davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05
A Flood Of Liternture.

A London paper in speaking Of the
number of books published in Great
Britain in 1873, says:
In twelve months we sent forth 1853
new works, and If we count the new
editions of old books the number comes
to 1891. Some Of them, it is true, were
written in America, and merely re-
printed in this country; but those must
have been only small fraction Of the
whole mass, and the total number is
prodigious. Nearly 5000 separate books.
That is a considerable library in itself.
Within the covers of 5000 volumes we
could put all, aud more than all, the
classic literature of every land under
the SUD. All the English books which
are possessions forever, because they do
not merely lie on the library shelves, but
are the daily companions of every stu
dent. could be obtained in q marvelously
smalI compass. A mechanic could buy
them with his savings. The classic lit
erature Of France would not fill large
space, and that Of Germany might not
be so large. Yet here we have 83l nov
els and stories published in single
year, and no works on theology, SCIENCE.
and art reach the respectable figures Of
5s8. Poetry and the drama stand for
1923. History aud biography give US
42S. Never was there so prodiglous a
stream Of writing. What we're the agas
Of Homer, Sophoeles, Plato, Cicero,
Virgil, Livy, Dante, Tasso, Pascal, Ra-
cine, Moliere, Shakespeare, Milton,
Goethe and Schiller compared with oursf
We publish a hundred books for every
one that appeared in those times.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05

A Troy fellow ate four pounds Of
fruit cake in fifteen minutes on a wager.
1t is melancholy 70 think that he still
lives.
A chance for the unemployed: Min
nesota offers reward Of SO. 900 TO any
one who shall invent a machine capable
Of converting the crude bog peat Of that
State into a good msrchaHtabie fuel in
compact or adhesive dry blocks or in
some form available for transportation
and handling, at cost Of say 81 90 per
tor.
According 10 q recent statement, the
people Of Holland are the largest con-
sumers Of coffee in the world, and next
TO them the BelgianA In England the
annual consumption Of coffee BY each
person is one and one-eigbth pounds
in France, two and one-hali; in Ger
many, four; in Denmark, FIVE aud one
half; in Sgiizerland. SIX; in the United
States. seven. .in Belgium. eight and
one half, ia HOLLAND. tea and one-hsh.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05
THE oouRr.HousE QUESTION.

Alderman Davis offered a resolution
which passed the Board last night dedi-
eating Market Square as site for a
city hall and courthouse, on condition
that the County Court Of Shelby county
shall expend 100000 in the erection
thereon Of suitable building for these
purposes within the next three years.
The resolution viii probably pass the
Common Council at its next meeting,
and thus put the proposition in
4 shape to be acted upon by
the Quarterly Court at the April
term, when the Courthouse Com
mittee is expected to report. Such an
improvement would be vast benefit TO
that end Of the city, which has been SO
unfortunate of late, and it would
bring the courthouse within a reasona.
bic distance Of the Jail. Market square
is only block from the Main street.
cars, and would therefore be easily &C
cessible from Chelsea and South Mem
phis, and TO the people in the northern
part Of the county, while it would
not be quite so convenient FOL
those who come in On the Memphis
and Charleston railroad. Market Square
is 800 by las feet, and is. therefore, large
enough for the proposed building. We
would suggest, however, that the county
would be more likely to entertain Q
proposition emitting the condition refer.
ring TO a city hall unless the city means
IS 0 pay its sbsfs Of the expense Of erect
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05

ING such n building, for the committee
is besieged by persons having LOIS
to sell on the most reasonable
terms. The question naturally arises
whether the city could divert this prop
erty from the use to which it was set
apart by the original donors who laid
off the city. The Supreme Court how
ever, has once had this question under
consideration In case involving title
to the Promenade property, ceded by
the same parties on similar condl-
tons. The court held that the public
property belongs to the corporators'
and may be appropriated by them 10
any use they may think proper. Inc
Mayor and Aldermen are the representa-
tives Of these corporators, ana nave
vested in them all the right to dispose OF
or apply to any use they may think
proper the public promenade, puohc
squares, ETC., which existed in the origl-
nal proprietors.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05
seasonabIe Appeals.

To Ef6e, Alice, Annie, Emily, August,
Louisa, Florence, Fanny, Marian, Min
ME, Rose, Lillian, May, Georgiana,
Janet and Eleanor: Don't firt.
To George. Henry, Arthur, Hubert,
Harold, Earnest, Frederick, Philip,
Percy, Charles, Claud, Robert, Reginald
and Walter lin Jackets: Don't eat too
much.
To Ritualists: Don't make yourselves
10 ridiculous.
To all punsters, jokers and purvyors
of riddles, conundrums and acrostics:
Don't tax the patience and forbearance
of your friends tso far.
To amateur vocsiists Of both sexes.
The same appeal is addressed to your
last mentioned contemporaries, with this
addition-dpn't make excuses.
To amateur dramatic performers,
Don't be too ambitisus; aud learn your
parts before you appear on the stage.
To tradesmen and others: Don't be in
hurry to send in your accounts
Punch.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05

The grand double number of Bow
Bells for the holidays has arrived and
can be had at Walkers, los Beal street.
This is the finest ladies' book sent to our
city. 1t contains the choicest reading
matter by the best authors OF the old
world, besides beautiful fashion plates
and patterns of the latest styles direct
from London. Also large assortment
Of children's toy books just received and
for sale at New York prices. A spe-
cialty made.of foreign publications. Call
and see for yourself.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05
MISCELLANEOUS TELEGRAMs.

JERSEY CRY, N. j., January 5.--The
examination of the accounts of default
ing treasurer Hamilton has been con-
cluded. The defalcation amounts to
$47, 900 in bonds, and $3S,825 in cash,
taken from tax and water accounts.
ROCHESTER,, MY, January s. Sargent
& Greenleafs lock factory, with valua-
BILE machinery, were destroyed by fire
yesterday. Loss, $4,000; insurance,
$1,000. in Eastern companies.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05
CHICAGO.

CHICAGO, February 5.-A caucus Of
opposition members Of the Legislature
at Springfield last night adopted a reso.
luton declaring both political parties
corrupt and ought to be disbanded
Governor Hendricks, Of Indiana, was
invited 70 speak. He eontroverted this
action. urging the opposition 70 unite
and defeat the Republican party, saying
that the three million Democrat votes
will not disband, but will obtain CO.
operation from all elements Of the oppo-
sition. The speech was considered very
significant.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05

Mas. MYRA GAINES, the youngest lady
"of her age" anywhere, has filed bill
for an injunction against Hon. Caleb
Cushing, in the District of Columbia,
charging that she conveyed to Mr.. Cush-
ing certain lands in Louisiana, $4,000
acres, and received from him a counter
deed acknowledging the trust, and after
wards, in his own name, be obtained a
confirmation of the title to said lands,
denying her right to any interest in
them. She now asks an injunction to
prevent the respondent from recovering
the patents and certificates for said
lands from the Interior Department.
The order was granted, returnable on
the 18th.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05
Only 10000 Tickets have been issued. and
$500. 600!
divided into 1900 cash gifts. will be distrib-
uted by lot among the ticket holders.

TOTAL, 1900 GIFTS. All Cash, 80.
amounting .-..........ShsOVOsOOO
The Concert and Distribution Of Gifts will
positively and unequivocally take place on
the day now fixed, whether all the tickets are
sold or not. and the 1900 gifts all paid in
PROMOTION to the number of tickets sold.
PRICE OF TICKETS:
Whole tickets. $50; halves, SOS; tenths. or
each coupon, IS; eleven whole tickets for $500;
22% tickets for $1,000; 1l3 whole tickets for
$4,000; 227 whole tickets for. $4,000. No dis
count on less than $500 worth of tickets.
THO. Il. BRAMLETTE,
Agent Public Library KY, and Manager
Gift Concert, Public Library Building, Louis
vile. KY.
A. d. GIBSON,
ll6-14l-w&sl 29O Front row. cor. Madison st.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05

THERE are five regiments of artillery
in the army differed with five colonies,
five lieutenant-colonels, twelve majors,
sixty captains, five adjutants (extra
lieutenants), FIVE regimental quarter
masters extra lieutenants), l2O first
lieutenants, and fifty-six second lieu
tenants; in all 27l commissioned officers.
What particular use the government
finds for this establishment is a little
more than we can find out. The ar
tillery is not available against the In
dams, and it would seem to the unso-
chisticated tax payers that these five
regiments might be disbanded and added
to the industrial classes of the country.
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05

A reformed gambler was about 10 die,
aud sent for 4 minister, when the follow
ing conversation occurred:
Pastor, do you think ! am near
death7" a
" ] regret TO say believe you are.
Do you think, since / am converted.
| will 20 to hesyen2"
/ Dc"
Do you expect to 20 there, too2"
Yes, / believe | will"
Well, we'll be angels, won't we. and
have wings to hy WITH"
Yes, ! am sure well be like angels. ("
Well, then" said the dying man.
I'll bet you Eve dollars will beat you
flying"
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05

A DEAD-BEArs' directory. has been pub
lished in Chicago for the use of board
ing-house keepers, grocers, butchers,
etc. Ii contains a thousand names,
and is to be revised monthly. What a
pleasant place for the impeeunions who
are waiting for "a remittance" you
lvp0ur
Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-02-05

Raising hogs Is now called suscicul-
ture. as far &c gentlemen farmers 20,
but the common farmers are still hog
grOWers.'
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-06-19

INEXPENSIVE HAPPINEss.-The most
perfect home ever saw was in a little
house into the sweet incense of whose
fires went no costly things. A thousand
dollars served for years living of ia
ther, mother, and three children. But
the mother was the creator of u home;
her relation with her children was the
most beautiful l have ever seen; even a
dull and commonplace man was lifted
up and enameled to do good work for
souls by the atmosphere which this
woman created. Every inmate of her
house involuntarily looked into her face
for the keynote of the day, and 1t al
ways rang clear. From the rosebud of
clover leaf which, in spite of her hard
housework, she always found time to
put by our plates at break fast, down to
the story she had on hand to be read in
the evening, there was no intermission of
her influence. She has always been and
always will be my ideal of mother,
wife, home-maker. If to her quick
brain, loving heart, and exquisite face
had been added the appliances of wealth
and the enlargements of wider culture,
hers would have been the ideal home
As it was, 1t was the best have ever
seen.-Helen Hunt.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-06-19
Medical Society Meeting.

The 4th annual meeting of the Per
ry County, Medical Society, was held in
New Lexington, ON the 4th day of June,
John Watkins, Sr., in the chair.
The members present were Magruder.
Skinner, Mckinney, Willard, Weller,
Van Alta, Norman, Watkins, Richards,
Lewis, Axline, Lisle, Kennedy, Chisholm
and McKenna..
The annual election resulted as fol-
lows: For President, E. r. Magruder;
Vice President. \. Richards; Secretary,
J.. F. McKenna; Treasurer, J. NJ. We'll
Ter; Board of Sensors, E. Van Alta, J.
II. Willard and J. T. Lewis. DR.. j.
W. Lisle of Roseville was admitted to
membership. DIR. w. W. Wood of New
Lexington, Qate of McConnelsville,) }
was made an honorary member, c. ].
Skinner, A. Richards and L. F. Mckenna
were appointed delegates to the Ohio
State Medical Convention which is to be
held in Toledo commencing on the 10th
of June.
Dr. Van Alta read an essay on Hemi-
p'e2ia DIR. Lewis read an essay on the
Pathology and Therapeutics of Haemop-
tvsis. The discussions were lively and
pointed.
The Society adjourned to meet in
Shawnee on the first Thursday Of July.
The Society was very nicely entertained
by DIR. Richards, as he and his wife knew
Just how to do it.
The Perry County Medical Society
was organized in December1, $40, at that
time it had but six members (Magruder,
Arnold, Skinner, Dollison, Richards and
McKenna,l now it has about forty, a
good many of whom are from adioin-
ing counties The society has met with
a great deal of opposition, from unpro-
fessional graduates and irregular praeti-
tioners of medicine. But like all un-
principled opposition served only as a
stimulent to its growth as it is now one
among the largest county Societies in
the State and will be an auxiliary to the
State Society this year. Those who OPP
pose this organization (Which is for the
advancement of the science of medicine
and the relief of human suf1ering) that
are in the line of the regular profession,
are those who are afraid to show their
colors and have more prestige among
those who are ignorant of the science OF
medicine than they would have in a
medical Society, and as it is rather un-
pleasant to occupy back seat in an Or
ganization like this, they prefer staying
out where they would have yon believe
they are in the front rank.
l.. F. MCKENNA, Sec'y.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-06-19
The Washington Ring Come to Grief.


For long time joint committee of
Congress has been investigating the Dis
trict Of Columbia government, and the /
general expectation that the government
was most iafernrlly corrupt, has been re-
allied by the report of the committee
which has just been made. Speaking of
the investigation, the Pittburgh Tele-
graph says:
Washington has undoubtedly been
beautifed and improved in an extraor-
binary degree by the Board of Public
Works, but the cost has been out of all
proportion TO the work done, and has
been tainted by corruption and favorit
ism in the award of contracts. This is
too steep for the people of the whole I'm
ion to pay, and we are glad Shepherd
& Co. have got thorough overhauling.
4 few facts CLEANED from the report
illustrate the reckless extravaganza of
the District government. The Board of
Public Works since September, have ex-
pended and contracted 10 expend over
10000, 900 in the improvement of streets
and the general ornamentation fthe city.
This is equal 10 about 81 10000 per an
mum. or nearly fourteen millions in ex-
cess of the estimated cost, and largely in
excess of the amount of the appropria-
tion made by Congress or by the Legis-
Iative Assembly, which could be availa-
ble as a basis upon which to make con-
tracts.
The contract system, under which this
large expenditure was made, it is shown,
! is as vicious as could be devised; there
was no open or fair competition, and the
contracts were awarded to middlemen
and political favorites, who cleared
| their hundreds of thousands without
a stroke Of work or the investment of
penney. They sub-let their contracts to
/ legitimate contractors, who had no op-
portunity with the Board of Public
| Works The business of the Board was
conducted in the most irresponsible and
careless manner. There were few checks
or guards in the disbursement of money.
In fact the District plunderers seem to
have studied and followed the practices
of Tweed and they should be made to
exchange their brown stone houses for
penitentiary cells if there is justice in
the District Courts.
The Committee recommend the COM
plete abrogation of the present govern.
ment of the District, and the legislating
out of Office of the Governor Board of
Public Works, the Legislature and the
Delegate in Congress. In their places a
commission is advised to manage the
affairs of the district under limited and
restrained powers, there not being suffi-
cient time to prepare proper system
for the government of the District and
have it fully discussed and passed upon
at the present session of Congress.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-06-19

A horrible murder was committed
near Lawrenceburg, Ind, on Monday
last. The victims were a Mrs. Bradley
and her two daughters, aged respectively
10 and IL years. The family consisted
of the parents, two daughters, little
boy three years old, and an infant, and
were occupying small farm. They were
poor, but respectable people, against
whom no one was known to hold malice,
and at the time of the horrible deed, the
father was absent working for the sup
port of his family. 1t is supposed the
murder was committed for the purpose
of getting few paltry dollars-not to
exceed fifteen in amount-which were
supposed to be in the house. The affair
is involved in mystery, as the little boy
and infant were not killed, the former
not even being hurt. A farmer who was
blowing near by, saw the little fellow
running about the house crying nearly
the whole day, but did not suspect any
thing wrong until toward evening, when
he concluded to go over and see what
was the matter. He found the murder
ed persons lying upon the floor, with
their cloths on, the mother holding the
infant upon her breast. Nothing could
be learned from the little fellow who sur.
wives the awful butchery, as he cannot
talk,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-06-19

The operators of the coal mines in
the vicinity of Nelsonville, whose efforts
to work the mines have long been
thwarted by the hostile union strikers,
have finally succeeded in worsting theiI
enemies, an1 have now a force of color
ed workmen in the mines. The opera
tors are determined that the Miners
Union shall no longer have things theiI
own way, at least, 80 far, as the manage
ment of their mines is concerned, and
have accordingly dispensed with Their
services altogether and employs in
stead, negroes from the Southern States,
to dig coal, much to the chargrin and
discontinue of the strikers, who had
fondly hoped to compel the operators to
yield to their demands. As might have
been expected, the introduction of so
large number of colored men into a
country like that in which the mines are
situated, calls forth many expressions OF
disapproval of the policy which dicta-
ted such proceeding. But the under
standing is that this is a free country,
and men have right to employ whom
they please. and manage their own af-
fairs pretty much in the same way, par
ticularly, when in doing these things
they do not trespass upon the rights OF
others. So. the only thing left for the
strikers to do, in to submit gracefully,
and to quietly withdraw from the scene
of operations, and leave the mine-own
ers and their workmen unmolested in
their operations. Any interference on
the part of the strikers, with the bust
ness Of these men, will only result in
their own ultimate discontinue.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-06-19

A guileless Danbury man saw chro-
mo advertised for $50 cents" sent on the
money, and received the jack of clubs.
A patent blower is to be used to ven-
tilate the Hall of Representatives, at
Washington. Comment on this is too
easy for utterance.
A Liverpool woman, to shield her
husband, who was charged with remov-
ing the end of her nose, swore that she
bit it off herself.
A Boston paper asks: "What has be-
come of the proposition of the veteran
Thurlow Weed, that the rebel archives
be printed for the use of the country?"
Kate Field says she goes ON to the
stage simply to get physical exercise; Sc
dentary life is killing her. Physicians
say that raking in three hundred dollars
night has tendency to build up the
tissue.
Sarah Briggs [reading the looaD-
"Sakes alive! / would no more name a
child Alias than nothin' in the world
They're allus euttin' up some caper.
Here's Alias Thompson, Alias Williams,
Alias the Night Hawk, all been took up
for stealin'"
Mr.. Augustus Lenord, of Western
Missouri, was fond of fun. He dis
guised himself in war paint and other
fixings of an Indian and approached the
cabin of one of his neighbors The
countenance of the corpse bore the
look of anticipated amusement as plain
ly as in life-LouisciHe Co1rter-Jourral.
John Canty, a sixteen-year-old lad of
Idaho, has a lively future before him.
He is in Jail at Boise for stealing
saddle. When he stays in forty days
for the saddle, he viii go in for the bri-
die which he stole from another party;
then he will have to answer the charge
of taking a pair of spurs and shotgun
without the owners leave. After all
this, the horse which he rode will have
to be accounted for, and this is a hang
ing matter in Idaho.
John T. Alexander and William Fitch
known as the "Cattle Kings" of the
West, have begun a suit against the
New York Central and Hudson River
Railroads for S250,OO0 and 100000 re-
spectively, for alleged breach of contract
whereby they were ruined financially
They allege that the lowering of the rates
of TRANSPORTATION, because of competition,
ruined them by lowering the price of
cattle in the East.
The late Edward Everett condensed
into single brief paragraph his esti-
n alton Of what constituted good edu-
cation. Here it is: To read the Eng
lish language we'll, to write with dis
patch neat, legible hand, and be mas
ter of the first four rules of arithmetic,
so as TO dispose of at once, with accu-
racy, every question of figures which
comes up in practice-I call this good
education. And if you add the ability
to write pure grammatical English, /
regard it as an excellent education.
These are the tools. You can do much
with them, but you are hopeless without
them. They are the foundation; and
unless you begin with these, all your
fiashy attainments, little geology, and
all other ologies and osophies, are osten-
tatious rubbish