davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05
A Wonderful Exploit.

On March 3, 1868, train on Benning-
ton and Portland Railroad was snow.
bound about three-fOurths Ofa mile from
Shaftsbury. The weather was intensely
cold; there were no provisions on the
train fuel was nearly exhausted: night
was approaching, and the situation began
to look desperate. Mr.. Hills two small
children were with him, and one of them.
too young to be fed with arguments.
clamOred for something better. The SUI
perintendent of the road, Mr.. C. White.
was on the train. but strange to saw. the
snow wouldn't clear the track for rail-
road king. In his helplessness he was
entirely at loss for any means of relief.
until Captain Hills, without instruments
of any kind, except the wire on the poles.
proposed, nevertheless, to telegraph to
Rutland. The superintendent was in
credulOus, but Captain II. quickly cut the
wire, and communicated with the officers
OF the road at Rutland. merely striking
the ends of the wire tOgether-thus max
ing and breaking the telegraphic circuit
as he would have done with the key of an
ordinary operating instrument. An
engine was Immediately sent to the re-
lief OF the blOckaded train. But the en-
tire operation required the receiving. as
we'll as the sending of messages. This
was the crucial test of Capt. Hills inge-
nuity. skill, and nerve, and, until this was
accomplished. l. the superintendent and
passengers felt no assurance that the mes
sage sent had been intelligibly commu-
nicated TO the officers at Rutland. Strk-
ing his wires together. he wrote to the
operator at 'Rutlani, as follows
Trouble, Answer slowly. am work
ing without an instrument; | will receive
your answer through my tongue" He
touched the frosty wire to his tongue,
with the same result, at first. as tina: en-
jOyed hy the boy who undertook TO lick
the frost from his skate-steel, but found
that the steel knew more about licking
than he did. The wire wouldn't let 90
until it was warmed, and then kindly took
the skin off with it. So the wire was
heightened and carried into the car. After
it was warmed, Captain Fl. received the
messages by putting one end of the wire
above and the other end under his tongue
and letting the electric current pass,
through it, when he was able to read by
the succession of sharp and somewhat
painful elec' ric shocks. His success was
perfect-and he not only sent and received
messages for the superintendent but for
several of the passengers. The only i'll
consequence of the exploit was the total
loss of taste which Captain II. suffered
for several days afterwards.-(hicago
TtJbuns
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05
Night. Work.

In reply to the question, how long a
time should be regarded as the minimum
to be spent in bed in each twenty-four
hours? the Lancet says: We are of course
speaking of adults; and we think we may
place the minimum at six hours for men
and seven for women, with an additional
hour, or even two, being taken whenever
it is practicable.
Then as regards night-work: how far
is that specially prejudcial? We believe
that for the young it Is really injurious,
by he mere fact of its being night-wOrk
but for those whose Organisms are con-
sOlidateG we greatly doubt if it be at all
injurious, per Sc. But there are sundry
conditions inexorably requiring to be
observed, if night-wOrk is to do no harm.
First of III, there must be no curtailment
of the allowance of bed above mentioned
and this allowance OfrepOse must be taken
In continuous manner. A man who
works up to a. m. should after that lie
in bed till 10, and, if possible, should get
an additional hours sleep and meal
after it. Secondly, the light by which he
works at night should be very white,
powerful and steady, and should Ie care.
fully concentrated, by green shade, on
his books or papers insufficient, flicker.
ing. or too diffused light is one of the
most serious causes of the Standardization
which afflictS niQht-wOrkers.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05
Beauty Of Old People.

MEN and women make their own beau
ty or their own ugliness. Lord LyttOn
speaks in one of his novels of a man
"whO was uglier than he had any busi-
ness to be-" and if he could but read it,
every human being carries his life in his
face, and s gOOdlOOking or the reverse as
that life has been good or evil. On our
features the fine chisel of thought and
emotion are eternally at work. Beauty is
not the monopoly of blooming ung
men and of white-and-, ink maidens.
There is slow growing beauty that only
comes to perfection in old age. Grace be-
longs to no period of, ,fe, and goodness
improves the longer it exists. We have
seen sweeter smiles from lip of seventy
than upon lip of seventeen. There is
the beauty of youth and the beauty of
hOliness-a beauty much more seldom
met, and more frequently found in the
armchair by the fire with grandchildren
around his knee, than i'm the ball room or
promenade. Husband and wife, who
have fought the world side by side, who
have made common stock of Joy and scr-
row, and aged together, are not infre-
quently found curiously alike in personal
appearances, and in pitch and tone of
vOice-just as twin pebbles on the beach,
exposed to the same tidal influences, are
each others second self. He has gained a
feminine something. which brings his
manhood into full relief. She has gained
a masculine something which acts as foil
to her wOmanhOOd.-Ladv's Moqazine.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05
The SymmeS Theory OF the Earth.

According to this, the earth is globular,
hollow, and open at the poles. The diam
eter of the northern opening is about two
thousand miles, or four thousand miles
from outside to outside. The south open
ing is somewhat larger. The planes of
these openings are parallel to each other,
but form an angle of II deg. with the
equator. so that the highest part of the
north plane is directly opposite the low
est pa of tie south plane. The shell of
the earth is about one Thousand miles
thick, and the edges of this shcll at the
openings are called verges, and measure,
from the regular cOncavity within to the
regular cOnveXity without, about fifteen
hu; dred miles. The verges occupy about
% deg, and if delineated on maD would
show only the outer half of the verge,
while all above or farther from the equa-
tor, both north and south, would lie on
the apex and within the verge. All the
polar regions upon the present map
would be out of sight. The meridian
lines extend at right angles from the
equator to the outer edges Of the verges.
OF the verges, terminating ut the points
directly under the highest parts of the
verges both north and south.
The line which marks the location of
the apex of the northern verge begins at
point i'm Lapland about GS deg. n. and
20 deg. f. from London on a meridian
traversing Spitzbergen, whence it passes
southwest across the Atlantic Ocean and
the southern part of Greenland, through
IIudson's Bay and over the continent to
the Pacific near Cooks Inlet. thence
across the Fox Islands, to a point about
Sc deg. N. and 160 deg. W.. nearly south
of Behring's Straits. Then it passes over
the Pacific, crossing the south part of
Kamtchatka, continuing northwest
through Siberia. entering Europe across
the Ural Mountains. in latitude about IS
deg. ~, and passing near the Arctic coast.
over the mouth of the White sea, to the
point of starting.-Atlantic for AprtL.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05
A Remarkable Slander Suit.

a REMARKABLE SANDER suit brought to
recover S500O0O damages is now In pro-
gress i'm Lexington. KY. In September.
ls7l, Jacob and Betsy Harper, brother
and sister of old John Harper, the famous
racing man, were bru,ally murdered in
GEORGETOWN, fourteen miles from Lex
ingtOn. and rumOrs gained currency that
one Adam Harper, nephew of theirs,
was implicated In The crime. Adam Har-
per accuses another member of the fami-
ly, j. Wallace Harper. of fleeing the author
of these reports, and it is against him
that Adam has brought this slander suit
There are two counts in the petition for
damages, and to both of them the defend
ant sets up denial, though he declares
that he is still constrained to believe the
prosecutor guilty. and shall so continue
to believe until the latter proves to the
contrary. The plaintiff has already pro-
duced cloud of witnesses who have tes-
titled in the strongest terms to his ire
proachable character; while for the de-
fensc another cloud of witnesses have
borne equally emphatic testimony to his
general wOrthlessness. But i'm addition
to the evidence regarding character, tes-
timOny has been ELECTED which shows
that the plaintiff in the case was very per-
sistent In his attempts to foist the guilt
of the murder Oh innocent negroes. Ii
is said that Betsy and Jacob Harper We're
worth several hundred thousand dollars.
and that although there were money and
valuables in the house when the mur er
was committed neither was touched,
while the wills Of Jacob, Betsy, and John
were stolen. Adam is one of four neph-
ews who would have been the heirs of the
old people in case of their dying intestate.
and it is asserted that his name haG been
omitted from the missing wills.-N. 7
Eun
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05
A Jewish Legend.

ACCORDING to Jewish and Moham-
medan tradition, King Solomon, who was
wise beyond all other men, knew the Ian
gusge of animals, and could talk with the
beasts of the field and the birds Of the air.
A Rabbinical story is told Of him, which
Is in this wise:
lone day the king rode out of Jerusa-
lem with a great retinue. An ant-hill lay
directly in his path, and Solomon heard
its little people talking.
"Here comes the great king ne heard
one of them say. His flatterers call him
wise, and just, and merciful. but he is
about to ride over us, and crush us with
out needing our sufferings.'
"And Solomon told the Queen Of She
ba, who rode with him, what the ant
said.
"And the queen made answer, He is
an insolent creature, o king! 1t is bet
ter tate than he deserves, to be trodd n
under our feet
But Solomon said: 1T Is the part OF
wisdom to learn of the lowest and weak.
est And he commanded his train to
turn aside and spare the ant-hill.
Then all the courtiers marveled great
ly, aud the Queen of Sheba bowed her
head and made obeisance to Solomon.
"'NOw know [ the secret of thy wis
dom. Thou listeneth as patiently TO the
reproaches of the humble as to the flat
teries Of the great. ~ Whittier.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05
Running Mirrors.

Many fine mirrors are spoiled. and their
owners cannot understand the reason.
The Mercantile Jour,aI says:
1t is fact worth knowing, but which
does not seem generally understood, that
the amalgam of tin foil with mercury,
which is spread on glass plates to make
lOOking-glasSes, is very readily crystal
izcd by actinic solar rays. a mirror
hung where the sun can shine on il j.
usually spoiled; it takes Oh granulated
appearance familiar To hOusekceperS,
though they NAV not be acquainted with
its cause. In such Il state the article il
nearly worthless. the continuity of its
surface Is destroyed, and it will not reflect
outlines with any approach to precision.
Care should therefore be exercised in
hanging. If any of our readers have
mirrors which appear to be So ling, il
would he well TO ascertain whether the di-
rect sunlight strikes them. If thus ex-
po ed. they can probably tie saved from
further injury by simply changing their
position. The back as well as the front
must be protected. A small glass hung
in a window, where the rays strike it be-
hind. is peculiarly exposed. The back
should always be covered where the
beams are likely to touch it.
The greatest danger to l0Oking-glasses,
however. is in Transporting them. Very
expensive ones have been seriously in
jured by careless handling when merely
carried across a street. The mel who
move furniture are seldom fully aware OF
these possibilities, and need To be cau-
toned and watched. Frequently a man
or boy may be seen in the street carrying
mirror in such way that the full glare
of a MONDAY sun strikes and Injuries it,.
Owners of such articles would. as a rule,
be able to keep and use them much longer
if they would exercise more caution in
this regard. TO re->ilvcr pier-glas'
often costs as much as One-iifth of the
original price of the article, while the
common glass is seldom worth resilver-
ing.
1t is also well to avoid hanging mir
ror near a stove or fireplace where the
heat radiated can reach it. If this pre-
caution is neglected, granulation is likely
to occur, even in comparatively dark
room, by the influence Of warmth instead
of Fight. A lamp, or gas jet, if placed too
close while burning, though it may not
crack the glass, will often bring about the
same injurious crystalizatiOn. and will
even some times cause the amalgam to
melt and run of.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05
Decadence of the Prize Ring.

AND now even Lord O'Baldwin, the
gigantic smasher, has set his face sternly
against the prize ring. 1t is too vile a
thing 10 receive his support. He has
given it patient trial. and at last is forced
10 throw up his hands with an exclama-
ton of disgust. O'Baldwin has suffered
much for his profession since coming to
America. He has borne Imprisonment
like martyr, but the Jail terrOrs could
not drive him from his high and holy
mission. He cared not for prison bars SO
long as his friends rallied around him in
the brief days of his liberty. and applauded
him as heroic representative of he man.
ly art of selfdefense. But when these
friends turned against him, and with
cOwardly blows struck him down in a
ring where rude kind of chivalry and
physical manhood were presumed to 90
hand in hand, the proud heart of O'Bald-
win was touched, and he resolved to suffer
martyrlom no more. From the Jail at
Steubenville the Irish pugilist sends forth
manifesto closing with these pOrtentous
words: "Since priZe-fighting no longer
deserves the name. and the question at is
sue is not who is the best man, but where
he was born, and if his nativity does cot
suit, what other means can be adopted,
even to murder, if necessary, to prevent
his defeat | abandon forever the prize
ring to such men as Riley, Geohegan and
their cowardly TOOLS" This is sad, and
vet it is cheering. Sad for the reason that
O'Baldwin should have wasted so much
of vigorous life in cause which he is
forced to confess Is without manhood or
honor; and cheering because the retire
ment of the Irish giant from the ring
gives rise to the nope that prize-tighting
has seen its best days in America. When
the ring becomes so low as to be branded
as the synonym of thievery and cOwardice
by professional bruiser like o Baldwin.
then let us trust it is indeed past redemp-
ton. Having retired from the;ring in Dis
gust, We are little bit curious to learn
how Lord O'Baldwin proposes to make
himself useful. Will he carry hOd, or
run gin mill?-Tu.f Field and Farm.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05
Sunshine.

Do what you can to make sunshine in
the world. Lift up the curtains. We do
not mean the curtains of the room, but
the curtains which darken the spirit of
your brother, your friend, your neigh
Dor, or even OF a stranger, if the curtain
strings are within your convenient reach.
Lift up the curtains, and let the SUM-
shine In. Light is better than darkness,
and how cheap it is! A kind and cheer
ing word to one who is in trouble and is
perplexed, and almost discouraged; a
word of heartfelt sympathy to the afllict-
ed; loving word of counsel to the
young; word of assurance to 'he doubt
ing; a "sOft word which, though it but
ters no parsnips, turneth away WRATH"
to the prejudiced and unreasOnably pro-
vOked; all such words as these are sun
shine to those to whom they are spoken.
Il have never found anything else so
cheap and so useful as politeness." said
an old traveller to us once. He then went
on to state that, early in life, finding how
useful it was, frequently, to strangers, 70
give them some information of which they
were in search. and which he possessed.
he had adopted the rule always to help
every body he could in such little oppor-
tunities as were constantly offering in his
trave's. The result was, that out of the
merest trlf1eS OF assistance, rendered in
this way, had grown some of the pleas
antest and most valuable acquaintances
that he had ever formed.
How many great men have testified that
their whole lives have been influenced by
some single remark made to them in their
bOyhod! And who cannot recall words
spoken to himself in his childhood. to
which, perhaps. the speaker attached no
importance whatever, but which sank
deep snd immovably into his memory.
and which have never lost their power
over him?
Make sunlight! the world at best is
dark enough. Do what you can to make
it more ch, erful and happier.-Erchange
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05

TIE army register, for the current
year, shows that the commissioned pOr-
tion Of the United States army includes
IL general officers, Is acknowledgements.
s inspector-generals, 10 judge-advocates,
l chief signal-officer, 60 quartermasters,
26 commissaries, l63 medical officers, "a
paymasters, lO3 engineers, 81 ordnance
officers, 30 post-chaplains, 425 cavalry
officers, PA artillery-Officers, SSl Infantry
officers, 8 professors, 293 cadets, and 291
officers retired from active service,
making a total of l,73O. There are 2l32
officers on the active list; and, contrary
to the general impression, only 66S, OF
less than one third of them, are graduates
of West Point.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05
Female Clerks.

WE are sorry to record that the women
employed in the Treasury Department
have been accused as a body, both on the
floor of Congress and elsewhere, of being
loose and immoral in their character. 1t
is doubtless true that some improper
women nave been employed in the Trea-
sury. 1t would be miraculous if out of so
many women employed it were otherwise,
under the former imperfect system of ap-
pOintment. But that more than an incOn-
siderable proportion are otherwise than
virtuous and modest, we confidently deny,
and our denial is based on a thorough
acquaintance with the facts. The simple
truth is that these women as a class are
as virtuous, as modest, as intelligent, as
respectable, and as discreet and lady-like
in their demeanOr as the ladies of any
con munity of which we know, and that
even the few who constitute the unfortu.
nate exceptions to this encOmium are
compelled, by the force of the common
sentiment Of both men and women In the
Department, to conduct themselves dis
creetly and properly while there.
Could their cruel traducers but visit the
Department and observe the department
of the woman clerks, day after day; could
they see them at their fatiguing employ.
ment; ould they know that most of then
have either children or young brothers
and sisters or aged and infirm parents
dependent upon them for support; tha
many of them lost the strong arm which
they had hoped would shield them from
want and misery during the late war; tina
many were themselves on the field of tat
tie or in the hospital. ministering. as only
woman can, tn the sick, the wounded ant
the dying, and that most of them if de
prived Of their positions would have
scarcely any other resource for the sup
port OF themselves and families than tn,
charity of friends or of the world. we ar,
sure that an end would be put at Onc'
snd forever to the dctractiOn of the womel
who earn their bread by hard labor in tn,
Treasury Department.. - Scribner's fo
hD,H.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05

THOSE Of us who have flattered our
selves that we were descendants of Oar
wins monkeys will be plunged into gull
of deep despair on hearing Prof. COhn's
theory that the human race all sprung
from a yeast fungus. Prof. COhn has
given this matter such candid considera.
ton that there can be no doubt about the
correctness Of his theory. He Is now
making investigations with view of as
certaining what brewery furnished the
yeast.-Detroit Tribune.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05

IN regard to disagreea ole and formida-
BILE things, prudence does not consist in
evasion or in flight, but in courage. He
who wishes to walk in the most peaceful!
parts of life with any serenity must
screw himself up to resolution. Let him
front the object of his worst apprehen'
sion, and his stoutness will commonly
make his fear Oundless.-EmerSon.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05

The little postoffice at Rockland, Me-.
takes more foreign money orders than
New York or any other office in the cour-
try. A large number of Scotch, EnglisA
and Irish stOne-cutters are employed IL
the granite quarrias there, who take this
mode of sending money to their families
In the Old World.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05

Sir Thomas Browne, who declared that,
if it were possible, he would prefer to
carry on his studies in his dreams, so
much more efficient were his faculties of
mind when his body was asleep. He
further adds that We're his memory as
faithful as his reason is then fruitful. he
would prefer that season for his devotions.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05
LOCAL ITEMS.
raeous Selection &.

iHelr SE REELECTION.
: bat or rowrv4 c. a.
oy y DO you come frome on' Has. an ...
sch a POOR cottage
sd,litte maid ina talking to me,
'n,i,lned and upl' calico gown,
far -.ng and culture have placed You $
Ony -my lire's level. I only can look
v IurOrlghtnoss AS unto he light of a star
lay lopk up some little wild-nower from il
And have none chide the look.
But If a star drop from the sky for flower.
sS;duS sSu tnink that no creature will wonder o
Or If flower fancy that it has the power
40 Climb into star-and, will no on, aerideP
let Hover may have pride,
And, clothed with humility, beauty, and grace
nrrentiy may look in the face of a star,
anu say, Cod has made me as good in NV plaoc
And AS perfect, as you In YOUR high station are
'h' thou radiant star I'd"
''And what 10 I care for nv culture he said
Ha'" Ihat u may give me the power to discerr
Grace and bcJuty2 And YOU though Won ma,
d" unread,
Will have learning enough to please me, if 20,
But my love to return.
For never a star I'M the heavens ami
bat man; II TO culture and wealth was born
Inc walls OF my mansion, so bare and SO high
nave you, my pretty wild-rose, to adorn
Ana trail over in scOrn."
rose! did well when spake of n flower
ror that Is what women must still be TO men:
seen, coveted, gathered, and treasured an hour
Let fall In the dust, to be trampled ON then
By the feet OF all men!
And youIthough think you would hold m,
some higher
Admire me becausc, am graceful and fair.
ana m 80 "ouim n.s,root and tran plant me entire
"" me ,ne =, W"1 of your home would have, foi
bul 20 shine and to bear.
And having done these well, would have done
And you, you would give me support for your
For somethingt to lean on, would give me-a wall
Would fain lean on heart.
s'Nsy, then, did i'll when spake of flower.
MY one sole possession, and it needs no bower
But only horne; space adornment, and art
Or IA home are small part.
And ouly the love between equals is true;
III you, on "A level, to-day, by my side
stood saying, Give back the love give TO you,
we've need Of each other,' my heart and my
Both would be satisfied.
u could not look up wore you mine, nor permit
You, then. TO look down; il is better by far
stay in the station for which l am fit,
lou SHINE In your high heaven still as star
IT is better BY far"
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05

however, that to do this would be TO over
turn fundamental principle of English
jurisprudence which has survived the test
of many centuries ofpractical application.
N. Y. Sun.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05

CLEANSING WOoLEN GARMENTs.-To
clean wooden garments, take rough
sponge, dampen 1t well with weak soap
suds, and rub the spots thoroughly. Try
il,
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05

ONE ounce of wahoO (winged-elm) BARK
added to quart of pure whisky and taken
in doses of one teaspOOnful half an hogr
after each meal. is very excellent in dy--
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05

a DRINKING saloon has for one of its
signs: 81 Man wants but little here below,
but wants that little strongw
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05

The phoenix was raised in a hot bed.
and that's what makes him soar.
Richland beacon., 1873-04-05

A WORD to the wise-keep so.