davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
Would Not be Hung.

Wesley Underwood was sente ced to
be hung in Quincy, Illinois, for Il. mur-
der Of Richard Nenifee. The pr. Of
his crime was conclusive, and there was
really no chance Of escape from the conse.
qucnces, yet he said he would not die on
the gallows. 1t was supposed from this
that he expected q commutation, and his
appeals to the Governor were persistent.
A few days since he received final re.
fueal Of clcmcncy, and q jailer taunted
him with the probability that he would
die on tho gallows, in spite of his declara-
ton. "Wait and see," he replied.
That night ho set about his own execu.
tion-yery stealthily, because tho iailer
was on guard close by in tho corridor.
His cell was dark, aud he removed his
boots so as TO mike no noise. A strap
which had been used to sharpen razors
was at hand, and Of this lie made moose,
fastening it to M iron bar TINT ran across
tho ceiling. He stood upon u chair, nd
iusted the moose, and then stepped off.
So perfect was his self.control TINT,
although his legs and arms were free, he
made no noise by struggling. while
slowly choking to death.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
Savage Bloodhonnils,

These fierce animals were carefully
cherished in Spain, and valued highly
by their too often cruel masters. The
Spanish Adventurous, when they set
about the conquest of tile New World,
seem to have found them suitable CON.
p1nions; indeed, both in the Low Cotln.
tries and on tile ooast Of Mexico and
Peru, states one of our authorities,
"thesc dogs took m active sharc in their
masters proceedings. They drew their
ations as regularly rs did tho soldiers /;
md many n wretChod Indian must haye
been tracked by them through the dense
fogs and underwood" After the many
terrible tales which lave been heard Of
tho fearful fate Of those hunted down by
these detectives, it is quite relief to
come upon one bright little episode con-
nected with them. A Cuban bloodhound,
which, in his days, it is stated, had
tnCked out and torn to pieces no less
than three hundred victims, wns one day
set upon M old Indian woman by cor-
tain Captain Jagode Senadza, who had
sent her of under tho pretcxt Of de-
livoring n letter. The dog, oyertaking
her, was about to spring at her itlrioualy,
when, frenzicl with terror, the wretched
woman flung herself on ller knees before
it, and in agonizing terms besouglt it to
spare her. The savage brute, which,
says our informant, had so often wal-
lowed in Indian blood, instantly bccamc
gentle, and fawning upon the poor
woman, accompanied her upon her
Grand, thus putting its inhnman master
In Shame.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21

Mooro's Rural Ncw Yorker advises
every farmer who is doing well and max
ing n fair income from his special kind Of
farming to be cautious in changing itfor
other branches concerning which ho is
not familiar, for the chances are that the
new business will not yield any more
profit, and perhaps not 80 much rs the
one with which ho is acquainted. We
believe the profits from dairying aro
often oyerestimated and while its nd
yantages aro often the topic OF discus
sion and lauda'ion, 1t is proper tlatsome
Of tho disadvantages bc mado to appear,
and then tho balance OF account may be
struck md no one need be led astrny.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
Tho Brown Thrush.

There is merry brown thrush sitting up ID
tho tree.
clos singing tome Hes singing to mo II
And what does liO say, little girl, little boy
30, tho worlds running over with jOyl
Don't you hcsr2 Don't you seo2
Hush | Lookl In my treo
I'm a. happy as Hppy can boir
Aud tho broxn thrush keeps singing, "a
most TO yon SEQ,
And dvccggs, hid ty me In the Juniper.
treo2
nnpr. moddlo don't touch little gill, little
boy;
'ortlio world will losc some of its joyl
Now I'm glad ! now I'm FREQ
And II always SlAll bc,
II you never bring sorrow to me-
80 tho merry brown thrush sings away in tho
tree,
ToyOu and to mo, to you and to mo;
Andhe sings all the day, littlo giri, little boy,
so, the worlds running over with joyl
But long 1t won't be, 4
Dor't you lnow9 don't you scof
UniossNeMc as good as canboy
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
United Statcs Lighthouses.

The annual report of the Lighthouse
Board Of the United States, after review.
ing the organization, character and his
tory Of that branch Of the service, says
The magnitude OF the lighthouse sys-
TEN Of the United States, and oonse-
Qllently tllnt Of tho duties Of the Board
and tho responsibilities connected with
them, may bo inferred from the follow
ing facts:
First-rhe coast from the st. Croix
river, on the boundary Of Maine, to the
Rio Gnlnde, OIL the Gulf Of Mexico, in
cludes distance OF 5000 miles.
Second-Thc Pacific coast llas length
of about 1900 miles.
Third-The great northern hikes about
5000 miles.
Fourth-Thc inland rivers Of 700
miles making total Of more tllan 1O,-
600 miles.
The following table cxhibitsa a synopsis
Of what has been accomplished in mid Of
navigation along these extended lines, by
far the longest Of those Of my nation in
the world:
Lighthouses and lighted beaoons. ......... COS
and lighted during the year ending July
Sn..;.....;::;;....'.'. %
LiShtshlra In position. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. q
Fog signals operated by steam or hot air
chBhea. ....................... 4O
Day or unligllted bCacons. $40
Bu0Sb in position. ............... 1865
An onrro,r;ot;n,, ~ oQf\ mn g., u.I, 4
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
Luster Sheep, a New Breed.

At a recent exhibition in Bremen n
fleece was exhibited from South Australia
Of a ycarling rum, which was remarkable
for its fine silky luster and softness, and
the unusual length lover five inches) Of
the smooth, fine wool, as vol as for its
beautiful, almost dazzling wtiteness. All
wcro satisfied TINT a fine, firm yarn, aud
very superior cloth could bc made from
1t. It was stated that it was result Of
in and in breeding Of Negretti sheep
with Leicester Qincoln) rams tho mum.
ber Of generations required was not
stated, however. =
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21

The rumor about tho impending in.
sanity Of tho Gar of Russia is not ex-
actlya new one. Frequent fits of mel.
ancholy have led people before now to
predict TINT his life would terminate with
soitening OF the brain. His well-hmown
friendship for Home, tho spifitualist,
and tho suddenness with which he was
accustomed to summon the celebrated
medium to commune with him ut Ems,
used to make the wiseacres shake their
heads and hint that the Czar was
" queer" The Romanoffs have pro-
duced mad emperors before now, though
up to the time Of Alexander /. their de-
aDgemGnt invariably took rather savage
forms. Paul l., the grandfather OF the
present Emperor, was assassinated
through q conspiracy Of mobiles whom his
violent caprices had goadcd to frenzy.
His son Alexander, s,lrnamed the Blessed
tho same who did so much to infuse
gentleness into tho triumphs OF the allies
over Napoleon-died, it is said, from
poison taken under the influence OF a
lingering melancholy TO which he was
first subject after his return from the
armed occupation OF Paris.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
How to Avoid Colds.

An editorial in the British Medical
Journal, on catching cold, concludes
thus: The practical considerations which
are the outcomes Of this rCyiew OF the
pathology Of colds are these: Never to
wear wet clothes after active muscular
exertion Inns ceased, but to change them
ut once TO meet the loss Of the body
heat by warm fluids and dry clothes to
avoid long sustained loss Of heat which
Is not met by increased production Of
heat; to increase tho tonicity of tho yes-
sells Of tho skin by cold baths, etc., so
educating them to contract readily on ex-
posure, by partial adoption indeed Of
tho hardening" plan; to avoid too
warm and debilitating rooms and tenn
peratllrcs; to take especial caro- against
too great loss Of heat when tho skin is
glowing ; and to prevent tho inspiration
Of cold nj by the mouth by some pro.
tecting agent, as a respirator. Wo can
readily understand how respirntor
should be IN effective protection against
winter bronchitis in those so disposed.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
Antarctic Iccbcrgs.

In the diary Of tho Challcngcr's voyage
to the Antarctic regions, very accurate
descriptions Of icebergs are given. AT
the beginning Of m icebergs Independent
existence, il does not possess those fan.
tastic forms which are 80 often described.
Near tho Pole they were nearly all huge,
1at-topped cubes Of ice, from n quarter
TO half q mile across, and 100 to $50 feet
above water. This corresponds 10 sub.
niersion amounting to nlno times this
height. This is the iceberg MS it appears
Just after breaking awny from the glacier,
where 1t was formed, and before tho sun
begun to affect it, As 1t floats into
w,irmer regions it slowly melts, and as.
sumes tho almost unimnginnble forms 80
often seen. But an iceberg is by no
means short-lived. In tho Southern
ocean south Of A deg. latitude, the tem.
perature Of the water, except for a few
feet at the surface, where Il Is warmed
by the sun, is 90 deg. Fair. This Is
3 deg. below the freezing point. Even
tho surface wnter close to the leo is Of
this temperature, 80 that the iceberg
moves in bath Of this low temperature.
Only in summer is the winter wnrni enough
10 melt notch around it Mt the sen level.
This notch is never more than thirty feet
deep, and the wnvcs striking in break
down the ovcrhanging cliff, and the ice.
iceberg rises somewhat, tho notch deep.
ening. This action is most vigorous on
the weather side, which accordingly be.
comes tho lightest, causing tho iceberg
to turn slowly round. II Is to the cavi.
ties thus formed, surrounded by ice OF
various thickness, and containing more
or less water, tint the rich colors Of leo.
bGrgs arc due. "Where the creynsses,"
says the diary, "or other weak parts in
tile upper surface Of tho parent glacier
extend down to tho water-line Of tho
floating iceberg, tho sen, having less
solid part to Withstand il, soon excavates
amostbeautifully defined and picturesque
cave, the sides Of which, rejecting light,
color the interior with m exquisite cobalt
blue, tho tint Of which increases in
warmth and richness rs the depth OK.
tends, When these occur on the side
TINT is afterward raised, no description
c,ln do Justice to the picturesque mp.
pearance Of this line Of fairy grottoes."
The glaciers from which icebergs nrc
broken OF reach far out TO sea. A glacier
OF 1000 feet thickness will have to push
its wny out to depth OF 1900 and more
feet before its front can be broken by
the aoatiye force Of the water. Such 4
glacier, pushing its way over mn ocean
bed having the same slope as the Atlantic
basin OFF the coast of New Jersey, would
touch bottom for more than 2l0 miles
beyond the land, and for tho whole Of
this distance glacier markings would DO
found. The observations on tempera.
t,ire above spoken OF show that tho gln.
cier does not break OF by overweight
due to undermining, but is broken by
the buoyant pressure of the water.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
Co.Opcrailyo Farmlnr.

The experiment Of cooperative farm.
ing among Engliah agricultural laborers,
though necessarily limited in scope, up.
pears to be meeting with excellent sue
cess. Mr.. Walter Morrison, NJ. p, Inns
leased 150 acres Of land to one society in
Herefordshire. The shares arc Sa5 each
the laboring co.opentors get 81 and
$3.50 per week, one-tliirl more than tho
farmers pay, and have besides their cot
tages rent FREQ. Two others at Assing.
ton, containing 246 acres, arc under CO.
operative cultivation. Ono started in
1880 and tho other in 1854. Tho shares
arc worth respectively $3.50 and $50
eaeh, In many parts Of England the
formation of land societies has begun,
and money is being advanced.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
What Is Thy Name,

It is often the case that persons who
write on tho whole n legiblo hnnd sign
their name 80 carolessly that n stranger
can scarcely make out wlnt it is. Our
editorial experience has given indubita-
bio evidence OF this. Any Of our read
ers who may have fallen into such n liabit
would do we'll to learn lesson from tho
anecdote told Of Rev. W. s. Potts, D. :
When q clerk in Philadelphia, ho took
q bill to'a Quaker, and had signed the
receipt with ono of those hieroglyphic
cartouches, sometimes seen on bank notes
now. The Quaker, taking up the paper,
said, blandly:
Friend, what is this at the bottom ."
"That, sir, is my name"
"Wlat is thy namel" ..H7
civilian s. Potts"
"Well, William, will theeyplease to
write IL down under here plainly, 30 that
a witness in court could know. 1t"
Ever after DR.. Potts wrote and lived
so that no man could mistake q word or
letter.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
A Hundred Extinct volcanoes.

The San francisco Chronicle gives the
following in an account OF n recent
meeting Of tho Academy of Science Of
that city: DIR. Hmkness spoke Of dis
coveries made by himself in parts CT
Plumas and Lassen counties little known
hitherto, A tract Of country containing
about 5000 square miles, he described
not only rs volcanic, but showing
traces Of recent volcanic action, and hav-
ing within its limits 100 extinct yolca-
noes, A large crater on the dividing
line Of the two counties Ind damned up
the lake, giving it a new outlet, and
spreading its waters over m area Of three
square miles. The volcanic cone is higher
than YGsuvius. Ashes and scorip are
scattered all down it's sides. In differ
entparts Of the lake arc stumps Of trees,
some OF them forty.fve feet in height,
and showing above the surface. Some
Of them, standing on tho Lawn, are only
partially burned through, indicating
TINT this matter elected from tho volcano
was not all in melted state. In other
places occur round cavities, which were
sounded by Dr.. Hardness and his party,
and stumps found at tho bottom. Higher
up, the trees, though untouched by the
Lawn, were burned by the heat. The
growth Of portion Of the trees since
tho eruption ahows about twenty-five
annular rings. The lava from tho vol
cano covers about 100 square miles. An
old resident Of Red Bluff, who was in
the neighborhood in 1853, told the doc
tor that he saw alright alieet Of flame
rising from the mountain, which CON
tinued during his entire stay. Shaved
Head, an old Indian Of the Mil Crock
tribe, says that in his youth the region
was alive with volcanoes in activeoper-
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
The Newspaper Postage Question.

The following instructions 10 post.
masters have been approved by United
States Postmaster General Jewell in re.
laIion to tile prepayment Of postage on
newspapers md 0tllcr printed matter on
aud after Jatiiary | 1876, under tile net
Of, June %, 1874. Section b 81 the said
net divides the mnttcr therein described
into two sccfions, and fixes the iate OF
postage on each as follows On all news.
papers md periodicals issued weekly or
oftener, two cents per pound or fraction
thereof and on nll those Issued less fire..
quently, tilrcc cents por pound or fric.
ton thereof. Under geCtiul Q, upon tho
receipt Of such matter at tic iIlailing
office, properly assorted into tho two
classes, it must be prepaid, after lie.
ductips tie weight of the Rack, by
special allicsivc stamps furnished by tho
Department for tliis purpose, Ordinary
postage stamps cannot b0 Used for this
purpose, u0r usili these shlmps be used
for any other purpose. pnstnasters will
make the following deductions for tic
weight OF tho sacks, viz. No. / jutO
sucks, two aild half pounds (; No. Q
jnte sacks, two pounds Mo- cotton
sacks, three and a quarter pounds No.
2 cotton sacks, three and huff pounds.
On receipt Of the postage the postmaster
will give d receipt from book Of blank
forms furnished by tho Department.
The sininps will then be affixed to tic
stub Of tic receipt md cancelled by
performing them with punch, did tho
blank spaces in the stub will be filed to
correspond with the receipt. The stub
books are to be kept permanently in the
Office to be ready to bc pFdiiIoeI when.
ever demanded by the Department.
Postmasters will render promptly at the
end Of eocll quarter, OH blank forms fur
nislied for tile purpose, n statement OF
tile postage collected from cacii publisher
or news asent during the quarter. These
special stamps will be charged to post
masters and accounted for 1T tile snme
manner rs the ordinary postage atitnps.
In regard to local papers Mt letter carrier
Offices il 10 ruled TINT newspapers, peri
odicals, aud circulars deposited in let
ter carrier Office for delivery by the Office
or its carriers are subiect 10 postage at
the following rates On newspapers,
regular or transient, not exceeding two
ounces. one cent each on, periodicals,
regular or transient, not exceeding two
ounces, one cent eacli; OH periodicals,
regular or transient, exceeding two
ounces, two cents each circulars, lin.
sealed, one cent each weekly nows.
papers, to transient parties, one cent for
each two ounces or fraction thereof.
These rites must be paid by post,Se
stamps affixed. Weekly newspapers to
regular subscribers, fiyocCnts perqriarter.
Section 7 relates to county pal,ers, which
will pass by mail FREQ to Gubscribers
actually residing within tho county, but
when delivered Mt letter carrier offices or
by letter carriers they are subject to the
rates Of postage fixed in laws and Regu-
lations, lago G7, section 1853. Tho fore
going instructions are to take effect on
January /, 1876.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21

An EARLY SmpMENT.-The Richmond
Wig saSs that the following letter,
written in London on August q, 1862,
to colonist Of yirginia, Is still in ex-
istenco there:
We. send you shipment, ono widow
and elcycn maids, for wives Of the peo.
plc OF Virginia. : 1hero has been especial
caro- in tho choice Of thcm, for there hath
not one Of thom been received but upon
good recommendations In case tlioy
cannot DO presently married We desire
that they niay be put with several house.
holders TINT have wives until they can bo
provided with husbands,
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
ELLEN CONTINUES ruR sronY.

After my dear Ned had left me on the
night ho first said that ho loved mo, I
rested for some time on the sofa, feeling
tired and quite sad somehow, and yet
very happy. Then I put out the candles,
and was going to bed. l was- passing
through the bar when ] caught sight OF
q slip of paper twisted up and addressed
to me In large, blotched letters. II was
from Richard Archer.
! Ideclare that I never gayc Mr.. Archer
any encouragement-at least not more
than any girl might have done toa young
man who was trying to make himself
agreeable; certainly never since I saw
Edward, and felt how vastly superior he
was in every way to this Mr.. Archer.
Tho note WIS short and rough.
"Ellen," it began, not that lie had any
right TO address me in TINT way-certain-
ly | was not and never Ind been "Ellenp
to him. but SO il was" Ellen, You have
deceived me, You and Ned Walters !:
but l give you warning it is for the last
time. You and he shall meyer marry ; I
will see you both dead first.
Twas dreadfully frightened when /
read this but 1 came to tho conclusion
it was mere rodomontade when I began
to think it over calmly. / laughed at
the idea Of that whipper-saapper, little
Archer, doing any damage to my Ed.
ward, and yet / was uneasy. Then father
came home in rather q bad temper. Tho
party had been q failure, for everybody
had been upset by that young Archer,
who behaved like o mailman at tho hall,
told everybody Of his troubles, and
abused father to all the company, and at
last went on to walk home to the station,
seeming quite wild and disturbed.
"It'sall your fault, too" said father,
(" flirting and encouraging TINT young
Chap to come here" Father went to bed
and bade me put the lights out and go
to bedt But still / Icouldn'tget rid Of
my uneasy foeling / Icouldn't make up
my mind TO go 10 bed while I was uncer-
tain rs to what might DO happening at
the station when Richard and Edward
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21

PEr NntEs.-If any triaing thing
can DO entirely ridiculous, it is the habit
American women havo Of giving n sort
of baby spellingto their names. II Is
well enough, We dare say, to hnyc pet
names in the intimacy Of the family, but
to put them on visiting cards md parade
them in the newspapers in this manner,
is repugnant to good taste and indicative
Of vulgarity and stupidity.
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21

CAUSE OF DpHr1mRIA. .-Awell.known
physician in considering tho terrible
prevalence OF liphtheria in Now York
and Brooklyn, saya that much Of itcan
now be traced, beyond dispute or con-
tradiction, to the linsanitary condition Of
our public school.houses. It Is now
matter Of record that this and othcr con-
tagious diseases incidental to school liio
have been increased owing to this
cause" issssss7
The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-12-21
Famous 1lhode island Chomdrr.

ushSp tVuWWtt Will EtC4lll Llle nLN JnmeH
Brown, a gentleman OF genial and accom-.
plished manners, some OF Whose soCini
sayings have como down to the present
Eenefatidh, ard shall not bc gainsaid.
Tho following is his recipe for GLOW:
der, very famous in his day, and not al.
together forgotten in ours :
ST. JAMES cHowpER FOR SIX.
Take six slices OF good picked pork
(pig preierrod), md fry them in tic bot.
tom Of II good-hized dinner.pOt, turning
tho slices till they aro brown on both
sides. Take out the slices Of pork, leay-
ing the drippings in tho pot lake seven
pounds Of tautaug, dressed Qeaying the
heads onl, or ten pounds OF Soup (tau.
tang to bo proierred), and cut cacli in
three pieces, unless small, when cut
tliOm in two. placo in the pot, on tie
drippings, as many pieces Of fish rs will
fairly cover tic bottom Of tho pot.
Throw into the pot, on tic fsiI, three
linndfuls Of onions, peeled md sliced in
thin slices. Do not bc afraid Of tho
onions Put in over this salt and pepper
to taste, as in other soups. Then lay on
the six slices Of pork, on the top of tlo
pork tho rest Of the fish cover this with
three handfuls more Of onions peeled aud
sliced. (Nine or ten onions in both lay.
era will suffice, though more will not in.
lnre it, More pepper and salt, 10 taste.
Then pour into tho pot water enough
Just to come fairly even with tile Whole,
or partly cover the sAme. Put the cover
on the pot, place it on tho fire. Let it
boil gently and slowly for thirty min
utcs. 1t is to boil thirty minutes, not
merely to be on the fire thirty minutes,
and at oil events let it boil until the onion
is done gOft. Pour in at this point about
q quart "a common bottle) of best cider
or champagne, and n tumbler full Of port
wine, and at the same time add about two
pounds Of sen biscuits.
N0tc.-n, when the onion il done, you
find there is not liquor enough in the
pot, soak the settbisclit in water for
few moments before putting them in. I
wonld recommend the practice gener.
ally.
Ater the cider, VINO and crackers arc
put in, there is no harm in stirring the
whole with long spoon, though It is
not necessary. Then let tile whole boil
again mot merely be over the iire) for
about five minutes, and the chowtler is
ready for the table. Before lishing up
let the cook taste it and sec whether Il
lacks pepper or salt, when, il it does, it is
q good time to add either.
Note.-Also, never boil potato iii
chowtlcr. II you want potatoes, boil
them iii separate pot, and serve III
separate dish on table.