davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
Lanes and F0Ot-Paths.

The fall is again here, and dull days
and chilly nights warn us that winter is
not far away. Before its advent let
every preparation be made to meet it,
for at best it is a disagreeable season to
the farmer OF all the causes that COM
bine to make it so, none are so potent as
one onething-mud.-Through perhaps five
months of the year mud is necessity,
but the farmer has it in his power to
obviate its evils to a great extent. Be-
fore the fall rains come on, let the lanes
be ditched and graveled, and good board,
stone or gravel walks constructed, from
house to road, from house to barn, from
house to spring or well, and, in short,
along every frequented walk or drive, on
or about the premises. See that they
are well made-high and dry-so that
the wife and daughters can pass from
place to place without sinking in mud
up to the shoe top. No one can realize
the amount of sickness, the doctor bills,
or detail, the direct result of wet feet
from this cause.-See to it that this
cause is removed, so that the sickness or
death of a member of your family be
not laid at your door.-YOur own health
and comfort, as we'll as that of your
horses that are compelled to draw heavy
loads through your muddy lanes, de-
mand that you make these improve
ments. What if they do involve labor
and little expense?" The pleasure OF
passing along these dry paths and drives
when the mud at each side is knee deep
is sufficient compensation, to say moth
ing about facility, health and comfort
We have often thought that farmers
should unite in the construction of foot.
paths along the road side, SO that the
village, the post office; the school OIL
church could be reached on foot, with
out wet feet This could be done at lit.
tie expense, comparatively, and ther
what world of annoyance, trouble, ex
posure, and discomfort would be pre-
vented. Who can tell how many live
would be saved dannually?-Ohio Farmer
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
Bricks Twenty Centuries Old.

A correspondent of the Cleveland
Leader, writing from Persia, says: "Com-
ing from Bagdad, which, in direct line
is forty -four miles distant, three immense
mounds appear in succession, which
have the appearance of natural hills.
But close examination shows that they
are composed of bricks, and are the re-
mains of large buildings. These are on
the east side of the Euphrates, and the
largest is about one hundred and fifty
feet in height. They are supposed TO be
an ancient citadel that defended this part
of the town, the Royal Palace, and a
Temple. How immense must the or
iginal buildings have been when it is
considered that these mounds have been
the storehouses from which, for twenty
centuries, bricks of the finest description
have been taken to build the great cities
of Ctesiphon, Selucia, and Bagdad!
Fragments of alabaster vessels and i'm
ages; fine earthenware, marble, and great
quantities of enameled tiles, the color.
ing and glazing of which are surprising
ly fresh, can yet be found in these
mounds. On the face of every brick ID
stamped, in cunei-form, the names and
titles of Nebudchadnezzar. They are
all laid face downward, and the cement
in which they are imbedded is so hard
that they can only be detached with the
greatest difficulty.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
Leaving Out the Joke.

Some people are bright enough to en-
joy a good joke, but do not have retent-
i've memories, so as to be able to repeat
it to others. Failures of this kind are
sometimes very ludicrous. We give
some good specimens.
The most famous of this class was the
college professor. who on parting with
student that had called on him, no
ticed that he had new coat, and re-
marked that it was too short.
The student, with an air of resigna-
tion, replied: at will be long enough be-
fore get another"
The professor enjoyed the joke heart
lily, and going to a meeting of the col
lege faculty just afterward, he entered
the meeting in great glee and said:
"Young Sharp got off such a good
joke just now. He called on Inc little
while ago, and as he was leaving l no.
ticed his new coat, and told him it was
too short, and he said, "it will be long
time before 1 get another"
No one laughed, and the professor So
bering down, remarked, at doesn't seem
as funny as when he said it,"
A red-haired lady who was ambitious
of literary distinction, found but poor
sale for her book. \ gentleman, in
speaking of her disappointment, said
"Ier hair is red (read) if her book is
not" An auditor, in attempting to re-
late the joke elsewhere, said: "She has
red hair, if her book hasn't"
The most unfortunate attempt at re-
producing another's wit was made by an
Englishman, who did not understand
the pun, but judged from the applause
with which it was greeted that it must
be excellent. During dinner at which
he was a guest, a waiter let a boiled
tongue slip off the plate on which he
was bearing it, and 1t fell on the table.
The host at once apologized for the
mishap as "Ldpsus Haqug," (slip of the
tongue). The joke was the best thing al
the dinner, and our friend concluded tc
bring it up at his own table.
He accordingly invited his company
and instructed a servant to let fall a roast
of beef as he was bringing it to the ia
bic.
When the accident occurred, he ex
claimed, "Thats lapsus Engae."
Nobody laughed, and he said again
II say that's a lapsus HnguR," and still
no one laughed.
A screw was loose somewhere; 80 h,
told about the tongue falling, and the,
did laugh.
"Why is this" said a wag, holding NJ
common kitchen utensil, "more re
markable than Napoleon Bonaparte?-
Because Napoleon was a great man, bu
this is a CRATER" When the funny MAJ
reproduced it it his circle, he asked tn
question right, but answered it, "Becaus
Napoleon was a great man, but this is
nutmeg crater"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
Hardening the Constitution.

Men talk about Hardening the consti-
tution," and with that view expose
themselves to summers sun and winters
wind, to strain and over efforts, and many
unnecessary hardships. To the same
end ill-informed mothers souse their lit.
tie infants in cold water day by day; their
skin and flesh and bodies as steadily
growing rougher and thinner and weaker,
until'slow fever, or water on the brain, or
consumption of the bowels carries them
to the grave; and then they administer
to themselves the semi-comfort and rath-
er questionable consolation of its being
a mysterious dispensation of nature
when, in fact, nature works no miracles
to counteract our follies. The best way
l know of hardening the constitution il
to take good care of it; for it is no more
improved by harsh treatment than fin,
garment or new hat is made better b,
being banged about.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
Use of SpectacIes.

When you find that you are beginning
instinctively to go to the window or the
open door when you take up paper or
book to read, it is time for you to pur-
chase pair of spectacles; then get those
of the lowest magnifying power, for if
they magnify too much the eyes will get
prematurely old-will fail rapidly. If,
while reading, you find an inclination to
stop and wink the eyes, as if to clear
them, you need spectacles, or if you have
them already you require older ones. A
good way to rest the eyes from reading
or fine sewing is either to close them for
few minutes, OF look at something a
long distance off; this gives great relief.
Do not purchase glasses on the street,
or at cheap places, for there is great dan
ger that the glasses are not alike-have
not exactly the same focus, or are made
of soft glass, which is easily scratched
and then older ones are soon required
The value of Brazilian pebbles, which is
natural glass, is their hardness; hence
not easily injured, last a great while and
the eyes get old very slowly. But if the
glasses are soft, are mismated, having
unequal focal points, the eyes are strain
ed and get old in short time, especially
if both foci are not in the centre of the
glass. In selecting glasses choose those
which enable you to see well without q
strain, for habitual straining of the eye
ages it rapidly; at the same time avoid
getting those of stronger power than is
needed.
Glasses should be washed with cold ol
warm water at least every morning, and
should be wiped several times during the
day with fine buckskin, and nothing else
paper scratches them, and so does fan
mel, and a handkerchief is seldom cleaI
enough for the purpose.
AS the eye is the most delicate organ
of the body it should be treated will
great care, and economy in spectacles il
a great, life long misfortune. The eye
should not face light; it is better t.
have the book in such a position as Il
have the light come on the page over tn
shoulder.
In reading by artificial light the eye
lids should be shaded in such a way tha
the full glare does not fall on them, bu
on the paper or book, and cease usinl
them as soon as they begin to feel tired
Halls Journal of Health
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
NUMBER 80.
Opium Kills Children.

One of the best informed physicians
in England, DIR. Mitchell, employed in
the public health service, some time ago
published a mass Of testimony obtained
by him from numerous medical wit
nesses, showing the almost universal re-
sort to opium, in order to benumb and
stupefy children, even those of the ten
derest age; a very common preparation
for this purpose being a so called cord
ial made of treacle and opium. So gem
eral it appears, is the use of this mix
ture, that customers go to the apothecar-
| les, and without hesitation, ask for a
dose of it "to give to the baby next day,
as they are going out to work" Chem
lists frankly admit that they make and
sell these opium decoctions by the bar
rel and hogshead full. This baleful
usage prevails not only in the colliery
districts, but also in the manufacturing
and non-manufacturing places, and it is
stated by one physician that in Not
tingham, Derby, and Leicester districts
the habit of administering opium to in
fants usually begins when the child is
three or four weeks old. And still an
other witness asserts that the opium
cordial is given on the very day of birth
being in readiness for that event. The
inevitable result Of this terrible custom
is, of course, that great numbers of in.
fants perish, either suddenly from an
overdose, or, as more commonly happens
by slow, painful insidious disease. Com
pared, therefore, with this form of in
fanticide, the kind practiced by thu
Chinese may be said to be merciful:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
The Fiji Islands.

The FIJI Islands have been formally
and finally annexed to England. twill
be remembered, says the New York
Republic, that when President johnson
undertook the work of reconstructing
the Southern States, the negroes by some
unknown means, had become prey to
the delusion that the Government was
about to present every one of them with
forty acres of land and mule 1t is
understood that somewhat similar de-
lusion has been zealously propagated
among the Fijians. They have latterly
suffered from an insufficiency of meat,
and they have made up their benighted
minds that the British Government in
tends to supply every Fijian with a
weekly sailor or Chinaman, besides an
annual missionary on every Christmas
Day. Entertaining these convictions, il
is easy to see why the Fijians have joy.
fully consented to annexation. What
will be their feelings, however, when, Al
time goes on, neither sailors nor China
men, nor missionaries are served out by
the British representative? Will no
their loyalty utterly vanish, and viii
they not rise as one man and devour tn,
entire Colonial Government, from tn,
| Governor down to the thinnest servan
in his household?
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
A Matter OF Importance.

A correspondent Of the New York
Sun calls attention to all consumers OF
kerosene oil to the pernicious and un-
healthy practice of using lamps filled
with that article with the wicks turned
down. The gas which should be-con-
sumed by the flames is by this means
left heavily in the air, while the cost OF
the oil thus saved at present prices
would scarce be one dollar year for the
lamps of a household. His attention
was called particularly to this custom
by boarding in the country where kero-
sene was the only available light. A
large family Of children were taken i'll
one night, and on going to the nursery
the mother found the room nearly suffo-
Gated with a lamp nearly out, whereby
the physician forbade the use Of lamp
at night, unless burned at full head. lie
says he could quote many cases, one Of
young girl subject to fits Of faintness
which if not induced we're greatly in
creased by sleeping in the room with
lamp almost turned out. Besides the
damage to health it spoils the paper and
curtains, soils the mirrors and windows
and gives the whole house an untidy
and unwholesome odor.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
Capital Punishment.

About 1907 poor woman with two
children, one at the breast, stole from in
side shop door a piece of linen worth
some seven or eight shillings. She,
however, had not proceeded far when
she repented of her crime, and was re-
turning to the shop with it when she was
arrested. .'She was tried at the Old Bailey,
convicted, and condemned to death. The
jury and the prosecutor unanimously
recommended the woman to mercy, on
account of her husband having been
pressed as a sailor, her starving condi-
ton at the time. and her previous un-
blemished character. But all in vain.
The Judge refused TO indorse the ap-
plication, and the woman was executed
at Tyburun, the child being taken from
her breast at the foot OF the gallows. In
the minds of a large majority of the
public this execution created great in
dignation, and bill was brought into
Parliament to abolish the punishment
of death for stealing in a shop to the
value of five shillings. The bill was at
first thrown out in the house of Peers,
the Judges being against it. The bill
subsequently passed into law. On the
introduction into the House of Lords OF
a bill for the abolition of the punish
ment of death for stealing in a dwelling
house to the value of forty shillings,
the majority of the judges were against
it. Lord Ellenborough was particular
ly energetic in his opposition, arguing,
as the law stood it worked well, and why
then should it be altered? One of the
Peers was so struck with the validity
of the learned Lords's arguments that
he said, "We shall not be able to place
our heads with safety on our pillows ii
that bill pass into lawr' In the thirty
years from 1899 to 1929, for offense.
against the Bank Act alone, 629 mer
were capitally convicted and 1,161 were
transported; yet, till public opinion be-
came too strong to be disregarded, the
Judges offered little opposition to such
atrociouseruelty.-[ The Saturday Jour,
mol
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

Some well-borers near Odell, Illinois,
are profane enough to report that they
have tapped hell, and are getting the
full benefit of the leak Gas was discov-
cred forty feet below the surface, and at
eighty feet vein of water was struck
which spouted two hundred feet in the
air, carrying up gravel as big as hens
eggs, and sending everybody flying hum
dreds- of feet away The performance
continued until the sand and gravel were
six inches deep within a radius of one
hundred feet of the hole. When the jet
Of water ceased, the aperature was found
much widened, with quicksand at the
bottom, and stream of gas had taken
the place of water. 4 match was ap-
piled to it, and flames leaped into the
air, producing a sound like thunder
The workmen think they have strucl
the gate of the evil doom, or brought
forth young volcano, they don't know
which. The gaS they are getting nov
causes blue color in the vegetation fo
miles around. and the people are Hock
ing from all quarters TO see the strang
phenomenon.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
The Mammoth Cave Of Mexico.

1t is said that the cave of Cacahua-
milpa is the largest cave in the world.
Several persons who have visited the
Mrmmoth Cave Of Kentucky and that
of Cacahuamilpa in Mexico, pronounce
the latter the larger. A volcanic noun
tain with an extinct crater covers this
cave. 1t is not described in guide books
or books of travel. 1t has, in fact, new
er been adequately described. Mr.. Por-
ter G. Bliss has twice examined and ex-
plored it, the last time in February OF
the present year. Six hundred persons
constituted the last exploring party;
they were provided with Bengal lights
and scientific appliances. After reach
ing level at perhaps 80 feet depth, they
proceeded three miles and n quarter into
the interior. The roof was so high-a
succession Of halls-that rockets often
exploded before striking it. Labyrinth
inc passages leave the main hall in every
direction. Stalagmites and stalactites
are abundant. Below this cave, at great
depth, are two other immense caves
from each Of which issues a branch of q
great river, uniting here. These two
rivers enter some FIVE miles distant at the
other side Of the mountain, flow parallel
and issue at last together. Vast guam
titles Of bats are the most numerous in
habitants Of these cayerns.-L Scientific
American.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
WIN - fyAA :
did laugh.
A Queer Custom.

st. Petersburg, the capital of Russia,
is the haven for. children who have a
propensity for making mud and sand
pies. In many of the small public parks
of that city there are, here and there,
large open spaces covered with gravel.
Every morning in each of these spaces
may be seen large pile of sand, cone
shaped, about four feet high, and six feet
in diameter at the base. After break
fast, all the children in the neighbor-
hood, equipped with little spades,
hatchets, and wagons, repair to these
cones, and employ themselves in digging
them down and scattering the material,
according to their fancy, over the gravel
spaces. The next morning the conesare
all ready for another assault. The city
government provides the sand, and has
it piled up in the cones each night. The
result of this simple plan is that the
children acquire a fondness for exercise
and labor, and get that healthful open
air amusement SO essential to their vi
tality in city. Perhaps they always
get the usual maternal spanking for soil
ing their clothing, but this is one of the
sweets of the halcyon days of childhood
that can be looked back to in after years
without revengeful feelings.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
MISCELLANY.
Educated Oysters.

Before the railroad days our oyster
growers used early IN the fall to canvass
the villages on the Hudson River for
oysters, to be filed just before the river
should be closed with ice. The mean
ing of this is that these men committed
themselves to supply oysters in the shell,
with the guarantee that the bivalves
thus supplied should not die before
their time came. The oysters were act
ually keptalive during the greater part
of the long winter. The fat bivalves
were handled with some care, and were
spread on the cellar door, the round or
lower side down, so as not to allow the
liquor to escape. That such life re-
quired a great change of capacity or
habit in the bivalves is evident; and it
needed a training, yes, an education, ere
the oyster attained to such ability. And
this was the way it was done: Begin
ming early in the fall, the cultivator of
the oyster took up the fat bivalves from
their bed where he had planted them,
and laid them little higher upon the
shore, so that for a short time each day
they were exposed out of the water. Af-
ter few days of this exposure by the
retreating tide, they were moved little
higher still on the shore line, which
gave them little longer exposure to the
air at each low tide. And this process
was continued, each remove resulting in
a longer exposure. And with what re-
suits? Two very curious Ones-inure-
ment to exposure, and the incubation of
a provident habit of making prepara-
ton for the same. What! providence in
an oyster? Yes, when he's educated.
When accustomed to this treatment, ere
the tide retires, the oysters takes good
full drink, and retains the same until
the tide returns. Once, while waiting
for the stage at country hostelry, we
overheard the following between two
rustic practitioners at the bar: "Come,
Swill, let's take a drink" "Well,
don't know Amt dry myself. Hows'
ever, guess 1 will take drink, for fear
might get dry" With better philo-
sophy on their side, these educated oys-
ters, twice in every twenty-four hours
took their precautionary drink. The
French method of oyster training is
much more laborious. The adult BIZ
wales are carefully spread out in the wa
ter, and periodical lessons are given to
each one individually. Each oyster on
: this occasion receives tap, not with g
ferule, but with small iron instrument
This causes the bivalve to close tightly
Finally the last day comes with its last
premonitory tap. Its education thu;
finished, it takes passage with its fellow
graduates for Paris. AS a result of it,
education, it knows how to keep it.
; mouth shut when it enters society,"
Professor Lockwood, in Popular Science
Monthly for November.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30
Scribner's Monthly for November

"Pictures from Florida" is the title of
the "Great South" paper in Scribner's
for November. The illustrations are
numerous and striking, and the inform
alton with regard to the raising of fruit
and the health-giving qualities of the
climate is interesting and timely. A
curious little illustration paper in the
same number tells about the celebrated
Roman Catholic miracle of Loudres," +"
There is portrait and sketch of, and a
poem by J. T. Trowbridge, author of
"The Vagabonds" and the "Jack Haz-
ard" stories; scene from DR.. Holland s
"Mistress of the Manse," with illustra-
ton; more of Jules Verne's "Mysterious
Island;" and Ia pleasing announcement
to many readers) the beginning of SAKE
Holm's "My Tourmaline, story which
will run through three or four numbers.
A brief biographical and critical sketch
of Richard Wagner, the famous COM
poser, is written by Mr.. Hueffer, the
welI-known London critic, author of the
book entitled "The Music of the Fu-
ture" There are short stories by Boy
esen ("The Story of an Outcast'O and
Stockton ("Rudder Grange"), and this
number gives second paper of "Recol-
lections of Charles Sumner" by his pri.
vate secretary, Mr.. johnson.
DR.. Holland, IN "Topics of the Time,
discusses Tyndall's late address, and
"The Relations of Clergymen to Wo
men," "The Old Cabinet" describes "a
Trip to the City," and the other depart
ments have contents much as usual
The November number begins a new
volume, and the publishers make som'
interesting announcements for the new
year, including a serial by DIR. HOLLAND
called "The Story of Seven-oaks," and
series of illustrated articles, entitled -
Farmers Vacation Abroad,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-10-30

WHAT Is MURDER?---A jury in Phil
adelphia has found a man, who beat his
wife brutally to death, guilty of murder
in the second degree, and recommended
him to mercy. Among the vagaries of
juries, says the Baltimore Gazette, it
would be curious to ascertain what this
notable one of Philadelphia really do
consider murder in the first de-
gree. Must man not only kill his
wife, but his children, if he has any, tC
put himself out of the pale of theiI
nearly unbound compassion? 1t was
hard enough for a man to get himself
hung before, even with the most meri.
torious and commendable intentions; but
if Philadelphia jury law prevails, We
may as well take down our scafiolds, and
use them as kindling wood.