davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13
Bad Memory.

Those even who are cursed with the
most treacherOus memories generally
retain a pretty accurate recollection
where dollars are concerned Butthere
arc exceptions to every rule, and curl
ous one recently occurred in Paris. One
Madame lie Brun, when leaving the
Vincennes railway station, saw a little
packet drop from beneath a ladysdress.
She picked 1t up and gave it to her, but
the lady denied all knowledge Of II, and
said tlnt it could not lie hers. Madame
Lie Brun, much puzzled, spoke toone Of
the officials Mt the station. He opened
the mysterious parcel, and found tliat IL
contained about $1,000. Madame LIE
Brun then rushed once more after the
lady, who came back protesting that II
wasn't hers; presently, however, the
recollection suddenly, flashed across her
that her mother, who had recently made
n great deal Of money, gayeher a present,
day or two before, OF the sum in ques.
tion; but, knowing that her daughter
WIS going 10 pay several visits, took the
precaution Of sewing the packet OF notes
into her pettiooats.-.an attention which,
had 1t beon effectively carried out by q
more vigorous ply Of the needle and
thread, would seem to have been by nc
means ill-bestowed in the case Of lady
who totally forgets in a few houss 4
packet Of $1,000. 1t Ia not every one
who, when losing money, has the luck II
meet n with Madame lie Brun.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13
A Hard Walk.

The train from New York to Paterson,
N. j., got fast in drift at cut neai
Clifton, one night during the late storm,
and bid fair to stay there all night. The
passengers took the anair in all sorts Of
llmOrs. Ono mRn said his daughter
was to be married that evening, and he
would give two hundred dollars to be
carried through, One lady had gone to
Passaic in the morning for ap hours
visit, aud she was alarmed at the prob
able condition OF the little nursing babe
she had left at home. Another man had
n wife who he expected would want him
to go for the doctor before morning.
After waiting for q time, q number Of
the more anxious ones, including tho fe-
male with the babc at home and several
other females, concluded, rather than
wait in the train all night, that they
would walk TO Paterson.
1t was an awful walk. In places the
snow was above their waists. One mo-
ment they would bc upon the track; the
next they would suddenly find them
selves precipitatcd into some ditch, or
over some embankment. Tie woman,
with the babe ut home, delicate and
sickly as she WIS, kept up with tho rest,
although she was occasionally helped
by the strong arm of some Of the men.
When male member Of the party felt
discouraged, aud like giving ont, he was
kept mp by a sort of pride, thinking that
if a woman could stnnd it, certainly he
ought.
Despite the situntion, tho cracking of
jokes never Geased, and good.lnlmor
prevailed to such M extent that the
party had no time to get down.hearted.
Then somebody would disappear with Il
yelp down some unseen cavity; NIL hands
would rush to the rescue, and the miss.
ing person would he extricatel and
threatened with being left alone il hG
did such u thing againl And so It went.
The party finally reached Paterson at
about II o'clock at night, having been
passed on the road by tie train they had
abandoned, which had succeeded in
forcing It's way through, but without
stopping to pick up the tnmpers
through the snow
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13
The Champion Nuullsmatlst.

II may not be generally known that
DR.. Charles Spier Of this place is the
oldest living and most successful numis-
mAtist in the world. He has been en-
gagged in the collectionof coins for over
iifty-seyen years, and has now over
1900 pieces, representing ever species
of coin ever produced in any year, or
under the dominion Of my sovereign or
government, from the days OF Semiramis
and the Pharoahs down to the present
time. His collection is worth hundreds
Of thousands of dollars. He has over
10000 OF his pieces in the vaults Of the
Bank Of California, and 1000, or over,
here. At the Bank of California his
collection Is pronounced the best and
most valuable in existence, not except
ing those of Queen Victoria md the
sultan of Turkey, which are particular
" extensive and valuable. Afew days
ago We examined the 1000 OF his pieces
which he keeps here. They proved n
most interesting study. Coins OF the
ancient Jewish Kingdom, Of the various
kings, ,consuls and emperors Of Rome,
OF iIyre,i oluou, ShrtiluRett NlneNellt
Babylon, China, Palmyra, Egypt,
Japan, ETC., with specimens of every
years coinage in all Christian lands
from the time Of Constantine till now,
were exhibited in prodigal profusion.
The doctor has many coins which would
sell for many thousands OF dollars each.
His collection Inns been the work OF a
very extended elifeti1le. He has travel
led nearly all over the world, and is
constantly receiving new additions to
his pieces from Europe and the East.
He has gold and silver coins from the
size OF n very large teacup, down to that
Of q pea. We wish We had tho space to
particularly describe some Of them.
The doctor, who is in easy circum-
stances and greatly advanced in years,
though still robust for one Of his age,
remains in y;saila OH account of the ex.
cellencc of the climate. His collection
is very interesting to any one apprecia.
ting tho mementoes sof antiquity
ViSatia (Cal.) Delta. n
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13
Aaron Burr.

Henry Ward Beecher says: "Aaron
Burr was keener thinker than George
Washington. He was far more ingo.
nious man, more active man, and, il
he. Ind been moral man, and main.
tanned normal relations with his fellow.
men, and with the laws Of rcctitude, he
would have been MI ADLER man. Wash
ington was man Of good sense, but he
was not man Of genius in any direc-
ton except that OF conscience. He was
II man Of singular equity, great disinter-
estcdness, and Of pure aud upright in
tent. sagacious ho was, by light
which came from integrity. He ondur-
ed, having faith to believe that right
was right, that it was safe, and TINT
right in the end would prevail. Tlmt
which made Washington the only great
hero Of our revolutionary struggle was
the light Of the moral element that was
in him..-not any intellectual genius
which hc possessed; not any rare tact Of
administration, or any remarkable exc
cutive power. And II you look back
upon those names in our history that
have stood the test, you will find that
they have been men who were fruitful
in the highest moral element. And rs
time goes on, those men who lack these
elements sink lower and lower and low
er till they set below the horizon; and
those who possess them rise higher, til
they reach the meridian, with undyine
splendor, to shine upon history and tht
world" ----- 49,
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13
GOOd.Bye. Old Year (,

We bid you goodbye, with smile,
Old Year because 1t won't pay to CRY.
You are bound to go, and leave us, we
know, and we cannot but say goodbye.
We feel none the less that a long-drawn
sigh, Quiver Of lip and fearful eye,
would better express, we will confess,
our heartiest last goodbye.
You've piled upon US heavy load
and many IN ache, on an uphill road
yet enough for the day way tho strength
alway, and hence our smile Is at best
awry with which we say, Old Year, good
bye
To be sure, we have felt that the aches
and pains were often by pounds and the
Joys by grains and the screws seemed
turned with IN extra pinch, as though
some malice had hold OF the winch; and
others seemed having much more de-
light, and we much less, than was fair
and right; that coin Of the realm and
bonds and stocks and real estate, In
squares and blocks and acres untold OF
prairie and hill and silyery stream and
dam and mill 81; that these and more OF
the coveted real, and desires fulfilled OF
bcauty's ideal, were the lot OF too few,
while we Of the many were often In
want Of even n penny. But then, since
we know, or at least don't doubt, that
the broods Of care are swarming about
the hordes OF manifold wealth that burn
and sink and leave by stealth that
"reumatic" loves to pain and twist the
grasping heart and the gripping fist.
we about conclude that we do not know
OF ono so fortunate hero below with
whom we'd exchange what the year has
brought---tllough little Of profit our
hands have wrought and take his
share Of trouble and pains, and also his
lot Of regret and shame, and also the
gaunt old skeleton grim that in cup
board or closet is grinning at him.
We cannot but feel, though load Of
care, that to say the least II Is hard to
bear, IL has been our lot all along the
years, that nevertheless there Is Joy In
life. in spite Of sorrow, pain, and strife.
and hence we regret the old year gone,
and wish it's draft on time undrawn :
that oil to soon the new is old, too soon
tho wondrous tale Is told.
Tho stream Of time.-0h, woe is mo
Hath current too strong and swift;
II hurries me on to the silent sea,
Like rudderlesS, soulless wreck
adrift; It. ..,
Oh would that there were some little
Some s1s' Ess'pdlpnd, beneath whose tranquil
wo might rei' forever at anchor lay, ~
Or float when we would to the deep,
dark sea. 5' .'i
But a.truco to regrets let time roll
on what matters what comes orwhat is
gonel tits joy to haye lived, II is Joy
to live; why care for tho flight Of the
fugitiyeP II each haye filed up the
fleeting days with noble deeds and high
essays, then no remorse or sad regrets
will cloud the years serene sunset
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13
An African Mon Of Business.

Soor Hadji Palloo was smart young
man of business. energetic, quick NJ
mental calculation, and seemed to be
born for n successful salesman. His
eyes were never idle, they wandered
over every part of my person, over the
tent, the bed, the guns, the CLOTHES, and,
hRving swung clear round, began the
silent circle over again. His fingers
seemed never at rest, they Ind a fdgety,
nervous action ut their tips, constantly
in the act Of feeling something; while
in the act Of talking to me, he would
lean over and feel the texture of tho
cloth Of my trousers, my coat, or my
shoes or socks; then he would feel his
own light iamdani shirtor babwain loin-
cloth, until his eyes casually resting
upon q novelty, his body would lean for
ward, and his arm was stretched out
with the willing fingers. His jaws also
were in perpetual motion, caused by the
vile hAbit he Ind acquired Of chewing
betel.nut and lime, and sometimes
tobacco and limo. They gave ont o
sound similar to that of young slloat
in the act of sucking. He was pious
Mlohammedan, and observed the external
courtesies md ceremonies Of the true
believers. He would afTably greet me,
take of his shoes, enter my tent protest
ing he was not tit to sit in my presence
and, after being seated, would begin his
ever.crooked crrand. ofllonesty, literaI
and practical honesty, this youth knew
nothing; to the pure truth he was M
utter stranger; the falsehoods he had
uttered during his short life seemed
already to have quenched the bold gazt
Of innocence from his eyes, to have bai
ished tho colourof trutllfu1ness from his
features, to have transformed hin-.,yet
STRIPPING Of twenty---into u most nc,
complished rascal and consummate ex.
pert in dishonesty. Africa Core,
RDO,iHCnt. Ht"
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13
A Bnrying Ground Of GInnts.

On the farm Of Mr.. Harrison Wlaley,
near AIoorfeld, in Carlisle Co., KY, is d
skirt of woods which possesses charac.
teristics Of deep interest. About three
inches beneath the surface Of the entire
tract may be found innnmerable bones,
evidently the remains OF Rn extinct spe.
cies OF the hnmanrace. Several mounds
are also in the woods, and in one which
has been partially explored were found
skulls and bones which from their size
must have belonged to race OF beings
fur more gigantic than the race which
now inhabits the earth. In this mound
were also found many clay utensils
also arrow heads cut out OF the solid
rock, and pipes Of the same material.
Such memorial Of the past starts many
inquiries. Was the place once battle
ground, where the aborigines fought to
maintain the glory Of their respective
tribes2 Or was 1t n common burial
ground2 The first seems to be the most
plausible theory, innsmuch Rs the whole
tract, covering at least fifteen acres, Inns
multitudes OF human bones hut few
inches beneath the surface. It is evil
dent they were never buried, but origi-
nally lay exposed to view, until the ac-
cumulRtel deposits OF time formed the
black, rich soil which covers them. But
whatever theory may be adopted, it il
certain that these bony materials ante.
date history and furnish another proof
OF how little is known Of tho races Ind
tribes WHO fourislled, it may he, cen.
turies ago. 1oiHn Ill,
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13

The architectural ingenuity, or rather
genius, Of the tarantula is u fact long
familiar to naturalists, San Diego, CAL
ifornia, paper tells us. Thisinsect has an
exceptional development Of the instinct
which instructs all creatures which are
not protected by nature with u warmth.
engendering liairy hide to properly
house themselves. The details of the
tarantnla's dwelling, down even to tile
matchless mechanism Of the doors Of
its cdifce, have excited the wonder Of
nil interested in natural history. The
most elaborate inventions in locks and
hinges of vaunted human skill are dis
tanced by this venomous insect i'll the
construction Of the door which secures
its priyacy. But the road.rnnner, bc-
tween which and the tarantula q deadly
enmity exists, is its master, MS M incl
dent which we are about to relate will
show a ..l..l
Prof. Agassiz, during his recent visit
here, exhibited spGciRl desire to be
supplied with as many specimens Ms
possible of the ronil.rtinner, Of the tar
ant,tla, and Of the tarantula-killer.
We are not advised as to whether he
was supplied with live specimens Of the
road.rlHmer. This is very timorous
and incredibly swift bird. It is about
the size Of pheasant; It's plumagc is
not unlike that of the pheasant family.
1t has longer legs, aud q slenderer
neck and body than tho pheasant. 1t
trusts for locomOtion almost altogether
to its legs, and runs with switness
that would shame rabbit or hare. II
is susceptible Of lOmestication, and in
time learns to come ut tho call Of those
who have petted it. But it is n hopeless
thing for stranger to try to approach
this fowl.
It is MS sagacious as swift. We were
put in possession of facts about the
creature by Mr.. Jose G. Estulillo, which
excited our wonder and admiration. As
We have said, there is enmity between
the road.runner and tarantula. The
road-runner is MS nOiseless as rapid. 1t
lies in whit for tho tarantlla, and the
moment it finds its enemy asleep, it mp.
proaclleH noiselessly with n twig Of the
prickly cactus. Deity ind stealthily it
goes on piling the prickly prison ground
the devoted insect, until at last rum
part of the desired height is piled up.
It then selects n specially jagged and
heavy piece of cactus, aud drops it ON
the tarantula. The last, awakened by
the shock, endeavors to rise and make
its exit. II is instantly impaled upon
the tlloris, and the triumph Of the road
runner is complete.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13

Dave Mosber n tropner md puide 1,
tho Nortb Woods hai q terrible encoun
ter with n North Woods beast last week
Three miles from sacondapa Lake ther,
IA n wild. rugged pass between III,
mountains known ma Blaok Oat Valley
The mountains on either side ara yery
steen md rocky and are covered wifi
n heavy growfb of black bolsom and
snrnce timber As tho snowa deenen
md The Tenthor becomes cold many
,Ieer and animals take Sl,elter In that
locality r
Amcno the rest are tla martin bovino
nlnable dark.colored fnr known
among tranners in those rau;ons as
- PIoek Cats Tbny soIJom move bv
div keen;n0 concsolcI IN trunks n
trces or between thc flsstres Of rocks
Owing n tbe uncertainty NJ finding one
twice IN n nloce and their natural shy.
ness L ia mite i;flicult to tran them
However when thew become nincheI
with hnnoor tbev viii ;nmn nj the Init
without HESITATION
4 keen strong stcel trap ia act and
coverei viii snow or leaves directly nm.
1er n irooning branch thnt the animal
cNn reach bv Fearing. mon this il se.
cnreI tia bSit md n Tia afIort To reach
wLich Il 10 nrstty ant to sten in tho trop:
than como svatem ~ ;Icsnerafe
monooyors man ond tie onlv wov to hold
them IA hy hov;nS the tron choin n.
tachad ~ small sannl;nr Tint will
snr;ng and ri them oF Tie ground
Ihis sleek fne.fnrred animal IA about
tho aiZe Of n red fox and ns David used
to express it, They're q sassy yarmint
to get hold on" -"
As Mosher was going the rounds of
ahead 1 To = terrible IA i Sommotion s nv unIer a n
Iarcs % White i,;rcI, sSare n tron Ind been
sst % As he annroocheJ n long. eannt,
tawny.colored. fierce.looking animal,
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13

Active preparations are in progress
to drain the great Okeefenokee swamp
in Southern Georgia. Tho largest
Counting Florida out Of the question:,
In this part OF the world, is now being
attacked in earnest, and chartered
company propose TO sec II it cannot be
made valuable for something besides
bears, coons, wild turkeys and snakes.
The swamp which extends down into
the upper border OF Florida, is thickly
timbered morass, nearly two hundred
miles in circumference NEARLY twice as
large Ms the Dismal Swamp---and It's
pathological population, which in
cludes some strange voiced birds ap.
parently peculiar to that particular do
main, Is only PARALLEL by It's endless
variety Of snakes and alligators. The
preliminary work Of draining tho swamp
required m experiment to show the
nature of the ground beneath IL and .
shaft or tunnel, sunk at tho border Of
the morass, has disclosed cltriously
enough the existence at the depth Of
two hundred feet, OF q bed Of genuine
bituminous coal. It's extent, as well as
the comparative value Of the coal, re-
mains TO be determined. The most OBJ.
vious incss in geology will readily OK.
plain, not only the existence Of coal in
such place, but the (probable) fact
that tho bed is q large one. Other geo.
logical facts Of some interest arc said
to have been developed by this shaft.
one being stratum Of rock OF the silu'
rinD AGE. ....
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13
An Old.FashlOnc,l Brigand.

Brigands OF tito old-fashioned type are
fast dying ont, but some very fine spec
linens of tile romantic sort are still to be
found in Corsica. A correspondent Of
the Paris Temps mentions that, besides
some thirty-four very doubtful charac-
ters, who systematically elude the po-
lice of the island; there are three indi-
viduals, named GernAni, Suzzoni and
Albert, about whom very sensational
legends are told. The exploits Of these
brigands are, however, mere clild's
play compared to those Of Suzzon's pre-
Ilecessor, the famous Santaluccia. He
was perhaps the last of the old race,
and was power In COrsica some thirty
years ngo. He took to the woods in
consequence Of what happened to one
Of his brothers, who wns convicted on
the evidence Of false witnesse, anl sent
to tho lulks. Santalnccia gave himself
no rest until lie Ind got those men into
his power The first Of these he tied to
tree and addressed as follows: I'd.
I" Yours is u lying tongue; you are
about to lose it," which assertion llo in.
stantly made good. To the next lle said;
I" Yon have declared that your eyes be.
held that which they have not seen;
you are going to lose your eyes" To
the third lie said: "Yon have sworn
TINT your ears heard what they had not
heard; you will lsse your ears" He
then toro out the eyes Of one and cut of
the ears Of the other.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13
Four Mon 10 be IInngcdI.

-Four men. nll of them whites are now
living in the County Jail Of Bnnlut
County, Texas, under sentence Of death
..-all 10 be. executed Mt the same place
ON January Is. Their names arc Ben.
iamin Shelby, Arthur Shelby, Ball
Woods, and William Smith. They wore
all sentenced for the murder Of Benja.
min McKeever. Their case. taken in
Mi it's details, is ono ef the most inter.
cstmg in tho annals Of criminal trials.
The evidence against them, though con.
elusive, was entirely circumstantial.
McKeever was shot from his horse at
night near the residence Of the Shelbys,
his throat then cut, and his body
carried on horseback three miles and
thrown into . cave. A large rock Tes
placed on the bloody spot where hlS
throat was cut, ont tlis precant,on,
instead OF cohSeailng the crime, n lea 10
the arrest OF the criminals. ine Keen
eyes Of q irontlersman sa% that tie rock
had peen recently placea hefe 70 J.
was removed, anu lndieauons oi pl9oo
iounu. % a closer seafcll resulted 1: IN ~, .he
iur5het nnuhg o. papef.,waaulng 'lIas n
naa Deen hreu ron snotIgus; y, ~, IN
eAainlh!hg y gun Q! be!lIainih s,.clny
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13

When flea, under a microscope, is
made to appear as lnrge M IN elephant,
we can sec all the wonderful parts OF its
formation, and aro astonislled to find
that IL has coat Of arinor much more
complete than ever warrior wore, aud
composed of strong polished plates, fit-
ted over each other, each pinto like u
tortoiso.shell, and where they meet hum
drels Of small quilts project like those
on the back of a porcupine or hedge.
hog. There are the arched neck, tho
bright eyes, tho transparent cases,
piercors TO puncturo the skin sucker
to draw away tho blood, six long legs,
four Of which arc folded on the breast,
all ready at any moment to he thrown
out with tremendous force for that
jump which bothers one when they wRnt
To catch him, and Rt the end Of each
leg hooked claws, toonRble him to cling
on to whatever hO lights upon. A ilGG
can jump hundred times its owr
length, which ia the same as II mar
jumped five hundred feet and he chi
draw load two hundred times his owl
weight
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-13
Tile Story Of Stephen Glrard.

The man lives in Philadelphia who
when young and poor, entered bnnk,
and says lie, "Please, sir, don't you
want a little boy2' And the stately
parsonage said, "No, little boy, l don't
want little boy" The little boy,
whose heart was too full for utterancc,
chewing piece of licoricc stick ho Ind
bought with cent stolen from his good
and pious aunt, with sobs plainly audi
bic, and with great globules of water
rolling down his cheeks, glided silently
down the marble steps of the bank.
Bending his noble form, the bank man
lodged behind door, for he thought
the little was going to shy n stone Mt
him. Dut the boy picked up something
and stuck it in his poor but ragged
iacket. "Come here, little boy" and
the little boy did come here; and tho
bank man said, "Lo, what pickest thou
up?" And he answered and replied,
"a pin" And the bank man said,
"Little boy are you gOod?" and he sail
he was. And tllcbank man said, "How
do you vOte9 Excuse me, do you go to
Sunday scloof?", and he said he did.
Then the bank man took down pen
madO of pure gold and flowing with
pure ink, and he wrote on n piece Of
paper, "St. Peter" and ho asked the
little boy what it stood for, and he said
"salt Peter" Then the bank man said
it meant "saint Peter" Tho little boy
said "Ohl' M a.
Then the bank man took the little boy
to his bosom, and the little boy said
"Ohw again, for he squeezed him.
Then the bank man took the little boy
into partnership, and gave him half the
profits and all the capital, and he mar
ried the bank mans daughter, and now
nll he Inns is all his, and NIL his own, too.