davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
A Burglar Caught by a Skeleton.

A burglar in Greensburg, Pa, was
recently caught in remarkable man
ner. Breaking into the closed Office of
a physician OF that town, the burglar
opened closet (while his companion
with dark lantern was in another part
of the room), and, feeling for clothing
at about the height of closet-hooks gen
orally. got his hands between the jaws
OF a skeleton, which, being adjusted
with coil spring and kept open with a
thread, closed suddenly on the in
truding hand by the breaking of the
thread. A sudden thought striking the
burglar of his being caught by skel-
eton IN the doctors closet so terrified
him that he uttered faint shrek, and
when his companion turned his lantern
toward him and he beheld himself in
the grim and CHASTITY jaws: of Death
himself, he became so overpowered by
fear that he tainted, fell insensible to
the floor, pulling the skeleton Gown
upon him, and making so much noise
that his companion fed Immediately
and the doctor, alarmed at the no1se
and confusion, fastened into the office
and secured the terror stricken burglar
still held by the skeleton.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
What a Misplaced Comma Did.

The comma g. that little dot which
is very insignificant thing to the eye,
sometimes plays an important part in
language. Though the rules FORTS use,
like it's relatives, are somewhat obscure,
nevertheless it's function in some cases
is very clear and of considerable mo-
ment, as has been discovered in a law
of Congress passed in 1872. In the
tariff bill which went into effect that
year there was large addition to the
free list, and among the articles added
were 6 fruit plants, tropical and semi
tropical" designed to encourage their
importation and cultivation. But in
the process of engrossing or TRANSCRIPT
ing the bill to be officially printed,
comma was interpolated be-
tween fruit and plants, where
by all fruits we're put on the free
list. The customs officers, if they
"minded their p's and u.s." did not
mind the comma, and went on collect
ing the duties. At length some lynx
eyed importer discovered the comma,
and demanded that it should be recog-
nized, and the customs officers had to
stand on the order of Prosody and pass
fruit free, The result has been that
about $4,000 has been illegally col
lected through this interpolated com.
ma, at which Uncle Sam will have to
stop and count more than one, and re-
fund. The Ways and Means Commit
tee will report bill to expunge the
comma, and thus remand fruit back to
the list of dutable articles. This will
prove a most expensive comma.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
SWarmS of LOcnstS.

The following historical facts will give
an idea of the enormous magnitude some
times attained by migrating swarms of in
sects After the defeat of Poitava, while
retreating through Bessarabia, Charles
XIl's army was marching through de-
file, when suddenly the men and horses
were brought to halt, a swarm of locusts
being precipitated from thick cloud which
intercepted the light of the sun. The COM
ing of the locusts was heralded by whiz-
zing sound like that which precedes a storm
of wind, and the noise of their wings and of
their bodies as they clashed together was
greater than the roar of breakers on the
sea shore. Gen. Levallian saw at Philippe
vile, Algeria, cloud of locusts twenty to
twenty five miles in length, which, when it
descended to the earth, formed layer over
an inch in thickness. Toward the close of
the year 1864, the cotton plan tations of SEN
egal were destroyed, and living cloud was
seen to pass over the country from morning
till night; the rate at which it moved show
ed that it was about fifty miles long and
this was only the vanguard, for when the
sun went down still denser cloud was
moving on. The English traveller, Barrow,
states that in Southern Africa, in the year
1897, these insects covered the ground to
the extent Of two square miles, and that,
having been driven by the wind toward the
sea, they formed a drift near the coast
nearly four feet in depth, and fifty miles
long. After the wind changed, the stencil
of their putrefying carcasses was recognized
at the distance of one hundred and fifty
miles.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
Farm Whippletrees.

Quite frequently, says the Ohio Farmer,
it becomes necessary for a farmer to prac-
tice the mechanical art little in way of
repairs upon implements on account of there
being no wagon or general repair shop in
the neighborhood, and it is therefore well
for him to study certain mechanical rules
which will very materially aid him in the
effort. AS whippletrees are frequently
broken, we will give few hints concerning
the manufacture of these articles. In lay
ing out stick from which a whippletree is
to be made, the size and kind Of irons to
be used upon it, should be the first consid-
Grafton. If the draw iron is a clasp, the
centre Of the stick need not be as large
there as where staple is put through the
centre. Dress out the stick on two sides
the whole length, and as thick as it is to be
in the centre-from an inch and half to an
inch and three-quarters are the common
thicknesses for heavy whippletrees-then
strike line on one side through the centre
from end to end lay out the width in the
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Facts in FuItening Cattle.

Boussingault estimates that an OK weigh
ing 74S pounds, fed upon forty pounds per
diem, will increase in weight about two
pounds daily. According to Mr.. Low, an
OK weighing no pounds and consuming q
2s3 pounds of turnips per week, if he
thrives, viii gain in the same time near y a
stone, fourteen pounds in weight. Allow
ing 100 pounds of hay worth 676 pounds OF
turnips, the increase is still about two
pounds day.
Mr. Dubois says the quantity of green
fodder consumed by an OK during the eight
months when he is fattening, is equivalent
to $500 pounds of dry hay. The average
ration of green forage per diem, he calcu-
lates, therefore, as equivalent to about
twenty-seven pounds of hay.
But this average is evidently too small,
particularly for cold weather, which was
proven in the valley of Auge in Normandy.
Mr. Stephenson estimates that fifty seven
per cent. of the whole animal will be butch
er's meat; eight per cent. tallow six pei
cent hide, and twenty nine per cent. en-.
trails. This of course depends upon the
condition of the beef-a fat one will yield a
greater per cent. than a lean one. Others
give the per cent. of meat at ffty-three to
siXty-tWo per cent.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
Dreadful Explosion.

A writer from Cartagena in the Lon.
don News speaks of an awful explosion
which took place in the Artillery Park
on the 9th OF January. 1t was caused
by shell from the besiegers, which
fell through window and penetrated
into the place where some men were
charging shells. One half of the build
ing-and it was the largest in the town
was blown up, and is heap of ruins.
No one can tell how many human be-
ings are buried beneath. So secure
was it thought to be that many families
took refuge in it rather than remain in
their dangerous homes. The majority
of the killed are women and children.
Two hundred and fifty lives is low
estimate for the melancholy list. This
was terrible finishing blow to the
horrors of the bombardment.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
A Breathing Cave.

In the range of mountains in West
ern North Carolina, known as the
"Fox Range" a most singular pheno-
menon exists. 1t is a breathing
cave" In the summer months cur
rent Of air comes from it so strongly
that a person can't walk against it,
while in winter the suction is just as
great. The cool air from the mountain
in the summer is felt for miles, in a
direct line from the mouth of the cave
At times a most unpleasant odor is
emitted upon the current, from dead
carcasses of animals sucked in and
killed by it's violence. The loss of
cattle and stock in that section in
winter is accounted for in this way !:
They range too near the mouth of the
cave, and the current carries them in.
At times, when the change from in
halation to exhalation begins, the air
is filled with various hairs of animals :;
not unfrequentlv bones and whole car
casses are found miles from the place.
The air has been known to change
materially in temperature during ex-
halation, from quite cool to unpleasant
ly hot, whitening vegetation within
leach, and accompanied by a terrible
roaring, gurgling sound, as a pot boil
ing. 1t is unaccounted for by scientific
men who have examined it, though no
exploration can take place. It is
feared by many that a volcanic erup-
ton may break forth there some time.
Such things have occurred i'll places as
uneynected
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
MaXimuS.
BY ADELAIDE PROCTOR.

hold him great who, for Loves sake,
Can give with generous, earnest will
Yet he who takes for Loves sweet sake,
think hold more generous still.
I bow before the noble mind
That freely some great wrong forgives
Yet nobler is the one forgiven,
Who bears that burden well and lives.
1t may be hard to gain, and still
To keep a lowly, steadfast heart;
Yet he who loses has to fill
A harder and,a truer part.
Glorious it ls to wear the crown
Of deserved and pure success
He who knows how to fail has won
A crostn whose lustre is not less.
Great may he be who can command
And rule with just and tender sway
Yet is diviner wisdom taught
Better by him who can obey.
Blessed are these who die for God.
And earn the martyrs crown OF hght;
Yet he who lives for God may be 81
A greater conqueror II bis sight.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25

IT is said that heating the water in
which steel is to be tempered prevents
the development of flaws and cracks.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
The Cost OF a Pleasure.

BY W. c. BRYANT.
Upon the valleys lap
The dewy morning throws
a thousand pearly drops,
To wake a single rose.
Thus often, in the course
OF Life's few heeting years,
A single pleasure costs
A soul a thousand tears.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
4 Manure Spreader.

Procure long pole, about ten feet long
and six inches in diameter, and secure a
tongue to the middle so as to form a large
T. The tongue may be bolted OF secured by
mortise and tenon. After the tongue is
made fast set it up in perpendicular posi-
ton and bore twO-inch holes through the
head-piece one foot apart. Now fill the
holes with strong spreading brush, letting
the brush extend behind the cross-head.
from four to six feet. The more brush ore
can fasten in the holes the better After
the manure is spread with forks hitch a
team to the tongue, place board on the
brush behind the cross head, and let the
driver stand on the board as the spreader Is
driven across the field back and-forth like a
harrow, and the brush will then spread and
grind the manure into the ground and pull
verize the Jumps more perfectly than could
be done bv hand. A man and horse team
can spread an acre per hour of any kind OF
manure Such spreader will be found
useful in preparing land for seeding after it
has been narrowed, as it will crush the
Jumps, fill up the dead harrows and leave
the field like a garden bed. In lieu OF a
large pole, heavy slab or narrow P ank
may be employed for the spreader. The
spreader should be driven at right angle to
the first course, whenever all the branches
are not ground fine and spread evenly.
Winter is the true time to make such labor
saving machines, SO as to have them ready
for use when one has manure to spread.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
Love Song.

1t was my evil star above,
Not my sweet lutte, that wrought me wong;
1t was not song that taught me love,
But 1t was love that taught me song.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
How to Manage Back and Dead Fur


How to Manage Back and Dead Fur
rows.
A correspondent of the New York Times
says the dead furrow is such nuisance
when haying and harvesting with our ma
chimes that the question is often asked how
we may get rid of them. [ should say the
best way to be rid of them is not to have
them at all, and this l find quite practical
BILE in the following way: / lay out my
main farming land into three lots for three
years course of crops. each lot 16O by 10
rods, and plow lot as one land; plant a
few trees along the centre OF the field for
landmarks and turn g, back furrow to these,
one year blowing the whole field as back
furrow land, and the next time blowing
around the field the other way, turning it
backsagaln, thus keeping it level. and never
crossing a dead furrew, for by going around
the field in the same way to harvest, when
I get to the back furrow or dead furrow the
field is done. With such lots, too, I save a
great deal of travel to and from my work,
for each lot comes to within a few rods of
the house, and in working the field either
blowing or cultivating, or hoeing, Or har.
vesting, | go around the field, or the length
of it, and back, so | can commence work
and lease off again near the barn. But If
it is necessary to pillow lot into smaller
lands, I avoid making abrupt back-furrows
and dead burrows in this way: Run the
pillow very shallow, say three or four inches
deep for the first bout, back-furrowing to
lay out the land, and do not let the fur
rows lap over each other, but just come to-
gether. Then gauge the pillow one and
one-half inches deeper each bout until you
obtain the depth you wish to plow the field.
Then, as you near the place for the dead
furrow, reverse the order and plow shallow
er each bout, making the last furrow as thin
as you did the first one. This finishes the
land much better, for the last furrow slice
being thinner and turning into the deeper
furrow of the previous bout, makes it lay
over very fat, and leaves only slight de-
preston for the dead furrow. Or, if it is
not a turf, would leave eight or ten inches
of the middle, which will drag down and
half fill the furrow. And in this way, too
it will be nearly level over the back burrows
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-02-25
Wit, HumOr and Wisdom.

How many apples did our first parents
eat in the Garden of Eden? Eve and
Adam 2.
AN admirer of Hawthorne who lives
near Cleveland, and has seven grown
up daughters, calls his house "The
House of the Seven Gabblers."
A YOUNG LADY of Elmira spent four
years in the study of Greek, Latin,
French and Spanish, and then gave a
still more convincing proof of her in
ordinate love for "roots' by marrying
a vegetable pedler.
+ A LAWYER wishing to impeach wit
ness, menacingly said to him: "Come,
now, are you not in the habit of drink
ing?" "Of course I am was the
reply, "else I should long ago have
persisted of THIRST"
HOLMES notion of contentment
Little l ask; my wants are few;
[ only wish hut of stone,
A very plain brown stone will do,
That [ may call rly own"
AN Irishman has defined nothing OF
be ca footless stocking without legs"
A description by another Emeralder is
better: "What is nothing?" he was
asked. "Shut your eyes and you VIII
see it," said Pat,
The heavier cross, the hearter prayer
The bruised herbs most fragrant are
If wind and sky were always fair,
The sailor would not watch the star
And Davids psalms had ne'er been sung,
IT grief his heart had never wrung.
BARNEY WILLIAMS was once acting in
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-09-04
OFFICE OF SUPERVISOR or
r. f G.

PARISH OF ST. LANDRY La, August 20, 1874
In accordance with Act No. 155 of the Leg
lslature of 1874, approved July oath, 1874, the Of
nee or the supervisor of Registration will be
opened at the following places for u new and
complete registration of the entire parish, to-wit.
AT the Courthouse i'll OpelOusas, on August
31st and september l, 2, 3. 4 and ).
AT Washington, at the Town Hall, on septem.
Der Z, 8, 9 and 10.
AT Flat Town., ut or near the coffee -housc nj
Emile Tate, On the 18th and 14th September.
AT Bayou Ch1cOt, at or near the Store of Sam
Haas, on the 18th September.
At Chataignier, at or near the store of Dorain
Z, Laheur,. on the 18th September.
At Prud'homme City, at or near the Store of
I. {. Chachere. on the 18th and DIST Septemher
AT FlaqreInlne, at or near the store of Fore.
man d Webb, on the esd September.
At P~Olnt-auxLOtps, at or near Carts Snrings
on the 2sth September. Ae'
At Merment0, at or near the store, of Victor
Maynaud, on the Goth September.
AT Grand COteau, on the LIST and Oh Oc+oh.r
At GrOs CheTrcuil, at or near the store Of Nh
chel EmOnet. October 5th, 49,
At Bayou Rouge, at or near the stora NJ e. A.
HICKS, on Nlgger.Foot, October Sth and 9tl,,
At Bayon BEuf, at or near tile store NJ + o,;s
Stage, on the 18th October H""h'
Returning through Wasshatinoton tn oneIo,,sss
Nncte tns otHae will continue open until the
evening OF the 23d of October, at which time the
registration will close. -
JAMES ]. THOMPSON.
supervisor of Registration for the
aug 2"~9t Parish Of st. Landry.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-09-04
A Weekly Retrospect of Events.
from AppletOns' journal, /

from AppletOns' Journal.
August 7.-Advices from Spain stat
that the circular note in relation to th
Carlist i~nsurreetiOn, sent to the Euro
pean powers by Senior Ulloa, Ministe
of Foreign Affairs, has been published
1t charges that the Carlists, under tn,
pretext Of defending religion, are guilt,
of in~cendlarism, assassination, and pill
lage; and the massacres of Cuenca an(
OlOt are instanced.
News from Texas that the Indians
have captured two mail stages between
Wichito and Fort Sill. Passengers and
drivers killed and scalped.
The English Parliament prorogued
by a message from the queen.
August 8.-Advices from Madrid that
the Republicans have relieved Teruel
and that the Carlist force besieging the
city fed.
Reports from Ottawa, Canada, state
that great fires are raging in the vicinity
of :BirchtOn, G~OulbOurne, and Huntley.
A repetition of the great fires of 1871 is
feared.
August 9.-Advices from Paris state
that the French GoVernmet has order
ed al additional man-of-war to cruise
off the mouth of the Bidassoa.
AdvlceS from St. Thomas, West Indies,
state that the smallpox is raging at
jamaica. and that a severe shock of
earthquake has been felt at the Wind
ward Islands. .-..H.. r.r ....
A severe storm, with immense rainfall,
prevailed along the coast of New-Eng-
land and Middle States. Morning ad-
vices report considerable damage.
Great fire at Montreal Henderson's
saW-mlll, a steamer, barge, and dredge,
destroyed, Loss, 100000. -
August l0:--Advtces from Spain state
that General Dorregaray, Carlist, had
resumed the offensive In Navarro, and
taken the town of Laguardia, through
the treachery of the inhabitants. Cen
ere. HH..aGnc0, Republican, with eight bat
taliOns and twelve pieces of artillery. is
advancing to retake Laguardia. Bar
celOna is in great alarm at the advance
of two thousand Carlists. ~Advices from
London, Paris, and Vienna, represent
that a general recognition of the repub-
lie of Spain by the leading. powers of
Europe is probable,
Information received from Fort Lar
annie that that Arapahoes and Chey-
enues are preparing for war and that
many of the Sioux will join them.
Rev. Henry J. Whitehouse, Bishop of
the Diocese of Illinois, died in Chicago.
Dispatches from Bombay state that
disastrous floods have occurred in the
Upper Sinde.
August 11.-Advices of the escape of
Marshal Bazalne- from ST. Marguerite.
August 13.-Adyices that Great Bri-
tain, France, and Germany, have recOg-
nized the Spanish Republic.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-09-04

BCsINEss.-We are happy to see that
business is reviving in our community,
Cotton is coming In and trade which for
some time past has been in a languishing
condition is looking up. We take pleas
ure in congratulating our merchants up
on this agreeable change, and hope their
Fall business will be profitable to all
whom it may concern.
There has been much uneasiness mani
tested by our merchants in consequence
of the recent disturbances in an adjOin-
ing Parish, and they have been feeling
the public pulse with considerable ankle
ty. The fever however, has in q great
measure abated. There are no grounds
for future apprehension in our Parish.
Tranquility Is restored and our mer-
chants can go ahead with renewed conf
dence.-EIberia Progress. !.
The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-09-04

ST. MARTIN RIOTERS DIsBANDED.-We
are reliably informed that the two OF
three hundred ARMED men whohave been
encamped in st. Martinsville, awaiting
the arrival of the MetrOpOlitans, did on
the 25th inst, break up camp in row
among themselves, and go to their res
Dectiye homes, many of them remark
ing that it was the last time that they
Womb be called out on any such DIN
foolishsess." We are also informed
that the provisions distributed to the
rioters-was that furnished to the st.
Martinsyille people for the use Of the
oyerhowed Of that parish, and that par
ties (overfowed). applying for the same
rs usual, were informed that the sup
ply had given out, as the Keller Com
mittee had supplied the soldiers with
same.n 5sa38... ai .aaa 1
Now for the sake of even our political
opponents, we hope this statement may
prove false, for us they are L~0uisianiians,
we should be sorry indeed the people of
the North. East and West, should know
that we had people Of ang kind mean
and low spirited enough to put their
noble charities to any such ungrateful
use. We. in Iberia, congratulate our
selves in having one of the most peace
able and law-abiding communities in
this State ana we boldly assert, with
ont fear of contradictions, that uIltlertnO
circumstances whatever, will orr sup
plies, furnishedt to relieve the oVerH0wed
he. diverted from their proper course of
distribution.IIberia Progress, Aug, 20.