davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

THE LATE WV. 3. AsroR--HIs LAST
ILNEss-EsrlMArE oy rBE VALrE oP
lIIs Property. The New York Times
says: "Mr. Wm. Il. Astor, who died
on Wednesday, had been complaining
slightly of cold for about week, and
passed Saturday night res,Iessly. On
Sunday morning his cough was so
threatening that his friends called in his
physician. II was then, apparent that
hls lungs were affected. He was in tx-
cellent spirits, however, dnring Sunday
and The greater part of Monday, being
confident OF a speedy recovery. To-
ward evening on Monday he grrw
much worse, aud on the following morn
Ing the symptoms of pneumonia were
marked, aud \ consultation of physicians
was held. Mr.. Astor Was still confident,
and, referring TO dangerous illness of
four years sine", remarked TO his family
physicians: "You saved my life once
doctor, and / gness you will be able TO
do So again Daring the day, Tuesday,
he lapsed into condition Of lethar.y,
and appeared 10 lose interest IN what
was going on about him. During Tues
day afternoon his symptoms continual
To grow worse, aud his efforts nj respr-
alton became more labored. Tueaday
hight he suffered intense pain, and ON
"Wednesday morning he was very low,
although sufficiently conscious to recoy-
nize the !ricuds who surrounded his b, d
side. AT few n.inntcs past s o'clock
on "Wednesday morning he partook Of
the holy communion from the hands OF
! Rev Edward &. Houghton, of the
Church OF the Transhguration, aud at
that time lie had sufficient command Of
his faculties Ia repeat the Lords prayer
] after the minister From th... time his
decline was rapid until The hour OF his
| death.
ut is supposed that Mr. As,or leaves
ar undivided estate (mostly realty) of
one hundred millions of dollars. even at
present reduced value of real property
on this island He had already devised
largely to his children aud grandchil-
dren. He, no doubt, leaves very large
sums IN the stocks .f the United States
and OF the Northern States and cities,
but the aggregate OF these, vast rs it
might appear under other circu:nstan-
ces, bears only u small relation TO his
! real estate. il .' no
"To reporter of The Herald Mr.: Pc
ter Cooper. an old friend of Mr.. Astor,
in reply TO the query as To what amount
of property Mr.. Astor had become pos.
sessed OF during his life, said il was, IF
course, si,nply impossible to estimate
it with accuracy, nevertheless he felt
sure that il exceeded by far even the
widest estimate of the public, Giving
TO it the estimate OF value which would
have been fair before the late great and
very general decrease IN values he was
sure that S20O,0oO,00 would be near
er expression OF it than any other which
was likely TO 5e made by others than
those in charge of his accounts.
"Air. Astor leaves three sons, two of
whom Tor many years past have assisted
their father in the MANAGEMENT Of his
estate. The third never took an active
part in business affairs Ii is the Astor
estate desccnds 10 john Jacob, the eld.
est son. lie is about sixty years old,
and has one sou, William.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04
SHEPHERDsT0WN JEFFERSON COUNTY WEST VIRGINIA SATURDAY. DEC

81 a SAD SToRr OF DISTRESS AND SUI
cIEE-ALiving in a wretch hoyel in
Lemon Alley, few doors west of Paw.
son street, in West Baltimore, were a
man and wife named Kenner, the
husband, Benedict Kenner, sober,
well-meaning German, who had been
laboring man1when employed, but for
several months had been without work,
and lived with his wife in a state of
utter destitution, deprived of even the
conmonest necessities of life. The
little house was, TO say the most
scan,ily furnished, and everything
within and without indicated the abode
of the worst kind of proyerly. For
weeks the husband had been vainly
striving for employment throughout the
city until he had become wholly dis
heartened aud depressed in spirits.
His wife was sick, moinentarily expect
ing childbirth, and both were without
food. The dreadful reality of the sit
uation appeared TO have preyed so upon
the mind OF the husband as to affect his
brain, he lately exhibiting temporary
spells of abstraction and seeming un-
consciousness. His vile frequently
urged him to make more efforts TO
obtain work, but he was bereft of all
energy or disposition to try again. On
Tuesday evening she told him that in
her condition it was impossible TO bear
more sufferiugs than she had already
endured and unless something was
done TO obtain food she would have 10
beg home in the house of relation.
and the two must separate This de-
termination was not the result OF any
quarrel, but was talking over quietly
as an inevitable necessity unless some
brighter prospects arose. The hus-
band promised to make one more en-
deayor to find employment, and went
out with that purpose. In the evening
about 10 O'Clock he returned home, and
found his wife absent. Supposing her
TO have carried into effect her determi-
nation. he at once proceeded TO the
cellar and there, by means OF hand
kerchief made fast to staple in the
ceiling, formed a slip nose Mounting
a barrel, he placed his head within the
knot, aud kicked The barrel from under
his feet. lie hung there until quite
dead, it is supposed, when, the hand
kerchief breaking, the body fell to the
floor The wife returned in the even
ing from the house of neiyhbor next
door, where she had gone, and waited
up all night for her husband. lester-
day about noon she had occasion TO
go TO the cellar, and there discovered the
lIfeless body. Coroner Ogle was noti-
fed, and upon summoning a jury OF
inquest verdict of suicide was render
ed. The deceased was a man OF about
twenty-seven years of age, and has been
married about one year. His remains
we're taken in charge of 10y the city for
interment.-B Bahimore American.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04
THE BACHELOR.

In cottage still and dreary,
.' On bleak and barren hill,
Sat a bachelor lone and weary,
Cooking beefsteak with WILL.
Often thus he sat so lonely, .f'
>s Stirring coffee with his knife; '.F
Saying, with sigh, If only
IfI only had a wife.
Many hours he sits thus dreaming,
Dreaming of what might have been,
Till the setting sun now cleaning
Through his cottage door is seen.
Then he rises, clears the dishes,
Splitting water all around, .l
And with many evil wishes
Scatters broken cups around.
Soon he in the lamp-light lingers,
Sewing buttons ON tonight,
Cruel luck, he pricks his fingers,
Breaks the needle out of spite,
So the bachelor sits and grumbles
AT the things he has to do;
He to thread the needle fumbles,
And the while makes much ado.
And at last in great illustration,
Casts his sunsewed garments by,
Murmurs in his desperation,
~ Soon to win wife I'lltry.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

AFRAID To SWEAR ALoNE.-The
wicked practice OF swearing, which is
50 common as to offend the ear in every
hotel, and almost in every street is Of.
ten mere bravado. Boys think it
sounds manly to be protane, and men
think it gives force and character TO
their sayings. Uplike most other vice
it is done openly, and il is intended by
the swearer for other peoples ears
IL will give you ten dollars" said a
man 20 protane swearer, .'if you will
go into the village graveyard at twelve
O'Clock to night and swear the same
oa,hs yon have jnst uttered, when you
are alone with, God. -. D.. .- ls. r..
Agreed said the man, san easy
way 10 make ten dollars" =,
'''Weh, come to-fnorrow and say you
have done it aud you shall have the
money. 49, ,5F H 81 as q.
Midnight came. The man, went into
the graveyard. 1t was night Of great
darkness. As he entered the cemetery
not sound was heard; all was still as
death. Then came the gentleman's
words to his mind. sAlone with God +
rang in his ears. He did not. dare 10
utter an oath, bnt fed from the place,
crying: ''God be mercitul to me sin-
ner'} 'A- ~ - . -' D'''' ''D ''''' =
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

WORK IS VIcroRY.-I look on that
man as happy who, when there is a
question of success. looks 10, o his work
for reply, not into the market, not
into opinion, not into patronage. In
every variety Of human employment
there are numbers who do their task
perfunctoflly, as we say. or Just to pass,
and as lady as they dare--those sre
the workiDgnen. on whom the burd~n
of the business falls-tl,ose, who love
work and love 10 see it rightly done
who finish their task fer lis own sake;
and the world is happy tbn tie most
are speh finisheis.0 The worlbwiIl n.
ways do justice TO snch 6uisb-rs---it
cannot do otherwise lie who has &C,
qured the ability may wait securely the
occysicn il tel, aDd apprreistyd.,, and
know that il viii not loiier-rnen who
talk as If victory. wherever work Is
done victory is obtained. = Em,,.on. -
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

Fun AT HoME-Don't he afraid of a
little fun at home, good people; don't
shut up your house lest the sun should
fade your carpets and your hearts, lest
! hearty laug should shake down some
of tie musly cobwebs there. lfyou
want to ruin your sons let them think
that all mirth and social enjoyment
must be left on the threshold waen they
come in at night. When once home
is regarded as only placeto eat, drink
and sleep in, the work is: begun that
euds in gambling-houses aud degrada-
ton. Yonng people must have fun and
relaxation somewhere. If they do not
find it at their own hearthstones, it will
be sought in other and perhaps less
profitable places. Therefore, let the
fire burn brightly at night, aud make
the house ever delightful with all those
little arts that parents SO perfectly un-
derstauG. Don't repress the bouyant
spirits of your childr, n; balf an hour
around the lamp and freight of home
blots out the remembrance of many a
care and annoyance during the day.
and the safeguard they can, take with
them into the world is the unseen in-
fiueuce of a bright little domestic sane
tum. T. ~. rtEt.i rHut ;aa-9'
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

VICE PRESIDENT WILSON'S GRAVE
The lot wherein Vice-P President Wilson S
remains are to be finally laid is situated
on charming little eminence in the
extreme northeasterly corner OF Dell
Park Cemetery, about three -fourths OF
a mile from the village of Natick, in a
westerly direction, and overlooking the
town and Lake Cochi:uate, the view of
the spot being extensive and very at
tractiye. The lot is inclosed by a
granite curb, which is surrounded by a
neatly grayeled driveway. On either
side of the front entrance are tasteful
shrubs, and little in front Of thecert
is beautiful sareOpbagus, which con
tains the remains OF the Vice Presidents $
son, Leutonani-Colonel Henry Hamil-
ton Wilson, who died at Austin, Texas,
December "a, 1866. AT the right,
just east Of the colonels grave, is that
of bis mother, which is marked by an
Italian marble headstone, of attractive
and appropriate design, and inscribed
as follows: Harriet NJ. Howe, born
in Natick, November q, 1924, married
to Henry Wilson November 2S, 1910,
died Nav, 20, 1870" Below this is
inscribed, "She made home happy
which is followed by "But o, for the
touch of a vanished hand, and the
sound OF voice that is still At the
extreme northeastern corner of the lot
is double grave, contaiDin & the dust
of Mr.. Wilson's parents. Between The
graves of his parents and that Of his
wife is vacant space, and that is the
spot where is TO be deposited the
remains of the Vice President, Of whom
his townsmen relate touching tribute
which he paid TO the partner Of bis joys
and SORROWS. IL is said that when
news Of his nomination for the Vice
Presidency was telegraphed to him by
his townSmen, he replied, "Place
boquet Of flowers on my wiie's grave"
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04
+, Like fakes of snow, that fall, pnpre.

Like fakes of snow. that fall nnpre.
ceiyed upon the earth. the, seemingly
aDimporlant events of lie sncceed one
another. Astbe snow gathers together,
so are our habits formed. : No single
fake that is added to the pile prDduees
a sensible change. No single S~tion
creates, howe ser il may exhibit, msr
character; but q, The tempest burls tie
avalanche down the mountain, All
oyerwhelms the inkabiiag and his hab-i
iiation, 80 passion, aching upon .tbei
elesnents of mischief which. pFpicious,
habits have brought tog,tbsr by i'm.
pefeepiible ACCUMULATION, may over
throw the edifcs Of truth ana virtue. -
Bmfhum. .afsI
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04
Can YOu Afford liz.

Can you afford to work hard all day.
and read. study, or court the sagaries
of society all night, thus wasting Your
vitality, exhausling your nervous sys-
TEN, aud bringing on premature disease
decay and old aye
Can YOU afford to eat hastily and then
rush to study or business, Withdrawing
the. nervons energy from the digestive
system to the brain aud muscles, aud
thus inducing dyspepsia, in few years
at most, TO scourge and haunt and make
you miserable for years or for life?
Can you afford to live on rich or
highly seasoned food, eat champagne
suppers, because an artificial appetite Is
thus gratified, rendering gour, dyspep-
sia, apoplexy, in the middle OF life, al
most a certainty?
Can you afford to commit suicide
through the indulgence of appetite and
passion;a adopting the fools motto, "a
short life and merry one ?
Can you afford to indulge in fast liv-
ing, dressing beyond your means, driv-
ing livery horses, or keeping horse
yourself, when your income is not ade-
quate TO such expense!
Can you afford to smoke and chew
tobacco, thus spending from five to
twenty or thirty dollars month. in
juring your nervous system, and there
by transmitting to children weakened
constitution, making them punny lnva
lids for litei
Can you afford to make money at the
expense OF your manhood, your health
your just ,respectabii,y and integrity
Can you afford to gain the whole
world, and thereby make yourself
moral wreck !
Car you afford TO rob your mind, tc
clothe your back with silks and satins,
and CRAFTY mere love of display
Can yon afford to be tricky,and there,
fore ,letraud your employer OF the just
service you owe him, even though you
get your pay, thus making yourself
moral bankrupt! '
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

An old lady residing in Ohio lost the
companion with WHOM she bad logged
for many years She neglected to
mark the spot Of his burial by even a
stone. Not loTg after coming into pos
session of small legacy, a sister Of The
deceased said to her: i suppose you
will DOW put up stones for DaHielfi
Her answer was "a settler. .H3he Lord
wants anything Of Daniel at, the resur-
rection, l guess he can find him with
out guideboari.' = 'p' = 80 !"
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

DAILY LrrE--Is our daily life what
it ought 10 be- hat it might be : Do
we allow petty yexations and trivial
things to sour our temper and darken
ourbrow hejmpulsive natureto getthe
better of us! That inpatient word Just
now; you were fretted, but did it make
you feel any more pleasant ,Those
light and trlfliRg thoughts; they have
gone to give their account against you.
That witticisni al another's expense you
mean no harm, but was it, after all, quite
right, and doing just as you would be
done byi -.t 5.. -.
And then the words that are uDspo-
ken, the opportunities neglected; which
might be productive of SO much good !
How much evil We do when we might
do good How little We practice when
we preach J How little we do unto
others what we would that they should
do unto US! How selfish We are, and
ready to listen to the promptings Of self
interest! How we permit little jealous
les and animosities TO rankle in our
hearts, and pride, vain. and impotent, to
fill i'll How little of charity do we feel
tor an .erring brother or sister, AS if We
never erred ourselvesl How imperfect
and incongruous are our lives ia
q l. 4 ID
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

The DEAR DEAD The dear dead
They lie in their quiet graves, knowing
nothing of the sorrow that lives in the
fearful groups about them. They have
gone to their peace; We who are left
have still TO bear the burden and carry
the chain. That wonderful peace, calm
as Al Egyptian statue, which settles on
the face of the dead-how Inscrutable
it is, and yet somehow so consoling !!
1t seems 10 speak of state Where sor-
row and passion are not; where the
earthly life has faded away, but another
has beyuif. Ii is so quiet, so grand
so full of mystery. and SO sublime in its
voiaelcss rest. 1t is the same, and yet
another-the creature we have loved,
but with difference What had been
familiarity becomes now respect, and
the tenderness love is hushed into the
solemnitv of awe Our own has es
capped. We are no longer masters,
parents, holders of that dear lite. IL
has passed away from our hands, aud
we see there only its shadow; we are
batfied by the strength of the Great
King who has invaded our dominion.
and stolen our treasure while we held.it.
But time dries the first bitter tears;
sears over The fist deepest wounds.
Our beloved dies, and lives; but tile
past is never lost ont of our remcm-
brance, aud in the midst of the smiles
and the tunult of pleasure, the active
duties and the absorbing interest of
life, our thoughts 90 back to the sweet
ness we have lost, the dear dead we
have buried; and ever down in the
depths OF our hearts they live, like
brooding angles, quite, res,ful, beloved
images of fair import, thoughts of pleas
ant meaning, dead, yet living and dear
always
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

A WRECK OF A MAN.-W hat wreck
so shocking to behold as the wreck of a
dissolute nian-the vigor of life exhaus-
ted. aud yet the first steps in an honora-
bic career not taken--in himselfa lazar
house of disease; dead, but not by hea-
thenish custom of society, not buried :!
Rogues have had the initial letter OF
their title burnt into the palms of their
hands; even for murder Cain was only
branded on the forehead; but over the
whole person of the debauchee or the
inebriate, the 81 gnatures of infamy are
written. How nature brands him with
stigma and opprobrium! How she
hangs labels all over him, to testify her
disgust at his existence, and TO admon-
ish others to beware of his example !
How she loosens all of his joints, sends
tremors along his muscles, and bends
forward his frame, as if 10 bring him on
all tours with kindred brutes, or TO de-
grade him to the reptiles crawling.
How she distigures his couDtenance as
if intent upon oblitcrating all traces of
her own image, so that she may swear
she uever made him. Such man may
he seen in the streets of our cities every
day; if rich enough, he may be found
in the saloons. and at the tables Of the
Upper ten, but surely TO every man
of purity and honor,to every man whose
wisdom as well as whose heart is uD-
blemished, the wretch who comes crop
ped and bleeding from the pillory, and
redolent with its appropriate perfumes,
would be guest oil a companion tar
less offensive and disgusting.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04
WHO SUPPORT CHURCHES.

Why is it that the Church is not bet.
ter supported! Many men believe that
their wives are too deeply Interested in
their pastors; and it is too often the
case that the Church is mainly support
ed by ignorant women. When you
come to solid sense you don't believe
half the ministers tell you. They know
no more about the future than you do.
None of them have been to heaven and
got back again. If any one has lost
husband or child through detauchery
or abuse, they tell her not to cry, for
her loved one has gone straight TO heav-
en-. Why not worship at home, aud
erect affairs by cur fresides Paul has
told us that We are the temple of God,
and if we defile ourselves We def!e that
temple. Have any Of us temple that
God could reign in. Let the preachers
go, and they will soon find better en-
rloyment 1t has been poor year for
preachers anyhow. We want more hu-
inanity instead of more Christianity.
Just as soon as the intelligent part of
the people begin to think, just that soon
the Churches will have to close their
doors.
In this style of argument, improving
as she went, and eliminating in a grand
climax of thought, tie lecturer proceed
ed for an hour and half. Much OF
what she said was greatly applauded,
and not person left the hall until she
had bowed herself from the stage at
the close of the lecture.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

a woman always puts her left stock
Jug on last
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

The idea of asking whether Mrs.
Woodruff will say anything in her lee
lures to make one blush Blush for
sooth. Reserve your bushes for the
communion with your inner thoughts
and consciences. Mrs. Woodhull Will
say nothing Lut what is truth, and
healthy truth at that. And why should
people blush ut truth? f
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

iials are filing ourjails and warehouses:
One hundred and sixty-ive thousand
persons are insane or partially so. Two
hundred thousand are idiotic. And yet
you are not interested in the social
problem. -r...a.a.e =.
Mothers dare not ask what is the
cause Of all this insanity. Yet seven
tenths of it comes from sexual debauch-
cry and the other three tenths is COM
posed of those whom their mothers did
not want to bear The world is filed
with children whose mothers did not
desire them. The statement istrue and
you cannot get away from it. 1t IS
only the pure-minded who dare discuss
this question, and she who will blush
when it is mentioned will be regarded
as an ignorant woman. It.is time that
mothers understood these matters. But
nc. The remedy Is not to be inquired
for by mothers Their minds are held
in bondage till they become more dis
eased than their bodies.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04
THE TRUTH TO CHILDREN.

A darling little child looks up into
its mothers face and says, Mamma,
who made me T. The mother, wishing
to stop the chid's inquiries, replies that
the doctor brought it in his pocket, or
some other absurd nonsense. Very
soon the child learus better, and, per
haps, is told by the vagabonds of the
street Then as the awful truth is forced
upon her that her mother mas told her
falsehoCd, what barbcd and poison
ed arrow is that which erters her
breast The child questions what there
was about her birlh that her mother
was ashamed Of How much closer
would have been the tie which binds
the mother and cid, hal she told b +
darling that she carried ii for a long
time under her heart, and suffered al
most the agony Of GcthSelnane to bring
it into this world Our mothers must
be pure minded enough TO talk with
their children about these things. When
will the time come when they will make
the acquaintance of their families? The
mother is not the contessor OF the boy,
and she is shocked if lie even hints at
this subject Virtuous women are i'll
tclligeut Ignorance is not virtue,
Prejudice has it origin in the vilest iS-
norance. Tell the world the open trnth,
and say that you are ignorant of these
matters, not prejudiced. Then there
will be no necessity for reviyals III re
ligion. This sort Of teaching will do
more good than all the Moodys and
Sankey's or "gnsh" preachers that can
be hunted out of the Garth.
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-12-04

Of the power Of the truth in science
may be in order here There was that
crazy man Fields He was regarded by
Congress as a fit subject for the lunatic
asylum when he asked Congress for an
appropriation to further his plans with
regard to his inventions, and yet fifteen
years later these same scotfers are walk
lug up to the telegraph offices and send
ing their messages to the other end Of
the world.