davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01
Canadian Independence.

In discussing the question of colonial
independence the st. John On. B. Globe re-
marks that there is no doubt that if Cana
ticns with England no Engishman would
do anything TO stop her, and many would
be glad to let her 90; but, significantly
adds the Globe, 1.-The present leaders in
Canada will not take any steps to make
the Dominion Independent so long as they
can persuade England to guarantee her
loans and TO create barOnets and knights
of themselves and their friends" These
considerations should not have much
weight in discussing the question whether
or not the Dominion of Canada shall be-
come free and independent republic.
and. like the United States. take care OF
her own loans and titles of nobility. 1t
may be here mentioned that at the time
of the American Revolution a small par
ty wished TO retain titles of rank and the
prerogatives Of aristOcratic and privileged
classes, but the plain republican senti-
ment overwhelmed the adherents Of a
mock nobility. and they finally dwndled
into country squires and Georgia majors
an aristOcracy that exists 10 this day.
When the Dominion of Canada becomes a
republic. as in proper time it surely will,
the 4" almighty dollar is as likely to be
the ruling element Of her people as it is
asserted to BE- that OF her cousins across
the st. Lawrence st this time. and all
thoughts OF 4 biue-blOOded nobility will
be sunk INTO insignificance when weighed
in the scale against dollars and cents, or
pounds, shil!ings and pence.-EE.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01
Marshal BaZaine.

The French have an ingenious system
for compelling Il prisoner. by process
akin TO that whereby a stone is gradually
worn away by the constant dripping of
water upon il, TO prove himself guilty be-
fore trial. Their criminal procedure be-
gins with an inluisitiOn, of which ;hc III
qusitor is an official called the .jpge F jt-
stiuc1ion. This parsonage is unknown To
other than French Jurisprudence, and is
only to be compared with the men who,
amid the solitude of dungcOn-walls. adj
ministercd the rack and the thumb-scrcw
in olden Spain. \ ma. accused OF any
Otlense, however innocent he may be, is
subjected to the mental torture inflicted
by the jugc Il instruction. and Is not sell
dom worried. out of mere wearing - and
pain, into statements which aitcrward ap-
pear to accuse him on tha public rial.
THIS inGuiSitiOn is OF so democratic a sa-
ture thar it is undergone by distinguished
and obscure prisoners alike. For the past
fOur or five months Marshal Bazainc has
been the victim Of this persistent, tirelcsS,
pitile>s dripping of close interroga,Ory
and vigilant cross-eXaminatiOn: and il is
no wonder that, "a those who have been
admitted to see him allege. his hair has
thinned and whitened, his color has gone,
and he has the aspect Of feeble and dis
heart2ned old man. Day after day he
takes his seat at a desk in his prison.
house: the cold and stern minister of the
law cOnfrOnts him; no one else is by cX-
cept the judges clerk, not even the priSo-
ner's counsel; and. amid the solitude of
locked doors and carefully-guardcd corri-
dors, question after question, searching
into the minutest events OF his life, into
the innermOst springs of motive, and the
most hidden impulses of the heart, falls
upon him until the passage of hours thus
employed forces him to sink back dumb
and exhausted. Every answer is noted,
word for word; mis-statement, an as
sertion made when of his guard, "A feebly-
uttered ''nO" or Eyes," when he is so
wearied that he knows not what is asked.
arc placed on irrcvOcable record. and will
enter into the Indictment when the judg-
ment-day arrives. Otherwise, the lot Of
the capitulatOr of Metz, even suppOsing
him guilty of the worst that is charged
against him, is deserving of cOmmisera-
ton. Few criminals. are the victims of
more severity. Journal.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01

Washington left an estate valued at
$500 900.
Jefferson died poor. and had not Con-
grc,7 purchased his library lis estate
wculd have been unable Ia pay Ii debts.
Madison saved his money and was com
para,iyciv rich. The fortune Of hi, wild
oW was increased by the purchase of his
manuscript paper, by Congress for Sjo.-
900.
James Monroe. the sixth President.
died 50 poor that hr was buricl at the
expense ot his relatives. in Il cemetery
between Second and Third streets, near
the BoWcry. in New York city.
john Quincy Adams left about $4,000.
the result OF industry. prudence. and
"a small Inheritance. He was mvtholi-al
and economical.
Andrew Jackson left valuable estate
kno"n Is the "lirrnitagr," about twelve
miles from Nashville. Tenn.
Martin Van Burcn died Iich. lis cs-
tat" WAS estimated N nearly $50. 900.
James *. Polk l,tj about SlJ0.OGO.
John Ty.cr was q bankrupt when he
became President. He hus:tande. hi,
means while in Cilicc. and married rich
wife. and died wealthy in worldly fortune.
/acnary Taylor lcfl about $l50.00j.
Milari Fillmore iS a wealthy man.
Franklin Pierce saved $4,000 during
his term of :rrvice ~ President.
James Buchanan died a bachelor, and
left an estate valued 1T S2OO,UU). at the
lr 81.
Abraham LincOll left about $4,000.
Johnson j. said 10 be worth about So
0G0.
President Grant was poor before the
war. BY Il careful htl>bandry of It's sala
ry and through the generous gifts OF
friends before he bccame President. his
fortune is Il handsome compctcnce.-AmcT.
H',f..t.1P Rrr.r1
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01
Corn as Fuel.

\ curious state 81 affairs exists in some
portions ot tn" West. Farmers are not
only burning corn for fuel at the present
time. but LAY Ing in supplies to serve for
the winter. 1t j. u serted THAI corn gives
"A better heat for cooking purposes than
any wood excepting hickory. while. for
economy of consumption. it is cheaper.
Hard wood on the spot costs $40 per
cord. corn, $500. rs compared with
coal. It is estimated that three tons of corn
will give heat equal 10 one ton of coal.
while in economy of use. il is equal 10 one
and a half tons Of the latter.
That this is an unpleasant commentary
upon cur facilities tor transportation can
not be denied. The cost OF food here in
the East is nctorouSly large, and it is
equally tr,c that living expenses have in
but It small degree decreased since the
dars est period OF the war. Yet. such are
the rates of freight or the fewne>S OF car
rying lines that it Seems a better paving
operation TO burn food than 10 send it TO
Eastern markets for sale.
\ contemporary aptly suggests that evil
dencc Is here afforded of the gradual di-
minution of our forests, n serious fact 10
which we have frequently alvcrted.
There are strong efforts being made by
the National Bureau of Agriculture, Is
we'll a. y St::tc societies, to protect the
growing timber, and suggestions from
these sources should te needed and acted
upon. II. Gs the burning of grain i'm
pies. the woodland in the neighborhood
Of corn-producing districts in the West
has become so sadly depleted. it is time
that protective means were adopted and
effective means inaugurated which will at
least supply the deficit TO future inhabit-
ants of the country. Corn may make eX-
crllent fuel for future generations, but it
will scarcely answer rs a material from
which houses or furniture can be con-
structed.-Scientifc ANlcrican.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01
Learn to Listen.

But first learn what listening iS-ior II
is not iLcr"ly the exercise oi the sens" "i
hearing. The s'updc>t 0i Us all can keep
ears cpcn and mouth shut. To listen
prn"criy means To- make other people
jaik properly. That is Il d,linition. il il i
not u Wcb-teran one. The good listener
is cau~c of talking in others. and hy
proper exercise of This valuable and too
,,.arcr "iit. makes the d:llilcnt say what
they think, and the verbose think what
they say. For the greatest talhrrS are
careful when they find they have good
listener. They know that they rlay not
often be 80 fortunate. ami they talk their
best. The adept in listening may some
times hear more pressing than he likes. bat
il h. be- >kiiiiul this will not often happen.
When il i impossible To oct anything i'll
tcrn,ting or useful out of Il man, he need
he listened to no longer. Every one of
sense will agree To tliat. But il l. aston
i>hin: how many good things some very
unprom>ng pcr> .nS viii >av ii they be
properly and c0nScientiOu>ly list, ned to.
TO BE- sure it is We. Y hard tor some per
sons 10 listen. They have gilt for talk
in. and they like 10 exercise it. But
these are the very persons who should do
Il great deal OF listening. They know
What Il luxury it j. 10 talk, and they
should give their itiniIy ana friends Il
chance 10 learn the mt. Besides. like
farmers. they will often find much advaU-
tagc in Il rotation OF crops. y season OF
Ii t"niu9 l. often Il most excellent prepar-
ativc for Il season OF talk.
II is often supposed that if Il man has Il
good thing 10 say. he will say il, but
this j. not necessarily the case. Very OF
ten he never says it, because no one will
give him Il chance. He don't want 10
waste his speech on tools. and the smart
folks want him 10 content himself with
hearing what they have to say. This hap
pcns-nOt in connection with very cool
things. perhaps. but with things that
might lead To very good thing every
day and every hour. in thousands of fani-
lies. all over the land-to say Loihin%
of society.
There are those who so seldom have a
chance 10 speak to interested ears. that
they gradually withdraw themselves into
themselves, wh.rc. not generally finding
much. they intellectually pine away.
TO be sure. we should not fail 10 become
good takers. if We can; but. 10 what We
may. W. can only m3kc one talher OF our
selves. whereas. by proper listening. we
may make dozen takers OF Other pco-
p.c.-Dr. Hy'i4ad.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01
RAYVILIE. La, SATURDAY, FEBRUA AIRY t. 1879

half despair the love that survived sin
and suffering and death and stretched a
hand 10 save and sOothe from the very
grave itself,
On. Barbara, Barbara, your tenderness
had taught You to lay sweet snarcs for
every possible opportunity. Oh. Barba-
RI, Barbara. surely God must have COM
fortcd you in your lonely walking in
those green avenues by the ruined abbey
lie lid not empty your ptre heart Of its
earthly love, but he dropped into il a
balm which changed its bitterness to ce-
lestiai nectar. Up in heaven, where you
are. Barbara, there is only joy over the
returning sinner,
And still the stranger sat on the damp
winter sod, with his face between his
hands. He was not wishing her back. the
dear love Of his youth. Better where she
was. where no mortal soil could ever
touch that great love, which was
long enough, and strong enough, to
stretch from heaven to earth. Only there
lie sat, shutting out from his eyes the
sweet. peaceful scenes around him, even
aS they must be shut from his life. and
seeing far beyond the - waste places" and
Wilderness that his own sins had made.
into that joyful country where the ran
somcd of the Lord shall return" where
they shall obtain joy and gladness. and
sorrow and sighing shall flee away"
That night the stranger walked AGAIN in
front of that lowly house in the quiet by
way. Christmas SavOrS came through
the .itchen window, bright light @leamea
between the curtains, even sounds of clad
young laughter and merry song reached
the lonely watcher without. And hs
could thank God for them now. He
could even smile in sympathy with the
joy he might not share. He had hi, own.
In that lowly house. after supper. when
the young ones were quiet round the fire
cracking nuts and asking riddles. Aunt
Nary fell into n soft sleep on the sofa.
They saw her smile in her slumber, and
when she awO.e sac told them in her sub
dued, pathetic little voice. that she had
been dreaming Of poor Uncle Dick she
saw him with dear Barbara Heron. and
Barbara looked so happy" And even
in my sleep. dcars." She said. ii won
dered within myself, were we all on
earth still, or ali safe together in heav-
en- -
1t must have been about that time that
the stranger left Norham by the midnight
mail-train. He stood up in the carriage.
and stretched ont his head till the last
Spire of Norham Cathedral was lost in the
darkness. But even he had gotten his
Christmas blessing ere he departed-the
prodigal son had found his royal feast
peace and human love.
He came and he went like ghost -
said old Peter. at the Four Swans.-Sun-
tan MqQG-tue
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01
DO Cats Kill Babies.

The old superstition that cats sometimes
Kill infants by sucking their breath has
been lately revived by story in IL Port
land paper, in which it is stated that a
babe was recently found dead in that city.
with large cat lying upon its breast. 4
wriier for the New York Tribune shows
that il would be almost impossible for a
eat To kill child by sucking its breath.
Abiding to the Portland case he says:
Il DO not doubt the death of the child.
or that the animal was present at the time.
but that cat "suckcd its BREATH" or
would or could do so, mus: be regarded, as
piece of gross superStitious ignorance
as such il is hurtfdl and ought not to
pass unchaleagcd. Death is serious
matter, and therefore this subject must
be treated seriously, otherwise it were
easy to ridicule the assumption made,
which | DO not now meet for the first time
Let me say. then, that cat could have
no possible motive for sucking child's
breath, even il it We're possible to do so.
The breath of any animal after it has en-
tered the lungs is disagreeablc and poison
Gus. and We know Of no creature with a
liking for such air.
Are we to suppose that the cat applied
its lips closely To those of the child, and ex-
hauSted the lungs of the latter by filling
its own? If SO. what next? The eat
must breathe or die. Ii it breathes, the
ch Id will breathe also and live.
Blu, it may be said that the cat places
its mouth in such proximity to that of the
child. as to intercept the pure air AMI so
"suca" in that which the child required.
This would involve the death of the cat
first. for it is the smaller animal and the
child, mouth must al so be i'll the proper
position to intercept the pure air acquired
by the cat. That the latter, either from
malignity or affection. would voluntarily
suffer semi-suffOcation, is of course ab-
suru.
In fact, the statement is absurd alto
gether. and it would require the dearest
circumstantial description of the way in
which the act was performed, and that by
diSinterested observer, to entylc the as
sertion even to the consideration here
given. The true explanation of the case
is doubtless very simple. The cat lay
upon the child mouth, and so smothcrcd
il, or upon its stomach and chest. ami by
is weight tired the respiratory muscles
so that they gradually ceased to act, and
the poor little infant to breathe. Let me
say. in conclusion, that such accidents are
frequently facilitated by the senseless way
in which mothers and nurses place their
children, deeply imbedded in soft clothes
and pillows, depriving them, by so doing,
of full supply of the fresh, pure air,
which is their very 1ife."
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01
Hints for Young Mothers.

The three requisites for babies are plen-
ty Of sleep, plenty of food, plenty of fam
mel. The saying that man is bundle of
habits is as true of babies as it is of grown
children. If an infant is accustomed from
its birth to sleep from 6 o'clock at night
until daylight, the habit of early sleep will
be formed, and the mother may have all
her evenings to herself. If the baby sleep
all night, a long morning nap will natur-
ally come about dinner lime, after which
the child, except when very young. should
be kept awake until 6 O'Clock. Perserver-
ance in this routine will soon result in Sc
curing quiet evenings for both the child
and parent. Some mothers have long
season every morning and every night in
getting the baby asleep. They rock them
and sing them till Morpheus enfolds
them. With most children this is entire
IL unnecessary. An infant can be accus-
toned. by few days training, 10 go 10
sleep itself for a morning nap as well as
for the longer rest at night.-Josa7aal q
Cf<,aistry.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01
The Popular Capacity for Scandal.

One of the most Saddening and humili-
ating exhibitions which human nature
ever makes of itself. is in its greedy ere
dulity touching all reports of the Hl;sd,-
meanOrS OF good men. II ! man stand
high aS 4 moral force III In" community ::
II ne stand "a III" rchukcr and Ienouncrr
OF social and political sin; il he be looked
up to by amy considerable number OF pt0-
pie as an example OF virtue; if the whole
trend and power Of lis life he in a high
and pure direction; il his personality auG
influence render any allegation az ;in>t hi>
character most Improbable. then most
re"dily does such allegation find eager be-
livvcrS. 1t matters not from what source
the Slander may come. Mnliitudes will
be influenced by report against good
mans character from one VINO would not
be believed und.r oath in any matter in
v0ivlng the pectIniiry interest of fifty
cents. The slanderec may be not0:iouSly
base e-flay be plndcrer 20 the worst pas
siOnS and the lowest victS-mav be Il
shameless inner against social virtue
may be a thief, a notorious liar, Il drunk
ard, a libcrtine, or hailot-all this mat
terS nothing. The engine that throws
the mud is not regarded. The white OBJ
Seci az which the foul discharges are aim
ed j. only seen: and the delight of the by
ISLANDERS and lookers-on is measured By
the -scccss OF the stain sought 20 be i'll
fiictcd.
A, between the worldling and the man
who processes 10 be guided and controlled
by Christian motives, all this j. natural
enough. Tie man bound up in his selfish
and SENSUAL delights, who sees a Christ ,tian
fall, or hears the report that he has fallen.
i naturally coiniorttl in the bCiet that.
after all, men are a,ikc-lhat no one of
them. however much he may profess. is
better than another. Ii Is quite essential
toJn- comfort that he cherish AMI tortiv
himself in this conviction. So, when any
great scandal arises in quarters where lac
has found himself and his course of life
condemned, he listens with ready ears.
and is Enthusiastically glad. We say thi, is
natural. however base and malignant il
may be; but when people reputed good
nay. people protesting IL be Chr-tian-
slirng their virtuouS shoulders and shake
their + ebic heads, while Il fOul scandal
touches vltally the character of one Ol
their own number. and mcnaces the eX-
ilngui>hment OF an influence higher or
number. by which the world is made bet
ter, We hang cur heads with shame. or
raise them with Indignation. If such
thlng rs this Is natural. it proves just one
thing, viz: that these men are hvpOcrites.
There Is no man, Christian or PAGAN. who
can Icjoice in the flintest degree over the
reputed fall of any other man from rect
tude, without being at heart scamp. All
this readiness to believe evil Of others. .s-
pecially of those who have been reputcd
To be emincntly good. is an evidence of
conscious weakness under temptation. or
of conscious prOclivity 10 vice that finds
comfort in eminent mpanionship.-
Scri5ner'S.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01
Sure Test OF Death.

To learn with absolute certainty wheth-
er person is dead or not. DR.. Hugo Mag
nus suggests the following simple meth
cd. Tie a strong ligaturc tightly around
a finger or toe Of the supposed corpse,
and if life is still present Il reddening,
which grows gradually darscr until it
becomes blush rcd, will occur in that
portion of the member beyond the con-
stricted point. Where from exposure or
toll the skin of the finger has become very
much thickcned, toe may be selected.
On the other hand. if life is extinct no
change in color will ensue. The blush
cOlOratiOn of the nails so often seen on the
dead body, and also in certain cases OF
blood disease. need not be regarded as any
source of fallacy; for after the applica-
ton of the ligaturc, as long as life re-
mains i'm the body the whole of the limb,
from the place Of construction to the ex-
trcmity, will be uniformly blue-red; but
if the cOlOratiOn do not take place, or
only occurs at a circumscribcd spot, IL
can with certainty be concluded that the
spark of life has vanished.
The deep-seated arteries carry blood TO
the extreinities: the veins, which are
more superficial. return the blood toward
the heart. By the ligature the backward
flow of blood is arrested, when, if still
circulating. it continues to pass into the
CONSTRUCTED extremity through the aite-
res, and there accumulating gives rise to
the peculiar color described. The object
OF the above proceeding is simply to as
certain whether the blood still circulates.
as the complete stoppage OF this function,
according to DR.. Magnus, is positive
proof of death.
1t is recommended In the application of
this method that the large limbs, such as
the arms or thigh, be not chosen, because
the necessary amount of construction can
not be so readily obtained. the numerous
large, deep-lying veins of the muscles not
being sufficiently compressed by the liga-
ture. In case the fingers or toes are not
available, the lobe of the ear may be em-
plOved.-Gqiaru.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01
Making Raisins from Grapes.

Ii seems very remarkable that no sue
cessful attempt has been made to dry our
American grapes. With thousands OF
tons annually prOduced-many hundre,i>
of which in seasons of great abundance
the owners would gladly take two cents a
pound tOr-thcre seems to be no way t.
disposJ of them but the wine-tub and
even then, unless doctored with alcoholic
elem nts. so rcpulsive to a large and con
tinually growing portion of the communi-
ty, it is almost like throwing the grapes
away.
The chief trouble with the American
grape is said to be that the skin il so ''wa-
tcr-tight" that it will rather rot than dry
up; and it is supposed that the thn-skin-
ned European grape is free from this de-
feet, and thus affords the raisin-maker a
better reason for his efforts. But those
who have tried the grape as grown in our
lighthouses report that it is just as diff
cult to dry those of the American variety.
As we understand it, there is aprOcess pc
culiar TO tie raisin-making countries
which the grape goes through before it
will dry. This is chiefly the dipping of
each bunch in weak lye. TIE effect is
to open the pores of the fruit, or to make
pores. and in this way the surface mOis-
ture readily escapes under the proper d, s.
sicating treatment. In California. where
the grape Of Europe thrives in the open
air, as it will not DO for us. they have sue
ceeded in making raisins equal to the best
of the Old World. These are selling in
the San Francisco market at tventy-fOur
cents per pound, which, after deducting
all the expenses Of preparation and manu-
facture.is said 70 leave eight cents per
pouHd for the grower of the grapes. Now,
if we did rot know that in this region,
by the ordinary methods Of drying, there
is no more success with the foreign than
with the native grape, one might say that
it was because they have the European
variety that they are successful; but as it
is. it is evident that the whole secret is in
the manner Of preparation, and it offers
encouragement to those who complain OF
an OverstOck of fruit here in the East, to
try over again what can be done in the
raisin line.-Forney' Press.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-02-01

THE glass-blowers in the vicinity of
out of the great fire in the shape of Curl
Gus relics. Their plan of operation is to
blow bottles and other vessels into all sorts
of shapes. resembling the result of intense
h. at. while the inside is ingeniOusly filled
with liquids, from cheap whisky to castor
oil. COrks are inserted showing every
degree of burning, from a slight scorch
to half consumption, while the contents
have the appearance of having remained
intact. These relics sell readily tor from
% Cents inward.