davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-18

The pneumatic tube in London ex-
tends from Euston square to the Post
office, distance of 4,73S yards. The ma
chinery for operating the line is at Hol-
born, which is about onethird of the
distance from the Postofiice to Euston.
The tube is five feet wide and four feet
six inches high. The wagons are ten feet
long, and constructed to fit the tube
closely by means of an india-rubber
fiange, and so form a sort of piston, upon
which the air may act to the greatest ad-
vantage. The machinery consists of an
engine having two twenty -four-inch cyl in
ders, with twenty inches stroke. The fan
is twenty-five feet six inches in diameter,
and makes two revolutions Tor each stroke
of the engine. The trains are drawn from
the extremities of the line by exhaustion,
and prop elled thereto by compression.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-18
A PerilOus Leap.

A Richmond paper of a recent date
says that Miss Matte, daughter of Judge
Robert Ould, was the heroine of a street
adventure which, in its elimination,
made the hearts of all observers leap into
their throats She had inst seated herself
upon melted horse in front of her faith
er's residence to accompany Judge IL. w.
Lacy, delegate from New Kent, on an
equestrian jaunt, when the animal dashed
oil at rapid rate through Twelfth street
into Governor and down Governor into
Main Several colored men ran out at
different points to stop the runaway, but
the intrepid rider, who retained her COM
posture as well as her hold OF the relns,
called to them to desist. AT that juncture
Charles Ross was driving slowly up Main
street, and perceiving the approach OF the
runaway purposely halted his team across
Governor street In second the flying
stccd was close upon the hack horses, and
cssayed to overleap them. AS he did SO
Miss Ould sprang to the box of the hack
and was caught by the strong arm OF
Ross. The horse collided with the hack
Team and was thrown down by the con-
CUSTOM Several persons then rushed up
and securely held the three frightened
animals. Miss Ould was escorted into the
Il INK of Commerce, where she received
every attention. She was not only UNI
hurt, but almost free from emotional eX-
element, and calmly related TO her friends
the particulars of her unwilling Hight.
Judge Lacy soon arrived and accompa-
niod Miss Ould TO her home"
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-18
NO. 16.
Onr Boys and girls.
GRANDPA'S LAUGHING GIRL.
BYIDA wHIPPLE BENHAM.

BY IDA wHIPPLE BENHAM.
know the funniest little girl
Merry and blilhe bird is she;
smile peeps ont OF each golden curl,
And her dimples marvellous to see;
From her shy little toes to her trim little nose
She carries a hundred, do suppose.
And she laughs ha, ha and she laughs he, he!
And she never seems weary a-laughIng at mel
How she laughs-and laughs, like the madcap
brook
That losses its lilies adown the dale;
Like the wind that Turks in a f1owcry nook
To whisk the roses away in a gale.
There's always a rOut when she's about;
Our funniest plumbers she's sure to find out,
And she laughs ha, ha! and she laughs he, he!
Oh, she never seems weary a-laughng at mel
The things that are proper l try to do
measure my steps with precision and care,
My thoughts are weighty, my words are few,
And to laugh in her presence do not dare;
Yet sometimes make come trifling mistake,
Then il she is near how culver and quake
For she laughs ha. ha! and she laughs he. he!
oh, she never seems weary a-laughing at me!
II L nod bit in my afternoon nap,
This mad little maiden is cure to see!
If my spectacles tumble down into my lap,
1t is the signal for infinite glee
And wake in despair TO find that my hair,
Ny waggish old wig has gone under the chair
Then she laughs ha ha and she laughs he, hei
Oh, she never seems weary a laughin. at me!
-Y0uah's COn'p0ntOn.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-18
Shoes by Mail.

THE Virginia City New Enterprise
of recent date says: "At the Post
office in this city we were shown an old
shoe which started from the New York
city Postoffice. Among the documents
slowed away in the shoe is one in which
is written something to the following
effect: we, the undersigned, respectfully
recommend that our late comrade, Good
enough, be appointed postal cobbler,
this shoe being IA specimen of his work. ;
Then follows a large number of sigma
lures. The specimen of his work is
about the worst specimen in that line
ever seen. 1t is patched with scraps of
red leather, black leather and all kinds
of leather. The new half-sole is fearfully
and wonderfully made, and nailed on
with copper, iron, and all kinds of nails,
while on the heel is spiked a sort of half
tap. The documents travelling with the
shoe show that it has been in many
offices of the West, and 1t is now quite
covered with tags, postmarks, and all
manner of scraps of Postoflice wit. 1t
left last night for San Francisco. 1t
travels loose in the mail-bags and goes in
whatever direction the fancy ofthe clerks
sends it cruising"
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-18
Selected sHiseella,,g.
BROWN HANDS.


BIT MRS. HATTIE p. BELL
Full many Q page has been written.
And the gifted have sung, in the praise
OF lily-whitc hands and fingers,
In q score Of poetical ways;
This lie all very well for q lady
Who lives among diamonds and silk,
But sometimes in hfe n farmers wife
Is obliged to do homework and milk.
And woman's best mission thro'out our dear land
L. fulfilled in the strength Of the little brown hand
When the roses are blushing the sweetest,
And the vines climb mp the caves
Whcn the robins are rocking their brides
To sleep 'mong the maple leaves:
The sunshine smiles down 'cross the threshold,
When the labor Of love seems but rect,
Whether rocking the household brides
Or keeping the dear home nest
oh. pity you all who can't understand
The wealth and the worth Of little brown hand
II were . man with fortune,
million laid by on the shelf
n wero-a youth-h wasn't. IN truth,
want q woman myself
know what I'D do in a minute
white fingers have often mised),
I'd seek after thoee whose rich iinting shows
Acquaintance with puddings and. bread:
I'd use all the eloquence words could command,
And be proud might win a little brown hand.
Rural Neic Yorker.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-18

WHEN Sheriff down in Vermont, in
opening the County Court, the other day,
cried: "All persons having causes or
matters pending therein draw near, and
they shall be heard, and God save the
people" he was a satirist and didn't
know it,
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-18

n HAVANA paper says that America
must be taught a lesson and that Spain
must be the teacher. Every prudent family
will throw up Notifications right away.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-18

A CYNICAL old bachelor says that the
eagerness with which young ladies rush
TO fashionable entertainments suggests tho
first stage of rubber at whist. They cut
for partners.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-18

The total Indebtedness of Cleveland
is "a ,272 900, and her tax rate Sc 40.
The Portland daily press., 1874-12-25
Magazine Notices.

The Aldine for January, 1875, is duly at hand,
and certainly entitled to the credit OF being the
yerv best number yet issued OF that beautiful
publication. In both pictures and literary
matter. this month, there is an infinite
variety and corresponding excellence. Plc-
torially, the leading attractions are A Daugh-
ter of Cleopatra, after Vernet-Lecompte, by
John S. Davis--an admirable work of art, and
supplying ore of the highest types of the
duskier Oriental beauty; three magnificent
views of the mountains of the Delaware Water
Gan, illustrating thatl picturesque region to
fine advantage; an attractive full-page, also by
Davis. Fishermans Luck; Loves Offices, by
Siegert, and The Appointment, by Otto Erd-
mann, two admirable companion pictures, tell
ing their stories with life and vigor very
striking Silver Full-Moonlight, weirdly at
tractive: fine view of the new Western Union
Telegraph Building, New York; and an elab-
orate.y executed portrait OF Miss Margaretta
B. Moore, the popular elocutionist. Such an
array of pictorial charm is not often given IN
one number, even by The Aldtne.
The literary contents embrace the following
rare collection: An instructive and very enjoy
able paper on Christmas in London, by Henry
Morford; one of the most charmingly mis-
chieyous short stories of the period, by another
of the new names which The Aldine is intro
ducing to the public-evdently Norsewoman,
Emma Stjerne Jarlsen 1--WE should like to hear
somebody pronounce thatD an excessively
amusing sketch of Student Life Abroad, by
Fenno Douglas; valuable peep at the growth
of The Mistletoe; continuation of the popular
serial, Lost Lillian Bracy; most touch
ing story of primitive ew England life,
Ore Little Puritan, by Annette L. Noble;
The Portland daily press., 1874-12-25
Current Notes.

The full text of the finance bill, shows that
the measure is better one than it appeared
from ths brief abstract previously given. 1t
was not TO be expected that any compromise
measure would satisfy the ideas of the more
radical hard-money men, and it was hardly
to be expected, considering the views of the
majority in Congress, that the general drift OF
the measure would be in the right direction.
The new bill is therefore unexpectedly good
in this spect.-HarBord CoMant.
The opinion of the New York Herald upon
the new finance bill is that "It deserves to
rank no higher than as dexterous political
dodge for giving deceptive appearance
unity, to the Republican party on this great
question"
The New York Evening Post remarks
"Altosether, this Senate bill is so much bet
t, than anything which before the elections
expected from this Congress, that we give
qualified but earnest support. With such
a bill enacted, and with as competent and
iudic;ous Secretary in charge of the Treas
JIry as Mr. Bristow, there will at last be rea-
son to expect genuine improvement in the
public finances
Just think, if you swear off Using tobacco
and wearing clothes after the 1st of January
YOU can save $5 per week at least, and S.
per week for 1000 years is $780, 0,000.-Detroit
Free Press.
The Boston Herald says that "those who
know say shipbuilding is cheaper now than it
has been for the past twenty years"
In calling attention to the reports of our
State Reform School and Agricultural Col
lege, the Boston Globe says "The Pine Tree
State is prominent in social and other re.
forms, and the way in which embryo crimi-
nails are dealt with and the methods By which
agricultural education is fostered by the
Government are calculated to attract atten-
ton elsewhere"
The Portland daily press., 1874-12-25
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE,

pleasant translation, in the Birthplace OF Mo-
zart's Zauberhote, by Miss E. G. Gildemeister;
incisive articles on Literature, Music, the Dra-
ma, etc. In addition, there are no less than four
poems of merit; A New Years Wish, by Mrs.
M. F. Butts; Dead Days. by Mrs. MargaretJ.
Preston; Abreast With the Storm, by John
Vance Cheney; and Songs of the Months, by
Alice M. Guernsey. This makes, we repeat,
an issue of equal excellence and variety, rare
even for The Aldine, and evidences the fact
that under the new editorial management,
while nothing is to be lost in high artistic rep
utation, the literary merit of the publication is
to be kept quite abreast',of it.
The Aldine Company has determined to es-
tablish an Art Union similar to the we'll
known Art Union in England, and distributes
its works of art, both sculpture and paintings,
which are constantly collecting, among its sub
scribers. Art premiums, valued at $500, will
be distributed among each series of 5000 sub
scribers. Subscription tickets, at $500 each,
entitle the holder to The Aldine for year, to
the new chrome, and to ticket in the distribu-
ton of art premiums. The Aldine Company,
publishers, No. IS Maiden Lane, New York
Citv
The Portland daily press., 1874-12-25
Washington News and Gossip.
SECRETARY BRIsTOw.

SECRETARY BRIsTow.
Mr.. Banks in his second letter from Wash.
ington to his paper, says of Secretary Bristow:
"Gen. Bristow's administration of the treasury
added to the impression of his former public
services, places him in the front, also, as a pos
sible presidential candidate. There are the
making of strong case, not only for the nomi-
nation but for the place, in his character, his
surroundings, and his opportunities. He is a
man of great simplicity of nature and manner,
of generous physical frame, of robust and hon
est mind and heart, high in his purposes, direct
and resolute in his action, while tolerant of
difference and generous to everything save
absolute wrong. The great respect that his po-
ltieal opponents in Kentucky bear for him IS
something quite remarkable, considering the
inherited rivalries of their party differences the
intense antagonisms of the war, in which he
was so prominent an actor on the soil OF his
own state, and the present ambitions of the
local Democratic leaders. Theyfall speak OF
him in terms of highest appreciation and
praise, and onlthe floor of Congress are ready to
adopt his suggestions without questioning.
One day this week, Mr.. Beck was firing away
at Garfield over something in the appropriation
bill that he didn't understand; his voice grew
hoarse aud aggressive, his party plumes Were
bristling and he swung the Democratic battle-
ak pres1mptuously about; but when the chair
man of the appropriations quietly explained
that the clause in question simply sustained
recent reform of the present Secretary of the
Treasury, the Democratic leader subsided into
sweet grace, and apologetically said that it was
all right. and he withdrew every objection;
Strongly Democratic as Kentucky is, she would
doubtless easily vote for Gen. Bristow for the
first office in the nation; and either by an open
quarrel with him and his policy, or acquies-
ence in his leadership in administration reform
Gen. Grant can probably make his Secretary OF
the Treasury his successor"
The Portland daily press., 1874-12-25

1t is reported that Congressman Kelley re-
pents. He will not leave the Republican
party, no matter what its action on the imam
cial question may be.
The exposure of the Katie King fraud
seems to be the signal of an attact upon the
mediums all along the line. Sade and Eos
ter, the New York clairvoyants, are SHOWN
up by sceptics in the New York Herald, who
claimIto have detected their tricks. AT the
same time, Mrs. Hardy, the Boston operator,
is exhibited in an unpleasing light in the Bos-
ton Globe by a gentleman who caught her
doing things himself which she attributed 10
the spirits. -SprinGfeld Union.
The last candidate for senator from New
York in place of Fenton is Charles OConor.
The other candidates are Francis keInan, nan,
Henry G. Murphy, Charles Wheaton, Amos
j. Parker, Clarkson N. Potter and Elijah
Ward, all of whom are prominently ana wen
known throught the state.
An ANALYSIS of the vote on Mr.. Holman's
anti-subsidy resolution shows that OF the
seventy-five votes against it more than forty
were cast by members who have not been
reelected, and that still larger part was
cast by members from the southern states.
A St. Albans subscriber in sending his sub
scription to the weekly PRESS says: "The
paper can't well do without. like your
bold defense of true Republicanism." We
are receiving such words of commendation
every day.
Does the Boston Adrertiser really think
that the Northern Pacific Railroad Company
is deserving the further aid of Congress?
Mr.. Bowles thinks that Hon. NJ. G. Kerr
will be Mr.. Blaine's successor in the Speak
ers chair.
The Springfield Republican says: "By way,
VIC suppose, of swelling the Democratic ranks
with new recruits against the great campaign
of 1876, the New York World is at present
talking about the vulgar fanatcism' of which
the dead Sumner was, in its judgment,
fitting type"
The Portland daily press., 1874-12-25

THE LEGIsLATURE-The Ellsworth Anleri-
can. one of the members of which is a member
of the Senate, says respecting the business of
the Legislature:
Among the purely legislative matters claim.
ing attention, the question of aboishing capital
punishment is prominent. The near approach
of the time of Wagner's execution will pre-
cipitate the discussion. We regard the aboli-
ton of the gallows as sure to come at some
time.
ment for debt The only object OF imprisonlng
a debtor is to procure disclosure. but as the
whole expense of a disclosure is thrown upon
the debtor keen hardship frequently results.
Often too the debtor, if cunning, can so time
his disclosure as to defeat the creditors object
1t is to be hoped that some way may be devised
to save the honest, unfortunate debtor from the
stigma of the JAIL and at the same time give
the creditor better remedy against the DIS
honest creditor.
An effort will be made to repeal or essentially
modify the Lobster Law enacted last winter
1t is claimed that the close time should De
earlier-that it now operates hardly against the
fishermen, who during that time are out OF em-
ployment 1t is proposed to either repeal the
law entirely or to fix the close time earlier and
shorter, This county is especially interested IN
this matter and we do not doubt that our MEM
bers will labor faithfully for the change.
There may be some little sparring over the
proposition to extend the charter of the Castine
and Ellsworth r. r. to Eastport, but We appze-
bend none Let that Company build road to
Eastport if they wish-all the people want Is
the road-they don't care much under what
charter it is built.
The character of the next Legislature is such
that, with Gov. Dingley's watchful eyes ever
open to correct errors, we anticipate good re-
suits from the session.
The Portland daily press., 1874-12-25
THE PRES S.
FRIDAY MORNING. DEC. 25, 1874
Christmas.

The Christmas festival has old and peculiar
claims upon. all men of British descent.
Long before the jealous missionaries of
Rome set foot on the shores of Britain, the
Druids celebrated in the last days of Decem-
ber, under the shade of the oak wreathed
| with holly and mistletoe, the great sacrifice
of their sombre worship. In time the Chris
tian festival came in with the lpurer faith,
and took the place ofthe pagan holiday.
The stern hostility of our Puritan ancestors
to the sensuous ritual of the mother church
led to an entire neglect for long time, of
the most prominent holiday of the Christian
year. The observance of days was, in their eyes,
superstitious practice; the very word mass
even when coupled with the name of the
Builder and Ffnisher of their faith, was an
abomination; the date had been fixed by
papal decree, and profound distrust of
Catholic chronology, and bitter opposition
to papal DEGREES, good on bad, were promi-
nent features of their rigid creed.
The liberalizing tendencies OF modern
thought and growing Indifference to the
doctrinal meaning of theological symbols,
coupled with an increasing delight, born Of a
higher culture, in. the sweet observances of
the day, have effected Christmas revival.
The day has lost its sacrifcial character 1t is
true, and the beautiful German legend of
the Christ Child shapes its observance.
But it is fitting, in view of the words
of the Master, that the celebration of His
birth should become prominently the
children's holiday and that the central figure
of the celebration should be not the Arisen
Christ whose glory fills the world, but the
Babe Of Bethlehem on His mothers knee.
1t is well, too, to have it brought to mind
that, to enter the kingdom of Heaven, one
must become in hesrt like little child.
The day is one of joyful family reunions,
of Christmas trees and Christmas stockings,
of gift taking and gift giving; but it is day
also to recall to the minds of men that love
to God and to our fellow creatures is the cor
ner-stone of the beautiful structure of the
Christian faith, and to teach us in the new
year at hand, to walk with patient striving,
in the path marked out by the Master eigh-
teen hundred years ago. 1t is..a time to do
away with all harsh feelings, to moderate all
asperities, to dismiss all petty jealousies, to
forget the mistakes of our friends, to condone
the faults of our enemies, to raise the anthem
OF peace and good will to all.
AS we lay Christmas wreath upon the sill
vered locks of the dying year, let us chant, as
befits the occasion, the tender words of
Thackeray's song:
'sWe lay the weary pen aside,
And wish you health and love and mirth;
As fits the solemn Christmas tide,
As fits the holy Christmas birth.
Be this, good friends our carol still,
Be peace on earth, be peace Oh earth.
To men of gentle will"
The Portland daily press., 1874-12-25

A Hartford clairvoyant has visited Charley
Ross, figuratively speaking, through the minds
eve Sand reports that he is not far from corner
grocery off Eight avenue, New York, and there
are five persons knowing to his whereabouts,
ono of whom is a detective. When the re-
ward of $4,000 is offered so that the return of
the boy will secure it, the present intention is
to have the cash come to Hartford.
The Washington Chronicle is authority for
an explanation of the manner in which Gen.
Butler managed to convey the granite for his
new house on Capitol Hill from his quarres on
Cane Ann: "When the pedestal for the Scott
monument was shipped to Washington Butler
said he would give the ballast if allowed to Sc
lect it. He was. and accordingly ballasted the
ship with the granite, and thus practcaly
solved the question of cheap transportation.
A Mr.. William Hipp writes to the LONDON
Echo that at one of Florence Cookies seauces
where the spirits were to have sprinkied the
believers with water. he grasped the tumbler
that was mt on the table in the circle and lin
few minutes clutched the spirit hand THAT was
mt in it. A light was struck and he had MISS
Cook by the hand
Hon. VIM. E. Chandler of Washington, was
married to Miss Lucy J. Hale, daughter OF the
late Hon. John P. Hale at Dover, N. H., we'd
nesday.
The Portland daily press., 1874-12-25

WE are glad that Mr.. Hale has settled the
Calais post-office matter so happily. 1t was
clearly shown that the old postmaster, Mr..
Barnard, and one of his competitors, Mr..
Horton, -four years ago made trade by which
the man who was appointed became obliged
to pay and did pay money to the other. Mr..
Hale knew nothing of this trade until four
years after it was made, and VIC think no
body in the controversy has ever claimed
that he had any knowledge oft. And while
VIM. T. King, Esq, one of the candidates
for appointment this year, showed to the
satisfaction of the head of the Post
Office Department that he had no share
in the trade between Mr.. Barnard and Mr..
Horton and received none of the money.
vet ne ufu nOJ ueny JnaJ ne was CognizanJ OF
the trade and took no steps TO prevent it. 1t
was therefore thought better to take third
man, and Mr.. Hale recommended W. G.
Haycock, Esq, young man of excellent
character and ability, gallant soldier in the
war of the rebellion, and at present one Of
Mr.. Nuts deputies at Calais. This ought to
satisfy the Calais people and no doubt will.
Mr.. King fails to get the Office, but it cannot
fail to afford satisfaction to his friends that
he cleared himself in the department from the
charge that he shared in the money paid by
Barnard. The result is wholesome one and
gives notice to everybody that our public
Offices are not to be made objects of bargain
and sale,