sternation. When these bloodthirsty
villains cannot procure a large ransom
for their victim, they usually kill him.
They are capable of committing the most
outrageous horrors. and seem to delight
IN mangling the unfortunate ones who
fall into their bands For atrocity and
barbarity the Plagiarios OF Mexico rival
the most vile brigands of Italy, The
Federal and State laws of Mexico decree
instant death to Plagiarios. Knowing
the fate that awaits them they show no
mercy. Sworn enemies of society, they
devote their lives to robbery, pund 4r.
murderers and assassinations. Althoush
hunted down like wild beasts, and their
ranks rapidly thinned by large number
captured and killed. still the country is
infested by them, and they seem to spring
up like the tabled Dragons teeth. The
outlaws comprising them have nearly all
been soldiers in the European and Mexican
armies.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13

AN OLD LAw.-lf law which il was
found necessary To put in force in II .
seventeenth century in England were to
be resumed to day,it would cause an i'm
mense downfall to cbignons. 1t was as
follows: "All women, OF whatever age
rank. profession, or degree, whether vir
gins, wives and widows. that shall from
and after this date, impose upon, ,seduce,
and betray into matrimony any of his
Msjesty's male subjects by scents, paints,
cosmetics, washes, artificial teeth. false
hair, Spanish wool, iron stays, hoops,
high heeled sLoes. or bolstered hips,
shall incur the penalties of the laws in
force against witch-craft and the like.
aud the marriage. upon conviction, shall
stand null and void.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13
Items OF Interest.

Kansas farmers are raising small patch
es Of cotton.
Grape leaves fried in batter are n
Western dish
Cairorna's biggest tree is only forty
five feet in diameter.
The tmid man is alarmed before Nh Q
danger, the coward during II, and the
brave man after it,
London letter. carriers work eight hours
a day, and, on an average. travel twenty
miles during that time.
The farmers Of Minnesota will have
not less than 20.000,O O0o bushels Of sur
pins wheat to put in the market
The Mississippi River is 2,6l6 miles
in length. and is 1.6S0 feet above the
level of the Gulf at its utmost source.
The latest addition 10 the family of
worlds revolving between the orbits of
Mars and Jupiter brings the number to
124.
We hear great deal about labor re-
form but there seems to he greater
need of reforming some of those fellows
who don't labor.
A correspondent inquiries, "lf bread is
the staff of life what is butter9" The salt
we got was forty cents pound. That's
all we heard about il.
Nackties made OF leather. with gilt
buckles are said TO have been proposed
as the fashionable novelty for gentle
mems wear the coming winter.
A wag. in what he knows about farm
ing, gives n plan to remove widows
weeds; he saws good-lookinc man hos
only to say, "Wilt thou" and they wilt
The quantity ot milk sold dailv in New
York is ahont 800 600 quarts: 20oo OF
this is sold at retail and 12o000 whole
sale 10 hotels. erocers. etc. The number
of wagons used in the trade, single horse.
is 625, and for the wholesale business
(two horses about 800.
A witness in describing certain events,
said "the person ! saw at the head OF the
stairs was n man with one eve named
Jacob wilkins" What was the name of
his other eve 2" spitefullv asked the op-
posing counsel. The witness was disgust
ed at the levity of the audience.
The most polished man in Belfast Me-,
Just now is dry goods merchant whose
wife undertook TO bafhe him all over
with balsam for the rheumatism. After
the job was well done she looked Mt the
label of the bottle and found it was furni
ture polish she had been using.
10 will be remembered that three men
were murdered in Cess County. Mo-,
some time ago for an alleged fraudulent
issue of county bonds. Now the widows
have brought suit against the sheriff and
others for the loss of their husbands, the
largest amount which thev can recover
under the law being SIS. 600 each.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13

ST.NpINa TREAT. One who has suffer
ed l4hch says "Now, boys, if you wish
TO b. generous and treat each other. why
not sele t some other place besides the
liquor shopp Suppose, rs you go by
the post-office, you say. 4 say, fellows.
come in and take some stamps These
stamps will cost you no more than drinks
all round. Or, g. to the haberdasher 3
and say, Boys, c,.ne in and take box
Of collar..' Walk up to grocer's, free
and generous, and saw. What kind OF
coffee will you bsver Why not treat
to groceries by the pound as well ss
liquors by the glass? Or. take your
comrades to the cuttler's, and say, I'll
stani hak- knife .h -----' >"
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13

Curious RAMA letter from Bucha-
rest r. ports curious atmospheric phenom-
enon which occurred there at quarter
past nine in the evening. During the day
the heat was sitting. The sky was cloud
less. In the evening everybody went ont
walking and the gardens were crowded.
The ladies' were mostly dresse,. IN white,
low-n acked robes. Towards nine o'clock,
a small cloud appeared on the horizon and
a quarter of an hour afterwards ram he
gan to fall. when, to the horror OF every
body, it was found to consist of black
worms of the size of an ordinary flv. All
the streets were strewn with many OF
these curious animals. We trust there
was some one in the town sufficiently in-
terested in natural history to preserve
some specimens, and that we shall hear
something further respecting this phenom-
euOn,
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13

A WARNING.-Notl long ago a steam
boat was burned to the waters edge on
the ST. Lawrence River There were n
good many passengers on board, but
careful arrangements were made for
their escape, and as there were plenty of
life -preservers, every person on board
was saved except one-a lady. The cir
cumstances causing her death were de-
tailed to us by friend, and we give them
to our readers, believing that they nav
be useful to others if they should be
0laced in similar danger. Most of the
passengers, according to directions, after
putting on lite e-preservers passed down
through the gangway, and sailors with
ropes were stationed at various points
to give aid to any who should need 1t
after gong into the water. There was
time enough to do everything needful.
and no panic. The lady referred to.
instead of passing through the gangway,
was seen to jump into the water from
some other part of the steamer, and i'm
sunk, head foremost. When
her body was recovered life was extinct.
It was found that the life-preserver had
been put on most carefully, every strap
aud buckle fastened securely; but in
stead of putting it close up under the
arinpits, she had arranged it so low down
that on jumping into the water she at
opce lost her balance. This sad expert
ence may serve as a warning to others
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13

ONE CASE WHERE FARMING PAID. -
An Englishman WHO came to this country
in 1855 has gone back to bis old home.
and his story is thought worthy of being
told in the London AgricWfurdl Gazefte.
There is nothing especially remarkable
about tit is simply one of many eases
where competency has followed steady
work on farm. Briefly it is this /:
Charles Butcher, unable to read or write.
accompanied by grown-up son and
daughter, arrived in New York in May
1855. The father and son found work
on farm in Monroe County, n. Y, at
SIG per mouth each-the daughter find
lug work in family, aud not again ap-
pearing in the story They were so poor
that when harvest came they had not
money enough to pay for the mittens
needed as protection against the this
ties. They worked on, accumulatins be
tween $500 and 5000 in three years
They then bought farm of GA acres,
for $50 an acre, paying $500 in cash.
The farm was in bad condition, subject
to overflow and the ravages of the wire
worm. The sklilful application of labor
stopped the overflow, and good cultiva-
ton was given. The son married. In
five years the farm was paid for and
fairly stocked. After n year or two n
better farm of 140 acres was purchased
at S95 per acre, the old one being sold
for $s5 per acre. This is paid for, and
the whole property is valued at some
thing over SIS 600. The father, at the
age of SO, has sold his interest to the
son for $4,000, payable in II years,
with per cent. interest, and feels him
self entitled to the rest and pleasures of
II visit to his native country and old
friends.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13
PLUcKY. A Hinsdale on farne

PLUcKY A Hinsdale (Miss farmer
recently took his usual marketing trip
to the village. aud after he had made
bis purchases, the salesman ATTEMPTED
to shove the bundle under the wagon
seat, but met with such fierce and deter
mined opposition that he withdrew his
hand in Rrea. haste. The canse was
found to be an old hen that was sitting
there upon nest of eggs, and which,
with the pertinacity Of fowls at the period
of incubs ton, had stuck to her nest
throughout the two miles ride from the
farmers wagon shed. and now put in
d" bill - st~y The prossediP--
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13

COPPER AND CHOLERA. the
cholera epidemic which prevailed IN
Europe several years ago, it was observed
in Paris and elsewhere that workers in
copper appeared to enjoy an almost ab-
soiute immunity from the disease. and a
similar experience has been met with in
Bagdad. where the disease was very
prevalent the past year, indeed, to such
an extent that between the end IT April
and the end of October about 800 persons
died in population of $4,000 persons.
Oat of this latter number about 800
were engaged in making or selling COP
per articles, and it Is asserted that among
them there was not single victim to the
oholon.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13

How TO TREAT HoRsE. - Some
English grooms at Saratoga are teaching
the "Yankees" how to take care of q
horse. To dav ! asked one of these
grOoms. who has spent twenty years in
the stables of royalty. what he had to
say abont the American way of taking
care Of horse "Whv, sir" said he,
'you don't take goo? care of your horses ;
Won think yon do. Int Won don't"
"Whv2" I asked. "Because, when
horse comes in all wet with perspiration,
Won let him stand in the stable ani dry
with all the dirt on. In England. we
take the horse as he comes in from a
drive and sprinkle blood warm water all
over him, from his head to his feet. Then
we scrape him down and blanket him,
rubbing bis legs aud face dry. Thus. in
an hour he is clean and drv and ready to
take good feed, while with your way he
will stand and swelter for hours, and
finally d ", sticky and dirty. Our horses
never founder and never take cold. We
never use currycomb. You scratch
your horses too hard. The only care
is to have the water not very
cold, then bathe them quick and blanket
them instantly, while you are rubbing
their legs" think the groom is sound
and I've noticed the same practice myself
in England.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-09-13

The caterpillars have made terrible
ravages among the cotton fields OF Ala
hama, laying bare whole districts. II
was once feared that the crop would
he entirely destroyed, but the planters
are nov more hopeful. 1t is estimated,
however, that the crop will be ten per
cent. below the yield Of last year. and,
without the aid Of high prices, will not
pay Me eosl Of producinG 10