davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-11-26
An Iron-CIad Rats Nest.

An Iron-Clad Rats Nest.
The pretty schoolmistress stopped
by the stump and read very wonder
full thing, one fine day In July, to the
children who were going with her to
look for crosses at the brook-so won
derful that I am going to ask the edi-
tors to get the same magazine and copy
the story out for you. The story was
told by Prof. Silliman, and it came to
him in private letter from a friend.
This friend was part owner of some
property on the Oregon coast contain
ing a saw-mill which had never been
set fairly at work. Close by was
dwelling-house for the hands, and when
they cleared out for lack of work,
quantity of things were stored there
tools, packing for the engine, six or
seven kegs of large spikes, besides
knives, forks, spoons, ETC., in the clos
cts, and a great stove in one of the
rooms. (Now, the editors will please
add the rest of the story and you, my
dears, will please bear in mind that the
wood-rat:
"This house," he says, "was left
uninhabited for two years, and being
at some distance from the settlement, it
was frequently broken into by tramps
who sought shelter for the night.
WheE / entered the house was aston
ished to see an immense rats nest on
the empty stove. On examining this
nest, which was about five feet in
height, and occupied the whole top of
the stove "a large range, found the
outside to be composed entirely of
spikes, all laid with symmetry so as to
present the points of the nails outward.
In the center Of this mass was the nest,
composed of finely divided fibers of the
hemp packing. Interlaced with the
spikes, We found the following: About
three dozen knives, forks and spoons
all the butcher.knives, three IN num-
Der; large carving knife, fork, and
steel; several large plugs of tobacco
the outside casing of silver watch, dis
posed of In one part of the pile, the
glass of the same watch in another, and
the works in still another; an old purse
containing some silver, matches, and
tobacco nearly all the small tools from
the toOl-closets, among them several
large augers. Altogether, it was very
curious mixture of different articles, all
of which must have been transported
some distance, as they were originally
stored in different parts of the house.
"The ingenuity and skill displayed
in the construction of this nest, and the
curious taste for articles of iron, many
of them heavy, for component parts,
struck me with surprise. The articles
OF value were, think, stolen from the
men who had stolen into the house for
temporary lodging. Ihave preserved a
sketch of this iron-clad nest, which 1
think unique in natural history
From Jack-in-the-Pulpit," st. Mich
oids for November.
Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-11-26

THE crop of sweet potatoes this sea-
son is reported to be the largest ever
known in Illinois.
Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-11-26

THE first bridge built over the Ganges
has just been opened for traffic.
Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-11-26

Governors, statesmen, philosophers,
ministers, teachers, men of the future
all, are boys now.
Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-11-26

Boys, did you ever think that this
world, with all its wealth and woe, with
all its mines and mountains, oceans,
seas and rivers, with all its shippings,
its steamboats,, railroads, and magnetic
telegraphs, and all its millions of group
ing men, and all the science and progress
OF ages-win soon be given over to boys
OF the present age-boys like you? Be
heve 1t, and look abroad upon your in
heritance, and get ready to enter upon
its possession. The Presidents, Kings,
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19
VIII MIR. Brace Explain

The patrons of the Children's Aid Society
would do well to examine the last annual
report issued by Mr.. Brace. They will there
find how the funds of the society are invested
in, to say the least, doubtful securities, that
are quite unknown in the stock market
Among the assets are 1873 bonds of 81, 900 each
Of the Evansville and Charlottesville Railroad,
line that scarcely any one ever heard Of
and the securities of which are not quoted at
the Stock Exchange. Mr.. Brace does not
tell his patrons how much he gave Tor these
bonds or through whose influence they were
purchased. Most people in Wall street know
nothing about them, and the few that have
heard Of their existence say the bonds are not
worth more than seventy to seventy-fve cents
on the dollar, and that it is very difficult to
sell them at all. highly respectable gentle
man in Wall street, who has been a constant
subscriber to the funds Of the Chill
dren's Aid Society, has drawn our atten-
ton to the manner in which the funds
of the society are invested. He himself was
utterly astonished on perusing the printed
report of the society, as, although being an
extensive broker he had no knowledge of
some of the securities in which the money
had been invested. He believed that the
transaction looked as if there was ga niger
in the fence somewhere, and he declined to re-
new his subscription to the society for the cur
rent year. The society has also invested in five
bonds of the Evansville and Terre Haute and
Chicago Railroad, which at this moment
could not be sold in the street at any price.
1t would be interesting to know what these
securities cost, as we'll as the reason which in
duced the officers of the society to place so
large portion of the funds donated by
charitable public in securities which are not
known in the street
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19
PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE.

General w. II. Averill is staying at the New York
Hotel.
Ex-Speaker D. c. Littlejonn, OF OswegO, Ia at the
Metropolitan Hotel.
Judge r. d. Klce of Maine, is registered at the
Fifth Avenue Hotel
william H. Seward, OF Auburn, N. Y. Is at the
st. Nicholas Hotel.
Judge Harry Bingham, of New Hampshire, is re
siding at the New York Hotel.
Ex-Congressman y. b. Matteson, OF Utica, is
staying at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
Ex-Governor J. B. Page, of Vermont. has re-
turned to the st. Nicholas Hotel.
Professor Charles +. Hartt, OF Cornell University,
Is stopping at the HOFFMAN House.
, Horace Fairbanks, OF Vermont IS among the re-
cent arrivals at tie Fifth Avenue Hotel.
Congressman Stephen W. Kellogg, OF Connect
cut, yesterday arrived at the Windsor Hotel.
Ex-Governor J. Gregory Smith, Of Vermont il
among the New Englanders at the Windsor Hotel.
Judge Amasa j. Parker and General 8. E. Mar
vim, of Albany, have apartments at the Windsor
Hotel.
Major General Mcdowell and star arrived at the
Grand National Hotel in Jacksonville. Fia On the
18th inst.
The Prince Imperial will attain his majority on
the 18th of March. There Is to be great gather
ing at Chiselhurst on the occasion.
Commodore w. +. Davidson has retired from the
Upper Mississippi steamboat service and has pur-
chased IT, 900 acre farm In Minnesota, upon which
he proposes to raise more wheat than any other
man in the country.
The Los Animas Colorado Leader says the Duke
of Somerset, from England, has been sOjourning
and hunting In Bent county, in that territory, for
some weeks past, and that he gets $3.50, 900 year
for being hts father's son.
Almer Huntley, of Cuba, N. Y, aged 1o7 years
,t,,%O Tonfo
sometimes personfy Death as "a paid horse
man." and Almer must have looked something like
that. The omen cannot harm the old mans health
very much, however.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19

INFRINGEMENT IN CINCINNATI worthy
citizens of Cincinnati are very patriotic-after
the manner of Artemus Ward. They favor
reform and retrenchment in all parts of the
Union, save in Porkopolis. They protest
vigorously against the withdrawal or lessening
of the Congressional appropriations for public
buildings, as they have little job in that line
on hand Unfortunately, Cincinnati is just
in a similar position to many other Cities
which have prospected in public buildings
and whose representatives clamor for retrench-
ment everywhere, except in one favored spot
We should like very much to have q new Gus
tom House erected, but are content to wait !;
and Cincinnati will have to initiate the self
sacrifice of New York. The nation demands
retrenchment, and local interests must be
sacrificed TO the universal demand.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19

The approaching celebration Of Washing
toms Birthday furnishes both theatrical man
ayers and the public with an unwonted oppor-
tunity of proving what and how much they
are willing to do in the cause of charity. MIR.
DAILY, who has already organized for this pur-
pose q matinee of more than usual attractive
ness, deserves all the credit due to an initiative
step in so excellent cause But there are other
managers, whose resources are just as great, If
not greater, and who would be almost unpar-
donable should they allow the winter to pass
without move in this direction. We're
manager like Mr. Lester Wallack, for in
stance, whose genius has been perfected by SO
large and valuable on experience, to provide
an entertainment of the kind to which we
allude, an OVERLOOKING house would unques-
tionably result, and that rare spectacle would
be presented of strictly first class entertain
ment with one OF the most perfect
actors of the day as central attrac-
ton, provided for the purpose Of char
ity. It rests with Mr.. Wallack to take the
lead. And, though any time and every
time seems to have a propriety of its own
where charity is concerned, still holiday,
the spirit of which is SO gladstone and benef-
cent, seems to present an opportunity pecu-
liarly felicitous. Let each manager in the city
provide next Monday afternoon an entertain
ment the entire proceeds of which shall be
devoted to the benefit of the poor, and if both
the afternoon and the evening performance
WIRE SO applied SO much the better. No OPP
portunity could be better than that which
Washington's Birthday supplies Were as at
tractive bill as possible presented at each of
the theatres on that day, or, rather, on the
23d, when the anniversary will be celebrated,
two or three times as much money might be
collected as an ordinary occasion would yield.
We should be very glad to have some such
plan as this adopted Lord Chesterfield used
to say, 'Give me virtuous actions and will
not too closely scrutinize the motives" If
the motives in attending charity matinee are
those of pleasure, a good deal of beautiful and
generous feeling is mingled with them. Few
holidays should be more creative of kindly
emotion than Washington's Birthday, and we
hope to see this suggestion adopted by every
manager in the city,
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19
Musical and Dramatic Notes.

Nine. Florence Lancia, the English prima donna,
announces her approaching retirement from the
stage.
A new and beautiful Illusion, called 'The Angel
of the Madeleine has been introduced at the CO.
iosseum.
Boston paid Impresario Strakoscn for less than
two weeks OF opera-eeven performances-$46,O2 1.
OF this sum Nine. Nhsson's share was S1l,s60 80.
An entertainment OF some magnitude is prepar-
ing for the Academy OF Music on Saturday evening.
The bill will be interpreted by the Murray Hill
Amateur Dramatic Association The proceeds are
for the benefit Of the poor OF the Ninth ward.
Mrs. j. b. Booths benefit and appearance as
juliet are set down, we observe, for Saturday
evening" instead OF Friday. Upon Friday evening
she enacts Pauline IN .'The Lady OF Lyons" On
the evening OF the ensuing Monday Mme. Janau-
schek acts Lady DedlocK and Hortense in "Chesney
Wold," adramatzation OF Dickens "Beak House,"
The late Mr.. A. II. Davenport, the popular actor,
who died at New Orleans short time since, VIII
be relnterred in Greenwood Cemetery. HIS re-
mains having arrived in this city on the 18TH inst,
per steamer Mississippi, the funeral VIII take place
from the Church OF the strangers, Mercer street,
near Eighth street, tomorrow, at TWO O'Clock 2.
NJ. and the Masonic service VIII be conducted BY
New York Lodge No. $50, OF which he was an hon.
ored member for great many years.
Eichberg,s charming operetta In two acts. the
.Doctor of Alcantara" was capItally sung a
couple OF evenings since, on the occasion OF
birthday celebration at one OF our Murray Hill
residences The performers were OF course un.
known TO the operate stage and the ''acces-
series, ~ costumes excepted, OF nome manufacture;
vet the chorus singing was admirable and the
affair passed of without hitch. vocal. instru'
vnantal 0r mechanical.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19

SMALL Contributions THANKFULLY For
GorTEN-We give elsewhere the affidavit of
John Christ in relation to his failure to obtain
certain moneys subscribed for him by the
public, and supposed to have been placed in
the hands of Mr.. Barnard, of the Five Points
House of Industry For Christ's story we can
not vouch, but it is circumstantial, and its
publication will afford Mr.. Barnard an oppor-
tunity to correct unfavorable impressions. It
is alleged that 1929 was collected for Christ;
that he received but 1913, and that Mr.. Barnard
could not remember about the remainder.
There is no evidence that he ever received the
entire sum; but Christ ought to reflect that
even if Barnard got the money the charge of
$50 for administration" on $129 is brilliantly
moderate.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19
MU S E NJ E N T S .
The Charity Benefit To-Day at the
Grand Opera House.


very singular entertainment Will take place az
the Grand opera House this afternoon. For the
sake OF convenience we may divide 1t into two
great parts, the first of which occurs before the
rising OF the curtain and the second after. Ger.
tainly the first Is the more extraordinary OF the
two, since all the performers make their appear
ance in parts which they have never previously
attempted and some of them in parts for which
the have not the slightest qualification. Mr.. Fox,
for instance, will offlciate at the ticket window,
and our only hope is that Mr.. TOoker will
be present to correct any pantomimic tendencies
which might ultimately lead to the confusion or the
tickets buyers, Miss Jessie VOkes will exercise
jurisdiction over the ticket gate; Miss Victoria
distribute programmes; Mr.. Frederick and MIR.
FawdOn VOKes will act as ushers The perform
ance will begin at hafpast one O'Clock. long
and attractive programme has been arranged.
First, come the second and third acts OF London
Assurance" In which the Filth Avenue company
will take part. The Martens will then sing their
OF the Kitchen" Interpreted by the V0kes. with
the original cast. To this will succeed pas de
deu1 by the Rlgl sisters The na6lange will very
properly conclude with the fifth act OF ShaGspeares
sRichard ILL., with Mr. G. L. Fox, as Richard, and
Mr.. Frederick vOKes, as Richmond. We might.
indeed, have desired o role better suited to Mr..
Fox's genus, such as , Hamlet Or Othell1,
to say that the Interpretation will be strong
and novel, Pleasantly apart, however. all
the performers who share in the entertainment
to-day deserve public appreciation. Their motives
have the beauty OF generosity, an attribute for
whicn members OF the theatrical profession are
celebrated. The proceeds, as Is well known. are
for the benefit OF the poor OF this city. With
beautiful building. excellent performers varied
ald fascinating programme. the best OF motives
and the several novel accessories we nave already
crowded house and very significant pecuniary
result.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19
The Senate Approaching the Main
Question-A Sharp Contest and .
Close Division.

After two months discussion of the fnan-
cial problem, in which it has been turned and
twisted into every possible complication of in
fation and contraction, the Senate yester-
day, upon an incidental vote or two, ap-
preached the main question.
On Monday, with Cameron sweeping prop
osition for free banking, the contending
leaders began actively to rally their forces;
on Tuesday their skirmish lines were de-
ployed, right and left, and cross-fring and
bushwhacking we're the order of the day; but
yesterday there was an approach to regular
engagement Chandler opened fire against
the infationists in startling exposition of
the disastrous consequences Of the historical
red. dog and wildcat banks of Michigan.
His fierce assaults upon the imitation
lists brought Logan and Morton to their
rescue, and Buckingham, Schurz and
others to the defence of contraction.
The feature of the days debate was the sharp
encounter between Logan and Schurz, the one
with the trenchant battle axe of the lion
hearted Richard, and the other with the keen
Damascus blade of Saladin. The first vote
taken was upon SCOTS proposition to provide
for the recommittal of the bill, and the vote,
90 to 80, revealed the closeness of the division
of the Senate. Counting the Senators paired
off and other absentees, it would appear from
this test that upon full vote the desertion Of
two men or one man will defeat the imitation
lists. The proposition for redemption, upon
,,ol 10 30, "a
by more than two to one; and then, after
some flibustering the Senate was brought to
the main question-Cameron's proposition for
unlimited free banking At this point, how
ever, an adjournment was carried by the
Cameron party, their object being full
Senate before the vote is taken 1t appears
that they are still confident of carrying
their scheme Of free banking, not, perhaps,
in the unqualified form presented by
Cameron, but substantially free banking.
They say that while they can carry the prin-
ciple now they will lose nothing by little de-
lay, that the scheme is strong with the people
of all sections, while the existing national
banking monopoly is becoming more and
more odious to them with every days agita-
ton of free banking
The real question now pending is Sher-
mans bill to transfer to the West from the
East twenty-five millions of currency or to re-
commit the subject to the Finance Committee
with instructions. With the adoption of
Cameron's amendment the committee will be
instructed to prepare and report bill provid-
ing for unlimited free banking, and the sense
of the Senate upon this question will, doubt
less, be expressed to-day. The reference may
embrace various instructions, and with the
general subject once again in the hands of the
committee several weeks may pass before it is
reported back for another general debate.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19
T RIPLE S HEET.
New York, Thursday, Feb. 10, 1874.
THE NEWS OF YESTERDAY.
To-Day's Contents of the
Herald.

AFRICAN SLAVERS ROUTED, AFTER HOT
FIGHT IN THE soUDANl A DARFOoR
vIZIER AND MANY CHIEFS KILLED AND
FOUR OF THE INVADERS GUNS CAP
TURED BY THE EGYPTIANS-SEvENTH
PAGE
THE CONCLUSION OF THE ASHANTEE WAR
DR.. LIvINGSTONE'S DEATH DOUBTED
SEVENTH PAGE.
JUNCTION OF THE FORCES OF GENERALS
MORIONES AND DE RIVERA NEAR PORTU-
GALETE. sPA1N-PERILOUs ASCENT OF A
SWISS MOUNTAIN By AN AMERICAN
LADY-SEvENrH PAGE.
a PLEBISCITE FOR ALSACE AND LORRAINE
AND AN INTERPRETER FOR THE BISHOP
OF METZ REFUSED BY THE GERMAN
PARLIAMENT-SEvENTH PAGE.
Mr. DIsRAELrs FLOOD TIDE OF FORTUNE HE
VISITS THE QUEEN A POPULAR OvA-
TON! CONSERVATIVES IN CoNFERENCEl
THE GREAT FIRE AND THE INSURANCE
CoMPANIES-SEvENTH PAGE.
THE EvENrFUL LIFE AND DEATH OF MR.
CHARLES DICKENS HIS DOMESTIC TROU-
BLEs, AMERICAN VISIT AND IMPRESSIONS
OF LIFE IN AMERICAN CITIES-FoURrH
PAGE.
THE CURRENCY BATTLES IN CONGRESS! A
STIRRING ENCOUNTER Yesterday
LOGAN VS.. sCHURzl WEAKNESS OF THE
INITIATION FACTION-THrRD PAGE.
KING LUNALlL0'S SUCCESSOR THREE AS
PIRANTS INTRIGUING FOR THE HA.
WAIIAN CROwN-SEvEsTH PAGE.
BOUNDLESS CHARITY THE DESTITUTE SUP.
Piled WITH FOOD, CLOTHING, RENT
MONEY AND MEDICINESl NEW CASES. A
GOLDEN GIFT-FIFTH PAGE.
THE TRIPLE MURDERS IN MASSACHUSETTS
TRACING THE ASSASSINS-APFAIRs IN
CUBA-THIRD PAGE
IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS OF THE NEW YORK
LEGIsLATURE-THE FEARS FOR THE DC
TATOR-SEvENTH PAGE.
THE "soLDn STOCK BROKERS-PR0TEST
AGAINST FUNDING THE CANAL DEBT
FOURTH PAGE.
FINANCIAL FACTS AND PROBLEMS I THE
COURSE OF BUSINESS IN THE WALL
STREET MARKETS-TURF ITEMS-EIGHTH
PAGE.
THE RUM RAIDS-THE sIAMEsE TWIN DIssEC.
TI0N-TESrB PAGE.
EX-VICE PRESIDENT WALTER ROCHE OF THE
BOWLING GREEN SAVINGS BANK. AR.
RAIGNED FOR FRAUD COURT BUSINESS
HAYTIAN BITTERNESS AGAINST ST. Do
hINCO-N1NTH PAGE.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19
ShDddy Royalty.

There seems to be considerable agitation in
the Sandwich Islands on the throne question.
King Lunalilo left no legitimate successor,
nor did he name one, it appears and there
fore rivalry has sprung up for the crown, if
crown there be. Ex-Queen Emma and Mrs.
Bishop are spoken of as available sovereigns,
and true native Kanaka, David Kalakua,
wants to be King. The islands contain few
thousand Inhabitants as many as the
smallest Of the late petty sovereignties of
Germany-and nearly half are foreigners, and
mostly Americans. What farce is this aping
OF European royalty bya few miserable natives
and some debased and shoddy citizens of
the United States It is like children playing
kings and queens. There are few English
men and Frenchmen at Honolulu, and it is
natural enough that they should desire to
maintain Brummagem copy of the royalty
and aristocracy under which they were born
but that the American missionaries and traders
and whalemen, who compose the bulk Of the
population, should want royal puppet, is
ridiculous However, if they are to have
monarch we go for Mrs. Bishop, genuine
Yankee and, we believe, good woman. Then,
in cnse of necessity, should shoddy reign
supreme in this country, of which there is
good deal of promise, we might have Queen
Bishop transferred to rule over these United
States
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19

FIGHT IT OUT Reform has been beaten at
the polls in Philadelphia but its supporters
say only by fraudulent voting, wherefore they
will probably carry the case to the courts
They know in Philadelphia that ''He is but
naked, though locked up in steel, whose con-
science by injustice is corrupted" but we
hope they will not depend upon this for get
ting justice for their candidate. Shakespeare
never meant this for Philadelphia rogues.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19

A DANGEROUS OBSERVATION. William Rob
erts, of Water street, went to Brooklyn and
stole the chickens Of the public quietly at
roost. He met private Waterman, to whom
he said, eff you don't leave me alone I'll
put hole through you" As the Waterman
thought this might be reliable information he
fired, and the Coroner is the only public
functionary likely to take an interest in the
deluded Roberts
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19

MIsUsING THE FIGURES. Mr.. Barnard, of
the Five Points House of Industry, sends us
letter, which we print, the purpose of which
is to show that another estabishment-the
Roman Catholic Protectory-is, perhaps,
worse managed than his own society. 1t does
not appear to us that this makes Mr.. Barnard's
case any better, though we certainly are
sorry to hear that any one has done worse
than he has with money given for charity.
By our summary it will be seen that the Ro-
man Catholic Protectory discussed for the
benefit of the poor, in the last year, 1866, 900,
and that its expenses were only $4,000; while
it strikes US the same figures in the House of
Industry would have stood just the other
way-that is, $4,000 for the poor and
$3.50, 900 for salaries, &C.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-19
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
OmCia1 Orders.

WASHINGTON, Feb. IS. 1874.
Surgeon George W. Wood has been ordered 10
the Tuscarora; Assistant Surgeon Holmes ana Act
ing Assistant Surgeon ]. J. Page to the Naval HOS
pital at Washington; Assistant surgeon IL. NJ
Martin detached from the Colorado anu ordered 70
return home and report his ARRIVAL; Asslstan!
Surgeon Howard Wells from the Boston Navy Yard
aud ordered To the Colorado at Key west