davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03
Kissing the Bride.

A sTALwART young rustic, who was
known as formidable operator In '.free
fight had just married a blooming and
beautiful young country girl only eighteen
years of age; and the twain were at q party
where number of young folks of both
sexes were enjoying themselves in the
good, old-fashioned pawn playing style.
Every girl in the room had been called
out and kissed except Mrs. B., the
beautiful young bride aforesaid, and al
though there was not youngster present
who was not ''dying'' to taste her lips,
they were restrained by the presence of hel
herculean husband. who stood regarding
the party with look Of sullen dissatis.
faction. They mistoOk the cause of hi:
anger. however, for. suddenly rolling up
bis sleeves, he stepped into the middle OF
the room. and. in a tone OF voice that al
once secured marked attention. said:
Gentlemen, have been noticing how
things have been working here for somt
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03

length of time, and amt half satisfied.
| don't want to raise fuss. but
"Wh1t's the matter. JOhn?" inquired
half dozen voices; "what do you mean;
have we done anything to hurt your feel
ings?"
"ies, you have, all; all of you have
hurt my feelings. and I've got just this
10 say about it: here's every gal in the
room been kissed nigh dozen times
apiece. and here's NY wife. who cOnsid-
er As likely Is any of EN-, has not had a
single one tonight. and | just tell you,
now, ifshe don't get as many kisses the
balance of the time as any gal in the
room, the man that Sights her has got
me to fight. that'sal. Now go ahead with
your plays"
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03
Changing Clothing.

HEALTH and sometimes life itself is
often lost by laying aside winter clothing
too early. Laying flannels aside in the
spring Is most perniciOus practice.
They are as necessary In July as in Janu-
ary. We can better do without wOOlens
next the skin in mid-wintsr than in mid
summer. We do not get Overheated in
winter; we do in summer; and the most
frequent exciting cause of coughs, colds,
and consumption is rapid falling OF the
temperature of the body. All are famll-
lar with the fact that a sudden checking
of perspiration is always dangerous very
little exercise causes us to perspire in
sumner, and a very slight draft of air
checks the perspiratiOn; hence, eminent
French physicians have stated, that colds
taken in summer excite the most incura-
BILE forms of consumption. White WOOL
en- flannel is a most efficient guard against
these sudden changes, because it keeps
the heat of the body in, while it repels
the excessive heat from without; it con-
veys the water Of perspiration to its out-'
side, while the surface next the skin Is
drier. We all know that silk, cotton, and
linen next the skin get saturated with
water, and If, for an instant, the slightest
draft Of air gets between the skin and the
material, there is a charnel-like chill
when that material touches the skin.
The rule should be to wear white WOOL
en- flannel next the skin all the year
round; thick in winter, little thinner in
April, a gauze material on the first day OF
July; on the first Of October resume
what was laid aside in July; on the first
OF December put on the thickest, extend
ing to ankles and wrists.
These rules of changes are especially
necessary to all old people, to all invalids
and young children; day laborers and al
outdoor workers would be intellectually
benefited by the same Observances.-
Halls Journal Of Health for Aprit.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03
Concerning DOOr.Mats.

IT is reported from Philadelphia that
the noble little boy who, during the late
appalling winter, stole three hundred and
ten dOOr-mats, and with the proceeds
thereof maintained his infirm and ire
prOachable mother, is at present seeking
some new opening for honest industry.
In calling attention to his case, we desire
less to advertise his individual worth than
to remark that his theory Of life Is by no
means unique. Indeed, II appears to us
that American society, just now, has re-
solved itself into vast organization to
encourage the lifting of dOOr-mats for BEN
evOlent purposes.
Eminent business men who lend their
names to strengthen rotten speculation,
and sell their preferred stock at a pre-
MUM, putting the money into the cOntri-
butiOn-box, are following the footsteps of
the filial little boy. Traders who sell dis
honest goods, and who live cleanly and
build churches young women who, with
out love, marry for money or position
or ease, and never forget morning prayers
nor the claims of Sunday-schOOl, nay, who
help INDECENT parents and forward the
prospects of fair and needy sisters; cler-
gymen who, though GOd-fearing men,
scruple net to fill their pews by charla-
tanrv, and raise church funds by world
ly and unsanctified means; that
whole greedy public which bankers
for money and gets 1t how it may,
justified to itself by the self-assurance
that the base store shall be spent only for
humane and useful ends-each and all OF
these are taking the dOOr-mat, and thank.
ing heaven for their fine intentions con.
cerning its disposition.
Sc -,
present blindness of society to the value OF
ehd justihes the means is the worm at the
root of the social tree. The carelessness
of unimpOrtant engagements, the post
poning Of the payment of bills, the spend
ing of money for nothing-all these habits
in the most well-intentiOped people are
very dangerous. Society rests on absO
lutte intee erity aud honesty. fyea become;
nay, and nay yea, If public man or
private citizen may, by any indirection
take an iota which is not truly his owl
without general reprobation, we have
started on that road which leads to gen
eral chaos. No great trade can be health
lily maintained without ap absolute re
ciprocal reliance on the mere word o
masters and men. Commerce would b'
disastrOusly hindered il commercial OBJ
legations were lightly held.
Horace Mann used to say that the IA
miliar maxim, LET justice be done
though the heavens fall" ought to b
rendered, Let justice be done, lest tn
heavens fall" since it is only justice tina
keeps the eternal arch self-pOised. AM
justice means absolute honesty. Each
us knows for himself wherein he is cor
victcd of the habitual TAXI 9 Of dOor-mat
for noble ends. 1t is for each Of US I
make private restitution. and to abjure hi
pleasant peculations.-H and Hon,
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03
LOTS WIFE.

THREE of us held Joint possession of a
"claim" in one of the rural districts OF
the placer-mining country. At first we
had excellent success; the sand seemed
rich with dust, and several small nuggets
Of the pure ore attested our rising for
tunes. In short time, however, the Weld
began to diminish; somehow it didn't
seem to "pan out'' well. Our scanty
washings Of dust grew scantier every day,
There was little chance for romance In
the life we led. We worked hard in the
"diggings" all day, taking our cold snack
ut noon and morning and evening sstoOk
turns" In our culinary duties, and the
keeping Of our little shanty. Upon wash
Ing d9Hs-"lew and far between''-after
Wresohng nightly with soiled garments
anoc!eek water, au2menttng considerably
therein the alluvial deposit, we were wont
70 lounge In triune council, smoking our
pipes OF peace, and viewing complacently
cur renovated apparel, dripping and sway.
ing upon the tops Of the neighboring
brush.
The surrounding "claims," with the
exception Of one adjoining, had been
worked out and abandoned long AGO: but
with pertinacity born of necessity. we
had clun2 to ours. We had put in every.
thing we had, here; and 1t must be q hard
struggle which should cause us to throw
1t ill mp, and leave empty.handed. Tht
boys In the next claim were either s'harde]
up" or more easily discouraged than we
for after trying in vain to sell out, they
abandoned their claim and left the mine,
entirely-all but one man, who, for som,
reason best known to himself, decided {,
remain behind.
There were no other occupied ''claims'
within Q space of three miles; and ou
nearest point of obtaining supplies bein,
aday's journey out, one can easily imag
Inc that in our isolated situation the gall
of q comrade was not merely nomina
consideration.
Tomkins. the newcomer, or slot" q
he was familiarity called, was a character
Originally New Hampshire man, an,
shiftless as only q degenerate scion from
= he thrifty New England stock can be, h
,,n1d emigrated from the "land of stead,
~habits, |" first to the West. and from theme
to our American Gel Dorado" Fate,
to disappointment he had drifted abou
hither and thither, led by one freak an,
another, until finally he had settled dow
in the mines. Lot was famous story
teller, abounding in legendary lore, an
rich in store Of quaint old-time ballads. Il
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03

PICKLES, according to DR.. Hall, are
good for those who crave them. He rea-
sons that often the system needs an acid
that acids promote the secretion of bile,
and that when a person Graves something
sour it is nature calling for a remedy for
fever, or biliousnees, or indigestion. 1t
is the vinegar that does the good. There
fore it is necessary that pickles should be
made Of pure vegetable vinegar.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03

PROF. HENRY says that fifteen tons of
anthracite coal burned in the furnace of
one of our best engines, exerts an energy
equal to that of an able-bOdied slave
working ten hours day for thirty years
of his active life.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03
miscellaneous Selections,

BY wirnM. cARLEToy.
--lr
rome men NCrs ~ IN for great things
some were burt tor mall;
Why they wer, aorn a, all.
But Uncle Sammy was cereain no had a lepitimat
call.
80
Some were born with talent.
Some with scrip and land;
And some with y d r.rent brand.
But Uncle SAMMY came 'hnId,ny an argument il
each hand
Arguments slrut ted within him
And twinked ~ hi. little eve;
When ayeraea Iabics cry
And seemed to be pol1d,.rir,y ,rayelv whether a
live or Ia (Iic go
Hut nreiu1 col ~, t.,ot oues,iop
He RrZw from ,i1,, In dav
JT<ras 4; ~ t,,. ,in, 70 stay.
And so jnto Iic.Ss ~ sim he reas6ned an,
ress,ned b,. ,,av A'
Thrnuob childhood tbrouph Youth int.
manbood =
Ard h. marr;ad q simnIs msiden
Tbomph Scarcely in iaye was She.
But no reason.d ,be ,oott,r so clsarIv sbe bo
conId helm hut agree
And tbouRh at first she was blooming,
And thouyh JTncie sammy lated her
And tr;sd =, hain bar atonC
She faded auay IN sii.nea and ;fras evid.n,
somstbing Was wronv
""'
Now Uncle Sammy WAS faithful
a. He gave her the Doctors prescriptions.
Ara n,nntv 81 iooic beside.
Rut lov;c .nd ,na,{.ino t,iIed him and so one
dav sbe JiaJ '
"' '"e
ue laid ber avav i'm the cburch-vard
And resrsJ her % a costIv tomhst"ne
With Ali II her yirtues ON:
And ought IN have added "a victim of argyll
ments nro and con
For MANY a year Uncle Sammy
n;snnssinM nm- ,yss a. bis n.' dceunation
snd aI,arca,ia. hIs .,,nrt.
ue orcn.d h,n.slf ant of chnrcbes no argued
' "eueu h;,ns",r ;Dtn cnnrt e'' IN "-e"'
''''
I'm, alas 6,r his nesce and ouiet
One day, when he went Il blind,
ana IonoWeu ms s,hsuia, nancy,
Anu siighleu ms iogicar inina, ,,i
anu liarrieu p ponuelv"us Wioo" .na' WASH Vi
the arguing kind'
u.,:-,.. II, ,.... ..,,,o,
Her habits were planted and grown,
Her heart was starved little creature
A.. That followed a VIII OF her own;
And she raised high hand with sammy, and
proceeded to play it alone.
With all of his strength and his wit,
And many a dex trous encounter
And many a fair shoulder hit;
But vain were his blows and his blowing: he
never could bulge her bit
Ne scr,ned at her Win his saws.
He rained great facts nnon her
And read her the narriage Laws.
Rut tho harder he tried ~ vinc. ber IT, b.rdr
and harder sbe was '''> '''' ''i
'N
ksmany as ever She conld"
With sentim, nts terribIv settled
And annetites borribiy GOOD
Who SAT with bim long AT bis fable and .x-
plained 10 him where he stood
To follow the swing of her gown.
And came to be faithful in watching
The phase of her smile and her frown:
And she with the best of assertion, soon tramped
ali his arguments down
And so, with his life-aspirations
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03

THREE American gardeners will be
allowed to raise vegetables i'm Austrian
soil TO compete for the agricultural pre-
miums at the Vienna Exposition.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03

Texas is the third State in the Union,
as wheat growing State. The wheat
crop of Texas was, in average per acre,
just equal to that of California last year.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03

The police of New Haven are no longer
to be permitted to carry umbrellas.
Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-05-03

On the ensuing morning we were able
to arrive at q more correct estimate of the
new conner, who early introduced herself
to us as "Lot's wife," She was Of fair
complexion, short in stature, and very
slim about the waist. Her thin flaxen
hair was drawn smoothly back from q
prominent forehead, and fastened in q
tight button-like knot at the back of her
neck. Restless blue eyes, a sharp nose,
thin cheeks, and firm, large mouth, fill
ed with even, white teeth, completed the
list Of her personal characteristics. Ener-
gy, decision, business, was written on
every lineament of the little woman's
countenapce-spoke In every restless move
OF her "lissome' body.
In the first three sentences she spoke q
contract was matured, to the effect that
we, furnishing the wherewith, should
thenceforward look to her to ''keep the
pot boiling" at the average rate of
twenty-five cents head" per diem.
Lots children were miniature repro
ductions Of the mother and were under a
control little short of automatical. Even
Lion, the great st. Bernard, seemed to
know his place, and performed various
useful duties. under the judicious eve of
his mistress and ruling spirit.
"Never had much ooinion of doors. snv
way. she said, rather apolOgetically, one
morning, as distributing our breakfast,
she glanc' at Lion and the infant, rolling
and gambOling together in the deep. warm
sand. Never could bear one, until Lion
there, then only half-grown pup, saved
my first baby. He, just weeny, tOddlinQ
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-22
Agricultural Report.

THE following is summary Of the con-
dition of the winter wheat, just issued
from the A Agricultural Department:
On the first week of April, a considera-
bic portion of the northern belt of the win
ter wheat area was covered with snow.
The condition of that visible gave prom
Use Of general exemption from winter in
jury, leaving the crop subject to the mete-
geological vicissitudes of April. In the
Middle States great improvement upon
the showing of last spring is everywhere
conceded, especially in New Jersey and
Pennsylvania. The prospects in the
States south of Maryland are less favorable
than last year, and there are indications of
a diminishing area in the cotton States,
although the acreage is not intended to be
given in this report. Michigan, the only
State of the northern border in which win
ter wheat is mainly grown, presents a
green and vigorous growth, wherever
snow has disappeared to reveal it, and
Ohio makes far more favorable returns
than last year In Kentucky a more
checkered showing is made, giving the
present appearance decidedly unfavora-
bic cast, with indications of future i'm
provement as the weather becomes settled.
In Indiana and Illinois, the unfavorable
returns outnumbe the rOse-colOred. The
dry autumn retarded seeding and germina-
ton, and left the plants too weak and shall
low-rooted to endure well the effects of
the winters changes of temperature. Sim
liar causes affect the condition Of wheat
in Missouri, but a great Improvement over
last wear is reported, and a still more fav-
orable condition exists in Kansas. In
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebras-
ka. as is known, very little winter wheat
is produced, but full reports are given of
such experiments The indications from
California all point to another year of
great abundance, scarcely county report
ing an unfavorable condition. As whole,
the wheat prospect at the close of the win
ter is more favorable than at the same date
in 1872.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-22
An Error of Justice.

\ CURIOUS case of an error of justice has
just been discovered at SantSymphorien
sur-Coise, in France. In 1912, two far
mers who had been to market to sell their
cattle, were attacked, robbed and left for
dead, as they were returning to their
homes One Of them, however, recovered,
and about a year afterward two inhabi-
tants of the above-named town, called L
and D., asserting that they had been
illuminated by the survivor on being
called parties to the crime, commenced an
action against him for defamation. The
proceedings began as civil suit, but soon
turned into a criminal one, the two plain
tiffs being arraigned on the charge Of muir
der. Evidence was brought to prove an
alibi, but the accused were convicted and
sentenced L to penal servitude for life,
and D. to fifteen years Of the same pun
ishment; also, the witnesses, who had ap-
peared on their behalf were condemned
to five years. More than thirty years
elapsed, and few days ago an old man, a
pensioner in the alms-house of SaintSym-
phorien, exculpated, at the moment of his
death, the two condemned, declaring him
self the principal author of the crime, and
naming his accomplices.
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-22
Chained to d Log for Nineteen Years

WE learn from Mr. Robert Glenn of the
death, on the Goth ult., of Lewis Flint, at
his home in Wyalusing. The deceased
was 40 years Of age. From the same
source we learn some particulars of the
life Of the late unfortunate. Mr.. Flint was
an old resident Of Grant County. About
nineteen years ago it became manifest,
from the sudden change that came over
him, that insanity was rapidly developing
itself. 4 log cabin was built near the one
in which the family lived, where the de-
mented man was placed for better security
Confinement seemed to aggravate his dis
ease and increase his violence, which was
hard for his poor mother to bear; but all
efforts on the part of friends to have him
removed To some safe place were unavail-
ing. The physicians called TO examine
his case pronounced him hopelessly in
sane, therefore no room for him could be
found in the hospital for the insane, and
to any other place they feared to have him
go Another plan, however, was adopted,
which seemed to have a better effect A
large block of wood was obtained, TOO
heavy to cary, to which was attached a
chain, and the chain fastened around his
ankle IN such manner as to produce no
INJURY. This arrangement allowed him
some freedom, and he would divert him
self by rolling his block around in and out
OF doors at pleasure, but it was always
necessary to watch his movements. TWAS
many times necessary for his brother, who
had charge Of him, to be temporarily alb
sent from home, to which the invalid
mother nsver objected. Strange as it may
seem, she felt safe to be left alone with her
insane son, who never during his long in
sanity, when laboring under his strongest
paroXysm, seemed to forget the sacred
name of mother. His sickness was of
short duration. A few days before death
he was attacked with violent pain in the
head, which SO Frustrated him that he
made no resistance to being laid upon his
bed. His reason now, for the first time in
many years, seemed to be partially re-
stored He told his brother that he was
going to die, asked foI what he wanted,
and, discovering his block some distance
from his couch, asked that it might be
rolled to his bedside With his own hand
he wrapped the chain once more around
his ankle, and there kept it until life's fit
full fever was DER. The deceased was for
several years charge of Grant County
Grant Comfy (Wfs) Herald
Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-05-22
Plant Flowers.

MANY persons fancy that they
cannot afford flower garden; they
say that they cannot spare the
money required to purchase seeds
and plants; nor the time to cultivate
them. 1t is true that great deal of money
may be spent on the flower garden; bat it
is also true that much may be done with
very little judiciously expended.
| had a beautiful garden my first sum-
mer in the country, and it cost me less
than two dollars, all told. My flowers
were mostly ANIMALS, and | did all -he
work myself My seeds were collected
with care; l did not indulge in "novei-
ties" my watchwords in hunting through
the catalogues were hardy and fragrant %
Cheapness, too, had to be considered, I
studied catalogue one winter, thorough
ly; planned my garden on paper while
the snow was on the ground; then in
April | went to work, and my garden was
a success.
Anybody can learn to garden, and one
soon comes to love the work for itself
apart from the charming results.
In that first garden of mine there was a
small bed Of that exquisite little flower ne
mophlla, seven varieties, all from one
packet OF mixed seed; cost five cents. For
ten cents had a gorgeous border OF zin-
Mas Of all colors Ten cents also gave me
hedge of the sweetpea, one Of the lowell
est flowers that grows. Then there were
nasturtlums, candytuft, scabiOsa, snap