davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
The Amount of Our Indebtedness.

In an address delivered before the
Northern Wisconsin Agricultural Asso-
citation at their fair at Oshk osh,
Speaker Blaine estimated the total
debt of our sixteen cities exceeding
100, 900 population at $3.50, ,OOO, 600; of
our twelve cities exceeding $4,000 and
less than 100, 600 at $30,000,OO of
fifty-three cities exceeding 10000 and
less than $4,000, $75, ZOO, 600; of 105
cities between 10000 and 20, 1000, $35,
600, 600; the towns of less than 10, 600
have an estimate debt of $50, 900, 900,
thus giving an estimated total of mum
cipal debts at $57O, 100000 The coun-
try debts Mr.. Blaine estimates at $780,
600, 600, and the State debt at $500,
600, 900. The total indebtedness of the
nation, exclusive of the Federal debt
thus amounts to eleven hundred anc
forty millions.
Including our national debt, we owe
So, 200, ,000,O0 Large as this sum is
it is far less ratio of debt to property
than our government started out with
! 800, 900, 900. That debt represented one
seventh of the entire property of the
nation. Our present debt does no
amount to more than one tenth OF oul
actual wealth.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
Animal Criminals.

A correspondent of the Athengu2a
has the following concerning the physi
cal and spiritual penalties which the
law visited formerly upon four-footed
malefactors
"The condemnation of a bull to the
gaIlows for the crime of murder is by
no means a singular example for the
eccentricities of ancient legislation, at
least in France. For instance, on the
4th of July, 1904, pig was hanged to
a Gibbet near Laon for devOuring the
babe of one Jehan Lenfant, a eow-herd
Again on the 10th of January, 1857,
a SOW and her six sucklings were
charged with murder ard homicide on
the person of Jehan Martin, of Savi5ny,
when the former was found guilty, and
sentenced to be hanged by the feet
from the branch of a tree. AS for the
piglings, in default of any positive
proof that they had assisted in mang-
ling the deceased, although covered
with blood, they were restored to their
owner on condition that he should give
bail for their appearance should further
evidence be forthcoming to prove their
completely in their mothers crime.
That individual, however, declined to
become in any way answerable for the
conduct of such i'll bred animals, which
were thereupon declared forfeited-not
to the parents of the murdered child,
but to the noble damsel, Katerine de
BernauIt, Lady of Savigny. Yet again,
on the I'd of March, 1852, the chapter
of Chartres, after due investigation of
the circumstances, sentenced pig that
killed girl to be hanged from the gal
lows erected on the very spot polluted
by the bloody deed. Even SO late as
the year 1912 pig was convicted of hav-
ing worried to death and partially de-
voured child II to IA months old, the
son of mason, residing at Molinchart,
also within the jurisdiction of Laon
In 1920 we find the Bishop of Laon ex-
communicating a swarm of caterpillars
in the same terms which the Council of
Rheims had employed in the preceding
year in denouncing priests who in
dulged in the sin of matrimony. Still
later, 1916, the courts of Troyes, COM
plying with the prayers of the inhahit-
tants of Villenoxe, admonished the cat
erpillars by which that district was then
infected to take themselves off within
six days, on pain of being declared ac-
cursed and communicated
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
The French March to Sedan.

The pamphlet just published by Col.
Stoffel in his defense has created a
painful impression here, for the further
revelations are not much to the credit
of any one concerned. The Colonel
tries to relieve the late Emperor from
all responsibility in regard to the march
to Sedan, and to attribute the determi-
nation to move forward, instead of fall
ing back on Paris, to Marshal Mac
Mahon. Now, in the letters which Ma
poleon III. wrote to Field Marshal
Burgoyne explaining that march, his
Majesty said it ad been rendered nec-
essary by political events. Was Mar
shall MacMahon left quite to himself,
as Col. Stoffel says, influenced like Ba-
zaine by political motives, or did the
late Emperor sit down and calmly write
falsehood damaging to his own char
acter? It is well known that the EN-
peror was afraid to fall back on Paris,
which, before Sedan, was in state of
semi-insurrection. MacMahon had no
| dynasty, but only his country to serve,
| and but for pressure from the Minister
| of War, would not have attempted to
relieve Metz with scratch army
| Paris Cor. Pal Mall Gazette.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
Bazaine ON His Esnane.

The Pall Mall Gazette says "a
reporter of the Figaro has just inter
viewed Bazaine, and has obtained from
the hero narrative of his escape which
in the main corresponds with the p1ctur-
esque account published by Nine. Ba-
zaine. He declares that his wife and
nephew did row the boat to the Island
of Ste. Marguerite and take him off to
the steamer, and that the story of the
rope and 1ucifer-matches is quite cor
rect. What is most astonishing is to
find the ex-Marshal coolly relating the
part which Colonel Villette played il
the affair-the Colonel who before the
court at Grasse had declared himself IL
perfect ignorance of the ex-Marshal's
intentions. It was Colonel Villette
who arranged the rope and who tossed
it over the parapet next morning to pre-
vent the warders perceiving it, and, il
fact, the aid-de-camp played a promi
nent part in the escape.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
Beecherian Gossip.

New York {Oct. 13) Cor. Chicago Times.l
There seems good ground for the re-
port that the grand jury in Brooklyn
has found an Indictment against Demas
Barnes, proprietor of the Argus, for
virtually declaring in his paper that the
first Mrs. Bowen was Henry Ward
Beecher's mistress, and that Beecher
is the father of one or two of Bowen 8
children. Bowen is on the war-path,
and asserts that he will make every man
and journal suffer who has hbeled HIM.
He still thinks himself the worst abused
man of the time, and is ready to ex-
pend any sum of money to obtain legal
justice.
Some of Tilton's and Moulton's init
mates continue to say that the suit in
stituted by Beecher against those men
for libel will never be tried that the
preacher has already repented of yield
ing to the influence of his friends, and
is anxious to withdraw the s1it. Til
ton and Moulton are very reticent on
the subject, but give out that they are
getting well prepared.
1t is asserted that the libel suit
against Moulton and the Graphic by
Edna Dean Proctor will be compro-
missed, and that lawyers are now ar
ranging the matter to the satisfaction of
all parties.
! There were rumors in Brooklyn to-
/ day that Mrs. Morse, Mrs. Tilton's
! mother, has become offended with
/ Beecher because he has declined to
/ give her money, and threatens to bear
1 evidence against him. She is said to
claim to have very damaging knowledge.
Some persons think her crazy, and
that she can and will be proved SO, il
she attempts to testify on either side.
It appears highly probable just now
that Tilton and Beecher will both ad
| dress the jury, if their suits are tried
/ that their counsel are entirely willing
they should, and that they particularly
want them to.
TiIton's counsel decline to tell whe1
his suit against Beecher will be begun,
but declare they will be entirely ready
before they move step in the matter
They have grave doubts if a jury can b.
had in Brooklyn, and expect to have
change of venue.
All the prominent members of Plym
outh Church are busy with Beecher'
case They are talking it over in secre
constantly, running hither and yon
and are as deeply interested as if th
suit were their own. A number Q
them really have hope of ability t
show that Tilton has been insane fo
years, especially since his fnancia
| froI1hles commenced
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
Oorrupt Electioneering in England.

The new ballot act and act for the pre-
vent1on of corrupt practices at elections
is now fairly in operation in Great
Britain, and some of it's results are ex-
traordlnary. It has already produced a
condition of affairs that can scarcely be
comprehended in this country. It aims
at purity of conduct on the part of
office-seekers that the politicians of this
country have never dreamed of, and
which taxpayers can scarcely hope to
see realized. It places on the same
plane with bribery very many acts which
we have learned to deem quite excusable
and necessary, if not altogether proper
and If fully carried into effect, leaves
the voter almost absolutely free from
undue influences, and sends the sue
cesstul candidate into Cffice with his
dignity and integrity intact.
The law being excellent, there seems
to be determination to enforce it. Its
penalties have already been visited upon
some of the highest dignitaries of the
church and state, as well as some of the
most wealthy and popular aspirants
to political honors. 1t was under this
law that Albert Grant, elected member
of Parliament for Kidderminster, last
spring, was unseated. He was enor-
mously wealthy, and deservedly popu-
GACNcNAAAC
acts of benevolence. He had spent
large sums of money for the public
good, and it was not shown that ne had
during the election, been guilty of any
acts that would be considered particu-
larly reprehensible in this country. He
had, however, been too prodigal of invi-
tations to his grand tea parties, and an
investigation led to a decision unseat-
ing him.
Little more than a year ago, Mr..
Justice Keogh, a Catholic Judge, de-
clared the Galway election invalid, and
DISTINGUISHED the Bishop of Galway for
a number of years, because he had be-
come the chief election agent, and had
caused his priests to become active par
tisans. This judgment caused great
excitement at the time, and made it I'M
safe for the Judge to go upon his cir
cult, but the member elected was not
allowed to take his seat. After the last
election, corrupt practices in the same
districtwere charged. An investigation
by another Judge was had, and it was
found that the Bishop had obeyed his
Acknowledgement, and had wholly alb
stained from active interference, except
to correct a shameful libel on lady
relative of one of the candidates. The
Judge animadverted severely upon this
ton on the part of other persons, the
member-elect was unseated.
The member elected for Launceston,
last spring, was unseated upon it being
shown that he had given permis-
sion to his tenants to shoot rabbits
on his property, after the publication
of his address announcing that he was
a candidate.
In the borough of Stroud, the mem
Der elected last spring was unseated for
corrupt practices, and second election
was held during the summer. This was
also made a subject of investigation,
and the member-elect was unseated, his
principal offense being the gift of re-
freshment to voters. In the city of
Durham, and in the borough of Poole,
the members elect have been declared
| disqualified for corrupt practices
/ Chicago Times.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06


"Some of it. and some of it's almost
white, and some is almost red queer,
isn't it % he went on spreading the
plant out as it grew in the garden
"The under side of the stems is pale,
and the upper side is reclaimed, L
guess, in the sun.
" It looks like it" said; "what is
the color inside q
Shall break it ?"
Certainly" -,
johnny bent the pusley-stem with
both hands, and to his great surprise 1t
snapped short off.
"Oh! - he cried, "hoI brittle it IS ;
I didn't think it would break SO sud
den.''
'sTry the catnip STEM"
cit won't break" said Johnny.
"Cut it with my knife.
"It's tough" said Johnny, {" and
woody and hollow. The stalk is square
but the hole is round"
[ took the knife, cut the stem across
at joint, and said : 81 don't see any
hole here.
Johnny was puzzled. 'See," I said,
splitting the stalk Iengthwise, the
hollow is closed up at the joints where
the branches begin"
| 81 shouldn't have thought of that, "
said Johnny. What lot of things
there is to learn about one stem"
We've scarcely made a beginning
vet" [ said. But before we go fur
ther let us recall what we have already
found out
"TAe catnip stalk is square stands
up straight !; has a strong odor is
slightly fuzzy is green is rough and
woody; will not break easily; is
hollow, except at the joints and
That's all [ can think of, said
Johnny.
And the pusley stem is round lies
fiat on the ground is smooth; brittle /;
pale green below, and red on top solid
Are you sure of that ?''
Johnny split pusley stem its whole
length, and said there was no sign of a
hole in it, adding meditatively, a mo-
ment after Sc It takes a great deal of
study to find out all about plant, don't t
it T.? if it IS a weed"
8" A very great deal, " / said.
ST think / know all about these,
now," said he.
go, no I" said I, ''not nearly. You
roots yet, nor the branches, nor how
the seeds, nor when they come up in
the spring, nor when they die in the
fall, nor what things eat them, nor
what they are good for, nor what their
relations are, nor"
"I1l never be able to learn all that !''
cried Johnny, fairly frightened by the
magnitude of the task he had under
taken. "And there are such lot of
plants !''
'' It would be terrible task, indeed, -
I replied, g if you had to learn it all at
once. But you haven't. just keep
your eyes open, and take notice of the
different plants you see, and you will
get better and better acquainted with
them every year. The older you grow
the faster you will learn, and the more
you will enjoy it. In few years it will
be pleasanter than play to you
9 I hope SO, said Johnny, resolutely
60 for I've got to learn them all. I'll
try anyhow. Christian Union.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
A Modern PrgmaIian.

The Dr0it relates that man has Just
died in the Bicetre Asylum whose luna
cy had very singular origin. His
name was Justin, and he exhibited wax
work figures at Montrouge, his gallery
consisting of temporary celebrities
and great criminals. On a pedestal in
the center was the figure of young
girl remarkable for her graceful figure
and perfect features, her hair falling in
long curls over her naked shoulders.
Justin had named her Eliza, and was SO
struck by her beauty that he passed
hours in contemplating her. She seemed
to him to speak, and her blue eyes,
with their long eyelashes. seemed to
respond 10 his passion. Under the in
Auence of this illusion he neglected his
business, and for want of a Snowman
| to puff it people no longer visited the
| gallery. Poverty succeeded easy cir
cumstances; the modern Pygmalion
could not separate himself from Eliza.
His wife was obliged 10 sleep on a bare
mattress, and when she demonstrated he
| ill-treated her. Irritated at the unjust
harshness, she one day destroyed the
wax figure. Justin was furious at see
| ing the fragments, and selzing a broom
| stick he struck his wife, and would have
killed her had not her cries drawn the
neighbors to her assistance. Justin
who had lost his reason, had to be Sc
cured, and was an inmate of Bicetre fo
five years, living up to the last unde
the charm of Eliza, whose image seemed
always before him.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
Damon and Pythias.


Doubtless our young readers have
heard of Syracuse, in the island of
Sicily, now a town of some twenty
thousand souls, but once the most ex-
tensive and populous of all the cities in
habited by the ancient Greeks. We
read so much of Athens, that it is hard
to suppose Greek colony had larger
and more wealthy city. But such was
the fact, if we can depend upon
our best authorities. All Attica, Athens
included, had not, in it's best days, so
many inhabitants as dwelt in the single
city of Syracuse at one time. Syracuse
was a Corinthian colony, founded B. G.
735, few years after the foundation of
Rome and so rapid was the growth of
the new Sicihan city, that the third
generation had not passed away before
it began in its turn to send out colo
nies, Like other Greek cities, it tried,
one after another, nearly all sorts of
government It was ruled by an
aristocracy, by democracy, and by ty-
rants.
In the fifth century before our era,
Syracuse was under the tyrant Hero /.
and his successors. In the next cen
tu1y the government was democratic r.;
but B. G. 406 democracy again gave
way to a tyrant under Dionysius. This
man had been clerk in public Office
in Syracuse, but at the age cf twenty
five he had made himself master of the
city. But the story of Damon and
Pythias has made the name of
Dionysius best known. The story is
| told by Valerius Maximus, Roman
writer, who lived in the reign of the
Emperor Tiberius ca. d. 14-37).
In his collection of historical anec-
] dotes this writer has chapter on
| friendship, and, with other stories OF
remarkable friendships, he gives that
| he writes the name. Our Roman
author tells the story as follows Da-
mon and Phintias, who had been ini-
tiated into the mysteries of the Pytha-
| gorean philosophy, were united IN sc
firm friendship, that one of them
being condemned to death by Dion
ysius of Syracuse, and having obtained
| permission to visit his family and pu
his affairs IN order, the other did no
hesitate to deliver himself to the tyran
and pledge for his friends return
Thus Phintias, who, moment before
had seen the sword above his head, wa
out of danger; and he who could hav'
lived in full security, was threatened
with the fatal blow. Everybody, an,
especially Dionysius, awaited will
curiosity the issue of a drama 81
strange and so uncertain in its results
The time was about to expire withou
the appearance of the culprit, ant
everybody began to talk about the foil,
of such a pledge. But the philosophe
declared he had no doubt of the con
stancy of his friend and, true to hi
word, on the day fixed by Dionysius
Ph1ntias appeared. Full of admiration
for the character of the two friends, tn
, |
ton of such fidelity, and even asked
be admitted as a third in their bond c
friendship. Such, then, is the powe
t of friendship, that it inspires cor
tempt of death, causes us to forget th
charms of life, disarms cruelty, change
E hatred to love, and substitutes favor
in place of punishment.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
ooE TO THE GREAT ToRmENroRi

YMPATHETICALLY DEDICATED TO ALI. suFFERERa
FROM THE OCTOBER MOSQUITO.
Had the Father of Sins
Breathed into some millions
Aud billions and trillions
OF papers of pins
Had he to thorns and thistles lent a Tongue
Through which bis hatred might be sung
Given slivers motion, aud q hetnous heart
To revel in chirurgic art
We're needles and nettles, like baby, born
To yell from darkness till the morn
Were twenty Hades housed in one small thing
Could curses buzz about and sing,
And taper torments serenade
With music of the pit, dying Rddles PLAYED:
We're the Evil One made mince, and fashioned into
Runt ogres; atoms of Avernus furnished paps ana
o, stilettoing notes of midnight air!
1.could place ye then and there.
Whence, ferocious flock,
When slowly my rheumatic clock
Is hobbling through the darksome hours
Whence, ye pesky pricking powers
Ye whining, barbed villanies-
Come ye to sap the vitals of mine ease2
Why pause your internal route
And shrek my blameless bunk about?
o avis with handles each ahead,
To pierce sweet children in their bed
Mighty mldges that like murderer's conscience
Beneath the grandam's rihed cowl-
We'd rather hear the real red devil scream
Than your one peep creep in our dreami
O wickedness with wings,
Insect imps equipped with stings,
Poison with a bloody bill,
Demons of the rudy drill
Gimlets for flesh of human kind,
Corkscrews with miners mind
. pest1ence on pinions gray,
Microscopic VultIIres made prey:s
What more cussed " can say p
Ghosts Of hornets turned the other sa1y
JOHN Vance Cheney in the Feto Pork Eoening Psst
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
SeAshness.

Live for some purpose in the world.
Always act your part well. Conduct
yourself so you shall be missed with
sorrow when you are gone. Multitudes
of our species are living in such selfish
manner that they are not likely to be
remembered after their disappearance.
They leave behind them scarcley any
traces of their existence, and are forgot
ten almost as though they had never
been. They are, while they live, lii
some pebble lying unobserved among
million on the shore and when the
die they are like that same pebbl
thrown into the sea, which just ruff :
the surface, sinks, and is forgotten,
without being missed from the beach.
They are neither regretted by the rich,
wanted by the poor, nor celebrated by
the learned. Who has been the better
for their life? Whose tears have they
dried up? Whose wants supplied
whose misery have they healed? Who
would unbar the gate of life to readmit
them to e.istence? or what face would
greet them back again to our world
with smile? Wretched, unproductive
mode of existence Selfshness is it's
own curse; it is starving vice. The
man who does no good gets none. He
is like the heath in the desert, neither
yielding fruit nor seeing when good
cometh a stunted, dwarfsh, miserable
shrub.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
THE LITTLE FOLKS,
OREGON.

Baby Song.
Little blue eyes so clear and bright,
50 fun Of chlldhood's radiant light
Close your lids and go to sleep;
10 sleep TO sleep, pure and deep.
That morn may find you bright and good
The sweetest charm OF babyhood
Silently, gently drop away,
To waken fresh on the newborn day
my father and mother with thee viii rest.
But thy gaileless sleep will be pUres:, best.
Little fat hands, dimpIed and white,
Peacefully fold away tonight
Mischief enough yoa'Ve done, 1 know;
We laughed at il, and scolded, too;
But a4ls forgiven and fraught with bliss
Is the touch of life in the baby-kiss.
Then sweetly, gently sleep and dream
Of things which pure and holy seem,
For all 700 soon viii thy sweet dreams grow
To be furnished with age, and frost, and snow.
Little ltIs, cease your prattle now;
Papa, u2zIslIna. doggy and COW,
Kitty, asnt-e, birdie and ball.
The me-C1w Will hear thy baby call
But nov. d peaceful, sweet goodnight.
May angels keep thee pure and bright,
And shse-d thee from all harm and wrong,
And now 5 closed our baby-song;
Teach rs, o God to whom ba bies are given,
To guide their hearts to the gates OF heaven.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06

t It is rather amusing to find how
Nine. Bazaine twice outwitted M.
Marchi, the civil governor. She desired
to know the depth of water at the foot
of the terrace, and SO she dropped a
ring into the sea; the gallant NJ march,
and her nephew descended to look for it
and the latter was able to see that boat
could get close in. So as to learn what
length of rope would be necessary for
the descent, Nine Bazaiue got one of
her children to cl for water in order to
water her garden, and M march, aided
the girl to let down her watering pot
into the sea by means of some string
In this way Nine Bazaine ascertalned
the height of the terrace"
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06
THE Republic, Washington magl

THE Republic, a Washington maya
zine, presents some rather startling sta
tistics concerning the different wars in
which the United States has been en-
gagged. In the war of the Revolution
Q775 to 1889 278, ,021 soldiers were en-
gagged in the war of 1912 to 1916, 527,
654; in the Mexican war, 73, ,260--mak-
ing total of 878, ,935-while in the wa,
of 1860 no less than 2,757, ,598 we're en-
gagged. During the rebellion 279, ,689
officers and men were killed or wounded
while 6, TAO were missing in action
Since the commencement of the war the
government has paid, up to June, 1874
in pensions, $251 ,OOO, 900.
The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-11-06

TINS general showing-a change in
our favor in the sc balance of trade"
and decided reduction in the volume
of specie sent abroad and not shipped
back-affords not a little satisfaction
to these who have been long anxious to
see our foreign commerce possess less
of a debt-creating character.
TriH3L3le