davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02

The New Fire Plug.

Conshohochen, Penn, says Max
Adeler, is a "city set on a hill, or
rather on the side of a hill. 1t stretches
from the Schuylkill river up the incline
to the top, which is about $50 feet above
the water level. Last summer they de-
termined to introduce water to the
town, and they began by erecting q
huge reservoir upon the summit of the
hill, just beyond the village. When
the work was done and the reservoir
pumped full Of water, Mr.. Bunder, who
lives down near the river, had patent
fire plug of his own invention placed in
front of his house. One day, before
the water had been turned on by the
company, Bunder had his uncle Horace
up from the city to dinner, and he took
the old gentleman out to explain the
fire plug to him. After unscrewing the
top and examining the interior, Bun
der's uncle took q seat on the plug and
began to discuss with Bunder the
questions of " Cesarism and the de
preston in the price of pig IRON" In
the very heat of the controversy, the
superintendent up at the reservoir
turned the water on for the purpose of
washing out the pipes. Two minutes
afterwards, Bunder saw his uncle Hor-
ace suddenly shoot twenty feet into the
air, followed by column of water six
six inches thick and during the sue.
ceeding quarter of an hour while the
fountain continued to play, old Horace
Bunder remained on the top of that
column, bouncing about with his legs
pointing in quick succession to all
points of the compass, and to the earth
and the sky, sometimes stap6ing upon
his head, sometimes resting on the pit
of his stomach, sometimes with the
water in the small of his back, but
never for a moment at rest. Bunder
tried to turn the patent valve in the
plug but it wouldn't work, and he could
only stand there and feel sick as he
waited for his venerable relative to come
down. At last the old man did descend
all of a sudden, landing upon his back
in the mud. Any other man would have
expressed himself in violent language,
but Horace merely rose, squeezed the
water out of his hair, picked up his hat
and shook it, glanced contemptuously
at Bunder, went up and kicked the pa
tent fire plug, jammed his hat firmly
over his eyes, took the four o'clock train
to town, and before he changed his
clothes altered his will so that $40, 900
that he intended for Bunder goes to
any man who will invent an internal
machine which will exterminate Bun
der's patent rights, for that fire plug
can be had at a sacrifice.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02
Saving Chicken Feathers.

Cut the plume portion of the feathers
from the stem by means of ordinary
hand scissors. The former are placed
in quantities in a coarse bag, which,
when full, is closed and subjected to O
thorough kneading with the hands.
At the end of five minutes the feathers,
it is stated, become disaggregated and
felted together, forming down perfect.
ly homogeneous and of great lightness.
1t is even lighter than natural elder
down, because the latter contains the
ribs of the feathers, which give extra
weight. A quantity equal to about one
and six-tenths troy ounces of this down
can be obtained from the feathers of an
ordinary sized pullet, and it readily
sells in Paris for about two dollars a
pound.
The down thus obtained is said to
form a beautiful cloth. For about a
square yard of such material a pound
and half of the down is required. The
fabric is found to be almost indestructi-
BILE, as in place Of fraying or wearing
outa folds it only seems to felt with a
greater degree of tightness. In addition
to these valuable qualities, the fabric
takes dye rapidly and is thoroughly
waterproof.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02
Linen Suits.

The linen polonaise worn with O skirt
of a different material has taken the
place of the plain linen suits to a great
extent for ordinary travelling and every
day purposes, says fashion writer.
What are called "tourist outfits are
imported, consisting of loose linen
polonaise belted in at the back, skirt
of striped cambria, and linen satchel
strapped with leather.
These are not so bad for country ex-
cursions and such light uses, but for
travelling, black skirt is best /; black
silk or mohair, with which can be worn
black straw hat and black Russia
leather belt.
More dressy linen and batiste suits
are elaborately embroidered or orna.
mented with a mixture of braid and
embroidery, and there is an abundance
of embroidery upon linen sold by the
yard, black upon gray, white upon dark
blue, chocolate upon brown, which may
be applied to the plain linen fabric by
ladies who wish to make it up in exclu-
sive designs.
The tight-ftting, rather loud style of
polonaise, or redingote, of last year,
with its large pockets and deep, wide
cuffs, has disappeared. The best styles
this year have French backs marrow
without side forms) and loose fronts,
which are Eeld in with belt or sash.
The skirt is long, the form simple, am
pie and graceful, the skirt tied back in
stead of punched up.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02
A Young Bride Burned to Death.

In Cincinnati, says local journal,
young man OF twenty-seven, named
John Vandenburg, was married to Anna
Scwegman, young. girl not quite sew
enteen years old.
After the wedding the couple moved
to suite of rooms in the rear of 272
Richmond street. Everything appeared
bright to the newly married pair. The
girl was young, good looking and ami
able, while the husband was first class
tailor-steady, sober, trustworthy and
capable. The bride and groom gave q
little party to their immediate friends,
in their neatly furnished apartments.
Nothing was spared to make the day a
pleasant one all were dressed in their
best, the bride.wearing her light and
airy white wedding dress.
The feast went merrily on, when,
about half-past seven o'clock, the new
housewife discovered that the contents
OF the coffee pot we've getting low, so
she hurried down stairs to the kitchen
to make some fresh, leaving the hus-
band and guests laughing and talking
alone. The fire in the kitchen stove
had died down, and the little girl, in
her haste to get back to her company,
thoughtlessly picked up can of kero-
sene and poured some of the oil upon
the fire. Instantly the fire communi-
Gated to her gossamer dress, and in a
second she was completely enveloped
in the flames. The kitchen she was in
was soon on fire too. She rushed out,
but could not get free from the fierce
embrace of death. Her screams COM
pletely paralyzed the company above.
They sat still an instant, then all rushed
down into the yard. Mr.. Kickoff was
first, and soon threw his coat around
her, and then blanket was added, but
the fire still smoldered and burnt up
everything except the Wristbands of her
skirts and her white wedding slippers.
The poor girl was carried up stairs to
bed, and DR.. Brown summoned. He
prescribed for her. but pronounced the
case hopeless. Indeed ne might we'll !;
she was burned completely there was
not square inch upon her whole body
that was not Drowned by the horrible
fire. She lay on the bed and fairly
writhed in pain. Two Sisters of Mercy
watched her and nursed her, but their
efforts were in vain. Death was happy
release. The husband was severely
burned about the head and shoulders /;
terribly SO, but not necessarily fatal.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02
What a Great Flood Means.

The following is an extract from
recent letter from planter to his agent
in New Orleans
81 regret that have nothing favora-
BILE to write from this section (Boeuff
Prairie). We are under water, and have
been for the past six weeks. There is
nothing doing except boating stock
from one high place to another, and, as
you might suppose, they are now nearly
all dead. The water is falling slowly,
but has only receded six inches in all,
which does us no good yet. A fall OF
two feet more would give us some re-
lief. Many have had to leave their
homes and put up rude tents to afford
shelter to their wives and little ones,
while they returned to their homes with
the purpose, in most instances futile,
of saving their stock and household ef-
fects. Chickens and turkeys are on the
housetops. Passing through the coun-
try in boats the stencil from the dead
stock is terrible, and much sickness
must necessarily follow the great
calamity under which we are now suf-
fering. Most of the fencing is washed
away and cannot be recovered. A great
proportion of the work stock is already
dead, and that left, if any should be
left, will not be able to work, for the
end is not yet. The water is eighteen
inches higher than in that memorable
year we hear our old people talk about,
1928. A description of the flood here is
quite impossible. You cannot conceive
you would have to be here to realize
the extent of the distress. The hor-
rors of an overflow are awful to read
about, but if you could see and realize
what we have seen and experienced the
past six weeks-see your favorite COWS
dying of starvation, and in the water
perhaps drowning, lowing to you for
help; your oxen, your horses, mules,
Berkshire hogs, sheep, fencing timber,
lumber for building purposes, all being
swept away by the merciless flood, and
no power to stay or prevent it; the
work perhaps of your whole life snatched
from you in a day-you would then
fully realize our distress.
"The good people of New Orleans
and other cities both North and South
have kindly and in a Christian-like
spirit come forward to the assistance of
the districts. Some provisions have
been and are being distributed in this
section, and let me say they are very
much needed. 1 ask for nothing for
myself-am able to take care OF myself
and family, at least for the present
but there are great many people as
good as L am or anyone else who are
not able, and the whole colored popu-
lation will starve if some comprehen-
sive system is not adopted to provision
them the coming summer" t
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02
My Grave,

l dream now of little grave,
Ger which tho dew-wet grasses wave;
Now halfway hid by falling showers
And drifting floods of apple flowers;
Now lying green beneath the sun,
That pauses, when the day is done,
To press one kiss upon the mound.
Then hurries through the golden door
And flies on his unending round,
To bring lis dawn and day once more.
They laid her there beneath the buds;
never knew when it was done.
Far on the orient summer floods
j waited on meath moon and sun,
And never dreamed that they had laid
The still sweet face loved so well,
Beneath the green where violets strayed.
In blue-eyed sadness, through the dell.
Ah. me, and am weeping still!
And she is sleeping there below,
Lulled by the low-voice whip -poor-will.
And covered by the apple blow.
A daisy bends its snowy head,
Above my darling in her rest;
And weeps IFS sweetness DER nv dead,
And drop, it's petals OH her breast.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02
Items OF Interest.

Nibbles says that Sleek, the bank
clerk, was always considered very up
right man until he sloped.
An Eastern paper intimates that
Treasurer Spinner acquired his habit
OF profanity while learning to read his
own writing.
It is a notorious fact that the men
who essay to manage the opinions of
the world, invariably neglect their do
nestle affairs, and allow them to run to
ruin.
An Illinois court has just decided
that property pawned as security for
money is not absolutely and wholly
forfeited when not redeemed at the
time agreed upon.
From one grain of muscle taken from
a deceased person in Flint, Mich. who
had die of trichina spiralis, 102 tri-
chime were taken, looking like snakes
under 200 power lens.
Miss Skillings gives notice to owners
of some seven acres of the best part of
Portland, Me-, that she owns the prop.
erty ,; and the lawyers are taking off
their coats and preparing for battle.
An account of deer-hunt in Poca-
hontas county, West Virginia, in the
neighborhood of the headwaters of the
Greenbrier river, says that 81 deers and
two bears were killed by party of eight
gentlemen.
In these days of coal monopoly it is
fact of interest to know that near
Montreal peat is prepared for fuel to
the amount of $4,000 to 10000 tons
annually, and that it finds ready mar
ket in the city.
A Tempting Inducement.-Cheerful
agent for life insurance company: "The
advantage of our company is that you
do not forfeit your policy either by be-
ing hanged or by committing suicide |
Pray, take prospectus p
A man who was seen coming out of
Texas newspaper Office with split
nose, with one eye and with one ear,
explained to policeman that he enter
ed the Office simply to inquire if the
editor was in. "And he was in" the
victim mournfully added.
A little six-year- daughter of
Rutland clergyman watched Barnunn's
street parade with great interest the
other day, and finally said to her papa
eff I want minister's little girl |
could go to the circus, but I suppose L
must set an example to the whole
cherch now."
There are many fruits which never
turn sweet until the frost has touched
them. There are many nuts that never
-all from the bough of the tree till the
frost has opened and ripened them.
And there are many elements of life
that never grow sweet and beautiful till
sorrow touches them.
&c say, Sambo, does ye know what
makes de corn grow so fast when you
put the manure on it ?" "No, 1 don't
hardly" Now, I'll jist tell you
when de corn begins to smell de
manure, it don't like de 'fumery, SO ii
hurries out oh de ground, an gets up
as high s possible SO as not to breathe
de bad air"
Since the breaking of the Williams
burg dam no fish have been seen in
Mill River, although it was formerly
well-stocked with them. After the
disaster, many suckers, eels, and small
er fry were scattered along the mead
ows, and such as escaped death thus
on dry land were probably killed by the
filth and poisonous quantities of the
Shiny deposits which have been so
many years accumula.ing in the numer-
Gus mill-dams.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02

In TRoUBLE.-A Burlington Board of
Trade man got into trouble by letting
his business weigh too heavily on his
mind the other night. His wife heard
him murmur in his sleep, CELIA, dear
Ella" fondly and tenderly, and as her
name is Mehitabel, she awoke him with
a bald end of a hair brush, and asked
him who? 81 was thinking of Ella
Vator," the wretched man said calmly,
and chuckled off to sleep again.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02

. IT'S CosT.-Mr. Hammond, the re-
vivalist, spoke to man standing in a
crowd at Quincy, ILL.,, short time ago,
inquiring how he felt. "Do you see
anything green p said the man, point
ing to his eye, as much as to say he was
not subject for conversion. "No, my
FRIEND" Mr.. Fl. replied, "but 1 see
something red-your nose-and it cost
S., 600 to paint it, if you paid for the
drinks"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02

The explosion of a bottle of soda
water in the hands of George Fecher of
Atlanta, Ga., severed an artery and put
the mans life in danger.
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-17
HE BELIEVES IN STEPHENS.
Augusta Chronicle and sentinel.

49, --N-@eA e1A~ NAAAALN
After the adjournment of County
Line Grange on yesterday, a political
meeting, composed of some fifty gen.
tlemen, was held, when one of the
speakers, in urging the voters to select
the purest and best men to represent
US in the next Legislature, took occa-
sion to advert to the beautiful example
set the country by that pure patriot
and "child of genius" Alexander H.
Stephens, in not thrusting himself upon
the people, but who was sought and
urged by the people of the Eighth Con-
gressiOnaI District to represent them
in the next Congress, w%hereupon a citi-
zen arose and said: "FellOw-citizens, l
am a firm believer in prayer, especially
when offered in behalf of a
scourged people, and when in
tended for the good of men. 1 believe
God will hear and answer such petit
lions; and l believe it the duty of every
Christian and believing heart in the
land that we should earnestly invoke
the Lord of Hosts to spare the life and,
if it be His will, to prolong the days
of our beloved fellOw-citiZen, Alexan-
der H. Stephens.
A loud amen went up from that lit
tie gathering, and l trust that the sug-
gestion of my neighbor and friend,
Deacon Henry White, will meet with a
warm response in every Christian
breast In this broad land.
L have not the pleasure of a personal
acquaintance with Mr.. Stephens, but
his record is so bright and his charac-
ter so pure that l have learned to love
HUI next only to my idolzed brother
Virginian, the great and good Lee.
S. WYATT.
Arlington, Burke county.
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-17
OUR CHAMPION POISONERS
AMMAN

Paris Correspondence OF the New York Times.
The WOodhulls and Clahins are at
tracing great attention here, being re-
garded as typical American ladies. A
Figaro reporter had an interview with
them to-day, and we are menaced with
an opening of the Beecher- TiltOn scan
dal on this side of the Atlantic. They
threaten to tell all they know about it,
and as there is no me here to contra
dict them, their revelations will be re-
ceived as gospel. One Journal says
that "the Rev. Tilton and the Rev.
Beecher, two Of the most fashionable
Protestant preachers of America, each
at the head Of a very fashionable con-
gregation," etc, giving the details of
the scandal, and accepting the charges
as facts already proved. Mrs. Wood
hull has promiseditO give the reporter
her views upon Free Love, "a sect very
popular in the United States, which
proscribes marriage as immoral" Such
is the work the Woodhulls are now
doing for us here, and after this one
can say little about the caricatures of a
Sardou.
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-17
HORSE

In discussing the moral qualities of
the horse, the Iolca State Journal of
fers the following sensible remarks:
In selecting a horse, or a mare for
breeding, speed and form are not all
the qualities to be looked after. Never
breed to a vicious orill-tempered horse,
no matter what may be his pedigree or
antecedents; and reject at once any
horse lacking a sprightly intelligence.
There r as many degrees of intelh-
gence IN a horse as in the human race,
and without intelligence a horse is al
ways sluggish, stupid and awkard in
his movements. The thoroughbred
Arabian horse has generally that "a
pacity necessary for learning any USE
full lesson, that all his work and labor
for man are a pleasure to
the owner and apparently to
the horse. We like to see a man
proud Of a noble horse, but more es-
pecially does it fill our hearts with de-
light to see a horse proud of his mas
ter. There are clowns among horses,
and they are always a vexation to the
owner. Some will plod along, never
looking where they step, and just as
likely to step on a stump or a hole In a
bridge as any other place. But the in
telligent horse takes heed to his steps,
and, if anything happens dangerous to
life or limb to himself or his master,
his Judgment frequently prevents the
accident. And a gentle, kind horse,
with a large development of social and
intellectual powers, whites away many a
weary hour of the lonely traveller,
or lightens the labor of the
long days of the tiller of the
soil. In selecting breeders, great
care should be taken relative to the So
cial morals of both horse and mare.
Like begets ike, and in NJ case more
than that of the horse. A bad and Vi
cious temper in a horsemay be checked,
but never eradicated, and he viii Away
be unpleasant, dangerous, and In his
fretting and tuning will unnecessarily
waste his strength. Form and action
have claimed the closest scrutiny, and
those qualities have been given their
full Importance, but the social morals
of the horse have been lost sight of in
the strife for speed and strength.
Viciousness is almost invariably trans
United to the progeny, certainly
than color or points, and should be a
serious objection to any horse as good
breeder.
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-17
LAZINESS DIR CURSE.
Mckenzie Correspondence Of the Memphis A
peal.

Mckenzie Correspondence Of the Memphis APP
peal.
l saw to-day the reason why the
country is not prosperous. 1t is a dis
agreeable truth, but it had as we'll be
told. In a distance of one hundred
miles l saw only two persons at work
IN the fields; they were white boys,
picking cotton, and one of them stop
ped to throw a rock at the train as it
passed. Laziness is the cause Of our
want of prosperity. saw great num-
bers Of whites and blacks standing
about doing nothing while the fields
were white with cotton which ought to
be gathered before a rain. No mend
ing Of fences, no sowing of grain, no
cutting of cane, no fall ploEing-in
fact, no doing of anything. There ap-
pear TO be more drOnes than working
bees in the hive. A change must come,
or the country is gone. 1t has been
said, and 1t appears to be true, that
cotton and negro countries will be poor
countries. When men work, whether
white or black, they find no time to en-.
gage in riots and jail breaking. There
are enough white men in Tennessee to
cultivate it much better than it is now
cultivated, if they would all go to work
in earnest.
Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-17
A STRANGE GUEST.
The Ex.COnEederate ChieftaIn Seek
ing COnfscated Papers In h War
Department CatacOmbs.
wasbi,r+o, Corraspondance of the New YorL-

ing COnhScated PaPer In the wa
Department CataeOmbs.
Washington Correspondence of the New York
Herald.
A few weeks ago Mr.. Davis had his
memory jostled by a business transac-
ton, which made it important to have
certain private papers slowed away In
the catacombs Of the War Department.
Through a Southern friend he commu-
nicated with the Secretaryof War, and
asked if there was any improperly in
requesting the return of such unim-
portant documents and letters as would
only be of service to him in business
relations. Gen. Belknap thought there
would be none, and
THE URN OF THE CONFEDERACY
was brought forth, the seal broken and
the contents examined. The letters
and private papers were ordered to be
returned. A ring, several boxes Of cI-
gars brought by blockade runners, and
not having the loyal evidence of inter
nal revenue stamps, underwear and
linen shirts, In as good state of preser-
walton as any cloth about the mummles
at the Smithsonian Institution, were
also included in the category. AT the
bottom of the box were xhumed dread
full emblems of war, a pair of reyolvers
and a carbine. Should these, too, be
returned?
A COUNCIL OF WAR
was held, at which Gen. Townsend,
Gen. Vincent and the Secretary Of War
we're present. 1t was solemnly resolved
that at the present critical juncture IN
the affairs of the South, it would be
imprudent for the Government to fur
nish arms to the ex-President of the
deceased Confederacy. The rusty re-
volvers might have in them the cle-
ments of a new rebellion, and wise
craftsmanship dictated that these ST.
lent weapons of death should be con-
signed to the catacombs of the Wal
Department, where a Democratic sue
cessor of the present Secretary alone
can wake them to glory. 1t a be
stated that this affair had nothing
whatever to do with the recent outrages
in the Southern States. Mr.. Davis
| gets his private papers, some of his
friends have been favored with the
dried up cigars as souvenirs of the lost
cause, and all that Is dangerous, the
revoIvers and carbines, again repose
peacefully in the War Department, for
the seal Of Gen. Townsend has con-
signed the box to its old position,
wrapped about with red tape and
marked, handle with care"