davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11
The Fear of Death.

The dread of death is universal and
instructive; and yet how many rush into
its arms Suicide is a most impressive
fact in this connection. The disap-
pointed lover, the discouraged adventu-
rer, the suspected clerk, the child
wounded in its self-love or fearful pun
ishment, faces the great enemy and in
vites his blow. Every now and then
the community is shocked by suicides
so unprovoked and so frequent as al
most to persuade us that the natural
fear of death is passing away. The in
consistency is easily explained. Lord
Bacon says there is no passion that will
not overmaster the terror of death. For
passion is thoughtless; occupied wholly
with an immediate suffering, it makes
no estimate of any other kind of pain /;
absorbed in an instantaneous sorrow, it
takes no other sorrow into account. The
mind entertains but one passion at a
time, whether it be Joy or fear. But
men are not always or generally under
the influence of passion. Ordinary life
is calm, calculating, considerate, and it
is to ordinary life that death is so terri
BILE. 1t is the thought of death is terri
BILE, not death. Death is gentle, peace
full, painless; instead of bringing suffer
ing, it brings an end of suffering. 1t is
misery's cure. Where death is, agony
is not. The processes of death are all
friendly. The near aspect of death is
gracious. There is picture some
where of fearful face, livid and ghast-
ly, which the beholder gazes on with
horror, and would turn away from, but
for hideous fascination that not only
rivets his attention, but draws him clo-
ser to it. On approaching the picture
the hideousness disappears, and when
directly confronted it is not any more
seen; the face is the face of an angel.
1t is a picture of death, and the object
of the artist was to impress the idea
that the terror of death is in apprehen-
sion. Theodore Parker, whose obser-
vation OF death was very large, has said
he never saw person of any belief,
condition or experience, unwilling to
die when the time came and my own
more limited observation confirms the
truth of the remark. Death is an ordi-
nance of nature, and like every ordi-
nance of nature is directed by benef-
cent laws to benefcent ends. What
must be, is made welcome. Necessity
is beautiful.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11
A New. Invention in Telegraphy.

When Sir William Thompson invent
ed his rejecting galvanometer, and
showed its usefulness for telegraphic
purposes, he insured the success of un-
der sea cables, whatever their length.
With this instrument, the movements
of the little reflector enables the clerk
to read off the message by careful watch
ing. But recently Sir William Thomp-
son has invented an instrument---the
patent siphon recorder---which, as it's
name indicates, writes or records the
message, as received, on O strip of paper.
1t is an essential condition of such an
instrument that it shall be very light
and the siphon, in this case, made of
capillary tubing, is not thicker than a
horse-hair. Indeed, so small is the
bore, that the ink will not flow therein
of itself, but squirts out when electri-
fed. The siphon is connected with O
coil of copper-wire, an electro magnet,
and an ebonite disk, armed with pieces
of soft iron, which being attracted by
the magnet, is kept rotating, and regu-
lates the current flowing from the bat
terry and the cable. Acted on by this
current, the ink, as already stated,
squirts from the siphon, and writes a
succession of dots and dashes, which
represent the letters of the alphabet.
To an unaccustomed eye, the writing is
a confused unme' ming scribble; but a
good telegraph clerk will read it off as if
it were ordinary writing. Thus mes
sage will deliver itself from the other
side of the ocean, thousand of miles dis
tant; and telegraphy has achieved an
other triumph. MdmberS's Journal.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11
Historical and Personal,

Louis XIV. was in 1851 not much be-
yond the prime of life, and he was still
in all the strength of his glory. He
was fifty-three years old, and undoubt-
edly at the head of Europe, Spain be-
ing decadent, Germany divided, and
England only beginning her reaction
against the vassslage of Charles II. and
his brother, under the leadership of
William of Orange. He had gained all
the important triumphs which had CIV
en- him the title of "Great," and the
faint of fraud in some of which has been
so bitterly expiated by France in our
own time. He was master of French
Flanders, Franche-C Comte, and Burgun-
dy. He had inflicted horrible sufferings
upon Holland and Germany. He had
taken Luxembourg, stolen Strasburg,
and bought Casal. His ambition was
known to be still unsatisfed his de-
signs upon the Spanish crown were fore
seen and hence Europe was now en-
gagged in the confederacy which shook
his kingdom to it's foundations, and
prepared humiliation for his gloomy old
age. The influence of the men of gen.
ius (his support of whom constituted
his charm in the eyes of Voltaire) was
still unrivaled, although some of the
greatest of them had passed away. His
personal despotism retained all its un-
questioned ascendancy, and was one of
the dangerous legacies which he left to
his family and to France. In private
life the king had now become what we
may call respectable sinner, and was
gradually sliding into quasi-devout
condition---half conventional, half foun-
ded on fear of the devil---under the
adroit management of Madame de Main
tenon. That lady had been a respecta-
BILE sinner herself, and was penitent
after his Majesty's own fashion, having
passed from a decorous demirep into a
private unacknowledged wife, and add
ed to the perfumes of Versailles tinge
of holy water. She ruled over Louis
passion of religious fear, as the Valliere,
the Montespan, the Fontanges had over
another passion, and, as far as we can
see, with quite as little excuse. Sensual
by calculation, amusing by study, with
the cunning of Becky Sharp vanished
over with the gravity of a court which
was always pompous in its gayest times,
she suited the mature Louis admirably.
And she got her reward for betraying
the Montespan, prosecuting the Protes-
tants, deserting Fenelon, and so FORTH
not the declaration of marriage which
she hoped, but the privilege of nursing
morose, melancholy, disappointed,
and meanly-timid old man, round whose
neck she had hung relics probably as
false as her caresses, and whom she fled
from forever when he had the death
rattle in his throat. Of all the mis-
tresses of Louis XIV, we confess that
the one we like least is the legal one. ---
COrnhiU Magazine.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11
The ExtirpatiOn of the Buffalo.

Secretary Delano takes new and in
structive view of the question of the
prospective extirpation of the bison.
With heartless disregard of the rights
of the noble sportsmen, who feel that
they have lived in vain il they have not
proved their valor by chasing buffalo
cows on the slopes of the Rocky Noun
tains, he suggests that the sooner the
game is disposed of the better for civili-
zation. His argument is that the In
dians will continue more or less intract-
able while the hunting grounds remain;
but, as they become convinced that they
can no longer rely upon the supply of
game for their support, they will turn
to the more equable source of subsist-
ence furnished at the agencies, and en-
deavor to live so that the supply will be
regularly dispensed. Stripped of its
verbiage, this means simply that the
only way to civilize the red man is to
starve him into submission. However
philanthropists may regard this sugges-
tion, it is underlaid by something more
than q modicum of truth. With few
exceptional cases, such as the Cherokees
and Creeks, the Indians have shown no
disposition to abandon their vagrant
habits; but, following the wild herds
from which they have derived their sub
sistence for centuries, they have wan
dered westward year by year before the
white mans advance. preferring to pick
up scanty, chance subsistence, rather
than to stoop to manual labor. Thus
bison and savage are travelling rapidly
the road to extinction; and the child is
born to whom both will be almost as
much an object of curiosity in our
country as the elephant is now.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11
TERMS: s1.5O PER AsNUm d ADVANCE.
Items Of Interest.

An Ohio dairyman wishes to patent
the application of galvanism for the de-
etruction of cheese mites.
Provisions are so scarce in Corea that
the natives willingly pay two young
women for bushel of grain.
Never carry grammar to the bank,
under the impression that the teller
will receive it as parse book.
The Amyntas was wrecked while
going from Holyhead to Workington,
and everyone on board was lost.
The man King, who confessed himself
the murderer of Pook at Greenwich,
England, has been found insane and dis
charged.
Theodore Brown, farmer, living in
Hendricks County, Indiana, killed his
wife by striking her over the head with
a chair.
A tradesman of Paris has been sent to
prison for two years for placing placards
in his window insulting to the National
Assembly.
In Colorado, when a lady wears dia-
mond jewelry to any extent, she is
alluded to by the local gusher as being
well "salted."
The Commissioner of Internal Reve-
nue. wishes Congress to pass a bill
preventing the manufacture of imita-
ton wines without payment of tax by
stamps"
Young Willie Ito whom dear Grandpa
has Just offered half a dollar). "No,
thank you, Grandad. You stick to it
bit longer, and lay it out at Interest, and
I'll get all the more when you pop off,
Old Man"
People who believe the current stories
about intelligent dogs, will read with
pleasure that lost dog in Norfolk,
having seen his masters advertisement
in one of the local prints, promptly
went home.
"Mary, my DEAR" said q doting nus
band to the lady that owned MN, 'If /
| turn Mormon and marry another help
mate, she shall be Mary too, for your
own dear sake p "Be content with
one Mary, my duck" said the loving
wife; Gin my opinion another would be
merely a super-new-Mary."
The President of France usually dimes
as follows A plate of soup, the wing
of a chicken, few leaves of salad, a
glass of claret, and bonbons ad Hbitm7a
If he wishes to dine heartily he adds
a mutton-chop. Instead of Champagne
or liquors, he indulgeB in humorous
conversation and sparkling witticisms.
In the spring of 1871 Rev. DR. G. J.
Gibson, pastor of Grace Episcopal
Church at Petersburgh, Va, gave to
each of his $50 Sunday-school scholars
six grains of corn and directed them to
plant it and send in the proceeds for
foreign missions. The corn, on being
delivered, was found to amount to about
five barrels, worth about twenty dollars.
The idea is novel, but really commend
able.
In Connecticut, cert ain justice was
called to jail to iberate a worthless
debtor by receiving his oath that he
was not worth twenty dollars. "Well,
Johnny" said the justice, on entering,
"can you swear that you are not worth
twenty dollars, and that you never will
be?" "Why, answered the other, rather
chargrined at the question, 81 can swear
that I'm not worth that amount at pres
ent" "Well, well," returned the JUS
tice, 81 can swear to the rest, 30 go along
Johnny" And the man was sworn and
discharged.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11
OdOr of Rattlesnakes.

A writer in Chambers Journal, refer
ring to the peculiar and offensive odor
given forth from the body of rattle
snake when the reptile is enraged, re-
calls a remarkable instance of escape,
which may be credited to q knowledge
of this fact, coupled, however, with
presence of mind, which fully attones
for the rashness of the act which called
it into exercise. DIR. Hamilton Roe,
having opened box directed to the su-
perintendent of the Geological Gardens,
London, put his hand under the layer
of dry moss which appeared, to see what
was there. He touched something alive,
and the smell told him it was q rattle
snake. Had he withdrawn his hand
rapidly, he would have been bitten to a
certainty, since the odor is only appa-
rent when the animal is enraged.
Knowing this, he had the presence of
mind to stroke the reptile, which allow
ed him to take his hand gently away
So powerful and permanent is this oder
that, when a shake is irritated, and
made to bite the rake or hoe with which
it is intended to kill him, the implement
often retains the odor for months.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11
In Peril from a Drunken Engineer.

A few nights since the locomotive of
train on the Pennsylvania Railroad
was run between Pittsburg and Altoona
by an engineer who had, unknowingly
to the conductor, become considerably
intoxicated in the former city. At times,
at the most dangerous places, the man
put the engine to its utmost test---forty-
five and fifty miles an hour. But when
ever he saw a red light he reversed the
locomotive, and brought into operation
the patent air-brakes. The stoppages
from Pittsburg to Altoona on this ac-
count were very many, and the train
was several hours late on arriving at
the latter place. The peculiar move
ments of the train greatly excited the
passengers and filled them with painful
amazement. The conductor had be-
come informed of the engineers condi-
ton, but he could find no one to whom
he could entrust the responsibility of
running the train. He studiously kept
the secret from the passengers, lest it's
divulgement would fill them with ter
ror. Notwithstanding the dangerous
hands in which probably hundred
lives had been placed, the train reached
the end of the engineers run with safe
ty. It is needless to add that the drunk
en- employee of the company was prompt
ly discharged. He had previously been
considered one of the best and most re-
liable engineers---as he was one of the
oldest---on the road. On the day of
the accident, unfortunately, he fell in
with party of friends, and drank an
inordinate quantity of liquor---Altoona
(Penn,) Tribune.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11
The Farmers Vocation Perpetual.

We need not fear that the human race
will ever cease to have q delight in the
cultivation of land---the raising of grain
and fruits---in planting trees. Men al
ways did delight in the pleasure Of ag-
riculture It has been the chosen pur-
suit of the ablest and wisest men in all
ages. The pleasures of the husbandman
have been the theme of poets and ora
tors in every language and in every
land. These pleasures, Cicero tells us,
are not checked by any old age, and
make the nearest approach to the life of
a wise man. And he tells us that Homer
introduces Laertes, soothing the regret
which he felt for his son, by tilling the
land and manuring it. Marcus GURUS,
after he had triumphed over the Sam
mites, over the Sabines, over Pyrrhus,
spent the closing period of his existence
in agricultural pursuits. Cincinnatus
was at the plow when it was announced
to him that he was made Dictator.
"God Almighty" says Lord Bacon,
" first planted a garden; and indeed it
is the purest of pleasures; it is the
greatest refreshment to the spirits of
man, without which buildings and pa
laces are but gross handiworks." Addi-
son says garden was the first habitation
of our first parents before the fall. 1t is
naturally apt to fill the mind with calm
ness and tranquility, and to lay all its
turbulent passions at rest. The philo-
sopher Bolingbroke was never so happy
Pope tells us, as when among the hay
makers on his farm. And not alone in
the refnements of rural life will there
be an interest. Farmers hold the world
together. There may be years when
they seem to be of less consequence.
Trade or manufacturers may allure some
of them for time. But there will ever
be latent in every mans breast O hope
to end his DAYS on farm,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11
Love Lore.

January. The LIST of January is one
of the earliest days in the year you can
take wife on, if you want to. If you
really want two, though, you can't, be-
cause it is not legal.
February. --Feathered songsters choose
their mates. This month they pick
them, presently they will peck them.
Go thou and do likewise.
March. Don't believe the woman
who says she will give you her heart
this month. 1t is not given---it's Lent!
April. The 1st is All-Fools Day.
This is the day to make promises OF
marriage, and accept accommodation
bills. Go it! ..
May Trusting maidens, don't be-
leve in chimney-sweep's suit this
month"; The fellow will most likely
wash it all off on May-day.
June. The longest day occurs this
month. Take care it doesn't come in
the latter end of your honeymoon.
July. Every dog has his day this
month. Bachelor dog-days are num-
bered.
August. The first mail, 1884 Poor
fellow
September. --- Michaelmas day this
month. Wise geese keep close.
October. ---Old Michaelmas-day used
to fall on the 18th of this month.
Hoary-headed and unmarried old gand-
ers chuckle at the thought of their es-
cape.
November Mothers of large families
should get their Guys off their. hands, if
possible, this month.
December. If you have not been
hooked before midnight on the 31st, you
are safe for this year at least.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11
Anecdotes Of John Bunyan.

To pass away the gloomy hours in
prison, Bunyan took rail out of the
stool belonging to his cell, and with his
knife, fashioned it into q flute. The
keeper hearing music, followed the
sound to Bunyan's cell, but while he
was unlocking the door the ingenious
prisoner placed the rail in the stool, SO
that the searchers were unable to solve
the mystery nor during the remainder
of Bunyan's residence in the jail, did they
ever discover how the music had been
produced.
In an old account of Bedford there
IS an equally good anecdote, to the effect
that Quaker called upon Bunyan in
jail, one day, with what he protested to
be a message from the Lord. CATER
searching for thee" said he, Gin half
the lails of England, am glad to have
found thee at last" eff the Lord sent
thee, said Bunyad, sarcastically, ''you
would not have needed to take SO n,uch
trouble to find me out, for He knows I
yearsv asst"
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11
An Essay Upon Correct Grammar.

A searcher after truth writes to ask us
which is dramatically correct, to say,
the house is building" or "the house
is being built :" I" the Street is paving, ,"
or "the street is being paved ?" There
is wide diversion of opinion upon this
subject; but we are inclined to favor
sis being built, for the following rea-
sons Suppose you want to express an
other kind of an idea, would you say,
for instance, Johnny is spanking, " or
Johnny is being spanked ?" The diff
ference to you may seem immaterial,
but it is q matter of considerable i'm
portance to Johnny and it is probable
that if any choice were given him, he
would select the former alternative.
You assert, we say, that Hannah is
hugging," which, by the way, would be
avery improper thing for Hannah to do,
it would be positively scandalous, in
deed. Precisely similar idea is con-
veyed if You say, " Hannah is being
hugged," because it is q popularity of
the act that it is hardly ever one-sided !;
there is no selfshness about it. And it
is the same with kissing "Jane is
kissing" is just exactly as if we should
say, "Jane is being kissed and the
sensation is the same. 1t will not be
necessary, however, for our correspon-
dent to attempt to prove this last men
toned fact by practice. He must take
our own word for it. Unless he does so,
we shall answer no more questions in
Syntax for him or any one else. Our
duty to conserve the morals of the COM
munity, not to start people to playing
private games of Copenhagen.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11

A PHANTASY.

The New Year lay a listening
Amid the drifting snow,
And would not heed
And could not speed,
And knew not where to 90.
Fair Earth, said he,
eff 1 should come
And make my home .
Erewhile with thee,
What precious boon
By night or noon,
Hast thou for me ?"
Flowers and blight,
And song and storm,
And Wintery night
And midday warm,
Delight and dole
With love and strife,
Heart and soul ,
and busy life
These, good Year,
I'll gife to thee.
And now, sweet Year,
What hast for me ?"
Low laughed the Year;
"'Iis well to give
The things I bring
That thou mayst live.
Now tell me, Earth,
Which gifts are thine,
And which are mine,
By right of birth?
And what were I,
Still lacking thee?
And what were thou
Bereft of me ?"
The Earth had not
A word to say,
But rolled along
It's steady say;
And still the Year lay listening
Amid the drifting snow,
. That would not heed
And could not speed,
And knew not where to go.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11

The remarkable faculty which dogs
have of finding their way home from a
strange locality by paths previously un-
known to them seems to fail in great
cities, where dogs so frequently lose
their way completely. A writer in the
Quarterly RevieV thinks that they
"have a certain sense of the magnetic
currents, suficing to afford them a sort
of internal mariners compass, marking
the direction in which they travel. We
know that the magnetic currents affect
the needle, and the hypothesis that they
may also affect living frames with special
organizations seems no way incredible;
while the fact that dog which can find
his way for hundred miles in the open
country, may lose it in five hundred
yards in town, seems to point to the
multitude of streets turning to right
angles as the cause of confusion to q
sense which simply indicates a straight
direction.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11

The girls in the first class of the High
School in Portland, Maine, have made
q decided movement in favor of sim
plicity in dress. The class, between
thirty and forty in number, have al
most unanimously agreed to adopt for
school wear dresses of plain, substantial,
and inexpensive material Fanciful
ornaments and jewelry are to be used
only to limited extent, which is speci-
fed and fully understood by the girls
Many pupils in the lower classes are
ment to cause the young girls in Amer
lea to dress simply is worthy of highest
commendation. 1t is painful to see
those who are fresh and young, and who
are ostensibly occupied in gaining an
education, so dressed as to show plainly
that their thoughts are largely spent
upon outward adornments.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11

A topper got SO much on his stomach
the other day that said organ repelled
the load. AS he leaned against lamp
post vomiting, little dog happened to
stop by him, whereupon be indulge3
in this soliloquy 4" Well, now, here's Z
conundruu. L know where I ate the
baked beans, I remember where 1 ate
that lobster, recollect where I got that
rum, but I'm hanged if can recall
where ate that little yaller dog.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11

The ship Benares, which left Hong
Kong for San Francisco on the 18th of
September, has been wrecked off the
Loo Choo Islands, and all perished ex-
cept five.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11

Boswell once asked johnson if there
was no possible circumstance under
which suicide would be justifable.
"No," was the reply. "Well," says
Boswell, Suppose man had been
guilty of fraud that he was certain
would be found out" "Why, then" :"
says johnson, "in that case let him go
to some country where he is not known,
and not to the devil, where he is
know"
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-01-11

The number of hogs slaughtered in
Cincinnati, for one week was 43, 900, and
the whole number from November to
the present date $4,000.