davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15
A Wife Sold for Fifty R0ubles.

A very peculiar case came up recently before the Warsaw criminal court in Rus sia. A miner named Jean Szepanski, 30 years of age, and living in the Kolo dis trict, was accused of having sold his wife Francesca, who was only 23. He had mar ried her year and half before, but not day had passed since that time without some household dispute. To end it finally he gave up his wife to wine merchant, Bor- kowski, living in the village of Mylnek for fifty roubles in silver.
 The details of the sale were as follows |: Szepanski on his way back from the Kolo market with his wife, stopped at the little inn at Milnek. While there Szepanski pro- posed to sell his wagon to man for eight roubles. His wife and the innkeeper tried to dissuade him from doing this. In re sponse he said: My sales concern no one else; am free to sell even my wife !' The innkeeper Borkowski then asked him what he valued her at. Szepanski said fifty immediately paid over. The husband pocketed it, seized his wife who resisted in vain, and threw her violently against the counter where her purchaser was standing, crying at the same time, "Go to the devil. I should rather have the money than to have you; will find whenever want to, ten women ID place of one."
 | The inkeeper said My dear Frances ca, have just gained you; you will be my wife," He then seized her and carried her off. That evening the guests at the inn were entertained with brandy, cigars and a supper in honor of Borkowski's new wife
 The next day Francesca appealed to hel father and he went with her to the police station.
 It appeared that neither the buyer or sell CT were under the influence of liquor at the time of the sale.
 Szepanski was condemned to sixteen months imprisonment, and the buyer, Bor kowski, to four months imprisonment.
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15
MISCELLANEOUS.

The second volume of MT, Beecher's ''Life of Christi is in an advanced stage.
 Elihu Burrit calls his forthcoming auto biographical volume, ''Five Minute Talks" :"
 The people of California are clamoring for paper currency-forty.three newspa- pers for and fourteen against it.
 Wick, the Rochester florist, loses 5000 money letters, etc., every year ln the mails. So says the Philadelphia Star.
 A Milwaukee boat club has adopted 8 light uniform. described as handkerchief around the head and one suspender.
 Soup for the poor in Boston cost about $4, ,OOO last year, and refreshments" for the poor city government $4l, ,OO0.
 A floating cannon bah is one of the sights at Vienna. It weighs fifty pounds, and it floats in a cauldron of quicksilver.
 Tho Parsons, (Kan.) Herald records a suit for breach of promise, and says the plaintiff wants the jury to award her $2, 900 'back pay"
 The New York World has coined new adjective. It speaks of certain crossing of Broadway as the ''jammedest" spots in it's whole length
 A Rochester man lay drunk in an alley all night with $500 in his pocket. It is only necessary to add that the Rochester folks didn't know it.
 Probably the most recent Americanism is that constructed by an Illinois paper, which says that Edwin Booth will ''trage- diate' in certain town.
 General Wise, in his prime could write an editorial fifty-six yards long, but he is getting old now, and don't push them be- yond forty or whereabouts.
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15

UNPLEASANT DISCOVERY BY AN EDIToR.- The publishers of the Petersburg (Va.) Ap- peal recently purchased and united with their paper the Lsder, published in the same city, and few days after Msjor Ven able, 8 member of the purchasing firm, be- gan an examination of the material in the latter office with view to disposing of what was not needed. One result is thus told by the Appeal: "His attention was called to large marble slab used as an i'm posing stone, and upon examining it he found on the under side the inscription (we omit nsmeO: Sacred to the memory of -, youngest daughter of - and -, born July 26, 1929. Died 3Oth October, 1s46, aged seventeen years, three months and four days This was followed by the fourteenth and fifteenth verses of the sev- enth chapter of Revelations. Major Vena- ble recognized the name as that of very near young lady relative, whom he remem- bered while living. Upon making inqui- ries no one could give him any information as to how the slab was obtained or when it was brought into the of1ce."
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15
Block RSl0Mde

EDITOR NEWS: Block Island is situated in the Atlantic ocean 20 miles from Mon tauk Point or the east end of Long Island, N. Y., and forms part of Rhode Island. Distance from Stonington about 25 miles, and from Newport 30 miles. The island is miles long and from 2 to 4 wide. No forest trees to be seen it is an upland roll, ing prairie in mid ocean, dotted over with farm houses painted white. Stone wall fences divide the land into small fields, and it cannot be said of these fields as it was said by traveller in Connecticut when he inquired where all the stone in big wall came from; the farmer says, "Out of that lot; the travellers response was, II don't see as any of them are gone." Not so here; the stones have gone out of the fields into stone fences Land is worth from fifty to two hundred dollars per acre. Beacon Hill is the highest land on the island-from 300 to GOO feet above the level of the sea-from which polnt you can have a fine view of the ocean and island, both at the same time. l visited the cliffs, as they are called, this Monday morning, August 4th, 1874, on the south or southerly part of the island and had one of the finest views of land and wa ter combined that ever saw. The cliffs are from 70 to 12O feet high, nearly per pendicular; on the green clad surface you may stand and view the broad Atlantic and see her waves dash against the rocky base of these cliffs, and then turn and behold the green hills thrown up like waves of the old ocean. The land is cultivated to the top of the knolls or hills and is quite pro- ductive. Tbe Government has one light house on the north side and has purchased land for another on the south side near the cliffs. Corn, oats, barley and hay are the principal products. have visited Newport, Long Branch and other watering places, but give the preference to Block Island. The people of Western Connecticut may wish to know how they can get here. l started from Sharon early Monday morning, July 2Sth, for Lakeville; took Ithe early train, reaching Hartford before o'clock. Took the cars for Stonington at 10 o'clock, via Connecticut Valley road, and reached Ston. ington at o'clock P. M. for dinner; stop ped at the Naugatuck House, one of the best in the state' sNext day, Tuesday, visited Watch Hill, miles from Stoning- ton. Watch Hill is hotel watering place in Rhode Island it has eight good publi. houses; it is situateda. on narrow strip O land one-half mule wide, extending into th ocean with Long Island Sound, and Fisher island on theswest. Fishers island contain 1000 acres of land-formerly ssowned b, one man; it is across the channel, and be longs to New York, has but few inhabit ants. Thursday noon shipped for Blocl island aboard yacht from Stonington reached the harbor of Block Island at seye o'clock in the evening-a slow passage this yacht runs Mondays and Thursdays The mail from Newport is carried in yach three times a week. A steamboat run from Providence to Block Island every Fri day and back in the afternoon she brough 1000 excursionists last Friday.
 WANDERRR.
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15
West Cornwall.

The foundry is in full blast and is now engaged in filling an order for the Housa- tonic railroad companY......C Colonel c. D. Blinn of New Milford, and T. A. Smith of Brookfield, were in town last week, much to the delight of their numerous friends, and while here they, with Sheriff Scoville and M. G. Butler, went over to Nudge Pond fishing and succeeded in taking nice lot of fish, among which were three bass that averaged 3-4 pounds each-two of which the Colonel caught. Nathan Hart is engaged in advancing the milk interests of the Shepaug railroad. He is success full producer, and his services cannot help but prove valuable......Last Saturday night the Cornwall Brass Band met in Village Hall for the purpose of practicing. They play admirably and already rank as A No. ......George c. Harrison is going to put one of Colds Heaters into his new house. Elias don't believe Tn ghosts and never did.
 NUF CED.
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15

A GEORGIA JUsT1oE.-The Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle and Sentinel gives the following as an accurate copy of an affidavit drawn up by a colored justice of the peace in that county.
 Personally came Solomon Ganet who on oath saith that to the best of his knowl- edge and belief Charles Henry of said county did in the county of Richmond on the day of December 1872 commit the offence of Stealing A hog wrongful and frawdulent an unlawfully agint Stat of Georgia tn deponent mak this offenc mis- dememenor don on this day an dat year aforesaid hog valued at IA dollars United States curruncy. And this deponent makes affidavit that a warrant may issue for his arrest :"
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15
PaternR1 Cruelty.

One day recently respectfully dressed man carried well-grown child, untitled up, and apparently sick, into French's Hotel He placed the child on the stairs and began to talk to it in a very unkind, rough way. The attention of the guests was attracted, and they gathered around.
 ''You are able to walk up stairs by your self," said the man, ''and won't carry you"
 ''Oh, oh" the child sobbed, ''do carry me up; please pa, do. You know ever since was run over by the cars and lost both my feet can't walk up stairs alone. y
 That's all s:uff," the man answered ; ''get up at once or I'll make you."
 The poor child began to sob worse than before. and the brutal man gave it severe uhump on the side of the head. The child moaned piteously. The indignation of the bystanders was excited, and one of them said to the man:
 ''Is that child yours?"
 "What's that to you ?" the man answered, II won't tell you"
 He's my father" the child sobbed, "and -he-killed-my-m -mother--just-as- ls-agolng g-to-kill-me."
 The man doubled his fist and made as though he was about to give the child 6 savage blow. One of the bystanders inter fered and said:
 Say, if you don't stop this I'll call DO licemap. I never saw such 8 brutal father in all my life."
 The man began to tumble in his pocket. and the child cried out ''Take care, he's got knife. He's going to stick you"
 Sure enough the man produced knif, and opened it. The crowd slipped off on, by one, except two. Bring an officer" one of the men crieC to friend.
 eff am to be arrested" the man said ''it will be for something" and thereupol he plunged the knife into the body of tn, child. The child shrieked, "i'm murdered I'm murdered" and crowd rushed to tn, spot. The man quietly raised the child il his arfns, and removing hls hat said:
 "Gentlemen, this IS wooden child. Tn ventriloquist. and any little offering yol may be pleased to make will be very ac cep' able. ."-N 7. Sun.
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15

CoAL SPECULATIoN.-Thec coal speculat- ors now make no secret of the fact that 8 stupendous ring exists among them, and boast that nothing flinders them from placing the price at any figure they please. The average advance in the price of coal thus far this year is about forty per cent, and there is hardly commencement made as yet in twisting the screws. The coal combination is practically the biggest mo- nopoly now in the country. The transpor- tation routes, the coal fields, the miners and their strikes. are all embraced in it's control, and there is really nothing to hinder the exaction of any imaginable exhorbitant price from the long-sufering consumer. The monopoly can make it $2O ton next winter as easy as they can make it $1O, and, from present appearances, the people will have no remedy whatever. The time will arrive, howevefs when consumers will take hold of this thing and see what can be done about it.-AI61ny Journal.
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15
A House Built ina n Day.

The newspapers of Lancaster, Penn, publish an account of the building of a brick dwelling house in that city in ten and half hours, the materials having been pre- pared and collected on the site previous to the commen cement. The house is twenty feet by thirty on the ground floor, two sto- ries in height, and contains eight rooms. There were in all upward of one hundred workmen employed. The cellar foundation was already laid. and at precisely o'clock Friday morning the men went to work. The Eraminer thus describes the labor.
 ''Mr. J. T. Reading. photographer, was present with his photographic apparatus and took views every fifteen minutes of the building and the workmen while ID motion, which of course produced some ridiculous pictures-men white and colored, in almost every position, are to be seen represented. At o'clock A. M. the structure was ad- vanced to the height of one story, with two floors-ground and second-laid: partitions in, and lathed and partly plastered, doors hung, stairways up and view taken with the Doctor in the midst of his workmen. The scene IS busy and comic one-the bricklayers erecting scaffolding for the second story. Ten o'clock A. NJ, view tak- en of western front on Prince street sec ond story brickwork two-thirds up, with carpenters ready to lay the floor, and plast- erers commence lathing; western front painted and brick penciled on first story, and masons run short of brick and then some delay in consequence, but it was rem edied in a short while.
 Eleven o'clock A. M., the bricklayers are up to square of ceiling for third floor, with corners raised to the height required to re- ceive the rafters for roofing. Timers wait ing. The process of white-coating is now about completed in tue first. story. HIS A. M., first rafter for the roof laid. At .2l tue last brick was placed upon the chim- neys and the bricklayers are done. Roof sheathed and timers begin to lay roofing. l2.5O scaffolds all removed from pulling. 2.3O P. N., sash in windows of first story and painters finished up; washboards down and rubbish cleaned away. At this time the tinners are leaving the building roofing and spouting completed. Plasterers still at work in the second story. The building has been insured, and in the course of 8 few hours will be ready for tenant"
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15

WHY HE SMoKRD.-George Colman m his Random Records relates a comical story of parcel of school boys in the time of James l. of England, who smoked to ex cess.
 This of course was concealed as much as one can conceal smell, from the Dominic till one luckless evening when the imps were all hud0led together round the fire of their dormitory involving each other in vapors of their own creation, To Tn burst the master and stood in awful dignity be- fore them.
 "How now!" quoth the Dominic to the first lad s'How dare you be smoking to- bacco ?"
 ''Sir," said the boy, 'Im subject to head aches and a pipe takes off the pain"
 "And you !? and you? and you ?" inquired the pedagogue, questioning every boy in his turn.
 One had raging toothache-another the colc-the third cough-the fourth-in short they all had something.
 "Now sirrah," beloved the Doctor to the last boy, "what disorder do yOu smoke for p
 Alas! all the excuses were exhausted, when the interrogated urchin, putting down his pipe after farewell whiff, and looking into the Dominie's face, said in whim- pering, hypocritical tone, "Sir, smoke for corns." B. 8. T.
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15
Sheffield.


 Monday afternoon finds your scribe on literary thoughts intent; trying hard to write something for the paper which will interest few of your many readers. The task seems formidable for once the favor ite conversation for this day of the week is always ot what happened Sunday. Those who attended church usually find many items to talk over; of course the sermon is first discussed and then the new fashions seen at church come in for their share of attention, &c., but all this, so interesting to private life would not read well in print. was both amused and annoyed while en- deavoring to give my attention to a most interesting sermon yesterday at the M. B, Church. A young lady from the city sit ting in the pew behind me, who evidently wished to give her country cousins the ben eft of her jewels for once, had come to church bedecked in everything of the kind which art can supply, and to her bracelets were attached golden bells which kept time to the motion of her fancy fan, but their chime dld not accord we'll with the words of the sermon. Why will not some young ladies learn to dress modestly for church gong, and then behave themselves consist ently with time and place? The Rev. Dr. Dewey supplied the pulpit at the M. E.. Church Sunday. Seldom do we listen to a more interesting discourse than this aged di- vine gave us The text was chosen from the words of St. John, "Now are we the sons of God, but it doth not yet appear what we shall be-" He most beautifully showed the character of noble manhood as it is the capacities of mind power-and the results in science of this power; then eloquently illustrated the possibilities to man when he shall have put on immortality. He read in closing that grand old hymn, ''I would not live alway," and the solemn hush of the large audience bespoke their attention and interest. Although of contrary belief, Dr. Dewey never introduces his own doctrines when preachingin orthodox churches. He is now in the 80th year of his age, and yet retains all his mental faculties intact. For many years he has been pastor in the Uni tartan churches, and often has ministered in Boston and that vicinity. Sheffield is his native place, and here he has ever held a residence; our people respect and appre
 ciate him both as a man and scholar, and
 we ale proud of our fellow citizens.
 LUNA.
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15

MillertOn.
 The new Central Hotel in this place is said by travelling men, and those who don't travel, to be the best on the line of the the Harlem road between Millerton and New York, in every respect. .Messrs. B. D. Jones 6 Go. have newly painted their store, thereby giving it much better ex- ternal appearance......Th Millerton Hotel has received new coat of paint. It now presents very neat and attractive appear snce......Mr. D. s. Chapman has rented the store formerly occupied by w. w. Merri- field, where he will keep large stock of everything in the refreshment and variety line......Mr. George Greathead, the propri- etor of the Central Hotel in this place, came near being suffocated by clamp in deep well which he was cleaning few days ago. He however had strength enough to get in the bucket and give the signal to be drawn up, when restoratives were successfully applied by Dr. Clarkson ...... ..Messrs. E. w. Simmons & Go. are selling large quantities of furniture, nice chamber setts being a specially with them......Hot weather and much whiskey. A GoosE QUILL.
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15
Vnnderbilt,s Keen Discernment.

One day, before Cornelius Vanderbilt ob- tained possession of the Hudson River railway, he was travelling, it is said, from here to Albany and, considering himself privileged character, went into the bag gage car to smoke. He had been enjoying his cigar but two or three minutes when the conductor came along and informed him politely that he must not smoke there. Vanderbilt said that it would not make any difference-that it was ali right, &c.; but the conductor wls O. ;l different opinion, declaring that 1t was contrary to the rules of the road
 You don't know me, said the smoker. My name is Vanderbilt. am sometimes called Commodore. generally do about ss please"
 '1 don't know nor do 1 care who you are, MT. Vanderbilt. intend to obey the rules If you were ten times Commodore could not permit you to smoke here, and you must go elsewhere to finish your ci- gar."
 The loyalty to duty displayed by the con- u0SeOA PlCooSu buC duClcut NOEuSlIuS auu he went out, though not before he had said to the conductor: "You are the right kind of man for your place. You don't res pect persons. Ithink of buying this road. and if do you can stay on it as long as you like"
 Vanderbilt did buy the road and retained the conductor. He frequently remarked that that man could be trusted; that he was never mistaken in judging of character, and that he knew from the first that the conductor was sound.
 The conductor stayed on the road for five years, and in that time, as the story goes, stole himself into pecuniary independ. ency.
 So much for Vanderbllts knowledge oi character. Evidently the conductor knew Vanderbilt better than Vanderbilt knew the conductor. Chicago Tribune.
Connecticut western news., 1873-08-15
An Important Railroad Com binu tion

It is now announced that the recent com bination of roads to obtain through line from New York to Halifax is only part of grand scheme which has for its ultimate object the creation of direct route from Halifax to the Pacific. The controlling in terest will probably be in the Pennsylvania Central railroad, with Colonel Thomas A. Scott at it's head. From New York east the combination will consist of the New York and New England road. (formerly the Boston, Hartford and Erie.) the Eastern, the Maine Central, and the European and North American. All these links are now completed, with the exception of the New York and New England, which remains unfinished from Waterbury to the Hudson, although graded for large part of the way. Arrangements have been made to raise loan of ten million dollars, with which the road will be pushed to speedy completion.
 The Pennsylvania railroad, with that shrewdness which has marked it's course for many years, seems to be the first to sec the advantages offered by the eastern line, contemplating as it does the shortening of the trip to Europe by forty weight hours, ard the control of great portion of the Euro pean trade. Representatives of this road are now said to be in Maine making the requisite arrangements. The formal union of the three lines, extending from Boston to St. John, will, it Is said, be consummated this week, and such preliminaries arranged as will secure the Pennsylvania company voice in the general management as soon as the New York and New England road is finished.
 If successful this line will make one of the most important in the country, but it is probable the other great lines, the Erie and the New York Central, will endeavor to contest the supremacy of the Pennsylvania road. It has been supposed that the mana gers of the Erie road were already interest cd in the New York and New England line, but perhaps the somewhat crippled condition of Erie, financially, may prevent it's becoming a formidable rival at present. The New York Eoerss,sg Post says of the project: ''Through the arrangements al- ready made by the Pennsylvania Central railroad company, and in prospect, the ex- treme eastern province of the Dominion ot Canada will have unbroken connection with Mexico, the Pacific coast and the north, western states, and the journey to Europe from any part of this country will be made materially shorter and easier. As we inti- mated in former article. however, a more direct connection with the northwest will before long he found necessary. Once open the road to Halifax, reducing the trip to Europe forty y-eight hours, and other re- duction of space and time will be looked for. An airline from Halifax to Chicago, thence connecting with the Northern and Union Pacific railroads, would still better accommodate large part of the business and travel, and will come in due time."- Hartford Courant.