davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
A Bohemian of Old.

The business of running after news
is not of recent creation, it is as ancient
as the invention of journalism the old
Bohemian was q. Frenchman called
Renandot.
The most emiennt runner after news
was named Matthew Donzelot, other
wise called the " Pavement Sinker." In
the morning, before leaving his room,
the wide awake Donzelot consulted the
skies, and barometer which adorned
his Mansard then he took his cane and
writing-case, saying: Grain! Some
will slip to-day under carriage wheels,
and be crushed to death" Or else !:
"Stormy weather We shall have to
record some cases of mental alienation
or of hydrophobia." Or finally {:
Gloomy cloudy Fine weather for
spleen. Let us make war on suicides %
There was a riot one day on Pan
theon place. Donzelot sat down amid
hail of stones, pen in hand, to note
down the events. One of his friends,
happening to be present, said "What
are you doing here, sir? Run fly |"
Donzelot, without listening to him,
drew his watch, and continued to write
down minute for minute the phases and
evolutions of the riot.
Are you not going to run ?" cried
anew his friend.
"God forbid; but since you are go
ing yourself, oblige me by handing this
to my journal you will tell them that
l remain on the spot to send the con.
tinuation."
An hour after, the disorder was at its
height the authorities and insurgents
had come to blows. The National
Guard fired, and our Bohemian was
struck by ball. A surgeon hastened
to him.
You are wounded ?" said he.
Yes" replied Donzelot, "and Sc
verely, too, for cannot write"
Write" abruptly said the surgeon
" think of your wound |"
"Don't be in hurry" replied Don
zelot. Each one to his business
mine is to relate events. You will re-
place me. Here, write at the bottom
this postscript :"
"Twenty minutes past 8 P. Mn
of the discharge of mus
kerry by the troops. three men were
and one killed."
"Who is the dead man ?" asked the
surgeon.
"Myself," replied Donzelot, and he
expired.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
The Game of Scotch Billiards.

The game of shuttle board is little
known In this country. and but few
Americans play it. 1t is Scotch
amusement, and in principle is identi-
cal with the popular outdoor game
known as curling" 1t is very simple,
and therefore easily understood but to
play it well requires fully as much skill
as is called for in the game of billiards.
The only paraphernalia of the game are
long, narrow board, and eight iron
disks like quoits. The board is usually
from thirty to thirty-five feet in length,
but may be longer or shorter, as cir
cumstances require is about two feet
in width, and as smooth as glass. A
prerequisite to it's efficiency, however,
is that 1T must be perfectly level, and it
is therefore made strong and solid, and
seldom less than from four to eight
inches thick.
The iron disks are about three quar-
ters of an inch thick, three inches in
diameter, and weigh from a pound and
a half to a pound and three-quarters.
Four of these are cast with the letter N
on the upper side, and four with the
letter o.
The board is laid on q solid table, at
an elevation of thirty-six or forty inches
from the floor, and is surrounded on all
sides by narrow gutter to receive the
pieces or disks when they fall. Six
inches from each end straight line is
described across the board, which
serves to mark certain distinctions in
the players shots.
The game is played by two or four
persons, but as the number of players
makes no difference in the nature of the
game, the explanation will be most
readily understood by confning the
play to two.
The contestants take their stand at
one end of the board, which has been
sprinkled with fine white sand. one
with the o disks, the other with those
stamped N. The first player sends a
piece with gliSsade down the board.
striving to propel it beyond the lower
line, and if possible to make it oyerhane
the lower edge of the board. If his
piece remain anywhere on the board
outside the line, and there be no piece
OF his antagonists before it, he scores
one. Should his piece lie between the
line and the edge, the same conditions
governing, his count is two. If his
piece hang over the edge, in which case
the shot is called "ship," he scores
three for that piece; and SO on. Thus
it will be seen that the first object of
each player is to drive his opponents
pieces from the board the second, so to
guard his own as to prevent his oppo-
Lent from driving them off, It will
readily be understood from this expla-
nation that the highest count that can
be made in one inning is twelve but IL
is doubtful whether any such score has
ever been made in a game between two
players OF even the most ordinary
ability.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
A Brutal Bigamist.

A coach-driver named Gustave
Goethe, a native of Prussia, was placed
on trial IN New York city for bigamy.
District Attorney Rollins claimed that
the prisoner had been married on the
18th of February, 1869, to Sophia Zim-
norman, and had subsequently married
a woman named Babetta Wagner, DUR
ing the lifetime of his first wife. The
jury, without leaving their seats, found
Goethe guilty, and he was sentenced to
four years in State prison, the Recorder
stating that he believed the prisoner
had been guilty of perjury as well as
bigamy. On being taken to the pris-
oner's box, Goethe stood in front of his
first wife, Sophia, who had testified
against him, and struck her a heavy
blow in the face with his clenched fist.
The brutal rufian was Immediately
overpowered by the court officers, and
by direction of the Recorder was again
placed at the bar. For the cowardly
assault on his wife, the Recorder SEN
fenced the prisoner to an additional
year in State prison, making the sem
tence five years Imprisonment. On his
way to the Tombs, Goethe stated to the
officers in charge that if he had had
pistol he should have shot the Re.
cOrder,
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
The Flying Shilling.

This is purely slight-of-hand trick,
but it does not require much practice
to be able to do it we'll and cleverly.
Take shilling between the forefnger
and thumb of the right hand then by
rapid twist of the finger, twirl the
coin by the same motion that you'd
spin teetotum. At the same time rap
idly close your hand, and the coin will
disappear up your coat sleeve. You
may now open your hand, and, much to
the astonishment of your audience, the
coin will not be there. This especial
trick may be varied in hundred ways.
One plan is to take three shillings, and
concealing one in the palm of your left
hand, place one of the others between
the thumb and forefnger of the right
hand, and the third between the thumb
and forefnger of the left hand. Then
give the coin the twist already de-
scribed, and closing both hands quick
ly, it will disapper up your sleeve, and
the left hand being unclosed, it will be
found to contain two shillings. Thus
you will make the surprised spectators
believe that you conjured the coin
from your right hand to your left.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
Burned to Death.

A little boy, aged four years, by the
name of Isaiah Roy, whose parents are
living down in the Clyburn neighbor-
hood, near the south line of Scott
Township, and some five or six miles
southeast of the city, was burned to
death, under the most distressing cir
cumstances. The little boy, in COM
pany with his elder brother, was stand
ing by prairie fire, which had been
set out by Mr.. Bryant to back-fire
around some fencing, when suddenly
the wind veered around with perfect
whirl, and drove the flames into his
face, setting almost his entire clothing,
which was of cotton, on fire. At the
same time the flames and smoke SO
strangled him that he reeled and fell
directly into the blazing grass. The
older boy, with great GOODNESS and pres
ence of mind, dragged him out of the
fire as soon as he possibly could, and
took him to ravine only few yards
off, and endeavored to extinguish the
fire in his clothing by rolling him in
the water. The clothing was of cotton,
and so thoroughly and completely
ablaze by the time he got him there,
that he did not succeed in doing so un-
til his entire apparel was consumed and
his skin burned to one complete blister.
The poor little fellow suffered the most
intense pain for some two or three
hours before death relieved him of his
agony,-FOrt Scott Monitor,
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
The Indian Famine.

A correspondent, writing from one of
the famine-stricken districts of India,
says: 1t is no easy thing to write CO.
herently with the moan of miserable
starvelings constantly in ones ears.
Whenever looked up from the paper
there stood or squatted before me out
side the open door of the tent, some
half dozen forlorn, hollow-eyed, emaci-
ated women begging for food to keep
them from starving. If called Tor the
chuprassie TO "move them on,"-for
to work within sight of them was i'm
possible-they went patiently away
with the dull resignation of fatalists.
But no sooner were they gone than
Others came. Lean mothers came and
laid down little children, that lay prone
on the grass, as if they were dead, for
they We're too far gone in starvation to
stand on their wasted little legs, and
prayed for a morsel of food to save
their little ones. Wretched old women,
shrive1ed and starved almost out of
human semblance, rottered over the
grass, to fall PROSTATE outside the
tent, and pray for relief, while their
gray hairs trailed among the dust. The
air was full of the dull, monotonous
howl in which relief is craved, as a
marsh at eventide echoes with the
croaking of frogs.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
MY GOOd-fOr-NOthing.

What are you good for, my brave little man?
Answer that question for me If you can
You, with fingers as white as nun,
You, with your ringlets as bright as the sun.
All the day long with your busy contriving,
Into all mischief and fun you are driving;
See if your wise little noddle can tell
What you are good for-now ponder il we'll
Over the carpet the dear little feet
Came with patter to climb on my seat;
Two merry eyes, full of frolic and glee,
Under their lashes looked up unto me;
Two little hands pressing soft on my face,
Drew me down close in loving embrace;
Two rosy lips gave the answer SO true
" Good to love you, mamma good to love you =
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
A Land of Milk and Honey.

A San Diego editor says that at the
risk of being pronounced falsifier by
Eastern people, he will state few facts
illustrating the fertility of Southern
California. He. had seen a mass of
wheat, the product of a single grain, on
which he counted one hundred and
nineteen stalks. 1t was taken from the
ground before being allowed to mature,
otherwise each stalk would have borne
at least sixty grains, being a yield of
over seven thousand grains from one.
Two years ago Mr.. Kimball planted
some olive cuttings, which have become
thrifty trees, the height of a man.
Bees filed an empty hogshead in a back
yard with honey, and the alfalfa-fed
COWS yield milk enough to fulfill the
sscriPtural requirements of promised
land. 49,.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
Messages from the Moon.

OF all the heavenly bodies, the moon
is the nearest to us and the most easy
to observe. 1t is especially interesting
as the boundary between astronomy and
meteorology; everything above the
moon is in the celestial heavens. and
consequently belongs to the former
science; everything below the moon is
the terrestrial sky, in the atmosphere.
and therefore lies within the domain OF
the latter. The connection between the
moon and the earth is closer than is Of
ten suspected. If line be drawn from
the center of the earth to the center of
the moon, there lies in it point (much
nearer to the moon than to us) where
the moons and the earth's attraction on
any material object are exactly equal.
If the object be removed little toward
us, it will fall upon the earth little
the other way, it will be drawn towards
the moon. Arago has calculated the
force necessary to shoot a body from
the moon to reach this intermediate
point of equilibrium, and finds it to be
by no means an impossible or unattain-
able force. Consequently, it is not i'm
probable that many Though perhaps
not alD of the meteoric stones that fail
are sent hither from the moon. Itwould
be very possible for an inhabitant of
the moon, supposing such inhabitant to
exist, to keep up daily communication
with the earth by means of proiectiles.
For us to reply to the correspondence,
would be immensely more difficult.
The nearness and conspicuousness of
the moon have caused the human race.
from the highest antiquity, to attribute
to it great influence on the variation of
the weather.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
The Wrong Ticket.

Calvin Luther has been a resident of
Whitehall for many years. He has
spent probably more money for lottery
tickets than any man in Philadelphia.
Week after week his earnings have gone
to the venders of lottery tickets. Gal
vim has pinched himself and family to
satisfy his passion. Once in a while.
as if to tempt him on, the Fates have
favored him, and small prize has been
drawn.
Large schemes have been mailed him
regularly, and the next mail would take
back an order for tickets.
His hopes have been great, always
feeling, and telling those who expestu-
lated with him about the evil, that he
knew he would draw a big prize yet.
Last summer en- astrologist came
along. She was the seventh daughter
of a seventh daughter. Calvin over
heard conversation about her remark
able powers. He made up his mind to
consult her about lucky number in O
lottery of which he had received the
scheme that day. Calling at her board
ing-house, he was shown to her room.
Going into a trance, she informed
Calvin that, eff he would say nothing
to any one, but go home and think in
tently on number, he would dream of
seeing the lucky number on the person
of his wife," He was to keep his secret
on the subject to himself for three days,
and each night he would have the
dream repeated. At the expiration of
the three days she told MIN to go buy
the number he had seen.
Calvin went away-overjoyed. He
could scarce contain himself, nor wait
until night. ...
That night he dreamed of seeing two
figure As. one each side of a large ring
worm on his wife's person. He woke
next morning nearly beside himself.
At night the dream was repeated, the
two As. being seen on the same place.
The following day was long one to
Calvin. The hours passed slowly. He
was almost tempted to send and pur-
chase the lucky A. Still he waited, as
the astrologist had told him that he
would not get the lucky numbers I'M
less he followed instructions. The
third night arrived, and the dream was
repeated. There were those two 4s,
one on each side Of the ring-worm on
his wife's person.
Calvin arose early the next morning.
He telegraphed Immediately, asking if
No. Al was sold, if not, his orders were
to send 1t g. o. d. An answer was
returned that the lucky number was
unsold, and was forwarded according to
instructions.
The ticket arrived, and was paid for.
Calvin could hardly wait till the next
day, when the drawing was to take
place.
The day arrived, however, and with
it a message to Calvin, which read as
follows:
"No. 404 drew the first prize"
"There," exclaimed the unfortunate
man, with terribly disappointed look,
" just my darned luck! 1 left out that
ring -aUorn1."
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
A Mormon Wedding.

The latest marriage ceremony, par
taking of wholesale character, at
Brigham Young's Endowment
House." in Salt Lake City, is thus de-
scribed by the Tribune, of that city
"The bridegroom came from the rural
deersticks, q youthful saint, filled to
overhowing with the nurture and ad-
monitionof the Prophet Brigham. His
prophetic soul informed him that it was
not good to be alone, that lthe dilapi-
up, that legions of fugitive spirits were
lowering about his steps, seeking, with
tears in their eyes, earthly tabernacles
in which to repose. So he did the best
he could do under the circumstances.
He selected three tender fair ones, and
won them for his brides. Last Monday
the quartet got married. The thrice
happy groom conducted his bevy of
brides to the Endowment House,
and the party got sealed on the whole
sale plan. Brother Wells was present
at the interesting ceremony, and the
cookies of his heart warmed toward the
well-doing saint. The President tap
ped the Benedict upon the shoulder,
invoked increase upon his union, and
assured him of Gods blessing on so de-
voted an act. The awkwardness of the
situation was apparent when the much
married saint attempted to seal The
nuptial ceremonies with kiss all
around. Each blushing bride persist
ed in receiving the first salutation, and
the bobbing of heads was quite lively
for while. The young man gave it up
at last, and issued out into the wicked
world with an expression upon his
countenance which indicated that he
had now got business enough on hand
to occupy all his leasure moments"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
What They Wore,

Queen Victoria, at her last " draw
ing-room," resumed some of her former
stateliness in demeanor and apparel.
She wore a black watered silk dress
with train trimmed with Grape, en-
broidered in black silk and Jet also a
ruby and diamond diadem over long
white tulle veil, and diamond and
ruby necklace and brooch, besides a
variety of orders. The Princess of
Wales wore dress of white satin with
pleatings of satin and ostrich feather
trimming; the train of white satin also,
with pleating of satin and ostrich feath-
er trimming. Her hesd-dress consisted
of tiara of diamonds, with feathers
and veil. The Duchess of Edinburgh
wore petticoat of white tulle over
white silk spangled with silver and
striped with wreaths of roses, and a
train of the same material trimmed with
a wreath of roses and pleat of silver
striped with bands of silver and roses.
Her head-dress was a coronet of dia-
monds and rubies, with white feathers
and veil.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
What We Eat.

Mr.. Soyer, the culinary authority,
the cook of the London Reform Club,
and great artist in his line, goes into
this sort of calculation in one of his
books-the Modern HOUSEWIFE
and obtains results startling, if not
alarming, to persons who had never
looked at the subject from an arithmeti-
cal point of view. To take boy of ten
years to the top of hill, as he takes
his mythical parsonage, and surround
him with the objects that in the course
Of his lifetime he will have to devour,
may be truly described as appalling.
First there are 80 oxen, then 200
sheep, 100 calves, 200 lambs, 80 pigs,
1000 fowls, 800 turkeys, 263 pigeons,
140 pounds of salmon, 100 pounds of
fish, 10000 oysters, 5,443 pounds
weight of vegetables. 243i pounds of
butter, $4,000 eggs, Al tons of bread,
about 5000 gallons OF tea and coffee,
besides tons of fruits, barrels of sweet
meats, and hogsheads of WINE.
This is, after all, only an outline,
and Soyer assures his readers that,
so far from exaggeration, he has, from
experience and observation, made up
a scale of food for the day for period
of sixty years. 1t amounted to 33,
tons weight of meat, farinaceous food,
and vegetables. This statement can
neither be denied nor affirmed without
going into the statistics, but it is parti-
ally corroborated by gentleman who
states that for fifty years he has eaten
two eggs for breakfast, making 730 per
annum, or total tor half century of
46, 500 eggs. This goes for a period of
only fifty years, 12,500 better than
Soyer, and does not provide for the
quantity eaten in puddings, cakes, des-
serts, and the like. Where does it all
come from
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21
Discharged.

A Whitehall groceryman marks the
prices of provisions on the covers of his
barrels and casks, He had new clerk
the other day who mixed things. He
got the cover of the sugar barrel, which
was labeled "s cents pound" upon
the lard barrel and straightway began
to sell lard at nine cents. The sudden
decline in the price attracted all the
people in town, and the clerk Thought
he was doing big thing until the pro-
prietor returned, paid him off and told
him to emigrate to Troy, where smart
people were in demand. Troy Press.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21

Singer saw Magruder rushing at him
again, he made speedy retreat into
the bushes, leaving Magruder to fight
it out with Bill, who, despite his sorry
looking nose, was again ready. But he
now fought shy" and kept retreating
slowly backward and calling out "Uome
up on him behind, Jake Come up be-
hind !" But the demoralized Jake had
somehow got a superstitious notion
that the preacher bristled with fists be-
fore and behind, having as many arms
as Hindoo deity. Bill kept backing
until he tripped and fell over bit of
brush, and then picked himself up and
made off, muttering
" amt a-goin' to try to handle him
| alone He must have the very devil
into him -
About nine o'clock on that same Sun
day morning, the Irish schoolmaster,
who was now boarding at Goodwin's,
and who had just made an early visit to
the Forks for news, accosted Morton
with An did ye hear the nooze,
Morton Bill Conkey and Jake Singer
hev had a bit of Sunday morning ricre-
alton. They troid to thrash the pray
cher as he was a-comin through North's
Holler, this mornin'; but they didn't
make no allowance for the Oirish blood
Magruder's got in him. He larraped
'em both single-handed, and Jake's ribs
are cracked, and ye'd lawf to see Bills
nose Captain must a. had some prof.
vate intherest in that muss hey, Moir-
ton %
cts thunderin' mean," said Morton;
"two men on one, and him preacher I;
and all I've got to say is, wish he'd
killed 'em both"
"And yer futur father-in-law into the
bargain? Hey, Morton? But fwat
did 1 tell ye about Koike? The pray
cher's jaw is lamed by lick Bill gave
him, and Koike's to exhort in his place.
1 tould ye he had the botherin' sperit
of prophecy in him."
The manliness in a character like
Morton's must react, if depressed too
far; and he now notified those who
were to help him interrupt the meeting
that if any disturbance were made he
should take it on himself to punish the
offender.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-05-21

The most extensive Limburger cheese
factory in the country is said to be in
Scott county, Minnesota. 1t uses the
milk of one hundred and twenty COWS.
The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-03-19
Go East By War OF 81. Louis.

In three days Of railroad competition. the wise irav-
e;er s-sct- his route before leaving In almost
every instance he slsirrs u aeh his destination
.r-- d. possible. AMI for the sccompl ishmeni ofiha
purpose the Yis.carf Pacific Through Lilac from the
West 10 the East, via Kansas City and ST. Louis OF
crs inducements unsurpassed by any other lins in thc
country Everything: connected with the Ni.sesri
Rsciec L. Il is FIRST eldss. and the adoption OF the
Miller Platform and westin siouse Air Brake, tcscih-
er with Pullman s,eepcrs and reclining chair coach
-, render trip over the line perfectly safe and
pleasant Passengers from all parts Of the West BY
taking its Express trains at Kansas City. Lsavens-
worth, Achisoz aud other prominent cities, land
ell in ST. Louis at seasonable hours, morning and
evening" and ample time to make dirrc, Connection
with all railroads for every poin, in the North. Last
and south Particular Information, with mai's, time
tables g. may be hs.l at the various Through Tick
ct - ONCE. in the west. upon personal written
application to G. II. Baxter, Western Passenger
Agent Kansas City, Mo. L. A. Ford, Gen. rassen-
ger Agent, 81. Lowis, No.