davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Grange advance., 1874-06-10
The Richest Men in America.

The New York correspondent of the
Cincinnati Commercial writes: 1.-THE
three richest men in America are VIM.
B. Astor, A. T. Stewart and Commo.
dore Vanderbilt, all residents Of New
York city. Astor's wealth is mainly
in real estate and its revenues; Van.
derbilt's is mainly railway stocks and
their dividends; Stewards in goods,
houses, stores, factories, lands and stocks.
The aggregate wealth Of each one of
them is supposed to be somewhere be-
tween seventy-five and one hundred
million dollars, which looks rather
heavy. Nobody knows exactly; they
cannot tell themselves within million
or two. Those who know most about
their affairs put the figures highest, and
they say that the income tax return of
a few years ago, which showed each of
them to be worth between twenty and
thirty million, gave no proper idea of
their real wealth. Astor lives unosten-
tatiously; Vanderbilt lives in three
story brick house on third. class street,
and Stewart lives in marble palace in
Fifth Avenue, more magnificent than
any other residence on the American
continent, and equaled by few in any of
the great cities in Europe. Astor an
Vanderbilt are New Yorkers by birth :;
Stewart is a native Of the north of
Ireland. @Astor is a large, heavy man
of seventy, with strong features and a
rubicund face like parchment, and
gives the impression of being hard-up;
Vanderbilt is tall, slim, handsome
man Of nearly eighty, straight as an
arrow. Astor has heirs to his estate :;
Vanderbilt has children to whom he
can leave his fortune; but Stewart is
childless. Astor's public benefactions
are confined to something like couple
OF hundred thousand dollars, which he
gave to the Astor Library, and the two
golden candlesticks, nine feet high,
which he recently gave to Trinity
Church. Vanderbilt has never made
any public benefactions, excepting u
steamship to the government during the
war, till very recently, when he gave a
million dollars for educational purposes
-one-half of this sum to found uni
versity in Tennessee, and the other
half to another educational institution.
Stewart has always had the reputation
Of being elose-6sted; but he must be
credited with his million dollar Home
for Women,' which will be completed
next year. Astor is an independent
Methodist, and Stewart is said to be in
clined to thinking for himself: Stew
art is scholarly man; Vanderbilt is
not; Astor is an accomplished man Of
the world"
The Grange advance., 1874-06-10
Facts About Farmers.

The report Of the Massachusetts
Board of Health for this year contains
valuable paper on the farmers of that
State. 1t makes the surprising state
ment that the 'svalue of farm products
is greater, both per farm and per acre,
in Massachusetts than in New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan
or Minnesota. The nearness of the
the farm to market is the reason for
this remarkable fact. The census re-
turns for 1870 prove it. This is not
the only blessing of these lucky Down.
East agriculturists. Like their breth-
rem of the Augustan age, they would
be "too happy did they but know their
own good fortune" They live, ON an
average, 65.13 years, which is 14.19
years beyond the average They might
live even longer if they cared to. The
Massachusetts doctors-or forty-six of
them-have answered the question,
" What causes tend to injure the health
OF the farmers and their families?" as
follows: "Overwork," 26; "improper
dlet," ~; " exposure" 18; sanitary
defects" 10; "want of ventilation" Z
g overwork among women" 6; want
Of recreation" 5; "indoor life of
women," 3; Ignorance of hygienic
laws" 3; "anxiety," 3; irregularity of
work, g; "neglect of bathing, ,"2; "damp.
cellars" 2. Most of these causes Of
death could be removed by care and
common sense. AS the Nation saws
they might all be summed up under
the phrase "not knowing how to live.".
The fact suggests one great defect in
all our schools. They could teach the
laws of health Norman who had once
seen the simple experiments that show
the deadly influence of impure air upon
lite would build his home on the model
OF an air tight stove. No one who
knew how defective drainage saturates
house with poison would be content
to live above broken drains and leaking
sewers-much less above a dead fiat
surface, unpierced by any drain what
ever, into which the refuse of the
house slowly soaks. The man who has
studied hygiene will be slow to load his
stomach with fat pork, and hot, lumpy
bread, and nondescript masses fished out
of the kissing grease Of the frying-pan.
The Grange advance., 1874-06-10
Care OF Farmers Boots and Shoes.

A farmer who has been accustomed
to wear thick boots for more than forty
years past says: Before wearing the
boots give the bottoms good coating
Of tallow or coal tar, and dry it in !;
then oil the "uppers" with castor oil,
about one tablespoonful to each boot !;
then oil them twice a week with castor
oil. when one teaspoontul will be suf6-
cient. If the weather should be rainy,
or you are compelled to work in water
during the day, wash your boots clean
at night, hold them by the fire until
quite warm, and oil them while wet,
and you will have no trouble about
your boots getting hard and shrinking
up so that you cannot get them on. If
the leather should become red give a
coat of ordinary shoe backing before
oiling. The effect of castor oil is to
soften the leather, while it fills the pores
and prevents the water from entering
l have stood in the mud and water two
or three inches deep for ten hours a
day for a week without feeling any
dampness or having any difficulty in get
ing my boots on or off. Of course, if
they are kept constantly wet they must
be oiled every night. Some may think
that castor oil is too expensive, but so
little is required each time the cost is
trifing. Fifty cents, or less will fur
nish sufficient quantity to last as long
as an ordinary pair of boots, and will
wear much longer when the oil is used
than with any thing I ever tried.
When boots are exposed to mud and
wet several hours a day coat of
shellac varnish applied after the leather
is oiled will exclude the water better
than any other material-Cor. ~ Y.
Herald.
The Grange advance., 1874-06-10

nothing" but singularly enough they
seem to have utterly overlooked the DIFF
fculty of finding conductors or ticket
agents who can properly pronounce the
names Of such proposed stations as
Krasnoyarsk, Irkoutsk, Werckneou.
dinsk, Tsooroohaito, &c.
The Committee on Music in the
Boston public schools find that out of
3,34S pupils in the schools of the city,
only IS are not able to join in the mu-
steal exercises. 1t has been noted that
many children who enter the schools
seeming to be entirely without musical
perception have, as result of the train
ing received. developed an excellent ca
pacity for singing.
Miss Catharine Grear died lately in
Philadelphia, aged 1O6 years. She
was native of that city, having been
born in the gear 1853, in house on
Star Alley, near Fifth and Cherry
streets. She was of German descent,
her parents, having come to this country
IN the early part of the last century.
Two OF her sisters are now living, one
aged ninety and the other eighty-six,
while third died Two years ago at the
advanced age Of ninety
"A couple of hawks fighting like
game cocks were recently caught by
man in Connecticut. A number of
crows were perched on the trees around.
making great ado and egging on the
contestants. The hawks were so en-
gagged that the man approached them
without attracting their attention, and
dispatched them with a whip-stock.
One Of them measured four feet and
four inches across the wings, and the
other four feet two.
The lawyers Of Indianapolis are
torturing their brains over an extraor-
binary problem. Some years ago lady
of that city was married, and four
months thereafter separated from her
husband, was divorced and remarked
in month, and four months thereafter
gave birth to child by her first hus.
band. Cutie recently the second hus-
band procured divorce, and the Gus
tody OF the child was awarded to him.
Now comes the first husband and claims
the child, and the lawyers are asking
who is entitled to its possession?
One of the interesting features of
the seed business in Europe is what is
termed "the Test Garden" Here
trial is made Of all varieties of vegeta.
bic and flower seed on sale, to ascertain
how well they germinate, and what pro-
portion it any is untrue. In the seed
houses each lot of seed is submitted to
further test in neatly contrived glass
apartment, properly heated. A "record
book " is kept, and u regular account
opened with the different varieties ex-
perimented with Among the items
noted down is the date of sowing, the
number of seeds used, age of the leeds,
time of termination, &c. Some seed
men in this country, as We learn, are
using the same precautions.-N. y
T1.l6u3le.
The Grange advance., 1874-06-10
Care OF Team Horses,

The following good advice to teams
ters has been published in the form of
4 snowy poster, and sent out by the
Massachusetts Society for the Proven
tion of Cruelty to Animals:
What Constitutes Good Driver.-
l. A man that sees that good care is
taken of his horse in the stable, by be-
ing well fed with wholesome food of
cracked corn and oats, with plenty of
good hay. Potatoes or carrots may be
given once or twice a week to good ad-
vantage. See that he is kept clean,
warm and comfortable, with plenty of
bedding. A piece Of rock salt should
always be left in the manger.
2. He should see that his harness is
kept soft and clean, particularly the
inside Of the collar, which ought always
to be smooth, as the perspiration, when
dry, causes irritation, and is liable to
produce gals on the shoulder. The
collar should fit closely. with space
enough at the bottom to admit mans
hand. If too large, it has the bad
effect of drawing the shoulders together
On no consideration should team, or
any work-horse be compelled to wear a
martingale, as it draws the head down,
and prevents him from getting into an
easy and natural position. The check
rein may be used, but only tight enough
to keep the head in natural position,
and it should never be wound around the
names. See that the names are buckled
tight enough at the top to bring the
draught iron near the center Of the collar.
Iftoo low, it not only interferes with the
action of the shoulders, but gives the
collar an uneven bearing. Caution
should be taken that the girt is not
buckled too tight, particularly on string
teams, for when the traces are straight
ened, it has a tendency to draw the
girt against the belly, and also, distress
the horse.
3. See that the horse is kept we'll
shod with good stiff shoe, always calk-
ed at toe and heel on the hind feet, as
it is there where propelling power
comes from when heavily loaded. Keep
the feet good and strong, but not allow
ing them to be cut away too much by
the blacksmith.
4. The best Of judgment should be
usedin loading, taking into consideration
the condition Of the streets, and the
distance to be travelled. Never over
load, for by so doing you only distress,
strain and discourage your horse, and
do him more injury than you can posi-
bly, gain by carrying an extra load.
When your load is hard to pull, stop
often and give your horse a chance to
breathe. No good driver will ever re-
sort to the cruel practice Of whipping
or beating his horse. A light whip
may be carried, but there is seldom use
for it. Much more can be accomplished
by kind treatment and good judi dgment.
Remember, the horse is very intelli-
gent, proud, sensitive, noble animal,
the most useful known to man, and is
deserving OF the greatest kindness.
The Grange advance., 1874-06-10

By stunning the horrors Of bad air,
bad water, bad food, the American
farmer may develop into a modern Me-
thusalah. When that time comes, his
wife, who is now the chief raw material
for our lunatie asylums, may possibly
exist long time before death or insan-
ity puts an end to the grind Of over
work that makes up her whole life.-
Chicago Tribune
The Grange advance., 1874-06-10

-" Dad, if I were to see duck on
tne wing, and were to shoot it, would
you lick me ? " "Oh no, my son it
would show that you are good marks
u man. an; ana 4 l would be proud Of you -
:, well, then, dad, I peppered our old
Muscovy y duck as he was flyin' over the
fence to-day, and it would have done vou
good to see him Drop"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-29

The following communication appears
in Boston paper: "Albert Sumner, a
borther of Charles, and his wife and on
ly child were lost at sea, the circumstan-
ces attending the loss of the ship being
unknown. The law gave Mrs. Summers
property to the one of three who lived
longest. Mr.. Sumner, being a healthy
and vigorous man, was presumably the
last TO die, and her property fell to his
heirs. His only heirs were Charles and
George Sumner and their sister, Mrs.
Hastings. These three, at their own sug-
gestion, and so unostentatiously that but
few of their personal friends knew the
fact, made over the whole of Mrs. Sum
ner's property, amounting, 1 think, to
over $40, 1000, to her heirs. At this time
the Summers had only very small prop
erty. When in ignorance of these facts,
certain fashionable people at Newport
made invidious comments upon Mr..
Summers heirs retaining the house and
land at Newport, Mr.. George Sumner
showed me the letter from the represen-
tative of Mr.. Summers heirs acknowl-
edging the receipt of the money in term
of astonlshment and gratitude. The
house and land at Newport were pur-
chased with Mr.. Albert Summers owr
money. The late Mr.. Nathaniel ]
Bowpitch told me that it was the only
case he ever knew, where the heirs Il
whom the law of survivorship had giver
property did not keep it. 1t surely was
as generous as it was uncommon"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-29
Seventy Pairs of Hands.

The variety and number of needles
made in these days are wonderful; the
surgeon, harness-maker, book binder.
felt-worker. saddler, glover, embroiderer
and housewife each wanting needless of
all shapes and sizes and lengths. And
when you think that each needle has to
pass through seventy pairs of hands be-
fore finished and ready for use you see
what pains is taken to reach excellence
in very small thing.
Seventy pairs of hands to make a
needle! and each pair necessary to make
the needle perfect. IF only one pair re-
fused to do their part the whole would
be a failure-not needle would be
right.
You see, it is painstaking in little
things and in small parts which leads to
excellence and success. We are apt to
slight bits Of work, thinking it is no mat
ter and of no account. But it is not so.
The details of plan must be faithfully
carried out in order to make the plan a
success. If the parts Of work are all
done the whole will lie complete, and
only then.
And it Is just SO in making and mold
ing character. It must be well done in
parts, faithfully finished in bits, in or
der to make complete and beautiful
whole.
Always be sure that the small and
common work which you have to do is
thoroughly done. 1t is faithfulness in
little things which makes you reliable
in great things Exchange,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-29
st. Nicholas for June

Opens with a seaside story How the
Gulf Went Down." by Rebecca Hard
ing Davis, illustrated by two Of Miss
Scannell's characteristic drawings. There
is also an English story, "The Two Car
RACES" by Mrs. Chanter, sister Of Canon
Kingsley. Folded Hands" is a remark
ably well-told story Of Albert Durer and
one of his friends. Clara q. Dolliver
has a charming little sketch called "Mrs.
Slipperkin's Family" and there is
firist-rate boys story, "The Little Re
formers" by Rossiter johnson. "The
Heronry Among the Gnarled Pines" is a
hunting sketch by c. A. Stephens.
There is an account Of Isaac Newton,
who is described as a nice old gentleman
who held office and was honest and an
admirable article by VIM. II. Ridening,
telling how sunken vessels are raised and
their cargoes saved by our coast-wrecl<-
ers. A number Of excellent enRravinP-
show how the divers work, &c, &c.
Among the poems in this number we
hnd, Gowns OF GOssamer," by Lucy Lar
com; jolly story in verse by Mary
Mapes Dodge, called The Sun and tie
Stars" and a poem by John Hay. There
is brief account Of the "Jardin d'Ac-
climitation" in Paris, with two captivat-
ing pictures, one Of children riding on
an elephant and another Of part Of
youngsters in carriage drawn by an os-
trich. The three serials are as good "a
ever; in "Fast Friends" Mr. ]. T..
Trowbridge gives his heroes some anus
ing New York experiences there il a
night adventure in a wood in Olive
Thorne's "Nimpo's Troubles" and an
account Of the peculiar workings Of
boys telegraph company in "What Might
Have Been Expected" by Frank r.
Stockton.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-29

STICKING PEAs.-A correspondent of
the London Field makes suggestion as
to sticking peas which is worthy of trial.
He thinks that "to those who have to
procure stakes at great cost the follow
ing method will prove advantageous, be-
ing very cheap, simple, and easily per-
formed. A few rough stakes should be
obtained and driven into the ground on
either side.of the row, about twelve feet
apart. These stakes should be of cor
responding height to that of the peas
and when the required number for line
is inserted, some tar twine or other strong
cord may be tied to the end stakes, and
passed along the line of stakes, making
IA turn one ach within n few inchs of the
ground, and as growth progresses, raise
the next turn little higher, advancing
in succession until the plants attain their
full height. These lines being run on
at the right time, the tendrils of the peas
will clasp firmly round them and sup
port the plants quite equal to the well.
known plan of sticking. Some imagine
advantage to be obtained in this way OF
training, as the lines get better circula.
ton of air, and pods can he gathered al
all times without injuring the haulm.'
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-29
A Good Housewife.

A good housewife is one of the first
blessings in the economy of life. Men
put great value upon the housewife
qualifications Of their partners after mar
riage, however little they may weigh
with them before; and there is nothing
which tends more to mar the felicities
of married life than recklessness or want
acknowledge in the new housekeeper of
the duties which belong to her station
Men admire beauty, and order, and sys-
TEN, in everything, and men admire good
fare. If these are found in dwellings,
and are seasoned with good nature and
good sense, men will see their chief en-
joyments at home-they viii love their
homes and their partners and strive to
reciprocate the kind offices of duty and
affection. Mothers that study the vel
fare of their daughters will not fail to in
struct them IN the qualifications Of mar
ried life; and daughters that appreciate
the value of these qualifications will not
fail to acquire them.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-29

bottom Into these the divers insert the
ends of the three cables which are
drawn upward by hydraulic power. This
part of the work costs severe effort and
much time, and when it is done the in
jured vessel, as a doctor would say, is on
the fair way 10 recovery. The cables
are drawn up through the wells, link
by link, and are frightened gradually, un-
til the wreck lifts. She raises slowly,
and the pontoons groan from the weight
bearing upon them as they are drawn
nearer to her. For some time yet she is
out of sight; but, at last, her deck is seen
dimly through the waves, and soon af-
terwards it is above water. The wreck
ers, as We observed, are impassive in
their manner; but they cannot repress
their enthusiasm over the success, a-d
two or three of the more excitable burst
into cheers-From "IEe Coast- Wreck
ers:" by Wm. FL. RidejHg. S. Nichols
for June.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-29
A. J. STILL ON THE WArcHrowER.

A. J. STILL ON THE WATCHTowER.
Andrew johnson concluded his ad-
dress inlMemphis, Saturday night as fol-
lows: II will simply say that I know I
have been charged with being ambiti-
ous Ambitiousl am ambitious. APP
plause.] And do not think would be
worthy of being called man unless
were ambitious. Applause.] l am am
bilious of acquiring reputation among
this people that I have been faithful
representative, and that have stood up
on the watchtower of my country, and
defended and vindicated their rights
when they were not in condition to do
it themselves. am ambitious of their
esteem, of their respect, and their conf
dence, for the reason that / have done
my duty to my God, to my country, and
to my family. Yes, am ambitious! !
have lived and toiled for the people be-
cause wanted their appreciation and
their esteem; and when the time shall
come when my connection is to be sever
ed from this people, and from things that
are mortal; when the lamp of life is about
Pickering its last, the most pleasing
thought that can pass through my mind
will be to feel and know that when dea
and gone I still occupy a place in the
respect and affection and heart of my
countrymen."
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-29

Mr. and Mrs. Sartoris sailed on the
Baltic for England Saturday. The wed =
ded couple, accompanied by the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Grant and friends, were
conveyed down the bay on the revenue
cutter Grant, the Governors Island ma
rine band being also on board. The flag
ship Roanoke, lying off the Battery, fred
a salute, and the marines drawn up in
line, presented arms as the cutter passed.
The newly married couple were trans
ferred to the Baltic amid the booming OF
cannon from forts in the harbor and the
revenue cutter. Flags were displayed on
public buildings. The occasion was al
together novel and interesting 10 plain
Republicans.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-29
A Patent Rat.Trap.

The local editor of the Burlington
Qowa) Hawkeye says a man has invent
ed patent rat-trap that does not require
any bait, and will fetch rat every time
it reaches for him. 1t operates on the
principle of a stomach-pump-the in
ventor is retired physician, the sands
of whose life have nearly" &c.-and the
trap is placed at the mouth of the rat
hole. When it is wound up and the
suction begins the rat comes. He many
hold on to the ground with his teeth,
and hump his back and paw dirt, and
weep, and yell for the police all he wants
he comes out of that hole backward, is
dragged into back compartment, where
a steel glove drags his hide off and lays il
aside for kid glove manufacturer, while
the carcass is pushed into a little fur
mace and cremated.