davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17
Estimate Of the Total Crop of Wool
This Season.

INDIANAPoLIs, April 1.-THE Ma
tional Crop Reporter, formerly Of jack
sonville, Illinois, issued its first number
from this city to-day. The following is
an abstract of the leading information
presented: From estimates of compare
tive number and condition of sheep to
be sheared this spring, and the probable
comparative weight Of feeces, deduc-
tions are made as follows: The States
Of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Min
nesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin
reported the clip of sheep of all kinds
in 1873, total of nearly ten millions
and sixteen thousand. The estimated
increase over last year in the number to
be sheared averages for the eight States
one-and half per cent. and assuming
the rate of increase in number of all
kinds to have been the same, the result
is an aggregate of triAe over 10,127,-
600 sheep.
In obtaining the probable yield of
wool the rate of three and one-half
pounds per fleece is made, basis which
places the total clip last year in the eight
States named, little more than thirty
six and one-half million pounds. The
estimates of the Crop Reporters CORES
pondents indicate this year an average
falling off in weight of Aeeces of three
and two-tenths per cent. Taking the
slight gain in numbers and the loss in
weight of fleece, the result leaves prob
able shortage this year in the States
named amounting 10 little over 1,150,-
600 pounds of wool. The past winter
has been generally very favorable to
sheep breeding, and while the average
condition ON March Is was over one pei
cent. better than that at the same date
last year, the increase of lambs has beer
considerably greater as compared with
the previous winter.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

A bill has been introduced into the
New York Legislature incorporating
the Niagara River Transit Co., which
proposes to construct a second means of
international transit at Buffalo, either
over or under the Niagara river. Twen-
ty years ago it was estimaned that a
tunnel would cost 81, 100000, but that
amount would probably have to be
doubled or trebled to-day. The Canada,
Southern and Great Western railroad
are interested in the construction OF
some means Of transit other than the
Suspension Bridge, SO that the cost o
the tunnel, il the scheme Is olherwis'
practicable, need be no obstacle in tn,
way.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17
The BaObab.

The Baobab is plant Of monstrous
size the most colossal and the most an
cient vegetable monument on earth, has
round, woolly leaves, which consist OF
from three to seven leaflets radiating
from common centre, and giving them
somewhat the appearance of a hand, and
magnificent white flower. 1t is an. enor-
nous tree, holding among plants the
place that the elephant holds among an
imals-a hoary witness of the last
changes which the earth has undergone,
and deluges that have buried beneath
their waves the prodution of early ages.
Several baobabs that have been measur-
| ed were found to be near seventy seven
feet in circumference From its branch
es hang, at times colossal nets, three feet
in length, and resembling large oval
baskets open at the bottom, and looking
| from the distance like so many signal
flags.
1t would take fifteen men, with their
arms extended, to embrace the trunk of
one of these great trees, which, in the
countries through which the Senegal
flows, are yenerated as sacred monu-
ments. Enormous branches are given
off from the ground and spread out hor-
izontally, giving the tree diameter OF
over 100 feet. each of these branches, u
says Mr. Danton, "would be a monster
tree elsewhere, and, taken together, they
seem to made up forest rather than a
tree"
1t is only at the age of 800 years that
the baobabs attain their full size, and
then cease to grow.
The fruit of this tree is oblong; the
color of the shell passes in ripening
from green to yellow and brown. The
fruit is called monkey bread" 1t con
tains a spongy substance, paler thar
, chocolate, and filled with abundant
, juice.
The bark is ashy gray in color, and al
most an inch is thickness. The negroe
of the Senegal grind it down to powder
and in this, state they use it to seasol
their food, and to maintain a moderate
ly free Precipitation, which enables then
the more easily to Withstand the heat
:, 1t serves also rs an antidote for certail
: fevers.-From Wonders Of Vegetation.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

The Galesburg widow met her swain
at temperance meeting, and gave him
$4,000 to meet some notes coming due;
the Philadelphia widow gave her lover
$1,000 to furnish the house they were
to live I'M the Newark widow gave her
San Francisco beau, whom she met at n
church festival, house valued at 81, 900
to dispose of. The lovers all pocketed
the money and decamped. The poor wo-
men deserve pity for their confidence, il
nothing more. y widow choking with
affection for hearts idol can not reason
ably be expected to telegraph all round
the country to inquire from what, If any
penitentiary her adorer has emerged
However, it would be cheaper in the
long run to do so.-Hicdgo Tribune.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17
A True Story.

From the New York Tribune
Two or three weeks ago an accident
did not occur near Scranton, Penn, the
newspapers missed a sensational horror;
and dozen men, instead Of being hurl-
ed into eternity without time to breathe
a prayer, walked quietly home to their
dinners; quite unconcious that death
had them by the throats. 1t might af-
ter all, be worth our while to look into
the cause of the loss of this tragedy TO
the world; We should have been keen
enough to unearth the guilty party if. it
had occurred The facts are briefly
these:
In the largest anthracite coal mine in
the State, the care of the engine by
which the cars for passengers are lower
ed and hoisted is placed in the hands of
Scotch-Irishman, an ordinary fellow
enough. The cable necessarily of great
weight and thickness, passes through
the roof of slightly-built shed under
which he stands One morning, as the
man stood smoking his pipe, his hand
upon the lever, his mind very probably
/ busy with his dinner, and assuredly not
wrought up to any heroic rapture of re-
solve, the ascending car Qoaded with
coall at one end of the cable, broke, and
/ fell crashing into the dark shaft, TO be
/ shattered into thousand fragments. He
l IL -, 81 IL ii
released from the strain, would fly back
and fall with cruising weight on the
| rickety beams and boards of the roof
| Death was absolutely certain if he did
not escape from the shed. But if he
/ took his hand from the lever, the de-
scending car, full of men, must fall one
instant to face his death and theirs, and
to choose between them. There was a
boy in the back of the shed; the man
motion to him with his head to go out
Then he frightened his hold on the lever
The loosened cable struck and caught
somewhere below against the side of the
shaft Surely God meant it should sc
strike! 1t was the delay of but breath
of time; but it was enough. The cal
grated with jar against the ground fan
below; its occupants stepped leisurely
out, while the man who had saved them
above, threw himself from under the shed
just as its roof, beams, pulley, and all
crashed down on the SPOT where he had
been standing.
We do not know the mans name, and
should scarcely need to publish it if We
did. Fame or reward jar somehow
against the deed itself There is a
wholesome tonic for all of us in the Ger.
tainty, which is forced upon us now and
then, of the unknown, unmeasured re.
sources of courage and heroism and un.
finching integrity to duty which. we
possess among what we choose to call
the mass of the people. 1t is after all
of middle age that he is not surprised
every new day by the knowledge of how
admirable crew has been put into the
world for its long voyage; how many o1
the women are gracious and finely natur'
ed; how many men respond promptly
to the call of honesty or duty or ever
self-sacrifce because it is the simple and
natural thing for them to do so.
We will congratulate ourselves, then
not that his class can boast one sucl
brave fellow as this Scotch-Irish engi
neer, but that, like King Harry over
Percy's grave, we believe that it "has ;
thousand such as he"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

Brigham Young it is said is looking for
ward to his overthrow and n departure
from Utah. The statement is probably
not remarkably true, however. Nor
monism has never been stronger than AZ
present. The efforts Of Judge Mexican
against il were rendered futile by the
iisagreements, Of the courts Of the local
ity, the Territorial court being sustained
by the way, by the United States SUI
preme Court; so that the only result of
active opposition to Mormouism for "a
long time back has been 10 unite tho
saints more firmly together.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17
Why ?

The very sensible query is asked by
the Scientific American: "Why should
not child be taught to write and draw
with both hands?" The very natural
echo is ''why?" The human body can
be educated to do almost anything. Men
have written with their toes, and done
all sorts of wonderful things with their
teeth; and yet since the creation of man,
that intelligent animal seems to have re-
garded the left hand as sort of tender
to the right In fact, the left hand is the
LATEST member of the human body.
When the right is scribbling away for
bare life, the left looks on placidly; keeps
down the paper with its fingers and shows
its rings. In truth, the only things in
which it seems to excel, except when oc-
casionally helping its big brother in -
Indifferent sort of way, consist in hitting
from the shoulder in a prize-fght, and
in using fork to advantage. The left
hand is always too pretty to do any work
Ladies show off its lines of beauty while
delicately resting their lovely chins up
on its fingers. Let poor fellow have
his right hand shot away, and then JUS
see what the left can do! In a wonder
fully short space of time it can buttor
a coat, write a letter, and do thing
which in its palmy days it never dream
of. By all means, educate the left hand
and if it will not work, make it. Their,
is nothing in the world to hinder mai
writing two letters at once, like Ristor
in "Queen Elizabeth" and keeping NJ
an animated conversation with his un
ruly member at the same time. Th
left hand was given to man to do its shar
in the business of life, just as much a
its twin brother in boots. At present,
is kind of loafer, doing the gentle press
ure business in love affairs, and havin
all the fun We are down on left hands
and strongly recommend that they be pu
to school.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

In the year 1884, William sim,
Scotchman, went to sea, and not having
been heard from since, the supposition is
that he was drowned. According to the
Edinburgh SeotaadH, Goldfish was re-
Gently caught, in whose stomach was
found Bible, bound in cali, bearing
the name Of civilian SIM The con-
clusion arrived at by the natives is, that
this Goldfish had devoured everything
pertaining to the sailor, including his
Bible. and that, as punishment for his
crime. he has been tormented for forty
years with an indigestible Bible in his
inside.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

The other night weak-eyed youth
was sitting in Ames' Church, wholly
forgetful of his surroundings, and lost
in beatiic contemplation of a certain
young woman, touching whom he cher
ished violent designs, when suddenly a
hand was laid upon his shoulder, and a
deep contralto voice thundered in his
ear: young man, you look as if you
wanted to go to Jesusl won't you come
to Jesus?" Whereupon he was struck all
ofa heap, as it were, and stammered
81 would want-that is ! should
like to go, you know, but not this even
ing, thank you; have an engagement
And then he lapsed into state o
mild imbecility, from which it wa
plainly impossible to arouse him.-N
o. Picayane
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

Nine-tenths of the alleged inhumani-
ty of mankind is owing to their being
deceived. Ifpeople are sure of an acci-
dent or calamity crowds hasten to relieve
it. By veracity.we charm in converse
ton; by trustworthiness we render friends
loving and secure, and to the general
confidence of men in men, and by thus
strengthening the foundation of society
acquire the right to an analogous per.
sonal sense of worth and firmness. Truth
gives a sense of security to the feeblesi
man, as lying does insecurity to the
strongest. The true man has but one
answer to give to interrogators, one story
to tell them, nobody's face TO fear.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

A very old man once went to the
King Of Sparta aud lamented the degen-
eraey Of the times. The King replied
what you say is undoubtedly true, tor /
remember that when was a boy ] heard
my father say that when he was boy he
heard my grandfather say the same thing.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

the savings of souls in North Carolina.
So important, indeed, does this become,
that ii is question whether a clergy
man who fails to pray for an earthquake
or volcanic shock ful6lls his whole duty
to a lost and perishing world CineiH-
nati Commercial
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

Somebody, who has taken the trouble
to ascertain the actual material now eni-
ployed in constructing pianoforte
states that in every instrument there are
fifteen kinds of wood, of which pine,
maple, spruce, cherry, walnut, white.
wood, apple, Eastwood, and birch are
American products, and the mahogony,
ebony, holly, ceder, beech and rosewood
come fIom Honduras, Ceylon, England
South America and Germany.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

The new boot in Paris is the PomPei-
ian. Il is Of black velvet, and very high,
the leaeing In front all Venetian cnt
work, embroidered with silver cord, and
a pink or Pompeian red silk stocking h.
thus seen through the open clover or
diamond-shapcd design.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

The streets of Yokohoma are wide and
straight. Each house is built of wood,
without an atom Of paint, and is real
toy house, a genuine Liliputian Swiss
chalet, built with taste, Il nicely, and
a neatness which are admirable. The
japanese are wonderful workers in
wood, and 1t is pleasure to see the
roof, so light and yet so strong, sup
ported by walls which are made, like
the side scenes in a theater, of thin
strips of wood, over which are pasted
sheets of cottony, transparent paper
In the evenings, when the lanterns dis.
pense their soft light round the inside
of these white buildings, the spectator
seems TO be looking at magic lantern
During the daytime the sides of thC
houses are slipped out, as side-scenes are
and the house becomes only q roof rest
ing on the four light corner posts, tho
whole interior being thus opened to the
air. Every part of the house is exposed
to view, and everything done in it car
be seen, while behind it appear thu
charming verdure, the cascades, and tn,
diminutive plantations of the little gar
dens situated is the rear.-Lippincotf,
Magazine.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

1t is one of the beautiful compensa-
tions of this life, that no man can sim
cerely try to help another without help
ing himself.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

A woman's pride and a sailor's guide
The needle.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

Who IL the oldest lunaiie on record
Time out Of mind.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

The New York Times predicts that
within two years Chicago will have a
worse FIRE than two years ago. "She Is
not careful enough with her fire limits
and lumber piles"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-04-17

A noisy piece of crockery-The cup
that cheers.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30
MEMORIAL BAY.

To-day is the one designated by the
Grand Army Of the Republic, as the one
on which the surviving comrades of the
great army of Freedom shall visit the
graves of their honored dead and decorate
them with flowers. Memorial Day has
now passed into a day OF annual OBJ
servanee, and we doubt not viii, in the
future, take its place in the list Of our
hoidays-not to be celebrated as we eel
ebrate the birthday Of our country, with
the ringing Of bells, the firing Of cannon,
and the joyous revelry with which we
usher in our country's natal morn, but
rather with ceremonies calculated 10 ava
ken in the hearts Of the partieipators, the
remem branee of the sacrifices of the
struggle as well as its results.
Brave men can always honor the brave.
and thus we now see soldiers of the late
contending armies mingling on these oc-
casions, while the last resting place OF
friend and foe receives alike its floral
tribute Of remembrance. SO may it ever
be. For though we may have had no
sympathy with the cause for which they
fought and fell, we know that they believ-
ed it just, and freely gave their lives in
token Of their sincerity.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30

CoINAGE.-Senator Sargent submitted
to the Senate letter addressed to him
by r. II. Linderman, Director of the
Mint, expressing and giving reasons for
the unqualified opinion that the present
charge for coinage Of gold in the United
States should be abolished. Among the
reasons are the following:
Coinage reduces the mint value
of bullion, and thereby encourages its ex-
port to London and other foreign markets,
where no charge is made for coinage.
Second Coinage Of the standard metal
being indispensable to the public, the
cost should fall equally upon all, and not
upon the producer of the bullion.
Thrd-The very small premium in
London or Paris will cause gold bullion
to be sent there, merely for out turn,
whereas coin will not be exported except
when required to adjust foreign balances
and then only when it is the cheapest ar
ticle obtainable for the purpose.
Eourth-Repeal Of the gold coinage
charge would have tendency to retain
the mixed bullion in this country for sep
aration and coinage.
Fifth-The small loss to TIE revenue
which would result from reinquishng
this charge would be made good by the
additional receipts from charges on melt
ing and refining, which have been i'm
posed by the coinage act of 1873 ; which,
together with the gain on subsidiary coin
age, now nearly detray the expenses Of
the entire mint establishment.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30

THE Brazilian Government throws its
protecting arms around the Masonic fra
ternity Of that empire. A few weeks ago
the Bishop OF Pernambuco was sentenced
to four years imprisonment at hard labor
for Illuminating papal bull against the or
del without without obtaining permission
of the government. Later, the Emperor
commutcd the sentence to simple impris-
onment. An exchange says that the good
old bishop has no family ties, and his peo-
pie will undoubtedly keep him well
stocked with champagne and cigars, so he
ought to be very happy for the next four
years. In this country the penalty Tor n
similar offence, is to be terribly laughed
at by the whole Masonic brotherhood.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30

THE House Election Committee had
before it George Q. Cannon, Mormon
Delegate, to answer charges presented by
HazeIlon, Of Wisconsin,, that he was liv-
ing in open polygamyn with four women
as his wives in violation OF law. lie de-
cined 10 plead to the charges, and admit
ted his guilt by stating that he would
submit the matter on evidence presented
by General Maxwell in the contested elec-
ton case, which is conclusive against
him. If the Committee cannot lie in
duced to report the expulsion Of the po-
lygamist apostle, it i. considered certain
that the only obstacle is mysterious one
always raised by Brigham Young and
the Mormons in preventing hostile action
in Congress against irpeculiarin interest.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30

IL BEHALF OF HEARERS. The Mount
ain Democrat takes up the cudgels in be-
half of hearers. The provocation was
this: Mrs. DR.. Young made her advent
into Placervlle and announced that she
would deliver lecture in certain hall
at certain hour A goodly number OF
ritizens-thirty or mOre-a.tracted by GU
riosity or moved by desire for iniorma-
ton, were on hand to hear the lady dis
course on the Laws of Health, ETC."
During the progress of the lecture persons
were coming and going. When the lee
ture was within about five minutes Of its
close IA lady and gentleman, in addition
to those who had preceded, got up and
started for the door. When about half
way from their seat to the door, the lee
turess remarked in heightened and
somewhat angry tone of voice, that she
"was sorry she hadn't charged them half
dollar at the door," After their exit
she was still more free and emphatic in
the expression of her indignation. This
prOvokesthe Democrat TO assert the right
of auditors to leave public meeting,
however annoying or embarrassing the
exercise of such right may prove to ora
tors or lecturers, and to claim for them
the prerogative OF determining the times
and occasions when this right ought to be
exercised. We concur. TO deny the
right would be worse than sentencing the
whole audience to the gaIlows or guillo-
tine ! For has it not long since passed
into "A proverb that the worstot all deaths
is to be talked to death!- Yrek0 Union.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30

A YOUNG girl of Newtonville, Mass,
who had become deranged by religious
excitement, left her home late at night,
telling her little brother that she was go
ing to kin herself, in order to get quick y
into heaven. The boy informed his pa
rents, the neighborhood was quickly
aroused and thorough search was made
for the body. Al last it was found in her
own bed, quite warm and healthy. She
had climbed in at Il window after wander
ing half the night, and was slumbering
peacefully.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30

WE are reminded by the St. Louis
Gtobe that the next inauguration day,
March 4th, 1877, falls on Sunday, so that
the presiding officer of the Senate pro
TEN. will be President of the United
States from Sunday midnight till Monday
at the hour that the President is sworn
in. This has occurred twice before, Mon
rne beginning hi second term Monday,
March 9th, 1921, and Zachary Taylor his
torn on Monday March 5th 1910.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30

THE Tulare Times describes Owens
Lake AS eighteen miles long and fourteen
wide, with an average depth Of thirty feet.
1t is supplied bv Owens river and numer-
Gus springs, and has no visible outlet. 1t
is highly charged with alkalies, borax
and many other elements, and it is SO
strong that it will cut leather or cloth,
and destroy soap or grease.
Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30

THE lawyers Of indianapolis are tortur-
ing their brains over an extraordinary
problem. Some years ago lady Of that
city was married and four months there
after separated from her husband, was
divorced and remarried in a month, and
four months thereafter gave birth to II
child by her first hus band. Quito recently
the second husband procured divorce,
and the custody OF the child was awarded
to him. Now comes the first husband
and claims the child. Who is entitled to
its possession ? Where is King Solomon?
Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-05-30

THE Spring fashion of pants for men
are baggy" at the tops and tight around
the ankles, giving the wearer's legs the
appearance Of inverted dinner horns.
And yet men who will put on such tog-
gerry, and glory in it, talk about the ridic-
ulous fashions OF the women Let us
have peace