davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-01-02

Alta recent cOunty-seat NEE ing at Bow
ling Glecn a Mr.. FERGUsOS from Jack
son township, was present, and spoke by
special invitation. The sentiments he ex'
presse did not meet the approval Of the
learned ant liberal-minded editor of the
Sentinel. IIerce he is denounced by that
dignitary as "maudlin creature who had
evi lently been walIowlng in ditch and
was well covered with mud without and
filled with bad whisky within" The
Sentinel man fOrgCts that Mr.. FERGUSON
had ''wallowcd" ell the way from Has
kins because there was no other means Cf
reaching the county-seat.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-01-02

M
s ana expenses Of locating said ditch shall be paid July ls 1874 and the
Comms"H will the Auditors Office Wood County
Byorer OF the County Commissioners
AUDIroRl OFFIcEW WooD CouNTYO OHo
December so 1873 sd
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13
No IIope for ihe renIan ConrIcts.

In the English House Of Commons,
Mr. Anderson asked. how many Fenian
cenyicts were still undergoing sentence,
where they were imprisoned, and
whether the Government was or was
not oi the opinion that tho time had
come for their release.
Mr.. Gross, tho Home Minister, re-
piled that the total number Of these
prisoners was sixteen. Two were now
Undergoing sentence for the Manches-
ter murder, but none for the olorken-
we'll outrage. Two others were under
sentence Of imprisonment for fifteen
wears, one for seven years, and eleven
who had been soldiers-were sen;
fenced for life, having been convicted
Of supplying arms 10 and otherwise as
sisting the Insurgents. They were DIS
tributed as follows; Three were IN
England, eight in one part OF Australa
and two In another, and three n Ire
land Mr.. Gross concluded by declat.
inr That the Government had NO inten.
tien M Of oi interfering with the execution
~ ihsir sentence. This announcement
was y, received by the House with cheers,
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13
The Famine In india.

The reports from India are not hope.
ful, says the New York Sun, and the
gloomy prospect can no longer be de.
MED. Up to March l the sum Of S12,-
100000 had been expended on the
famine, and the expenditure by Oct. l
will amount to S75, 900, 900. And yet
for the need OF little extra use Of
money many thousands must die in the
next few months. The Yiceroy has not
been willing to spend enough 10 perfect
the means Of transportation; and he
has been too hard q task-master in ex-
acting SO rigorous labor test. Women
and children are forced TO shovel earth
in rather q purposeless way before any
food will be given them. Tho men are
paid four and q quarter cents day for
this labor, and the women are paid even
less. At the present price Of rice this
compels them TO live on two.thirds the
quantity OF rice furnished to convicts.
But after the work Is done the food is
not always on hand, and so the toll may
be in vain. OF the 300, 900 persons now
employed on the relief works, one.half
will perish from disease in the course
OF the summer. They are obliged to
camp out in the open country, where
dysentery, cholera, rheumatism, and
low fevers make sad havoc in their
numbers. During June and July the
suffering in Bengal will bo the most
intense, but the distress will not be
over until October, as the rice which is
harvested in August cannot be eaten
for fifty days afterward. II Is too fresh
and green at first, and causes sickness
and disease. In portion Of Tirhoot
alone, one OF the famine counties, in
the middle Of February there were
SO, 900 men, women, and children strag.
Cling on the roads in search OF food
and government mid. Deaths from
starvation had already commenced, and
as the season advances the mortality
will increase at q terrible rate. The
Governor. General Of Bengal, Sir George
Campbell, was quite right in his appre-
tensions. The Viceroy has shown him
self unequal to the emergency.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13
A STAGE CoSPLAGRArIoN.
HOW I.ho Easet d lProaueea.

How the Eneet Is Produced.
CONGREGATIONS on the stage, says
Olive Logan, are easily and safely man.
aged. I have seen many pieces in
which terrific fires were simulated, but
never knew nor heard Of any accident
from this cause. In one piece the are
took place in o grand hall Of a ducal
palace, Of severe but rich architecture,
In imitation OF ebony. The conaagra.
tion breaking out with terrible energy,
smoke poured forth fromdoors and win.
dogs, the cornices cracked and fell
down, the ceiling came tumbling upon
the stage burning mass, and every
object the eye beheld seemed TO be
slowly consumed. Through the ruined
walls which remained standing at the
back the spectator now saw q second
immense salon, apparently full OF
flames and smoke. The servants Of the
castle ran wildly about, seeking to es,
cape the leading actor, carrying his
wife in his arms, slid down spiral
burning staircase while the flames
burst through the balustrades. Those
who have seen q stage conaagration will
probably think this statement some
what exaggerated, but it is not. Atthe
first representation Of the piece large
number oftha audience left the theatre
in great alarm, believing that the place
had really taken fire. iph
This scene was OF course constructed
in a peculiar manner. The frames of
the flats and set pieces were made Of
two layers Of wood held lightly together
by means OF cords passing through
holes. AT the pre-arranged moment
certain parts Of the frame were jerked
down, leaving exposed the other parts
seemingly burning-an effect produced
Iby small gas Jets carefully arranged in
rows around the edges Of the frame.
!. Behind the heaviest set piece at the
back was q transparent curtain, painted
with fercest flames, which, being iii
up from behind, glowed through the
smoke in most lurid manner. Drum
mond.lights and Bengal fires were
turned on tho stage in proiusion, pro,
ducing glaring cross Lights. Pots full
OF lycopodium were placed over fur
naces, TO which were attached huge
blacksmith's bellows, worked by assid-
uous machinists with such yigor that
the flames were at frequent intervals
projected FIVE or six yards high, where
they caught OF nothing. Vast funnelt
overhead threw out torrents OF black
smoke mixed with innocent sparks,
which went out as soon as they tool
wing. Several machinists, costumed
according TO the epoch represented,
personated the frightened servants run
ming about and trying TO escape, only
they were actually throwing moreof the
innocent but looking sparks about
in pre.arranged spots, and thus keeping
things asihot as possible in appearance
And finally, helmeted fremen with hose
in hand stood OF the back OF the stage,
ready to instantly extinguish any spark
Of real fire. q l'.9' i'Fe
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13
Stnge -RqI,lplrrepsentntiIonss.

The thunder Of the stage, says Olive
Logan, is easily represented. II the
foafingioi Joves artillery Is supposed
TO be far,away, o large leaf OF sheet.iron
dangling from the flies, shaken gradu-
ally with o faster and faster movement,
wiillgiyeaa sufficiently good idea Of II.
This Is the common mode Of making
stage thunder, but 1t does not always
satisfy the exacting. tiga,4 yii,, i9s
A common mode Of " "raising thun-
der" when the clap Is supposed TO. be
near and terrific, Is by q contriyance Of
wood, and somewhat resembles %
Venetian blind. IL makes n great noise,
giving series Of irregular shocks.
which, combined with the rattling Of
sheet-iron, initiate afrightful thunder.
storm pretty closely.
"A snow.storm Is represented at the
theatre by small pieces Of white paper
showered down from above by men
placed in the flies. The illusion Is not
very striking, as, like the "supesp
under the sea:cloth, some Of the assis-
tants ore apt 10 esluritheir work, and
the result Is anIabsence Of the consis-
tency OF nature. The coats and hats
Of actors who are supposed to have
been out in the snow are generally we'll
busted with flour, which, violently CON
tradicting natural laws in its character
OF snow-though faithfully obeying
them in It's character Of r-does
not melt away in the least when the
actor comes Ii by the fiteside. 10,
6 Machines for initiating the roaring Of
the wind are numerous, and succeed to
perfection. One isa simple structure
OF wood, with abroad band Of silk rum
ming over q wooden wheel. When the
wheel is turned, the wind is heard TO
.ioar. The noise Of arriving carriages
Is easily managed by simply running o
pair OF wheels behind the scenes. The
cracking qof whips Is produced by
throwing small torpedoes on the floor.
Animal cries are initiated by various
machines but nothing SO, resembles
the braying OF q donkey ,as theyoice Of
q man who has made 1t his special
study. 7- rnra rl9 fsr
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13
Spring Is Coming.

w,,,, a,,,t,nr SNOW tho ACIDS arc hid 3
" ma tn fro-t "a on tho papo, i7s = -
The frozen fiyer ~. noaSa ne Z ana sf0Ans' ia
And la olanss nm 10y etiaipl. a,ap \ L.
But happier ame wlll soon arse m tF
FOR under tho afon o. soa'nefn e, aipos Z
'lne spring Is coming asain, saa eyes
The spring "a coming asain'
Through leaiiohs bougha tho ruetul wind
walls low hIs drear refrain;
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13
Keen thc children Warm.

DR.. Brown.sequard, in a lecture at
Boston the other night, said: "The
application Of heat to children is ex-
ceedingly useful to help their develop
ment. II the mir they breathe is cool,
and heat is applied to their limbs, but
not so much to the body, they GER
tainly grow faster. There Is no ques-
tion that in Northern climes, children
who are not well clad, and are not well
cared for in regard to the heat sur.
rounding the body, do not grow so well
as children who are submitted to the
influence OF heat. There Is one thing
which in this country especially is most
hurtiul and dangerous, and that is heat
applied to the lungs. It is perfectly
we'll known that the mortality Of chill.
dren in this.country Is enormous in tho
summer months, and that chiefly
through the influence Of heat on the
lungs and on the belly. Digestion and
respiration are disturbed, aud death
comes, as you know, too frequently.
More care could easily be obtained In
that respect"
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13

W. consented to do, and thus fortified
we sot down and awaited the attack.
= The sun come out smilin, and II wuz
warm enuff TO go harefooted, and the
Corners wuz happy. The perceshen
WIZ TO march at eleven. 4
sf"We arelost, "sed Bascom, gloomily.
"oh, that should live 10 See this
day" !" sighed Deekin Pogram.
sLet US comport ourselves likemen, y
sod !. "This Ia o cyclone. 9 II will
only last d few days. Cannot,we sub.
nit TO deprivation for that time p %
Ten O'clock arrived. The wind set in
from the north. 1ssaker rushed ont
and looked OF the sky, and came back
with hope on his c6rntenances
q Et this wind holds We are saved |
Hal 1t grows colderl There's fakes
uysnow in the air The preceshen
can'tmoye. Theperceshen amt got no
shoes,', YiifI fll
Il did git colder. The wind came
raw and in 10y blasts, We consulted
the only thermometer we hey in the
Corners, witch is little Niger boy, on
wet plank, barefoot. We determine
the degree nv cold by ascertainin how
long he kin stand out doors in that
way. II is primitive but akkerit.
Half.pastten II wuz BLOWN gale,
and wuz ez cold ez bloc blazes II
wuz impossible for any woman, with
out shoes or tinderclothes, to stand II in
the omen mir.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13

ioAt the time when tie rivalry and
jealousy OF the great Wing leaders,
Messrs. Clay and Webster, disturbed
the harmony and menaced the integrity
iof the party, Mr.. Seaton, OF the Ma
tionat Inteiiigencer, then Mayor Of
Washington, entertained at his hospita-
bic mansion q large company Of the
most conspicuous gentlemen In the
city belonging "a. that organization.
One object was! TO furnish an eligible
opportunity for those OF the same
political creed to confer freely at the
social board, with a view to securing
unity Of action in Congress. Mr..
Seaton had great faith in the soitening
influence Of discreet conyiviality, and
being genial host, Of elegant address
and winning manners, no man in
Washington was better fitted TO manage
an affair Of the kind. He was uniyer-
sally popular, never said or did an un-
gracious thing, and his entertainments
were always q success. There was
general attendance Of the Wings, in.
cluding congressman and members Of
the cabinet, and some prominent Off.
GERS of the army and navy General
Scott, whose Presidential aspirations
had given much uneasiness TO several
gentlemen whose eyes were turned in
tho Same direction, besides Mr.. Web
ster and Mr.. Clay.
\ II was a Jolly time, high living being
ahprevalent weakness OF politicians in
Washington. The situation had been
discussed, several prominent gentlemen
having frankly expressed their views.
Obviously there was o lack of harmony
among the lealers. AT this stage OF
the consultation, Cost johnson, speak.
ing in tone So loud as to arrest the at
tention Of the company, begged per-
mission 10 relnte an anecdote which he
thought applicableto the matter under
consideration. SEQ onl 20 onr' re.
sounded from all parts OF the room.
IA 1eighbor Of mine in Washington
county, q wealthy planter, was much
addicted TO horse.raeing. The turf
was o passion with him. He had
stable Of fine horses Of the purest
blood, and he attended every meeting,
iar and near, il the race.course was 40.
cessible. His horses ran well, but
he never won n purse. After repeated
disappointments he told his trainer
that lie had made up his mind to sell
his racing stud and retire from the
field. Don't do dat, massa, said the
darkey; denis tirst.rate hosses, and
run like do wind But they never
win race, and I am determined TO sell
Them Pray don't, massa - dey's
good for sonething-dey can just beat
one anodder.'n
There was loud laugh at the story;
but II was observed that Messrs. Clay,
Webster, and Scott did not seem to en-
joy II as much as the rest Of the COM
pany. r..
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13
Not Gold.

An extremely sharp md intelligent
American gentleman from the West
once walked into the office Of DR.. o. T.
Jackson, the chemist. 4"Dr. Jackson.
] presume?' said he. q, Yes, lsir. +"
/" Are you alonep' Yes, sir." !" May
I lock the door2 And he did SO; !;
then, having looked behind the sofa,
and satisfied himself that no one else
was in the room, he placed large bun
die, done up in q yellow andkerchiei,
n,thetable, and opened il. There,
doctor, look at thatl' nWell,n said
the doctor, "I see II. "Whot do you
call that, dootor?p III call it from.
pyrites.n "whatl' said the man |;
.iisn't that stuff gold ?' nNo," said
the doctor, '.it's good fornothing +; It's
pyrites." And putting some in oyer the
Are in a shovel, IL soon evaporated up
the chimney. "Well," said the gen
tlemanly man, with o woe.begone look,
o widow up in our town has o
whole hill full Of that, and I've been
and married her." s., 70
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13

Ayoung man named George Falk, Of
Baltimore, swallowed, as he stated,
three ounces Of laudanum and five
grains OF morphia, in order to end his
life. There was but one way Of saving
him, and that was to keep him in mo.
tion. After relieving him as far as
possible, his physician ordered that he
be walked until he was out Of danger.
AT halt.past 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon
he was put upon his tramp for life, and
was forced TO walk in the open air as
rapidly as he could. His father kept
by him for long time, and friend or
a policeman assisted. After some hours
the father gave out, and finally officers
and friends grew tired. AT last officers
had to be taken from their beats and
made TO do duty in saving the life Of
the would.be suicide. When the walk
commenced IL was with great difficulty
that he could be kept going, and SO
great was his stupor that at times he
would almost fall like q stick. Fre-
quently IL was necessary 10 catch him
aud move him on. He reeled at times
like drunken man, and then again he
would revive considerably. The dreary,
monotonous walk waskeptup withoutin-
termission until half.past six o'clock the
next morning, when the physician con.
sented that he should be allowed to
take rest. The life Of the young man
was saved, but the struggle for freedom
from the effects Of the drugs was q So
we're one. 10 have stopped three min
utes would have been fatal
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13
Treed by a Bull.

Henry Bruner, Of Westchester, pur.
chased q bull OF q neighboring farmer,
and dispatched two OF his workmen,
named Henry Moller and Fritz stumpf,
to convey the animal TO his stable. All
along the route.to Mr.. Burners premi-
ses the bull acted very playfully, fre-
quently jerking the ropes by which the
men held the animal, in such q manner
as to send them sprawling in the mud,
but allowances were made for these
actions by the men, on account Of his
lordship being so young, etc.
In due time the trio reached the ter
minus Of their journey. The men now
proceeded to install the animal in his
new quarters in the barn Of Mr.. Bru-
ner, but he suddenly took q dislike TO
the barn, seemingly on account Of its
being painted q reddish color, and in
spite Of the earnest endeayors OF the
men to get him in they were unsuccess-
ful. Assistance was found necessary,
and Stumpf held the bull while Moller
went into q neighboring field TO call
assistance, on the arrival Of which ono
grand. effort was made TO get the animal
In the barn, but OF this stage Of the
proceedings he broke loose from the
men, and, raising Stumpf on his horns,
sent him heavenward with terrible ye-
locity. On the return OF the man TO
the earth, the animal repeated the per-
iormance, until stumpf was unoon.
scious, and left with hardly stitch Of
clothing on him. His companions came
TO his aid with pitshforks and clubs,
and goaded the bull until he became
infuriated and turned upon them. Now
came the funny part Of the scene, for
Moller and a fellow workman had 10
run for dear life, closely followed by
the foaming animal, for o tree located
about thirty rods distant. The men
reached the tree first, aud Moller sue.
ceeded in getting safely ensconced
among It's branches, but his companion
was not SO fortunate, for as he arrived
about midway up the trunk the head oi
the bull came in contact with tho tree
with such violence as to shake him
down.
The poor fellow was in a truly pitt.
able plight, but his presence Of mind
did not forsake HIM, and he jumped up
and ran around the trunk OF the tree,
closely followed by the bull, and finally
got up the tree. But the animal kept
the two men up in the tree for nearly
three hours, and the time would have
undoubtedly been much longer had il
not been that stumpf recovered con.
sciousness and proceeded to the resi-.
dence OF Bruner and told his story.
Search was Immediately instituted for
his companions, and they were found
still up the tree, closely guarded by the
bull and nearly frightened TO death.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13
Liquor Laws ! Of ye olden I Time.

Some Of the old laws for the regula-
tion OF tayerns are rather curious. The
following, enacted July II, 1877, by the
"Great and General Court" held ut
plymouth, will serve as o specimen
at ID ordered by the Court and the
authorities thereof that none shall pre-
sumo 10 deliver any wine, strong
Liquors or Cider To any person or per-
sons whoe they may suspect will abuse
the same; or to any boyes, Gerles, or
single persons, tho pretending TO come
in the name OF any Sicke person, with
out q note under the hand 81 fsomo sober
person in whose name they come (; on
pain OF FIVE shillings Tor every such
transgression. The one halle 10 the
Country and the other halle to The en-
former IitAWCHLfl
Drunkenness was punished by yari-
ops penalties, which will seem amusing
10 us, though doubtless considered
otherwise by those who incurred them.
Here are q few specimens q "a
"Sergeant Perkins, ordered to carry
forty turfs to the forte, for being
drunk uese aoa tsgs
faDaniel Clark, found TO be an i'm:
moderate drinker, fined forty shil-
linRs," ihgeai Thf11' 0li 11l ble
TJohn wedgewood, for being in the
company Of drunkaids, to be set in the
stocks"
"a man who had often been pun;
ished for being drunk was now ordered
TO wear o red D about his neck for o
year NJ t,yllnt
Such entries may be found, scattered
through the old Court Records, and oc-
casionally reprimands or dismissals for
drunkennessmay found onthe church
records. lFlt 7itss +. ~
Quite a trade had sprung up between
the colonies and France and the West
Indies. THE colonies exported, fish,
pipe slaves, clap.boards, and received
In return wines, rum and various other
articles. Rev. Increase Mather, in
sermon preached at Boston in 1886,
thus deplores the introduction Iand use
Of rum:
years o kind Of strong Drink, called
Rum, has been common amongst us,
which the poorer sort Of People, both
in. Town and Country, can make them-
selves drunk with. Those that are poor
and wicked too, can for o penny or two
pence make themselves drunk. u wish
TO the Lord some Remedy may be
Thought Of for the prevention to this
evil" f'nH 9a.
Nearly two hundred years have flown
BY since the worthy Mather uttered
this wish, and as yet no remedy has ap.
peared. -. &. y i.aa Y
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13

A LrouoR LAw.-The Legislature Of
North Carolina has passed IN act en-.
titled, "for the better security Of
human life." II tproyides that any per-
son who manufactures. sells or deals in
spirituous liquors as o drink, OF any
namo or kind, containing foreign prop
critics or ingredients poisonous TO the
system, shall be punished with five
years imprisonment in the peni-
tentiary. mlU ...Hi n
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13

THr BurrAno,-It is asserted on good
authority that at tho present rate Of
destruction the American bison will
become extinct in the next ten years.
Twelve years ago this animal had q
range OF 1, 500. 900 square miles. Now
IL Is confined to an area Of some 500, 900
square miles, with the rate Of Blaughter
apparently on the inerease.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-04-13
Old New York.

stHarry Astor,p was q rough sort Of
fellow who lived in the Bowery. He
renewed in New York the trade which
his father pursued in Waldorf. He
tlapored hard and was very economical,
md thus in the course Of years Of in.
dustry he accumulated 100000. He
had no children, and hence he be-
iqueathed the entire sum to his nephew
John j. This man never needed the
legacy, which was but a drop compared
with his immense wealth. At the time
Of his death Harry Astor was the rich
est man in the Bowery. Hehad all the
economy Of the German emigrant TO
Indd 10 o retail business which paid
large profits. He was also o bold
speculator in live stock, and sold in
.guantityas well rs by the single cut.
He thus acquired his $500, 900, q sum
which has never been equaled by any
butcher in New York city. This sum,
bedueathed more than forty years ago.
placed at interest, amounted to more
ihnn D million. The locality Of Harry
Astor's slaughter-house, once so noted
in the Bowery, is not easily designated.
II is said that Peter Cooper was alire-
,quent visitor to the spot, where he pur-
chased scraps and wheeled them down
TO his glue.kettle, near tho swamp
Astor's cattle-yard was near the Astor
library. Next TO this institution there
once stood yauxhall Gardens, which is
part Of the Astor estate. Here Barnum-
Ii early life displayed his genius as a
Snowman, and failed. The gardens af-
terward became o resort for cock:Hghts,
and now the spot is occupied by o
large stable. Supposing this 10 have
been the old catti tia.yatd, the next re-
.moye OF the trade was 10, the nBull's
Head, p q tavern in Third avenue, near
Fortieth street, once kept by Daniel
Drew. The growth Of the city drove
the business still farther into the sub.
dfBs, and now II Is found atAllerton's,
in Tooth aheeth, near the Hudson river.