davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07
Servants in the Last Century.

At the beginning ofthat century wages
in Philadelphia were said to be three
times what they were in England
Slaves, convicts and apprentices from
the mother country supplied in a great
measure the market for unskilled labor,
and degraded it. In 1761 there were
10000 slaves in South Carolina, of an
average value of e4O each. The annual
value of a working slave was thought to
be about slO. Thirty slaves, superin-
tended by an overseer, were suitable
number for a rice plantation, raising
four and a half barrels apiece, besides
their own provisions, consisting chiefly
of Indian corn. Rice, which was intro
duced about 100, was exported IN 1747
to the amount of 81, 900 barrels, and 176O
to the amount of 100, 1000 barrels. If In
digo was raised. slave could produce
160 pounds, worth two or three shillings
pound, from two acres, in addition to
his own food. His winters were availa-
ble for saving lumber. 1t was regarded
at that time "a very lucky circumstance
that antipathy existed between Indians
and negroes, as slaves were every dan
ous domestics." In 1854 Massachusetts
had 2.7o0 slaves over fifteen years of age
about 1000 of them living in Bosten
When emancipation took place there a
the close of the Revolution, the number
of slaves was 4,377. As early as 1863 4
decision of the courts declared that I
person born in Massachusetts could no
be kept in slavery. Grimes committed
by bondmen were severely punished
About the middle of the century ne
gress was burned for murder snd arsol
near Boston, and negro in Philadel
phia for similar crime. The whipping
: post and the socks were common instru
ments Of punishment for she freeman q
we'll as the slave.-THe Galary.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07
The Duty Of Woman to be Lady.
IGail Ham tom

iGail Ham toni
Wiidness is thing which girls can
not afford. Delicacy is thing which
restore to the grape its bloom. Familiar
ity without love, without confidence,
without regard, is destructive of all that
makes woman exalting and ennobling:
nThe world is wide, these things are small;
They may be nothing, but they are al"
Nothing? 1t is the first duty of
woman to be lady. Good breeding is
good sense Bad manners in women is
immortality. Awkwardness may be in
eradicable. Bashfulness is constitution
al. Ignorance of etiquette Is the result
OF circumstances. All can be condoned,
and do not Danish man or woman from
the amenities of their kind. But self
possession, unshrinking and aggressive
coarseness of demeanor may be reckon
ed as a State prison offense, and certain
" merits the mild form of restraint
called Imprisonment for life. 1t is
shame for women to be lectured on their
manners. 1t is bitter shame that they
need it, Women are the umpires of So
ciety. 1t is they to whom all mooted
points should be referred. To be lady
is more than to be prince. A lady is
always in her right inalienably worthy
of respect. To lady, prince and peas
ant alike bow. Do not be restrained.
Do not have the impulses that need re-
straint. Do not wish to dance with the
prince unsought Feel differently. Be
such that you confer honor. Carry
yourself so lofty that men will look up
to you for reward, not at you in rebuke.
| The natural sentiment of man toward
woman is reverence. He loses large
means of grace when he is Obliged to
account her being to be trained into
propriety. A mans ideal is not wound
/ ed when woman fails in worldly Wis
dom, but if in grace, in sentiment, in
delicacy, i'll kindness, she should be
found wanting, he receives an inward
/ bnr+
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07
Free Baths for Girls.

From the Graphic.
IN the evening On Women's Day the
scene Is most singular and enlivening,
being brightly ighted by gas jets that
fare and fash upon the waters and gay
jackets of the bathers. Every variety
of color and material i,as been brought
INTO requistion for the stipulated cos
tune; ealicoes, striped add fiowered; bed
ticking; ginghams, checked and plaided;
and fanneIs, "yellow, red, and blue"
some cut bag and piliow-case fashion,
and others gracefully fitted, scalloped,
and trimmed. Amusing transformations
are constantly occurring as the fair
bathers enter their dressing-rooms in
all the glory of hoops and hounces, CHG
nons and floating curla, emerging there
from sans hoops. sons hair, sdas so much
that constitutes the feminine toilets of
to-day. And after the FIRST splash-what
Hebes and Venuses, what quaking mas
ses of solidity, what shaking anatomics
are revealed? Here a whisp of hair and
a pair of skinny arms: there rosy face,
long tresaes, and shining snowy shoulders
fash through the waters. Peals of
laughter and shrill screams ring through
the air, and the bathers lean and plump,
are altogether happy, sAye a few that
shiver with blue lips and woeful~ faces,
on the steps or clutch the rope in the
desperation of fear. Among the regular
habitues of the bath magnificent blonde
is noticeable; of noble figure and COM
manding carriage, she moves queen-like
in all her motions amid the throng, and
swims with easy undulating grace. a
dark-eyed witch of about eighteen, plays
all manner of pranks under water and
above, turning sommersaults, diving,
floating, disappearing and reappearing
when least expected, and is in fact as
much at home in one element as the
other, being the acknowledged best
swimmer in the bath, where scores are.
adopts in the art. The striking contrast
presented between the grimed faces and
dropping forms of the ingoing tide and
the clean radiant faces and elastic tread
of the outgoing tide of women and chill
dren, speaks volumes in favor of the free
baths. In city eolnpassed about by
noble rivers and sea air, and teeming
with wealth, every inbabitant, however
obscure, should have the privilege of
bathing in the rivers and breathing the
sea air in safety. The baths should in
crease in number year by year, to meet
the needs of the hitherto "grest unwash-
ed" until that epithet is a term Of the
past or no longer known. If the city
government should borrow one of the
precepts of the Mohammedan religion,
which makes cleanliness obligatory, and
furnish the means to the lower classes,
we shall take a long stride in the path
of reform
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07
Lesson of Gratitude.

A gentleman was once making inqui-
ries in Russia about the method Of
catching bears in that country. He was
told that, to entrap them, pit was dug
several feet deep, and after covering il
over with turf, leaves, etc, some food
was placed on the top. The bear, il
tempted by the bait, easily fell into the
snare. But" he added, "if four or five
happen to get in together, they all gel
ont again "IIow i thst?" asked the
gentleman. They form u sort of a lad
der by stepping on each Others shoulder
aud thus make their escape" But how
does the bottom one get out?
"Ah these bears, though not possess
ing mind aud soul such a. God has
given ms, yet can feel gratitude; and
they won't forget the one who has been
the chief means Of procuring their lib
erty. scampering off, they fetch the
branch ofs tree, which they let down to
their poor brother, enabling him speed.
lily to join them in the freedom in which
they rejoice" Sensible bears, we should
say, are great deal better than some
people that we hear about. who never
help themselves.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07
Desperate Battle Between a RhinO-
cerOs and an Elephant.


The great show Of old John Robinson,
was. at last accounts, making the tour Of
the southern river towns being trans
ported in feet Of small steamboats,. AZ
the fleet was lying Of Wyandottc, West
Virginia, fierce encounter took place
between double-horncd Rhinoceros
and the monster Elephant, old Emperor.
The persons on board the steamer con-
tanning these animals, fai5eda cry Of dis
tress, and the masters Of the other boats
cane 20 their rolicfand took them Off
As they reached ttal portion Of the main
deck just on the boilers, q horribly sick
ening sight met their view. Wounded
bleeding, and horribly laaaratcd men
were lying where they had bcgu stricken
down by the terrible brutrs; dead wound.
ed and dying horses and ponies Hrewed
the deck in every direction; cages de-
stroyed and literally smashed into frng.
ments were scattered among The dead,
sounded and dying, and the terrible din,
.hrieks, grunts and grams plainly told
hem that the hattie was sill fercely
raging. 4 total destruction Of almost
every cage Gn the boat seemed imnin-
Mt. All efforts proved unavailing 10
eparue the savage denizens OF the for
ct. At this inncinre loud crash wac
neard, and the two cagcs containing tho
monster sea--iioES and Labrador seals
we're driven overheard. An effort was
made 10 separate the animals, which
proved Ia vain. Nfler this they we're
irod on without effect. The situation
was getting each moment more danger
Gus for all on board, and the proprietors
rerc in despair Of all hope, when it oc-
CURED 10 manager John F. Robinson to
open the steam pipes and deluge them
with steam. The engineer quickly turn
ed on the steam. and rs il suddenly es-
capped from the boilers with a terrific
roar, Fhrill trUmpetinE Ecreech was
heard from tho elephant, such as they
always uttcr in crying for mercy wher
conquered ia thcirnative wilds. Wheth-
er the animal had received it4 death
blow from the rhinocaros or was fright.
ened into submission by the steam, could
not be ascertained until Il bad cleared
away, which il did in few moments,
disclosing to the astonished gaze Of the
showmen a curious and so the same time
gratifying sight. There lay the huge
elephant upon lbe deck, covering tremb-
lingly down uttcriug moans Of pain and
fright, while iittlr beyond was the
rhinoceros -nugly en~c"nced in hls cage.
quaking ard -hi,crinE with fear, where
he had rctreatcd the instant lha steam
was opened upon him. The attendants
sprang quickly forward, and closed and
bolted the floor Of his cage. thus securing
themselves from futher moiestation from
him Five horses we're found killed, a.
also were three ponies, aud four more
were 80 badly MANNED and wounded,
that they were killed. in mercy, to end
their suffering
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07
4 Dog and snake story.

The Atlaul tGa.f ISH says: Several
days ago % gentleman in ihi- city went
ont into the country iowlire. taking with
him an experienced pointer. After hum
ing some time Dc observed the dog come
10 a sudden stop, and -upposing thv auG
had "=tood" bird, advanced 10 shoot Il.
Bat coming nearer be noticed that the
,nimal wus fnlmiug 20 the mouth, a. Il
suffering from an attack Of hydrophobia.
Under closer observation he discovered
that the dog was the victim Of an enor-
nous snake, which was charming Il and
steadily advancing on its prey. The
dog stood immovable, perfectly trunshx-
ed. The gentleman spoke to IL, bui il
gave no heed, 20 completely was il un.
der the influence OF the dread charmer.
Seeing that the dog was in the most ex-
cruciating agony, the gentleman raised
the gun and shot the snake dead. In
stantly and simultaneously with the shot
and the death Of the snake, the dog fell
down perfectly helpless, and to all APP
pearances dead. Ii revived after some
little time, but had il not been for some
timely assistance from the master, it Is
believed that the poor animal would
have expired with the vicious reptile OF
whose charm il was the victim. The
snake In question was blue racer, about
four or five feet long.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07
MISCELLANY.
The Old A4.erican Aristoeraey.

The most marked feature of colonial
society was its aristocratic character.
Our ancestors brought with them the
notions of rank and precedence which
prevailed at home, and even in those
colonies which like the New England,
were established on democratic basis,
the aristocratic feeling of the superiOrs
was almost as strong as in the feudaI
South and New York. Custom gave
privileges which the laws did not rec
ognize, and a comparatively few families
monopolized official dignities. John
Adams, for instance, mentions that the
Chandler family "engrossed almost all
the public Offices and employment in the
town and county" of Worcester, Mass.
1t is well known how the Hutchinson
kin filled the chief places of public
trust in that province. In New York
the Delanceys and Livingstons were said
to be "'the two great families upon whose
motions all their politics turn" The
aristocratic spirit of the Virginian mag
mates is proverbial to this day. In
South Carolina the gentry, we are told,
were more numerous than in any other
colony ia-.North America. 1t was COM
mon to see several offices in the hands
of single person, who perhaps was Col
onel of Militia. Judge of Probate, JUS
tice of the Peace, member of the legis-
lative body, &c. The colonial families,
however, were compelled to share such
destinations with the favorites of cour-
tiers. A dignitary of New York, writ
ing in 1864 of the low rate OF judicial
salaries, which were not enough to tempt
All able lawyer to leave his practice,
fears that if they should be raised
''some scurvy fellow + would
be crammed upon the colony because his
patron did not know what else to do
with him. THE Gatd1y
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07
Fashionable Society in the Last Gem
fUrV.

Besides eating and drinking, which
men Of our stock have always accounted
great pleasnres, our forefathers amused
themselves by cards, often heightening
the interest by stake, and backganI-
mon, ofwhich perhaps the innocent dull
ness was enlivened by the sly glanccs Of
bright eyes. Gallanting the girls, which
John Adams thought worse than abso-
ent diversion of the young men. In Bos-
ton they walked after tea on the Mall
with their fair friends, and in Philadel-
phia at the same hour they chatted with
them under the street porch; and every
where there were social gatherings to
bring the young people together. The
large towns had assemblies or semi-pub-
lie balls. These were not received with
favor by the ladies of strictest propriety,
when started in Boston, not long before
174O. Sixteen or seventeen years later,
however, large hall, which was
thought elegant and handsomely orna-
mented, was built there "for the purpose
of music, dancing and other polite enter
tainmentl." At the Philadelphia sub
scription balls, Mr. S. F. Watson relates,
no mechanic could be admitted. Min
utes and country for contra) dances were
the only exercises Of the fantastic toe"
and the Refreshments, merely tea, choco
late, and rusks, were a. simple as those
which have given the soubriquet Of
"cheap and hungry" to some modern
parties. Nevertheless, cards Of admis-
sion, which about l749 were written or
printed on the hacks Of playing cards, as
none others were imported, sold for the
high price of e} los. Charleston, S. G.,
had its dancing assembly once a fort
night, where there was always a bril-
liant appearance Of lovely, well dressed
women" 50 an eyewitness says. Many
of these ladies could play on the harpsi-
chord, and guitar, and sing WE'LL North
ern young ladies of condition were also
taught mHsic, az we'll as dancing and
"fine work" Shell-work WIS a Phila-
delphia accomplishment--IHc Goto1y.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07
CHARLES DICKENS AND HIS
WIFE.
A Theory of the Cause Of Their Sep
aration.

The Loudon correspondent of the
New York 4rcadida says of Dickens's
domestic unhappiness:
"In the last American papers which
have come to hand l see that Wilkie
Collins's drama of "The Frozen Deep"
has been performed in Boston. You are
perhaps aware that Collins has recently
been engaged in turning this play into
novel. "The Frozen Deed" awakens
many sad reflections in my mind, as that
piece was indirectly the means of bring
ing about much of Dickens's domestic
unhappiness. The whole story of his
separation form his wife has never yet
been properly told, and in all probabili-
ty never will be, as his widow is resolved
to maintain the silence she has so long
kept But it is generally known that
the family is dissatisfied with Forster's
book. Your readers may have heard of
the grand amateur performances given
in 1859 at the Free Trade Hall, Man
chester, in aid of the Douglas Jerrold
Fund. Dickens, Collins, Shirley Brooks,
Mark Lemon, and many other celebrst-
ed writer's took parts. The ladies char
acters were interpreted by professional
actresses. Among these was Miss Ellen
Ternan. She was then a fresh, pleasant
lookinagirl, not especially pretty, but
possessing good figure and an extrem-
ely agreeable manner. If ever the Ger
man poets doctrine of elective aflinities
was proved to be true, il was when Dick
ems and Miss Ternan met. 1t was evil
dent TO ne arly all that the two were mu-
tually infatuated. Dickens was constant
ly at her side, though his manner was
carefully guarded. Mrs. Dickens was
with the party; bnt did not appear TO
notice the intimacy. Very soon after
these performances Miss Ternan, at
Dickena' wish, left the stage. His ahec-
tion for her -ras said to have been pure
ly platonic, aud | have never met any
one who was disposed TO dispute this be-
lief. Bur, never the less, il was this in
ilIlitiCF 81 ii-c4i ht'r iiiC hiIdl Lddrt u TIE
rupture between Dickens and his wife.
For many years prior 70 1859 their NUT
ual relations had been anything but
happy, although do not think that NJ rs.
Dickens mad previously had any we'll
grounded cause for jealousy. A short
time after the party returned from Man
chester, Mrs Dickens went into fash
ionable jewellers at the West End, where
she was in the habit of dealing, and was
asked by one of The firm, who knew her
we'll, how she liked her new bracelet
She said that she did not understand
him, az she had not received any such
article The gentleman then explained
that il WIS one Mr.. Dickens's had order
ed for his w:Ie, with a Likeness and some
hair in. This Of course opened Mrs.
Dickens's eyes, and separation speedi-
! ly followed. Since that time Mrs. Dick
ems has lived very quietly in a pretty
little bouse near the Regents Park,
where her children, whose respect and
affection she has always enjoyed, have
ever been frequent visitors"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07
A Winter Resort in the south.


A pleasant land, one is forced 10 de-
clare. But this produetivenesss IL thc
least Of its advantage. The beneficial
nature Of thc climate for invalids Is the
chief glory OF the Sand Hill country.
Aiken has achieved great reputation
ar winter residence for pulmonary in-
valids, the equable temperature, and
dryness Of the air, A. we'll as the mild
ness, which allows the paticrt 70 Pass
most Of his winter under the open sky,
inhaling the fragrance Of the pine woods,
have, year after year, drawn hundreds
OF exhausted Northerns thither. Be
fore the war the planter Of the lowlunds,
and the merchants Of New York Bnd
Boston alike, went 70 Aiken TO recuper-
ate; the planter occupied pleasant cot.
tgge during the summer, the Northern
arrived With the first hint of winter; but
now the planter comes no more with the
spendor and spendthrift profn N Of
old, and the Northerner has the little
town very much to himself The accom-
modations have, for several years since
the war, been il sufficient; but as the in
habitants creep back towards their old
prosperity, they are giving Aiken the
bright appearance Of a northern town,
and the iJl-looking, unpainted, rickety
houses Of the past are disappearing.
Originally laid out by railroad COM
pany, in 1888, as future station Of com
mercial importance, Aiken prospered
until FIRE swallowed il up a few yeaFs
later. When the war came great num-
bers Of refugees rushed into it, md the
misery and distress there we're great.
The tide Of battle never swept through
the town; Kilpatricls contented himself
with partially successful raid IN thai
direction when Sherman was on the road
to Columbia, and a. soon as peace was
declared the invalids hocked back again
to haunt the springs and the pleasant
woody path, over which the jessamine
day and night showsrs It's delicious fra.
grance.-Ed'rord King, in S,riJner's for
AVgUsf.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07
One Thousand Miles a Day.

The New York Herald of yesterday, in
referring to the lightning day light train
of the Pennsylvania Railroad says:
"The Pennsylvania Railway Comp
any have begun to run lightning ex-
press between New York city and Pitts
burgh, Pa, making the entire trip of 444
miles in the brief space of eleven hours.
In order to accomplish the journey with
in that time only three stops are made
on the route between the two cities. The
average rate on the trip is over forty
miles an hour, as follows: From Pitts
burgh to Altoona, III miles, stopping
five mintues; to Harrisburg, 132 miles
stopping twenty minutes; to Philadelph.
ia, los miles, stopping FIVE minutes
thence to New York, 80 miles. The To-
comosives dip up water from side trough'
at the different stations along the roa6
without stoppage."
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07

STOCK GAMBLERS PHRAsEs.-The
unInitiated reader of stock operations,
says the Ledger, j. often much puzzled
at the technical or slang phrases used in
the daily reports. To explain: -Four
different forms of contracts are known
under the general term of stock privi-
legcs. The "put" and "call" are single
privileges. The ''straddle" and spread
are double privileges. A put" is con-
tract giving the holder the right of de-
livering certain amount of stock with
in definite time at a stipulated price.
4 "call" is exactly the reverse of a
"put," being a contract giving the
holder the right of calling for the stock
instead of delivering it. A double pri-
vilege is put" and "call" on the same
stock combined in one contract. When
double privilege is drawn at the mar
ket price of the stock il is called a
"straddle," and costs from p to per
cent premium. But when drawn at dis.
tance of from to "a per cent above
and below the market price it is called a
"spread," for which fixed premium OF
per cent is paid. The distance from
the market at which u spread" is drawn
depends on the class of stock and the
activity of the market.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07

ANOTHER HORSE EPIDEMIC.-The
stable keepers in Boston report the
breaking out in that city of contagious
horse disease not generally fatal in its
results, but which disqualifies the horse
for labor for from three to ten days.
The symptoms are loss of appetite,
weakness and discharges from the nos
trils or eyes, sometipes accompanied by
coughing. A disease somewhat similar
in charaster, but which has resulted fatal
in several cases, is reported in Delaware
county, of this State, bat only very
small number Of animals comparatively
speaking, haye thus far been attacked.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-08-07

SEWING SILK.-The smallest sewing
silk manufactured measures, 1920 yards,
or over one and one-fourth mile to the
ounce. Even in the construction of this
variety sometimes from 200 to 400 6bers
of the material, as originally spun by the
silkworm, are required. The little
vermiform artists which produce this
beautiful material do not spin threads
of uniform size. The smallest 6ber
of silk, as wrought by the worm into the
exquisite structure Of its cocoon, is so
infinitely minute that every ounce of the
manufactured thread is supposed to con-
tain nearly 1000 miles Of this Aoss-like
strand. and the puny animal sometimes
elaborates a fiber of such marvellous ten
uity that less than four pounds Of the
thread, avoirdupois, would reach round
the world.