davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
Relation of Dwellings TO Health.

DIR. Ella M. Hunt, of New Jersey,
read a paper before the American Pub
lie Health Association on the Relation
of Dwelling Houses to Health" In
modern houses, he thought, the circula-
ton of air was too much lmpeded.
Foundations that should be made porous
became house-dams to keep back the
pressure of water from without, or the
easements became literally drains, fatal
to health, and breeding fungoid spores.
He censured whitewashing and calci-
mining, as processes inferior to painting,
and objected to partitions between front
and rear rooms and intermediate closets
without transom windows permitting of
currents of air being passed through
from front to rear. Basement halls
were but reservoirs for unsuitable air, to
be conveyed by stairways and passages
to the upper floors, and the time was
anticipated when a cheap and simple
form of elevator would do away with
stairs altogether, and give more freedom
for basement ventilation. Fireplaces
should also be made available for venti-
lation. Porosity in building materials,
that would admit atomized air while ex-
Guiding draft, was insisted on as pre-
requisite. A plan was given in which
the stairways communicate with the
building at all the stories from rotunda
outside, and the halls are utilized for
airing and warming from the roof as
well as from the front and rear. The
Importance of roofs in city houses, as
available for sunlight and sun heat with
in, was insisted upon. We are to get
the house in all its appointments into q
state which, as to its construction, shall
conserve health and not make us SO en-
tirely dependent for inside appliances.
While we are not able in this life per-
fectly to keep all the sanitary COM
mandents, it is well to know them, that
we may be able to comprehend them.
We are building worse than we know,
and able to build better than we do.
Modern science can upbuild enduring
health as well as enduring structures. Our
houses are too often organized obstacles
to the pubic veal "Sweet home has
more than poetic significance. Healthy
homes have more to do with valid citi-
zenship and national destiny than rulers
ponder. The blessings which belong to
philanthrophy and hygiene be upon
those who conserve the welfare of the
American household.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
Making Christmas Presents.

A very old practice and one still re-
spected is that of giving presents. The
practice is as old as the visit of the three
kings, Melchior, Jasper, and Balthazar,
to the manger. How pleasant this GUS
tom is can be attested any day. Stop at
any street cornor during Christmas week
and watch the crowds that hurry past.
They are fastening to spend money, not
to make it, and their countenances plain
ly indicate how much pleasure there is in
planning the innocent deceits and gay
surprises which add so much to every
Christmas gift. And the Joy with which,
on Christmas eve, the mothers steal at
midnight to fill their darling's stockings
as they dangle from the mantlepiece is
only equal by the breathless delight
with which in the early morning their
children patter barefooted over the hool
and feel, for they cannot yet see, to the
uttermost stocking toe to discover what
Santa Claus has brought them. Fortu
nately as much Christmas happiness car
be bought with little money as with 6
great deal. The child is not particular
about the costliness of its playthings
and with his elders it is the act Of giving
as proof of remembrance and affection
which is or ought to be, more valued
than the gift itself.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
RIDGWAY, ELK COUNTY, PA,

from their beds, started for the riverpell-
nell, like drowsy giants, making their
way over the heath.
Thus they moved along on their er-
rand under the light of the stars, and at
last were lost from sight.
In twlnkling the beggar was on his
feet and fastening with great rapidity
to the moor. Even Bernec could hardly
keep pace with the old man, who seemed
to have acquired on the moment the
power and agility of youth. When they
reached the heath Bernec uttered q cry
of astonishment, and devoutly crossed
himself. In every bed which stone
had occupied was hollow filled to the
brim with gold, silver, and very precious
jewels. They glittered and sparkled in
the starlight like dew in the sunshine of
summers morning. The old man
at once commenced filling the sacks that
he had brought. Bernec had only the
pockets of his jacket. He had stored
away all that he could in these recepta-
cles, and the beggar had well-nigh filed
his bags, when rushing noise was
heard in the distance, like the roar of an
advancing hurricane. The stones had
drank, and were coming back On they
came, flying at their utmost speed, and
sweeping down every thing before them.
Bernec looked up and cried "We are
lost!"
"I am not," said the sorcerer, waving
the protecting talismans. "These will
save me. But thou must die! Had l
not tho soul of Christian at my dis
posal, 1 should not be permitted to bear
of hu cto
Quoted thee to me. Forget Rosa
think of thy doom -
AS the stones drew near the old beg
gar held up his talismans, and directly
they gave way on either side. Bernecs
life was now in great danger. He sank
upon his knees, and closed his eyes.
But the largest stone of the number
now dashed forward and planted itself
in front of Bernec. At this unlooked-for
reprieval the young man raised his head.
The stone before him was the one on
which he had carved the cross. Thus
consecrated, it had no power to harm
Christian. 1t now served as shield for
Bcrnec until the other stones had re-
gained their places. Then, leaving its
post, it skinned over the ground like a
bird. The old sorcerer, dragging along
his three heavy sacks, was directly in its
way. The stone kept on, swerving
neither to the right nor to the left. In
vain the sorcerer held out his talismans !;
the stone, now a Christian, was proof
against every unholy charm. Bernec,
OF reviving from the stupor into which
he had fallen, saw that the stone had
passed over and crushed the beggar, and
was now settled in its accustomed place.
When the youth had recovered from
his bewilderment he immediately appro-
priated TO himself the contents Of the
three sacks that lay by the liieless form
of the wicked old beggar. He thus be-
came the possessor of great wealth, and
Marcinne, well pleased, gave him his
sisters hand, so that there was no longer
any drawback to the happiness of the
worthy youth.
On the following Christmas the old
donkey and the lean OK talked long
time together about the gay and bril-
liant festival that attended the marriage
Of Bernec and Rosa.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
4 LOng.Separated Family Reunited.

A story has just come to light that
reads like novel. Mr.. John Rodman,
a mechanic, was q sufferer by the great
fire of 1866 in Portland, Me-, and moved
with his family to Harlem, New York,
where he had a brother residing-a
widower with small property. Soon
afterward Mr.. Rodman went to Val
paraiso, leaving his wife, son and daugh-
ter with his brother. At first he sent
money home, and then his letters ceased.
The brother died, and his little property
was eaten up by lawyers in the settle
ment. The widow, with her young son
and daughter, returned to Portland and
became seamstress. The latter part of
1878 an English captain took the son, a
boy of fifteen, to sea with him. The
vessel was wrecked in the gulf, and all
were supposed to be lost. The mother
was taken sick, but physician of Port
land took charge of her and afterward
rendered her much aid.
A short time ago Mrs. Rodman saw an
advertisement in the New York Herald
that if the wife of John Rodman, form
erly of Portland, would apply to certain
New York law firm, she would hear OF
SOluStuluS W hSl tt'iNdbpioC. iOi wv
tor advised her to go to New York, and
she went with her daughter. There she
interviewed the law firm, and ascertained
that the husband had failed to hear from
her before she failed to hear from him
He had been with Myers, the great
American railroad speculator, and made
fortune, and wanted his family, il
possible, to join him i'll New Orleans
for which place he was about to sail
The mother and daughter went to New
Orleans, arriving there day or two be
fore the vessel by which Mr.. Rodmar
was expected. While out walking the
daughter was insulted by young dandy
who thought the two women were un
protected. A young sailor knocked thu
dandy into the gutter, and as he turned
disclosed the features of the long lost son
1t seems that after his vessel was wrecked
he was picked up by Norwegian yes
sci and carried to port in that country
Thence he went to Calcutta, thence t.
Southampton, and arrived in New
Orleans the day before. A few days at
terward the father arrived, and tn,
long separated family were reunited ant
| happy.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
THE CATTLE DISEASE.
Herd Of Over Two Hundred Head Nearly
Destroyed by Organic Poison.


Prof. James Laws report on the cat
tie disease on the farm of James w.
Wadsworth, near Avon, N. Y, shows
that the herd, consisting of 277 cattle,
was brought from Canada, and all did
well uutil suddenly five died, and other
cases of death followed at the rate Of
from three to eight day. The symp,
toms are described in detail, as well as
the condition of the bodies after death.
The manager of the farm and two Ger.
man workmen who opened several of the
carcasses, suffered from malignant pus-
tule. The first symptoms in all three
were the eruptions on the hand OF small
papule, which increased to veslcle,
burst aud dried up, while new crop ap.
peared around the point OF deslccatlon.
The two older men, aged from thirty to
forty, had considerable erysipelatoid in
filtration of the hand and arm, with high
fever, nausea, great langlor and mus
cular pains. They ultimately did well,
however. It was evident that the devel-
opment of these malignant symptoms
was from incubation from the diseased
cattle.
The professor then goes on to show
that the cattle suffered from organic
poison, having been brought in a wretch
ed condition to the luxuriant grass bot
toms of the Genesee valley, under which
was subsoil of impervious clay, and
over which the river flowed in the
spring, There was no artificial drain
age, and the water escaped by evapora-
ton only. The contrast in temperature
between day and night also aggravated
the disease. The report adds:
The most universally acknowledged
causes of the malady in animals are
Plethora, or a state of the blood highly
charged with organic elements; an i'm.
pervious soil or subsoil; very rich sur
face soil; inundations a period of heat
and dryness calculated to foster decom-
position of organic matters to great
depth in the ground, and great con
trast between the day and night temper
ature, and in this case all combined tc
produce one of the most malignant
types OF the disease. 1t may be added
that while this affection is communicable
to all animals by incubation, it car
scarcely be said to spread in any Other
way, end it is therefore to be looked upon
as essentially an enzootic disease. We
must go to such places as the inun
dated margins and deltas of large rivers,
dried mp lakes and marshes of the rich
and pestilential Russian steppes, to find
any approximation to the disastrous out
breaks in man and beast which blacker
the history of past ages. ...
One hundred of the best steers were
turned on higher pasture with gray
ely subsoil, two died, and the rest made
prompt and permanent recovery. ~
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
Revenue of the United States.

The actual receipts to the United
States treasury from all sources, from
June 80, 1861, to June 80, 1874, exclu-
sive of loans and treasury notes, was as
follows: Customs, $1,973. no. ,367.91 ;
internal revenue, 81, 956, 1913, 725.S so ;
direct tax, S14, $40, 1887; public
lands, S22, 151, ,95S.02 !; miscellaneous,
1896, 0S4. 962.9 "a; premium on loans and
sales of gold coin, $192, 557, 117.46 ;
total, 81, 395, ,638, ,341. Beginning with
the year 1866, there has been continu-
GUS repeal, gaining year by year, of such
internal taxes as were most oppressive,
or at least as giverise to most complaint,
until at present few subjects of taxation
remain. The taxes are now levied upon
distilled spirits, fermented liquors,
manufactured tobacco, snuff, and cigars
upon articles embraced in schedule,
upon such occupations, upon banks,
checks, deposits, circulation, aud capital
of banks. In a table exhibiting the
sums collected during the several fiscal
years from 1867 to 1875, inclusive, it ap,
pears that during the year ending June
30, 1874, collections were $102, ,644, TAG.
SO, while the collections for the yeai
ending June 80, 1876, were $110, ,545,.
1923. The collections for the forme,
years were, in consequence of the duties
repealed from year to year, less than any
single year since the system went into
operation, except the first-1863-wher
the collections were 81 ,003, 1928. The
increase.of 1S74-5 is due in part to the
increase of duties laid upon distilled
spirits, manufactured tobacco, cigars
and cigarettes, and in part to the taxes
collected under the laws repealed, extra
ordinary efforts having been put forth t.
collect the delinquent taxes due from
banks and bankers, railroads and othel
corporations, and taxes due on incomes
leSacies, and SUGGESTIONS. The receipts
under the act of March 3, 1875, up Il
and inclusive of June 80, 1875, from tn,
different articles subject to an increased
tax, which were distilled spirits, cigars
cigarettes, and manufactured tobacco
were So, ,203, ,S18.85.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
A Fu'ure Millionaire.

The boy stopped Reading Eagle re-
porter on Bingaman street and asked
whether there was not "some one to
home that wanted few toys" The
little vender had a well-worn basket and
in it was variety of toys, not exactly
rude in shape, but which were evidently
not made by expert hands in a regular
toy marufactory.
"Where did you get your toys?" was
asked of the young merchant.
Well, sir, we makes 'em to home,
pop and me, and sells 'em, and gets
what kin for 'em."
"What's your name and where do you
live, and how long have you been in the
business 2"
"We used to live up in Locust alley,
but we moved now over into Irishtown.
Been livin' there two days already but
gittin' tired of it. My names Sam, and
pops names pop, that's all the name l
knows kept Wilby. We's related to
all the Wilbys in Lancaster county and
down near on to York. Been livin' in
Readin' over a year now. Pop got out
of job at laborin' and we whittle out
these ere toys at night an sells 'em
durin' the day. Keeps pop in and
amounts to somethin' in the end"
Many of the toys were made of pine
wood and glued together. Tables,
chairs, rocking chairs, chests, bedsteads,
cradles, boats and variety of knick-
knacks of that kind were in the assort-
ment. Then there were other toys that
had been bought at the notion stores,
consisting of tin whistles, cups and
saucers, wooden animals, trees painted
ed and green, tops, little doll babies
and other things to numerous to men
ton.
Where do yousell your goods?" was
asked.
"Well, I keep off in the back streets
and watch whenever 1 see little girls go
into house. Some day I'm goin' to be
a rich man and pop says to me that some
of the rich merchants in Readin' first
started out by luggin' around basket
sellin' tapes and pins"
"How much can you average day
proft"
"That depends on the day and what
luck got Yesterday was election day
and l got in fifty-seven cents. Some
days get ninety cents, and last Satur-
day l had one dollar and ten cents.
That's big, but it don't come often. L
don't care, though! just so get along.
I'm goin' to be rich some day. No
drinks for me. l don't chew and don't
smoke, and L don't spend no money.
I'm goin' to commence at the savin's s
bank soon, if times brislSs up. Then I'm
goin' to hawk around shoe strings,
tapes, soap, indigo blue, balsam de NAL
ta, and other stuff what the women
wants. This sellin' toys is only start
er. But if times brisk up am goin' to
commence and make money right"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
Keen the Pot Boiling.

The French have what is called the
pot az tel-an iron pot kept constantly
upon the fire, into which is put from day
to day all the wholesome remnants OF
food, meat and vegetables, which in the
United States are thrown away. All ol
these are put into the pot au .feu, water
seasoning and fragrant herbs are added
as required, and the constant simmerine
"a solvent for even the toughest O.
Texan beef-extracts very particle o
marrow even, aud the bones come out a.
clean and white as if they had beer
bleached for years in the sun. This ex
plains what writer meant when HI
wrote of the forty millions of France
living on what the forty millions o
America throw away. The French liv
twice as we'll as our farmers.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
Thn Old Barn.

The rooster stalks OH he mangef's ledge,
He has - tail like -cmiter's edge
marshalR plume on his afghan neck,
An aila's stride on his quarter deck.
He rules the roost and he walks the bay.
With dreadful cold and Turkish way.
Two broadsides fires with his rapid wings,
The sultan proud Of a line OF kings
One cultural laugh, four bursts Of horn,
Five rusty syllables rouse the morn.
The Saxon lambs in their woolen tabs
Are playing with the a, b, abs.
A. g I, o. All the cattle spell
Till they make the blatant vowels tell,
And a half laugh whinny fills the stalls
AS down the rack the clover falls.
A dove is waltzing round his mate,
The chevrons black on his wings of slate,
And showing off with wooing note
The satin shine of his golden throat
1t is Ovid's "Art Of Love" retold
In a binding fine of blue and gold.
All the buxom girls that helped the boys
The nobler Helens of humber Troys-
As they stripped the husks wit rustling fold,
From egbt-rowod corn as yellow as gold
BY the candle-light in pumpkin bowls,
And the CLEAN that showed fantastic holes
In the quaint old lanterns tattooed tin,
From the hermit glim set up within;
BY the rarer light in girlish eyes,
As dark as wells or as blue as skies.
hear the laugh when the ear is red,
see the blush with the forfeit paid,
The ceder cakes with the ancient twist,
The cidar cup that the girls have kissed.
Ard 1 see the fiddler through the dusk,
As he twNngs the ghost of M oney Musk >
The bogs and girls in double row
Wait face-to-face till the magic bow
Shall whip the tune from the violin
And tue merry pulse Of the feet begin.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
Old Time Detectives.

A New York paper speaking of the in
efficiency and corruption of the detec-
tives of the present time relates this
anecdote of a detective of the last genera
tion One of our banks kept losing
money, only in small sums, yet the loss
was constant and mysterious. A cele-
brated detective was called in. 4" Let
everybody leave the directors room, +"
he said. "Send in everybody, one by
one, who has had a chance to steal. I"
So the president, the cashier, the tellers,
the bookkeepers and clerks had private
interview with the detective. Every
one in the bank knew the pur-
pose of the visit, and all but one
were slightly nervous and uncomfortable
under the searching questions of the
chief. The last who entered was a
nephew of the president. He walked in
cool, unembarrassed and indifferent, and
with an air that said "proceed." He
was dismissed as well as the rest. The
detective said not word, left the bank,
and in one week returned. He had been
shadowing the presidents nephew. In
clear, fair hand, was written out the
whereabouts of the young man for the
past six days, the company he kept,
what he drank, the hours he spent on
the road, his night orgies, and all his
movements by night and by day. No
body in the bank knows to-day that the
Presidents nephew was the thief. That
his health was not good, that he was
travelling in Europe, and that his place
IN the bank was filed by another, was
well known. The bank was saved from
robbery, the family from dishonor, the
detective commended for his skill and
prudence, and was all the happier for a
check of 81, 900.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
The Vote of Cities.

The State Of Ohio would have gone
Democratic, and Gov. Allen would have
been successful in the late election, but
for the maiorities given to the Republi-
can ticket in the cities of Cincinnati and
Cleveland.
The State of Pennsylvania also would
have gone Democratic, and Pershing
and Piollet would have been successful,
but for the Republican majority in the
city of Philadelphia.
The State of New York would have
gone Republican, and the State ticket
of that party would have been successful,
but for the Democratic majorities in
New York and Brooklyn.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25
A Misfortune,

A young man living in Halifax, N. s.,
is the victim of singular misfortune,
which may result in the loss of his life.
Picking his teeth with straw, a piece
of it lodged between two teeth in such
manner that he could not get it out. 1t
annoyed him for some days, but at last
the pain ceased and he found that the
straw had worked under his tongue,
where it soon began to cause pain, and
finally resulted in the tongue becoming
swollen and infamed, while, symptoms
similar to those of diphtheria appeared
in his throat. He at once sought medi
cal advice, but his case is considered
very critical
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25

He WILLIE WILL.-Every Son of
Malta will remember the interesting part
of the ceremony of the order as follows
" Will you lie in wait for the enemy of
our noble order and steal upon him un
awares 2" 81 will" Omnes-" He will
ie-he will steal"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25

A California butcher has found an
Indian arrow head well imbedded in the
liver of an OK.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-11-25

The rooster stalks on The mangei g ledge,
He has 81 tail like a -cimiters edge
The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-02-18
MG,'3'Sn0es.

In the Baptist Church, Staunton, by Rev Dr.
Manly on the 18th inst. Capt w. F. Snapp and Miss
Mollie Staples, all OF this city
., On the 4th n inst in Wooastock by the Rev. j. E.
campbell, W G. Campbell .of the Pendleton Ne,os
and Miss Mollie A. Ott OF WoodstocK:
On the 18th inst. near Middlebrook, S, T, Glenn.
mer and Miss Annie e: Runhle:
On the 3rd inst in Lexington. by Few ]. L. Kirk
patrick, w. L. Prather; of Waco Texas, and Miss
Fannie H. Kirkpatrick; daughter of the officiating
On the 2sth ult., in Monroe county, W. Va by Rev
T. r. Houston, j. G. Leech, of Rockbridge, and Miss
Texas L. Hodge,
:, On the 2nd inst. near Martinsburg, by Rev. D. II
Laura Chaplin, daughter of Chasles Chaplin, decd o
Lexington. ~ " =
on the Srd inst, in Vicksburg, Mss, by Rev W
": Lord, q. A. Myers, formerly of this county ant
Miss Mary NJ. Miles, of Vicksburg