davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08
Death Among the Karens.

AMONG the Karens everything pertain
ing to death is regarded with absolute
horror. The clothes, books and other
possessions of the deceased are all COM
mitted to the flames; and any one who
should knowingly appropriate any part
of them would be considered unclean for
ever. Even the piece of work on which
a man or woman happens to be engaged
when a death is announced to him must
be at once abandoned, and, however valu-
able or costly it is, never resumed. Thus
a house or boat in which is invested per-
haps nearly all a poor mans little fortune
a valuable web of cloth that has cost some
feeble woman months of wearying labor
the harvest of field or garden which is
just about to repay the whole seasons toll
and anxiety-must be all alike consigned
to irredeemable destruction if their own
ers should chance to be engaged on their
work when they see or hear of a death.
This copyist and his wife, worthy young
couple, had been since their marriage
zealously engaged in trying to build them
selves house, living meanwhile in an old
one near by. The frame of the new build
ing was already erected, but funds were
wanting for its completion, and these the
young couple were earning, the man by
writing, the woman by weaving, when
death put stop to their plans. A few
days more would have completed the
books and the cloth, and the sale of them
would have supplied ample means to fin
ish the house. But now the innocent
volumes on which the patient copyist had
spent long days of toll must with the
fine cloth of the poor wife, be consumed by
| fire, and even the frame of the new house
would share the same fate. To touch again
| any of them after such a casualty would,
| in the estimation of these superstitious
| Karens, involve a curse more fatal thar
the poisoned tunic of Nessus conveyed tC
| Hercules, entailing calamity not only tC
the corporeal part, but to the soul through
all future states of being. In accordance
with the Karen custom, as soon as the
young copyist had ceased to breathe
every part of the body, even the face, was
| closely enwrapped in coarse white cloth
and the corpse laid out on bench il
the outer room, where all who came il
might weep over it. Rice was poured
| down in piles at the head and feet to
| gether with fruit, tobacco, cigarettes, anC
betel-Duts; and on one side of the body
was placed basket containing a drink
| ing-cup, knife and spoon, and som'
cooking utensils. The spirit of the deaC
man was then invited to eat freely a
while in the body, and exhorted not TO b.
ashamed, whilst all his deceased friend
who had preceded him to the land o
spirits were urged to return and escor
their brother to his destined abode
Meanwhile the nearest relatives, with tn
young wife at their head, crowded rounC
the dead body, prostrated themselves witt
walls and lamentations, and implored tn
departed to return and bless their longing
ears once more with the sound Of his ia
miliar voice. Others sang dolorous dill
ties and chanted songs in figurative Ian
guage and in a peculiar measure.-LiI
| ptncOtt's Magazine.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08
Spring Fashions.

To THE ordinary eye, the incoming
modes appear but slight variations of the
outgoing. Indeed, the violent changes
of fashion once deemed necessary to
mark the recurrent seasons have become
obsolete. Modistes have unhappily dis
covered the fact that poor feminine ma
ture may be gently and gradually led into
all sorts of absurdities which 1t would
rebel against if called to accept them sud-
denly.
The principal and prettiest change is
in the combination of over-skirt and
polonaise into mysterious kind of jacket
for street wear. 1t takes the place of the
two other garments, and the skirt trim
ming is generally carried high enough to
meet the lowest edge of the jacket. We
say lowest edge advisedly, because the
jacket is rarely of the same length all
round. Sometimes il has only short
basque behind, with long, tab ends in
front; or the back is extended into two
tails corresponding with the form OF a
gentleman's dress coats while the front
has little more than frill, met by the
garniture of the tablier. Beside these
many of the garments are long in front
over the hips; while others again
make no pretension to depth ex
cept on the sides. Every variety
is worn and accepted but the old,fash
ioned polonaise and over-skirt. These
though often appearing, are not regarded
as exactly en- regle. Polonaises that would
naturally be mistaken for over-dresses
and over-dresses bearing the air of polo
naises, are alone allowed. Since 1t is i'm
possible to do away with the over-skirl
entirely, the fashion-makers design the
most singular and characterless specimens
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08

foot, stripped them naked, and then beat them
with clubs, winding up the performance by
innicting severe wounds with sharp knife,
and then left them TO dieuo unless relieved by
others. So crafty was he IN concealing all
evidences of his connection with these out
RACES that over hundred boys were arrested
before suspicion attached to him. This was
10 1872. For these offense he was finally
brought to justice and sent to the House Of
Correction. Last February he was released
OF course during his confinement he was COM
PEELED to abstain from deeds of violence, but
on his release his appetite was only
satated by downright murder. A little
playmate was the victim, and he was
tortured and finally killed, the method being
the same and only varying in intensity from
his former efforts in that direction narrated
above He was arrested and confined. When
asked why he committed the murder, he can
didly replied 81 could not help it." BY ma
ture, OF probably by mental disease, the In
stinct of destruction and the promptings OF a
savage disposition dominated his will, and
perhaps rendered him for the moment ire
| sponsible. OF course this is no reason why
| he should be leniently dealt with and while
| his age (fourteen years) and his mental in
| trinity may protect him from the gallows, he
will probably be put somewhere, so l can't
| 10 such things" as he himself said In answer
to the question what he thought ought to be
done with him.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08
Late Crop Statistics.

The following is a synopsis of the leading
information furnished by the National Crop
Reporter Qndianapolis) of the I'd:
The unusual back wardness of the season
has delayed very much all kinds Of spring
work, and at the date of the last full reports,
prepared April Is, there had been practically
no seeding at all in the State of Minnesota, and
but little plowing in Wisconsin. At the
date mentioned about 40 per cent. of the
estimated area had been sown in wheat, and
but little more than one-fourth of the oats.
The average area sown in wheat in the States
of Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin was
81 per cent. of the estimated probable total,
62 per cent. of the oats, and of potatoes 80 per
cent. The prospects of the fruit crop to
date are of the most encouraging char
acter. The condition Of the roads al
the date Of reports was: South OF
the forty-ffth parallel uniformly bad
owing to the prevalence of wet weather.
North Of that line the ground was generally
frozen and the roads in fine condition. Prices
of leading articles the first half of April in
the States of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas,
Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin
show slight advance in corn, oats and hay
and decline on swine and potatoes, wheat
remaining unchanged.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08
Quit Smoking.

One of our force quit smoking a few
days ago, and as soon as he threw off the
shackles he became a Jealous reformer,
and there is not smoker in the office he
did not visit and wrestle with, as the
wOrldly-minded say. He said that smok-
ing was killing him and he was bound to
break it up. And break it up he did, and
already felt so much better that he thought
it pity, and was much surprised, beside,
that anybody smoked. He got to talking
with the doctors about the habit. He
would say: Now it is all lie, amt it,
that smoking helps digestion?" And they
would say Certainly" The heartiness
of the Endorsement invariably took his
breath to that degree that he could but
family respond, "Of course" and drop
his eyes in triumph After a pause he
would say: "a very little pipe full of to-
bacco, or few whiffs of cigar-a mild
cigar, ,remember-after hearty meal, amt
of no benefit to digestion, is it?" And
they would say Certainly not And he
would strive so hard to conceal his graft
fication from the eyes of the miserably en-
shaved about him as to appear in actual
pain. One would think, to look at him,
that he was the disappointed party, so
delicate was his feelings for the unfortu-
hdJCs On lllC lAln uetl vi his hO" ain
better existence he asked US in confidence
if there were any doctors handy besides
those who frequented the Office. He said
he wanted to convince the boys as thor
oughly as possible. But there were no
more doctors. Then he said cake disa-
greed with him aliredly, and he would
at some cake at tea and try for himself
whether little temperate smoking right
after eating aided digestion, Cake still
disagrees with him, but he ate it at break.
fast the next morning, and also at noon,
and again at night. He ordered i
for the next day. The third day he
sent out for it between meals. He ate so
much cake ON that day as to require the
consumption of thirteen cigars, and he is
becoming so ravenously fond of cake tina,
corner in the article is really imminent
and some few nervous people, also fond
of cake, contemplate calling town meet
ing.-Ddn6ury Nelos.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08
THE MARKETS.
NEW YORK.

MAY s. 1874.
CorroN-Middling upland, 171S0EAc.
LIVE STocK.-Beef Cattle-$10.0 .0O01250. Hogs
Dressed, $7.5OlT75. Sheep-Liye, $7.OOQ9O0.
BREADsTUFFs.- .-Flour-Good to choice, $3.50
6s5; white wheat extra, $6.s597.35. Wheat-No.
3 Chicago, $1.5401.56; Iowa spring, $1.55Gi5s;
No. 2 Milwaukee spring, $i.591l.62. Rye-West-
ern and State, $105@t10. Barley-S1.65@i.6 81.
Corn--Mixed Western ahoat, s30S7c. Oats-New
Western, 6iGb66c.
PROVISIONS Mess, s169591TOO.
Lard-1O1l 01OHc.
WooL.-Common to extra, 40b70c.
CHICAGO.
LIVE -Beeves-C Choice, $5.6O15 IS; good,
$5.2505.5O; medium, $l7595.l0; butchers
stock, $3.7s0AT5; stock cattle, $3.5004.75.
Hogs-Live, $5.s505.75. sheep-Good to choice,
$6.7507.75.
PRov1sloNs.-B Butter-Choice, slGs4c. Eggs
Fresh, l2h@i3c. Pork-New Mess, $16.5O0
1885. Lard-$1O15@1o,20
BREADsrUFFs. - Flour White Winter extra,
$7OO09.OO; spring extra, $537@S06.50 Wheat
Spring, No. 2 $1.27A9t.271i. Corn-NO. 2, 65l4
165Ac. Oats-No. 2, 461S046%c. Rye-No. 2, 81
092c. Barley-No. 2, $1.5S@1.56.
WooL.-Tub-washed, 4S055c.; fleece, washed,
36@4sc.; fleece, unwashed, 25G32c.; pulled,
3514Oc.
CINCINNATI.
BREADsTUFFs.- -Flour-$67 75070O. Wheat
$l.47. Corn-66@6sc. RYe-S1.O0. oats-5O9
Sc Barley-$l.55@1.60
Provisions - Pork -s16.75017.OO. Lard-10
@1Ohc.
ST. LOUIS.
LIVE STooK.-Beeves-Fai to choice, $4.50Sb
500 Hogs--Live, $4.b0@5.50
BREADsTUFFs.- Xxx Fall, $5.5o0s5.9 90
Wheat-No. Red Fall, $1.5o91.51h. Com-No. 3
6s169c. Oats--No. 2, 51052c. Rye-No. 2,
96098c. Barley-$1.6O@1.65.
PRovIsloNs.-Pork-Mess, SIS 750170O Lard
9hQ9Ac. ,,,,,,
BREADsTUFFs. Fs.-FlOur-Sprng Xxx, $S.7096.25.
Wheat-Spring No. /, 81. 1.s301.SSA; No. 2, 81. .2sG
129 Corn-No. q 63@64c. Oats-No. 2, 450
acc, Rye-No. l, GOOGLE Barley-No. 2, $1.bs
016O.
BREADsTUFFs. - Wheat-Extra, Sl.6s01. .6SA.
Corn-75Q76c. Uats-541l @55c.
TOLEDO.
BREADsTUFFs.- Wheat-Amber Mich, $1.49& a
1.49; No. 2 Red, $1.41@1.47h. Corn-Mixed,
73175c. Oats-No. 1, 55056c.
CLEVELAND.
BREADsTUFFs. -wheat-No. Red, 1880
1877; No. Red, $1.4G01.47. Corn-7s079c
Oats-54056c.
LIVE Stock. - Beeves-$55O@6.5o Hogs
Live, t5.2506.OO. Sheep-Live, t7s5@s25.
EAST LIBERTY.
LIVE oK.-Beeves-Best, 81. so; me
dium, $5.2506OO Hogs-Yorkers, $5.5OGb5.65
philadelphia, &6.3OD6, 40. sheeP-Best, $6.bO@
500; good, $5oO@60O.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08

for the ensuing months They positively
protest against having two sides alike,
insisting that the whole effect depends on
the draping. If the right gore be long,
the left is sure to be the reverse. If there
be a back breadth, the front is more than
liable to be omitted, and Uice UersG. The
sole guide to cutting these articles is to
create the most irregular and singular
shape possible, and loop 1t gracefully,
when it will inevitably be in the mode.
The noticeable variation in dress skirts
is the widespread use of the puff in the
back. 1t is made as much in outdoor
costumes as-perhaps more thanh
those intended merely for the house. Of
course, with puff, neither over-skirt nor
polonaise is appropriate, and only short
basque is worn.
Skirts for the street are scantier than
they have been-often not more than
three yards and a quarter round the bot
tom. They preserve the old form
slightly gored front breadth (tablier), two
wide side cores, succeeded by two narrow
cores $50 shaped at the bottom as to throw
the entire skirt back like trainl and one
or two straight breadths, according to
the width desired. The fullness, as be-
fore, is carried far back, so as to make the
front and sides lie as fatty as possible.
Such extra ft1llness as is needed for house
dresses is added in the straight breadths.
It is not pleasant to note that the tendency
toward trailing skirts for outdoor uses is
greater than ever. Is no appeal against
this untidy and unladylike practice strong
enough to induce sensible and refined
people to abandon it9 They would con-
slider the wearing of solid lingerie a sin
against their nature; yet they will, day
after day, put on dresses incrusted, for
inches above the edge, with the sweeping
of miry sidewalks. 1t does not depend
upon modistes whether this shall be so;
it depends solely upon women, who
should forswear any fashion which forces
them to be untrue to their instinct of
liness.-Scribner's Monthly for May.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08
Report ON the SanbOrn Contracts.

In Washington, on the 4th, the House Com
mlttee on Ways and Means made their report
on the Sanborn contracts, reciting the circum-
stances under which they were executed and
the conclusions they had reached. In the
opinion of the committee very large per-
centage, II not all, of the $437,0 900 of
taxes collected by Sanborn were not a
proper subject of contract under the law, and
the taxes should and would have been col
lected by the officers of the Revehue Bureau
in the ordinary discharge of their duties. Re-
ferring to the conflict of testimony between
the Secretary, Assistant Secretary and the So
llcitor of the Treasury, the committee say:
"The disagreements and contradictions given,
respectively, by these gentlemen, as appear
from the testimony, is a matter greatly de-
plored by the committee, as by it they are un-
able to fix upon any one, or anywhere, the
responsibility for the maladministration Of
this law; and they look with serious appre-
hension upon the apparent efforts of these
gentlemen to transfer the responsibility each
from himself to the other While the com
mittee, therefore, are unable to determine
where the responsibility rests, they cannot
in justice to themselves ignore the fact that
these three persons deserve severe condemna-
ton for the manner in whiCn they have per-
mitted this law to be administered" In view
of the facts presented the committee recon.
mended that the law of May s, 1872, be re-
pealed and that the contracts made thereunder
be revoked and annulled, They submitted
the draft Of a bill for that purpose.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08
A Glance into the U. 5. Supreme Court

LEFT with profound pity for the entire
judiciary. The Chief Justice sat in
grave meditation, looking intensely bored,
as he must have been. His brothers in
misfortune occasionally exchanged a
word and smile, and relapsed into silent
mournfulness. The cause? A tedious
little man, who, in a shambling sort of
way, was pleading.a a case in regard to
contract for trees. A joke or two, the
point of which vainly sought to find, or
even their application, and which were
received by the Judiciary in the most
stolin manner, and he again went on with
his speech. Who would be even Chief
JusticeY What honor, what emolument
even, could pay man to be obliged to
pass his time in listening to such SEEM
ingly irrelevant speech, uttered in such a
hitchy, slip-shod manner? Had it been
softly monotonous, we might have gone
to sleep; but as it was, it was simply ex-
asperating. / decline now being elected
ChiefJ when Susan b. gets her
rights, if such would-be lions are then to
roar gently as sucking doves. l should
disgrace my gown by squeezing him with
some mechanical contrivance to get out
good, honest roar that meant something,
As neither myself nor my escort knew who
eAlO Ahoh Wuot WIS 10 PSAANNNiJ
Judgment. never before, however, real
lied what that dignifed body of men must
have to endure. Viewing them only from
afar, as endowed with a power which is
only superseded by so-called higher law,
they seemed body to be envied. Closer
investigation shows that they are often to
be pitied. Their robes of Office seem a
fitting regalia, and l am not sure that
some special and appropriate costume
might not be desirable thing for the
other branches of the governmental body.
In the House, for instance, the amount of
good looks, or even superior intellect, is
not overwhelming; and am not certain
that silk gown and mortar-board
might not be an improvement to many.
did not see man in the House homely
enough 10 be handsome, for rugged feat
ures may shine with the light of intel
lect; but these picked men looked as II
they might have been selected haphazard
from any crowded thoroughfare. OF
course there are some exceptions, and
should any of them chance to read this,
why, as each individual will think that
he is one of the exceptions, am per
fectly safe in putting my impressions into
print-A L0dy Cor Chicayo Tribune.
-
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08
A Moral Monster.

NATURE occasionally INDUCES in unaccount-
able freaks. Sometimes 1t is the animal king
dom which is thus distinguished, sometimes
the vegetable and sometimes the physical.
Volcanic eruptions ard Bald Mountain scares
areinstances of the aforementioned phenomena,
and the siamese Twins and two-headed horses
of the nrst. Instances of vegetable irregular
ity will be readily recalled by the intelligent
reader. Not unfrequeutly moral montrosity
is produced. One of the most remarkable of
these has lately come TO the surface in Boston
Ia boy murderer.
Jesse Pomeroy, the son Of respectable
parents, not long since killed smaller play
mate in cold blood. He often took little fel-
lows to some lonely spot, tied them hand and
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08

There are 5000, ,OOO,O 900 people on the
earth, and they speak 3,O63 known Ian
guages. The average duration of life is
33 1-2 years. One-fourth OF those born
die before they are at the age of seven
teen. Out Of one hundred persons only
six reach the age of sixty. Out Of five
hundred persons only one attains the age
Of eighty.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08

During the year 1878 the Working
women's Protective Union, of New York,
sent 2,43l persons to employment in the
different trades and callings in which wom-
en- are employed Except household SER
wages for workin gwomen, in sums vary,
ing from 80 cents TO 800, which would
otherwise have been withheld from them,
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08

"A Yankee schoolmaster who under
took to make compulsory poets of his
scholars, was obliged to listen to this
effusion of one of them;
"Oh, helpful Jove lend us thine aid
To help us wretched scholars;
We've hired fool to teach this school,
And pay him fifty dollars"
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08
The Railroad Troubles In Wisconsin.

Gov. TAYLOR, of Wisconsin, issued proc
lamation on the lst inst. in which he calls
attention to the new Railroad law of the State
and to the recently-published letters of the
Presidents of the Chicago, Milwaukee & st.
Paul and the Chicago 81 Northwestern Rail-
way Companies, in which the determination
is announced to operate their roads without
reference to the provisions of said act and in
defiance of its requirements. The Governor
then announces his intention to see to the
faithful execution of the provisions of the
law. The following Is the concluding portion
of the proclamation:
Now, therefore, l, William r. Taylor,
Governor of the State of Wisconsin, do pro-
claim and make known that the law of the
land must be respected and obeyed. While
non are so weak as to be without its protec-
ton, none are 80 strong as to be above its re-
straints. If provisions of the law be deemed
oppressive, resistance to its mandates will not
abate, but rather multiply, the anticipated
evils. 1t may well be that the law
tails + deGe5ye SSt it in is 'Sm9 st tSe Sf sw 5s de Of
the land, enacted by the Legislature in the ex-
ercise of its conceded powers, and in accord.
ance with the clearly-expressed sentiment of
the people of the State. 1t Is the right OF all
to test its validity through the constitutional
channels; but with that right is coupled the
duty of yielding a general obedience to its
requirements until 1t has been pronounced in
valid by competent authority. l am not
without hope that better counsels will yet
prevail with the railway companies of the
State; but II they or any Of them are fixed
in the determination to pursue the policy
announced, upon them will fall the penalty OF
the law and the consequences of a severe pop
ular condemnation. therefore enjoin all
railway corporations, their officers and agents
peaceably to submit to the laws; for, since the
Executive Is charged with the responsibility
of seeing that the laws are faithfully exc
cuted, all the functions Of his office will be
exercised to that end; and for this purpose he
lnvokes the aid and cooperation OF all good
citizens. In testimony whereof l have here
unto subscribed my name and caused the
great seal of the State TO be hereto affixed.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08

How railroad opens up a new coun-
try is demonstrated very remarkably by a
comparison of the United States census
of 1870 with the Territorial census of 1878,
This shows that between those years all
the counties ON the line of the Denver
and Rio Grande have either trebled or
quadrupled in assessed wealth and popu-
lation,
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08

Manitoba demands an extension Of its
area from 9,OOO, 900 to 100, 1900 acres.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-05-08
Public Debt Statement.

The public debt statement for April is as
Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-07-09
.HOw TO GO WEST,

This is an inquiry which every one
should have truthfully answered before
he starts on his journey, and little care
taken in examination of routes will in
many cases save much trouble, time and
money.
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad has achieved splendid reputa-
ton in the last three years as the leading
Passenger Route to the West, Starting at
Chicago or Peoria. it runs direct through
Southern Iowa and Nebraska, with close
connections to California and the Terri
tories. 1t is also the short line and best
line to Quincy, Missouri, and all points in
Kansas and New Mexico. Passengers
on their way westward cannot do better
than TO take this route.
This line has published pamphlet en-
titled "How To GO WEST" which con-
tains much valuable information: large.
correct map of the Great West, which can
he obtained free of charge by addressing
the General Western Passenger Agent,
Chicago, Burlington 81 Quincy Railroad,
Chicago, Iii. Janl0-74-yl.