davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25
The Son Of Peter the Great.

Alexis, the Inflated son of Eudosia
and Peter the Great, had long incurred
the resentment of his father. OF a
tall and commanding appearance, he
was looked up to by nation among
whom colossal stature was particular
ly esteemed. Around him be had
collected associates who plunged into
every sort of vice and licentiousness !;
he openly opposed tho reforms of his
father, and, fearing his dspleasurc,
left the country.
Peter, discovering bis retreat at
Naples, ordered him to return to St.
Petersburg, promising forgiveness if he
did 80 on the other hand threatening
him with tho most dreadful curses il
he refused. Alexis, relying on his
promises, returned, and had barely
arrived before he was surrounded and
imprisoned; and then began most
painful ordeal, which was carried on
for five months. Peter daily visited
him, aud working on his weak mind,
prevailed on him to accuse himself of
the most dreadful crimes, and to name
all the friends who were in any way
implicated. He then nominally con-
suited the priests and mobiles what
course to pursue; they, in awe of his
power, pronounced sentence of death
against Alexis, and Peter, in spite of
his previous protestations, confirmed
it. Seated in prison at Moscow, by
dim light, we see The unfortunate
prince hearing tho sentence from the
lips OF his father, who actually min
gled his tears with his. The door
opens, and a vial is handed to the
monarch, who pours out tho contents
and proffcrs them to his son as sooth-
ing draught. lie then retircs. AL
cxis raises to his lips tho poisoned cup,
be drinks, commissions Of the most
dreadful nature follow, and before
morning he lies corpse. Peter gave
out that tho news that sentence Of
death had been passed upon him had
operated fatally on bis feeble constitu-
ton. Thus pcrishcd the heir to the
Russian Empire. Peter afterward al
alter the order of succession in favor
of his consort Catherine, who reigned
for two years after him. At her death
she bequeathed her crown TO Peter,
the son Of Alexis, who assembled tho
throne at the ago of twelve, under
the title OF Peter III.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25
THE FATE OF AN Eaa.EArrNa HEN

The FATE OF AN Eda.EArING HEN.--
A way to prevent hens from eating
their eggs, is to fill an egg with solu-
tion Of pepper, and put it back in tho
nest. A Danbury man has tried this,
and says it works like charm. lie
put pretty good dose of pepper in the
egg, and placed it In the nest Of the
criminal. Pretty soon tho hen came
around and took hold. II was brin-
die animal, with long legs, and some
what conceited. 1t dipped its bill and
inhaled the dclicacy. Then il came
out doors. 1t didn't gallop, wo don't
mean, but it came out--camc out to
look at the scenery, and sec If it was
going TO rain. Its mouth was wide
open, and the feathers on tho top ol
its head stood straight up. Then il
commenced to 60 around the yard like
n circus horse. Once in awhile II
would STOP and push out ono leg in
tone of astonishmoni, .nd then boiler
!'6re," aud start on again. The o.her
hens camo out TO look on. Soon the
hens from the neighbors came over the
fenco and took up position OF obser-
yation. 1t was quito evident tho per.
formance was something entirely now
and unique 10 them. Thoro is a good
deal Of human nature II hens. When
they saw this hen dance and 1--we oil
the fun TO itself, and heard IL shout
SIRE and couldn't see the confagra-
ton themselves, they filed up with
wrath, aud with one accord sprang
upon IL, and before the Danbury man
could interfere, the brindle hen with tho
long legs was among tho things that
were. Hc says the receipt Is effectual.
-Ddnbury Ners 'HA Dna
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25
Legend Of a Bad Indian.
THE FLATHEAD WAY OF ACCOUNTING Fon
THE HOT WATER IN wAsswEILER's
SPRINGS.

A long, long time ago, according to
the traditions Of the Flathead Indians,
they went once a year to hunt buffalo,
Just as they do now, and their trails
were tho same up the Hell Gate and
Little Blackfoot and down Ten Mile.
The, present site of Helena was n fa-
yorite camping place ain those days
according to one of the chiefs of said
tribe well versed in its legendary lore,
'there was one of the Flathead braves
who was bad Indian; he had no re-
spect for the virtue Of the beautiful
Indian madcns; he was regular horse
jockey--madc races for ponies and
buffalo robes, all on tho square, and
then dropped the opponents feet
broncho he played that ancient and
respected game Of "old sledgo7 in such
dextrous manner 40 to vanquish all
his adversaries, who never could &C
count for the manner in which he
"turncd Jack J" he had way Of "hold.
in ON" at draw poker that made his
red brethren swear in the most ap-
proved Flathcad jargon; in short, he
was every bad Indian" Once upon
a time, when they were camped on
the little stream where Helena is now
situated, on their way to hunt buffalo,
the devil scaled" for the wicked brave,
and told him his time had como, and
that ho must accompany him to the
unhappy hunting ground of bad Indi-
ans. The Indian told the wicked
Spirit that he had some business mat
ters to arrange with other braves ol
the tribc, such as b few collections to
make, etc., and that IL his satanic
majesty would go out to tho present
site Of Wassweiler's hot springs, he
would como as soon as tho wind quit
blowing. The devil agreed to the
terms, and departed TO await tho lull.
ing of tho wind and the coming Of the
bravo. AS the wind has never quit
blowing, ,hisvictim has ncvcr appeared
and the Indians say tho devil is still
campcd there, and that the hot water
of the springs is taken from the wa.
ters Of Ten Mile for use in his camp
from whence it omerges in its prosen,
heated state.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25
Beauty Everywhere.

Bomebody has said that beauty is
not local, but pnrely question of
taste-that the eye forms its own idea
Of beauty, and 80 on and now an
European traveller discovers that Hin
doc women arc pleasing to look at.
"They attract the most" he says, "by
their graceful carriage their pictur-
esque drapery, consisting of full
skirt and a sort of brunous, which
passes over the head, almost complete
ly yelling the face. These vary in
color, being sometimes bright blue,
and pink, and yellew, the skirt often
bordered with hem of some other
color, often very gaudy but the dark
skin harmohizos it ALL The most
artistic to my mind is tho deep indigo
blue, but it is more rare IN tho north
west than in Southern India, where
almost all the lower class women wear
it. 1t is pleasant TO watch the easy
grace with which they walk, bearing
round red carthenwarc or bright cop
per water-jars on their heads, steady
ing their burden with ono wel-shaped,
small-wristed, dusky arm streached up
to its full leangthI and covered almost
to the elbow, and sometimes above it,
with numbers Of bracelets. These arc
sometimes silver. but oftener plated
metal or rcd and green lace. Their
easy grace Of motion is well worth
copying. The paie-faced race may
perhaps pride itself on its superiority
in the use of the contents of its head,
but these dusky daughters of the sun
certainly ontdo their moro favored
sisters in the use thoy make of .be
outside of theirs. They carry every
thing on their heads--jars of water,
baskets of vegetables, peices of cloth
huge bundles Of sugarcane, fuel, any
thing, and everything, leaving their
hands free for any additional burden.
They do not even carry their little
black babies In their arms, but either
balance them astride on their shoul.
ders with their little hands on their
mothers head, or else astride on one
hip, encircled with one strong arm.
They sometimes wear large nose rings
through tho left nostrii, or else a
small star like nail passo dthrough the
nose"
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25
Finances Of the United Etatsss

In order TO give our readers q clear
understanding Of the financial condi:
tion of the government Of the United
States, and its expenditures and do.
mande, We must revert, says the New
York Herald, TO the report Of the Sec,
retary Of the Treasury at the meeting
Of the present Congress. The Score,
tary did not put the estimates Of the
fiscal year from June 30, 1873, 70 juno
80, 1874, in lump, but takes for his
exhibit tho first quarter, and then tho
remaining three quarters separately!
Putting them together we find the
civil and miscellaneous estimated ex-
penditures, including public buildings,
lighthouses, and collecting tho roven'
.ues, to bo e66,577, ,2g3; for Indiansi
s8,50s,7l5; for pensions, $50, ,478, 1857
for the military establishment, inolpd..
ing Notifications, river and hafbor
Improvement and arsenals, s47,795,-
053 for the naval establishment, in1
cluding vessels and machinery and
improvements at navy yards, S27, 1927
45l. In addition TO these sums there
is set down, 81, 100000 for foreign In
tercourse. This gives for the current
expenses Of the government, independ'
ent OF interest on hepublic debt, $780,
251,66S. The interest," Oh the debit
is near about hundred mflliohs-that
is, on s1,21S,729, ,15O, at six per cent.
in gold, s73, 123, ,698, and on s508, ,478r
800, at FIVE per cent. in gold, $25, l7S,-
940, and in addition the atpall amount
of interest on the three per cent. Navy
Pension fund and the four per cent
certificates Of, indebtedness. Let %
say. then, N rnnnd nnmhars, nnA hun=l
dred millions OF interest on the debt
This, added to the s1S2,251 ,668 fof
current expense, makes total Of
$685., PSI ,668. The interest op tho
Pacific railroad bonds, amounting 10
nearly four millions, must be added.
The amount required for the sinking
fund, which is estimated for 1876 at
s29,9iS,s5 is not included. Ihclud-
ing the interest on the Pacific Rail-
road bonds, the revenue required for
the fiscal year Of 1874 amounts to
q little over s3l6,000,000. The Sec,
retary's estimate for 1S74-75 is S3l9,-
1876. For the first quarter OF the
present fiscal year the receipts from
all sources were sS1 ,S43, ,492, and the
estimated receipts for the other three
quarters, were s1S7, 100000. The to-
tai is s26s, $685. ,492. To this must be
added the premium on the sales of
gold, which for the year will hardly
amount 10 more than five or six mil
lions.
Thus VIC see that the actual and es.
timated expenditures exceed the in
como forty millions to forty-tivo mil
lions of dollars at least.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25
Superhuous Lying.

1t was once said after o Sunday
morning service in Boston, at which
Edward Everett ofiiciated, that he
offered up the most eloquent prayer
ever listened 10 by Boston congre.
cation. Mr.. Evore.ts prayers may
have been more eloquent, but it would
have been difficult for him TO make
them more pointed than that which
was recently delivered by tho Chap
lain of the United States Senate. His
words are reported as follows:
40 Lord our God, we come In this place to de-
plore before Thee the spirit Of lying which is
abroad, and we bcsecch Thee to rebuke the giant
demon of SANDER that stalks forth, casting upon
all the earth fearful shadow paralyze the hand
that writes the wilful detraction palsy thetongue
that utters wanton celumny, the things which
tend to undermine all the confidence In tho good
and give a malignant power to oil the bad ele-
ments for the Generalization and destruction Of
human society. Let Thy flaming spirit tako
vengeance upon the false nccuser and consume
this spirit Of ruin from all Of the land. This we
ask in the name and for the sake Of Him who was
truth itself. Amen.s
This was pretty sharp; but we do
not think the reverend gentleman
performed his whole duty on the sub.
ject of lying by simply offering a
prayer.
Let him go to work now and preach
sermon about it; and in order that
ho may do his subject full justice, we
will take the liberty of suggesting one
point Of view from which we think it
may be treated with peculiar aptnoss.
Ofcourse he will begin by denouncing
lying in general. and with somo other
commonplace remarks. Those bo can
make to suit himself, and as they arc
not likely TO attract attention we
shall not dwell upon thom.
1t is when he comes to treat OF ly.
ing about this administration that our
advice may serve him. And the point
which we should make, ii we were
preaching on that subject, is, that
while in point Of sinfulness it is wicked
and in this respect like oil other lying
it is also entirely void Of every excuse
and worse than useless, because there
is no lie which can be told or invented
about this Administration which il
half as bad as the truth. To lieagains,
the present Administration, therefore
is to lie without any object, and mere
ly for the sake Of lying.
| Let the Chaplain put all this intt
his sermon, and we think 1t will be I
very good sermon and VIC will prin'
it for him in the Sun, and will pu'
over it in big letters, "The Sunlight o
Truth on Lying" The Chaplain viii
thus clear his conscience and do {
public service.--N. Y. Sun.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25
A Peculiar People.

The Cologne Gazette not long since
gave an account Of some of the pecu-
liar customs and usages of TIE natives
of the African Gold Coast. 1t seems
that all the men born on certain
day of the week arc called by the
masculine appellation of that day,
and all the women by the feminine
name for that day. Thus, all girls
born on Sunday are named Accus-
sauk; all boys born on Sunday are
named Auassie girls born on Mon.
day are named Adjuah; ; boys are
named Cudjc. Tho choice of names
being thus very limited, nicknamos
arc much in vogue. So a fat man
born on Monday is not called simply
Cudje, but Cud;e Kutumus.
An appalling custom of these ma
tives is their habit of pawning their
sons and daughters and wives, with
very much tho same indifference as
that with which German student
would pledge his watch. A woman
who has been pledged becomes the
absolute slave of The person to whom
shc is pawned. When q pledged per-
son dies the body is fastend TO tho
bough of tree, high in the air, be-
yond the roach of animals. The ma
tive tribos believe in the Immortality
of the soul, but they think the dead one
cannot commence bis wanderings TO
the eternal realms until his mortal re.
mains have been consigned to Garth.
For this reason tho relatives make
every effort to redeem the body of a
pawned person as soon as possible af-
ter death. The Fantees rejoice in the
possession Of two devils-Abousam,
who presides over the souls OF the
wicked in the next world, and Sassa-
bousam, a largo, rod-colored, long.
haired devil, who rules on earth. The
latter resides in the deep ravino Of a
gloomy forest, and near gigantic
mulberry tree.
The mortality among tho children
on tho Gold Coast is very great. This
is due partly to the sudden changes in
temperature, and partly to tho early
loss Of milk by mothers, who in lieu
thereof nourish their children with q
liquid called lauki, which is very apt
to cause inflammation OF tho bowels.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25

SCANDAL. The story is told Of n
woman who freely used her tongue to
tho scandal Of Others, and made a
confession TO the priest OF what she
bad done. He gave her ripe thistle
top, and told her to go out in various
directions and scatter the seeds one
by ono. Wondering at tho pcnance,
sho obeyed, aud then returned and
told hor confessor. To her amazo-
mont, he bade her go back and gather
tho scattered seeds and when shc
objected, that II would bo impossible,
he replied that it would DO still more
difficult TO gather up and destroy all
the evil reports which she had circu.
lated about othors. Any thoughtless,
careless child can scatter Y handful
of thistle seed, but the strongest and
Sjsest man cannot gather them again,
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25

"HEAp Us, SOMEBODY PA cores
pondont Of a neighboring Journal tolls
Of country clork in rural town who
had a pet cali which ho was training
up in the ways OF aG OK, Ihc call
walked around very peaceab'', under
one end Of the yoke while Mr.. Clern
held up tho other end, but in an unfor-
tunate momenttho man conceived the
idea of putting his own neck into the
yoke, 10 lot the calf see how il would
work with q partner The frightened
mister calf, elevating his ;sil and his
voice, struck "doad rum for lhe
village, and Mr.. Clerk wont along with
his head down and his plug 6nt in
hand, s:raining every ncrvo TO keep
up, and crying n: tho top Of his voice,
"Here we como, darn our fool souls
head us, somebody peig'e n''
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25
The Efficacy Of Prayer.

The Gilded Age tells how Uncle
Dan'l and the chin first saw o Missis-
sippi steamboat. They were sitting
in row on log in warm evening
telling about spooks, after the manner
Of southwestern negroes, when Uncle
Dan'l said inpressively, "Chiln, dars
sumfin a oomin.'" A deep coughing
sound troubled the stiffness, way TO-
ward wooded cape that jutted into
the stream a mile distant. All in an
instant fierce eye of fire shot out
from behind tho cape and sent long,
brilliant pathway quivering athwart
the dusky water. The coughing grew
louder and louder, the gIaring eye
grew larger and still larger, glared
wilder and still wilder, A huge shape
developed itself ont of tho gloom, and
from its tall duplicate horns dense
volumes of smoke, starred and spang-
led with sparks, poured out and went
tumbling away into the further dark.
ness. Nearer and nearer the thing
came, till its long sides began to grow
with spots of light which mirrored
themselves in the river and attended
the monster like a torcblight process.
sion. "Child'n," said Uncle Dan'l,
otis do Almighty. Git down on yo'
knees" AS the noise and the lights
drew nearer Uncle Dan'l prayed 20
Lord, we's ben mighty wicked, an we
knows dat we 'zerve to go TO de bad
place, but good Lord, deah Lord, we
aint ready yet, we aint ready-let
desc po' chil'en had but one mo- chance
jcs' one mo- chance. Take do ole mig
gah if you's got to hab somebody
Good LORD, good deah Lord, we don't
know whah you's agwync to, We don't
know who you's got yo' eye on, but
we knows by dc way you's comm
wc knows by de way you's tiltin'
along in yo' cbaryot O iah dat some
po' sinners guyne to ketoh it. But
good Lord, desc chil'en don't b'long
heah, dey's I'm Obedstown whah dey
don't know muffin, an you knows, yo
own self, dat dey aint 'sponsible. Oh
Lord, spah do little chin, don't tar
do little chil'en away, I'm dey frens,
jest let 'em off jes dis once, and take
il out'n de ole niggah. Heah ! is
Lord, heah / is De ole niggah's
ready, Lord, dc OLE" Here the
steamers whistle screeched fairly in
the faces of the awe struck group, ,and
Uncle Dan', seizing as many Of the
chilns hands as his own brawny onel
would hold, secured off towards tbt
woods. Looking back they saw thai
the boat was rounding point out o
sight. "Well," said the relieved Uncl,
Dan'I, "deres some folks dat say de-
amt no 'Gciency in prah. Dis chill,
would like 10 know whah we'd becr
if it warnt fo' dat prah. OATS it
dat's it,"
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25
Fallen Hero.

The Erie Dispatch, of February 26,
says; "Fifleen days in Jail for vagran-
Cyl was the sentence imposed on
Jatnos Latierty, a gray-hoaded, wan
deri1g vagabond Of tho happy CO.
lucky stripe, who is scarcely ever so.
bors but who, drunk or sober, is harm
lesS1o all except himself. He was a
herO'once one of the men in reality
that John Hay must have imagined
when he wrote tho graphic lines of
the Engineer Of the Prairie Belle:
"Iu lold her nozzle against the bank
Upn the last galoot's ashore"
Oh the 9th of August, lS41, the
stean, boat Erie, then the finest on the
lakeg, ,and which had only made her
trial Trip previously--having then on
boaf< largo number Of the citizens
of Eric, with thoir families, and also
the "Presquc Isle Band" which had
stayed on from the time of tho trial
excursion-left Buffalo for this port.
1t was a bright, sunny day, and the
lake was almost dead calm. When
nearing Dunkirk the boat was discov-
cred to be on fire, and the flames
spread rapidly. She was headed for
shore, and the horror stricken passen-
gers crowded the forward part of the
boat as she Glove through the water.
Two men we're standing at the wheel.
Almon Fuller, of Wesleyvillo, and
James Lafferty-the drunken vaga-
bord sent To jail ycsterday-of Erie.
1t seemed almost certain that the boat
could not reach the beach, and every
thing that would float human. being
was made use of as passengers and
crew threw themselves overheard, but
while there was life there was hope.
Almon Fuller dropped where he stood,
dying at his post. James Laffcrty
stay yed, though his clothes were on fire,
his hair burned off, and hands and
face crisped by the scorching heat,
and only abandoned his post when
the Erie was sinking. A number OF
persons were lost in that appalling
disaster, but the great majority were
saved. The wheelman who had bare
ly escaped with his life and the men,
ory of tho one who died where he
worked, were honored then, but that
is upwards of thirty years ago, and
the surviving hero of that day is now
only drunken vagabond, who must
soon drop unnoticed in a pauper's
grave.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25

CEspEDEs.- .--Anc.her President, be,
aides Fillmore, is dcad-- Manuel Cos
pedcs, ofthe Cuban Republic. Though
the "Republic" has been rather !,
shadowy institution, 1t has, nexsrthe.
less, for four years past, maintained
an organization and enough Of q mill.
tary fcrce in the field to give the
Spaniards trou5lo. It has boen ro.
public as the United States was whom
its littlc army lay barefoot at Valley
Forge, or routed after White Plains
and Ccspedos 10 only 40 sunsucoessfu
Washington. WilIthercpublic survive
its PrcsidcEt' Events ppst answer
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25
NO MORTGAGE ON THE FARM.

Mary, let's kill the fattsd calf and celebrate tn,
For tho last dreadful mortgage on tho farm i.
I have got the papers with mo, they are right as
right can be-
Let US laugh and sing together, for the dear old
farm Is free
Don't all the Yankees celebrate tho Fourth day
OF July, Als
Because TWAS then tho Frccdmen's sun 1t up our
nations sky
Why shouldn't We thcn celebrate, and this day
ne'er forget N 's''i'ii'
Where is there any freedom like being out Of
debt
I've riz up many mornin's IN hour before the
sun,
And night has ovcrtaken me befor tho task was
DONE
When weary with my labor, twas this thought
that nerved my arm
Each day Of toll will help to pay the mortgage
on the farm.
And Mary, you have done your part in rowin' to
the shore,
By takin' eggs and butter to the little village
store.
You did not spend the money in dressing up Tor
show,
But sang from morn till evening in your faded
calico.
And Bessie, our sweet daughter-God bless her
loving heart
The lad that gets her for n wife must be by ma
ture smart
She's gone without piano, her lonely hours to
charm,
To have hand in paying of the mortgage on
the farm.
I'll build little cottage soon, to mako your heart
rejoice;
I'll buy good piano, to go with Bessies voice.
You shall not make your butter with that up-and.
down concern,
For III go this very day and buy the finest pat
nnt churni
Lay by your faded calico, and 60 with me to
town,
And get yourself and Bessie new and shining
Low prices for our produce mood not give us now
Spruce up little Mary there's no mortgage on
the farm.
While our hearts are now so joyful, lot us, Mary,
not forget
TO thank the God Of Heaven for being out Of
debt,
For he gave the rain and sunshine, and put
strength into my arm,
And heightened out the days to see no mortgage
on the farm.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-03-25

LEGISLATIVE DErrNIrroS- --Therc Is
o bill before the Legislature defining
the corrupt solicitation Of members Of
tho legislature, state, county, election,
municipal or other public officers and
prescribing tho punishment therefor.