davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25
A SQUIRRELS Leap.

Recently little red squirrel, having
been pestered considerably by the boys
above the mill of Eben Webster & Co.,
on Marsh Point, Orono, took refuge for
life by running up the large brick Chin
ney near the mill. By clinging to the
corner he kept foothold so we'll that he
succeeded in reaching the very top.
Here he found himself upon the iron
cap 1881 feet from the ground. AS
more and more of the waste stuff from
the mill was added to the furnace the
chimney grew hotter and his situation
became more and more disagreeable.
He tried to descend upon the side OF
the chimney, but after getting down a
few feet gave it up, turned about and
went back. By this time the chimney
top became so hot that he must leave it,
so after looking about carefully for a
few minutes he evidently made up his
mind that he must leap to save his life,
and this he did, spreading out his legs
and balancing himself so that he struck
the ground about fifty feet from the base
uninjured and Immediately scs mpered of
and secreted himself under a pile OF
boards little distance away.-Bdngor
(Me.) Whig
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25
Deafness.

Probably the most frequent way in
which the ears are injured is by the at
tempt to clean them. 1t ought to be
understood that the passage of the ear
does not require cleaning by US. Ma
ture undertakes that task, and in the
healthy state fulflls it perfectly. Her
means for cleansing the ear is the Udr.
Perhaps the reader has never heard
what becomes of the ear-wax. will
tell him. 1t dries up into thin, fine
scales, and these peel off one by one from
the surface of the passage, and fall out
imperceptibly, leaving behind them a
perfectly clean, smooth surface. In
health the passage of the ear is never
dirty; but if we attempt to clean it, we
infallibly make it so. Hereby a
strange lack of justice, as it would
seem, which, however, has no doubt a
deep justice at the bottom-the best
people, and those who love cleanliness,
suffer most, and good and careful nurses
do a mischief negligent ones avoid.
Washing the ears out with soap and
water is bad; it keeps the wax moist
when it ought to become dry and scaly,
increases its quantity unduly, and
makes it absorb the dust with which the
air always abounds But the most hurt
full thing is introducing the corner of
the towel screwed up, and twisting it
around. This does more harm to ears
than all other mistakes together. 1t
drives down the wax upon the mem
brane much more than it gets out. Let
any one who doubts this make tube
like the passage, especially with the
curve which it possesses; let him put a
a thin membrane at one end, smear its
inner surface with substance like the
ear-wax, and then try and get it out so
by towel! But this plan does much
more mischief than merely pressing
down the wax. 1t irritates the passage,
and makes it cast off small fakes of
skin, which dry up and become extreme
ly hard, and these are also pressed down
upon the membrane. Often it is not
only deafness which ensues, but pain
and Inflammation, and then matter is
formed which the hard mass prevents
from escaping, and the membrane be-
comes diseased, and worse may follow.
The ear should never be cleared out
with the screwed-up corner of a towel.
Washing should extend only to the out
er surface, as far as the finger can reach.
-Hintow's Physiology for Practical Use.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25
The HOOsac Tunnel To Be Opened
November 1.
From the Boston Journal. !

The Lieutenant Governor and Coun-
ell returned to Boston on Wednesday
from an inspection of the Hoosac Tun-
mel, and have closed contract with the
Pennsylvania Steel Rail Company for
furnishing the rails for the tunnel, to be
delieyered on or before the LIST of Octo-
Der. The proposals for the additional
brick arch were opened by the Tunnel
Committee at the State House Thursday
and the committee will report to the
Council next Thursday, when the con-
tract will be awarded. An arrangement
is to be made with the contractors for
the--arehed work near the central shaft,
to permit running of freight and one
passenger train each way each day. This
work will be protracted six months,
when the tunnel will be entirely done,
but Mr.. Walter Shanly gives assurance
that the tunnel, so ffr as his contract Is
concerned, exclusive of the track-layin
will all be done in about a month, and
that we may surely expect the first train
to make its passage by1 November /.
The blasting is all done, and the COM
pressors closed month ago at the cen
trail shaft, and now the remaining work
on the tunnel is chiefly confined to fin
ishing the central drain and completing
that part of the brick-work which comes
under the contract The tunnel itself is
complete, with the exception of one place
at the west shaft, where one-hundred
foot block must be taken sout, just as
soon as the passage-way out the west end
is free, when the shaft will propably be
closed up. Only two hundred men are
now employed in clearing up the tunnel
and the Messrs. Shanly are doing some
work not in the contract for the State in
enlarging some of the worst places
where the new brick arching Will have
to be done. 1t is probable that some
plan will be soon settled upon by the
Governor and Council for fitly commem-
Grating the opening of the tunnel on
November l.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25
Why Her Plan Didn't Work.

The Pottsville Penn. Miners Jour
nal is responsible for the following sto-
ry: "a Phoenixville maid, quite old, be-
coming anxious about her matrimonial
changes, recently concocted plan to de-
ceive young fellow as to her age. This
was the way she tried it: The old family
Bible contained a faithful record of all
births, marriages and deaths. This vol
ume the maiden took to her chamber,
and selecting the birth page, she man.
aged, by dint of scratching and writing,
to change the date of her birth to period
eleven years later than what it had leg
itimately been recorded. Then the Bi-
bic was placed on the sitting-room table
in conspicuous position. That evening
came along the lover. He soon began
to finger the Bible pages, and finally
reached the birth recorded, where and
when he discovered, to his surprise, that
his Angelina was just one year youngel
than he. He thought it strange, as she
appeared older. He kept his mouth
shut and Continued to tumble over the
psges. Next he began reading the death
list, and made the very astonishing dis.
covery that the radiant maiden, accord.
ing to the Bible, had actually been born
ten years after the decease of her father
The young man quietly arose and bid
Angelina good-by, and now swears that
eternal vigilance is indeed the price oi
liberty.'"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25
ARKANSAS STAGE ROBBERY.
Four Stages with Passengers for Hot
Springs Stopped by HighWaymen
In the 0ld-FashiOned Way.

LITTLE Rock, September lS.-Pass-
engers from Hot Springs, who arrived
this evening, report that about % o'clock
last night, the stages running between
Malvern and Hot Springs were overhaul
ed by four men, and the passengers robb-
ed. Malvern is the stopping place for
Hot Springs on the Iron Mountain and
Southern Railroad. 1t is forty-three
miles south Of this city. Last evening
il required five stages TO carry the pass
engers, baggage and mail to the Springs.
During the route they became separated
by some little distance. The first stage
was stopped about three miles from Hot
Springs, The driver recognized two of
the men as being the same who robbed
the Hot Springs stage last spring, and
who were the Gads' Hill robbers. They
presented tkeir pistols and guns in the
usual style, made the driver dismount
and the passengers get out. They then
went through each one separately, tax
ing money and watches. The ladies
were not disturbed. After getting
through, the driver was ordered to put
out his lights, and unhitch his horses.
This done, one man WAS left to guard
the party, and the other three went a
few yards in the rear and waited for the
next stage. 1t and the remaining ones
were met and gone through with in the
same manner. Several invalids and Ia
dies were not disturbed. After the last
stage had been robbed, the parties open
ed box of grapes and invited the ladies
to partake of the same. They then took
a horse each, and after trying their
speed left their own horses and departed.
They obtained about two thousand dol
lars and several watches. The express
package was not touched. The Sheriff
with twenty men left Hot Springs this
morning in search of the robbers.
The Associated Press agent tonight
received the following particulars of the
affair from Hot Springs.
Hacks brought from Malvern to this
place were stopped by four highwaymen
about 10 o'clock last night, three miles
from the Springs, and the passengers
robbed, the robbers securing about a
thousand dollars in money and three
gold watches. They returned one watch
to the owner because it had Masonic en-
blems engraved on it. Another gentle
man persuaded them TO return his gold
watch and chain by convincing them
that they were gold washed, and they
were welcome to them. The Deputy
Sheriff of this county is in hot pursuit of
the robbers with a large posse, being on
ly five miles behind them this afternoon
and hopes are entertained that they will
be captured"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25
A Wonderful Machine.

An Eastern paper says: "A wonderful
piece of mechanism has recently been
produced by +. Schroeder, an Amster-
dam jeweler. 1t is called the Great
Mechanical City, and is twenty feet
long by fifteen wide. There are houses;
castles, churches and stores in it, just as
they appear in almost any European
city. People walk and ride about.
Horses and wagons and railway cars pass
through the streets. Boats pass up and
down the river, while some are loading
and others unloading at the docks. Mills
are in motion. 4 fountain plays in the
public park and band of musicians fills
the air with melody. There are also
forts with soldiers parading about them,
blacksmith shops with artisans ut work
in them and pleasure gardens with peo-
pie dancing in them. Other scenes no
TO make this wonderful structure in
deed"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25
DOnaldsOn's FOOlhardiness.

Donaldson, the aeronaut, Is SO well
known about here that no excuse is need
ed for introducing remarks about him.
He is man who pines for notoriety, and
is willing to go any length TO secure it.
He has a new dodge to keep himself in
the front rank of baloonatics, though it
may take him suddenly out of the ranks
of the living. He has added another
frightful trick to his evolutions in the
clouds on the trapese bar attached to it
affords him an elegant opportunity. He
hangs on his toes when on this ring, and
when away up a half mile above the
house tops, he lets go entirely, and drops
headlong down, and again catches him
self with his toes on the bar. This dropp-
ing act is pronounced the most frigbtful
and blood curdling sight ever witnessed.
The eronaut hangs down his full length
straight and stiff, and all of suddenly
he drops, and comes swooping down, on
ly to catch himself nicely at the proper
time. A wave of the hands, and a grace
full salute from the man hanging head
downwards bids the awe stricken multi
tude below quiet their fears, for he is
safe and sound This reckless daring is
pronounced the most fearful cloud gym
nastics ever known.-Eh
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25
Strength of Material.

1t is a most remarkable fact that the
most abundant material in nature, iron,
is the strongest Of all known substances.
Made into the best steel, rod one-fourth
of an inch in diameter will sustain 81
900 pounds before breaking; soft steel,
1000 ponnds; iron wire, 5000; iron A.
600; inferior bar iron, 1000; cast iron,
1000; to 5000; copper wire, 5000; silver,
1000; gold, $500, tin, 300; cast zinc,
160; cast lead, 80; milled lead, 200; OF
wood, box and locust the same size will
hold l 200 pounds; toughest ash, 1000;
elm, 800; beech, cedar, white oak, pitch
pine, 600; chestnut and maple, $50; pop
lar, 400. Wood which will bear a heavy
weight for minute or two will break
with two-thirds the force acting a long
time. A rod Of iron is about ten times
as strong as hemp cord. A rope an inch
in diameter will bear about two and
half tons, but in practice it is not safe
to subject It to a strain Of more than
about one ton. Half an inch in diane
ter the strength viii be one-quarter as
much; a quarter Of an inch one-sixteenth
as much; and so on.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

MAsscHUsErrs.--T next Massa-
chusetts election is likely to be interest
ing, says the New York Sun. The Re
publlcans cannot dodge the nomination
of Talbot for Governor, or thirty thous-
and prohibltionists would bolt the tick
ct, and his nomination will put the Re
publican party in Massachusetts square
on the platform of prohibition. 1t is an
issue which they have long tried to avoid
but it faces them at last. Whether they
nominate Talbot or refuse to do it, the
ticket will lose much of its strength, for
the party includes many ultra temper
ance voters, it has also in its ranks thous-
ands who are opposed to prohibition and
the corrupt State constabulary. Wheth-
er an independent ticket meeting the
views of honest and moderate men of all
parties will be put in the field remains
to be seen.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

NOVEL READING AND A HIGHER
CULTURE-The Examining Committee
of the Boston Public Library has come
TO the belief that novel reading Is better
than no reading at all, and that books
even of the lightest order exert upon
those who can appreciate no higher kind
a certain educational influence. The
Committee has, therefore, concluded
not 10 deprecate novel reading, but il
nevertheless greets with pleasure every
sign Of improvement in the public taste
and every measure designed to raise the
standard ofreading." In the Bates Hall
collection" Of the library there are ma
ny valuable standard works, but no nov
els, and as n consequence this collection
has not been as much used az the gener-
al library. Last year the books in The
Bates Hall were collected in classes Of
biography, history and travel, and lists
were prepared Of them. The effect dur
ing the last eight months has been to
raise by IS per cent, the use Of books Of
history, biography and travel, while the
addition to the amount Of fiction used
has been less than three per cent. BY
comparison Of the use made Of books Of
history in June, 1874, and June, 1878, il
is shown that there has been an increase
of 200 per cent, during the year, while
the entire reading OF the lower hall or
general library has increased only half
of one per cent
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

THE NEW LOAN BoNDs.-The market
for new loan bonds, according TO advices
received at the Treasury Department, il
exceedingly fair just now. The home
bidders for the ten million dollars
worth Of these bonds are preparing 10
take them from the vaults Of the Treas
ury in goodly numbers, as there appears
to be considerable call for them. The
Register Of the Treasury is himself sign
ing bonds, a. well as an assistant for
him, every day, and they are packed in
instalments Of between six and ten mill
lions and sent 20 the European syndicate.
The Treasury Department is without
advices relative 10 the success Of tho
syndicate in disposing Of these bonds in
the European markets, but, neverthc-
lesa, the bonds continue to be sent there,
indicating rapid sale Of them abroad.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

ests and welfare Of the school. This be-
ing the living fact, we anticipate no
trouble, no difficulty, and, hopefully, no
dernotion. Parents and patrons, It is for
you to act, that every unhappy disap-
pointment may be averted. You, pri-
marily, are the Somerset School Board.
we, secondarily, as an eject Board Of Ed
ucatiow, are your humble representatives.
We cheerfully trust you will not ask
more Of MS than you would be willing 70
do; and we as earnestly promise only TO
do that which your more urgent oduca
tional interests demand.
In duty's faith, ever prepared for veal
or woe, We hope to be yours, faithfully
d. NJ. wv.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

The railway which is soon to be CON
structed from Naples to the top OF
Mount Vesuvius will be about sixteen
miles long. From the city to the base
of the mountain-fourteen miles-ordi-
nary rails will be used, but for the re-
mainder of the way the system of trao-
ton by iron rails will be adopted. The
terminus, which will be within a few
steps of the crater, will be sunk twenty
metres under the lava. In case of erup-
tion the current would thus be turned
away from the rail, which throughout
its whole course will be raised above the
level of the soil.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

A NOVEL INvENTIoN.-The Phila-
delphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
Railroad Company are now testing a
novel arrangement to secure greater safe
ty to trains. The invention consists of
an iron pipe, one end of which extends
through the cab on the locomotive, and
the other near where the engineer sits or
stands when on duty. In the upper end
of the pipe is a camera, upon which the
reflection of the train is thrown, and
therefore always in view of the engi-
neer when he looks in at the lower end
of the pipe. The object of this inven-
tion seems to be to give the engineer i'm
mediate notice of cars that may become
detached by the breaking of couplings,
or other accidents to cars connected with
the train.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

AN ARMY SCANDAL.-A COURT mar
tial had been called at Fort Sanders, Wy
oming, over which Col. Palmer, Of the
United States Cavalry, was to preside.
when suddenly another officer was do
tailed, the Colonel being ordered under
arrest. General Terry will preside
General Getty, Of the Fourth Artillery,
is ON the detail with several Colonies
and Lieutenant. Colonies, the junior
member Of the court being Maj. Thomas
f. Barr, Judge Advocate. Col. Palmer
is charged with cutting logs and timber
on tie United States reservation, haul
ing them out With United States teams,
and selling them to the Union Pacific
Railroad Company, putting the pro
oeods ia his own pockets.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

A correspondent Of the Virginia City
Independent gives a glowing description
of the magnificent residence Of William
Sharon, the millionaire, on Suffer street
In San Francisco. Il ia described as the
most spacious, elegant, and complete
private residence in California, supplied
with all the most modern Improvements
including electric bells and an elevator,
while from the windows Of the upper
stories is afforded an uninterrupted view
of the harbor and its shipping. San
Francisco Bay, and the Golden Gate.
The description of Mr.. Sharons resi-
dence in San Francisco acquires peculiar
interest from the fact that the owner Is
now running for the Office Of United
States Senator In Nevada.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

A work written as late as I70S speaks
of the potato thus slightingly: "The
root is very near the nature of a-Jerusa-
lem artichoke, although not SO good and
wholesome, but it may prove good for
swine" And another authority, in
1919, refers to it as "of less note than
horse-radish scornEoperf, beets and skir-
ret"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

From recent reports, it appears that
there was deposited in the English mill
itary saving funds during the year 1873
the large sum of $1,000, ,oOo, o,564, the
Number of depositors being 14,560.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

The following epitaph appears on a
tombstone in Thompson, Connecticut.
"Here lies the body of Jonathan Rich
ardson, who never sacrificed
his reason at the alter of superstition's
god, and who never believed that Jonah
swallowed a whale"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25

A Tennessee man wrote his will on a
paper collar and IL passed safely
through the courts, although little
unhandy for filling.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-25
NUMBER "a.
Local Educational JOttings.
[FoR THE PREssl

Mr.. EDITOR: Has it not occurred to
your mind, that many of the citizens OF
Somerset, who have living interest in
the welfare of our public schools, may be
curious to know the reason for the 81
lence in which the Press has, of late,
/ INDUCED on educational topics? 1t is
true, this being the "fruit time" of the
season-it also being the Favored time'
/ for fairs, expositions, shows, excursions,
&c; all Of which would naturally de-
tract the importance from the MEETAL,
and profoundly absorb the heart, soul,
body, and, why not the mind, in the fan
ciful and material-but little time may
be allotted for people and municipalities
to feel, talk, and act educationally. Be
this as it may, has not the Press been
silent long enough upon the interests of
our school matters; and would it not,
perhaps, in the minds Of many of our
school patrons, make up its lost time,
and efectually bury its silence, by at
once striking the keynote upon our ed
ucational trumpet, and announcing for
one of its themes:
"a NEW scHooL-HoUsE."
How refreshing this to the pro-, and how
revolving to the anti And yet how zeal
ously, and with what great degree Of
unanimity would all or both classes
herein concerned, labor, if a school
house complete, could be ucished into ex-
istence. Thus, in all probability, the
desired structure would become little
super, in all its features. In this man.
ner, too, evidently many would prefer to
lend their assistance in providing for the
comforts Of our dear pupils.
That the public may understand the
Boards intents in this matter, we would
here assert that the new school house
will not be built until our municipal
taxpayers shall have ordered and speci-
fed it by their respective votes; also,
when such an election shall be held,
there will be an opportunity offered to
our people to increase the number of our
Board-membership, according to their
best judgment. 1t would be useless and
vain to describe more forcibly in words,
our want of a new school-house, than
our old houses and their arranged local
lties themselves declare it. Lest we
might unintentionally commit ourselves
to the chagrin Of some Of our school
friends, we will, for the present, with
hold the suggestions and the appeals on
this topic, and briefly refer to our change
Of
Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-05-29

CHISArowN.-About dark last evening
most unearthly Cabling in Chinatown
made every cur in town howl response.
Upon investigating the cause of the
fearful din, We found the Monpoliaps
were merely taking the most expeditions
and effectual means Of fighting the devil
away. If anything could friehten him.
1t certainly would be that ear-piercing
clamor.
The improvements in the saloon lately
known us Clancy & McCormick's are
progressing rapidly. and it will, when
nnished, present a very fine appearance.
RErURSED.-We were glad to see our
friend Mr.. Yule, who has Just returned
from San Francisco. Mr.. Yule looked
in good health and spirits.
ARRIvED.-Jack Gilmer, Of the we'll.
known firm of Gilmer & Salisbury. ar
rived in Phoebe last evening.
The District Court will meet this
morning at the usual hour.