davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-25
A Duel to the Death.

A traveller tells of an engagement he
saw between the Secretary bird and a
poisonous serpent. 1t was easy to per-
ceive that this remarkable bird was
fighting a duel with one of the deadly
serpents of that climate, and fierce
and terrible duel it was, equal skill,
vigilance, and activity being displayed
on both sides. The serpent, with it's
jaws extended, and its poisonous fangs
ready for the fatal bite, reared its ter
rible head, swollen with rage and ven
ON, darting out its forked tongue and
glaring with its fiery eyes, while for a
moment the bird stood at bay. Then,
with one of its large, strong wings
spread out before it's breast, exactly
like a shield, it, with it's other wing,
dealt blow at the raised head of the
foe which struck it to the ground.
Quick as lightning was the blow, and
quick as lightning the dash which the
snake again made at its assailant,
though only to expend it's venom on the
feathers of the wing spread out to
shield the breast. Watching it's oppor-
GunlUy the Dlru, Will announcer Suuueu
movement, sprang upon the foe, this
time to give it kick, and prick and
wound it with its talons then, seizing
it with it's bill, it tossed it into the air.
For few minutes the reptile lay stun
ned and powerless, while its assailant
stalked warily around, anticipating its
slightest movement, for the cunning of
the serpent and the swiftness of its
gliding motions rendered it an equal
match for its larger and more powerful
antagonist Finding it's advantage, the
bird now cautiously approached, and
again with its wing swept the snake off
the ground and tossed it into the air.
More bruised and feeble after each fall,
the deadly snake at length grew wear
led and disabled, till the bird, now
feeling itself secure from a stroke of
the poison fangs, leaped upon its neck
and held it to the ground, while with
one blow of its falcon-ike bill it split
open its skull, and ended this extraor-
dinary duel by gobbling its enemy up.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-25
A Minnesota Grain Farm.

Any one wishing to see all the stir
and hurry of a lively city eclipsed in
the country should visit the farm of
Mr.. George Wilkinson, in Goodhue
township. This we were pleased with
an opportunity to do on Monday Mr..
Wilkinson's farm consists of something
over LOO acres, 1000 of which have
been in small grain this season, includ-
ing 800 aeres of wheat. The number
of men employed Has between sixty and
seventy, and at the time we were Gher5
seven Wood reapers were following
each other around one of the two I" lit
tie pieces of one hundred acres each
which remained tc be cnt Forty men
were binding and shocking after these
seven machines. In another part of
the field Champion reaper was finish
ing the cutting in that direction. On
Tuesday morning the stacking crews
were organized with twenty teams, and
not an hour needlessly lost between
reaping and stacking. They will stack
about $50 acres day, and nearly finish
this week. The planning of the work
and the disposition of so many men re-
quire no small amount of management
on the part of the owner of the farm.
The amount of wheat in shocks was q
sight to see stretching far away for
two miles was the heavy-headed wheat
piled in thickly standing shocks. Con-
siderable of this Mr.. Wilkinson thought
would yield 35 bushels to the acre. The
varieties grown are the Lowland Scotch,
Rio Grande, and Odessa, and the seed
raised on the new ground turned
over each year. Sowing this on old
land gives all the advantages of q
change of seed.
There is probably $25, 900 worth of
grain on the place. This will be brought
direct from the machine at the rate Of q
car load a day, and shipped to Mil
waukee. It is remarkable to notice
how few weeds are to be seen on the
farm and mixed with the wheat.
The farm is not one of the largest,
but one of the best in the State. 1t is
gently rolling, and contains not more
than an acre that cannot be con-
veniently ploughed. The soil is excel
lent and the wheat heavy, even on the
highest points. We noticed a number
of thrifty groves which had been left to
add beauty to the place. Water is
plenty and good in various places, and
the farm is q very fine one for either
grain or stock. Mr.. Wilkinson will,
soon offer the farm for sale, and some
of our readers may be interested in
knowing the fact.-Goodhue Repu6H-
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-25
Two Million Dollars Saved.

In the purchase of sewing machines
the saving by the Oranges of lows
has been great and the sales very large.
The retail price of sewing machines has
been from $50 to $95, according to vari-
ETY.; they are now sold to the Grangers
at 40 per cent. discount from these
prices, or for from $50 to $57. The de-
mand has been so great thst ], 500 ma
chimes have been ordered to be deliy-
cred during the coming year. Suppo-
sing all of these to be of the cheapest
variety, the saving will be $4,000. The
number purchased will probably far ex-
ceed 1,500. On parlor OTgane the dis
per cent on scales, from % to 33t per
cent on shelters, Is per cent; on
wagons, 20 per cent ON hay-forks, 33t
per cent on miscellaneous implements,
like feed-grinders, stalk-cuttefs, har-
rows, feld-rollers, hay-rakes, grain sep
arators, &C., % per cent. On mowers
the discount is 25 per cent that is, a
machine which reteils at $120 is sold to
the Changers for 800. A lot of reapers
which manufacturer who was going
out of the business had oD hand were
offered to the Grangers for $75 each,
provided they would take the whole of
them. They were carefully examined
and tested by the State Agent and
others, who reported that they would
be cheap at $160. A circular conveying
this information was sent to the Gran
ges of the States, and the whole lot was
disposed of at once. They have given
universal satisfaction. l might go on
at great length quoting prices, but
those | have given are sufficient to show
that by intelligent cooperation the
farmers of the West can save great
amount of money. Gen. Wilson, Sec
retary of the State Grange, thinks that
$2,000,0 900 has already been saved in
this way. Mr.. Whitman, the State
Agent, thinks this figure too high,
though he has no data from which to
make an estimate. The Grange has not
only benefited its own members by its
cooperative purchases, but has caused
a reduction in the prices of all kinds of
farming implements, sewing machines,
&C., in the stores and when sold by
agents. A single example will illus
trate this fact. A year ago, when the
agents for the sale of o certain cultiva-
tor supposed that they had the entire
control of the market, they charged $35,
and threatened to raise the price.
Since the Grange has been purchasing
similar cultivators for $26. 25, the agents
have reduced their prices to $50.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-25
Fear Accompanies Guilt.

There were two members from the
backwoods of the northern counties of
an Eastern State in the Assembly some
time ago, who had seldom, if ever,
boosted the possession of good white
shirt. While in the city they were ap-
preached by one of the lobbyists and
given $100 each to vote for o certain
person as Speaker. They were some
what afraid at first to take the money,
but being assured that no one would
know of it, they took it, with strict in
functions as to secrecy, etc. While
walking about town they concluded to
buy white shirts, but knew nothing as
to the price of such articles. One of
them selected from the stock an en-
broidered linen shirt, and asked the
young lady behind the counter the price.
She answered "twelve dollars" He
Immediately turned with an air of sur
prise to his friend, and exclaimed.
"By thunder, Bill, she knows it al,
ready" '"'
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-25
Sanitary Condition of Memphis.

In an article discussing the character
OF the malignant fever in Memphis,
which attacks whites and blacks with
equal severity and fatality, the Mem
phis appeal says: "We have no system
of sewerage in Memphis, and the neces-
sary consequence is that the filth of the
city is left to take care of itself. Our
sanitary police consists, for the most
part, of some half dozen of the chain
gang, who occasionally do little more
than emancipate the confined odors of
the kennels of Main street, and give
wings to imprisoned eff1uvia. Our al
leys and obscure streets are left to the
rag pickers, to porcine and canine scav-
engers, to cleanse them of their super
fuous foulness and were it not for the
rains of pitying heaven, would of them
selves give abundant employment to
our undertakers and grave-diggers.
And yet these are the least objection
able features touching the violation of
the laws of hygiene in Memphis. Near
ly every family in the city is dependent
upon cistern for its supply of water;
nearly every cistern is in the same
yard, in close proximity to, and gener-
ally in a direct geographical line with,
the privy. No intelligent man need be
told of the percolative and absorbent
qualities of the earth, and no Memphian
need be reminded Of the difficulty of
finding cistern water in the city free
from the impurities of animalcules in
duced by decomposition. The train o
evils following these disagreeable truths
will suggest themselves to the intelli-
gent reader without further elaboration.
The great question with us now is to
apply the remedy, and no time is better
to awaken the community to q proper
sense of the situation,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-25
The Poor BuffalO.

The reckless slaughter of buffaloes
on the plains continues, and the borders
of Kansas and Nebraska are dotted
with carcasses from which not pound
of meat has been taken. The skinners,
as they are called, go in parties of from
two to ten in number, and destroy whole
herds with their repeating rifles. Two
men, who were met recently on the line
of the Kansas Pacific, stated that they
had killed and skinned four hundred
buffalo on two small creeks not twenty
milesylong. Over thousand pounds of
meat is left to rot on the prairies for
every animal slain, and the price Tor
each raw hide is q dollar and a quarter
only. 1t is evident that measures must
be. taken to stop this wicked waste of
valuable food, or the buffalo will soon
be exterminated,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-25
The Heart-sick Actor.

Stuart Robson relates the following
Characteristic anecdote "One day, a
few summers ago, I had occasion to en-
ter a street car in Philadelphia. 1t con-
tanned but few passengers-a pair OF
tired women, their laps encumbered
with market baskets as big almost as
themselves, large man with small
voice, a young and pretty lady, the
owner evidently of beautiful little
four-year old girl, who was skipping
playfully about the car, and surly
elderly looking gentleman, whose head
rested on stout stick. These were the
only passengers. The little girl looked
so bright and lively and pretty, as she
held in her hand bunch of loosely ar
ranged flowers, the eyes of every pas
senger followed her as she gamboled
from one end of the car to the other,
with the exception of the surly looking
gentleman, whose head still rested on
the stout stick. All at once the little
creature stopped, looked timidly to-
wards him, then, as if half afraid OF the
liberty she was taking, picked a rose
bud from the bunch, and trotting to his
side. placed it with some little Difficult
ty in an unlimited button-hole of the
coat worn by the surly looking gentle
man, whose head still rested on his
stout stick. The movement reused
him he lifted his head, took in the
situation at glance, bent his eyes on
the darling, who ran laughing lly back to
her mother, and-never thanked her !
To some, the mans conduct may have
appeared heartless and unfeelng, but l
watched him closely, and, though he
scarcely changed his position, his eyes
never left her until, the Car stopping q
few PAGES off, he alighted, and as he did
so l discovered they were filed with
tears. The car moved on, but until 1t
was lost to view he stood looking gloom
lily toward us. This man was Amer
ica's great tragedian, Edwin Forrest,
and we may rest assured that the unpre-
meditated act of this pretty little child
affected him more than many of the
great honors which have been showered
on this lonely, childless gentleman"
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-25
Fifty Cents on the Dollar,

During the panic of 1857 o large num-
ber of persons in Philadelphia had
their boots blackened by an old negro
at his cellar on Spruce street, who de-
livered his work promptly every morn
ing ct the doors of their hotels and
boarding houses, radiant with the
brightest of French polish. One un-
happy morning these people got up and
found no boots at their doors. After a
proper amount of blasphemy, equipped
in old shoes and odd slippers, they set
out for Sambo's shop. On reaching it
they discovered placard on the cellar
door bearing the inscription, quite fa-
miliar Oh the bank doors of that day,
Suspended" After many thunderous
kicks, Sambo at length opened his por-
tai. "Where are my boots, you black
scoundrel ?" said one. Hand over my
shoes, you son of charcoal" said anoth-
er. The artist of the brush, with a
smile worthy of q defaulting artist of
Wall street, calmly handed over one
boot and one shoe, with the remark
"Gemmen, dis house has suspended,
but we pays fifty per cent"
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-25
WOmanlY NOdestY.

Man loves the mysterious. A cloud
less sky, the full-blown rose, leaves
him unmoved but the violet which
hides its blushing beauties behind the
bush and the moon, when she energies
from behind cloud, are to him sources
of inspiration and pleasure Modesty
is to merit, what shade is to figure in
painting-it gives its boldness and
prominence. Nothing adds more to
female beauty than modesty; it sheds
around the countenance halo of light
which is borrowed from virtue. Botan-
lists have given the rosy hue which
tinges the cup of the rose the name of
"maiden blush" This pure and deli
cate hue is the only paint that Chris
tian virtue should use it is the richest
ornament. A woman without modesty
is like faded flower, which diffuses
an unwholesome odor, and which the
prudent gardener will throw away from
him. Her destiny is melancholy, for
it ends in shame and repentance.
Beauty passes like the flower of Che
aloe, which blooms and dies in few
hours, but modesty gives the female
character charms which supplies the
place of the trapsitory freshness of
youth,
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-25
The Glass.

Mr.. Coville says looking glass af-
fords a woman marvellous amount of
comfort and qualification. He says his
wife thinks just as much of consulting
her glass when she ties on her apron
as when she tries on her bonnet. He
says that when there is knock at the
door, he goes there at once, but his
wife, on the contrary, eiaculates-
"Mercy, Joseph, who's that ?" and
dashes for the looking glass the first
thing.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-10-25
Waiting. MY Darling. for Thee.

I've been waiting for more than an hour, love
Yes, waiting and watching for thee,
While hoping and praying you'd come. love,
And keep true your promise to me;
For, you told me you'd meet me this evening
And listen to what I've to say
For, to speak the plain truth, I am certain
l can't tell you all in day
oHoRUs.
BY the lilies that float down the river.
By thecowslips that grow on the lea,
BY the roses that bloom in the forest,
I'm waiting, my darling, for thee.
I'm waiting, yes, waiting,
Tn waiting, my darling, for thee.
I'm waiting, yes, waiting,
I'm waiting, my darling for thee
For more than year have waited,
That promise for you to receive,
So surely you'll not break your word, love,
And leave me your absence to grieve.
So I'll watch and I'll wait here still longer
In hope Of your coming this way,
When the dim, misty vail of the twilight
Has shut out the brightness Of day.
By the lilies that float down the river, etc
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-14
QUIDDITIES.

A genius has invented a shirt collar to
which braces are attached for holding up the
trousers. t- =
Fall River apothecalies are notified by the
Massachusetts constables that they mustn't
sell soda water on Sunday. -r.
To drive away Ants-if they are married,
borrow some money of their husbands.
If they are single, let 'em take care of the
baby for the afternoon, while your wife
COS to a matinee. ---.a .
A touchy Wisconsin man has stopped his
subscription to the local newspaper Just be-
cause the editor eloped with his wife.
Tbs Prussian veteran, General Won
MGltke, who is almost as bald as Aeschylus
or julius Cesar, is much annoyed by appli-
cations from Teuton ladies for locks of his
hair.
An exchange says: "When you ser a
barehesded man following 3 COW through
the front gate, and filling tee air with gar
den implements and profanity, you may
know that his cabbage plants have cen set
out"
A lady returning from an Improbable
visit to church, declared that when she saw
the shaWls of those Smiths, and then
thought of the things her own pc II girls
had to wear. if it wasn't for the consolation
of religion she. did not know what she
should do.
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-14
MELANGE.

"A Missouri girl washed all day, ate
twelve boiled eggs for supper, and then
danced all night.
Mary E. Braddon is reported to have
made ten times IS much by her sensational
novels as Mrs. Browning realized by her
poetical works.
"A Maine street mother discovered her
three-year-old boy striving to shave him
self with bis fathers razor. She did not
faint, but few minutes afterward he wish
ed she had.
"A lady recently applied at a life insur-
ance company for position as agent.
When asked what her qualifications were,
she touched her unElushing cheek. She
was engaged.
The little boy who hangs himself on
meat-hook in butchers shop last appear
ed in Pittsburg. It's very good for that
young martyr to go about the country in
that way, making items.
Boy to lady visitor-"Teache there's
girl over there winking at me !"
Teacher-sfWell, then, cont look at her,"
Boy-"But if don't look at her she'll wink
at somebody elsel''
Senator Scott, talking to Pennsyl-
vania Sunday school, Sunday or two ago,
asked the scholars why Simon was kept in
prison. One of the teachers quietly
promp'ed boy to say that it was fo-
hostage, and the youth, not quite catching
the worts, piped out: "Hewas detained for
postage!"
"A genuine Oregonisn's track looks a.
if mule with pack saddle on had turned
over on his back in the mud. The people
are very enterprising, and have their houses
fenced in. He knows one man who is rich,
who has not a gate or a pair Of bars on his
farm, and for ten years has taken down AM
put up the fence in front of bis house every
time he has gone off his farm; he has al
ready worn out two fences and the third is
about gone, SO you see they are not lazy
people. They are also very conservative
people, and il some counties vote solid for
Gen. jackson every election.
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-14
REPORTS CORRECTED
A Lebanon Correspondent ON the Sit
.F umtiOn.

- -~O'esAAOAA OOAACSROnUCAAB OAA eAAO 6Atr
uatiOn. 4
To the Editor of the Union and American.
LEBANON, June IL, 1S79.-A local item
in recent issue of the "People's Own"
through the senseless panic or malicious
disposition of some "Wilson county men,"
does great injustice to our little city. Fhe
item referred to states that there had been
ten deaths from cholera here, when, in fact,
there has been onl / one. A young printer,
r. A. Wilkinson, on Saturday ate lot Of
can oysters, strawberries, ice cream, etc.,
and went bathing in the creek relow town
enough to kill anybody-and Sunday morn
irg WAS violently attacked with what was
reported to be cholera, which resulted in
death late in the afternoon. Our citizens
became very much panic-stricken in conse-
quenee, and number Of families immedi-
ately left for the country. Sine then one
more case was reported, but t. young man
is recovering. This is the extent of cholera
il Lebanon, and there is not even symp-
tom Of diarrhoea in town at this time,
so far IS your correspondent knows.
Our people have been watching an1iously
every evening tor the UNION AND AMERI-
CAN. in order to keep posted as to the
spread of the disease in Nashville and other
places; but now every one seems to have
become quiet, believing it will moi spread or
become epidemic if proper sanitary meas
ures are o. served by the public generally.
Your paper also gave an account of the
suicide of Mrs. Barrow, of Lebanon, a
few days since. There is, and has been, no
such family in Lebanon, as far as we can
learn. She must have been from Lebanon,
Ky.
By publishing the above you will do but
simple justice to many friends. W.
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-14
POST THIS UP.
CHANGES AFTER JUNE 80, 1873.
Parking privilege abolished.

CHANGES AFTER JUNE 80, 1873.
/. FrarkiDg privilege abolished. 80
2. Postmasters supplied with official
stamps. #lNiI asst, j---ae5)
3. Official stamps must not be used except
for official business. . sul1s.-
4. Stamp of one dep, rtment can not be
used for correspondence of another.
5. No matter can pass through the mails
free. rs ..r. 81. .s,r .r... ..--..a.--s
6. Postage must be collected on newspa-
pers published in the county where deliver
ed ea.-.. e- ...-sf l.f
7. Exchanges not free. Publishers must
pay postage on each Exchange received.
s. Postal cars urcalled for are not sent t.
the Dead Letter Office.
0. Postal cards cannot be used a second
time.
1C. Ordinary caids can be transmitted
through the mails by affixing one cent
stamp, provided the entire message is prin-
ted. The address may be written.
E--. SAN POSTAGE. -a .-re
letters-Three cents for each half ounce
or fraction thereof.
d op letters-Where delivered by car
riers two cents for each half ounce or frac-
ton thereof All other offices one cent for
each half ounce or fraction thereof.
Printed matter One cent for each two
ounces,or fraction thereof. Seeds, bulbs,
cuttings, roots, scions, chromos and engrav-
ings are classed with printed matter.
Merchandise-Twoce cents for each two
ounces or fraction thereof, limited to twelve
ounces. VIII N a7y of the above matter is
mailed wholly unpaid, and by inadvertence
reaches its destination, double rates should
be charged and collected.-POSt.o office Ga
zette,
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-06-14

At the present writing all is quiet and
serene at The Workhouse, lately the scene
CT activity and hustle Ono allusiol to the
attire Of the late fiashy female occupants
intended). The noise of the busy hammer
is no longer heard. The air is not disturb
ed by the sound of the coarse Jest or the
bawdy song, neither does the blasphemous
oath, deep curse or muttered imprecatiOn
break upon the ear, but, on the contrary
peace and quiet reign supreme. The bat
fits hither and thither, AMI the cheerful
cricket chirps pleasantly and undisturbed.
Those who solately occupied khe cells of this
necessary adjunct to high state of
civilization and refinement, spent last night
in the various dens and novels which they
denominate "home," surrounded though
they are by poverty, misery, ard wretched-
ness. --
This sudden and unexpected releasing of
the inmates of the Workhouse was caused
by woman confined in that establishment
having died Of cholera yesterday after a
short Illness, and although the building is
in splendid condition, Judge Dulirg thought
the best intesests OF the city would be sub
served, under the circumstances, by the
immediate release of ali the Inmates of that
institution.