davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05
The Hidden BenefactOr.
A Good Word for Locomotive Enginee

A Good Word for Locomotive Engineers.
A ride on the engine may help to
break up the tedium of journey. But
L confess that 1 enjoy the occasional
privilege for other reasons. ] have sell
dom found locomotive engineer who
was not good fellow.
Pilots on the New York ferry boats,
and engineers upon railroad trains, are
intrusted with more lives than any other
men III the community /; and when we
consider the immense number of people
who are transported every day, and the
small number of accidents which befall
the millions of people dependent on
their vigilance for safety, it will be seen
how worthy they are of the trust re-
posed in them.
One may point to the numerous rail-
way accidents, and at the great slaughter
OF men and women which so often shock
the public, and carry sorrow to hun
dreds of households, as inconsistent
with such judgment. But, on exami-
nation, how very few of all these terrible
accidents are from the fault of the en-
gineer. He is not to blame for broken
rail. 1t is not his fault, if cheap or
cheating wheels or axles have been put
upon the cars, the breakage of which
sends the cars and their precious loads a
whirling down the bank. 1t is not for
him to run the trains which come rush
ing like the wind into him, while he has
the right of way
An engineer may be set dswn, as a
rule, as cautious, painstaking, intelli-
gent man, who brings to the care Of
human life as much conscientious fl
deity as is found in any other profess
sion in society which deals directly with
men and their interests.
Every little while we read instances
of real heroism in which engineers
stand to their posts in face of death,
and many poor fellow who has been
crushed under his own machine, might
have saved his life if he had not bravely
stuck to his place, and did his duty to
the very uttermost
Besides, how many unreported acts of
heroism have taken place, when, by
facing coolly the utmost risk, the en-
gineer has carried off his train safely.
No reporter was there to note the dan
ger, nor how it was avoided. We have
heard from these brave men of the ma
chine. instances of pluck and GOODNESS
and fidelity which, II seen on field OF
battle, would have brought him univer-
sal applause.
There are thousands and tens of thou
sands of peol lie who ride from twenty
to fifty miles a day, year in and out,
without scratch, flying through the
air at rate which, if any accident
should happen through the engineers
incaution or neglect, would dash them
to pieces. But how seldom do they
ever think of their faithful servant, or
speak a kind word of him or to him 4!
Who ever hears OF passengers making
complimentary testimonial to en-
gineers? Who ever sees newspaper
concentrations of their steadfast SER
vices?
The fact is, never come off from a
Journey that do not feel like going up
to the grand old machine and shaking
hands with the oily fingers of the master
of it, and thanking him for his services
-Bcecher in ". Y. Ledger.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05
Burying of the Law.

A great ceremony, called "The Bury
ing of the Law" lately took place in
the Spanish synagogue. of Jerusalem.
1t happens once every eight or ten
years, and is accompanied ~ Tho fcl-
lowing circumstances:-There is in the
"Talmad Torah" synagogue subter-
ranean cave, wherein every old leaf torn
out from any holy book, every worn-out
Bible, Gemara and phylactery is de-
deposited by all the Jewish inhabitants
Of every Minhag. After eight or ten
years, when the cave is full, these old
papers and books are brought out and
made up into bales. This done, the
people begin to assemble at a given
time in the afternoon. A cosher (or
faultless) Sepher Torah, richly orna-
mented and jewelled, is brought by the
Chacham Bashi, and carried by him
and the other rabbis in turn, at the
head of the procession. He is followed
by other rabbis; next come the bales,
about seventy or eighty in number
each carried by Jew; and then the
rest of the people. The procession
slowly winds its way out of the Zion
gate for some distance along the city
wall, and then decends into the valley
of Jehosaphat, where the burial ground
is situated. Here is very deep well,
wherein the bales are finally thrown,
amidst the singing of the joyous crowd.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05
4 Teachers Meals.
A teacher writes to Dio Lewis :


"Can't you give me some advice
about my meals, supper particularly,
taking into consideration the fact that /
must be ready for school as soon as $3.50
A. NJ, out at II, return at P. NJ, home
at 4:30 or 5 P. Mp"
She writes 81 have tried the omis-
sion of supper for some time, but this
seems to necessitate too much dinner
for immediate school-work.
I advise, says DIR. Dio, that you make
your breakfast very hearty meal, con-
sisting of beefsteak or mutton chops,
potatoes, and, if it agrees with you, a
cup of coffee without milk. Let this
meal be not only hearty, but eaten with
great deliberation, and treated as people
treat set dinner. When that meal is
done, you have taken more than half of
the food that you need in twenty-four
hours. l advise that you make your
dinner a lighter meal, especially if your
digestion be weak or in any way at
fault. The mutton or beef may be
boiled instead of roasted.
This is a good expedient, as it is often
extremely difficult to procure tender
beef.
Eat nothing more, and go to bed early,
not later than nine o'clock. If for q
while you suffer a feeling of faintness
in the evening, you may drink pint OF
very weak tea with very little milk, OF
half the quantity of hot, thin oatmeal
porridge.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05
A California Prison.

The Jail in Sacramento, CAL, where
Flynn, the murderer lately executed,
was confined, consists of the basement
of the building formerly used as the
State capital. 1t is gloomy, unhealthy
and cramped apartment, and is a sorry
looking place for human being to be
cooped up in, without ventilation and
unclean. Two rows of boiler iron cells
are to be seen, one reaching nearly the
entire length of the prison and the other
stopping about half way. An open door
upon one hand leads into the yard where
Flynn's brother was shot; upon the
other an uninviting avenue of brick
wall, dotted with few dismal looking
windows, out of which the architect
seemed to have exertedal his ingenuity
to keep Gods blessed sunlight. The
condemned cell looked like big ocean
steamship boiler knocked suddenly into
hollow square, with the CRATE on top
no under drainage, no possible yenti-
lation, nothing in the world but as much
room as a man with some vitality left in
him could exist in. The wicket in the
door is wbout eight by six inches. A
reporter, who visited the prisoner some
time ago, gives tea following account of
his interview =
Peering in saw an emaciated man,
haggard in visage and careworn in gem
eral aspect, who lay, as near as 1 could
Judge, either upon the floor (the place
was fearfully dark or upon a slightly
raised cot. My eyes became accus-
toned to the darkness and ! was able to
see inside the dungeon, and a sorry
sight it was-a simple mattress or two,
some blankets, pail, and quiet,
simple-seeming piece of what humanity
calls man. He lay on his back, his
eyes closed, his hands clasped across
his breast, and with little aesthetic dis
position of his hair and whiskers would
have answered for a lay figure as either
an angel or demon. As quick as trans
ition from foam to wave there sprang up
a bright-eyed, restless man, quick in
every nerve, and SO totally different
from the dull inanity that laid there
only an instant before, that confess l
felt staggered, and wished that I was
interviewed instead of being the inter
viewer"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05
Death in the Coal Mine.
Incidents of the sad Disaster I'm the Drum-
mond Mines.


To give some idea of the extent of
the explosion from the several air
shafts at the Drummond mine disaster,
it may be stated of an old one close to
the miners residences. and distant from
the mines some six hundred or seven
hundred yards, that huge pieces of TIM
Der were driven through it up into the
air, some falling on the roofs of the
houses and crushing through them.
1t was truly heartrending to pass
through the square of buildings where
the families of the lost miners reside.
The window blinds are drawn, and the
stiffness of death is over the place. No
merry tune is to be heard, the prattle
of little ones is hushed and there is
nothing but weeping and wailing. Poor
widows of men, whose chared remains
are far down in the burning sepulchre,
mourn necessarily and piteously the
loss of those who have been so suddenly
snatched from them. As you pass close
to the saddened homes of these families
you can hear the sobbing and crying.
Mr.. Coxon, the mining engineer of
the Albion mines, gave as his opinion
on oath, after having heard all the
testimony of other witnesses, that Nc
Leod, the miner who fired the shot that
set fire to the mine, had tapped a
blower (the term used in the North
of England), and, not having ready ap-
pliances at hand, was unable to put out
the fire caused thereby. He also stated
that, in the North of England, miners
are not permitted Unfortunately to
fire off shots; there are properly author
lied persons for this duty.
The roar of the burning mine was
terrible to listen to, and to think that
far down that slope the bodies of more
than seventy men were lying, probably
burned to crisp, was sickening and
hurried from the scene with sad refec-
tions. The loss of property by the
burning of the mine will be enormous,
all the wood work in it having been
turned. Doubtless it is a mass of ruins
below.
The grief of the women who lost their
husbands would move the stoutest
heart. Those who remain in theil
houses near the mine sob and cry in
cessantly, wringing their hands in wild
despair as they turn their eyes towards
the burning pat, expecting to see those
whom they loved in. life, but whose
bodies are now burning in the fiery fur,
mace below. Save the sobbing of the
mourning ones all is as still as death III
the village
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05
A WOrkman's City.

The last report of the Artisans, and
Laborers' Dwelling Company, OF Lon
don, shows that the progress OF the or"
ganization has been rapid and III some
respects remarkable. In 1867 its share
capital was only f502, and the deposits
amounted to G81S. Last year the capl-
tai had increased to no less than G52, ,O7o
and the deposits to 913, cS9, making
total of e65, 767. The number Of shares
issued up to the end of last year was
1887, held by LII persons, embracing
members of all ranks of society, ana he
depositors are $50 in number. The div
idend on last years working was xper
cent. and balance of e670 was carried
forward. Last year an estate OF forty
acres, situated in the Wandsworth Road,
was bought for the purpose OF forming
ga workman's city," and the foundation
stone was laid in August last. The es-
tate has since been called the "Shaftes-
bury Park estate" and it is proposed to
erect upon it twelve hundred houses
suited respectively for clerks. artisans
and laborers, in addition to a lecture
hall, cooperative store, school-rooms,
baths and wash-houses. A reservation
of three acres is allotted for recreation
and pleasure grounds.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05
We mourn our loss.
Married by Proxy.

The Rev. David Mackenzie relates an
instance of man getting married unin-
tentionally. Some thirty years ago a
decent couple appeared in church to be
married, after due procl amation of the
banns. They asked the clergyman to
wait bit ; he waited for an hour, and
then, at their request, proceeded with
the ceremony. He had thought the de-
lay arose from the absence of some un-
expected friend, but the truth was, il
was the bridegroom who had failed to
put in an appearance [; and his brother,
who brought the bride to the church,
unwilling, as he afterward said, "to go
home, after coming SO far, without doing
some business, so as to make sure of the
young woman" had, in all innocence,
welded her himself, as proxy for his
brother
How the lady and the brother ar,
ranged matters, the reverend gentleman
forgets to tell us.
Another odd match is noticed by
Pepys, in one of his letters, match
that, for time served to give the folks
of London something to talk about more
enlivening than the unwelcome wal
news of the day. Two rich citizens had
died, one leaving his wealth to Blue
coat boy, the other making q Blue coat
girl his heiress. What could be more
proper than that the lucky Blues should
unite their fortunes =? Neither of then
was out of their homage, but this was
not allowed to interfere with the plan
Accordingly, one September day il
1895, the boy, dressed in blue satin, lee
by two girls, and the girl, arrayed in {
blue sarsenet gown, green apron ant
yellow petticoat, led by two Blue Goa
boys, marched from Christ's Hospital
through Cheapside, to Guildhall, where
they found the Dean of st. Paul's wait
ing for them in the chapel. The Lore
Mayor gave away the bride Bowbell
pealed their best and everybody con
cerned adjourned to the school hall t.
TAXA part in an entertainment there il
honor of the happy event.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05
NO. a..
Facts and Fancies'

A rural editor said: "Early garden
stuff is coming up finely, owing to a
warm sun and the hens next door"
1t is rumored that the legitimists and
Orleanists have combined in move
ment for the overthrow of President
Theirs.
Captain Hall went more than two hun
dred miles further north with the Po-
laris than any other Arctic explorer
ever sailed.
Chicago invites all the Western Gov
ernors to come to her jubilee in June,
promising them week of music, excur-
sions, and balls.
The Khan of Khiva is greatly alarmed
at the approach of the Russians, and
| has ordered levy en- masse to resist
their approach.
II Newcastle, Del, seven men receiv-
ed twenty lashes each for larceny, and
one was placed in the pillory for cutting
his wife's throat.
Aqueer Delawarean, by his will divid-
ed his property among his children,
and left his bones to his enemies Ito
mako whistles Of.
! A Tennessee man wrote his will on a
paper collar, and it passed through pro-
bate as we'll as any other will, though a
little unhandy about fling.
The Episcopal Convention. for the
election of Bishop for the diocese OF
Massachusetts, elected Benjamin II.
Paddock, D. D., of Brooklyn, n. Y.
A violent storm in Vienna blew in
the glass in the western front of the ex-
hibition building. A number of people
we're injured and a large quantity OF
goods was damaged.
It is now announced that the reason
why the prairies are forestless is because
the Indians had pocket knives, and tsey
killed the trees by cntting the names OF
their girls on the bark.
Eastern papers report that the wife OF
Capt. Hall first learned of his death by
| over-hearing a gentleman read the ac-
count in the cars, while going from
Boston to Dover, n. II.
Complaints are made in Titusville,
Penn. that thieves steal nitro-glycerlne,
and what is worse, hide the dangerous
article in houses, and barns, and other
uheuspected places, where 1t IS liable
to 60 off at any time, and blow every
body sky-high in minute pieces.
Gen. John B. Gordon made little
speech at reception given him in Sa-
vannah, Ga, few days since, closing
with the sentiment: The heroic dead
of both armies, who fought for principle
and backed their convictions with their
lives. Let both be duly honored.
Mr.. Mordecai, one of the principals
in the recent duel at Richmond, has
died of the wounds received III that abb
surd affair, and Mccarthy, tho other
principal, is to be held on a charge OF
murder in the first degree, aud II Q
seconds as accessories before the tact.
Canadian papers continue to lament
the exodus of French Canadians, es-
pecially young men, totbe United States
for permanent settlement. One paper
goes so far as to affirm that III one day,
from the lower River du Loup to Lewis,
1900 persons had departed for the
United States, and that they were JOIN
ed at the railway station by 600 Sthers
who came by the first schooner, and
who took the same direction.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05

A KNOWING DoG.-An extraordinary
waste of canine sagacity is shown in a
story told by newspaper in Canaan,
N. H. The dog in question is owned
by butcher. A Ashoat was being driven
to the slaughter-house the other day,
but took to pond, and could not be
persuaded to come out. The dilemma
was pointed out to the dog, which swan
round piggy and drove him out on the
other side, after pulling him once from
under some logs, where the current had
drawn him. But discovering that he
had him on the wrong side, the dog
took the porker by the ear and dragged
him to the water, and ferried him safely
to the spot where he was wanted.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05
DIVORCED,
" He'll go to the dogs now.
"Of course he will"

He'll go to the dogs now"
"Of course he will"
BY all means. Only see how be
acted when his wife lived with him.
Now that she has left him, and all re-
stralnt is removed, he'll go the rest of
the downward way in no time"
buried"
."Pshawl Half that time will finish
him."
"Well, I pity him, too, but I pity
her more. He brought the misery on
both"
Such was the talk of half a dozen
villagers, who stood in front of one of
the principal stores one summer even
ing, while the subject of their remarks
went staggering along on the opposite
side.
1t was evident that he was trying to
walk straight, but such endeavors al
ways seem to make drunken man walk
more crooked. However, it proved he
was not lost to all sense of shame, and
still retained an aversion to being ridi-
culed and despised.
But Harry Rogers had carried on at a
fearful rate for year or two past. He
had just one vice-drink but that was
enough. He had married worthy
farmers daughter, Nettie Ray, only a
few years previous, but such had been
his conduct during more than a year
past that she had been obliged to cut
him loose to pursue his prohigate course
alone, and legal separation had just
been effected.
Harry's home was on little farm, q
mile from town. He owned it, but then
it was heavily mortgaged, and in an
other year foreclosure was certain. 1t
was not likely his creditors would spare
him when he made no effort to meet
his obligations.
A week passed after that Summer
evening on which all had agreed in pre-
dieting his early ruin-two weeks-a
month or two. What mystery is here !?
To the utter rbewilderment of the proph-
esying sages, Harry discontinued
visiting the taverns, and was rarely seen
in the village. When he did come to
the store he speedily transacted his
business and then went home-sober.
Wonders never cease when they get
start. He was next reported as actually
at work on his farm. Had but one man
told this in the village, he would have
OOoh nldiheu as ldChlLS FerdClIy DuU
as several ladies vouched for the fact,
it was worthy of credence.
The little farm began to look healthier
as the summer wore on. The fences
Strengthened up, the weeds disappeared;
the animals looked fatter and happier,
and the little cottage looked neater.
Time wore on, and the great change
was more remarkable every day. Harry's
charitable creditors called and told him
he might have his own time to pay off
the mortgage.
The fall came and the farm yielded
an abundance of crops, and Harry found
himself beginning to drift along with
the tide of prosperity.
And Nettie had begun to live her
young girlhood over again, as it were,
under her fathers roof but somehow
it was not like the happy, joyous girl
hood of memory. 1t was sober and
quiet now, and she fell into the train of
muslng; and every now and then there
passed through her mind a certain
thought-she was neither maid nor
wife.
She avoided the vicinity of her late
home, nor had she once seen Harry
since the separation but she had heard
of him occasionally-knew that he was
changed man. Still this knowledge
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05
A Rows Idea of Heads.

Heads are of different shapes and
sizes. They are full of notions. Large
heads do not always hold the most.
Some persons can tell just what a man
is by the shape of his head. High
heads are the best kind, Very know
ing people are called long headed. A
fellow that won't stop for anything or
anybody is called hot headed. If he is
not quite so bright they call him soft
headed. If he won't be coaxed or turn
ed they call him pig headed. Animals
have very small heads. The heads of
fools slant back. When your head is
cut off you are beheaded. Our heads
are covered with hair, except bald heads.
There are barrel heads, heads of SER
mons-and some ministers used to have
fifteen heads to one sermon-pin heads;
heads of cattle, as the farmer calls his
COWS and oxen; head winds; drum heads;
cabbage heads; at loggerheads; come to
a head; heads of chapters; head him
off; head of the family; and go ahead
but first be sure you are right; but the
worst of all heads are dead heads, who
hang around an editor for free tickets
to shows
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05

A PLoT OF LAND SINKING. 800 FEET.
A singular incident occurred in Sew
ard Valley, Schoharie county, n. Y.
On the top of hilli thewoods piece
of land belonging to the late John Welt
ing, containing about 10000 square
feet, sank to the depth of about 300 feet.
The report was heard number of miles.
It is supposed that there must have been
a mammoth cave beneath, aG it is in the
vicinity of Howe's Cave, and the arch
work giving away left the earth above
without any support, and in consequence
of this it caved in.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-05
" Our Baby"


In modest, quiet dwelling,
Where all is plain-not fine.
Lives rosebud little darling,
A little friend of mine.
Earth seems to her a playhouse.
No doubt she does believe.
The house and all within it
Were made for Genievieve.
Her eyes are full of mischief,
She's pretty mouth to kiss.
She is something of tyrant.
This pretty little miss.
She orders here two servants
10 attend her night and day,
10 feed her when she's hungry.
And to join with her in play.
or, If perchance, the twilight
Into the room may peep,
She calls aloud for some one
10 rock her fast to sleep:
And If she wakes at midnight,
"hlle the Others are at rest,
Ihey are reused from out their slumbers
"hlle Sac scolds her very best
let, tyrant as she may be.
by night as well as day,
mere is no one knows but loves her.
There are anxious hearts that pray
That her life may be protected
FOR days and years to come,
For the brown-eyed little darling
Is the sunlight of that home.
what matter that her birthright
cost an agony of pain !?
her winning smile and soft white arms
Have paid it back again.
What matter tho the parents
Hours of unrest endure?
Chl1st worketh through our little ones
To make us all more pure.
There is not ip the breadth and scope
Of any human life.
An Ill WITHOUT recompense.
a JOY without a strife:
Ano. were all anguish blotted out,
And naught but joy remain,
We'd know no God-we'd know no Christ
For Heaven was gained through pain.
So let her little majesty
Her countless changes ring,
Our hearts around the rosebud
viii ever fondly cling.
Wei bear her mad-cap humors
Wen laugh away her fears,
Wen soothe her angry spirits
While we kiss away her tears.
And, in the distant future,
When the hair is silvered DER.
She will turn unto her parents
As they turned to her before,
And with her loving spirit,
Which our rosebud will unfold,
Pay back their toll and trouble
Over an hur lred fold.