davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
A Deluded BritiSher.

Unjust tell you" writes New York
correspondent, y" how an amiable lady
from the right little, tight little island
was deceived by her trusted but wicked
nephew, who had lived in this city some
time before his aunt came to pay him a
visit. She, the aunt, had heard much
of our watermelons, and was anxious to
see and taste one; so i'll the height of
the season off went thenephew to Wash
ington Market, and there procured the
largest melon that ever grew. At dinner,
the whole affair having been previously
arranged, this huge specimen was put
on the table, when all at once another
nephew exclaimed to the host: Well,
[ should have thought you would have
got good-sized melon to-day, when
you knew auntie has never seen one,
and that is such miserable little
thing!' Poor auntie looked at the fruit
with staring eyes, and it was found that
she had written in hernote-book, MEL
ons grow gigantic in AmericaI!"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
Epidemics Under Water.

There are frequently epidemics
among the fnny tribes as remarkable
and as fatal as among the "tribes of
Adam" Fishermen, both in the sea
and in the lakes, are accustomed to
notice the sickness and death under
waters. At the present time, such a
mortality is working among the cells
along our shores. In some spots near
our wharves, in Greenwich, the muddy
bottom is literally covered with their
snaky remains, in all states OF putre
faction. The cause of the epidemic is
unknown. Some ten years ago null
titude of cells died, but of disease dis
similar to the present. Then their APP
pearance after death was bloody, as if
wounded; now they appeared bloodless,
There will be no cells for market or
market for cells hereabouts this moon.
East GreeneUich Or. ~ Pendulum.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
The Jews and Cremation.

The London jewish Chronicle says
that at meeting of the council repre-
senting the Jewish congregations of
Berlin, motion was brought forward
to the effect that Immediate steps
should be taken to make arrangements
for the Leichenve rbrennurg (burning
of bodies) in one Of the Jewish ceme-
teries in the city. The motion was
adopted by a large majority. Some Of
our German contemporaries fall into
an error in supposing cremation to be
opposed to Jewish doctrines. Among
our Sephardic brethren of Gibraltar
and North Africa the burial of the
bodies in quicklime Ga rapid mode of
cremation) is a common practice. Such
a mode of sepulture has been perform
ed more than once, and even recently,
at the Spanish and Portuguese GENE
terry at Mile End; and no one can
doubt the conservative orthodoxy of
our co-religionists of the Mediterranean
shores. Indeed, cremation of the dead
is not unknown among the German
Jews of London.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
A Simple Method of Making Ozone.

A new and remarkable use for lucifer
matches has been discovered by Mr..
Beer. Knowing the efficiency
Of moistened phosphorus as a
generator of ozone, Mr.. Beer set out,
one day, to procure quantity of that
substance to use in sweetening the air
of room whose musty smell had sue
cessfully resisted the power of ordinary
disinfectants. Failing to find anyphos-
phorus at the drug stores in his neigh
borhood, it occurred to Mr.. Beer that
possibly lucifer matches might furnish
the needed element in condition suit
ed to his purpose. He tried them, dip
plug them into warm water for few
moments, then suspending them in the
obnoxious room. Their effect was sal
utary, and thereafter, by continuing
their use, he was able to enjoy the
blessing of pure and refreshing air, %
Notwithstanding the room was in the
basement of an old cellarless house on
made land, the air of which was further
tainted by quantity of mouldy books
and papers. The supply of the purify
ing agents can be easily regulated by
increasing or diminishing the number
of active matches. In the room above
mentioned, six bundles of matches were
kept active-some near the ceiling.
others near the foor-by daily water
ing. In another instance a single
bunch is mentioned as having snfficed
for quickly purifying the air of room
in which several adults and children
were lying sick, but in this case the air
was famed against the matches while
they were carried about the room, thus
heig htening their activity. How long
a match retains it's ozonizingpower Mr..
Beer does not say.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
Defunct CeIestials.

In cargo brought to San Francisco
from Portland, some days ago, was
more than ton of deceased Chinese,
en- route to the islands of the blessed,
via the Flowery Kingdom. Just as the
pagans of Homer's time believed that
the soul of an unburied hero wandered
naked and melancholy upon the Stygian
coast, so these heather Chinese hold
that in order to have eternal repose
their remains after death must lie in
the land that gave them birth. Hence
we have no phosphates from the bones
of buried Chinese enriching the vege-
tation of the Pacific coast. The al
mond eyed Celestial is thrifty fellow,
but he would spend his last maravedi
to secure the return of friends re-
mains to China. It is expensive, too.
The mere preparation of the cadaver
for transportation costs $25 at least,
while the packing, freight, reshipment
from the interior, ETC., add greatly to
the expense
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
A Rough Drive.

A popular clergyman of Buffalo re-
turned from an expensive journey few
days since, and just as he alighted from
the cars and was receiving the congrat-
ulations of crowd of delighted par
ishoners who had assembled to greet
him, an inebriated individual followed
in his wake, seized him by the hand,
and exclaimed: well, goodbye old
pard, I'm going on further, and shall
keep up the same old drunk for awhile
yet, but you're pretty we'll sobered up,
and you had better keep so. I 'spect,
as drinkin's rough when a fellows
round home. But you know how to
go gallus spree and have rum time
just as good as any pard [ ever had,
and you has my respect. Day-bay, old
buster" Before the astonished clergy
man could gather his wandering wits
the hail fellow was off, leaving terri
BILE scandal for the delectation Of the
gossips of Buffalo. May be it was a
case of mistaken identity.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
Bushes at Pleasure.

According to the Colnische Zeitung,
the armory of feminine weapons has
been increased by the invention of ar
tifcial bushes. Signs, chances, and
gestures have always been completely
under the control of the least accom-
plished practitioner in the art of adj
vantageusly expressing the emotions.
Even tears do not altogether refuse to
be simulated. Shakespeare tells us
that "hard-natured villainy is not
without such rheums;" the cunning
waters of the eyes" are proverbial as
the last resource of the sex, which is by
nature too emotional to be even
accused of hypocrisy. Bushes have,
however, hitherto been beyond the
reach of art. The debutante at her
first ball knows it painfully enough
when she finds it impossible to repress
them, and the faded beauty of certain
age knows it too, when she fails to
give the fit reception to the compl-
ment, inspired perhaps more by
memory of the past than the impress
sion of the moment. The great inven-
ton which, we are told, is due to an
American, and has been imported into
Germany, conceals itself in the hat of
her who adopts it, and we suppose it
may easily be adapted to the chignon.
Let us hope that in England it will
meet with no favor, and that in the
general skepticism which attaches to
all things, we may at least cling to the
hope that bushes are genuine, because
involuntary. We suppose the new
blush producer processes to repress as
we'll as create bushes, but do not let
English ladies take to mechanical
means of regulating their emotions, on
the doubtful plea that it is necessary to
not produce, but TO hide, bushes.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
A RatSkin Costume.

An ingenious Individual of Lisheard,
Cornwall, has been exhibiting himself
in dress composed from top to toe OF
ratskins, which he has been collecting
for three years and half. The dress
was made entirely by himself it con
sists Of hat, neckerchief, coat, waist
coat, trousers, tippet, CATERS and shoes.
The number of rats required to COM
plete the suit was six hundred and
twenty; and the individual, when thus
dressed, appears exactly like one of
the Esquimaux described in the travels
of Parry and Ross. The tippet or boa
is composed of the pieces of the skin
Immediately around the tails of the
rats, and is very curious part of the
dress, containing about six hundred
tails. and those of the shortest.
The poor old father of a bootblack
says he never enjoys himself better than
when he sees the son shine.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13

like bulls horns, set in pairs al over
the trunk and branches. These, no
doubt, help to protect the tree from the
attacks of browsing cattle; but it has
more dangerous enemies in the leaf
cutting ants and other insects. Against
these the tree maintains a numerous
standing army, for which 1t provides
snug houses stored with food, nectar to
drink, and abundance of luscious fruit
or dessert. When first developed, the
thorns are soft and filled with a swedish
pulp, much relished by small ssspecies
of springing ants, never found except
on these trees. Making hole near the
point of one of each pair of horns, these
ants eat out of the interior, then bur-
row through the thin partition of the
base into the other thorn, and treat it
in the same manner. The hollow shells
thus formed make admirable dwellings,,
none of which are left untenanted, as
any one may discover by disturbing
the plant, when the little warriors
swarm out in force and attack the ag-
gressor with jaws and stings. The
leaves Of the plant are two winged, and
at the base of each pair of leaflets, on
the mid rib, is gland which, when the
leaf is young, secretes a hOney-Hke
LIQUID, of which the ants are very fond.
This insures their constant presence on
the young leaves, and their most jealous
service in driving off other insects. A
still more wonderful provision of solid
food is made for similar purpose. At
the end of each of the small divisions
of the compound leafet there grows a
small frJlit-like body, which under the
microscope looks like golden pear
When the leaf first unfolds, the little
pears are not quite ripe, and the ants
are continually employed going from
one to the other to see how they come
on. AS the fruit-like bodies-which
appear to have no other use than as
ant food-do not all ripen at once, the
ants are kept about the young plants
for considerable time. When an ant
finds one sufficiently advanced it bites
the point of attachment, then bending
down the prize breaks it off and bears
it to the nest. These ants, a species of
pseudon1y7'a7ac, are found, as already
noticed, only on these trees; and that
the trees really keep them as body
guard seems evident from the fact that,
when planted in localities where their
little protectors do not exist, they are
speedily defoliated by leaf-cutters,
which let them severely alone on the
savannas while their honey glands and
golden pears offer no attractions to the
ants of the forest. Apparently both
acacias and 1oseudonyrano have been
mutually modified in the course of
time, until they are now quite depend
ent on each other for support and pro-
lection,
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
White Coal.

Notwithstanding the antiquity of
many proverbs dating back to the pre-
historic times and their reception as
fgurative axioms day by day, they be-
come exploded through deeper investi-
cation or fuller knowledge. GAS black
as coal " is not SO venerable as some
of this current coin Of the intellect, but
that, too, must go the way of many
others. Our antipodes, that fragment
of the most ancient of existing CONT
nents, that land of paradoxes which
would not allow the poor schoo1-boy
his pet phrase of r0ra avis in terris,
nigroqne sinaillinaa eggno, but must
fain to turn out a black swan, make
animals with birds beaks (ornithoq'-
hynchus paradorus), and put the
stones of cherries outside of the fruit,
has just revealed a new mineral-a
white coal-which is fbrous, burns
with light fame and no smoke. Nor
is the material rare; large districts are
covered with it, and it lies on or near
the surface. The coal is a species of
Ignite, and the color is most likely due
to the absence of bitumen. What a
boon this coal 80 I'D be near London,
not only on tn C ore Of making our
fogs less dense, gu for the sake of our
public buildings.-Lo London Iron Maga-
1iYe
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
A Hartford Bird Story.

A lady residing on Walnut street,
Hartford, says the Times of that city,
is in the possession Of a canary bird
that has very sensitive nerves. Every
day this bird gives many evidences of
rare intelligence (for canary, and of
a lively interest in all that goes on
around him. He is a fine singer in
warm weather, but when the cold sea-
son comes on, he has more attacks of
sore throat than any prima donna.
During the winner he has had SO bad a
cold that he has scarcely sung note
but now he has regained his voice and
begins every day at sunrise to carol his
gay songs. Friday last, a child living
in the neighborhood called to see the
lady, bringing with him very large
rag doll made to represent darkey
boy, and to this little child the doll is a
distinct personality by the name Of
"Sambo." The bird was in his cage
upon the table, and the child sat
"Sambo" up beside the cage. The
canary gave one glance at the frightful
doll, and tumbled off his perch in a
dead faint The lady held the bird in
her hand for moment, thinking it was
dead, but noticing that it's heart beat
rapidly, she opened window and put
the bird out into the air. In five min
utes it had revived. But all day the
canary gave evidence OF being weak
and nervous.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
How a Teacher Stopped a Train.

The Albany Argus says there was an
occurrence on the Harlem extension
railroad recently that is worth recount
ing. About nine in the morning Of
the day serious collision-a collision
between a girl and train of cars-was
avoided In very singular and daring
way. The girl is school teacher, and
she was on her way to school. The
train was from Chatham, on it's way to
Rutland. Both met on the trestle-
work near Brainard Station. The girl
stood still, while the alarmed engineer
whistled down brakes, and managed to
stop the train only when his engine was
within ten feet of the obstruction. The
trestle-work is thirty-six feet high, and
bears nly one course Of ties and only
one track:
"What do you mean-do you want
to be killed % inquired the engineer.
NO." said the girl, 81 am going to
school,"
"Well, go back until the train crosses
the trestle," said the engineer.
II can't" said the girl, "I'm late. !"
"Step aside, then"
She stepped aside, outside the track
and on the edge of the ties. But the
space was too narrow the engines
wheels could not clear her expanded
skirts. Her next plan was to sit down,
with her legs dangling beneath the
ties, but thus the hoops spread all the
wider. Provoking delay for the engi-
neer, humiliating posture and failure
for the school ma'am.
"Hold on" said she, "Tll fix it,"
and then, gathering up her legs and her
skirts, she stretched herself at full
length upon the outer edge Of the ties,
seized underneath with one hand the
string piece to which the rail is spiked,
and coolly babe the train pass on! In
a minute the train passed over the
prostate form without a jar or jolt, and
the next instant the girl was on her
feet, fastening toward her expect
ant pupils, before whom she was de-
termined to be con time,' though she
disarranged dozen railroad time
tables.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
The Names s'JOhn', and William -

Ever since the Conquest, Mr.. Bards-
ley informs us that the race for popu-
la1ity among Christian names in Eng
land has been greatest between "John"
and civilian" In the age after the
arrival of the Normans civilian" was
the commonest Christian name. In
Domesday, for instance, there are IS
civilians" 4S "Roberts, and 3S
"Walters," but no "Johns." In 1773,
at banquet given at the Court of Hen
~ H., it was commanded that none but
those of the name of civilian"
should dine at it, and accordingly 100
civilians" all knights, sat down to
the table In Edward l. time this dis
proportion had become less marked,
for in list of Wiltshire names, con-
tanning 5SS, there are 80 Williams
to So "Johns." In a century after
John had outstripped its competitor.
In 1347 out of 1873 Common Councilmen
for London, 80 were ''Johns," the next
highest name being William, - with II,
while "Thomas,' in consequence Of
the canonization of Beckett, springs into
notoriety with Is. In 1851 guild of
ST. George, at Norwich, in total Of
376 names, possessed 12S "Johns' to
AZ civilians" and Al "Thomases. %
From this period, owing to the two
saints who bore that name, and despite
the aversion felt for the worthless Mon
arch who had also borne it, "John' re-
tanned it's supremacy, and to this cir
cumstance we owe the name "John
Bull, as we'll as the "Jean Gotdam, %
by which the French called us all
through the Middle Ages. civilian"
retained, as Mr.. Bardsley says, Ga
sturdy second place" It Jared worst
at the hands of the Puritans, who re-
jected it as a Pagan name, with horror !;
but it recovered its ascendancy with
William of Orange and the Protestant
Revolution, and it now stands, as it did
eight centuries ago, at the head of
all the names in our baptismal regis
tiers. while John has again sunk into
the second place.-Oat7' English Sur
17u177po
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
Sure EnOugh-Why Not?

The inability of some people to ex-
press their ideas in plain English is
distressing. For example, a fashion
writer in one of the New York evening
newspapers describ es the g tout
e,asenable' of the ga la naode' dresses
of the "6eau monde" denounces one
style OF dress fabrics as 'spasse;'" talks
Of hats as "chapeour," which are
"happily orne," and is eloquent OF the
new styles of "hout tom garments.
New York is an American city, and Its
people are not absolutely Freneh-al-
though,they sometimes try to be-there-
fore why not write in English?
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
WEDNESDAY, MAY IS, 1874.
LOye-FIOWerS.
BY F. W. BoURDILLoN.

F. W.
Oh who was watching when Love came by,
When Love came here in the glad spring hours
The scarf was torn from his laughing eye,
And he wore instead wreath of flowers.
The wreath of flowers his head went round,
And about his eyes, the scarf had been;
But in vain the howery band was bound,
For he peeped the flowers and leaves between.
He wore no culver, he bore no bow,
And as innocent looked as blinded boy;
With flowers about him, above, below,
The spirit he seemed of spring and JOY.
But here and there he let fall flower,
The cruel, the bright little blinded god;
And watching, saw that hour by hour
Those blossoms took root in the green spring sod
And whose plucks the flowers that grow
From the blooms Love flung from his wreath
above,
Though understanding of blossoms they blow,
His heart shall be hot with the madness of love.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
Where to Advertise.
names.

During the past ten years advertis-
ing has been much over done in this
country. Myriads of ephemeral publ
cations have sprung up, depending sole
ly for their short existence upon ad-
ertlsing favors. These are secured
by solicitation, the advertiser frequently
prefering to throw away a few dollars
than to be bored by the opportunities
of the solicitor Thus millions of dol
lars have been expended where business
men have no reason to expect return
for their money. But yet, when the
subject is considered, the advertiser
thinks of hoW much money he has
spent in this manner, rather than hoaO
he has expended it. We have nothing
to say against these myriads of publ
cations, which are originated mainly to
catch inexperienced advertisers. If
the publisher can convince the public
that they are good advertising me-
diums, they have accomplished legit-
innate business act; but it is for the
advertisers to consider and judge for
themselves whether advertisements on
the inside pages of transitory publ
cations address themselves to as large
constituency as when they appear in
the columns of established and popular
neWspaperS.-BOs Times.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13

HANNAFoRD & THOMPSON, Publishers,
Chicago, ILL.,, announce 4th edition OF
Periam's GroundsaOell, or History OF
the Farmers Movement" This sale was
made in less than months. The demand
is extraordinary. Agents make money
rapidly with it, spite of hard times.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13
A Tree that Keeps Standing Army.

Among the varied means of defense
developed by plants in their ceaseless
struggle for existence, says the Scien-
tifc American, there is, perhaps, none
more wonderful or effective than
that of a species of acacia which
abounds on the dry savannas of Central
America. 1t is called the bulls horn
thorn, from the strong curved thorns,
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13

A BROADWAY restaurant shows up a
turtle weighing nearly 900 pounds. 1t
is supposed to be the first tortoise that
some time since RIM race with hare.
But his racing days are over now, we
soup-pose, for he will soon lose his
steaks.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13

A PARTISAN, who was known as free
thinker, met a friend the other day, and
taking him by tie hand, said, 81 have
become a Christian. 'sI am glad to
hear it," he replied "suppose we now
have settlement of that little account
between us. Pay me that thou owest. I"
"No," said the newborn child, turning
on his heel "religion is religion, and
business is business"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13

ONE million two hundred and ninety
thousand watches, occupying 1900
workmen, are said to be annually pro-
duced in the Bernese Jura.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13

THE young ladies in Vermont are now
giving sugar parties, and heyoung men
are sirup-titiously showing their pref
erence.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-05-13

BLoNDIN and David Dudley Field are
in Bombay.