davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21

To the boy, the world beyond his i'm
mediate surroundings is only picture.
He does not know how real are the sor-
rows, the passions, the ambitions of men.
It's absorbing interests, its heroes and its
martyrs, are heard of by him without
understanding, or with indifference. His
sport, his lessons, his home life, are alone
real. But there will come a change. The
ordinary slow growth into manhood, with
its business or professional pursuits and
widening relations, or startling events,
such as the death of parent, or some
intellectual or spiritual appeal, striking
out the latent soul, will make vivid and
earnest what was indistinct and uninter-
esting. Like stereoscope picture before
il is put in the stercoscope, the life OF
man has no body or reality but when
the boy awakens, az with the picture
within the instrument, 40 with him, q
solidity and naturalncss will be acquired
by the external world, and he will feel
that il is henceforth to live and move
amongst these grander and graver FORMS
Many mistakes will Inc commit, false es-
Inmates will he form of proportion and
perspective, the earnestness Of his new
conceptions will hurry him into extrava-
gances and generous errors; but IL there
Is truth in his nature, and nobleness in
his spirit, just views will be formed, and
the day in which IL is given him 10 work
will find him not unmindful of the re-
sponsibility which arises from knowl-
edge of the coming night.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21
Power Of Imagination.

A Man of science in Paris once pre-
vailed on the Minister of Justice to eX-
pertinent on murderer, who was con-
demned to death. The criminal was Of
high rank, and he was informed that in
order to save the feelings of his family, he
would not be put to death upon the
scaffold, but bled to death within the
precincts of the prison; although that
his decease would be free from pain.
His eyes were bandaged, he was strapped
to table, and at preconcerted signal
four of his veins were gently pricked
with pin. At each corner of the table
was small fountain of water so con-
trived as to flow gently into a basin
placed to receive it. Believing that it
was his blood he heard flowing, he grad
ually became weak and the converse
ton of the doctors in an undertone con-
firmed him in his opinion. "What fine
blood I" said one. "What pity this
man should be CONDEMNED to die he
would have lived long time" Hush p
said the other; approaching the first, he
asked him in low voice, but so as to be
heard by the criminal, "How many
pounds of blood are in the human body p
"Twcnty-four; you see already about
ten pounds extracted that man is now
in hopeless statep' The physicians
then receded by degrees, and continued
to lower their voices. The stiffness
which reigned in the apartment, broken
only by the dripping fountain, the sound
of which was gradually lessened, so af-
fected the brain of the poor patient that
although man of very strong cOnstitu-
ton he tainted and died without having
lost drop of blood.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21
The SampsOn's Serpent.

Accidents will happen even in the best
regulated of families, and an occurrence
which transpired at the residence of Mr..
Sampson who lives on ScOttsville avenue,
clearly demonstrates that his family is no
exception.
On last Monday night, about twelve
O'clock, Mrs. Sampson, who was peaceably
slumbering by her liege lords side, sud-
denly awOke, and, reaching over to where
he lay, thrust her finger into his right eye
and shouted into his left ear that there
was snake in the bed and touching her
feet. Now, Mr.. Sampson is naturally a
nervous and excitable man, and withal
has great antipathy to snakes, especially
black ones; so, when Mrs. :. made the
above startling announcement, it is not
surprising that it had an effect somewhat
analogous to an electric shock. Mr.. s.
sprang up very hastily, and precipitated
himself upon the floor in rather doubled
up condition. He, however, soon assumed
an upright position, and began to grope
about the room in search of a match and
candle. After stumbling against the
cradle and upsetting the baby, stepping
into the coal-scuttle and eXcoriating his
shins, and falling over the stove and
striking his nose against the corner of the
mantelpece, he finally succeeded in
striking light, when he armed himself
with the b0Ot,jack, and repaired to the
bed, and after enjoining Mrs $. to lie
perfectly quiet, he gently rolled back the
bedclothes and exposed to view appar-
emily the tail of an enormous black snake,
whereupon Mrs. s. screamed and rolled
off the bed, and sought refuge beneath it..
Mr.. Sampson was for a moment terror
stricken, but soon rallied, and, concentrate
ing all the strength i'm his arms -four
ished the bOot-ja about his head and
let it descend with tremendous force up
on the black and writhing object which
protruded from under the bed-covering.
Almost simultaneously with the descent
of the boot.iack an unearthly yell was
heard, and Mrs. SIMPSONS old pet black
cat slipped from beneath the bed-clothes
and sprang upon the floor, and with
dropping tail began to circle round the
room i'm most animated manner. Mr..
Sampson, in amazemcnt, staggered back
wards and sat down upon the baby, which,
feeling so heavy pressure upon its abdo-
men, imagined it had the pind-colic, and
began to cry vigorously. At this juncture
Mrs. Sampson crawled from under the
bed and commenced quite a spirited dis
course, which Through sympathy fol-
those who have experienced a curtain.
lecture), we refrain from recounting.--
Daily Graphic
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21
His First Paris Breakfast.

A correspondent of the San Francisco
Bulletin says: 81 did not feel inclined to
breakfast at my hotel the first morning in
Paris / strolled along narrow street,
and finally saw sign which bore the
words, 'Dejeuner franc 10 centimes.'
So concluded to dejeune there. i en-
tered. A lady addressed me. Of course,
she was unintelligible. / said 'deieuncr.'
She pointed upstairs Upstairs l went,
and found myself in an ordinary. There
was no bill of fare. 1t was place where
no foreigner had probably ever before
ventured. / sat down. There were
Frenchmen to the right and Frenchmen
to the left. The waiter approached. !
shrank from him and tremblcd. Now
must show my ignorance. Now must
act the role of the stupid foreigner. He
opened on me. l suppose he was calling
the roll of the bill of fare. caught one
word. 1t sounded like marengo. /
clutched at it as drowning man is sup
posed to clutch mt straw. ] said, 'Oui,
marengo.' Bring marengo and let's see
what it is. 1t turned out to be some sort
of meat with plenty of gravy, plentifully
spiced. ate of the marengO as long as
/ could. l dreaded the idea of the next
attack from the attendant. But the ma
rengo was gone. My plate was changed.
Another charge on me by the French
waiter. / caught at another word, Pom
me de terre.' Oui, pomme de terre-
potatOes--yes, bring potatoes l hoped
there would be nothing else to eat-some
potatoes. The potatoes came. They were
worth eating, being made very palatable
with gravy. So ! ate up all the potatoes.
There was something else to eat. An
other deluge of French was poured upon
me. | fired back with my French. The
waiter stared. Well he might. My
French is the French of Long Island
academy. What l would have asked the
waiter, had l spoken in any known Ian
guage, was to repeat his observation over
again. He did so. / don't think this
was because he understood me. 1t was
mere force of habit. Thank Heaven! /
recognized another word. 1t was frontage
-cheese-yes, cheese, anything so that
may not be obliged to express myself in
an unknown tongue. This is all. Wine,
half bottle; bread at discretion;' ma
rengo, potatoes, and cheese for twenty
two cents. / paid the reckoning to an
amiable lady at the counter. She made
some remark She may have inquired
after my folks. / said Non, madame.
said SO because it is my habit in Paris to
say Non, madame, or 'Oui, madame,
alternately when addressed, and this was
the turn for the Non, madame One
must say something.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21

A cottage, POLITICALLY speaking, is a
small, but picturesque domicile, embow-
cred in roses, and situated near wood"
adapted to the accommodation of three
individuals, gentleman, his wife, and a
little boy with bow and arrows and wings.
Poesy assumes that bridegroom who
ono revenue hath !" may live in state of
ecstatic bliss, with dowerless bride, in
such residence. Subsistence is second
airy consideration. Bread, cheese and
kisses are all sufficient; and, in the alb
sence of the grosser items, the epicurean
fare last mentioned is Of itself, excellent
l0ve-in-a-cottage fare.
What cares Cupid for cates---cates with
a G, we mean, for kates with X are
different matter. He laughs larders, as
well as locksmiths, to scorn. He feeds on
fancies, and, like his bilious brother,
Jealousy, grows by what he feeds on.
Such, at least, is the sentimental notion
of that spooney little divinity, as the
guest of cottage tenanted by cashless
pair.
But sober Prose, a bluff fellow, that
delights in throwing cold water on the
beautiful and the tender, suggests that
moneyless couples, who hope to retain
love as q permanent ledger, had better
look to their windows, out Of one Of
which, if nothing for dinner comes in at
the door, he is apt to fly. Any one who
has seen portrait of the boy Cupid, and
noted his chubbiness Of outline, must
know, of course, that he is no chameleon,
to live on air. From a cottage where
there is nothing to eat, and more senti-
ment than industry and energy, he is
pretty sure to make off, mt the first oppOr-
tunity, in search of cosier quarters; some
shanty, perhaps, where the vulgar garden
grows cabbages and potatoes, and the in
terror atmosphere has an appetizing flavor
of beefsteak and onions.
There can be no doubt that "better is
dinner of herbs where love is, than Il
stalled OK and hatred herewith" but
when it is all herbs and no OK the year
round, disgust, if not hatred, will be
very likely to take loves place at the
board. Upon the whole, therefore, sub
stantial ard permanent welded bliss |"
is scarcely to be hoped for in a cottage
where there is more play for the magma
ton than the teeth.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21
RepOse the Secret OF Power.

A peaceful life is most likely to be a
full one, with finer and keener sensibili-
ties; better related to beauty and poetry
and all higher matters; more dignified
and selfrespecting.
Repose is the secret of power in per-
sons, pictures, statues, architecture, books
and nature, as if it were a means of re-
tanning as well as disclosing life; and
health demands frequent pausing to re-
store the balance of the system, and keep
up perfect circulatons.
The night, if spent in healthy sleep
after proper evening hours, reduces the
worlds chaos, and we are anew every
morning.
Who does not know the magic of a
brief pause in the midst of the worst con-
fusion A calm of five minutes will in
vite back our vagrant ideas and powers.
So the home should be like hush and
lullaby in this headlong, whirling,
noisy, furious and distracted world of the
nineteenth century--a nook apart from
the thoroughfares--a gr0ttO or bower un-
der the sky, where the beautiful spirits of
the air will hover and dance.
It's atmosphere should be a little orient
al and cheering, as if exhaled from pop
pies and balsams
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21
A ShODkeeDer's Experience.

Amiable shopkeepers deserve to be can
onized. Here is an illustration of the
trials to which they are constantly sub
jected. One midsummer day, when
Kolus slept, and the thermometer stood
in the nineties, a lady entered store
not a thousand miles of, and inquired
for parasols. The obliging proprietor
spread out before her samples of a large
and varied stock.
"Have you any of this shade, a size
larger?" said the lady.
The size larger was produced.
81 think, OH the whole, prefer the
size smaller"
The size smaller was presented.
"Have you any of this size lighter
shade of blue?'
The required shade was brought out
"Haven't you any of this kind with a
crooked handler?
The shade with the crooked handle
"Have you any with the crooked
handle not quite so heavy?' said the
lady, and so continued her inquiries for
every conceivable size, shade and weight
possible i'm the line of parasols. After
nearly an hour had thus been consumed,
the fair shopper gathered up her handker-
chief and gloves and moved for the door.
"Can't l sell you parasolT' inquired
the exhausted proprietor.
go, dear me-" replied the lady. 81
was merely inquiring the prices. / am
going into mourning myself, and have
one for sale"
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21
Malignant Inventions.

A writer SAYS: "Mr. Weller, Senior,
considered keeping pike to be the worst
form of misanthrOpy,. but we suspect
there exists still more malignant type.
Who can it be that invents the toys with
which the street boys divert themselves?
What diabolical ingenuity is that which
is forever devising some new instruments
of torture for the sons of men, and what
wrongs can they be which have bred
hate so relentless? 1t is idle to deny the
existence of design. The hoop and the
peg-top may not have been inventions OF
the enemy, but assuredly the engine
known as the tipcat was But the cat,
although admirable for harassing man.
kind in crowded thoroughfares, was, after
all, rude and primitive weapon, belong
ing to kind of stone age or flint arrow
headed period, of street-boy warfare. A
more ingenious and destructive machine
was produced in the catapult, which
speedily recommended itself to the boy
instinct as it proved to be effective againsC
the windows as well as the eyes of society.
1t may be observed that, with bitter
mockery which marks the fiend, this
pleasant plaything istalways offered for
sale in company with sweet-stuff. An
OUncr 1prceaDlc kIllck-hlidCk pun liilo lic
hands of youth was ball with an elastic
cord attached, so that when flung into
the face of passer-by it might be stop
ped within an inch or so of the mark.
When the subject operated upon had his
head close to a lamp-post, or better still,
close to another head, the effect of this
experiment was most pleasing. Other in
genous contrivances to the same philan-
thropic purpose might be mentioned, but
our present purpose is to warn the pedes-
TRAN public against the latest invention
in this line. This is II small wooden
wheel, bevelled on the edge, and worked
by string, somewhat on the principle of
kite, so as to run between the legs of
passengers and trip them up. All the
previous playthings in vogue in the Lon
don streets having been in the form of
missiles, it is for these the daring traveller
who attempts "a short cut keeps a lookout,
and he consequently falls an easy victim.
1t is needless to say the little instrument
is immensely popular with the boys of the
street."
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21
Importance of Punctuation.

To young writers we recommend the
following, which was written in descrip-
ton of departed brother. Read it
twice before you decide whether he was a
bad or good man. "He is an old and
experienced man in vice and wickedness
he is never found opposing the walks of
iniquity he takes delight in the downfall
of his neighbors he never rejoices in the
prosperity of any of his fellow-creatures
he is always ready TO assist in destroying
the peace of society he takes no pleasure
in serving the Lord he is uncommonly
diligent in sowing disorder among his
friends and acquaintance he takes no
pride in laboring to promote the cause
of Christianity he has not been negligent
in endeavoring to stigmatize all public
teachers he makes no exertion to subdue
his evil passions he strives hard to build
up Satan's kingdom he lends no aid to
this support of the gospel among the
heather he contributes largely to the evil
adversary he pays no attention to good
advice he gives great heed to the devil he
will not 90 to heaven he must 60 where
he will receive the just reoompense of re-
ward"
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21
A Chinese Commercial City.

The French government, with view
to opening up more direct communica-
ton between Cochin China and Thibet
China, has recently sent commissioners to
the latter country. From letter
written by one of these gentlemen to the
Paris Temps, we translate the following
description of Tchong-Kin:
The town of Tchong-Kin is the most
commercial center of Se-Tchouen. 1t is
the great entrepot for the products COM
ing from Yunan and Thibet, and for the
European goods which 60 up from
Shang hae. The population is estimated
at 100000. 1t has an exchange, where
the course of merchandise is discussed
upon and bargains made. A single fact,
however, will give an idea of its COM
mercial importance. There are three or
four refneries for silver i'm the city---that
is, these establishments take out OF the
silver bars whatever lite gold is contain
eel in them---and every day some 500, 900
is brought i'm bars to their crucibles. As
is well known, there is no coined money
rics certain weight of silver, which is
returned next day, and one days interest
is paid for the accommodation. The pro-
fits of these assaying establishments is
about three or four per cent; after eX-
tracing the gold the bars are stamped 80
as to prevent their coming back.
Although this business has been car
ried OH for several years the refners have
never wanted for new bars. 1t will be
seen, Therefore, that the commercial
movement throws every year into
Tchong-Kin some 8,000,0 900 of new coin.
Alongside these riches is the hideous
misery which is to be seen everywhere in
China. Every day some eight or nine
corpses of wretches who died from hun
ger and privation are taken from the
streets. If the citizens do not take much
trouble to prolong the existence of these
men, they are very solicitous to give
them last resting place; there is pow
erful association for the purpose of bury
ing the friendless dead. The greatest
dread of all classes is not to have q
coffin; the poorest economic to buy
one; the first care of the rich is to have
it, and friends do not hesitate to make a
present of one.
There is postal sevice to Han Keen,
which is remarkable for its celebrity and
regularity, and three private companies
conduct it. Small boats are used for the
purpose, but, on account of the swiftness
of the current, they are sold at the end
of the first trip and never to return
The postage of a letter is twenty cents,
no matter what the weight may be, and
the average time required in making the
LOO kilometers is some twelve days
but when merchants have important dis
patches they send special cOuriers, who
arrive in six or eight days The author
tiles never interfere in this postal SER
vice, individual initiation is substituted
everywhere for the action of the govern
ment, which is too corrupt and incapa-
bic to attend to the real interests of the
country.
Bird ges, roads, quays, canals, are al
built by subscription and maintained by
the traders. Why have we not in France
little of that spirit of initiation and as
ISOLATION, which will always prevent thu
great Chinese democracy from complete
dissolution.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21
A Cheerful Home.

A single word may disquiet an entire
family for whole day. One surly glance
casts gloom over the household while
smile, like Il CLEAN of sunshine, may
light up the darkest and weariest hours.
Like unexpected flowers which spring up
along our path, full of freshness, fra
GRANGE and beauty, so the kind words,
and gentle acts, and sweet dispositions
blessing dwell. No matter how humble
the abode, if it be thus garnished with
grace and sweetness, with kindness and
smiles, the heart will turn lovingly to-
ward it from all the tumults of the world;
and home, if it be ever so homely, will
be the dearest spot beneath the circuit of
the sun.
And the influences of home perpetuate
themselves. The gentle grace of the
mother lives in her daughters long after
her head is pillowed in the dust of earth;
and fatherly kindness finds its echo in the
nobility and courtesy of sons who come
to wear his mantle, and to fill his place
while on the other hand, from an unhap-
py, misgoverned and disordered home,
90 forth persons who shall make other
homes miserable, and perpetuate the sour
ness and sadness, the contentious, and
strifes, and ratings, which have made
their own early lives so wretched and
distorted.
Toward the cheerful home the children
gather as clouds and as doves to their
windows;" while from the abode of dis
content, and strife, and trouble, they fly
forth as vultures to rend their prey.
The class of men that disturb and dis
order and distress the world are not those
born and nurtered amid the hallowed in
fuence of Christian homes; but rather
those whose early life has been a scene of
trouble and vexation, who have started
wrong in the pilgrimage, and whose
course is one of disaster to themselves and
trouble to those around them.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21
An Indignant Judge.

The Daily Vicksburger relates the fol-
lowing story and vOuches for its truthful
ness A cOlored man from the country
happened into Vicksburg the other day,
and was looking around to buy some ba-
con. He at last purchased some of a
rascally dealer, at very low figure, but
soon discovered that it was spoiled. The
dealer refused to take it back, and the
colored man brought the offender before
Justice Brooks. The meat was produced
and shown to be bad, and the justice pro
cceded to pronounce judgment, which he
did in the following words:
"You are guilty of offering spolt meat,
and the evidence shows that you have
actually sold some of the meat to the
plaintiff here. Now in doing this you
have violated the law. You have been
guilty of crime which endangers the
lives of your fellow-beings. That meat,
sir, would kill any man, and l know it,
and you know it. Now, sir, it is ordered
by this court, that all this meat before
us, and all similar meat in your possess
ion, be forfeited by you, and that it be
sent to the county poor-house."
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-21
AgassiZ and Children.

Agassiz was a great lover of children.
He was constantly speaking to them in
the street and caressing them, not from
affection or desire to be popular, but be-
cause he could not help it.
A friend tells me of an instance which
well illustrated his tenderness for children:
Once, while conducting some scientific
experiments, it became necessary to have
some water Immediately. Agassiz seized
pitcher and ran to pump near by. He
went out quickly, but was slow in re-
turning They waited twice as long for
the water as would have sufficed to bring
it, and then went out to see what was the
matter.
There sat Agassiz down by the pump,
his legs crossed, and little child, which
he was fondly soothing and caressing,
nestled in between them. In his haste at
the pump he accidentally struck the child
standing near by. Though the blow was
of little account, the exigencies of science
seemed to him the less important, and he
had to put down the pitcher and open his
heart.
When deeply engaged i'm scientific in
vestigation, he would leave his work to
seize and fOndle child that had strayed
into his room, and the interrupted mental
process seemed to be resumed without
difficulty.