davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15
POETRY.
THE DANDIEs /:
q. Away you are an as

Away you 81
shade OF Aladdin bring thy lamp and scour
That the awful Genie now may hail!
Go, Genie, seek roc and by your power
Pluck every feather from its p0nderous tall
And bring the trophies TO me ere an hour
Mind, by the lamp 1 tell you not 70 falii
For 1 must have pen A gander-teather
Is, for my theme, too paltry altogether
o VyYyau! revoke your transformation,
And raise the crafty Merlin from his grave;
For he must bleed the asses OF our nation,
And every sanguine drop securely save
Then boil it-by magic incantat1on-
Down to hogshead full, or 50 Sthe knaye Z
'Tis of demented dandies I'm inditing
Ye svlphs and sylphids. unto me discover,
Yea TO a wondering world one fact disclose,
For, sings the poet. Ger the maids ye hover
The while their inspiration sweetly flows
Say, how much tinted papers scribbled over
Per year by maids for musky billets-doux
For, must have Just that amount Of paper
Exhaling fumes Of amOrous musky vapor
Phoebusl truly, "'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wished that eyermore,
The cursed dandy, silly degradation-
Should not poIlute our free Columbian shore
But after all we have one consolation
II truly pity each, harmless bore
He keeps the merchants wear quite briskly
selling;
But sooth, about the pay, It's doubtful telling.
Now, since am a votary of Apollo,
o Moses, pray take heed Of my request :
When shall write of this poor, brainless, hollow
Peacock with naught but feathers and crest
Scan every word and all my wanderings follow,
And burnish off my rough but honest stress
Lest with disgust, make sorry blunder
And scEibble words less mild than Jove or thun-
der!
And now I've done until each invocation
Shall lend separate aid on which to lean.
All me truly quake with CONSERVATION,
To think of dandies' donning knightly mien
For then we should have scenes OF devastation
Such as old Tellus never yet hath seen.
Jove / must stop; nv pen, gander-feather
Is for my theme, too paltry altogether!
CHARLES E. SPENCER.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15
A Ton Of Dead Cinnamon.

The average American contemplates
IN stupid bewilderment the tenacious
faith of the disciples Of Confucius in the
religious necessity that wherever death
may Overtake them their dust must be
sent back TO the Flowery Kingdom to
rest in the bosom of Mother Earth
Possibly it il a silly superstition, but our
"Heathen Chinee" fellow beings live mp
TO it ever so much more consistently than
VIC live up TO our superstitions. The
Orihame, from Portland, a few days ago,
brought down over ton of the mortal
remains Of Mongolians who had shuffied
off their coils in Oregon. This queer
cargo is to be reshiped from this port to
China. The fact that so thrifty a people
as the Chinese should incur the great
exspense they do for such a purpose,
proves the strong hold the custom has
upon them. The mere preparation of
the bodies TO be shipped costs S25 each;
and when the expenses packing freight,
reshipment, ect., is added, it must
amount to about as much az an indust-
rious Chinaman, living upon the most
economical principles, can save in year,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15
AlligatOrs as Pets.

The New York Times has an article on
household pets, in which it playfully
and somewhat sarcasIically suggests pet
alligators as a variety for the house.
Now, absurd as the alligatormay seem
for pet, it so happens that we once had
some of them and very pleasant little
pets they proved to be. 1t was during
a residence, some years ago, in South
ern city, not far from the bayous, where
alligators, great and small, are to be had
by the hundred thousand. Instead ofgo-
ing in person to catch the little fellows,
We secured the services ofaB aged Amer
ican citizen of African descent, who knew
more than we did about keeping out of
the way of the parent alligators. He
scooped up dozen or two of baby gators,
and brought them in, his face ornament
ed with broad grin of delight, in anti
cipation of the dollar he had been prom
iSed for catching them.
For several months number of these
lively little fellows occupied, neat
aquarium tank in the library window,
where the sun shone on them. They were
as lively as little cats, and quite as play
full. Equally happy in the water and out
of it, they would frisk about like so ma
ny monkeys when they felt so disposed,
and when they felt lazy (for alligators,
like other folks, are subject to attacks of
laziness) they would stretch themselves
out, or lie in a heap, one on the other,
and bask iu the sunshine. They had a
habit of eating almost any eatable thing
that was given to them, their principal
luxury being live flies In catching these
insects they exhibited great dexterity.
Large beetle cockroaches also afforded
them much pleasure; There was an
abundance Of these in the house, and the
alligators considerably reduced the stock.
These alligators were in their first sum-
mer, and were only few inches long.
They would run over peoples hands and
clothes, and climb upon shoulders with
great iveliness. We gave some of them
away, and the resi-, probably pampered
by petting and overfeeding, died.
We once owned an alligator which was
six feet long. But he frightened an old
lady out of her wits, and so we gave him
away. He was too large for a pet. But
III their first or second year, ''gators are
pleasant pets, and no more dangerous
| than kittens
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15
Shot Making.

The Baltimore Americoa thus describes
the process Of making shot in that city.
One of the "secrets" of manufacture is
the mixing of the lead with certain
proportion Of combination Of mineral
substances called temper" The "tem-
per- is fused with the lead, and gives
the molten metal that consistency which
makes it drop. If it were not for the ''tem-
per" the lead would be moulded by the
sieve, and would form little pencils in
stead Of round shot. When "B b" shot,
for instance, are to be made, the lead is
poured into a pan perforated with holes
corresponding to that size. The little
pellets come pouring down in a continu-
Gus shower, and fall into tank filled
with water on the ground floor. In their
descent of two hundred teet they become
perfect spheres, firm and dense, and they
are tolerably cool when they strike the
water, although the conclusions make the
tank foam and bubble as If the water was
boiling furiously. The shot must fall
into the water, for if they should strike
any firm substance they would be fatten-
ed and knocked out Of shape. To get
the little pellets perfectly dry after they
have been in the "well" is the most diff
cnlt and troublesome process ofthe whole
manufacture. An elevator with small
buckets (very much like those used in the
-four mills) carries the shot up az fast as
they reach the bottom of the 'well," ;" and
deposits them in the box sixty feet above
the first floor. The water drips from the
buckets as they go up, and not much is
poured into the receiver above, although
it is intended to be sort of dripping
machine. From this receiver the shot
runs down sPut into a drying pan,
which greatly resembles a gigantic shoe,
made Of sheet iron. This pan rests at
an angle which permits the wet shot to
roll slowly down to the chamber below,
and the pellets become perfectly dry as
they pass over the warm sheet iron.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15

Among the varied means of defense
developed by plants in their ceaseless
struggle for existence, there is perhaps
none more wonderful or effective than
that of a species of acacia which abounds
on the dry savannahs of Central Ameri-
ca. 1t is called the BULBS horn thorn,
from the strong cured thorns like bulls
horns, set in pairs all over the trunk and
branches. These no doubt help to pro
tect the tree from the attacks of brows-
| ing animals; but it has more dangerous
enemies in the leaf cutting ants and 9th
er insects. Against these the tree MAIN
tains a numerous standing army, for
which it provides snug houses stored
with food, nectar to drink, and abun-
dance of luscious fruit for desert.
When first developed, the thorns are
soft and filled with a sweetish pulp,
much relished by species of small
springing ants, never found except on
lhese trees. Making hole near the
point of one of each pair of thorns,
these ants eat out the interior, then bur
row. through the thin porto at the base
into the other thorn, and treat it in the
same manner. The hollow shells thus
formed make admirable dwellings, none
of which are left untenanted, as any one
may discover by disturbing the plant,
when the little warriors swarm out in
force and attack the aggressor with jaws
and stings.
The leaves of the plant are two-wing-
ed, and at the base of each pair of leaf
lets, on the mid rib, is gland which,
when the leaf is young, secretes honey
like liquid, of which the ants are very
fond. This ensures their constant pres
Jealous service in driving off other in
sects.
A still more wonderful provision of
solid food is made for similar purpose.
At the end of each of the small divis-
ions of the compound leaflet, there
grows a small fruit like body, which,
under the microscope, looks like gold
en- pear. When the leaf first unfolds,
the little pears are not quite ripe, and
the ants are continually employed go
| ing from one to another to see how they
come on. As these fruit like bodies
which appear to have no other use than
as ant food-do not all ripen at once, the
ants are kept about the young leaves for
a considera BILE time. When an ant finds
one sufficiently advanced, it bites the
point of attachment, then, bending down
the prize, breaks it off and bears it away
in triumph TO the nest.
These ants, a species of pseudomyrma,
are found, as already noticed, only on
these trees; and that the trees really
keep them as a body guard seems evil
dent from the fact that, when planted
in localities where their little protectors
do not exist, they are speedily defoliated
by leaf cutters, which let them severely
alone on the savannnahs, while there
honey glands and golden pears offer no
attractions to the ants of the forest.
Apparently both acacias and pseudo
myrmas have been mutually modified in
the course of time, until they are now
quite dependent on each other for sup
port and protection.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15
An Argument for Peace.

The following extracts are taken from
a series Of tables recently published in
Vienna:
The Russian army comprises S62, 900
men, $4,000 horses, and 2,0S4 cannon
Germany has 81 divisions Of infantry,
. division of cavalry, 337 batteries Of
artillery, comprising $685. 900 men, 96, 900
horses, and 2,022 cannon.
Austria has 45 divisions Of infantry. 5
divisions Of cavalry, 215 batteries ofcan-
non, making total of 74O,210 men, So,
125 horses, and 900 cannon.
England's armed force comprises III.
900 men, and France 100000 men.
The remaining States Of Europe make
up with the the above total of about 5,
100000 Of men. If each man could earn
on an average one dollar daily, here
would be a total loss to the world offive
millions of dollars a day. And the cost
of support and wages of the men alone
including officers, will make five millions
more or ten millions day, exclusive Of
the cost Of arsenals, forts, ships, wagons,
tents, hospitals, etc.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15
G.. w. on his Muscle.

General Wilson relates an account of
n conversation with Mr.. Custis, from
which he obtained some interesting per-
sonal reminscences of Washington.
During a visit at Arlington House,
Virginia, in 1854, the writer asked Mr..
Custis if Washington could, like Mar
shall SAKE, break a horseshoe, and re-
ceived for reply that he had no doubt he
could had he tried, for his hands were
the largest and most powerful that he
had ever seen. Mr. Gusts then gave
several instances OF the Generals
strength, of which recall the following;
When Washington was a young man he
was present on one occasion, as look
er-on at wrestling games, then the fash
ion in Virginia. Tired of the sport, he
had retired to the shade Of a tree, where
he sat perusing pamphlet, till chal-
lenged TO a bout by the hero of the day
and the strongest wrestler in the State
Washington declined, till, tauEted by
the remark that he feared to try conclu-
sions with the gladiator, calmly came
forward, and without removing his coat,
grappled his antagonist. There was
fierce struggle for brief space of time,
when the champion was hurled TO the
ground with such tremendous force as
to jar the very marrow in his bones.
Another instance of his prodigious pow
er was his throwing a stone across the
Rappahannock at fredericksburg
feat that it is quite safe to say has never
been performed since. Later in life a
number of young gentlemen We're con-
tending at Mount Vernon in the exercise
of throwing the bar. Washington, af-
ter looking on for some time, walked
forward, saying, ALLOW me to try grasp
ing the bar sent the iron flying through
the air twenty feet beyond its former
limits Still later in his career, Wash
ington, whose age was like lusty win
ter, frosty yet kindly observed three of
his slaves at Mount Vernon vainly en-
deavoring TO raise large stone, when,
tired of witnessing their unsuccessful
attempts, he put them aside, and, taking
it in his iron-like grasp, lifted it to its
place, remounted his horse and rode on
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15
LivingstOne's Grave.

The spot selected by Dean Stanley as
the resting-place of Livingstone, in West
minister Abbey, is midway down the
south side of the nave, and just in front
of the portal which leads from the west
cloisters, and is known as the Canon's
Gate. Some thought was entertained of
laying the body near the tablet which
marks the tomb of Sir John Chardin,
the Eastern traveller, but Dean Stanley
found that no space was left for another
coffin there, and in pursuing his search
over a more removed ground he happily
discovered q spot yet more suitable; for,
whereas the wanderings of Chardin are
associated with comparatively small
tracts of Persia and Hindostsn, the more
modern benefactor of humanity, Major
James Rennell, who lived in the boy
hood of men linked with the most prom
ising record of exploration on that dark
continent which Livingstone has labored
so hard and 80 successfully to illumine.
The founder of the African Society and
the friend Of Mungo Park, Major Rem
nell, is of all the illustrious dead whose
ashes mingle with the time-honored
earth or which the Abbey stands, most
fit for the fellowship of Livingstone.
The part Of the Abbey where the marble
flooring was raised to make a grave for
Livingstone is but few PAGES from the
vault in which the coffin of George Pea
body was laid for short time previous
to his embarkation. On the opposite
side of the nave, somewhat nearer the
choir, is a monument erected to Thomas
Livingstone, Viscount Tevlot, who died
in the early part of the last century.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15
4 Relic.

A cabinet-maker in Troy is construct
ing lady's secretary, which is interest
ing from the material of which it is COM
posed. The Whig thus describes it,
"The panelling and ornamental portions
are of oak from the Lawrence, Commo-
dovy Perry's flagship in the memorable
engagement on Lake Erie, Sept. 10, 1913.
The oak was secured by Mr.. G.. p. Chap
man of this city, under whose order the
secretary is being made. The Lawrence
bore the brunt of the battle until she be-
came so riddled with shot that she was
almost ready to sink. While the Law
renee was receiving the concentrated fire
of the enemy, the Niagara, a ship of
heavy armament, was practically out of
the engagement Commodore Perry left
the Lawrence in an open boat in the
midst of the engagement, and went on
board the Niagara. That vessel was
then brought into action, and the battle
was won. Riddled with shot, and almost
wholly disabled, the Lawrence was ta-
ken into the port Of Erie, Penn. The
vessel subsequently sunk while at anchor.
She was sold at auction and raised, but
was allowed to sink again. Not long
ago Mr.. Chapmrn was fishing over the
wreck, and observed through the clear
water piece of planl1ing nearly detach-
ed. By skillful labor with lines the
piece was secured. The oak is dark from
the action of the water on the vegetable
oil, but is perfectly sound. Mr.. Chap
man has placed on one Of the panels, in
letters of oak, the memorable words of
James Lawrence, when he was dying on
the bloody deck of the Chesapeake,
Don't give up the ship"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15
Uses Of Grapes.

Men can live and work on grapes and
bread. The peasantry of France, Spain
and Italy, make many satisfactory meal
in this way; and of the wholesomeness
of the diet, there can be no doubt. Med
ical men constantly recommend the use
Of grapes for their patients. Scarcely
any plant can equal the vine as regards
the beauty of its leaves and fruit. As a
covering for bare walls, and for afford
ing shelter and shade, it is climber oi
the first rank. To set under ones own
vine has in all ages been considered the
acme of rural happiness, an emblem Of
peace, a symbol of plenty, and a picture
of contentment. That pleasure, though
perhaps not in all its fulness, may become
the heritage of thousands in these tenn
perate climes.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15

OF all passions, their Is none so ex-
travagant and outrageous as that Of an
ger; other passions solicit and mislead
us, but this runs away with us by force,
and hurries us as well TO our own as to
another's ruin; it falls many times upon
the worng person, and discharges itself
upon the innocent instead of the guilty,
and makes most trivial ohenses TO be cap
ital, and Furnishes an inconsideraie word
with fetters, or death, it allows man
neither time nor means for defense, but
judges a cause without hearing it, and
admits OF no meditation; il spares neither
friend nor foe, but tears all TO pieces and
casts human nature into perpetual state
of war.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15

The conversation of old men of abil-
ity, before they have passed into the
stage of imbecility," says DR.. Beard, sis
usually richer and more instructive than
the conversation of the young; for in
conversation we simply distribute the
treasures of memory, as a store boarded
during long years of thought and exrer-
fence. Conversation is, therefore, just
ly regarded as the lightest form of in
tellectual labor, and grows easier as we
grow older, because we have greater re-
sources to draw from. He who thinks,
as he converses, is poor companion, as
he who must earn his money before he
spends any, is a poor man. When an
aged millionaire makes liberal dona-
ton, it costs him nothing; he but gives
out of abundance that has resulted by
natural accumulation from the labors Of
his youth and middle life. When al
old man utters great thoughts, it is moi
age but youth that speaks through the
lips of age; his ideas which, in their in
ception and birth, drew heavily on the
productive powers Of the brain, are re
fined, resolved, and disseminated almos
without effort"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15

A DARBY DosED.-A colored lad en-
tered drug store with what he described
as an "awful feelin' in the stomach, lest
like il wor full Of iish-hooks and angle
worms" and demanded "setter pow
DER" as he had been advised that that
would give relief. According the seid-
litz powders we're dissolved in separate
glasses, as usual, and placed before him
with instructions to pour one into the
other and drink when efervescing. But
the sable youth did nothing Of the sort.
Instead of following the directions, ne
hastily drank of the contents ofone glass
and Immediately swallowed the other.
The effects may be imagined but not dis
crIbed. The efferescence which should
have taken place in the glass before it
was drank, took place in the bewildered
darkey, sending forty streams of the
liquid from his mouth, nose, eyes, and
ears. As soon as the poor fellow could
recover breath, he cried out in frighten.
ed tones:
my stomach has busted! can't live
a minute"
In a few moments, however, he felt
better, and turning to depart, said:
"Dat stuff may work we'll nuf on dc
white trash, but it's shure death on a
niger"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-05-15

oh, mother, l think ! see father,
7 said Charley mo. mother. it is some
one else. Oh, see a coffin, mother,
some person is dead, they are taking the
coffin out of a wagon, mother. There
it is mother, there we are past it now.
Now we shall see father, We are home"
The train stopped. The weary, travel
soiled niece of Charles Dickens gather
ed up her parcels and her eloaks, and
stepped ont upon the wild, bleak spot
called Bijou Station. The passengers,
all interested in talkative and unsophis-
ticated pair of travellers, crowded TO the
windows of the car to witness the ex-
pected meeting between husband and
wife. They saw it. While her baggage
was being tumbled ont of the car she
stood, with her baby in her arms, and
her boy by her side, gazing around upon
the strange scene, and pesring eagerly
among the rough-clad ranchmen and
plainsmen for the face, which alone of
all others she wished 20 see.
\ rough-looking but polite ranchman
stepped forward, and, with a clumsy bow
and bashful manner, inquired who the
Madam desired TO see"
"I want my husband, Mr.. Henry Les
ter. Does he not keep sheep and cat
tie farm near here?"
"He did, madam answered the ranch
man sadIv. ssbut ba,s ronodaJ mn Iic
herd for the last time. There he is in
that coffin, died last Wednesday night,
and we're sendin' the body to Denver,
accordin' to his last instructions. He
died of congestion Of the bowels, mad
am. Beg pardon, madam, but you are
his"
He did not finish his sentence, but
stepped forward to catch the falling form
of my fellow traveller who was carried
To the car i'll swoon. The little boy ut
tered piteous wall of grief, while l led
him sobbing back to the car which this
wearied and travel-tired pair had left
a minute before so hopeful and SO happy.
AHeIS were many het eye Hi tiS Soi
just then, mine among the rest, as | held
the beautiful boy sobbing to my breast.
/ saw my fellow-traveler twice again,
once when she followed her husband to
his last resting place, attended by one
solitary carriage and four mourners, and
again last Monday morning, when, pale,
sad, and bowed with grief, she started
with her fair-haired boy upon her long
journey back to the quiet shade and Sc
clusion of her old home within the
shadows of Gloster Cathedral.