davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-02
Carrier Pigeons

Before the invention of the electric
telegraph enabled man to outrival the
boast of Shakspeare's Puck that he
would "put a girdle round about the
earth in forty minutes" the carrier
pigeon afforded the most rapid means
of conveying intelligence between
places far remote from each other
In ages the memory of which is dim
ly preserved in vague legends and
traditions these graceful couriers of
the air were employed to carry mes
sages of love and war 1t is surmised
by some writers that the dove" let
loose from the Ark, which returned
at even-tide with an olive branch in
its beak, was carrier-pigeOn; but
not to go back so far, we have anthem
tic instances of their employment by
the ancient Egyptians. According
to Wilkinson's work on the manners
and customs of that people, on one
occasions when an Egyptian king
assumed the double crown of Upper
and Lower Egypt a prince let fy
four pigeons, and commanded them
to announce to the South, north, west
and east that Horus, the son Of Isis
and Osiris, has put on the splendid
crown of the Upper and Lower
country; that the king Ramises III,
has put on the two crowns.n Sever
al instances of their use as messengers
occur in classical history At the
memorable siege of Muti1a. Hirtius
and Brutus held constant communi-
cation by this means, while Anthony,
through whose beleaguering host no
couriers could make his way, beheld
with rage and chagrin the passage
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-02
TOp-Dressing Meadows.

In my experience the hest results
can be obtained by applying the man.
uro on the sarfaee of the meadow as
soon as possible after the grass has
been cut. If it il cloudy or rainy
weather at the time, or soon after
wards, so much the better, as the liq-
uid from the manure will then be
carried into the soil, to be taken up
by the roots of the grass at the time
when they need the stimulus the most,
as they receive severe shock by be-
ing laid bare to the action of the suns
rays at season of the year when the
weather is usually the driest. l have
noticed that if grass is not cut close
to the ground, it will start much
sooner. | am inclined to think that
the reason for this is that there is not
so much root left exposed. III the
manure is applied at the time stated,
in a short time it will be covered
by heavy aftermath, furnishing a
protection from the heat of autumn,
as well as from the frosts of fall and
spring.-COuntry Gentleman.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-02
THE CANE porronED CHAIR.
BY WILLIAM MARErEAcE rHAcKERAy.

By WILLIAM MAKEPEAoE rHAcKEEAY.
In tattered old sippc that toa 81 at the bars.
Aud ragged old jacket. per:umcd with cigars.
Away from the world, and Its toil- and its cares.
I've snug little kingdom AMI four pairs of stairs.
To mount to this realm is toll, to be sure,
But the fire there is bright, and the air rather pure
And the view behold on sunshiny days
Is grand-through the chimney pots over the way
This snug little chamber Is crainmed In all hooks
With worthless old knick-nacks and silly old books
And foolish old odds aud foolish oil ends,
Cracked bargains from brokers, cheap kecpslkcs'
from friends:
Old armor, prints pictures, pipes. china (craeked),
oid riekety tables, and chairs broken backed,
A two penny treasury, wondrous to see
What matter: 'Tis pleasant to you, friend and me.
No better divan need the Sultan require,
Than the creaking oil sofa that basks by the fire
And tits wonderful. surely what music you get
From the rlckety ram-shake, wheezy spinet.
That praying rug came from Turconans camp:
BY Tiber once twinkled that bisEen old lamp:
mameiuke fierce yonder dagger has drawn;
Tis a murierous knife TO toast mufins upon
Long, long through he hours. and tho night. and
the chimes,
Here We talk Of old books AMI cid friends ami Oil
times.
A we sit In a fog made of rich Latakie,
7 ais chamber is pleasant to you. friend, and me.
But Of all the cheap treasure that garnish NV
rest,
There's 7 Inbo rfah b..k
II the finest Of couches that's padded with hair.
never would change thee, my OH canc-bottomed
chair.
ris bandy-legyed, high-shouIderci. worrneaten
seat
With a ereaking old back . nd twisted old feet,
But since the fair morning when Fanny sat there,
bless thee and love thee, ollcane- -bottomed chair
If chairs have but feeling in holding such charms
A thrill must have passed through your withered
old arms:
| looked and longed and wished m despair;
wished myself turned 10 cane-bottomeh chair.
II was but y MON nj she sat In this place:
She'd a scarf ON her neck, and smile on her face
smile on her face and a rose on her hair.
And she sat there, and bloomed in my ne-bottom
ell chalri
And so have valued my chair ever since,
Like the shrine of n saint, or throne of prince:
Saint Fanny, my pntroness. sweet declare.
The queen uf my heart and csne-botto toned chair.
When the candle burns low. AMI the eompany's
gone
In the silence Of night. ms sit here alone
sit here alone, but we yet are pair
Ny Fannie l see in my cane-bottomed chair
she comes from the past and rcvisits my room:
She looks as she then did all beauty and bloom:
20 smiling and tender. so fresh and so fair;
And yonder she sits In my cane-boitomed chair
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-02

to and fro Of these arial messengers.
In vain he tried every expedient To
intercept them. Nets and lures were
Of no avail, nor could his strongest
and most expert archcrs bringstbem
down as they sped their way. far
above the camps, between the besieg-
ed aud their friends Anacreon, in
one Of his exquisit edes, gives the
carrier-dove more gentle mission
than carrying bulletins OF war; and
if we are to believe the poets and
romancers the Middle Ages, it was
the most trusted messenger between
parted lovers Wealthy Romans car
gied pigeons in baskets to the Amphi-
theatre, for the purpose Of sending
home the names Of guests whom they
invited at that place Of amusement,
or to order change in the dinner.
The building being open at the top,
the released messengers would rise
above the walls and fly home with
the important information.
I Tasso refers to the employment Of
earrier-pigeons at the siege Of Jerusa-
lem, and relates how Godfrey, com
mander of the Christian hosts. on one
occasion protected one of these messen-
gers from the attack Of a falcon which
had been let loose by the inidels TO
destroy it, 1t is a historical fact that
they were employed during the cru
sade of Louis IX., in 1919. When
the Christian army attacked Man
surah the Saracens sent off a pigeon
Cairo with a billet announcing the
fact attached to its wing, and later
the same day another pigeon was
dispatched to carry the news Of the
total defeat of the French. Sir. John
Mandeville, the eminent English trav-
eler, who visited China during the
reigns of Edward III. and Edward
III, mentions the use Of these pig
cons as one Of the customs Of that
country. In fact, they are still en-
ployed to q great extent ip all the
Oriental nations, both by the state
and by private persons.-Miss Z. B.
LEONARD, in H0rper's Hagqzine for
ADriT
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-02

Kate Stanton, in her lecture on
THE Lives of Great Men" asserts
that the planets revolve around the
sun bv the influence of love, like a
child revolves about its parent. When
the writer was a boy he used to re-
volvc around his parents good deal.
Kate is no doubt correct, and he must
have been melted thereto by love, but
to unprejudice observers it looked
powerfully like trunk strap.
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-02

"Do you know this lady,"
II do"
"Will you swear to that Z"
Il will. To the best of my knowl-
edge and belief she is my daughter" I"
"Can you swear to the identity ?"
II can"
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-02

A bachelor editor who had apretty
unmarried sister, lately wrote to anoth-
er similarly circumstanced, please
exchange"
The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1873-04-02
BANK OPEN DAILY FROM "A. NJ. toSP. NJ
ALSO. On WEDNESDAY ANDsA
VRnAH EVENINGS, FROM
TO ~ O'CLOCK,
LOANS SECURED By BONDS AND
MORTGAGES ON REAL ESTATE.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES:

Iames O0oper, David Dibert, George Fritz, A.
). Hawes 4. W. Hay, John LOwman Daniel NJ =
Laughlin, James Mcmillan, James Morley, Lew
is Pitt, g. Il. Ellis, Powell Stackhouse, Conrad
Suppes, Geo. T. Swank. W. W. Walters and ID.
J. MOrrell. President. febi2
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-31
Herlin : efier.

LEG oNCkRr-FEsTIvAL-MoRE THIEvINd-
RAlLRoAD, &o,
BERLIN, MD. Dec. 80
DR. Finley delivered his lecture on Life in
Air, Earth and Ocean on the evening OF the 22nd.
in the NJ L. Church to small but very ap-
preciative audience. The lecture is very fine.
Ga the evening of the 23rd we had in the same
church the Buell. singers, who gave two concerts
which perfectly entranced our people Sweeter
singers than Prof. BuelI children we have nev
or yet heard. We expect another visit about the
last OF winter.
Nothing much beside festivals dining Christ
mas. The Methodist parsonage is now freed
walls. Aud besides paving Off debts enough is in
hand TO refurnish the house. All are greatly de-
light ed.
More stealing in town. lad stole thirty-fivs
dollars flom the money drawer. was caught for
story, his captors thinking he would give up the
money and they then would let him go but he
escaped through the window, since which time
he has not been heard Of, Last night while all
were attending festival another store was en-
tered i'll the country and three hundred dollars
stolen No clue to this thief yet.
The line of the Fraukiorl road is now being
surveyed to this place. Though Mr.. l. Showell,
road shall not cross his lands, the line il coming
aud desperate fight will, no doubt, result in
triumph over Mr.. Showell We want the road
to this place. Beside. this is a more direct
route to the oapes of the Chesapeake.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-31
Collision or the W. & r. H. r.
PASSENGER AND FREIGHT TRAINS RUN INTO KAcT
OTHER-THE LOCOMOTIVES BADLY DAMAGED, AMI
THE MAIL AGENT SEVERELY HURT.

PASSENGER AND FREIGHT TRAINS RUN INTO EACH
oTHER-THE LOCOMOTIVES BADLY DAMAGED, AND
THE MAIL AGENT SEVERELY HURT.
A collision occurred, yesterday aftern DON, on
the W. d II. Il. R., at Joanna Station, between
passenger and freight trains. The afternoon
freight north. It seems, was engaged in draw
ing out some freight cars from the switch at the
time the passenger train was due, and as the lat
ter rounded the curve. coming south, the
locomotive was on the siding coupling up to the
cars. The most of the freight train had been
left standing on the main track. The switch be-
ing open. the passenger train ran in upon the
siding and colded with the locomotive of the
freight train lifting it from the track, and dam
aging both engines to considerable extent.
The engineer of the passenger train closed bis
throttle, reversed bis engine and whistled
down brakes !" but the speed Of the train was
emily slightly checked. He stuck to his engine
and was somewhat bruised, but not seriously.
Mr.. Moore, the Mail agent, sustained
more serious wounds than any one else,
he receiving q severe cut in the back of
the head, and being bruised in the side. There
were about 25 passengers on the train but they
escaped unhurt.
The engine OF the evening passenger train
north to Ooatesvllle was detached at that place
and went on up TO Joanna to bring down the
disabled passenger train to this city. 1t arrived
shortly after the usual time. Mr.. Moore, the
Mail Agent was not able to resume his duties
this morning, and will not be able for several
days. His place is supplied by Mr., Hersey, of
the W..& W. r R., and Mr.. Hersey'ssby q clerk
from the post office in this city.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-31
The W. & II. E1ren.Ioa to Reading.

AHEAI-oFFToIAL INSPECTION OF W. AND Il. BRANCH
FROM READING To BIRDsBaRo-THE WORK ALONG
THE hourE-wHAr REMAINS TO BE DONE
THROUGH TRAINS TO READING.
On Monday afternoon, Hugh e. Steele, PreAi-
dent of the W. x II. r. R accompanied by Civil
Engineer Thomas @. Steele. made emi-officia
Inspection OF the extension from Birdsboro' to
Reading. reporter OF the Rea ling Eagle ac-
companied the party aud writes
Below the Poplar Neck bridge there is to be
seen one OF the very finest sections OF railroad
to be found anywhere Mile after mile on this
new branch il in one direct line. with grade
slightly sloping to the south. The view along
the route is in many respects grand The wind
ing Schuylkil of to the east, the black outlines
of the Reading road beyond the snow clad hills
and the blue boundaries OF clear Italian-like
sky, all make up beautiful panorama to look
upon.
As yet, the deep cut near Poplar Neck is un-
finished, and the tracks run over the summit.
This will not interfere with the regular running
of trains. The road is being rapidly pushed on
to completion All along the uniinished part Of
the liue gangs Of men are employed in straight
ening the rails and balasting the tracks. The
men seem determined to hurry on the work and
tinI-h the job. The run from Poplar Neck bridge
to Gibraltar will be a magnificent one. straight
and level az is to he seen anywhere; while away
across tbs river the black rails Of the competing
highway to the sea stretch parallel thus present
ing for the two roads grand ground for many
al sIcitiug race in the future. Straight lines
follow each other below Gibraltar, and the road
from thence to B,risborO ia easy running aud OF
gradual descending grade. Wherever he road
Way Id completed most excellent TINA is made.
Upon the arrival of tbs party at Blcd,borO,
President Steele who had prevlou-ly expressed
his entire 1atisffctiol with tho condition and
prospects Of the branch, left the engine and de-
parted for home.
Should the weather continue favorable the
entire work on the new branch it il at present
arranged may be temporarily finished before
the clUse of the week And shortly after that a
trial tnp of passenger trains may be made. As
yet there are no stations located nor sdngs laid
down II will require some time bsfore the
road will be in proper condition for regular pae-
senger and freight traffic Should work be i'm
meuiAtey commenced on the unfinished portion
of tho deep eut il could not be completed short
of live or six months and with the present hea
Wy grade over the sumlnit at that point it does
not appear practicable or advisable to run any
sort OF train as yet.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-31
The ,ruyade Again.r Mr.. Williams

tFrom the Washington Republican, Dec. 29.l
Since the nomination of Mr.. Williams to be
Chief Justice was sent to the Senate, the So
called independent, the Liberal Republican and
the Democratic press have waged against him
merciless crusade of Aander aud defamation
Day after day the columns of about
dozen newspapers have been filled with
the most unfounded charges and the
gravest misrepresentation. With abso-
luey nothing upon which to base an ale
CATION against his henor and integrity a law
yer and public man, a cloud of suspicion has
been thrown over his whole life and revelations
of the grosssst crime and corruption have boen
promised from day to day. Only
day or two ago, for instance, an ex-employee
of the Attorney General, who was dismissed for
incompetency. or orse reason, alleges, in the
New York Herald, that MIR. Williams, when ap-
pointed member of the Board of Visitors to
West Pont during his Senatorial term, charged
full mileage from Oregon and back amounting
to nearly three thousand dollars and drew the
whole of it. The facts are that Mr.. Williams
never was member of the Board of the Visitors
to West Point, and mover visited the Academy in
his life What is the obiec-
ton to Mr.. Williams We are told of corruption,
OF acts unbecoRling a lawyer. What is it What
are they Thus far, they are only OF the most
shadowy and impalpabe character. The only
definite one that has been presented has been
rejected by the committee as utterly unfounded.
Not a single particle of testimony has yet been
taken that in any way reflects upon his oharac-
ter; not substantial, well authenticated charge
has been presented. Nor ID it likely that one
will be presented, for the simple reason that
none exist,
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-31
aeIghboring.Cou

Tho Reading hat factories will soon resum 9
again.
Elias 8. Dandore, OF Reading, has boon inn
prlsoned on a charge of forgery.
1t is said there is not a celored woman in Al,
lsntown, and only five oolored mon.
Lord Massey has been impol tuned to lecture
in both Kennett square and Reading.
VIM. streby, of West Cain, Chester county
dropped dsAd day or two ago in his yard,
The Udderzook trial is being translated in
German by the American consul at Vienna TO l
the use of the German bar
Buffalo Bill has just pail WestlGhester ny-
ing visit On his way from successful tour in
the South to Nsw England,
Howard Painter, of West Chester, has re.
turned from Germany, where he has been stu
dying law at Frseburg College.
A Chester County Deputy Sheriff has been
sent to Denver City, Colorado, with requistion
for one Gao. Gathers, who abducted a little
daughter OF Evan DIckensou OF 4nnet Square.
Tie Oxtorl Co o JeratiVe Cac Co owe sl7'
900 and on Saturday meeting was held in West
hester at which the following plan OF settle
ment was agreed upon Ole third cash, one
third in QUO year and oue third in two years.
The creditors have not as yet decided upon &C
cepting these terms
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-31
spsoch-MaI.ins In .,onxres..

The style of much OF the speaking shows that
the prayer -meelng and the playhouse have been
ITS Nurseries. Those who have taken plAy-ac.
tors t as models, are inflated, emphatic and pain.
iully allow. Such members say, Mr. Speaker
ASK leave to Introduce bill, ;" as il the utterance
were startling truth that had never burst upon
the world before. They have the theatrical
gags and yulgarltiss, and say che yild for child,
me Tor my, with much bdsso profttndO, swelling
and posing. Such pretension promisaa much
and alwAya falls short. Those who have taken
me eiasa-lesder and the preacher as their models
are also unpleasant speakers. There is and has
pesn tendency In certain Of the priesthood to
run INTO nasal smiling tone in the exercise of
spttuAi functions, under the mistaken notion
that u adds solemnity to the words This mfll-
ehce IA very perseptible in Congressional speak
lns, ana sometimes becomes so marked that we
oAPeot speaker to reach the climax raise him
no,, @ on MS toes with q tremulous shake
ahu pronounce the 'YeA, verify" of
W fne ~ tAse-dod Barebone OF Puritan memory.
lu we speaking OF Congress- it is worthy of re-
marx, MARI, tnat great body and prominent stomach
tTiiu tT certain weight to the words pronounced.
1 ms oApper man with an insignificant voice il
,i" aums az disadvantages, for let him speak as he
w miil hh words do not have the same importance
-, I'm, .hs hltn who delivers his over great abdo-
al, -hupposlng them to be OF something like
oIuAl talents. This was illustrated in the pres
ensauoh OF gold snuff box to Lord Jeffroys a
mau ma OF great mental stature but small in flesh
- o ~ "no W presented the box was ge,-oompar-
on 20 tne dlmlnutlye nobleman. OF digntied
tns msnners after pronounciug the usual compi-
a suss,. ne handed the box to the nobsman with
- e elenu DOW the theatrical ease of Word and
ienusr TOOK away the little mans faculty Of
~ speSon tS ne thrust the box into his pocket and
,ssu uown Nv, without saying q word In the same
Soy S%Sy INC Big men in Congress occasionally bear
nv, upon the small lean ones and if they can
d,u dns eake away their speech, they do sometimes
sta uiaoohcert thom with their ponderous ways and
dry. ~ 'O''e' 'J'' '"''"-
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-31
Arshna DIciInnnrr BIotter.

There are some psoplo-many in faot-who,
let their educational advantages be what they
may, never become thoroughly and securely
good spsllsrs. To the end OF time, they remain
dolbtfd OF their ie and els cannot be sure
whether the last syllable of independence is
spssd With all or an and hesitate where to
plAos the double in tulhllmsut. To those un-
fortunatss, the now Dictionary Blotter," issued
by Drets, 1882 Chestnut ST. Poiladelphia, will
supply what the adVortiaemsnts so often call
Kssl Want To neat portfolio blotting case is
aided complete word list, giving the proper
spelling OF all words in ordinary use, also table
Of synonyms aud others Of geographical and
christian names all included in surprisingly lit
tie bulk and to bs had Tor a surprisingly small
outlay Of fractional currency. After this, no OK
cuse is left for baing bad speller, and that hu =
man weakness may be expected to vanish from
the world.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-31
Latest General News.

r.,,w w..,ber Yesterday, throughout England.
No,h;,u h.s been heard of Ralph Keller. the
81 Cnha correspondent OF the New York
Iribsns .-, -, -.
~, Rurriel the Santiago butcher, has been
called home to Madrid; and VIII oe eous.
sd.hod Sshd for having attacked the Spanish admins
tratiOn. -, i,
m, uonday afternoon Harry eenet was traced
- Vn ~. .ttv of Montreal, but his friends have
sA'n1ad various stTstag ems to mlsiean ths sneriu
= ~ his hiding place He is still believed TO be
In that city.
I.rvsller. the Captain General OF Cuba. de-
wanda NE extraordinary powers enjoyed by MS
rr.dse.rsors Thus far the Madrid government
declines 70 grant theni' IiouSH "'' az
been enlarged.
rba suaalsh colonial minister, (new IN Cuba,) }
- ,a.da 4 spessh at Matanzas, in which he
snnvht "a Allay the fears in regard to the lmme-
diate abolition OF slavery. His remarks gave
mnch sahsfaotion to the owners OF slave proper
ty
Tho engineers strike in Ohio and Indiana, on
the PsnnA. RalroLd connexions, Sohtinues.
iTbere are rumOrs OF the men on other roads
ioinine. Alta meeting. on Monday night, the
ssntboyitv of Grand Ohiet Engineer Wilson was
Jissyowsd. and reported acts Of violence by
striking engineers elsewhere were strongly con-
dsmned.
CAPTAIN Shufeldt, executive olicer OF the
Brooklyn navy yard, said yesterday morning
tbst ths obstrtiction occssioned by the sunken
coal barge would probably be removed, and tue
Arapiles released either to-day or to morrow.
phillip Donahue, was arrested, in Newark yes
ter.lsy, for fatally stabbing his Wife
Yesterday the Pacific railroad was completed
To Texsrcana the proposed junction with the
Cairo and Fulton railroad. and regular trains
will commence running at once
Tryen the murderer, was executed At Barrie,
Ont, yesterday morning.
man. giving the Rame OF John Oowley; OF
PennSylvanla was hanged yesterday by mob at
C,m.rrsr. Nav Mexico, on Monday night, for
numbering csttlo dealer and stealing Sl2 600
from him.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-31
BurLp1Na IMpRovEMENrs. rs.-During

BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS During the past
month, Chief Engineer Farra has made surveys
for the following buildings
John L. Walton house on 10th near Lin
coin.
End.
Patrick McManamin, l shop on Buttonwood,
between A. and b.
Joseph. .Tatnall 1 house on 23i street, be-
tween Market and Tatnall.
Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-31
Agrlc nliurAI Department of tho Delaware
Tribune.
From the oxford Press. Dsc. stI

. ]
We notice that ThomAs J. Il lge, CT London
grove, Chester county, has assumed editorial
management of the agricultural department OF
the DELAWARE pRIBUSa, published at Wilmington.
by jenkins Atkinson. This arrangement will
insure a we'll edited Farmers Department for that
paper, valuable to the general reader but espsc-
ially TO those interested in the improvement and
advancement OF their agricultural knowledge
will it be found valuable. as Mr., Edge is an edu,
Gated practical farmer OF much experience a
cI0ss observer and plain. forcible writer We
wish him success in his new field His connec. +.
ton IN the same capacity with the Journal OF
tho Farm aud The Phadelphis Ago will not be
interrupted by this arrangement with the della
WARR 1'ptpTrSR