davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
The Best Pathhnders.

Do my young Americans know who
are the best path6nders on the Ameri.
can continent, the great original path
finders of the West? I'll tell you. They
arc the buffaloes. Yes, sir, It's true.
Hear what a correspondent Of st. Mich
olas writes with the quill Of dear gray
goose friend Of mine:
As the frosts Of winter destroy their
pastures In the north, 40 the heats Of
summer parch those in the south, and
the bufTaloes must, each spring and au-
tumn, take long journeys in search Of
fresh feeding grounds. Tho large size
and weight Of these somewhat clumsy
explorers make it rather difficult for
them to cross the mountains, 30 they
seek out for themselves the most practi-
cable routes; and hunters and emigrunts
have found that "bufalo-track" offers
the surest and safest path for men and
horses. The best prsses in the Cumber-
land and Rocky mountains, and the re-
gions Of the Yellowstone, and the Col
orado, have been discovered by follow
ing the trail Of these sagacious animals.
know this ia no, for the great travel
er, Hnmbolt, once wrote: "In this way
the humble buffalo has filed a most inn
portant part in facilitating geographical
discovery in mountainous regions other
wise as trackless as the Arctic wastes, as
the sands Of Sahara. ."--Jaek-in-tt E'll-
pit-iSt. Nicholas for December.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
Very Absent Minded.

The most absent-minded man we ever
knew was our friend General Mumm.
He lost one of his legs in the late war,
and he always wore patent artificial
leg, full of springs and joints. Some
times when he started out in the morn
ing he would get his leg on hind part
foremost, and then would go straddling
down street with one set of toes pointing
east and the other set pointing west.
His right knee would point in another,
and the old man would bob up and down
like jumping-jack worked with string.
Presently he would meet US and come
jolting up to say that he wished we
would pitch into the highway depart
nient for leaving the pavements in such
a rascalIy condition that man couldn't
walk straight Previous to the war,
while he lwns down at Cape May one
summer, he took buff bath early in
the morning, and while in the water he
rgot to meditating upon some abstruse
subject, and forgetting himself, he came
walkinglout upon the beach, and up th'
street to the hotel, dressed in nothing
but asad, sweet smile, just as the peo
pie were coming down to breakfast
Only short time ago he hitched hi
horse to snllxy, with the lnimaps nos,
pushed close up against the dasher, ant
started off backwards without noticin,
the direction. At the end of the frs
half mile the vehicle jammed up agains
a tree, and the General shot out over tn
horses tail. If he dosen't get out G
his coffin at his own funeral and insis
upon going as pallbearer it will be sir
gular.-Mdz Adeler.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
The Telescope Of the Age.

The Washington Telescope, for the
building of which Congress made an
appropriation of $4,000 some years ago,
is now being mounted at the National
Observatory in Washington. The in
strument rests on a pier of stone and
brick work extending eighteen feet be-
low the surface, and the pier is capped
by single block of sandstone, weigh
ing about two tons. On this stone rests
a heavy iron castsing weighing one and
a quarter tons, and this supports the in
stument. Although the weight of the
moving parts is about four tons, the i'm
mense mass can be moved by a slight
pressure of the hand. The length OF
the instrument is thirty-two and hall
feet, and the telescope tube is of sheet
steel riveted together. The important
part of the instrument, the object glass
is twenty-six inches in diameter, and
was made in England, at cost of 81,
600. The telescope is splendidly mount
ed for all movements, and the size of th'
object glass will relieve the observe
from the effects of atmospheric disturb
ances, which, with smaller glasses ar
extremely troublesome.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
The Wonders Of sOIomon's Cave.

Further discoveries have recently oc-
CURED in Solomon's Cave, Ophir Gulch,
Montana, which point to the conclusion
that it was once the hidlng-place of men.
In the words of the .explorer, who was
accompanied by three others, leaning
against the wall was a huge plate of cop
per, fifty-seven inches in length and
thirty-six inches in width, and about
one-fourth of an inch in thickess. This
we took TO be shield, as near the GEN.
tire were two holes, eight inches apart,
used, doubtless, for inserting 3 strap
through which to slip the arm. 1t was
wrought by hand, as the marks of a
sledge or other heavy instrument were
plainly visible on it. About ten feet be-
yond where the Shield was found, and
eight feet from the floor, was a cavity in
the wall ten feet i'm length and over four
feet high. Placing few large stones
one upon another, Barnard climbed up
and held his light in to see the extent
of the opening, bat he Immediately turn
ed towards us with a frightened look,
and it was some seconds before he could
explain the nature of the discovery he
had made. Bot when he assured Us
that in that niche lay q Petrifed giant,
all were eager to look at him. He was
found to be nine feet seven and half
inches in length, thirty-eght inches
across the breast, and two feet deep
He was covered from head to foot with
coating from one to two inches in thick
ness, similar to that found on the roofs
and pillars in a number of places, hard
ar limestone, and along the sides this
casting, as il appeared at first to be, had
united with the rock on which il lay,
leaving this relic of the stone age, or
some other distant age, literally encased
in. A helmet of brass or copper of gigan-
tic proportions was upon his head, which
the corrosive elements of time had seal
ed to his brow. 1t is the most perfect
petrifaction ! have ever seen, the whole
body being as solid as though cut out
of block of marble" The party also
found lots of pictures chiseled in the
walls; also, primitive quartz-crusher
The next time they are going into the
inner chambers of the cave, where they
suppose there are vast deposits of money
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
The Fan Palm.

The fan palm is found in greatest
abundance in the warmer portions of
South America and the East Indies.
1t usually grows in groups, and lives to
the age Of century and a half The
wild tribes of GUardnues, who live near
the mouths of the Orinoco, derive their
entire sustenance from this tree. They
suspend mats made of the stalks of the
leaves from stem to stem, and during
the long rainy season, when the delta is
overhowed, they reside entirely in the
trees; by means of these mats keeping
warm and dry, and living among their
leafy bowers as securely as if they be-
longed to the monkey tribe. Their
hanging huts are partially covered with
clay; the fire for cooking is lighted on
the lower story, and the traveller, in sail
ing along the river by the night, sees the
flames in long rows, looking as if sus-
pended in the air. The fruit of this
same tree supplies the food of the in
habitants of the huts, the sap makes q
pleasant drink, the blossoms sometimes
form an agreeable salad, and the pith oi
the stem contains at CERTAIN seasons q
sort Of sage-like meal, with which
to vary their bill of fare.-FrOm 81. Nich
oLas for December.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
Increase of National Bank Notes.

On the other hand, the increase of na-
tional bank notes, in any normal and ap-
propriate conditions for their increase,
duly secured by national stocks, and an
adequate legal tender average reserve,
and without any increase of legal tender
issues, may tend to promote instead OF
hindering specie payments. For as ma
tional banking increases its volume OF
notes and deposits, the amount of legal
tenders thus locked up in reserves is in
creased. This in itself tends to render
them scarcer, and SO dearer, and so far
forth to approximate to the specie
standard-only, however, on the inexor-
able condition that there is no augmen-
tation of their quantity, which always
involves, while they remain inconverti
BILE, a proportionate deterioration o.
their quality.-Prcf. Atrcater, in iScribner'
| for December.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
The Ne Plus Ultra of Nights.

There is no night Like Saturday night;
all the other nights bring promise Of
laborious tomorrow. Saturday night
only invites to rest and contemplation; it
only promises a morrow of peace and
quietude. Saturday night the weary
laborer gathers his household about
him, and teaches them, by example and
precept, that there is more Of this life
than toll; that eating and drinking are
not the chief end of man.
Saturday night is the time for revi-
wing the gentle emotions, for increasing
in the better and .kindlier qualities Of
our nature; for rshowing forth the mel
lowing influences of time and toll
This night, If any, exhibits that growth
in those attributes Of the soul-purity
and goodness-which are the evidences
that the grinding mills of the gods,
though exceedingly slow" are yet fit
ting the creature for the unfoldings Of
the great hereafter.
Saturday night is ~ near like happi-
ness to the appreciative mind as any
thing this life affords to the average hu-
man being. At least for that night
they are children again, freed from care.
, The morrow" is sacred from intrusion;
tits indeed to Him that ordained il, and
to His people everywhere. All who OBJ
serve it probably find needed rest, and
a renewed strength.
Saturday night borrows of the ap-
preaching Sabbath an "holy fragrance, y
and its hours glide into the past beam
ing with joy and peace. The "anticipa-
! ted" relief from toll and vexation is q
great pleasure, 'tis almost sure, and we
are so constituted as to enjoy possibili.
ties as much, il not more, than actuali
ties.
We are sorry for the household thai
cannot rejoice in Saturday night; w
are sorry for the man who cannot lay
down a burden on Saturday night, and
trust, for the next day, at least; we pity
the class of persons who look foFwarC
to the day following Saturday night a
a day for buying and selling and get
ting gain" Could Saturday night b.
done away with, there are many Wit
would be glad to be also done ava,
with. Their burdens are borne thus ia
by employing all the mind, might, an'
strength they possess, and one more da,
added, with the abolition of the restful
ness of Saturday night, would heap VI
the measure of their distresses beyon'
endurance.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
A Word i'm Season.

The following taken from the Chi
cago Tribune, is, we consider, word in
season:
"One thing every man ought to do at
this time, viz: Pay the small current
debts which, as a rule, are held by mi
nor dealers, or workmen, who need their
money from day to day. There is no
doubt that the "panic" has served
as an excuse for not paying bills which
might have been discharged as well as
not. The time has passed when this ex.
cuse has even plausibility with regard
to the debts in question. For all
the every day purposes of life, there ii
now an ample amount of money in cir
culation everywhere"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28

Our monitors are armed exclusively
with smooth-bore guns--a fact which
especially fits them to encounter hostile
iron-clads. 1t is we'll known that when
a rifle-bullet is fred at a window pane it
goes through the glass, making hole
large enough only for its passage. When
the same bullet is thrown by hand the
glass is broken into dozens Of pieces. An
analogous effect is produced by smooth
bore and riAed ordnance respectively
when used against iron armor. The
rife ball, moving at high velocity
simply pierces the armor; while the ball
from the smooth-bore, moving at COM
paratively low velocity, smashes the ar
NOR and the backing behind il into
hopeless wreck. A knowledge Of thu
fact, deduced from careful experiment
led TO the arming Of the monitors will
smooth-bore guns, and instead of regret
ting that they do nOt carry rifles W.
ought to congratulate ourselves upoi
the fact they are armed with the mos
efficient weapons in the world for fight
ing Spanish or any other irOn-clads.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
POETRY.


Ioxa God-speed, tits the time for saying,
Fareweil words, be they cold or tendeT'
~ when the tyrannous North Is laying
o- All the autumn's brittle splendoF5
Now when shorn of her last defender
soiled A. with hands of spoil and Staying,
nurohlv her victor's nod obeying,
Summer smiles forlorn surrender!
Iook where we went in the glad dead weather,
Opulent then with its deeps OF greenness'
pouaed by a heaven as blue M heather,
Owe its pastoral sweet sereneness,
Look how the blast, with a sworn-oiade
keenness,
Rufna the trees We have loved together
smites, displumes them, feather BY feather
Wasting Them into meagre me2nness
June may glow yet the shrewd December,
Hiding and bid-ng, gives no token
Loss will reach to the hearth-stOne's einbeT,
whether the door be iron or oaken.
We but wat till the doom be spoken,
Even as woods that the winds dismember;
Hearts. ike the leaves have their November
Hearts, like the leaves, are bruised and
broken.
Last NIGHT love while the winds were signing,
PIafntive now, now in tones that thundered,
I who listened, wakefully lying,
Thought OF thee, as lay, and wondered
since heard how they drave and piunder-
ed
saIs n NV life's own anguish crying?"
Homes iike the leaves, have a time for dY ing
Earthly lives, like the leaves are sundered T.
-ADDLekOa's Journal
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
A Modern VIM. Tell.

At the City Gardens yesterday, in ad-
dition to The regular entertainment,
rather an innovation wassintroduced in
the form of some very fine marksman-
ship. During last week certain corre-
spondent of an Eastern paper was ban
tered into allowing another gentleman
to shoot a half dollar from his fingers
with small cartridge rifle, and q after
some practice both gentlemen agreed to
exhibit their nerve on Sunday before an
assemblage. Yesterday they managed
to distance William Tell and his son to
some extent, for one of the gentlemen
eneither of whom wished to have his
name mentionedl held not only half 9
dollar, but quarter and a ten-cent piecs
in his hand, at which the other fired
striking the coin each time, after which
an apple was placed upon the head o
the newspaper man, and the other gen
tleman sent bullet through the centre
A gentleman connected with the cit,
press then allowed the marksman Il
shoot three half dollars out of his fin
gers.--Sdnfraneisc Call.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
How Soldiers Fared i'm '76.

Some curious old papers, some of them
on State affairs, have lately come into
the possession of the Secretary of War
at Washington. The following il sadly
interesting for the disclosure it makes
of terrible privations In the patriot cause
in the Revolutionary days, such as f.
nally tempted too successfully one bril-
liant officer to become a traitor. Ar
nold'ssuferings do not excuse him, for
the rest suffered as much as he and re-
mained true:
Among the papers is letter of Ben
edic Arnold, written just thirty-four
DAYS before he consigned his name to
infamy. It is dated at West Point, and
addressed to Col. Pickering, Quarter
master at Philadelphis. 1t tells a sad
story of privations of the Revolutions
ry heroes. He states "that there is
not a tent or any kind of camp equip
age at that poverty struck place." that
"the quartermaster's department is en-
tirely empty" and that "there is only
one camp kettle to eighty or one hum
| dred men,"
He complains very bitterly of this
| state of affairs, and begs Col. Pickering
to find remedy, and adds q postscript
to his letter in which he says: "There
is not a quire of paper or article of sta
tionery at this post or in the depart
ment"
To this grievous complaint Col. Pick
ering replied: "I am unhappy TO inform
YOU that I have not yet received one
farthing of money for any purpose what
ever, nor can get any, there being non'
in the treasury, and the articles can no
be supplied. You shall hear from m'
again when get to headquarters, which
shall be when / can obtain none,
enough to defray the expense of ny
journey"
How forcibly this correspondence il
lustrates the trials and tribulations tina
acquired for us our birthright of free
dom
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28

paper; and she tried to tell how she had
been led to falsify and prevaricate-
That was not time for chiding. Poor
Sarah was like one whose heart was
breaking. She had come to think now
of Robert. He would despise her after
this.
Mr.. Powers looked at his watch. Pres
emily he whispered to his wife, and
then arose and left the room; and short
Iy afterward left the house.
In half an hour he returned.
Sarah" he said to his daughter, who
sat with her head upon her mothers
shoulder, Robert is in the parlor. Go
in and see him."
There was fearful struggle, but the
better genius conquered, and Sarah
went TO her injured lover.
By and by both Robert and Sarah
came into the drawing-room. They had
been weeping freely but they seemed
very happy nevertheless. Sarah came
/ and kneeled at her parents feet.
ther-mother-will you pardon
and forgive, as Robert has done?"
"Yes,-yes, my child"
"Then / will try to deserve your con-
/ fdence heneeforth o, do want to be
happy once more, and never, never
Robert caught her to his bosom and
held her there; and her father came and
rested his hand upon her head.
II know it is a bitter lesson, deal
child, but 1 believe blessing will follow
it. It is possible that from this time
you may be happier than you have evei
been"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
Lime VS.. A shes.

Place piece of iron or steel in damp
ashes, and it will soon corrode with rust.
Place iron or steel in lime mortar, and
it will remain bright and the rust will
disappear. Sow small grain where
brush pile or log heap has been burned,
or where a liberal dressing of ashes has
been applied, and there will be rank
growth that will probably fail and never,
mature Sow grain where lime has been
applied to the soil, and the grain will
grow with stout, stiff straw, and plump,
hardy heads that mature we'll.
Ashes cause a rank growth of herbac-
ceous parts of plants, such as leaves,
straw, and grass; lime induces growth
of the woody part of plants, and the
grain or fruit Ashes stimulate heavy
muck, and rich or virgin soils. They
seem to act specially on vegetable mold
and manures from the barnyard. Apply
to the most offensive pile of compost,
and they will render inodorous and
worthless as fertilizer, their effect be-
ing that of releasing the ammonia from
the compost Ashes used with COM
post heap of decaying vegetable matter
would be wasted-worse than wasted
as they render the compost inert as
fertilizer. Applied to an offensive sink
sewer, or cess-pool, they serve an excel
lent purpose as disinfectant. They pro
mote the growth of grass and forage
especially, proving very valuable on low
lands; will stimulate trees, etc., to Wig
orous growth when the soil is strong
They exhaust strong soils and injur'
poor ones.
Lime improves poor soils, especially
sandy ones, by rendering them NOR
compact and capable of retaining fertili
ty when applied. As a promoter o
health and vigor of apple trees, it is on
of the best applications that can be mad
to the soil. Under its influence tree
are freer from disease. Lime may b
applied with benefit on most soils an
many plants, but it is of special valu
to the apple tree and strawberry plants
D while ashes are valuable for heavy @
rich soils for the grosser feeding ofplant
: such as our native plums and currar
l bushes.-Cor. Horticultural
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-28
"Uncle Sam.e

National nicknames have a curious
origin; and some one who claims to
know. gives an account of the origin of
"Uncle Sam"
Immediately after the declaration of
the last war with England, Ebbert An
derson, of New York, then contractor,
visited Troy, on the Hudson, where was
concentrated, and where he purchased
large quantity of provision-beef, pork,
&c. The inspector of these articles at
that place were Ebenezer and Samuel
Wilson. The latter gentleman (invarI-
ably known as "Uncle Sam") generally
superintended in person large number
of workmen, who on this occasion were
employed in overhauling the provisions
purchased by the contractor for the
army. The casks we're marked "E. A.
u. s." This work fell to the lot of
a facetious fellow in the employ of the
Messrs Wilson, who, on being asked
by some of his fellow workmen the
meaning of the mark for the letters
"U. S." for United States, were then al
most entirely new to them,) said che
did not know unless it ment Ebbert An
derson and "Uncle Sam" Wilson. The
Joke took among the workmen and pass
ed currently; and Uncle Sam himself be-
ing present, was occasionally rallied by
them on the increasing extent of his pos
sessions Many of these men being OF
a character denominated "food for pow
DER" were found shortly afterwards fol-
lowing the recruiting drum and pushing
toward the frontier lines, for the double
purpose of meeting the enemy und eat
ing the provisions they had put in
good order Their old jokes of course
accompanied them, and before the first
campaign ended, this identical one first
appeared in print. 1t gained favor rap
idly, till it penetrated and recognized il
every part of our own country, and viii
no doubt continue to do so while th'
United States remains a nation. 1t orig
mated precisely as above stated, and thu
writer of this article distinctly recol
lects remarking, at time when it frs
appeared in print, to a person who wa
equally aware of its origin, how odd i
would be should this silly joke, origin
ating in the midst of beef, pork, pickles
mud and salt, become a national cog
nomen.