davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

DEATH FROM sTARvATIoN-for the
actual want of food-within eighteen
hours travel of Chicago, and in the
heart of the grain growing region of the
country, is something that should attract
the attention of the public General
ORE, commanding the Department of
the Platte, and who is personally cogniz-
ant of the facts, addressed to the Board
of Trade of Chicagoa few days ago, tell
ing in plain aud direct terms the sad
story of the destitution in Western Ne
braska caused by the ravages of the
grasshoppers. From the reports of his
officers on the ground and among these
people. he has reliable information as to
the actual condition of affairs. He states
that several cases of actual death of chill
dren have already taken place. Fathers
have been compelled to abandon their
families and seek work and food In one
house the corpse of child was found
that had perished for want of food, and
near it the mother PROSTATE and dying
from the same cause. He states that in
Boone, Greeley, Sherman, Howard, Buff
falo and all the other counties so miles
west of the Missouri River, two-thirds
of the people are destitute of all the nec-
essaries of life. They have neither cloth
ing nor shoes; and food is impossible to
get. Prompt measures have been taken
10 send aid
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

The Democracy of New Hampshire
should now secure one reform in their
State which is much needed. The Bapt-
list Association which recently met in
Philadelphia directed attention to it by
committee report, from which we cut
the following lines:
To-day every State and Territory in
our Union, with but one exception, re-
cognize no particular creed, but all are
free to express themselves and worship
without fear of persecution. The one
shire, her statutes prohibiting any but
Protestants from being eligible to the
Office of Governor, or to become mem
bers OF the Legislature"
The predominant Democratic party
must change this state of things as soon
as possible. It is discreditable to the
State, AID to the Republican party,
which has been so long in power there.
There should be no religious disabilities
of any kind in any part of this country.
Any discrimination against Roman
Catholics is injurious to Professionalism.
The Democracy of New Hampshire
need not be afraid of the accusation of
favoring Popery in destroying this last
vestige of Protestant supremacy. The
body which has called attention to the
obnoxious statutes was Baptist body,
and its action has the support of the
Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Methodist,
Congregationalist, Unitarian, Universal
ist and other denominations, and of the
people at large without regard to seq
tartan distinctions.-[Cin.C Commercial.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

The farce of trying Professor Swing
by the Presbyterian Synod of Illinois, at
Chicago, has ended, and, as was anticip-
ated, Professor Patton is sustained, and
the Presbytery of Chicago ordered to
strike the heretic's name from the roll
1t was queer trial. The accused did
not acknowledge the Jurisdiction of the
Synod, and refused to appear to be tried
while the Synod had no power to COM
pei his attendance. His friend too, re.
fused to appear on his behalf for the
same reason that actuated Mr.. Swing,
and his accusers were therefore compel
led to appoint one of their number to de-
fend him. They went through the form
of trial, with no prisoner at the bar;
and inflicted penalty that they were
poweTless to enforce, for the reason that
Professor Swing had already Withdrawn
from the Church, with which he could
have no fellowship. The fact is of late
years ecclesiastical bands are becoming
rather financial affairs.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
NIEL.s." "

Professor White, champion swimmer,
recently consented to drown himself in
order that his theory of resuscitation
might be tested for the benefit of the
London Humane Society. After laying
down certain rules for holding a drown
ing person in the water, he plunged into
the river-the Serpentine, probably. in
Hyde Park-and remained long enough
under water to be partially drowned.
His son then dived after him and
brought him to the surface in an appar-
emily likeness condition, adhering strict
ly to the principles laid down by his par
ent The breathless body was then
turned over to one Of the Humane So
ciety's officers and put through the
course of treatment recommended. The
society had the satisfaction of seeing
Mr.. White revive, and in short time
return to the water without apparent
unpleasant consequences, thus proving
his theory by illustration at the risk of
death The trouble with this story is
that it seems fshy in more than one
sense.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

In the Lady Washington mine, near
Virginia City, a blast was arranged and
the fuse lighted. Two miners got into
the bucket to be hoisted two hundred
feet up the shaft, the fuse being long
enough to give ample time under ordin-
ary circumstances. In this instance,
however, the ascent was delayed by some
disarrangement of the machinery, and
the men were suspended in awful dan
ger, with no means of averting it. They
laid themselves in the bottom of the
bucket and awaited in terror an ex-
plosion. at seemed like an hour" said
one Of them, but was really about five
minutes. When the blast did explode
the bucket was lifted several feet by the
rush of the air, and as itfell back with
violent shock shower of shattered
rock rained on the covering miners.
They were hauled up at length insensi-
bic with cuts and bruises, but they will
recover.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

solid and useful reading instead of
the trashy stories which now attract
their attention and which dissipate
the mind instead of cultivating and
improving it. There is already an
enabling act on the Vermont statute
book which authorizes the establish
ing of such public town libraries, but
it appears that the people have not
as yet availed themselves of its ben
nEAn
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

Governor Peck, of Vermont, in
his recent annual message to the
Legislature. strongly recommends
theestablishing of a public library in
each town, to be kept well supplied
with the better class Of books. He
remarks, and doubtless truthfully,
that if such an educational measure
were adopted, and the books Of the
libraries freely circulated among the
youth of the State, it would have q
tendency TO direct the tastes and
habits Of the young 70 substantial,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

Some time in July last young
man by the name of Albert Nav
son, aged II years, who resided with
his mother an farm near Ander-
son, Indiana, was missing, but as he
had been absent from home short
time before, his disappearance at
the time mentioned, occasioned no
suspicious in the minds of the
neighbors Of the family that he had
been foully dealt with. 1t appears
that his mother had repeatedly ex-
pressed belief that her son had
been murdered, and that his re-
mains might be found either in an
old well on the premises, or in the
woods in the neighborhood. A man
who had recently moved into the
Mawson house, had occasion to visit
the old well, and found it filed with
stones, wood, etc., which, with the
assistance of a neighbor, he at once
commenced throwing out; and sure
enough, the body of the murdered
boy was found at the bottom, in ad-
vanced stage of decomposition. The
strange conduct of the mother, after
the discovery of the body, aroused
the suspicious of the people who had
focked to the scene by hundreds,
that she had either had hand in
the murder, or knew who did the
deed; and she and her son Thomas
were arrested.
It is stated that the mother, some
time ago, decided the farm to Albert,
the murdered son-which act great
ly displeased the other members Of
the family,-that they had deter
mined that he should not have
the benefit of it, and, as he refused
TO relinquish his claim, concluded to
put him out of the way by murder
ing him.
The mother and SON were placed
in Jail ut Anderson, shortly after
the discovery Of the body, and on
Sunday night last the former COM
mitted suicide by taking poison.
She died without throwing any light
on the mystery in the way of con-
fession.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

DIDN'T LIKE MUrToN.-A good story
is told Of recent excellent performance
of Handel's Messiah" at the Broadway
Baptist Church, Louisville KY. 4 farm
er took his wife TO hear the grand music
so splendidly rendered on the occasion,
and, after listening with apparent enjoy
ment, the pair became suddenly inter-
ested in one grand chorus, ave all, like
sheep, have gone astray. First a sharp
soprano voice exclaimed" 1--WE all, like
sheep" Next a deep bass voice ut
TERED, in the most earnest tones, eve
all. like sheep" "Darned if dOw
exclaimed old Rusticus to his partner
''I like beef and bacon, but can't bear
sheep meat" There was an audible litter
in that immediate vicinity, but the
splendid music attracted attention from
the pair, and they quietly slipped ont.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
Shall the Moose Be Preserved from
Extinction!

[From the Springfield (Mass.) Republican.
The moose of the Maine woods has
been following SO fast of late years the
fate of his congenors. whose fossils alone
remain to attest their former existence,
that the very hunters are alarmed about
it, and petition is circulating in which
it is proposed to supplement the INSULT
cient game laws by enacting one to pro-
hibit entirely the killing of moose for
FIVE years direct the confscation of the
hides at,all seasons, wherever. found, and
have the Canada frontier guarded against
the incursions of Indians, who are the
chief instruments of slaughter. We can
not recall any previous instance of an
absolute prohibitive game law, and such
a statute would require no little mach
inery to carry it out; faithfully executed
however, it would be likely to preserve
the moose from extinction.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

The London Spectator tells an anus
ing story which has very perceptible
point TO it. a materialistic lecturer and
a city missionary met before very in
telligent audience to discuss the question
of personal responsibility, point upon
which modern theorists of the advanced
school incline negatively. To illustrate
his theory, the materialist pointed out
to his hearers the fact, now pretty gen.
orally admitted, that in seven years the
atoms of the body have undergone a
complete change, and punishment award
ed to one body for deeds done by the
other was manifest injustice. The city
missionary, in reply, expressed his sor-
row that he should be engaged in dis
cussion with man who was living with
a woman to whom he was not married
The materialist rose angrily to repudiate
the assault upon his wife. The mission
ary retorted that according to his own
showing the materialist was by no means
the same man who vowed eternal con-
stanGy to a woman at the altar twenty
years ago, nor was his so-called wife the
same woman. AS the two existing per-
SONS had never been married, they were
living in a state which he could not
countenance.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

The politicians of Pennsylvania
and New York are just now in a
high state of excitement. The Gre
suit" in Ohio and Indiana has infa-
ted the Democracy Of the former
States with sanguine hopes that sue
cess will also crown their efforts at
the approaching elections, and they
are striving with that enthusiastic
zeal born Of a deep-rooted convic-
ton that victory will surely be the
reward Of proper work; while the
Republican brethren, more or less
chagrined and nettled ut the signal
discontinue of their friends in Ohio
and Indiana, and fearing, somewhat,
like fate, are "down to it," doing
their level best to avert disaster.
The success of the Democratic
tickets in Ohio and Indiana is look
cd upon at the East ms pretty big
stride toward more currency, and of
course, the money-rings, spectators,
and the like, are agitated very con-
siderably, lest a majority of the
PEOPLE of the country SHOULD con-
clude that it is about time some leg
islation we're being done in the in
terest of the toiling masses and pro-
ducers of things that are really es-
sential to the welfare of the nation
knowing full well that legislation
of this character is not such as will
enable them to successfully carry
out their schemes for mercilessly
gouging the workers of the country.
The platforms, however, of
the parties in these great Eastern
States are different-as regards the
financial question-from those upon
which the Democracy Of this State
and Indiana successfully carried the
day,-in that they oppose what is
known as Imitation. But this don't
matter. If the Democracy should
be victorious in Pennsylvania and
New York, the West and South
will most likely control the party
counsels in the future, draft the
platforms, and sound the keynote,
and what these will be is now
pretty clearly indicated.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

A gentleman who purchased box of
peaches recently looked around for a
boy who would carry them home, and
presently he found ragged lad seated
on bench, eating the last remnant of a
pear. The man asked him if he wouldn't
like to earn ten cents by carrying the
box to such number and street, and the
boy promptly replied that he wouldn't.
"Why?" queried the man. "Why?"
echoed the boy, "because dad died the
other day, and now I'm the head Of the
family, and how'd look look tagging
peaches around2"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

BELLS AND Does.-A farmer of
Broome county, New York, writes to the
New York Times: 81 put bells on sheep
to keep dogs off. I have tried it thirty
years, and never lost one. My neighbors
all around me have lost sheep frequent
ly. They did not use bells. ! use one
bell for ten sheep. ! have SO much faith
in bells that think the law should not
pay a man for his sheep if he had o
bells on them" This is correct. Bells
on few wethers will keep off dogs, and
even wild animals.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
The Transit Of Venus.

AT the present moment the astrono.
mers of the world are gathering in Sc
lected stations in the Eastern Hemisphere
and the Southern Ocean to observe the
transit Of Venus. That planet, now
shining so brilliantly In our evening sky,
and very nearly of the size of the earth,
will pass directly between US and the
sun, necessarily casting its shadow to-
ward US. Being so much smaller than
the sun, i, will appear as a small, round
spot passing across its face. Now, sup
pose that in the midst of the transit we
should start, with the speed of light, and
travel directly toward the planet Venus.
As we approach it, it would apparently
grow large, covering more and more of
the sun, until finally, when we have
come within somewhat less than a
million miles of it, it would appear ex-
actly large enough to cover the entire
face of the sun. We should then be ex-
actly at the end of the shadow. Beyond
this point we could see the sun around
it; within this point, it would entirely
eclipse the sun. At the end of the shad-
ow the light which strikes the eye from
one side of the sun just grazes that side
of Venus, while the light which strikes
the eye from the oppisite side of the sun
just grazes the opposite side of the plan
ct. As light moves in straight lines, we
can represent this upon paper. We
draw circle to represent the sun. At
the proper distance we draw a smaller
circle to represent Venus. Then we
draw straight lines just touching the
edges of the sun and Venus, and the
point where those lines meet will repres-
ent the position of the eye at the end Of
shadow.-[ Cor. New York Herald.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
Here is an Irish gentleman's letter

Here is an Irish gentleman's letter to
his son in college. "My Dear Son: I
write to send you two pairs of my old
breeches, that you may have a new coat
made out of them; also some new socks
which your mother has just knit by cut
ting down some of mine. Your mother
sends You two pounds without my
knowledge, and for fear you may not use
It wisely have kept back half and only
send you one. Your mother and l are
well, except that your sister has got the
measles which we think would have
spread among the other girls if Tom
had not had it before, and he is the only
one left. I hope you will do honor to
my teachings; if not you are an ass, and
your mother and myself your affection
ate parents"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
A NethodIcal Suicide for Love.

From the San Fraucisoo Bulletin. October 20. J
The incidents connected with the sui
eide of Niels C. J. Selmer, book keeper
with the Wholesale liquor firm of B.
Anger 4 Co, Battery street, and Seere-
tary of the Buena Vista Ninicultural
Society, are peculiarly sad. The de-
ceased took his own life at $50 Green
wich street, on Sunday night, by shoot
ing himself through the heart with a
pistol. The letters he left embrace the
following:
disappointment in love is the cause
of my voluntary death. 1 attach no
blame to the object of my affections.
She gave me no encouragement whatev-
er; still love her now, notwithstanding
that her refusal is ringing the knell of
death in nv ears. Her name shall be
the last I shall utter in this vale of tears
and l shall bless her with my dying
breath. NIELs c. ]. SELMER."
October L, 1874.
An additional note in English was at
tached:
81 turst that the authorities will not
meddle with my books and papers. All
l have belongs to my brother, A. L. Sell
mer. owe no man a cent"
In a large envelope addressed to his
brother was found letter addressed to
his brothers, written in Norwegian, in
which he begs them not to blame
Katie" the object of his edections, and
requests them to burn his private jour
nal and papers without reading them.
The following letter addressed TO his
mother, written in his native language,
Norwegian, was also found:
beloved MOTHER: - Pardon my
great sin. cannot otherwise-I have
loved and am not loved. God bless you
thou tenderest of mothers.
"Thy son, NIELs."
On the bed occupied by the suicide
with which he committed the fatal deed
a volume of Plutarch's Lives in French,
which was lying open at the life of Cato
the younger. A passage relating how
Cato retired in his chamber and COM
menced reading Plato's Immortality of
the Soul was underlined with a pencil.
The presumed cause of: ::Mr. Selmer's
rash acts was the declination of his
hand by beautiful young girl of six
teen, resident in this city. The deceased
was a native of Norway, and aged twen-
ty-two years. He leaves one brother
here and mother and three brothers in
Norway.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

MARRIED.-At the residence of the
brides parents, in ThornviIle, Ohio,
October 22d, 1874, by Rev. G. L. Sites,
of Lancaster, Ohio, Mr.. Geo. w. Glenn
son, ". d. of Glenford, Perry county,
Ohio, and Miss Almeda Whitmer eld-
est daughter of Dr. Allen Whitmer, of
Thornville, Perry county, Ohio.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

A Negro, who is walking calculat-
ing machine, and who can mentally add =,
subtract, or multiply any given num-
bers, was an attraction on Madison street
yesterday. He solved several problems
in interest and discount correctly, yet
he is not able to explain how he does it;
neither can he perform the operations
with pencil. L Memphis Ledger.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
Cdydiug and SpinHtHg.
Persons wishing work done should bring It
early in the season.
JOHN p. WILSON, Prop'r.
May p 1874
STATE OF OHIO
Insurance Department,
Columbus, Janury 90, 1874.

w pany, located At Howard in the state
OF Ohio, has fled In this Office a sworn
statement by the proper officers thereof,
showing its condition aud business, aud has
complied in all respects with the laws Of this
state, relating to Fire Insurance Companies
Now, Therefore, In pursuance Of law. I VIII
Ham r. Church, superintendent Of Insurance Of
the state OF Ohio, do hereby certify. that said
Company Is authorized 60 transact iis appropri-
ate business u Fire Insurance in this State IN
accordance with law during the current year
The condition and business Of said Company at
the date OF such statement, Dec. 81, 1873, Is
show follows
Amount OF actual paid up Capital. siO0. 900 90
Aggregate am'nt of Available Assets ISL SIS 2s
Aggregate amt Of Liabilities (0xcept
capital including Reinsurance
only, being fifty per cent of
Premiums on risks not terminated. 4SI7I ss
Amount OF Income for the preceding
year in cnsh............. ............. so 7As IS
Amount Of Expenditures for the pre-
ding year in cash. Is,i9s 6s
NJ. B. Peterman, District Agent.
MillersbUrgh, Ohio.
NJ. J: Bugh, Local Agent, Junction
City Ohio.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

Ex-President johnson has growing
upon his place at Greenville, Tenn, two
large weeping willows that have grown
from sprigs taken by traveller from a
tree that formerly oyershadowed the
grave Of Napoleon al St. Helena.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

Four in hand-How much? Toll-keep-
er: Well we charge a shullin' tor a show
mans carriwan. ! suppose you're some
thing In the circus line,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

Ashbrook & Co. sell the best grocer
les for the least money.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
Notice of Appointmant

T'HE undersigned has been appointed and
qualified as Administrator Of the estate of
George Beckwith, late of Perry county Ohio
deceaaed BENONA 'RFf,R WI
October 9. 1874 asws
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
JOHN STINE.

pEAIER ~
Tobaccos, Cigars, Candies. Notions,
Books, Magazines, Papers.
Stationery, &c,
S,otf's B,ocL, UeS Aafn st., SOMERSET, O.
A Ii the best grades Of articles Of the above
n description may be found at this establish
ment, at prices 20 suit the times. Respectfully
solicit share Of public patronage.
ocs- 80. IA 2sws JOHN sTINE.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
LIST OF GIFTs.
2,i7s Cash Gifts, amounting io.......sl ,0CJ. .0u
NUMBER OF TICKETS, 100000.
pHLCE OH ITnh-Er.

L@lts Nash GINS amounting fo........-&l .OlN. 600
NUMBER OF TICKETS, 100000
PRICE or TICKETS
nole elA8
i.tJ
Ei5hths OF each coupon $50
On AlcAets NHtl
The Montpelier Humane Association. chan
tered by the Legislature Of Niueinia and tls
lircaH Court OF orange co.. proposes by EraEi
CIT Concert 10 establish and Cudtw O. Home isr
the Old, lnhrm, and Destitute Ladies' Of VirlIa-
dent James Madison.
Cows. OFFIcE, RtcuMoED, July 8. 1874.
II affords me pleasure % say thar I am a5u
acquainted with large majority of the on clrl
OF the 81 ouutpelicr Female "A umano A aaoolntian
Who reside In the vicinity Of my hume, and
attest their intelligence and their worth md
high rePutat ion a. gentlemn, nswell a. fha
pubic confidence, inhuencc and substantial
means literally represented among them.
JAMES l.. kENPKH, GOV. Nirrlnla
ALExANpRiA, Va. July 3. ta7L-
commend them a. gents Of honor aud In teEnty
and fully entitled 70 the confidence q Che pub-
r. W. Hughes, L. s. Judge East'n Dist. % Va.
Further references by Permission. Has Excel
lency Gilbert e. Walker, Ex-Governor of Va.
hon Robert Z. Withers, Licut-iov. q Ha. aud
y. :. Senator elect Senators and Membou ~
Congress from Va.
Remittanecs for tickets may be made by sz-
press, prepaid, poat-othee money order on Vi ash-
inaton, ID. q, or BY registered letter
For full particulars, testimonials, &c., nend for
circular. Address
Hon. JAMEs BARuoua.
Pres't. NJ. =. n. A., Alexandra. Va
Reliable agents wanted every where.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

s,otrs Bloch, Ues Mafn st., sOMERsET. o
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

Which has been carefully selected ir
for cash at