davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23
War Academy at Berlin.

Any lieutenant in the army whe has
served three years with his regiment as q
commissioned officer may present himself
as candidate for admission into the acad-
emy. About one hundred and fifty an
nually offer themselyer as candidates, and
of this number about fifty are admitted,
after very searching examination. This
academy is undoubtedly the best institu-
ton of the kind in the world, and is in
tended to give officers Of marked ability
and ambition the most thorough instruc-
tion in all the higher branches of their
profession, aud thus fit them for service in
the staff, corps, aids-de- camp and as gener-
ais. Among the branches taught are tac-
ties, strategy, military history, fortiica-
tion, attack and defense, topography, the
duties of the administrative branches, staff
service; and in connection with, or as
preparatory for, these subjects, pure math-
ematics, mechanics, chemistry, geology,
natural philosophy, general history and
literature, and the Russian, French and
English languages. The course lasts
three years.
In each year the lectures continue from
the beginning of October to the end Of
June. During the vacations at the close
of the first and second years the students
return to their regiments to take part in
the autumn manGuvres Toward the end
Of the second years course they have
several weeks exercise in practical survey
ing. At the close of the third years
course they take part with the professors
in general staff tour" the object of
which is to give them practice in making
reconnalssances, executing Typographical
sketches, selecting sites for encampments,
positions for troops, etc They are now
all returned to their regiments. From a.
mong the graduates some twelve or fifteen
of the most able and indus rious are usual
ly selected as candidates for the general
staff corps. During the year succeeding
their exit from the War Academy these
do duty for about eight months with arms
of service different from that to which they
originally belonged. Those of the mum :
Der who acquit themselves satisfactorily
under this further test are now ordered to
the headquarters of the staff corps at Ber-
lin, where they remain for some years
longer, undet the immediate orders and
instruction of Won Meltke. During this
time they are constantly being taught not
only the current duties of the various di-
visions into which the headquarters are
separated, but they receive lectures from
the chief himself, are required to prepare
for him reports on various subjects, and
accompany him on annual tours for field
practice-in short, they are still at school
They are now again sent back to their
regiments, and it is only after the lapse Of
some months that those finally selected by
Won Moike are defnitively appointed
captains in the general staff corps and be-
come members thereof. entitled to wear its
uniform. These captains are now assign
ed to various duties, according to the
wants of the service and their respective
peculiar qualifications. Most of them arc
sent to the headquarters of troops Others
go to Berlin General GEO b. MCLEL.
Ian, in Harpers Magazine for June.
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23
9gritultural.
Raising Turkeys.

1t does not cost any more, or much
more, to raise pound Of turkey than
pound Of hen flesh. In the summer they
require to be fed less, being mastery Cana
paigners on their own account, while in
winter very likely their nervous dispose
tien demands somewhat more stimulus
than other fowls. If well fed they do not
require nearly as careful housing as the
hen, although it is good policy to make
them roost in doors; but, left to them
selves, they prefer to weather out the
widest storm in the tree-tops. Finally.
when brought to market. their flesh is
worth much more than that of the hen, 50
that, other things being equal, it is econo-
my to keep them instead. Also, and
this is well worth considering, ALLOWING
that the percentage of loss OF young tur-
key chicks under the most perfect man.
agemett is greater than the loss Of chicks
of the common fowls; still, the turkeys
that survive reach such great weight that
a given number of pounds of turkey may.
perhaps, be raised with less labor than the
same quantity of flesh of the common
fowls
The breeding of turkeys is much better
than formerly. The Importance of the
selection of the stoutest and largest gob-
blers for breeding, is better recognized,
and the facts that too scanty range, in
sufficient food, and close in-and-in breed
ing, dwarf the stock, and render it feeble.
and cause the chicks to die off, are better
known. Also, wild turkeys are crossed
with tame more frequently since the value
of such infusion of blood has been seen.
1t is in this country, if anywhere, that We
should naturally expect the domestic stock
to reach its highest perfection. and our
poultry breeders may justly feel peculiar
pride in this strictly American produce
ton Poultry World.
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23

BRINGING HENS TO ORDER.-Max Ade-
ler says: We learn from an exchange
that " The Legislature of Massachusetts
has lately passed a law making it neces.
sary that dozen eggs weigh one and one-
half pounds" We approve of this. The
hens have too long had their own way in
this business of laying eggs, and they
have constantly defrauded the public. 1t
is high time this outrage was crushed,
and We are glad that the Legislature of
Massachusetts, is going to do it. If the
American citizens are to be imposed upon
with impuuity by debauched and corrupt
chickens, the government for which VIII
liam Penn and John Hancock died is dis
graceful failure. Hereafter Massachu-
setts hens will either have to lay two ounce
eggs or emigrate. The people will sub
NIT to their tyranny no longer They
have born the yolk until it is almost unen-
durable. They denounce present prices
for present eggs as eggstortion, and hens
they demand reform with the determi-
natien TO draw up this chicken bill and
pullet through the Legislature.
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23
Tait and 8umor.

BOUND TO GET SUBSCRIBER ANY WAY
He was once on jaunt 10 the township
of White Oak, Ingham county, sticking
to every farmer until he got his name and
money, and it so happened that be came
to house where death had called few
hours before. The farmers wife was laid
out, and the husbandman and his children
were grieving over her loss when the
editor knocked at the door.
Whats up?" inquired the editor. as
he saw the farmers solemn countenance
before him.
"My wife is dead" replied the farmer.
"Is that so r. unused the editor, a little
disappointed. "Did she die easy ?"
dropped off like lamb"
Ibid she say anything?"
"Not a word-just went right to sleep
like"
II didn't know" continued the editor,
sad look on his face, "but what she
might have requested you to subscribe
for the Cascade, which you know is the
best paper in the country. If you want
it III take your name right in, and un-
der the circumstances 1 won't charge q
cent for the obituary notice p
The farmer hung off for a while, but
before the editor went away he had two
additional dellars in his pecket, and had
written out an obituary notice for pubica-
ton, which the bereaved husband pro-
nounced "a mighty smart piece. DE
troi Free Press
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23

A FEARFUL ALTERNATIVES .-Matilaa
Fletcher's proposal in her lecture, "What
Can You Do?" has n solid footholi in
Quincy. where fourteen fathers have sign
ed pledge not to allow their daughters
to take music lessons until they can make
good bread. This is the practical werk-
ing of good theory. because bread, being
the staff of life, is what we live on, and
should be of "A good quality then if they
get to making good bread they will do
being consumers merely will be producers.
Quincy Wig.
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23

HEALTH FROM Flowers. 1t is reported
that an Italian professor has discovered
that perfumes from flowers have chen'i-
cal effect on the atmosphere, converting
its oxygen into ozone, aud thus increasing
its health imparting power. As the re-
suit of his researches he states that essen-
ces of cherry, laurel, lavender, mint, iani-
per, melons, fenuel, and bergamot are
among those which develope the largest
quantities of ozone, while anise and thyme
develope it in less degree. Flowers
destitute of perfume have no such effect.
He very naturally recommends that
dwellcrs in marshy localities and near
places infected with animal emanations
should surround their homes with Profa-
sion of the most odoriferous fowers-a re-
commentator which the Creator, through
their beauty and fragrance, addresses to
the senses of all sensible people.
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23

STORY oE Tom MARSHALL. Tom Mar
shall at one time INDUCED in such excess
ses that his friends became alarmed. and
determined to make an effort to reclaim
him. Mr.. Mangum was designated to
demonstrate with the wild Kcntuckian,
and endeavor to impress him with proper
sense of the pelil of his position.
"Ill hear any thing you have to say,
Mangum. said Marshall, as the Senator
opened the conversation.
Your friends have been greatly con-
cerned at the manner in which you have
been conducting yourself"
Don't wonder at it. Been badly
bothered myself. Sent you hear to talk
with me, didn't they 2"
Yes; they thought as l sometimes
take glass myself, my advice would have
the more effect"
You do drink too much, Mangum. =
I've been thinking of speaking to you on
the subject. But what do you want me
to. do?"
I" Your friends have the greatest adm-
ration for your genius and talents. They
are confident that with sobriety and ap-
plication you might reasonably aspire to
the highest place under the government ~
What do you think could get?"
Il have no doubt you might be made
Chief Justice of the United States"
" There's been one Chief Justice in my
family; l don't care to follow him"
You might even hope to become
President"
"No great credit ts follow Captain
Tyler. But tell what I'll do, Man. gum;
you make me President of the United
States, and if | don't make you Secretary
of State I'll agree to be blanked Let's
take drink. AN OLD STAaER, in Ha,
per's Magazine for June.
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23
A day or two ago the New York Ti

A day or two ago the New York Tri-
bune had an admirably turned paragraph
hitting off the felies and foibles, if not
something worse, of the parties who run
the Federal Treasury and furnish the pub
lie with pictured currency. The occa-
sion was notice of the new ten cent note,
on 1.-the west corner" of which is a sup
posed likeness of Philadelphias late dis
tinguished citizen, Wm. NJ Meredith
The writer thinks the law forbidding the
use of the phizzes of living persons on our
currency need not stand in the way of
utilizing some of the present and late
occupants of the Treasury, they being all
by late exposures killed very dead and to
this end suggests for the twenty-five cent
note picture of the Secretary of the
Treasury for the ten cent the phiz of his
assistant, and for the five that of Sanborn
Thus, the Tribune adds, +" then quarter
of dollar would 60 as a Richardson,
a ten cent piece as a Sawyer and five
cent piece as a Sanborn.' Change for
Richardson would be two Sawyers
and .Sanborn.' 1t would perpetuate
these honored names and be very good
thing for the bank note companies" The
whole article is in most humorous vein
yet touches abuses hinted at more effec.
lively than would sober argument.-Phi
aaelphia Ledger.
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23

1t as dangerous to him, I do not know
l only know-and the recollection at this
moment is burning in my baain-that we
all thought if we could get Herbert drunk
it would be fine fun. Fiends could not
have set themselves more ingeniously to
work to accomplish this object than we
did l was foremost in the attempt l
will not excuse myself, nor in aught pal
late my conduct, knew he had man
uscript poem at home, that had been pro-
Beuucsd remarkable by competent critics /;
l knew be could improvise almost without
mental effort, and expected under the
stimulus of the fiery serpent-whose sting
| dread more than l dread death-his
brain would be quickened, and we should
be charmed, perhaps amazed at the exhi-
bitions of his rare gift.
" At last we prevailed, but instead of
quickening, the wine stupi6ed his facul-
ties. A few glasses reduced him to a
state of utter inebriety.
" The party broke up. We were all
wild with excitement; he alone was i'm
moveable, and quite insensible. There
was no arousing him from a state Of death
less sleep into which he had fallen. l
dared ro. take him home that night, fearing
our frolic might be found out in getting
him to his room. So we left him as COM
fortably as we could place him-his hand
some face flushed and almost purple, his
active brain for once completely stupi6ed
:" In the morning was awakened by
the sounds of sobs. A white, scared face
stood over me; a trembling, weak voice
cried out.
-" sprang from my bed My friends,
| knew the truth soon enough. Herbert
had recovered consciousness in the night,
sufficient to mislead him. He had fallen
from the window, height of twenty feet,
He was still living. In vain my prayers
and tears and anguish" His voice fall
tered
" Young men, he is living yet, but an
incurable idiot! Now will you ask me to
take the acenrsed stuff? Yes, the curse
of the living God rests upon it. 1t has
burdened my life it has ruined as noble
an intellect as ever was ready to do battle
with the faults and follies of the world =
Do you still jeer and laugh because | will
not be jovial? | tell you, if it was liv-
ing thing | would strangle it--and there
is nothing upon earth l hate with such a
hatred"
There was deep silence. Not one in
all the company seemed inclined to drinl;
again. = Wttchmun and Reflector
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23
grlett gtorp,
An Effective Temperance Speech.

"A speech, a speech from Wilton"
cried the thoughtless fellows.
:" He can't make speech en- cold
water. l defy him. said one of the
number.
Ell" My friends" began Wilton
" Hear, h, he's really in for it now,'
cried a young man whose flushed checks
gave pitiful signs of his devotion to the
bottle. " Wilton is on his feet"
The comrade whom they called Wilton
was young man some twenty-three years
of age. Upon his face, within his eyes, a
settled melancholy rested; his manners
we're as grave as those of an old man.
He was often called e" Wilton the steady"
on account Of his quiet adherence to prn-
ciple.
The head partner in the firm in whose
employ Wilton was, gave a great party
once year, and it was to this gathering
that Wilton was persuaded to come.
In vain his companions tempted him
with the wine that flowed freely. The
i" firm" considered themselves good
Christians, as. indeed. did the world
generally. They gave largely to charities
and to the church. where their seats we're
seldom empty. They did great deal of
good with their money, yet in placing
this fiery temptation before young men,
some of whom were as yet without fixed
principles. they committed gross and
almost fatal error. Looking about him,
Wilton saw already many faces flushed
with insbriation many eyes that, spite OF
their fash and sparkle, moved with diff
Guilty, and that dire unsteadiness that
marked the incipient stage of drunken
ness.
my friends" he said, aud then paus.
ed, as if to give greater emphasis to what
might follow, u am going to make a
confession
Some of the company smiled at this,
but by far the greater number were awed
at the sad yet earnest tones of his voice.
:" Five years ago l had brother, a
bright, beautiful lad. in whom the hopes
Of large family circle centered. He was
called a genius, and he was one Sensi-
tive, gentle-hearted, and generous to q
fault, he also gave promise of sxtraordi.
nary vigor of mind One night several
boys in the village where I was born re.
solved to have frolio. The party was
to be secret one, and we we're each tc
carry from our homes. if we could. provi.
sons and wine. 1t came off with success.
There was good cheer; there were bright
and flowing liquors; we were all young
and buoyant. My brother had never tas-
ted wine. Whether it was a disinclina-
tion caused by his natural dislike, or
whetherit was intuition that led him to avoid
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23

INITIATION. The editor of the New
York Tribune having by some means or
othe obtained one dollar Treasury note,
has been, we fear, at once converted into
an iuaationist. The possession of money,
especially in large and unexpected guam
titles, is extremely demoralizing and pos
sibly some enemy of hard cash placed
that bill 4" where it would do most good
The editor is both descrlptive-as be-
ing new thing to him-and meditative.
He is also we are shocked to say, rather
sarcastic.
/" The crisp one dollar bill is a work of
art simply beautiful. Fresh from the
press, with the promise to pay unbroken
by crease, its pictures unsoiled and un-
wrinklod, and its crinkly sound as signi-
cant of wealth as was the jingle of coin in
the barbarous times when promise had
contingent relations with performance, the
dollar bill is an object of admiration and
delight. Few things are superior to it in
nature or in art. On the upper left hand
corner Christopher Columbus is discover
ing the Land of promise in the centre is
the promise to pay of the land he discov-
cred, and on the lower right hand corner,
the signature of Treasurer Spinner, gem
tleman whose integrity is as Roman as
the nose of the Father of His Country
whose portrait adorns the middle of the
bill, because he never told lie. There
may be citizens who have never seen this
work. And yet there are people who go
about making fuss because this, the best
currency in the world, bears promise Of
the United States to pay dollar, and the
United States never pay dollar, and
will not say when, or if ever, they will
pay the dollar. 1t is a neat and pretty
currency, and by the time it gets to the
Mississippi river will be as sweet and pure
as the politics of the country, of which ii
is the emblem. What pity it would be
to substitute coin for it, or do anything tc
interfere with its mission.
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23

CULTURE OF HoRsERAbIsu Select
good sunny piece Of ground, dig it deep,
aud when possible arrange it so that you
can draw as much dampness to the roots
as possible, as dampness and richness are
its life Planting should be done as early
as the soil is in good working condition.
The sets Cor pieces of roots) to be planted
should be no smaller than one fourth OF
an inch thick and four inches long And
to have them to be of amy value they
should be dug up and transpan,cd annu-
ally.
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23
hen to take him and the inmates to pris-

on.
In the records of human depravity there
is hardly any crime that exceeds this in
deliberate villainy. 1t has all the ele-
ments of weakness and wickedness, which
are characteristics Of Harrington, who ap-
pears throughout in the leading part, as
well as of Shepherd. Until Congress was
about to take notice of the outrage, NO in
quiry was proposed. Then grand jury
sprinkled with Ring jebbers and the Ring
Legislature were inspired with sudden
zeal Of investigation. in order to white
wash their friends and allies.
Now that the joint committee is direct
ed to examine into this daring crime, we
shall expect to see it probed to the bottom
and the culprits held up to public indig-
nation. Be their guilt what it may, they
will not be punished, for the District At
torney is bound to protect his subordinate
and the Ring, and the courts are any,
thing but Independent. And when the
plundercd people of Washington cry out
for relief, these thieves turn round auda-
ciously and ask, "Why don't you 60 to
the courts 7"
One OF the Ring attorneys was caught
tampering with the notorious Kirtland
when under false name evading process
and secreted in the room Of confederate.
He had been summoned to prove the cor
ruption of Shepherds partner. And now
another is detected heading an apparent
conspiracy to disgrace and ruin leaeing
citizen, and thus damage the cause of its
memorialists. These are the weapons of
the Ring to strike down opposition and to
defend their corruption. Look at them
1t is singular coincidence that Har-
rington, Williams, Clephane, Shepherd,
Baker, aud others, who have figured
prominently in all the recent developments
of conspiracy, false figures, fraudulent
measurement, and similar iniquties. are
the identical men who came to New York
last summer for the purpose Of forcibly alb
Quoting the editor of the San. We had
exposed then what is proven now, and in
order'to muzzle the press and arrest this
publicity they left Washington in crowd
chesred on their way by the Secretary o.
the Treasury and him of the Navy. and
bearing with them commands to willing
tools here to exert their official power t.
consummate another outrage on the liberty
of free speech. If there be justice left
some of these seoundrels will yet learn tc
know how stern it can be when punish
ment is so well deserved ~. Y. Sun.
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23

A school teacher we wot of sent small
boy with no,e to his juicy spicy, asking
her company the next evening. He hand
ed the boy ten cents for his services, with
the note. But the boy, never having car
ried notes before, supposed the money was
for the girl, and accordingly delivered it
with the note. The girl wrote an answer
telling the school teacher he might come
see her, but it was not necessary for him
to send so much money, as she would
have allowed him to come for a nickel. :
Scotland Co. News.
Middletown transcript., 1874-05-23
Select Aoetru.
Selected. for the Transcript BY G. r. H.
CHAMOMILE TEA.
BY DAVID PAUL BROWN.

Let doctors or quacks prescribe as they may,
Yet none of their nostroms for me
For firmly believe what the old women say,
That there's nothing like Chamomile Tea
1t strengthens the mind 1t snlvens the brain;
II converts all sorrows 10 glee;
1t brightsns our pleasures 4; it banishes pain
Then what is like Chamomile Tea?
In health it is harmless, and-say what you
One thing is still certain with me;
1t suits equally well with every disease:-
Oh there's nothing like Chamomile Tea
In colds or consumption pledge you my
word
Or in chills or in fevers, dye see,
There's nothing such speedy relief will afford
As a desc of good Chamomile Tea
The young and the old, the strong and the weak,
And patients OF ev'ry degree,
The dying, or dead, if permitted to speak,
Must eulogizs Chamomile Tea
Your fam'd panacea-spice rhubarb and stuff
Which daily and hourly we
Crack up for all cures in some newspaper puff,
Cant be puf'd into Chamomile Tea
The cancer and collie, the scurvy and gou.,
The bluez and all evil 8" "desprit''
When once fairly lodged, can he only forced oul
By forcing in-Chamomiie Tea
You all know the story, how Thetis's son
Was dipped to the heal in the sea
The seas all a farce-for the way it was done,
He was hardened by Chamome Tea
Or, if dipp'd in the Styx, MS others avow-
Which also deny, by the pow'rs-
The styx, it is plain must, in some way or how,
Have been bahk'd up by Chamomile flowers
When sentenced to die, foolish Clarence, they
say,
Met his fate in a butt of Malmsey;
He'd have foled the "crook' tyr,nt " and lived
to this day
Had be plung'd into Chanome Tea
Let Misses and Madams in tea-table chat
Sip their Hyson and sprighty Bohea;
1t may fit them for scandal--or such things as
that
But it's nothing like Chamomle Tea
Let tipplers and spendthrfts to taverns resort
And be soaked in their cups cap-a pic;
The champagne and tokay their caret and port
Are poison TO Chamomile Tea
Why, the nectar the gods and their goddesse;
quaf
In potations convival and free,
Tho Homer mistakes it-nay, pray do ne
laugh
suspect it was Chamomile Tea
Then fill up your gobsts, and round let then
pass,
While the moments and hours they flee;
And let each gallant youth pledge his favorits
In bumper of Chamomile Tea