davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-11-12


Professor Williamson, F. r. s., attacks
another of the cherished deluslons of
youth. He says:
"It must be understood that although
the earth was popularity regarded as the
type Of everything that was stable aud
lmmovabe, this ,cas a rery erroneous adea;
for old Mother Earth Was about one of the
most tickle and inconstant o. all the jades
with which men had to deal. She was
never still. 1t happened that at the pres
ent day there were certain regions, such
as the volcanic regions, which were al
ways moving upwards, while there were
Others, such as the coal regions, which were
steadily going downwards. So it had
been in the oIden time. The coal beds
appeared to have accumulated in the latter
class of areas-the areas of depression
geographical areas in which the earth had
tendency to sink below the level of the
ocean. Upon such areas mud and silt
had accumulated until the deposit thus
formed had reached the level of the water,
and then came what would appear TO have
been highly necessary as preliminary to
the growth of the coal material, namely, a
bed of blue mud. 1t was not why that
blue mud was there or whence it came, but
it was as certain as that garden plants re-
quired favorable soils for their develop
ment, that, whatever its cause, the blue
mud Was the soil which seemed to have
been preferred by the great majority of
the plants constituting the forests of the
carboniferous era. In it the minute
spores or seeds of the vegetables which af-
terwards became coal, germinated and
struck root, until eventually the muddy
soil became converted into magnificent
and almost tropical forest. As the forest
grew the spores fell from the trees, the
halt dead leaves and decayed branches
also dropped, and by-and-by the stems
themselves gave way, and thus was accum-
lated an immense amount of vegetable
matter This, in the progress of time,
sank below the water level, and more mud
being deposited on the top of the coal, the
new formation in turn underwent the same
processes as its predecessors, uutil 1T length
a new forest was formed to share the same
fate as that which had gone before 1t. The
process was repeated again and again, un-
til at length we had al accumulation of
materials, mixtures of the various sub
stances he had spoken of. alternating tn
beds of coal, until We had a vertical thick
ness of rock varying from three, four or
tive, to as much as eight or ten thousand
| feet"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-11-12

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s sSsjflqs s@ 81 ,bitro-gIyceriSs xbieS is
buried sehs&6ele dh the PUBLIC sgSara, % 4
{ St96@G e1acS>Ehere. ISSs splaSds
ksb&e S6st bs6rStbS Sesscuatsn Of tie, e,racS
|dSSiS Ass$skaA Eas, adShsSssipsnSd
70 Ai& Rste6alS = s;ddi1&tS CORA of
nrsssS i Nl% 9 its %5sSs hasAvsr, s
FtS &otsoE E1tebusaE Naone daSesao& &gs
IforSs, ,& % y6e Ars6 to d&drtaH BIS s6S
FaSd t@ @hsbitAp are eaGng giiedtlf ossrss
|&s sNhSle$Sses, As ifsh. .wN $nsErSe&
;InN $JtSL that aen &gSeSGqf tuuG 4
ed ~ q Apbbdes Kaleixk VI kf@ HS
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,&/ ks$xs<S@'
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
The Sleepy BOy.

The season approaches when the Dan.
bury boy of the period turns his mind
to meditation. As the hour of eight
p. NJ. strikes, he softly withdraws from
the table where he has been engaged
digging the putty from nail-head, and
unostentatiously deposits himself back
OF the stove TO think. We are particular
to emphasi ;e this word, because there
is an impression on the part of his pa
rents, and his eldest sister who has the
honor of escorting him to bed nights,
that he is going to sleep. They go SO
far rs to openly express this belief, but
he stontly denies it, and immediately
proceeds to demonstrate the gross in
justice OF the insinuation by humming
some familiar piece. Pretty lsoon the
humming ceases there is significant
movement at the table, and then it is
resumed again, and continues for five
minutes, when it gradually dies ont,
and all is silent back of the stove.
When the boy comes too again, he is
being lifted to his feet by his waist
band, and cuffed on the head to.ndi-
cate that it is after ten o'clock. He
makes desperate attempt to find OFT
where he left off on the time, but igno-
miniously fails, and five minutes later
is stumbling up stairs, with an interest
ed and active sister in his rear, and
firmly but family maintaining that he
was not asleep, but only thinking.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
Tall Shooting.

A Western paper describes the feas
OF noted marksman, who while en-.
gagged in deer hunt and occupying n
stand, the rest OF the party being en-
ployed in drive, three fine deer, run
ming abreast, were passing his stand 1.
when he fred, killing two OF them dead
and severely wounding the third. II
was n fine shot, undoubtedly, and one
of which Natty Banks might have been
prond. But friend OF ours saw n
better shot still, made by a naval officer
on the bank of the Perdido river in
Alabama. A party OF navy men, in.
cluding four old Commodores, oil OF
whom are now dead, went from the
yard ut Pensacola over to the Perdidc
on hunt. A fine pack of hounds was
turned loose, and the Commodores were
placed In the most eligible positions for
enjoying the sport, the host, VIII? was
remarkable for his skill with gun,
taking post on ono side, prepared to
pick of any struggling deer that might
come near him. The dogs soon gave
tongue. starting several deer, but they
ran wild, none Of them coming near
enough to either of the old sailors for
shot. Presently they saw a fine buck
running rapidly in direction that
would bring him within easy range of
the solitary gentleman, who was trying
to amuse his guests. While they were
waiting, full Of excitement. expecting
to hear him shoot, they saw another
deer coming from an opposite direction.
and taking a course that must bring
them together near his stand Az thew
met he fired, and with the same rifle
ball killed them both, and they fell not
much more than yard apart.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
An African Horse Trade.

Mr.. Gerard, now OF Philadelphia, bnI
formerly American Consul ut Cape
Town, Cape Of Good Hope, commnni
Gates to the Press OF the former city
the following reniniscenco OF his Afri'
can consular experience
"There ia a very singular custom
among the farmers-how to get wife.
II you desire TO get married, yon should
fret make inquiry whether the lady
you love has horse il SO, You must
ask Ter whether she has a horse for
sale. II she says No, then you had
better quit the house mt once. She
does not like you. Bat il, on the CON-
trary, she says Yes it is good sign,
but she will ask you very high price.
II tio amount nemod 10 pnid on the
spot, the engagement is concluded, as
fully as il marriage was consummated
by the parson.
son my arrival at the Cape, I did
not know of this custom. / wanted to
purchase horse, and l was informed
by an old Dutch resident that Widow
= had one to sell. I followed the
address given, and soon arrived at the
door Of the widow (who, by the way,
was not bad looking. | asked her
whether she had n horse to SELL She
looked at me very sharp then she ask
ed me whether had some letters of in
PRODUCTION. said that | was the Amer
ican Consul, and would pay cash for
her horse. In this case, said she.
letters are not necessary I paid
down the sum demanded then, after
TAX "a nf nnHaa uha h.p .
horse by her groom, and both accom-.
panied me home. On the road, the
groom asked me thousand questions
Master, said he, will my mistress go
live with you in town, or will You come
live with us? You will love my mis-
tress, for she was very kind to my old
master 0aughing). where will the
wedding be?' Cooking at me and
laughlng). Truly, I thought, 'the
poor fellow has drank too much or he
Is an imbecile.' l felt sorry for him.
When l arrived home I found many
people at my door congratula.ing me.
not for the horse, but for the acunaint-
ance of the widow. l really did not
know what it ment, and began to he
very uneasy, when, to my very great
surprise, lady alighted on my steps,
and at once | recognized the widow
She very coolly asked me when I desir-
ed the ceremony of the wedding per-
formed. Then, indeed, ] fully per-
ceived the scrape in which I was, and !
told her frankly that it was a horse 7
wanted, and not n wife, What, said
she, do you mean to act TINS to lady |
like me? If SO, shall send back for
my horse, and will repay you the |
money In a few hours her groom was
at my door with the money. I gladly !
gave back the horse, thankful to have |
thus escaped. A few weeks after, how
ever, the widow was married more
man had bought her horse"
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
A Paper Church.

There is paper church actually ex
isting near Berlin, which can contain
nearly one thousand persons. 1t is cir
cular within, octagOnal without. The
relieves outside, and the statues within,
the roof. the ceiling, the Corinthian
capitals, are all of papier-mache, rem
dered waterproof by saturation in
vitriol, lime water, whey, and white of
egg. We have not yet reached this
andacity in our use of paper; but it
should hardly surprise ns, inasmuch as
we employ the same material in private
houses, in steamboats,, and in some
public buildings, instead Of carved
decorations and plaster cornices. When
Frederick the Second of Prussia set up
limited papier-mache mandatory at
Berlin, in 1866, he thought the paper
cathedrals might, within century,
spring out of his snuff boxes by the
slight-of-haud of advancing art. At
present, we confess to a prediction for
substantial brick and stone in the mat
ter of churches. But there isno saying
what we may come to. 1t is not very
long since ii would have seemed as v
possible to cover eighteen acres
ground with grass as to erect pagoda
of soap-bubbles, yet the thing is done.
When we think of psalm sung by one
thousand voices pealing through an
edltice made of old rags, and the uni.
versal element bound down TO carry
messages with the spreed of light, it
would be presumptuous to say what
can and what cannot be achieved by
science and art, under the training OF
steady old Time.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
The Hay Crop.

We are not to enter upon n hay fam.
inc winter of fancy prices with hay at
s. . ton. The abundant rains in May
- thickened up the grass that it stood
tle drouth of June and July wonder.
fully well; the crop generally proved to
De bigger than was anticipated in Con
necticut and all the New England
States.
The B,ngor Democrat in speaking of
the fine hay crop ill Maine, says: The
hay crop of this State, this year. is
worth as much in the Boston and New
York markets as the cotton crop of
Georgia--and not less than l,6O0, 900
tons. 1t sells in Boston for $50 ton
That would amount to Si8, 900, 600. The
cotton crop of Georgia, this year, IS esti-
mated 600, 900 bales of 400 pounds each.
This at 30 cents pound would bring
in the Bo,ton market l'is, 900. 600
Hereafter the hay crop of Maine will be
to that State as importan, a staple as
the cotton crop is to the Southers
States.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
The Mound Builders.

The work of the mound builders in
the Vicinity of Vincennes, Ind, is be.
ing investigated at the present time un.
der the direction of Profs. Charlton.
Townsend, and others. The explora.
tion of the largest one was begun by
making an entrance from the top which
is to be carried down probably about
sixty feet. A local paper says: At ten
feet below the surface be of charcoal
was found, and below this there were
remains of bones, which were almost
completely decomposed, indicating
their great antiquity. As soon as
touched they fell into dust. Perhaps
at greater depth bones may be ex,
humed which are better preserved.
The earth in the mound is found to be
exceedingly compact and dry, we'll cal
culated to preserve the bones, but they
are in state of almost complete decay.
This is proof OF great age. as human
skeletons have been taken from burial
places in England which we're much less
favorable for preserving them. and vet
they were known to be nearly two thou
sand years old. The crumbling and
decayed bones that were exbumed from
the mound no doubt belonged to the
old Toltic race which inhabited this 10.
cality about three thousand years ago
and it is hoped that some well preserv-
ed bones and other remains represent
ing that ancient race may be exhumed
from this mound.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
NeuralgIa-HOrrlble Suffering.

Thirty years ago, there used to be a
great deal OF DISCUSSION whether naral.
Ria was n new disease, or only new
name for an old disease. II il had ex-
isted any considerable length OF time
before then, il certainly, about that
time, became mnch more common.
Old people in the Middle and Eastern
States, who had never in their lives
heard OF such thing, were Suddenly
attacked, and for years suffered the
most .excrutiating torture. The pain
was intermittent in some cases occur.
ring at regular, and in Others at ire
IN ar intervals.
but the disease was more prevalent
among the young--and we think more
among FEMALES tliau n"i=s. very pos
sibly the reason why women were more
subject tn il was to be found in the in.
feriority, in point OF warmth, in their
clothing. The late DR.. Jackson, Of
Philadelphia--acquired good deal OF
celebrity for his success in treating
neuralgia. Young ladies' from remote
parts of the country repaired to Pbila-
delphia TO consult him and the first
thing that he prescribed for them, gene.
rally, was warmer shoes and stockings
and more clothing, and by this simple
remedy numerous cases We're relieved.
But others were more obstinate, aud
in fact the proportion has always been
large of those in which medical skill has
been entirely bafiled, and nothing that
could be devised appeared to do any
good: and there ale men and women now
who have been, at more or less frequent
periods for the past thirty years, the
victims of this terrible intliction.
The suffering from neuralgia is hor-
rible and indescribable. Those subject
to it say that their own imaginations
are quite incapable Of csnceiving of
such pain, at times when they are ex-
empt from it.
A girl in Boston suffered such agony
from neuralgia in one of her eyes that
she had the eyeball removed. 1t then
attacked the other eye, and her suffer
ings were SO intense that she wanted
that removed but the surgeon refused
1t seems almost incredible that peo-
pie can undergo such suffering, and yet
live on from year to year, when other
causes, app rently far less adequate, in
4 short tim often result in death. =
Ledger.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
4 Romance of Milwaukee,

Says the Milwaukee News local.
young lady and gentleman were
standing upon the hulkhead erected by
the c. Il n. w. Railway on the Lake
shore opposite the Wisconsin street
depot lately. The waves ran high and
looked truly beautiful in their terrific
grandeur. The lady had remarked this
to her companion, who, thinking he
could improve upon it, began reciting
"What are the Wild Waves Saying
He soon found out, for just at this mo-
ment a huge white cap dashed over the
parapet and pouring barrel or two of
water on each, eff.ctually banished ell
the romance of the situation in twink
ling. The Young man finished his quo
tation with series of highly improper
remarks as he mopped his new "tile 4"
with q handkerchief and there was
look of hearty disgust ON the radiant
face of that fair maiden as she gazed on
the limpsy wreck of her once lovely hat.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
A Valuable Violin,

At Dresden there has just been sold
! by auction the fomous violin OF Count
Trautnansdorf, grand equerry TO the
Emperor Charles VI. and which he had
purchased from the celebrated Jacob
Steiser on the following strange con-
ditions He paid down, In coir, seven
~ golden carlous and undertook to
provide the vendor, as long rs he lived.
with a good dinner every day, as well
as one hundred forms a month, in cash /;
and yearly new coat with golden Bran
denburgs; tive casks of beer, lighting
and fuel and in case he should marry,
as many hares as he might require, with
twelve baskets of fruit annually for
himself, and as many for his old nurse.
As Steiner lived sixteen years after
wards, his instrument must have cost
the Count, IN ready money, at least 90.
600 fiorins, which has just been sold to
a Russian for $500 thalers g fir. 75c.
encl !
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
The National Centennial.

A special correspondent at Philadel-
phia has furnished the Herald with the
plan which will probably be adopted
for the celebration, in the city of the
great Declaration, of the one hundredtb
anniversary of the day of independence
of the United States of America. The
scheme embraces four elements-music,
civil societies, military organization
and statues. The music will consist OF
a colossal orchestra and chorun, the or
ganization of which will soon be placed
in the hands of one of our most worthy
conductors. The military division, it
is proposed, shall embrace a regiment
or two from every State, forming nm ag-
gregate of at least fifty thousand men.
The civil bodies will be the Masons,
the Odd Fellows, the Cincinnati Society,
&c. The statuary will embrace statues
or groups of distinguished men of the
several States in the civil and military
service of the country and in science
and art. To give an international caste
to the military branch of the celebra-
ton it is proposed to solicit an act from
Congress authorizing the President to
extend invitations to the heads of Eu-
ropean, Asiatic, and other foreign gov
ernments, to be present, either person
ally or by their proper presentatives,
accompanied, respectively, by regi-
ment or smaller military detachment of
their selection. In addition to this, the
President will be requested to detail to
the spot considerable body the regu-
lar army, and place it under the com
mand of bis most distinguished officers,
and also as many vessels of the navy as
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
An icelandic Festival,

/ The Cologne Gazette says " Ice.
land has in contemplation next year to
celebrate the thousandth year since the
settlement of the island, (S74 } Asearly
as $50 Dean named Gardar was drift
ed from Scotland in stormy weather
northward to an unknown coast. He
wintered in the country, and called it
Gurdarsholm. Shortly thereafter q
Norwegian, Nadod, was also drifted
there. In S6S the island was visited by
another Norwegian, Floke, who remain
ed for year there, and called it Island
lngolf, driven into exile on account OF
cruelties perpetruted by the Norwegian
King Hagar Haarsager, proceeded il
S74 with his foster brother to Iceland,
and there founded the earliest settle.
IN mts. These were near the place
where Reikjavik, the capital of the isl
and, now stands. Others followed tn.
two brothers, and the island was soon
inhabited. From Iceland, Greenland
as is known, was discovered, and from
1t hardy Morse seamen, about the yeaI
1000, reached that part of the coast OF
the American Continent now forming
Massachusetts. 1t is, consequently,
not without some historical justification
that the celebrated Norwegian vlolinist,
Ole Bull, has been collecting subscrip.
tions at concerts among his countrymen
to erect q monument to the Norwegian,
Lief Erikson, the first discoverer OF
as the latter touched American
groxnd from 400 to 500 years before
and there are indications
that the Genoese was not only acquaint-
ed with the voyages of the old Morse
sailors to America, but that they were
not without influence on his plan and
its execution.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31
Theatrical Adventures.

An interviewer represents Miss Neil
son as saying:
II remember once playing in Dub.
lin. 1t was in Juliet. In the death
scene, when / seized the dagger and
stabbed myself, an excited Irishman in
he pit, overcome with sympathy and
terror, shrieked, 'Oh, jim, she's done
it, | was 80 convulSed with laughter
hat could only get up giggle for the
leath struggle. And again I was play
ing Pauline in the Lady of Lyons,
With weak Claude. He had been sick
md was not strong, so l told him when
[ rushed to him I would clasp my arms
around him, and he must give way a
title. l flew to his embrace and lie
gave way indeed, and down to the fl .or
Se both went together entangled in my
train. We gathered ourselves up as
best we could, and I caught him again
With fervor, and the audience tried to
5titie their laughter. when Claude next
words brought down the house, This
The heaviest blow of all = OF course we
had the laugh ont then. But the most
awkward accident happened to me once
in provincial theatre, where the scenic
were meagre. We had
kitchen for the ballroom, and the tomb
vas set in the midst of the garden
Shrubhery. said, that will never do.
Bring me some drapery, and / will shut
off the shrubbery. SO l was mounted
on the top of the tomb, engaged in pin
ning up the improvised partition, when
mp went the curtain, and Juliet, who
should have been quietly sleeping with
The Capulets, was caught in this very
employment.
National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-10-31

must be discharged from the store
They would NOT publicly expose this hi
first known crime; but they could .iv
him their confidence never again.
And they must inform Sarah. Tha
was the hardest part OF oil. They sen
for her to come TO them. They woul,
have it done at once. She came in. ant
nat down.
"My dear chi'i," said her father, nj
Tenderness. and compassion, 1--WE hav,
q painful duty 10 perform. We mus,
tell you Of Roberto entire unworthi
ness"
She clasped her hands, aud gasped
for breath. hat did her father mean
He told the story, directly and
clearly, OF MS discovery of Roberts
guilt and hetold how broken ana pea.
itent the young man had appeared.
This latter he added by way Of showing
that the crime was acknowledged.
Pale as death, and with eyes fright
fully fixed, Sarah asked if Robert had
not mentioned her name.
He only asked me" said her father,
if | had spoken with you,-if you
could not throw some light upon the
missing money. answered him,
promptly, that you knew nothing what
ever about it. His guilt was apparent
from that moment. His shame and re.
morse"
"Stop stop !" cried Sarah, starting
to her feet. She stood for little time
like one frantic, with her hands clutch
ed in her hair, and her teeth act. Then
she staggered forward, and sank upon
her knees at her fathers feet.
go father father!" she moaned,
"have mercy-hav. pity-spon me !"
"My child !"
"No, no, lift me not up. Let me
tell it all with my head here in your
lap. o! I am a miserable, wicked
girl : I did it all II did it ! Robert
has suffered rather than betray me.
And when she could control her
speech she told the story Of the burn
Ing pap and she tried to tell how
she had been led to falsify and prevari-
cate.
That was not n time for Gliding.
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.
Presently he whispered to his wife, and
then arose and left the room and
shortly afterward he left the house.
In half an hour be returned.
Sarah" he said, to his daughter,
who sat with her head upon her mo-
theirs shoulder. Robert is in the
parlor. Go in and see him."
There WAS a fearful struggle, but the
better genius conquered, and Sarah
went to her injured lover.
BY and by Robert and Sarah came
into the drawing room. They had been
weeping freely, but they seemed very
happy, nevertheless. Sarah came and
lneeled by her parents feet.
Eather-mother-w you pardon /
md forgive as Robert has done q
" Yes--yes, my child"
"Then / will try to deserve your con-
idence heucetorth. Oh, do want to
'e happy once more, and never,
Iever,-"
Robert caught her to his bosom and
eld her there /; and her father came
nd rested his hand upon her head.
81 know it is bitter lesson, dear
hild but believe blessing will follow
}. 1t is possible that from this time
on may be happier than you have ever