davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
Ancient Trees in Nevada.

The Virginia City (Nevada) Enter
prise says: /: In the bottom of the
main shaft of the Virginia City Coal
Company, FL Dorado Canen, Lyon
county, has been encountered the trunk
of tree four feet in diameter, lone
relic of an ancient and extinct forest.
Where cut through by the shaft this
old tree is found to be perfectly carbon
ized-turned into coal. Outside, the
log is completely crusted over with iron
pyrites, many OF which are so bright
that the crystals shine like diamonds.
These pyrites also extend into the body
of the log, filing what were apparently
once cracks or wind-shakes, and even
forming clusters about what was once
the heart of the tree. This relic of an
ld-time forest lies far below the two
veins of coal the company are about to
open. The finding of this eld trunk is
evidence that the country was at one
time, ages and ages ago, covered by. a
forest of great trees though the native
timber growth, when the country was
first visited by the whites, and as far
back as the traditions of the Indians
extend, was buta scrubby species of nut
pine. A few miles from the shaft in
which the carbonized tree was found
are to be seen on the surface the petri-
fed remains of many large trees. In
the early days of Washoe, before the
prospectors had broken them up for
specimens, pieces of tree-trunks two or
three feet in diameter were to be seen
lying upon the surface of the ground.
However, these trees, and even the. one
found in the bottom of the shaft of the
coal-ruins, may have come from the foot
hills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains
may have drifted outwhen seas of water
everywhere covered our present valleys.
The water lines visible on the hills
show that the whole country was filed
with lakes and petrifed trees lying here
and there on the surface of the ground
probably foated out on the waters of
the extinct lakes, and finally sunk to the
bottom in the place where they now are
fo77n1
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
Moths in CARPETS.

One can never be quite sure that their
carpets are not being consumed by
moths, except for q few weeks after
having taken them up and thoroughly
cleaned, unless something is used to
prevent their growth or to destroy them.
This often necessitates the taking up and
cleaning of a carpet that otherwise would
not need the renovation.
With an ingram of Lowell this need
less labor may be saved by laying down
a damp cloth, and over it thoroughly
rubbing the edges with hot fat-iron !;
this will kill the moths, ii any have ac-
cumulated. But with the tapestry,
Brussell, or velvet, the ironing is not
effectual besides it Injuries the carpet.
Much hard work can be saved, however,
by removing the tacks, one side at a
time, rolling back, and examining the
edges. If there are any moths, they
must be brushed off and burned and
to effectually destroy the life of all de-
posits, the edges of the carpets must be
ironed, as before stated, but on the
wrong side. The edge of the carpet
lining should be thoroughly looked to,
and the exposed edge of the floor wash
ed, and while damp sprinkled with salt.
If the carpet is to be folded under in
any place, sprinkle salt between the
folds and see that the floor is well COW
cred with salt for an inch or two under
the edge of the carpet all around. If
salt was always put under the edges of
carpets before tacking them down, moths
would have but slight chance to trouble
fhoTn
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
Execution of an Extraordinary Muir.
deror.
London Cor New York Graphic.l
N extraordinary murderer xros q,

ILondon Cor. New York Graphic1
An extraordinary murderer was exc
cuted ew days ago within the walls
of York Castle. HIS name was vii
he was hung for the murder of his sis
ter, whom he killed, although he loved
her, and for no othOr reason than that
she insisted on going with him to keep
him out of bad company. He made
the following confession a few hours
before his death
left Carthorpe for Kirklington at
ten minutes past five o'clock with my
sister. We went to Kirkhngton togeth-
er, and when we got to Kirklington we
went to Mrs. Husthwaite's and stayed
there for half an hour, and then left for
Ripon, my sister saying she would set
me on the way. When we got to Kirk
hngton Church I told her she had bet
ter 90 back again, as it was getting
rather late. She said, "No; I'll go
little further yet" She went with me
till we got to the other side of the barn
field. She then wanted to go with me
altogether. I said, 'No its no use
you talking, Lizzie you shan't go with
me at present. But I said she could
come to me when I got work. She
said, 'No; I will go with you now ;
for when you get away you'll never
write any more" So told her, eyes
I will, you needn't fear" but she said,
"No, will go with thee; for I know
what thou is when thou gets away So
I said ''good night" to her. She com
menced crying when I shook hands to
part with her. So when shook hands
with her and turned my back to go
away from her, walking as quick as ever
I could, she ran after me: Two men
passed us while this was taking place.
When she got up to me I turned around
and said, Now, Lizzie, you had bet
ter go back" She says to me, 81 will
not go back wherever thou goest III
go with thee" So I made no more to
do. I opened my black bag and took
out my razor, and cut my sister Lizzie S
throat. She dropped on the footpath,
and I lifted her off. She muttered,
so, WILL" [ think, and then 1 ran
away. My hand was bloody when I
opened the gate close by. I put the
razor in the hedge on the left hand
side of the road, about mile from
Well, on the Masham road. am very
sorry for what / have done, and can
not express my remorse as [ should
like. I loved her dearer than myself,
and I hope that God will forgive me
and I am very sorry for not confessing
this great sin before this.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
Wales Debts-The Queen Arranges
for their Settlement.

A London letter to the New York
World says The Queen has done
the handsome thing by her eldest boy !;
and probably no act of this good
Queens reign was wiser than her some
what tardy resolution to pay the debts
OF the Prince of Wales. This is what
she has now done-or, rather, she has
made an arrangement with the credit
ors of the Prince by which thev will
get all their money in three years. The
amount OF the debts, by judicious
dnced to about s6OO, ,O0O-a trifie of
only 81, 600, 600, you will see-and I
believe that the claim of the Duke of
Edinburgh was the one that was cut
down the most. This sum the Oueen
has agreed to pay in three equal annual
lnstallments of 100000 each. and the
first payment has already been made by
check on Drummond's, where her
Majesty keeps her money, or at least
some of it. The hand of Mr.. Disrael
has probably had something to do with
this wise arrangement. When Mr..
Gladstone was in power he was asked
money to pay these debts, and he
rather encouraged the idea. One Of
his Cabinet Ministers, however. rather
violently declared that if such an appeal
were made he should oppose it, and the
matter was in allegiance when the
change of government occurred. Mr..
Disraeli, whose good sense never de-
serts him, advised the Queen that,
though Parliament would no doubt vote
the money, the appropriation would be
an extremely unpopular one, and that
her Majesty would do much better to
pay these debts out of her own re-
sources. This excellent advice the
Queen has accepted.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
An@stlletics.

Anesthesia means "without feeling"
1t is applied now to insensibility to
palns by breathing certain kinds of air
or odors for the purpose of undergoing
operations without feeling the pain of
them These are nitrous oxide, ether
and chloroform. The first, or laughing
gas, is entirely safe, and is breathed
pure, wholly without any admixure of
common air. Chloroform is the most
dangerous it should not be breathed
unless there is ninety seven per cent. of
air mixed with it. In breathing ether
the throat should be gradually accus-
toned to it by shifting it for a few
breaths, and then exclude the air alto
gether. General readers should ac-
quaint themselves with few facJs
about the nature, uses and effects of an
aesthetics. No one should use them
wLo has any form of heart or lung dis
ease. 1t is better not to take them at.
all, in view of an operation, unless the
system is fully under it's power. There
is danger if, while person is breathing
an anaesthetic, the inspiration is hard
and short, or the expiration is feeble
and long, or the chest ceases to move,
or snorting in the throat. Only chloro-
form induces an arrest of the hearts
action; then the danger of death is
most imminent.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
The Country Hoss Jockey.

For red hot speshiality W hav got
to hunt kreashun cluss to find an equal
to the country hoss jockey.
He IL most allwuss a man or plezant
temperament and urbane manners, vain
ov hiz opinyuns, often oy more fancy
than Judgment, and quick to decide.
He haz but little real afeckshun for
a hoss, and only luvs him for the cheat
that IL in him.
He il alwuss reddy to trade for emmy
thing, from yerling colt to the cavelryv
hoss that Gen. Washington rode at the.
battle ov Brandywine.
He never knows when he gifts cheated,
and invariably behaves the last nag he
got IL the best one he ever owned
He IL not bothered with emmy con
shence when it Gums to a trade. and
would lay out travelling preacher in
a swop just az quick az he would hiz
own brother, and do it without emmy
malice, but just for the honor ov the
profession.
He allwuss fully behaves he kan lool-
thare IL no one gifts cheated oftener, OF
wuss, than he duz.
Hiz cunning disarms him, and often
when he thinks he IL fairly trading hiz
opponent klean out ov hoss, the other
fellow IL not only trading him out ev q
hoss, but harness into the bargain.
Thare amt a village in America ov
200 voters but what haz its perennial
boss jockey, who kan be found at emmy
time at the village inn, reddy TO " odd
or even - for whisky toddy, or swop a
spawned pelter for broken, crib
biting rantee.
never knu one ov this fraternity to
git rltch, and never knu one yet but
what fully behaved there waz more
mummy in it than in emmy legitimate
bizzness.
don't kno viii it il that man kan
swop cows and be pious, or kan trade
oxen and be a good deakon, or even
negoshiate dogs and be looked upon az
vlrteuous, but when he takes up the
boss swop enterprise, if he kant cheat
he aint happy.
never hav seen a hoss Jockey yet
who waz honest from principle; i hav
known them, once in while, to be
honest from policy.
The man who IL simply honest from
policy needs more watching thar hive
oy bees who are gitting reddy to swarm.
Josh Billings.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
The CoIors OF Animals.

Color is often the protector of the
life of the creature. In this respect
he principle of utility, which IS much
spoken about by the partisans of the
theory of indefinite transformations.
manifested in all parts Of the organism,
requires little consideration to be-
leemed indisputable. The hunter
readily believes that the animal has
succeeded in escaping from him in con-
sequence of the gray or taEny color of
it's fur, which was scarcely TO be dis
tinguished from the soil, or of it's
plumage, which was almost identicaE
with the foliage of the trees. In num-
berless cases, hares and rabbits, flying
over the naked soil, are able 70 evades
their pursuers from a similar cause
The antelopes of Africa and the kanga
foos of Australia have coats that pro-
cure for them equal advantages. The
lion may be cited as q magnificent ex-
ample of the conformity OF coloration.
Lying upon the sand of the desert, or
squatted among the rocks, the animal
at a short distance wonld be almost in
visible, and the gazelle would appl oaeh
him without fear of danger. The polar
bear does not stand ont consp;cuously
upon the glaciers the arctic fox, the
ermlne. the Alpine hare, which have
earthly tlnts IN summer. have N winter
the whlteness of the fields of snow which
they traverse. Nocturnal beasts, bats,
rats, and mice wear vest1aents which
are well suited to obscurity Although
the tiger, the leopard, the panther have,
II is true, very visible markings, yet.
they hide themselves beneath trees,
where they spring upon their prey.
among birds protective colors are very
common. Even without the testimony
OF travellers we should have good reason /,
10 suppose that paroquets, touracos and
parrots, colored with all sorts of beauti-
Iul shades of green, would be very diff
cult OF discovery in tropical forests. In.
the desert, where there IS no shelter,
ana where neither tree nor bush is to
pe seen, swallows, Qnails, Ennets, and
gangas, Which inhabit such localities,
wear plumage of various shades of gray
and " isabella" " similar to the sands
and gravel. In the mountains of Eu~-
rope the iagopede Ga species of par
tr1dge) during the summer has a plum
age which exactly harmonizes with the
TINT OF rocks covered with lchens. The
bird delights to harbor among such
rocks, and sportsmen say that frequent
" a large flock of them escape notice.
In the winter, however. the lagopede
changes his costume and becomes as
white as the SHOWS ne again succeeds.
in warding off attention. The yelIoys.
| browns, and dead-leaf" " tints of
grouse render the animal almost invisi-
bic when reposing among trees III the
woods. A species of goat t-sueker found
IN South America is of such peculiar
tints that when IL is lying upon the lit
tie rocky islands of the Rio Negro it
cannot be perceived by the nearest
vision. des DeaGE MOndcs.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
THE GRAssHOPPER.

The Plague of the PIains-Graphic De-
scriptiOn of ais DevastatiOns.
REV. Richard CordIey Lawrence, Kan.) in the
Boston Congregationalistl
l have seen many references to this
''plague of grasshoppers in Eastern
papers, but no hint as to its extent and
fearfulness. Living in the midst of the
grasshopper region, / have taken some
pains to collect facts in regard to them.
Their invasion and ravages are as won
derful as anything connected with this
wonderful West" The "grasshopper
region extends from the Indian Terri
tory on the south to Minnesota on the
north, and from the arid plains of the
Rocky Mountains on the west, whence
they originate, to the Mississippi on
the east. It is not often, however, that
they reach the latter boundaries, as
frost generally overtakes them on the
way. This year, however, they are
earlier than usual, and they reach the
rivers before frost comes. So their raw
ages this year will extend, with an occa-
sional break and omission, over region
nearly one thousand miles square.
Their number is simply appalling.
The national debt and the wonders of
geometrical progression are completely
left in the shade. Take your little pen
Gil while give you the materials of o
problem. An army of them is passing
over my house as I am writing, going
eastward. Looking up, the air is filled
with them as high as you can see. The
over strata looks like snow fakes in
the air. Higher up they look like sill
yer dust sprinkled on the sky. This
immense multitude has been moving
rapidly all day. On Saturday, two days
ago, another army, equally vast, passed
over the city southwark, and were seven
hours going over. Now remember that
the army extends, with few breaks in
the line, nearly one thousand miles, and
while your pencil and figures may fail
you can form some conception of the
reality.
Their destruction is as wonderful
as their numbers. When they light
they come down like snow storm. GOV
ering the ground. As soon as they
strike they begin to eat, and they keeT
eating till food grows scarce, and the1
they move on. In some places their de
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
The Sewers of Paris.

The most novel sensation [ have had
in Paris has been visit to the cele-
brated sewers. They are not equaled
in the world. With party of fifty we
went down from the Place Chatelet"
by winding stairway. We foun dour-
selves in long arched cellar, or tunnel,
about fifteen feet wide. Through the
center flows the water which comes
from the house-roofs and streets. Over
this water is a railway track and half
dozen open cars, lighted by red lamps.
We all took our places on the pretty
cars, and four stout fellows, with ropes
attached to the cars, started off into the
dark passage at round trot. We oc-
casionally passed side-cuts emptyine
into the sewer we were traversing. At
intervals red lamps are hung in the
archway above our heads. After roll.
ing in the cars beneath the Sc Rue de
Rivoli" to the Place de Ia Concorde''
our train halted, and we were all trans
ferred to a line of boats. Each boat
would hold twenty persons. Then we were
pushed along by men on tow-path for
almost half mile further through a
wider sewer than the first. ftWas not
the odor intolerable ?" No; not at all.
pours into the sewer constantly, and
pure air likewise. The foulest efiuvia
of the city are carried off in other di-
rections than by these more "genteel'
sewers which we used as a route for
pleasure travel. One use to which
these wonderful subterranean passages
may be put is that of military defense.
Troops may be moved through them by
the government in an emergency. They
are certainly marvels of masonry, aud
of sanitary protection. Nothing in
Paris is more worthy of study than
these wonderful 1abyrinths of stone
which underdrain the whole capital.
AS I came up out of the sewers, one
thought that occurred to me was that it
would have been capital place to put
the '' Brooklyn scandal (and some of
the actors too) about two years ago.
Rec. Z. L. Cuyter iss the Nea0 York
EUanQeList
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
WHEN people go out turkey.shootine,

WHEN people go out turkey shooting,
they should make themselves moder-
ately certain of the kind of game at
which they aim. Inconvenient conse-
ouences are likely to follow mistakes,
as in the case of two men of Michigan,
Stoddart and Carver by name. After
separating, they made use of call to
attract the attention of the game. In q
short time each hunter heard an answer
to his call, and each approached the
spot where the sound came from. Car
yer was the better hunter, for he KEEP
himself concealed, while at the same
time he observed a dark object moving
in the bushes. He took deliberate aim
and fred. When he ran forward to Sc
cure the turkey, he found that his bull
let had perforated the head of his friend
Stoddart, who died in few minutes.
People who cannot distinguish human
beings from turkeys ought not TO be
trusted with gun.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
RUNNING A LIVE NEWSPAPER.

I've been on the tripod. I've beenrun-
ming live newspaper over in Skewton-
vile. The village of Skewtonville is
q savage little place where centenarians
die in early life, and where coffin max
ers accumulate fortunes.
Last week was informed that limo
thy johnson, late editor of the iSkeUto7-
giiIe Redrer, had suddenly deceased,
and that the Board of Directors had
chosen me as his successor, at salary
of $50, drinks and shirt collars per an
mum. I was requested to come at once
to attend Johnson's funeral. and get up
his obituary for the next issue.
I tied necktie round my throat, told
Polly was going to open few gems
of thought for a paper, and started for
Skewtonville.
Three drunken rufians; smoking Ju-
nison weed in cob pipes, met me in the
suburbs of the town, informed me they
we're the Board of Directors, and es-
corted me to a house where the late
Mr.. johnson was lying IN state, in a
nine coffin, with his boots on. They
Told me that was the SkewtonviIle style
of funeral pomp. A melancholy look
inc fellow said the usual things over
fhe corpse. and assured the crowd that
,Johnson's Esprit had taken its fight, y
of which fact I suppose nobody had
any doubt.
great sinner, and I guess he needed all
the prayers they gave him.
The funeral procession started. The
other folks walked, but out OF respect
to NV high position I was mounted on Q
denrsyed mule. We laid the late ed
itor ' meath the daisies, practically
speaking.
Then I was escorted back to town
and ushered into dismal room with
half-inch hole punched through the
wall. which L presumed was . Skewton
vile window. I thought had mad
vertently violated some city ordinance
and been put in the calaboose, but one
Of the rufians relieved me with the III
formation that was in the office OF the
,YKesOtonUiUe Ro0rer, a live newspaper
SO per annum, payable in corn whisky
I told him he was good jokist.
On the floor lay copy OF the 1fo0re!
and next to it jug of whisky. L como
not help thinking that they looked hK'
twin brothers. -
One of the directors, who said ina
his name was Stuf1estreet, raised TN
bottle to his lips, and told me that n
was the chief proprietor of the RoGrey
If I had sold myself TO the devil TO edi
paper in the internal regions couldn
have felt meaner. He passed the Dol
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-10-23
The Clay-RandOIph Duel.

Although Randolph yielded to the
foolish and outrageous demands of the
duello, it illustrated more than an.
other event of his career the true no
bility of his character. He expected tt
loose his life as the result of his ac
ceptance of the challenge. He made
codicils to his will the bequests
slight in value, but invaluable in ten
derness of feeling and beauty of ex-
preston" His namesake was sent to
Baltimore to save the boy" from the
sudden shock of seeing him brought
from the field dead. Both Gen. James
Hamilton and Thomas FL. Benton have
left assurances of the tender care and
thoughtfulness exercised on the part of
Randolph previous to their engage
ment.
The night before" says Hamilton,
Mr.. Randolph sent for me. I found
him calm, but in singularly kind and
confding mood. He told me that he
had something on his mind to tell me.
He then remarked: Hamilton, have
ing, CIay's fire nothing shall induce
me to harm hair of his head 1 will
not make his wife widow nor his chill
! dren orphans. Their tears would be
shed over his grave; but when the sod
| OF Virginia rests on my bosom, there is
| not one in the wide world, not one in
| dlvidual, to pay this tribute upon mine ;
HIS eyes filled, and, resting his head
upon his hand, we remained some min
utes silent. Col. Tatnall re-
marked Mr.. Randolph am told you
have determined not to return Mr.. Claws
fire; must say to You my dear sir, if
l am only to go out to see you shot
down, you must find some other friend.
After pause Randolph, smilingly, said:
Well, Tatnall, promise you one thing:
II L see the devil in Clay's eye, and that,
with malice prepense, he means to take
my life. I may change my mind ; a re-
mark knew he made merely to pro-
pltlate the anxiety OF his friend" Io
try the depth of his sincerity he was
told after some time had elapsed, of a
visit to Mrs. Clay the night before-t'o
the late sitting, the child asleep, the
and 1T was added that the visitor ''could
not help rejecting how different all
might be the next night" The reply
which it brought seemed to rebuke an
unworthy doubt - he said CT shall
do nothing to disturb the sleep of the
child or the repose of the mother
Further accounts of the duel repre-
sent that it took place on the banks of
the Potomac river, not far from Wash
lngton, and that the sun could be seen
just setting hehind the blue hills OF
Randolph's own Virginia. He could see
no 'devil in Clay's eye He turned
to Hamilton and said, "Clay is calm,
but not vindictive I hold my purpose,
in any event remember. this. !" Clay s
bullet passed through his adversayr's
coat very near the hip. Randolph then,
discharging his pistol in the air, re-
marked: 81 do not fire at you" Mr..
Clay was affected when he saw that Mr..
Randolph had thrown away his fire, and,
approaching him, said: 81 trust in
God, my dear sir, you are untouched
after what has occurred I would not
have harmed you for thousand worlds. -
But it was evident, from the course OF
his bullet, that Clay had intended tc
kill his man. Is it possible TO conceive
of more happy termination to most
unhappy affair.-iSabiaae' Notes.