davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15
Asbestos.

The mineral formation called asbestos
which term denotes rather a peculiar
form assumed by sundry minerals than
any particular species-is coming to be
used very largely in practical mechanics
and manufactures. The name "asbestOs,"
signifying indestructible, was given by
the ancients to various amphibolic and
augitic minerals, which occur in long,
hair-like crystals, placed side by side,
forming fibrous mass. These crystals
may easily be taken apart, and, as they
are ve.y elastic and plant, have been
used to manufacture a sort of cloth. The
Romans used sometimes to envelop the
bodies of their dead in wrapping of this
fabric, thus keeping thei. ashes separate
from the ashes of the fdneral-pile, for
fire does not consume asbestos. We even
read of napkins and articles of dress
being made of this material-when soiled
they were cleansed by being subjected to
the action of fire. In ancient times the
wicks of The ever-burning lamps in tenn
pies and shrines were often asbestos, and
ct the present time the Greenlanders
q Mr.. AudesluyS, proprietor of large
asbestos-deposit in the vicinity of Balti-
more, commenced the manufacture of a
paper containing about 30 per cent. of
asbestos. Characters written on such
paper, in common ink, are still legible
after it has been subjected to the action OF
fire, and it is likely that advantage will
be taken of this property of asbestos to
manufacture paper for i'll portant
records. The great objection to asbestos
paper so far made is its want of tough
ness, its friability. The .Jou,71at of the
Society of Arts makes mention of an ashes
to paper covering for roofs, but, as this
mine raj is not proof against moisture as
it is against fire, experience alone could
determine its value for that purpose,
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15
Japanese Students in America.

Few persons are aware how many jap
anese young men have already visited this
country for study. The number is esti-
mated by Mr.. Lanman, the Secretary of
the Japanese Legation, at five hundred,
of whom two hundred are now here.
Many have also gone to Europe, but they
report that much more friendly interest
in the welfare of the japanese is evinced
in this country. These young gentlemen
flor most of them are gently born and
gently bredD are remarkable for their
courtesy and good morals, and still more
for their success as students. Side by side
with bright American boys, the Japan
ese often excel. Some have been admit
ted to the United States Naval Academy,
ut Annapolis, where they have won the
Esteem ofCommodoreW Orden,w augurs
ssthe best results to American interests in
Japan from their admission" Several OF
these students have been taught in
Rutgers and Princeton college two were
recently admitted to the Sheffield Scientific
School of Yale College; one stood at the
head of his class in the Brooklyn Poly
technic School; a great many are dis
tributed i'm colleges, schools, and families
i'm New England. From many of these
places we have had personal reports of
like tenor-all commendatOry. The eX-
amples of their good sense, and good at
tainments i'm English, as indicated by the
letters MIR. Lanman has brought together,
are certainly extraordinary. SO well
known are the qualities of these young
foreigners, that a shrewd writer at the
East holds them up to the Yankee boys as
models for their consideration.-Es-
change.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15
Brain Food.

DIR. j. NJ. VIM, an eminent English
physician, says: "f we keep in view
the difference between the structure of the
neIvous aid muscular tissues, it becomes
evident that somewhat different kind OF
diet is required for the nutrition of the
former from that of the latter. In order
to develop and support the muscular or,
gan zatiOn, a large proportion Of animal
food is requisite; not so when TIE object
is to supply the waste of the more deli
cate and subtle tissue of the nervous sys-
tenn. Fatty matter and phosphorus enter
1t has been estimated that the former
Drain wax, or brain fat, as 1t has been
called), amounts to about One-third, and
the latter (phOsphOrus) to ODe-twentieth
or one-thirtieth Of its solid substance. 1t
is now generally believed that exertion Of
the will and reasoning powers cause an
expenditure of the Erain material, and
corresponding exhaustion of the nervous
force. However, it must not be forgotten
that prolonged bodily exercise exhausts
the nervous force, as muscular contrac-
tons are commonly brought into action
by nervous influence, hence the import
ance of student avoiding excessive bOdi-
ly efforts, which expend that nervous en-
ergy so essential for brain work.
"He should take gentle exercise for at
least two hours daily in the open air, and
his diet should be light, simple, and nutri-
tious. Large quantities Of animal food
and malt liquor conduce rather to SOM
nolency than to mental activity. There
| is common saying that fish feeds the
brain,' which may depend on the phos-
phorus it contains. Certainly there can
be no doubt that some sorts of fish are pc
culiarly suitable to a weak digestion. l
NAV incidentally observe that have found
a fish diet especially serviceable for those
predisposed to phthisis. A certain
amount of rest and sleep, as well as due
supply of healthy blood, are absolutely
necessary to maintain the brain in a work
ing condition. Above all, the amount of
mental work must be in proportion to the
physical strength"
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15
Electricity.

And electricity is life.'' 1t is the very
soul of the universe. 1t permeates all
space, surrounds the earth, and is found
in every part of it. Its pristine character
is not what has sometimes been described.
1t is naturally the most peaceful agent in
crcation. 1t is eminently social, and res
ties round the form it inhabits. Unlike
many human specimens, it never desires
to keep all its good to itself, but is ever
ready to diffuse its beneficence. 1t is only
in abnormal conditions, and unexpected
renconters, that it displays itself in that
brilliant flash and that deafening roar
with which its majestic force yields up its
great spirit.
The ocean, for instance is compounded
of water and salt; one is an electric, the
other not. The friction of these causes
the phOsphorescent appearance SO often
observed at sea. But, when clouds arise
from the ocean and come inland, they are
mostly highly charged with electricity,
and, being naturally anxious to give up
the good things they possess, when they
meet clouds not SO much electrified, they
hand over their surplus commodity, and
the deliverance makes the earth and all
created things in the neighbOrhOod trem-
BILE. Or, If clouds arise from fresh waters,
or from land having mnch electric fire,
the sun himself warns them up in a
friendly manner; and, as they become
Cnar0eu WIFI INC VlL4l llulO, anu, LII d
drunken sort of way, stumble against the
sides ofmountains or against other clouds,
the same benignant tendency to part with
what they have too much of induces them
to give up their vital force, and the fire
flashes across the sky, and all creation
bows before the artillery of the heavens.
And then they weep together over the
kindly exchange, though their tears do
sometimes swell the rivers and produce a
Mum fNor of oafo afrOnhQs nnt ORIGINALLY in
the programme their friendly distribu-
ton of fire sometimes fails to reach the
intended cloud, and strikes down towers
churches, trees, and houses, and occa
sionally destroys a human body not pos
sessed of its proper quantity Of electric
ity. For that is. most probably, the rea
by lightning in place where several 9TH
ers are assembled and escape.-Seientift
| Journal.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15
Poisonous Properties of Tobacco.

Bya chemical process we extract from
tobacco a colorless liquid alkalOid. This
is the principle to which chemists have
given the name, nicotine. 1t is acrid to
the taste and smell, forms neutral COM
pounds with acids, and is intensely poi
sonous in minute quantities. By distilla-
ton we obtain from tobacco a volatile oil,
which has been called micotianine, and
which is equally poisonous with the
above. One drop of this oil rubbed ON
the tongue of cat will cause the death
of the animal in five minutes. A pune
ture made in the nose of dog with a
needle dipped in this oil caused its death
in six minutes.
Every man who uses tobacco is con-
stantly introducing into his system por-
ton of this deadly poison. II its disas-
trOus effects are not at once apparent it is
because the system has become accustOm-
ed to its presence. A practiced opium
morphine daily, while for the nninitiated
from an eighth to a quarter Of a grain is a
full dose, and from one to two grains will
cause death. That the quantity of this
virulent poison taken into the system by
the habitual user Of tobacco is not so in
considerable as some might be led to sup
pose, the effects OH the neophyte of his
first chew sufficiently demonstrate.
In addition to the above, there is in to-
baccO another principle still more deadly,
which is obtained by distilling the leaves
at temperature above that of boiling
water; that is, by destructive distilLatio,l.
1t is also developed by burning the weed.
Smokers, therefore, get the especial bene-
fit of it. We refer to the empg,eu,natic
oil Of tobacco. Lest any one should think
that smoking is form of using the weed
less deleteriors than the others, we would
here state tn 1t one drop of this oil placed
upon the tongue of a cat caused the death
of the animal in taCo minutes with convul-
sions. A drop brought in contact with
the protruding tongue of serpent killed
it like stroke of lightning.
Smokers get this extremely poisonous
principle in addition to the others, which
chewers and shutters get. Tho sole rea-
son why smoking does not seem to be SO
harmful as the other forms of using the
weed is because this habit is not so stead
lily and persistently INDUCED in as the
others. A man can chew tobacco and at
tend to other business at the same time. A
tobacco chewer can-most of them do
carry a quid in his cheek during the whole
Of his waking hours. But when a man
smokes other business has to be for the
most part laid aside. Therefore the vota-
ries of the pipe and the cigar, can indulge
in their favorite pastime only at intervals.
Herald of Health.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15
Typhoid Fever.

In recent lecture on typhoid fever at
Guys Hospital, Sir William Gull re-
marked that two hundred and fifty years
ago one of the kings of England died
of ague, but now by improved agricul-
ture and drainage the disease had become
rare, and certainly very few die of it. Ty-
phoid fever, he asserts, is as preventible
as ague. and two hundred and fifty years
hence deaths from it will be as rare. The
disease is caused by a virus of nature,
which may get into the healthy body, in
crease in it, and destroy it. 1t is an acci-
dental condition, and not one of the ordi-
nary processes of nature. The origin OF
the disease is somehow or other connected
with drainage; it has the retore been called
the filth fever, and to get rid of the filth
is to get rid of the fever. This was Illus
trated in the case of the Milbank prison,
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15
Knockers vs.. BELLS.

There is no end to the effectiveness of a
good knocking on the outside of house.
We remember one cold, bitter, miserable
winter night when we came home late
and yet not so very late either, but it -yas
SO cold that everybody had gone to bed
in the big house In which we lived and to
which we had no latch-key. At the bell
the more we pulled the moe nobody
came. At last we were about giving up
in despair and going to a station-house or
a hotel, when a policeman came along.
'.Y on can't make 'em hear. eh - said he
ssNow just wait minute ~ And then he
stepped into the street and picked up a
brick from pile near by. With this he
knocked, apparently very gently. on the
wall of the house. The effect was mag
ical As the dull, drum-like booming re-
sounded through the house, every win
dow was thrown open and heads popped
out on every story. A dozen people were
ready to let us in, if we wOulu but knock
no more. We might even have entered at
the back of the house had we been there.
In such a case as this bell was of no use
lat all; and as it is easy to see that it would
be incOnvenient to carry cObble-stones or
bricks about with us, for they are not al
ways to be found in the street, what is
there that we can really depend upon in
such emergencies but a knOcker?
But there is more about knocker than
its mere utility. For one thing it gives
an individuality to the appeal for entrance.
We can tell very often who is knocking
when we hear the raps at the door. All
our friends, and particularly the postman,
have their own ways of knocking, and in
time We come to know them. But bell
rings pretty much the same for every
body. Some may pull harder and oftener
| than others, but the bell can do nothing
but jingle, after all:
And then, too, knOtker may be and
almost always is artistic in device. This
is something we seldom see in a bell-han-
die. But the knockers were grand !!
Here was griffin, and you boldly took
him by the head and pounded the door
with his fore-feet. And there was grim
lion with he:.vy ring in his mouth with
| which one could RAP ready entrance; or
grihning goblin confronted you who
would knock his chin against his brazen
breast if you chose to make him do it. Or
you might make the glad tidings of your
coming known by merely raising and
dropping a wreath of f1Owers,-irOn flow
| ers, with a particularly heavy rose in the
middle. The house doors of our ances-
| tors were hung with many strange de-
vice in brass and iron. Sometimes they
some, but whatever their design, they
were worth looking at, which is very
much more than we can say for metal
knob stuck up by the side of door.
There seems to be no reason why we, in
America, should be SO generally deprived
of these useful and ornamental cOntrivan-
ces. In other countries the knOcker is yet
held in high esteem, and why should moi
we have it?-at least those of us who
would like the art and convenience of our
households to commence at the front
door.-Scyibner for February.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15
CANTON, MISS, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY Is, 1873

But, perhaps, the. most important SER
vice yet rendered by asbestos is the fur
nishing us with ffre-resisting packing
for piston and pump rods, the necks Of
revolving retorts, etc. Asbestos packing
was used for the piston of a locomotive
on the Caledonian Railway from July 81
to November Is, 1871, and was then as
good as when it was first put in; while
the best common packing would have
lasted not above two months. 1t is bet
ter to make rings of asbestos, and
put them on the piston, than to wind it
round. There are very extensive de-
posts Of this important mineral within
the limits of the United States, that
found on the eastern slope of the Green
Mountains and of the Adirondacks being
of the best quality for fineness and tensile
strength. The fiber of New York and
Vermont asbestos varies in length from
two to forty inches, and resembles un-
bleached fax, when found near the sur
face; but when taken at greater depth
it is pure white, and very strong and
flexibS. 1t is found also in considerable
quantities in the Tyrol, in Hungary,
Corsica and Wales.-ETchanSe.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15
Fats and Their Uses.

The fats are, in the scientific works ON
food, called hydrocarbons. They contain
some oxygen, but never enough to satisfy
the affinities of the carbon and hydrogen.
For this reason they are powerful genera
tors of heat. An ounce of fat burned in
the fire generates large amount of heat.
An equal weight of it when burned will
produce two and a half times as much
heat as dry starch, or sugar. Some idea
of its wonderful heating properties may
be gained by the fact that ten grains OF
fat burned so as to save all its heat, will
raise the temperature of tWenty.three
pounds Of water one degree. This is SUI
ficient to raise Is, 900 pounds weight one
foot high. The two great uses, then, Of
fat are, first, to maintain animal heat;
and second, to generate force. 1t is very
easy to see how it does the former, by
burning in the body; but how heat be-
comes force. is not SO easy to see. Ihat
and the same is true in the body. The
man who does hard days work, does so
by virtue of the fact that he is, SO far as
the work is concerned, an engine. The
muscles do not furnish the strength, they
only transmit it. The wheels OF the en-
CINE do not furnish the strength, that Is
the power behind them. Not only the
heat of the body, but the working power
of 1t, is largely due to the consumption
OF fat. (The reader must not confound
lat with fat meat alone, butter Is a 1at,
and so are oils and oily nuts.)
Still another use of fats Is that, like the
prOteids, when taken into the body they
enter into Its structure, forming in all
cases an essential part of muscle, nerve,
brain, and other organs ; and also enter
ing largely into the adipose tissue.
Besides these important and principal
functions of fat, 1t has minor uses in the
processes Of digestion, assimilation and
nutrition, and, It is believed, in the form
alton of the bile. Food digests more
readily if fat is mixed with 1t. 1t also
takes an important part in the formation
of cells, blood corpuscles, and even the
generation of blood. 1t is present in
large quantities in the tubules of the
nerves and in all the nervous centers, at
least, 81 rves some highly important func-
ton in nervous action.
Indeed the distribution of it in every It's
sue and its accumulation around certain
organs, serves to fill up the cavities of the
body and give rOundness to the form,
equaIizes the external pressure, and
dfIninishes friction; and by its bad con-
Quoting property retains animal heat.
Fat, therefore, must ever be regarded as
highly important to the physical develop
ment of the body, and any system of diet
that excludes it is faulty and to be con-
demned.-Herald of Health.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15
A Water Telegraph.

A French engineer and inventor named
Tommasi, has recently perfected an in
water, which is attracting considerable
attention and comment. 1t consists of
simple tube of copper, containing what
may be termed thread or rod of water,
which is said to transmit effectually and
instantaneously every impulse commune
Gated to it by pistons and not only that,
but the impulses can travel both ways at
once without extinguishing each other.
The inventor claims that with this appa-
ratus he can send six hundred signals per
minute through distance of twenty-fOur
hundred miles that it permits simultane-
! Gus exchange of correspondence through
the same tube; that it can be adapted to
any recording instrument whatever; and
that it is durable and economical. -Er-
| change.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15

where typhoid and dysentery were once
thoroughly established. but where both
almost wholly disappeared when the wa
ter-supply was changed and efficient
drainage provided. In his closing re-
marks on the treatment of the disease,
the lecturer said that no one can approach
case of typhoid fever without paying
some attention to hygiene. This he
claimed was of the greatest Importance,
and with it he would prefer to carry any
one through the disease by wines and
soups and fresh air, rather than by the
use of drugs.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15

Timothy, Jr.'s lips were ready for the
greeting; strong hard pressed her back
and Mrs. T. placed her arms around the
children in sheltering manner--just as
she had seen the prima donna in "Nor-
ma. do at the Academy.
/ "Stand off from my children, madam ~
said the agonized lady, almost overcome
by the confident assurance of her visitor
"go with their father, If you choose, bat
not with my children. They are not fit
She did not pause long enough to think
that it was not her proper play to expose
her knowledge; but before the pretty
widow could render an explanation, OF
even ask the question which should have
preceded it, she told her story, the quar-
rel at table, the note in the coat pocket,
the Delmonico breakfast, the appointment
at the gallery, and the visit to Maiden
lane, where she had given up the chase
handed to Mr.. Timothy Thistledown a
whole page of closely written letter which
she had indicted to him by way of a fare
well epistle, and which she had concealed
in her motherly bosom till the proper mo-
ment for its presentation.
Mr.. Timothy ThistledOwn read the let
ter, tore 1t up, and laughed, and then the
cried.
But the door-ben rang again, and a boy,
just alighted from a turner's wagon,
stood upon the steps, extending box in
his little, cold hands.
"For Mrs. INTERCHANGEABLE sign
the receipt, please" said the lad, extend
ing a book, open, with his finger pointed
to the blank line, where Mrs. Thistledown
was to sign for 1.-TWO packages-muff,
ippet, and cloak"
But the lady did not sign-she left the
package in the hall and again went into
sGe iaot thy ana san1 Gown upon tne soia'
and, without removing her light gloves,
signed the receipt, sitting at the escri-
tOire.
" Too jealous by half, my dear" said
Timothy Thistledown, ESQ, IS he held
up the boxes.
But Mrs. Timothy could make no an.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15
Don't.

Don't. No, don't tack that name, "Okla-
homa," on to any geographical entity that
will come before the American school
children of the future. Just think for a
moment how all the illiterate Oklaho-
mans will shorten it to Kl'oma, and all
the literate will envy them their privilege.
Compute the schOol-ma' am-pOwer that
will be wasted through all the cons in
the trying to eXtort a majority of the
'.sydables' of that word from the mouths
of hurried youngsters, hindercd with the
task of growing. Oklahoma is the name
of the territory, to be constructed out OF
Indian territory, the bill for which is now
pending. Call it Grant or Ames, or any
thing else short and pronounceable.-
Springfield (Mass.) Republican,
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15

in the world are antlpodal
London. .Antipodes Island, Southeast New
New York SCUM inoiih Oceah
Lima -SIain. 1000,
NanklnS- fSuenoS Ayres'
Quito. ..........-....S umatra.
Bermudas- Swan RIVER
Azores. .....-...............B Botany Bay.
Artipodal places have the same climate,
completely reversed. When it is noon in
London, it is midnight at Antipodes
Island; and the noon of the longest day
at the Bermudas is midnight of the short
est day at Swan River. When the suh is
rising at New York, it is setting on the
South Indian Ocean.
Antipodes Islands, small strip of land
in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast OF
New Zealand. is so called because it is the
nearest inhabitable point TO the antipOdes
of Greenwich, latitude 40 degrees, 80 min
utes south, longitude IT'S degrees, AZ min
utes, east.
We said that the seasons at the antipo-
DIES were reversed. Take, for example,
New Zealand, which is nearly antipOdal
to England. New Zealand has one of the
finest climates in the world. The sum-
mer is a little longer and warmer than in
England, the atmosphere more moist, and
fogs more frequent. Spring begins in
September, summer in December, au-
tumn in April, and winter in June. Jan
uary and February are the warmest
months of the year, while July is the cold
est. The flowers bloom in January, and
the snow falls in June.
means opposite. As Shakespeare says, or
makes one of his characters to say, in the
play:
'tIhoa art as opposite to every good.
As the antip0des are unto u.s."
-PoptLar Science Monthly..
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-02-15

DIR. johnson told Beattie that he new
er read Milton through till he was obliged
to do it i'm order to gather words for his
dictionary.