davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
The Musical Monster.

italian opera is the EXTREMIST product
of modern civilization. It IS not the
highest-God forbid!-but the produc-
ton of it, the support, and above all,
the enjoyment of it, show that those by
whom it is produced, supported, and
enjoyed have reached condition of
social efl1orescence beyond which no
people have yet bIoomed or burgeoned
perhaps beyond which there is no
hope of fruit of the socially exquisite
sort. tits the most arbitrary, conven-
tional, and extravaganza form which art
has taken for the pleasure Of those whose
pleasures must be refined Injuries. And
this is the most refined and yet one of
the most earthly of luxuries-one which
is partly sensual, partly emotional, and
not at all intellectual, and Of which the
height of the enjoyment is in direct pro-
portion only to cultivated sensuous re-
tinement and emotional susceptibility.
Regarded in the light of reason. Italian
opera is mOnstrOus and even ridiculous.
At best it exists at the very periphery
OF rational conference, hairs breadth
beyond which sends us whirling in frag
mentary fashion into the abyss of I'M
fathomable nonsense.
A reasonable creature, taken in stark
appropriation and set down in an opera
house while the business of high
strung scene was going on-a tenor
stabbed tie death, and dying with such
the capacity of an organ bellows; love
lorn prima donna raving about the stage
in the very ecstacy of melodious hys
teries; dozen or two Of lookers-on,
who offerthe man no aid and the lady no
hartshorn, but who simply "stand
around " and sing, while before them
two or three score of musicians give
themselves up to fddling, and footing,
and blowing, and humping, among
whom, perched high, man beats the
air with little stick; and yet more
wonderful, most wonderful of all, vast
assemblage, dressed on purpose in
their best clothes, look down upon
the scene with breathless interest,
and when the noise stops
for noise it simply is, not one distin-
guishable word being heard by any
creature present-break forth into such
extravagant and tumultuous expressions
of delight as he never can have heard
before \lOI LII Is i0uafhaDlo IudC no
such outbursting and manifestly soul
relieving applause as greets the most
admired passages in favorite opera is
elected by any other act done in earnest
or performed in nake-believe by any
human creature on any other occasion
OF in any other place whatever) the
reasonable being, having this spectacle
before his unprepared, untutored eyes,
would he not say that these people,
prima donna, tenor, chorus, fddlers,
and iddlees, were mad-all lunatics to-
gether ?-Richayd Grant White, IN
The GALAXY for November
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
THE LABOR OUTLOOK.
sud Prospect for New York Aaborers this
Nihter-One-Tnird of them Out OF EfG-
pi0yment.


ployment.
New York World, October 25th. q
The cIearest and best proof of the
want or of the presence of prosperity is
to be found in the condition Of the labor
market A winter of great hardship
closed last spring with thousands of
men longing and begging for work at
almost any price. The summer has seen
them idle, and an attempt is made in to-
days World to show how far such en-
forced inaction extends. The figures
here presented are CLEANED from
widely extended personal obser-
Walton, and speak for them
selves. They develop worse con-
dition of affairs than a year ago. In
the inquiries which have been made an
investigation has been entered in all
branches of labor, from the highest
skilled labor, bordering closely upon
the arts and professions, down to the
simplest form of manual labor. The
story given in to-day s World is confined
to the last, and to men alone. In the
course of the investigation no manufac-
turing establishments-exc those
which deal in the necessaries of life,
and a few exceptionally favored by
patent or some other circumstance-have
been found who are employing the num-
Der OF hands or turning out the product
which they did year ago. In most
cases this reduction amounts to from one
half to one-third of the payroll and the
products of the establishment. In the
trades, where the same inquiry has
tod tho 6
out Of employment amounts to fourth
of the entire number, and in many
trades to an even larger fraction. The
intelligence Offices report an increase in
the applications for work, which show 9
corresponding want of employment in
all branches of domestic service. About
one-third of the day laborers in the city
are also out Of employment. 1t may be
seriously questioned if in this case the
number does not amount to one-half.
The answers given by nearly all the
contractors indicate that this is the case
Nearly month, and in many enterpris-
es two months, must elapse before work
must stop at the approach of winter. In
most years these closing weeks are the
busiest Of the year, and contractors are
driving their work forward with increas-
ed forces. The condition of affairs now
shows a state of utter stagnation, which
can end only in restitution and want, as
never before known on this island. It
was easy last year to explain the condi-
tion of affairs; now employers assign no
reasons, and in utter bewilderment, in
answer to the questions by which these
have been elected, could only declare
that they We're in utter ignorance Of
any reason. Lest it be thought that
New York is exceptional in the large
number of it's laborers, it should be said
that New York has, proportionately, a
smaller share of day-laborers in it's
population than any other city in the
United States. 80
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04

TRY IT.-A Tonic and Alternative med
icine, the invigorating and regulating
properties of which actually lengthen
life, and add to the capacity for it's en-
iovment, is within the reach OF every
member of the community. No invalid
who has had recourse to DR.. WALK
ER's VINEGAR BrrTERs will hesitate to
concede to it these invaluable qualities.
1t is stomachic and a corrective OF I'M
rivaled efficacy, yet being free from al
cohol, it is not an e1citaaat. Its anti
billions operation is more direct, speedy,
and certain than that of any OF the dam
gerous mineral salivants, and as
aperient, it gently removes am obstruc-
tions that may have accumulated IN the
lower intestine, without producing
either irritation or pain. In fact, It's
wonderful remedial effects are uaac-
conapanied by any drat0oack. VI all
medicines. it is the most harmless a1d
salubrious. AS an appetizer, it is far
ahead of any of the alcoholic nostrums
that momentarily stimulate the palate;
while as means of renovatlng a weak
and torpid stomach, it stands alone
among modern remedies
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
A. CapriciOuS Cat.

A clergyman cat at West Springfield,
Mass, has shown some remarkable
symptoms of natural depravity. After
giving birth to seven kittens recently,
of various colors, she removed the two
blacklist from the group and utterly re-
fused to take any notice of them. No
sooner were they restored to her nest
than she again and again elected them,
and death finally relieved the little
waits. And this in defiance of the Eff
teenth Amendment, which declares that
there shall be no distinction on account
of color
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04

paths, alone and thoughtful, and dressed
with that disregard of fashion genius
appears to engender.
M. Emerson has been married twice,
and has three children; the son is 8
doctor, and the unmarried daughter,
who lives at home, is allied, by her
energy and humanity, with every pro-
iect for the improvement and comfort
Of her-fellow- townsmen (there is no
more accurate word). A romantic little
story runs of his having married the
present Mrs. Emerson after seeing her
| but Cnce, she in her turn having de-
clared, before she knew him at all, she
never would marry any one but Ralph
| Waldo Emerson. She was noted for her
brilancy and beauty, traces OF which
inger in spite of many years OF sickness.
| Now she is a delicate, stately-looklng
lady, the quickest to hear and the
readiest to relieve distress of any suffer-
;ng creature. His son married few
weeks ago a Concord young lady of
revolutionary pedigree. Rarely is such
marriage feast gathered-so uncOn-
venlionalin it's arrangements, SO illustri-
ously attended. Scotfers say that when
! the great man wants to write an essay
he delivers course of lectures to the
Concord people, and the parts they APP
plaud he afterward publishes. Curtis,
I think it is, who tells that whenever he
has happy thought he puts it down,
| be it noon or midnight, and when Mrs.
Emerson, disturbed by unusual sounds
in her chamber at night, cries: "My
dear, what is it? Are you lip" "The
soft voice of the sage replies: Ono, my
dear, nothing is thematter; only an idea. .
! While the house was being rebuilt,
Mr.. Emerson and his family went
abroad, and his progress over the earth
was triumphal march. Honorawalted
him everywhere, even in Egypt, whose
Viceroy sent squadron of cavalry forty
miles out of Cairo to escort him to the
city. A witty Boston lady says that the
traveller and the Sphinx had very
pleasant interview. There was re-
ciprocal gaze; then the Sphinx turned
on her heel and said: You're an
other" When he came home Concord
gave him welcome which, he said,
pleased him moro than the homage OF
sovereigns. Everybody-farmers, art
lists, authors, women, even the children
-trooped out to greet him, and bore
him to his house in true royalty, for it
was the expression of sincere affection.
He has just finished a compilation OF
select passages of English poetry. AT
the instance of his publisher, James r.
Osgood, he has added critical resumes
of each author represented. Readers
will be curious to learn what the liter
airy preferences of such a man are, even
though his Judgment will hardly be
what we may call popular.
With all the Jokes cracked against
Mr.. Emerson there is but one from him
on record. He had destroyed canker
worms in his orchard by girdling his
apple trees with printers ink. A public
man, Just smarting from severe official
ordeal, asked him how he killed his can
ker worms?
"Well," said Mr.. Emerson, in his
quiet way, eve kill chem as we do pol
iticians, with printers ink.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
Terrible Experience in an Australian
RUSh

A few weeks ago a respectable man,
named Bartholomew, was found in the
Puzzle ranges in Australia. He had
been lost in the bush for four days, and
when first seen was crawling on his
hands and knees in an exhausted con-
dition. He was very feverish and badly
bruised, and had had no food during
the four days. He had thrown away
his blankets, not being able to carry
them, and had suffered severely from
the cold. He was carried to the hospi-
tai at Alexandria, and it was found that
the soles of his feet were as black as
coal, senile gangrene had set in, and
the nails of his big toes had already
dropped off, and the poor fellow must
ose both his feet.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
The Sc2GrOch.

The Russians, it is said, have adopted
a new shell, which, from its formidable
character, according to recent expert
nents, is attracting much attention on
the part Of military authorities. The
following description of the new pro
Jectlle is going the rounds Of the sc1en-
tlfic press: It is well known that tie
ordinary elongated bolt will not per-
NIT Of ricochet fire, and as this
species Of firing is very effective against
masses of troops, the loss is q matter OF
considerable moment. The sczaroch,
as the new projectile is called, is either
q percussion, or time shell, combined
with a shot The latter ricochets be-
yond the point of explosion of the
bursting charge. The shell portion is
simple iron cylinder, to one end Of
which is secured by thin iron sheet of
lead, spherical shot On leaving the
gun the combined projectile acts like an
ordinary elongated shell, but as soon
sas the explosion of the charge takes
place the cylinder flies in pieces, while
that impelled with the additional veloc-
ity ricochetes for hundreds Of feet
ahead. In firing at batteries, it is claim
ed that the double effect Of this projec-
tile comes into excellent use, as the
shell might be exploded among the
guns, while the ball would strike far III
the rear among the reserves, or while
the shell might burst in the front rank
Of the advancing column, the ball
would continue it's course through sew
eral succeeding columns.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
Awful Experience in a Nevada Mine,

In the Lady Washington mine, near
Virginia City, blast was arranged and
the fuse lighted. Two miners got into
the bucket to be hoisted two hundred
feet up the shaft, the fuse being long
enough to give ample time under ordi-
nary circumstances. In this instance,
however, the ascentwas delayed by some
mismanagement of the machinery, and
the men were suspended in awful dam
ger, with no means Of averting it. They
laid themselves in the bottom of the
bucket and awaited in terror the explo-
sion. 6" 1t seemed like an hour" said
one Of them, but was really about five
minutes. When the blast did explode
the bucket was lifted several feet by
the rush of air, and it fell back with a,
violent shock. A shower Of shattered
rock rained on the covering miners.
They we're hauled up at length. insen-
sible with cuts and bruises, but they
will recover. .ij# r u
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
Cricket Match Between Women.

A vast concourse of people assembled
at place called Hungry Hill, near AL
dershot, England, on the 28th ult., to
witness a cricket match between %
women, married and single. The mar
ried included one old woman 60years of
age, who, while battling received a
severe blow in the face with the ball and
had to retire rather precipitately. On
the unmarried side Is runs (the highest)
were scored in one inning; one woman
made II for the other side At a former
match-this being the returns one
woman scored over 40 runs.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
False Tongue.

Under the above caption the Visalia
(Cal.) Data says: No doubt every
body thinks he knows what we mean by
this heading. But what we DO mean is
a disease by that name. several cases Of
which have occurred on Tule river.
The patient is taken with itching on
the under side, at the root Of the
tongue, from which we are informed
commences the growth Of fungus re-
sembling tongue, which soon fills the
mouth and protrudes from If, causing
suffocation and death in a few days, I'M
less relief is obtained. Dr. Henhahon
has had several bad cases, the fungus
being burned away with carlstic. In
one instance the tongue is said to have
grown two inches in an hour
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
ExDorts Of Musical Instruments.

Official records of Custom House re-
turns at Washington show that the
total value Of musical instruments ex-
ported from the United States during
the year ending June 80, 1874, was
$3.50, 1927. OF this, $3.50, l76 was for
pianos and 1922, 151 for parlor or reed
organs. OF this latter amount $685.
1853, or more than one-haJ Of the aUhote,
was of the cabinet organs made by the
Mason & HAMLIN ORGAN Co., which
bid fare to become as famous in Europe
as they have long been il America.
This company certainly have reason to
be proud of the fact that the European
demand for their organs is larger than
that for all others combined.-Boston
YlHl,eIl01.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
Ruins of an Ancient Convent.

Mount st. Simon, east of the Plain of
Antioch, was famous in the sixth and
seventh centuries for the extent and
magnifcence of it's buildings. A cor
respondent of the Christian Statesman,
who has visited the ruins in that region,
writes that the convent on the mount,
in the form of Greek cross, appears to
have been built of large hewn stones,
and is a quarter of a mile III length.
':At the east end," he says, "there are
three semi-circles, where, without
doubt, there were three affairs, and the
entrances to them are adorned with re-
liefs. The breadth of the church is 27S
feet; on the south side there is a hand
some portico; the whole length is COM
puted at 352 feet. On the outside of
the church, back of the cellars, are two
rows of six Corinthian pillars. The
cloisters and cells of the monks have
been very extensive. The whole hill,
together with great part of the plain
on the east, has been covered with build
ings, and even now there are ruins Of
no less than SO churches on and near
the mount, some of them still retaining
marks of their former grandeur.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1874
The Acorn.

AASoA bs
An acorn swung
On an oak-tree Dough;
So long it had hung,
It would fain fall now
To the kindly earth,
That its germ within
Might burst into birth.
And its life begin.
And the autumn came
With it's burning hand;
And each leaf grew fame,
And each bough brand.
And worm came up
And began to eat
Through the hard, dry cup
To the acorn sweet.
And the acorn thought,
Il shall soon see now
The life have sought,
When I fall from the bough;
For the worm gnaws through
Each tendon slight,
That about me grew,
And bound me tight"
And with dying day
Came the zephyr's sound;
And the acorn lay
Next morn on the ground
But it's germ was gone
BY the worms sharp teeth
And the ground it had won
Was its grave in death.
r. ". B., IN The Galaxy.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
Force Of Example.
Columbus (O.) Dispatch

Said one girl to another, this morn
ing, as they were going to school,
"We're too early; we'll have to loaf
around there until the doors are open. %
"Loaf around?" replied the other,
THAT is not a pretty expression. .
well, I'd like to know" said the re-
proved girl, show I'm to learn to talk
proper, when I have three brothers
harping about chin music, cheese it,
swhoop 'em up that is not your rack
et,' and all that sort of talk all the
time.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04

WHEN Nevada miner leaps into a
saloon, with revolver in each hand and
bowie-knife under his arm, and asks,
" Who runs this soul-destroying She
bang!" echo is left to answer, while the
crowd fall out of the back door.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04

Dear Johnny's gone, he could not stay
On heavenly meads he browses,
And now we sadly put away
His little checkered trousers.
Philadelphia, Of course.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
The Conner. Product Of Michigan

The Northwestern Mining Journal
gives the following as the copper ship
ments from the Portage Lake district,
in gross tons,' since the opening of nav
igation: WEE
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04
OIden-Time Breech-LOaderS.

Among the crlriosities at the exhibit
ton of ancient and modern weapons
which has been opened at Birmingham,
England, is breech-loading air-gun
made by Mock, an Englishman, some
where about 1760, which has seven bar
rels, all of which explode with one blow
Of the hammer. There is also beau
tiful breech-loader bearing the name Of
Aquafresca Borgia, 1894. There are
many exquisite breech-loading pistols
of ancient dates, with ingenious mech
anisms, and the first attempt at the re-
volving principle, in the shape Of a
double barreled gun, the barrels turn
ing on pivot Many of the guns have
reservoirs in the stock for ammunition.
One curiosity is single barreled gun
to hold two charges. One charge was
rammed home, and several wads insert
ed, after which the second charge was
placed in the barrel. The top charge
was exploded by hammer about a
third of the way up the barrel, and a
hammer at the breech then discharged
the second.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04

The keweenaw Herald gives the fol-
loving, as the total shipment of mineral
from the Keweenaw district from the
opening of navigation up to October II,
1874:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-11-04

The trains of evening dresses are in
creased in length, many of them meas
uring two yards and even more. The
waists are basques both for high and
low corsages, though the pointed and
chatelaine waists are still seen. Long
plated fan trains are in great favor for
full dress. The bulk of importations
for full dress occasions consists of silk
dresses with trimmings and tabliers of
brocaded gauze; white gauze striped
with black velvet, blue, or rose; a new
sleazy gauze that has silvery sheen;
and many accessories of tulle, both
plain and embroidered with
elaborate floral garniture. There is also
The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-05-08
BINLBY AND EFoRTY-sIx, /"
BY BRET HARTE.

Upon Wasatch's peak of snow,
Night holds illimitable sway,
Where but a single hour ago
The crags and clasms, high and low,
Resplcndent shOne with day.
From out the sky no star-ray shines
Upon the awful solitude;
While mourning through the tossing pines
Like some uuquiet spirits brood,
The winds sweep to and fro,
And seem in saddened mood
To breath a wall of woe
At first they only sighed
But now they moan and sob:
And since the eventide
Their maddened pulses throb
In quicker, faster flow,
As their fieeting footsteps glide
Der the cold expanse of snow.
And all the upper air
Is filled with drifting clouds,
While fiends that revel there
Are weaving shifting shrouds;
Tossing in endless whirl,
They reel in goblin mirth,
And then the shrouds they hurl
On tempest's wings TO earth.
Twas 'leven o'clock near Bridger's Gap,
>
sweep,
Where lightning -jerker enjoyed his nap,
When a call fom the canon broke his
sleep,
And he caught the words from the subtle
clicks:
''Send Binley down here with 4G."
Soon Binley had mounted his iron steed,
And the fires of the furnace glOwed again
ASf the uoniernmS u1nDSfpr ieVOurpi IFS feed
And rolled from the side track on TO the
main.
Out on the night where the snowilakes fell,
Out where the blasts of the tempests roar,
Binley shouted his friend farewell
As he opened the thrJttle-vIlve one notch
moe.
Then over the winding track he sped,
Where the pathway with chasms and crags
was lined;
There glare of his headlight streamed ahead,
And the snow like brides veil streamed
behind.
And the echoes of the clanking steel
Was drowned in the echoes from hill to
hill;
He felt the engine sway and reel,
But the throttle went one notch further
still.
And down the grade like coursers feet,
Plunging through mountains Of drifted
snow,
The engine plows through the crusts of sleet,
And hurls thousand feet below
The ponderOus masses that block its way;
Throws them far to the left and right,
Into the black oblivious night,
To reach the canyons by break Of day.
And now old Binlty feels the thrill
l. L.
foe;
he opens the throttle-valve wider still,
And his furnace burns with tiercer glow
As the piston flashes in faster stroke;
But firm as a rock stands the engineer,
And in his honest old heart of oak
There beats not the slightest pulse of fear.
But soon the engine is running slower,
Though its pathway lies on Il level grade;
And then a tremOr comes stealing DER
Binley's hand, on the throttle laid.
There's Stacking up of the driving-wheel,
While the engine struggles with human
will;
Then slowly ceases the clank of steel,
And the painting monster is standing still.
Thicker and faster the drifting snow
Throws round the victim its winding sheet,
And quenches the glare of the headlight
glow
As Binley mutters, Il give up beat"
Next morning snow-plow forced its way
To the spot where the buried engine lay;
They hewed path through the frozen
crust,
And then was the CHASTITY story told:
There sat Binley beside his trust,
With his hand on the throttle-valve, stiff and
cold.
-Leslie'S Weekly.