davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21
An Extraordinary Phenomenon.

The London News of October "a
states that early on the previous day
Woolwich experienced "a sudden and
almost unexampled visitation of dark
ness. The morning had been wet and
gloomy throughout, but at one P. NJ. the
sky was overcast with a dark pail,
which seemed to obscure every vestige
of light from above. The darkness was
not that from a London fog, for vistas
of lighted windows could be seen for a
long distance 1t was rather the dark
ness of midnight, but there was a red
dish tint in the sky like that oceasioned
by great fire. The atmosphere was
very heavy and oppressive, the rain had
ceased, and the wind, which had been
blowing from the southeast entirely aba
ted. The effect was dismal in the ex-
treme. Nervous people encouraged the
most dreadful forebodings; more rea-
sonable ones attributed the darkness tc
an eclipse of the sun, but found no con-
frmation in the almanac. Fowls wen
to roost, pigeons and other birds stopped
in their fight to seek the nearest shelter
and every living thing seemed impress
ed by the scene. The period of intenst
gloom lasted about five minutes, whel
light gradually broke in from the west
and in an hour afterwards there wa
brilliant sunshine"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

A DANGEROUS PAPER.-An examln-
alton Of the green paper used to wrap
about lozenges afforded all the character
istic reactions for arsenic and copper.
The wrapper contained twenty square
inches of paper. OF this, sixteen were
taken for quantitative analysis. The re-
suit of the examination showed that this
portion contained 1916 grams or 2.34
grains of metallic arsenic. This is equiv
aIent to 2.94 grains in the whole of the
wrapper a quantity sufficient to destroy
life in an adult person. Children in all
parts the country are allowed to purchase
the lozenges covered with this poisonous
paper, and the rolls are often put into the
hands of infants as a plaything. As
everything goes into the mouth of young
children, it is easy to see that no more
dangerous substance can pass into a
family than these packages Of confec
tionery. 1t is quite probable that in
stances of poisoning have occurred from
this cause which have been of seriou
! or fatal character.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21
Mr.. Beeeher's Faith-His Doubts Of
the Truths Of Religion, and How
He Overcome Them.

From the New York sun
In the Plymouth Church prayer meet
ing last evening Mr. Beeeher's theme
was the loving and intimate social rela-
tions between Christ and the apostles,
who, he said, with the exception of John
were "men of coarse fibre"
At the close of his lecture a brother
arose and said, 1--WE are led to believe
that but a very small proportion Of
Christ's miracles and teachings are re-
corded; yet, with these things brought
home to their senses, they did not seem
to understand Him. 1t seems to me, if
Christ had walked By my side, I should
have understood and have believed
Will Mr.. Beecher tell us why they did
not?"
Il guess if you had the trial." replied
Mr.. Beecher, "you wouldn't believe as
much as you think. have suffered
much from questions as to the fundamen-
tai truths of religion. have often
thought IF God would only once speak
to me as He did to Abraham, it would
be reservoir of faith for all my life
But He don't" After pause he repea-
ted in plaintive time, "But He don't
He don't" And then he went ON in
a sprightlier nlannery "Yet, looking at
life's experience collectively, have the
consciousness that my moral nature has
been opened and enlarged. There are
hours when / am as profoundly certain
as | am doubtful at others-and the GER
tianties overbalance by far the doubts.
Toward an embodiment of a suffering,
loving, sympathetic God 1 throw out
all my faith, and there comes a peace, a
lifting up of my soul-a spiritual power
that buoys up my soul, and which
think is touch of God. So l take these
effects, rather than any objective truths
He exists. And He is a rewarder Of
them that diligently seek Him. Thii
God is not an invention. / am flying
toward Him by day and by night.
shall find Him finally"
Mr.. Beecher had grown vehement to
ward the close, and the tears finally
| flowed down his flushed cheeks.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

surprise: so. when Montana poked his
pistol around the corner and followed it
with Just enough of his head to take
sight. Carberrv was not in range. II a
moment their eyes met, and he shoot
ing began. Tom curled down close to
the road bed. to present the smallest pos
sible area as a mark. and because ii Is
comparatively difiicut to hit an object
lying on the ground. Montana shelter
ed himself somewhat behind low row
sacks Of potatoes lying on the edge Of
the sidewalk, and partly behind small
awning-post. This last was a fatal err
ror, for with tall post for a mark it is
the easiest thing in the world to make
line shot
"I am making a long story of the
shooting, which in reality was very soon
over They fred three shots apiece in
as many seconds. Toms third ball
passed through Montana's heart, and he
was dead before his head rebounded on
the brick pavement. Carberry surren-
/ dered himself at once, and was kept IN
4 Jail until his trial came off, although
bail to any amount was offered"
After pause, the Judge added: i
don't see how 1 could have done more
/ for him than 1 did; but the man should
not have been punished-hes should have
been acquitted; and he would have been
but for one circumstance, which preju-
diced the court and jury against him" "
''What was the circumstance so Preju-
dicial?" questioned the listener.
"The Montana chap was the fourth
man Tom had killed in Austin,' an
swered the Judge, innocently.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21
Right the First Time.

"As I was riding along the road some
time ago." said the eccentric old Peter
Cartwright, in one of his last sermons,
ga man overlook me who looked as
though he might fbe preacher. He
called me by name, and after some talk
asked me if / was ready to hear thetruth.
1 told him that Cartwright was my name,
my debts were paid, my will made, and
/ was ready for anything. Very well,
said he, you old ignoramus, or hypo-
crite, you ought to know too much, or
be too honest to remain Methodist i
used to be one myself-yes, a Methodist
preacher-until / found out the error Of
my way 'Ho. ho!' said !, 'and what
are you now?" Cartwright mentioned
the name of the denomination to which
his interlocutor had gone, but which /
need not repeat, and then proceeded:
"Now, brethren, / knew we'll enough
that the devil had only one of three
ways TO get a man out Of the Methodist
Church into that denomination; and that
there must be rascality in money mat
ters, woman scrape, or liquor at the
bottom of this fellows change. So, juge-
ing from his looks, pulled a bow al
venture and said: What was that fuss
you had about woman? Cartwright
you old rascalp he shouted in rage
'how did you ever hear about that?-
And, putting whip to his horse, he wal
soon out of sight. l never saw or heard
of the man before; but that's the way
freed that coon-no, drove that skunl
to his hole"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21
Items OF Interest.

Chicago il to have the Bazaar Of
all Nations, after the manner Of the Bos-
ton exhibition Of that character.
1t is a curious fact that there are no
fish in the Merced river or any Of is
tributaries above the walls Of the Yose-
mite Falls.
Another illustration Of the saying that
the pen is mighter than the sword. DE
Chamber cut the throat Of Henry v.
with goose quill.
The old hunters and "men Of the bor-
der" say that winter has not set in, the
present cold snap being only the precur-
sor of Indian summer.
An odd illustration Of the prevailing
"shrinkage in values" is shown in the
coming down Of some Of the "Dollar
stores" to "Ninety-five cent stores"
The English rule Of gross tonnage has
been adopted by the Norwegian govern
ment. This is the fourth nation that
now stands upon that system.
1t is now said that peat as an article
Of fuel is more costly to secure than
7wood, or even coal. The demand for il
in Minnesota has, therefore, peat-ered
out
The English Society Of Arts has re-
Gently awarded prizes to four styles ol
public carriages, constructed with special
reference to the avoidance Of all unnec-
essary noise.
Little Cortland county, New York dur
ing the past year received from the sale Of
butter alone the sum ofs1 500, 600, which
speaks we'll for learned and intelligent
management Of dairies.
That was a very grim humor Of the
deacon who remarked 70 his newly set
tied minister. 'The Lord keep you hum
BILE, and We will keep you poor
A lady's maid told her mistress tha
she once swallowed several pins togcth
} err. "Dear mel" said the lady, zane
didn't they kill your"
Curran, hearing that q stingy and SLOW
enly barrister had gone on journey will
a shirt and guinea, observed, Gle vii
. not change either until he returnA
; A Wabash editor returns thanks for
t centipede sent him by mail from TeEa'
2 being the first cent Of any sind be .ha.
a seen for months.
: Frederick Rollwagon, Of New NoFl
G died TO very little purpose, q few month
e ago, his three sons think, for he leit hi
|. one or two million dollars in such ava
that the servant girl he married can ni
4 pretty much all the income On The epFol
n erty, while not dollars worth VI q
y real estate can be sold until the youngc
h grandson 10 dead. The boys have aas'
N the Surrogate Court 20 cay tho old ma
was crazy when be n-de the VIII.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21
The Cuban Outrage.

From the Daily Graphic.
The capture of the Virginius on the
high seas, and while under the protec-
ton of the American flag, and the sum-
mary execution of her captain and for
ty-eight of her crew and passengers by
the Cuban authorities, are acts which
call for prompt and energetic but pru-
dent action on the part of our Govern
ment Perhaps we are not yet in pos
session of all the facts that bear upon
the case. Perhaps most, if not all, the
murdered men were formerly Cuban or
Spanish subjects. Perhaps the Virgin
ius was really the property of the Cuban
! Insurgents, and her use of our flag was
unwarranted. 1t is the instant duty of
our Government to ascertain every i'm
portant fact bearing upon the case, and
to shape it's policy in accordance there
with. But enough is already known to
Justify the Government in taking strong
ground, and proceeding in its inquiry
with the dignity and determination
WHICH pcCOll0 SiSht Ii"iAoii, NhOoS mop
has been insulted and whose rights have
been outraged, even though the mer
who were shot were not its citizens. The
case is too serious and urgent for piplo
matte quibbling or a parade of nationa
amenities.
This Cuban outrage complicates ex
1 !,
easy to grow red in the face and demand
an instant resort to arms in a tempest o
passion. And it is equally easy to clam
or for the immediate recognition of tn
Cuban Republic or the annexation o
! the Island to the United States. Bu
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

About twenty miles from Canon,
writes Grace Greenwood, from California,
is Wet Mountain Valley, Il very charm
ing and beautiful place in the summer.
1t is the halfway heaven of English
men. Here come high-bred gentlemen
and scions of the nobility to lead a
primitiye and pastoral life. Henry
Taylor has nephew here, and the Duke
of Somerset a son. A son of Charles
Kingsley lives at Colorado Springs. AL
most any day during the sporting season
YOU may encounter Lord in toughest
kind of rig, out with Scatter gum
and a brace of "small dogs" They are
so common, these Lords and Baronetsi
that our democratic bosoms scarcely
thrill at the sight Of one any more
About Canon City there are great hunt.
ing grounds. At the hotel at this sea
son you can be served with antelope
deer, elk, mountain sheep, buffalo, beai
or prairie dog.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

FAMINE IN GREENLAND.-News of
the most narrowing description reaches
London from South Greenland, to the
effect that a severe famine prevails in
consequence of the failure of the fisher
les, and that $50 persons have starved to
death in one village. 1t is not only to
keep off hunger that food is necessary
in the midst of their Arctic winter, but
to keep up heat. Without the animal
heat provided by the walrus snd the
seal-and those are doubtless the fisher
les that have failed-they would have
no opportunity to starve to death; they
would freeze in a day. The thermome
ter ranges during their long, dark winter
from 90 to so, and only raw walrus, sea
and bear will sustain life through it,
And the worst of it is that rescuing ex
peditions are not likely to start out thi
time of year.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

CoNGREssAIEN's SALARIEs.--The
opinion seems to be very generally en-
tertained that among the first bills in
troduced when Congress meets will be
one repeating the act of the last Con-
gress increasing the salary Of members.
The people are unanimous in their de-
mand for the repeal; nearly all the con-
ventions of both political parties held
during the year expressed the same sen-
timent, and large number of new
members will not dare to disregard the
will of their constituents. In these
times of financial stringency the Amer
lean people are compelled to economic
and retrench, and they will spot every
member of Congress who opposes every
just measure of economy and retrench'
ment in the government. 1t is proba'
BILE, however, that in lieu Of the immense
salary the members will restore th'
franking privilege.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

A new street pavement has been tried
in San Francisco. 1t is called "hydro-
carbolized brick" and is made of bricks
of soft porous nature, which are boiled
in coal tar, which renders them tough
and nearly as hard as granite. A road
bed is made by leveling the sand and
packing it with water. A layer of pre-
pared brick is then laid fiatwise, each
brick being dipped in boiling tar as it is
put down. This is overlaid by second
course of prepared birck placed close
together edgewise, each brick dipped as
before. The interstices are then filled
with boiling tar, and the whole covered
with thin layer of screened gravel
The cost is about thirty-six or thirty
seven cents per square foot.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

THE "CoURT" LANGUAGE OF THE
PLAINs.-"The diplomatic language of
the plains" says writer in the st. Louis
Republican, "is the vernacular of the
Comanches. All official intercourse be-
tween the Apaches, Kiowas, Arapatoes,
Cheyennes,T and Tonquays and the rep
resentatives of the Government of the
United States is through the medium OF
the Comanche language. The language
of the Kiowas has never yet been ac-
quired by an American. 1t is represen-
ted as an exceedingly harsh, cultural
tongue, the sounds of which cannot be
produced by the vocal organs trained to
utter the the English, Spanish, French
or German languages. But the Kiowaf
understand Comanche, and so, too, dc
the Cheyennes, Arapahoes, Apaches,
Caddoes, Wacoes, and Tawakiroes. II
is said to be language easy to acquire
and as spoken it is certainly very soft
and agreeable language to the ear. Bu
like the tongue of all rude peoples this
language cannot be represented on paper
so as to give an idea of the sounds
which enter into it. There are som,
sounds which cannot be adequately
represented by means of the letters o
our alphabet. 1t is said that there is ;
similarity amounting almost to an iden
tity between the language spoked by tn
Comanches and the Shoshones or Snak
Indians of Oregon. Indeed the Conan
ches claim the Snakes as their ancestors
and the symbol oftheir tribe is a serpent
| The word Comanche is of Mexican ori
gin, and conveys no meaning to the Peo
pie who go by that name; they call them
selves Ndum."
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

A newspaper published in Laconia
New Hampshire, relates the following
"a few days since a well known citizen,
then living near the Wiers, was quite
sick, and diet of partridge was recon-
mended, to procure which a son Of the
sick man travelled the woods in all di'
rections, without success, and returning
home disappointing the houshold. Very
soon hawk was seen flying over will
something struggling in its claws, and
the something proved to be a nice, fat
partridge, wounded, but not dead, that
while over the door yard of the sicl
mans house, got free ofthe hawks claws
and came tumbling down at the ver!
door where he was needed. The tim
was when such an event would have beef
accounted a miracle, now it only hap
pened so.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

The condition Of the unemployed in
the Eastern cities, particularly Phila-
delphia, Brooklyn and New York IL
now serious question, and daily be-
coming of greater importance. Socie-
ties of the charitable are organizing 20
az to have measures Of relief in good
working order before the severe weather
sets in. Philadelphia seems % be in the
worst condition Of any Of the Eastern
citizens, It's manufacturing interests
are of that particular kind that a panic
hits hard at its outset, and the number
of unemployed in the city is very large.
There are upwards Of eight thousand
men now wandering about the streets Of
Brooklyn in search Of employment ln
New York of course the number is far
greater-thousands of families are ~
want of the necessaries Of life. In az
these cities, necessary public improve
ments are talked Of to give partial work
to the unemployed this winter.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

THE TOBACCO CRoP-The great mass
of the tobacco crop'of the United States is
raised chiefly in Virginia and Kentucky,
although large quantities are grown
in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut
and other States. The crop this year in
Virginia, it is said, will be large, and,
though damaged by drought other eau
ses, will be a good average one, with
much fine tobacco. In Kentucky, with
the exception of the Green river district
the crop will be very good, and in some
places larger and better than last year
In Indiana the yield falls off about one
fourth, and is not SO good as last seasons
A similar report of short crop and poor
quality comes from Illinois. Tennessee
will give a full average yield of fair
quality. Missouri will be materially
damaged in some localities. In Nortf
Carolina the crop is large, but damaged
though the yield will be an average one
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

LONDON, November 1.-THE Times
this morning, in leading editorial,
says, if the Virginius affair had occurred
during the ascendency ofthe Democratic
party, Cuba would doubtless have been
Immediately annexed. 1t draws a con-
trast between the conduct of the Span
iards in Cuba, and the lenient treatment
by the American Government of foreign
blockade runners during the rebellion.
If England is called upon to act in con-
sequence of any of her own subjects,
there is no reason why she should not
acknowledge the independence of Cuba
especially if the act would check such
outrages. 1t recommends the .adoption
of that line of policy by the United
States.
The Daily Telegraph contains an ar
ticle similar in tone to that of the Times
Both journals concur in the opinion tina
Spain is powerless to enforce reparation
and that the United States may possibly
he compelled to intervene, even though
reluctant to do so.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

The Ismaila has now been missing for
nearly forty days. A vague rumor that
seems to lack confirmation asserts that
she was met with her machinery disa-
bled, by a sailing vessel near the Nova
Scotian coast about three weeks since
The agents profess to have no fears as
to her safety; but the fact that they have
not sent any of their large feet Of
steamers to her aid and shows that
they have little hope that she Is still
ahoat. they know she left port over
loaded and two feet deeper in the water
than she should have been. They doubt
less fully comprehend the great danger
to which she would have been exposed
in the event Of heavy weather, and they
do not think that the chance Of saving
her is sufficient to warrant the expenses
of sending a steamer in search Of her.
Will they be indicated when her loss
is definitely known.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

The following account of the execu-
ton of Captain Fry and thirty six 9th
ers comes from Havana:
''On Friday morning, the 7th, thirty
seven of the crew Of the Virginius were
brought on shore and taken to prison, to
remain there until their execution,
which was ordered for that afternoon
Captain Fry, noble looking old man,
fully head taller than the rest of the
crew, when he met his men on the warf
previous to the march to the prison, sa-
luted them all. The salute was returned
with affection. At 4:45 Captain Fry and
thirtv-six men and officers were publicly
shot, despite the protest of all compe-
tent foreign authorities. The marines
were seven minutes killing the wretched
prisoners. 1t seemed as though they
would never finish At last the sailors
marched off and the troops filed past
the long row of corpses. Then the dead
carts were hurried up and loaded indis-
criminately with the mangled remains.
The American and British Consuls
are represented as having done theii
utmost to prevent the butchery.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-21

A writer on French manners observes.
at is one of the highest merita Of the
system that it tacitly lays down the prin-
ciple that all persons meeting in the
same house know each other without the
formality of an Introduction. Any man
may ask girl to dance, or may speak 70
anybody at private party. Another
merit Of French manners is the general
absence of false shame. If boy drops
his book at church, he picks it up with
out blushing. A French woman takes
off her bonnet and arranges her hair be-
fore the glass in a railway waiting room,
without thought Of the presence Of by
standers."