davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12
Skull Hunting in the South Sea
Islands.

THE practice of skull hunting is a most
barbarous custom of the natives of these
islands, who in many cases undoubtedly
have been assisted by the white men,
brought about in the following manner /:
A vessel arrives at one of the islands, and
the king is informed by the master of the
vessel that he is desirous of trading and
bartering. The answer is that he has so
much cOcanut oil, &C., which he is willing
to part with for trade gear, providing he
will allow some of his 1.-THE king's) warri-
ors to take passage in the vessel to such
and such an island with whom they are at
war. This is agreed on, and number of
these so-called warriors are embarked.
On arriving at the island the unsuspect-
ing natives, as usual, come alongside,
when these so-called warriors suddenly
attack, kill them, and cut off their heads,
which are kept and placed on pegs in
their taboo houses as trophies the mas
ter of the vessel on his return secures the
trade as before promised in exchange for
tobacco, pipes, &C., as most fancied and
wanted by the natives. 1t is but right to
state that, although it has been reported
by the missionaries on these islands that
white men have assisted in these barbar-
Gus practices of skull hunting, yet no sim
gle case has been fully proved.
At one of the villages on the sea shore
of Isabel Island a most sickly and re-
pulsive sight presented itself. Across the
door of the chiefs house were nailed
twenty-three or twenty-five human heads,
taken about three weeks previously by
the chief ard his followers from some ei
his fellow islanders. The attack had been
made from the rear, as was evident by the
skulls; the flesh was still on the bones,
the eyes protruding, jaws broken, and tine
stencil frightful. The bodies of all these
men had been eaten.-Sidney Herald.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12

The balloon ascensions from the Ave-
nue. Suffren, in Paris, were the first that
had ever been placed within the reach OF
ordinary purses and ordinary courage.
The cost of ascension was twenty francs,
and although this sum entitled one to no
more than a five minutes voyage, yet the
car rarely went up without its full COM
plement of a score or two dozen passsn-
gers. 1t is true there were no dangers
here. The balloon, an immense brown
SILK globe of twenty-one metres diameter,
was held in by cable of three hundred
metres 200 feet) length and weighing
nine hundred kilogrammes q 500 lbs.
English). This cable was wound around
a windlass turned by powerful steam
machine OF 50-horse power which pre-
vented it from unrolling itself too abrupt
ly; nevertheless the ascensions were ex-
tremely rapid; the balloon, filled with
hydrogen pure instead of common gas,
did not take minute to run out the whole
length Of its tether, and had it been al
lowed to go free it would have shot up
and been out of sight in less time than It
takes to count a hundred.
The sensation experienced in rising Is
of very exuberant kind. THERE'S some
thing almost intoxicating in that prodig-
ious flight into the cold pure air, some
nine hundred feet above the highest trees
and monuments ones pulse beats faster
by twenty to thirty throbs minute, and
1t is with real regret that one feels the
balloon come to standstill four out of
every five people who ascend find them
selves wishing that the cable would break,
and this, be it observed, Is a purely
physical sensation, quite Independent OF
the enthusiasm caused by the magnificent
panorama beneath one. For this reason
we should not recommend balloon riding
to every one with women of nervous or
ganiZation the excitement might very
well produce Mysteries, and men of weak
temperament have been known to be
seized with that strange impulse which
prompts one, upon the border of preci-
pice, to throw ones self down. II this
impulse Is not irresistible, it Is yet sufll-
ciently strong to trouble ones mind in
very high degree. A German chemist of
great learning, and of well-tried personal
courage, who had ventured upon scien-
tific ascension from Brussels, few years
ago, lost his head completely when he got
out of sight of land, and screamed hide
Ously for whole minute /; his companions
contrived to tranquilize him; but the
shock had been very severe, and we have
little doubt that from that day he has
fought shy of balleons.-OornhiH Maga-
x;1e
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12
Drunkenness q Disease.

DIR. WILLARD PARKER, an old and
prominent physician, in recent address
made the following statement concerning
the effects of alcohol upon the human sys-
tenn:
For many years was connected with
the care of inebriates and paid particular
attention to the character of those in my
charge, and have arrived at the conclu-
sion that drunkenness Is disease. A man
so affected cannot control his appetite,
and must have drink regularly, and will
can refrain from drinking, but diseased
man cannot and these men so addicted
readily admit that. Men suffering from
the disease have been cured and they will
with tears In their eyes promise to &b-
stain, yet on passing liquor store they
cannot help themselves, and will go In
and have their whisky. Now the question
arises: What can be done? How shall
we 90 to work? Society has been all the
time trying to show what the use of alco-
hol makes us do, and many will reply Il
makes them feel good, and some will say
1t makes them crazy, drives them to des-
peration and to fight. Now let us drop
that mode, and ask what does alcohol do
to me, and not what it makes me do.
That is the great starting point. We
have 10 teach the people wnat alcOnol does
to them, and how 1t acts on them. Ii Is
as poisonous as arsenic or belladonna, and
produces its deadly effect on those who
use it I; but then ip Is used In an adulter-
ated state. Whisky is poison, but some
believe and have the idea Ii we can get
pure spirits that it Is all right, but that is
a mistake. Alcohol is poison, and the
purer it is the more deadly is 1t In its ef-
feet, and If we're roing to partake of 1t
l would prefer that which is adulterated.
With regard to ales and beer, lis believed
that they are harmless, but with the
presence of alcohol there Is always danger.
and those who drink wines become stupid.
In lager beer there is or per cent of al
coho1, In ale or 8 per cent; wine con-
tains %, gin 81 per cent. and brandy SO
per cent of alcohol. Even In cider there
Is 2 or 3 per cent Of the poison present.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12
Japanese Refsrm.

THERE seems to be considerable danger
that the japanese Government may make
the mistake of loving the spirit of reform
mot wisely, but too WE'LL" The mail
brings, as usual, a long list of new laws
and regulations, some of which, it is
feared, will interfere so directly with the
national and rational habits of the people,
that considerable uneasiness has been ex-
ceited in the minds of both foreigners and
natives by their enactment. Pre-emi-
nently among these is to be noted the or
der for the abolition of the soft mats with
which all native houses are foored. To
appreciate the disturbing nature of this
command, it must be remembered that
these mats serve the purposes Of chairs,
tables, and beds, and that If they be re-
moved the people will have to choose be
tween sitting, eating, and sleeping on the
bare floor, and buying wooden furniture.
In addition to which 1t will oblige house
builders to introduce a new system OF
measurement i'm lieu of the Old-estab-
lished custom of estimating the size of a
room by the number of mats It would
contain. The women, also, are as little
likely to listen complacently to the COM
mand which bids them dispense with the
services of professional hair-dressers.
Further, the immediate advantage which
would doubtless otherwise accrue by the
exchange of the English for the native
calendar will certainly be marred by the
hasty way i'm which the innovation Is to
be enforced. The new year is the time at
which it is customary for native mer
chants to pay off all outstanding claims,
and iC is possible that some who might
have been well able to meet the demands
of their creditors on the 9th of February
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12
MRS. PERCY,s PERIL.

Though / am a soldiers wife, fear
can lay claim to but small portion of
the courage which is usually attributed to
them.
Arthur Percy, Captain in Her Majesty's
Dragons Is my husband, and the adven-
ture 1 am about to relate befell me about
eighteen months after our marriage,
when the regiment was quartered in Ire
land.
A detachment was stationed in one of
the most unquiet parts Of that country,
which l refrain, for obvious reasons from
naming. Arthur was ordered to take
companied him with our baby, an infant
Of about five months. We thought our
selves very fortunate in having secured a
small but extremely pretty cottage at an
almost nominal rent, distant about one
mile from the barracks.
/ cannot better describe the cottage,
than by telling you that it was called,
"The Bungalow" and, like its name
sake, was a long, One-stOried building,
with verandah in front of the principal
windows. A small entrance hall in which
We're two doors, was the first thing OBJ
served on entering; one led to the draw
ing-room, dining-roem, and three bed
rooms, while the other led directly to the
kitchen, servants rooms, and into pas
sage leading to the outer offices.
Our establishment consisted of two wo-
men servants and one man; the latter, be-
ing soldier, returned every night to the
barracks, which happened to be the near
blest dwelling breaking the loneliness
of the way between them and the Bun
galow.
l have already said that the distance
from them was about mile, and the road,
which was partly grass grown, lay
through narrow sort of lane, enclosed
on each side by very high hedges.
These hedges were a continual horror
to me. Scarcely ever did l see Arthur
start in the morning, without visions aris-
ing of Ofdesperadees concealed behind them,
dressed in the inevitable longtailed, rag.
ged coat, the high-crowned, narrow-rim-
med hat, and the murderous weapon, all
of which things l invariably associated
with an Irish ruffian.
The Dragons had been sent to uuell
some risings, and to support the authori-
ties, consequently they were not regarded
by the natives in any very friendly light.
AS the weeks went on, and every after.
noon brought Arthur safely back to me,
my fears were somewhat allayed, and oc,
casionally walked through the lane to.
wards the town to meet him-always
however, feeling glad when got safely
past any chance passer-by whom might
Arthur used to laugh at my fears, and
@ 4 Knew l was desperate coward,
tried to think they v ere groundless, and
merely the result of nv natural timidity
The year was drawing to a close, and
on the 10th Of January we were to bic
adieu to the Bungalow, Ireland, and the
Tlsh; The regiment was under orders
or England, in spring, and till ther
Arthur was to go on leave.
was in raptures at the prospect of be
ing settled in my own part of the world
again, and, best of all, leaving Ireland
against which entertained so profound
prejudice. 1t was Christina
Eve: Arthur was obliged, most unwil
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12
Artificial MIX for Calves.

SUCCESSFUL experiments have been
made in raising calves by means Of a soup
or milk prepared according to the recipe
of Baron Liebig, which is as follows:
Seven pints Of water end three and
half pints of milk are boiled with 10
ounces of wheat flour to an ordinary
pap; three and half more pints Of milk
are then added, with an ounce and q
quarter of potash solution consisting Of
two parts of bicarbonate Of potash dis
solved In ii parts of water. The same
quantity of bruised malt as Of wheat flour
fs added to the hot pap, which Ii well
stirred and allowed to settle for half an
hour near the stove or other warm place,
when it is boiled again and filtered through
suitable gauze.
The calves are fed for about six weeks
on pure milk, and gradually they are al
lowed less, some of the substitute being
added. At last they are given seven
quarts of artificial milk per day, and no
pure milk. After three months, only one
half of this quantity Is given, bali a
pound of linseed cake being added In tbe
fall some boiled potatoes are mixed IN.
The calves gain about two POUNDS In
weight per day. A calf which was weane1
on February ~ gained on an average ~
pounds Der day. Should calves dislike
| TO take the milk of the cow, the substi-
tute Is given Immediately. No disadvan-
taoeous effects of feeding with this milk
we're observed. DiarrhHa did not occur
at ali. The milk was also applied to the
raising of pigs, and was in their case use-
ful In the cure of diarrhea, which &c
often fatally attacks them.--Sesenftft
american.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12

A TENNESSEE editor says that he has
been eating strawberries raised this year.
We have heard of this editor before. he
is tine same who once labored under the
hallucination that he was q quartermas-
ter's mule, and his body still bears evi'
dence of the means resOrted TO Dy some
wags to more fully develop the hallucina-
ton.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12

A soRRowNG friend, writing OF the
death of an estimable lady, said, "She has
gone to her eternal rest" His dismay can
only be family imagined when, upon a
.ssproof' of bis obituary notice being sent
to him, he read, "She has gone to her
eternal roast
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12

DURING 1872, 291,2l7 immigrants ar
rived at New YorE, being an increase upon
1871 of 61,57S. Of the total number,
Germany sent Ill, AS; Ireland, 63,9S5 ;
England, 81, ,5S1; Sweden, Norway, and
Denmark, %, ,209; France (including Al
sace-Lorraine), 14,000; Scotland, 9,1OO
Italy, 5,S5S; Russia, 4,lS; Holland, 81
472; non-European countries, 22,45O.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12

THE intellect has only one failing,
which, to be sure, is a very considerable
one it has no conscience. Napoleon is
the readiest instance of this. If his heart
had borne any proportion to his brain, he
had been one Of the greatest men in all
history.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12

A YOUNG lady having read about man
having invented stove which consumes
its own smoke, hopes he will devise a
method whereby tobacco-smOkers can be
run on the same economical principle.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12

The man who advertises that she has a
lot of hardware on hand" means nails.
They are always on hand.
Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-04-12

A BOOK Is a letter to the unknown
friends one has In the world.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-11

B1AcKMAnRR Cone TO GRRF.-We
heard, yesterday, Of an attempt to levy
black mail on one OF the fairest daughters
Of Kirkwood. The story was given US
about as follows: A young lady and gen.
tleman attendant were returning home
from the Patti concert last Wednesday
night, and when on the back river bridge
stopped to watch the large cakes Of ice
which were running at the time, strike the
piers. A low, worthless fellow made the
circumstance the basis Of addressing her
a note the next day, in which he threat.
ened, If she did not pay him handsomely,
to put in circulation such a report as.
would blast her character. The note was
handed to her father by the young lady,
who at once set about ascertaining who
the writer was, TO deal with him as he
deserved. A letter was written and ad-
dressed to the name signed to the note,
stating that If he would call at the post
Office in Bridgeport next Qast Saturday
evening, he would receive his demand.
1t had been arranged with another party
to be in the postofElce at the time specified
to administer q severe casligation to the
blackmailer, should he call. At the hour
fixed, the writer OF the note stepped into
the postoalce and inquired iithere was q
letter there for him-giying his name "a
fictitious one) The postmaster asked II
he was the man, and being answered
in the affirmative, the party
stationed behind the screen step.
ped out and went to work on the
body corporate of the villain with
a good stout stick. We venture the ras-
calls carcass will bear the marks Of the
drubbiug he received for many day,
and that he will not soon attempt anOth-
er blackmailing operation inthiS vicinity.
P.s. We were told last evening, that
the would be delamer of the lRdy's char
acter had fled tho country, 1t is well for
him, perhaps, that he has, for the people
Of Kirkwood and Bridgeport would have
lynched him ifthey could have laid their
hands on him.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-11
ALL trimmed Ladies' Hatsat 81 90, for
mer price $500, at Bacharach's.

PIANO AND ORGAN BUYING MADE
EAsY.-A good Piano or Organ often costs
too much TO be within the reach OF all, Il
the entire payment be made at the time o.
purchasing. But at sheib's Music Store
a different plan obtains. Go there with
what cash you can command, state the
largest sum you can pay monthly, and you
will be made the possessor Of fine Piano
or Organ for cash outlay Of SIS to $75
and a monthly payment Of IS to $50 till
paid for. II in the future you wish to ex.
change, 1t can be done without extra cost
No interest is charged on monthly planl
the price Of tho instrument includes the
whole sum to be paid, including the stool
and cover. Hundreds Of families ore
using the VIM. Il. sheib s. Co., Hartman
Newton and other Pianos, as also the ia
nous Eureka Organs, oil well know as
the best, which were obtained in this
way. Think about and act upon this no.
flee.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-11

INVITATION ACCEPTED.-We arc in
formed that the official board of Fourth
Street N. E. Church in this city, has in.
viIed Rev. Lucian B. Carpenter, Of Evans.
vile, Indiana, 10 become the pastor Of
that church, and that the invitation has
been accepted. AZ the present tnCumbents
term will not expire until early next
month, we presume it will BIO thirty days
ut least before tho Rev. Mr.. c. will reach
his now field of labor.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-11

FURTHER PARTlCULARs.-In yesterday
mornings paper We mentioned the theft
OF a pair Of oxen, the property Of Esqr
BushGeld, residing near Valley Grove
Friday night--the recovery Of the cattleby
officer Junkins at ST. Clsirsville-their re-
turn hcre-the arrest at Wellsville, O.,
Saturday evening, Of man supposed to
be the thief-and the intention Of officer j,
and Mr.. Watkins ITO whom the oxen
were sold for $3.50 to repair to that place
and bring the prisoner here II he should
prove to be the right party.
In accordance with the plan of officer
JunkiRs and Mr., Watkins, they went to
Wellsville on the early train, yesterday
morning, and finding the prisoner to be
tho man they wanted, and he having been
delivered to them by the officers in that
place, they returned with him here on the
II o'clock train. He was taken to the
office Of Esqr, Gillespy, and on being ar
raigned, answered to tho name Of Chas.
Smith. The investigation was postponed
until o'clock, at which hour the pris.
oner was brought from jail for examine.
ton. He was attended by counsel. A
large crowd had gathered in the Justices
Office, as the matter had become
pretty generally known. Five or six
witnesses were sworn for the State-two
or three Of whom testified to have seen
the oxen in the possession oil the prison
er, Saturday, and to the sale to Mr.. Wat
kins The prisoner made no defense, OK.
cept to cast doubt on the testimony by
skilllul crossexamination. When the ev.
idence had been heard, Esqr. G. requir-
ed him to give security in the sum Of
81 500 for bis appearance at the next
term OF Circuit Court, and in default,
committed him to Jail.
While the prisoner was in the Justices
office, just after his arrival from Wells.
vile, o gentleman who had about seven.
ty.ilve sheep stolen.lrom his premises last
Wednesday night, in East Finley town.
ship, Washington county, Pa, and Mr..
McCausIand, OF Liberty township in this
county, who had purchased them the
following day, or the next but one, enter.
ed and identified Smith as the party who
had victimized them. He had given his
name to Mr.. McC. as "Jones." A warrant
was ut once issued for his arrest on the
charge oil stealing the sheep, on which he
will be examined tomorrow. he was
also arrested rs being fugitive from jus.
tice.
When taken in custody at WellsvillC
by Officer Junkins, Smith gave him $lO5
of the money received for the oxen, and
800 in addition, which It is supposed he
received for the sheep, us that is the
amount Mr. McC. paid him. To secure
himself from loss, Mr.. McO. had an
attachment Issued, and served on Officer
j. and viii doubtless recover all that he
Is out, except few dollars costs.
Great credit is due Officer Junklns ior
the prompt and skillIul manner in which
he worked up this case, Its believed
Smith is only one OF a gang who have
been committing depredstions on The
Gocks and herds of farmers in the eastern
portion Of this county and the section
of Washington county adjoining, and II
is hoped that the fate Of one of their num-
Der will put a sudden and efectual es.
tOppel to any similar proceedings in the
future,
| n n NR.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-11

JOHN b. demonstrating will greet
this gifted speaker with larger audience
than ever before, and larger than that
given any lecturer in the past. The de-
maud for seats increases as Wednesday
draws near, and to satisfy this demand
the committee are doing all in their pow
er. To day at ten o'clock, the space oc-
cupied by the stove will be sold, and also
additional seats on the stage. Where
ever chair can DO placed, except tie GiSeS
one will be put, and fortunate will be The
individual who secures It.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-02-11

NEW FALL AND WINTER Go0Ds,-C
Hess, corner Of Main and Quincy streets,
has Just received the most complete and
choice line Of Foreign and Domestic Gas.
simeres, Scotch Cheviots, English and
French Dlagonals, Cloths Of all shades,
Vestipgs, Gentlomen's Furnishing Goods,
&C., that can be found in the city. Also
large stock of German and Fancy
Wooden Knitted Jackets. He does all
work in the best style and guarantees fits,