davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01
How 20 Conduct a COurtship.
1From the Territorial Enterprise.I


Don't be too sudden about it. Many
a girl has said mo" when she meant
''yes," simply because her lover didn't
choose the right time and pop the ques-
tion gently.
Take dark night for it. Have the
blinds closed, the curtains down, and
the lamp turned most out. Sit near
enough to her so that you can hook your
little finger into hers Wait until con-
versation begins to flag, and then quiet
ly remark:
"Susie, 1 want to ask you something@
She will fdget around little, reply
eyes" and after a pause you can add:
"Susie, my actions must have shown
that is, you must have-I mean you
must be aware that-that"
Pause here for while, but keep your
fingers firmly locked. She may cough
and try to turn the subject off by asking
you how you liked the circus, but she
only does it to encourage you. After
about ten minutes you can continue:
81 was thinking, as 1 came up the
path to might, that before / went away 1
would ask you-that is, l would broach
the subject nearest MY mean 1 would
know N.Y.
Stop again and give her hand gen.
tie squeeze. She may give yank to get
away or she may not. In either case it
augurs well for you. Wait about five
mintes and then go on:
"The past year has been very hap
py one to me, but hope that future
years will still be happier. However,
that depends entirely on you. I am
here tonight to know-that is, to ask
you-I mean 1 am here tonight to hear
from your own lips the one sweet"
Wait again. 1t isn't best to be too
rash about such things. Give her plen-
ty of time to recover her composure,
and then put your hand on your heart
and continue:
"Yes, thought, as I was coming
through the gate tonight, how happy
l had been; and l said to myself that
if 1 only knew you would consent to
be my---that is, said if only knew
IF l was only certain that my heart
had not deceived me, and you were
ready to share"---
Hold on; there's no hurry about it.
Give the wind a chance to sob and
moan around the gables. This will
make her lonesome and call up all the
love in her heart. When she begins to
cough, and grow restless, you can go
on:
"Before 1 met you this world was a
desert to me. 1 didn't take any pleas
ure in going blackberrying and stealing
rare-ripe peaches, and it didn't matter
whether the sun shone or not. But what
change in one short yearl 1t is for
you to say whether my future shall be
prairie of happiness, or summer fallow
of Canada thistles. Speak, dearest Su-
sic, and say-and say that-that"-
Give her five minutes by the clock,
and then add:
"That you will be-that is, that you
will mean that you will-be miner"
She will heave a sigh, look up at the
clock and over the stove, and then as she
slides her head over your vest pocket she
will whisper:
"You are just right---I will"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01
Lard on a Railroad Track.

Some unknown parties squanoered a
bucket of lard on the railroad track a
mile above town a few nights ago, and
at the lower end of the greasing stuck up
placard, which when the train arrived
and the head light shone upon it, reveal
ed these terrible words BLOW, d-n you
blow" The engineer did blow. He
blowed his engine whistle and he blowed
his own private whistle, and he blowed
out such language that his chance for
eternal salvation is not worth tinker's
denunciation. The train came to dead
halt, train hands and passengers were
put to work sanding the track, and by
the aid of a yoke of steers borrowed from
Mrs. Woodsuf the train was put in
motion. 1t got to Macon an hour be-
hind time. The engineer has resigned.
If he will come up here we will run him
for coroner Griffin (Georgia) News.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

THE RUSSIAN Melted CUCUMBER
Last spring Messrs. Briggs & Brother,
of Rochester, N. Y, sent us, among 9TH
er novelties, the seeds of the Russian
Melted Cucumber. By some oversight
these seeds were omitted at sowing time
and we were unable to see the fruit un-
til this fall, when we received a speci-
men from Messrs. B. X. Bliss & Sons.
According to the English seedsmen, this
is from the Ukraine country, and was
first brought to notice at the Vienna Ex-
position, where it attracted much atten-
ton. The skin is of a dark brown color
and intersected in every direction by
light colored lines, which run together
and form a fine network all over the
surface this appearance is apparently
produced by a breaking up of the skin
of the fruit, and showing lower lighter
colored layer through the cracks. This
is so unlike an ordinary cucumber in ap.
pearance, as to deceive some experience
ed horticulturists, who were quite una.
BILE to say what fruit it was. Great hard.
Iness and productiveness are claimed FOL
this variety, and it would be worth grow.
ing in the garden as a curiosity, were il
not, as it is said to be, of good quality
for the table.-TAm. Agriculturalist
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01
A Beautiful Huntress.

Miss Clara Hale, of Harrisburg, Penn
svlvania, has been on a cunning e1pe-
dition down the peninsula, and met with
considerable success. Early on Tuesday
morning last she went out and in short
time succeeded in bagging sixteen par
tridges and three squirrels. The night
of the same day she shot eight musk
rats. two of which, however, she failed
to get On "wednesday afternoon she
gave few invited friends an exhibition
of her skill in handling the revolver.
An old-fashioned copper cent was fast
ened to fence post, and she hit it eight
times out of ten. Several pigeons were
let out of a trap, every one of which
she brought down. Miss Hale is beau
tiful brunette, about seventeen years old,
and her form is perfect. She is intelli-
gent, a fluent speaker, and delights in
recounting her hunting adventures in
the mountainous regions of Pennsyl-
vania. Her uniform consists of tight
fitting, light corduroy jacket, short
skirt of the same material, with the in
evitable hustle, which she utilities for
the purpose of carrying her ammuni-
ton, &c, several pockets being neatly
arranged in it. Her cap is also of light
corduroy. with an oil cloth, reversible
cover, and her feet and ankles are tight
ly encased in a pair of India-rubber
boots. She carries one of Remington's
handsome fowling pieces, and seems
greatly attached to her two canine COM
panions, who answer to the names of
Eloise and SkippO. The Seaford Citi-
zen says she is now visiting a few
friends in Sussex county, and will soon
return Observation-Disclosures Every
Evening
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

The Aldine for January 1875, is duly
at hand. and certainly entitled to the
credit of being the very best number yet
issued of that beautiful publication. In
both pictures and literary matter, this
month, there is an infinite variety and
corresponding excellence. Pictorially,
the leading attractions are "A Daugh-
ter of Cleopatra" after Vernet-Le-
cOmpte, by John S. Davis---an admir-
able work of art, and supplying one Of
the highest types of the duskier Orient
al beauty; three magnificent views ofthe
mountains of the Delaware Water
Cap" illustrating that picturesque re-
gion to fine advantage an attractive
full-page, also by Davis, "Fisherman's
Luck :" "Love'c Offices" by Siegert,
and "The Appointment" by Otto Erd-
mann, two admirable companion pictures
telling their stories with life and vigor ;
a very striking "Silver Full Moonlight, +"
weirdly attractive; fine view of the
new western Union Telegraph Build
ing" New York and an elaborately
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 Al
dine.
The literary contents embrace the
following rare collecdc1 An instruc-
tive and very enjoyable paper on
christmas in London" by Henry
Morford one of the most charmingly
mischievous short stories Of the period,
by another of the new names which The
AldIne is introducing to the public
evidently a Norsewoman, Einna Suierne
Jarisen 1--WE should like to hear some
body pronounce that; an excessively
amusing sketch Of Student Life
Abroad" by Fenno Douglas; a valuable
peep at the growth of "The Mistletoe;"
continuation Of the popular serial, "Losi
Lillian Bracy :" most touching story
of primitive New England life, in Zone
Little Puritan" by Annette /. Noble; a
pleasant translation, in the birthplace
of Mozart's ZauberHote," by Miss F. c.
Gildemeister, incisiye article on Litera-
ture, Music, the Drama, etc. In addi.
ton, there are no less than four poems
of merit "a New Years WISH" by
Mrs. NJ. F. Butts dead Days." by
Mrs. Margaret j. Preston Abreast
with the Storm" by John Vance Chen.
ey and Songs of the Months" by AL.
ice NJ. Guernsey. This makes, we re-
peat an issue of equal excellence and
variety, rare even for The Aldine, and
evidences the fact that under the new
editorial management, while nothing il
to be lost in high artistic reputation, th'
literary merit of the publication is to b
kept quite abreast with il.
The Aldine Company has determined
to establish an Art Union, similar to tn
well-known Art Union in England, an'
distributes Its works Of art, both sculpt
ure and paintings, which are constant.
collecting, among its subscribers Ar
premiums, valued at 81 500, will be dis
tributed among each series Of 5000 suh
scribers. SUBSCRIPTION tickets, at 500
each, entitle the holder TO The Aldin
for a year, to the new chrome; and to
ticket in the distribution Of art prem
iums. The Aldine Company, publish
ers, No. 80 Maiden Lane, New Yor
! City.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01
Confidential Game.

Yesterday afternoon very nice, we'll
dressed young man, with mutton-chop
whiskers, stepped into Frank Goosman's
jewelry store, at No. 308 Central avenue
and said he wanted to buy watch to
present as Christmas gift to his sister.
He wanted something tiptop, for he
thought good deal of his sister. A lot
of pretty time-keepers were handed out
and carefully examined AT lenght the
young man fastened on two elegant ones,
both gold, one an open face and the 9TH
er double-case. He said he was clerk
at Ashfeld's drug store, at Eighth street
and Central avenue. Now, when he
came to think about it, the elder Coos
mann, who was anxious to make sale,
remembered the young man. He had
seen him before, and was satisfied he had
met him at Ashfeld's store.
The customer hardly knew which one
of the watches to buY---they both pleased
him so much. Wouldn't sGoomann let
him take them down to the store and ask
Mr.. Ashfeld's judgment? Of course
Goosmann would. And so the watches
were borne away.
In the evening, as the young man had
not returned to tell which watch he had
adopted as his choice, suspicion began
to rise up in the horizon of Mr.. Coos
mann's mental vision like a cloud about
the size of a mans hand, that perhaps
the skeezics had selected both of them.
Accordingly the jeweler posted down to
Ash6eld's to inquire why the clerk had
not before rendered an account of his
stewardship, and was there informed that
no such man was employed about the
premises. Mr.. Goosmann is out two
watches. Loss, total; no insurance
Gin. Commercial
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01
A Great Farmer.

DIR. H. J. Glenn, of Jacinto, Colusa
county, Cal, has raised and harvested
this year, on his own ranch, 100000
bushels of wheat. This is equal to 49,
900 tons, and will load eighteen 1000
ton ships, and all of this he has in his
own warehouses ready for shipment
when the water of the Sacramento river
rises sufficiently. The doctors freights,
to put his wheat in San Francisco, will
amount to 100000. In the blowing sea-
son he runs ninety gang-plows, and in
harvest any number of headers. He
threshes his wheat by steam power, u.s.
ing some half dozen steam threshers. He
has about 200 miles of good board fence
on his farm. But his farming operations
are not confined to wheat-growing alone.
He markets about 100000 worth of
stock each year. DIR. Glen is practical
farmer and manages all his business
himself. He can mend trace just as
we'll as he can get the highest price for
grain Santa Cruz (Cal.) Sentinel.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01
IFrom the Philadelphia Ledger.I
The Cost Of Living Now and Before
the War.

A comparison of the prices of the sta
Piles of the country in wholesale markets
in November, 1859, 1864 and 1874, show
that prices are nearly as low, and in
some cases lower now than before the
war, if they are reduced to the gold
standard. Wheat is selling at about the
same prices in currency as it sold for in
gold in 1859. Corn is selling for half
what it did in 1864 (the year when gold
touched 2S5), and about the same price,
gold value, as it did in 1859. Cotton is
worth little more than in 1859. but is
about one-ninth the price reached IN
1864. Provisions, sugar ard coffee show
a heavy decline, but the present curren-
cy quotations are above the gold prices
of 1859. Dry goods show a great decline
since 1854, prints being below the prices
of 1859. Beef was rather higher in the
local market before the war than to-day
Sales were reported in the Ledger in
November, 1858, for seven to nine
cents per pound. The corresponding
cattle report published this year quotes
sales at from four to seven and half
cents. But before these articles reach
the consumers items of cost are added
to them, which have not been reduced
in proportion to the reduction in prime
cost. The tax rate of 1859 on real estate
was one dollar and seventy-fve cents on
a very low valuation of property; to-day
it is two dollars and twenty cents on
cash valuation. A house which was
worth fifteen hundred dollars in 1859
could not be bought for twice that
amount now, and rents are from two to
three times as high now as before the
war. While it is true, therefore; that
what are often called the "necessaries of
life have been reduced in price at whole
sale to nearly the prices which ruled in
1859, it is not to be inferred that the
cost of living to working men has been
correspondingly reduced. Provisions
consume about one third to one-half
workingmen's incomes. The other half
is expended for rent, clothing, fuel
lights, and other expenditures of all
kinds, and in many of these there has
been no reduction from ante-war prices.
But with a reduction in the prime cost
of provisions, there will undoubtedly
come in time reduction in the value of
things for which corn, beef, wheat, &C.,
are exchanged; in other words, reduc-
ton in all the many things which toge-
ther make up the real cost of living.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01
sT. NICHOLAS ZOE "a.


OF this book Charles Dudley Warnel
writes:
"In the bound volume Of St. Nicho-
las, with its glory of red and gold, we
have a permanent addition 10 the liter
ture Of the young. Never before has so
much literary and artistic talent co-op-
Grated in the service Of children. It IL
a continual educator Of their taste and
of their honor and courage. / do not
zee how it can be made any better, and
if the children don't like il / think il il
time to begin TO change the kind Of
children in this country"
ST. NICHOLAS FOR 1875.
The prospectus Of the second volume
shows that there is 10 be no falling off,
but an increase in its literary and pic
torial attractions. Among other attrac-
tive features are
TWO SPLENDID SERIAL
STORIES, "THE YOUNG
SURVEYOR"
by J. T. Trowbridge, author Of the Jack
Hazard Stories, etc.
EIGHT COUSINS"
by Louisa NJ. Alcott, author Of Little
Women, etc.
The peculiar features Of 81. Nicholas,
which have conduced so largely to ita
popularity, will be kept up with spirit:
Short and easy stories in French,
German, and Latin for translation, will
appear occasionally, while Jack-in-the-
Pulpit, The Letter Box, and The Rid
die Box, will continue to be full Of in
terest, and the department for very
young readers will be enlarged.
Bayard Taylor and other distinguish
ed travellers will give Stories Of For
eign Countries.
Mr.. Rideing will continue his series
Of delightful and instructive papers ON
Practical Subjects.
Mr. Bartlett and others will attend 70
the department of Home Entertain
ments, Tableaux Vivants, etc.
New writer's, in addition to our pres
ent large corps Of contributors, will give
young people of all ages, Poems, jim
giles, Stories, Sketches, and Papers on
History, Biography, Travel. Adventure,
Natural History, Outdoor and Indoor
Sports, Boys and Girls Handicraft,
Kindergarten Games, Literature, Popu-
lar Science, with hearty Eprinkling Of
fun throughout the volume.
Price $500 year, but up 10 Jan. lst
we will send the twelve numbers for the
year just closed (Vol. ~ for only $500.
The same, elegantly bound in red and
cold, will be sent, charges paid, for
S4.00.
One years ubscribtiou and twelve
back numbers, $500. One years sub
scription and volume one, bound as
above, sent, charges paid, for 5000 All
Postsges will be Prepaid by US.
SCRIBNER & Co,
No. 654 Broadway, New York.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

"The Prisoners Escape" is the newest
French toy. On little tower stands a
little man of tin, dressed as "a Marshal of
France, and holding rope in his hands.
Touch a spring, and the Marshal launch
es boldly into space, slides down the
cord, and lands in boat which comes
laboring ont from rocks of tin over a
cardboard sea. just as the Marshal
drops aboard, soldier in uniform looks
from the tower with evident alarm. The
boat moves back to its station, and all
may be begun again if the joke be
thought good enough.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

gun. He was in doubt whether it Was
not the effect OF his own maddened inn
agination, but he halloed with all his
might and kept on shouting. When his
cries were answered he was almost de-
lirous with joy. As the voices approach
ed his visions of approaching death fed
away and the realities of life came back
like food. He was profuse in his
gratitude to his deliverers, but declared
his intention of getting out of the Sierra
Navadas as soon as possible and abandon
bear hunting.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

ELECTRIC FIRE BELLs.-Another
method of employing electricity as a
means of indicating the presence of fire
in buildings, in season to prevent the
calamity of a confagration, is due to
French ingenuity, and il is said to be an
improvement on all others of this kind
that have been brought forward. In this
arrangement two wires, insulated from
each other by gutta percha, are corded
together into cable, and are connected
at one end with battery and an electric
bell. When fire breaks out in any part
of the building through which the cable
passes, the gutta percha is freed, and the
wire comes into contact, thus closing the
circuit and ringing the bell. The con.
dition of the apparatus is tested by
means of peg commutator at the other
end of the cable.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

A man in Lebanon County, Pennsyl-
vania, nearly lost his head in a singular
manner He was rapidly driving a
wagon into yard, when his neck came
in contact with a wire stretched across
the path, and deep gash was cut in his
throat. Fortunately the wire was brok-
en-, or the injury might have been fatal.
A Nantucket fisherman, while return
ing home the other day, was struck
suddenly by something, which knocked
hlm senseloss in his boat. On coming %
his sensea again, he found that large
duck had flown directly against his neck
with such force rs 10 kill itself at once,
for il lay dead in the dory.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

A few hours before he was dangling
at a lamp-poss in DesMoines, Howard,
the convicted prisoner, wrote. at Is a
put up job on me by man that swore
vengeance against me, because | married
woman that has bin his fancy for three
long years, and solemnly sware by the
Eternal Great God in Heaven that l am
innocent Of all knowledge of the murder
Of John johnson, and in short time !
will prove it,"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

We give our washerwoman notice that
hereafter we want our own clothes. Last
Sunday we put on another fellows shirt,
but couldn't wear it at all. 1t was all
ruffled around the top and looked real
handsome, but there was no place for a
collar, and it hadn't any bosom, though
we are bound to say there was plenty of
room for one. Yes, it was a handsome
shirt, but we don't have ours made that
way Max Adeler.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

A HIGH OLD FoG.-Some seven years
ago there was an engineer on the Chica-
go, Alton and St. Louis Railroad who
was called by all the railroad men
General Taylor" Fogs are an every
day affair in that part of the country
which the road passes through, espec-
tally between Chicago and Bloomington.
Early one morning, in the month OF
April, the general left Bloomington with
the express. Before he reached Pontiac
a very thick fog had risen, SO thick that
he could not see the length of the en-
CINE. The general told the conductor
while taking wood at P, that if there
were any cattle killed that morning il
would not be his fault.
"How SOP" said the conductor.
"Why," said the general, "because
must get an auger to bore through the
fog to see the pilot, which is the only
way to prevent it; for l looked out, ano
when drew my head back there was {
round hole left where / put out my
headp'
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01
mass cap'n!

The year 1877 will be a remarkable
one in the history of our country. The
President to be inaugurated in that year
will be the first in the second Centennial
cycle of the nation, and as Washington
was the first President in the infancy
of the republic, the people should choose
for their next Chief Magistrate man
who will strive to initiate the example
of Washington, whose sole ambition was
the promotion of his country's welfare
and honor The fourth of March, 1877,
will come on Sunday, which has not oc-
CURED since the year 1S49, when Gener-
al Taylor became President. 1t is a
singular coincidence that the Chief
Magistrate who came into Office at that
time was a general, and that the Presi-
dent who will retire from Office in 1877
is also general. Let US hope that our
nation will henceforth hear no more of
"wars or rumors of wars" but that our
destiny -henceforth shall be mission of
peace to all the world, and our bright
example an incentive to oppressed man
kind to throw off the yoke of political
bondage and to become freemen in very
truth
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

A chap from the Western part of the
State vert to bed at one of the hotels
the other night, and blew out his gas in
stead of turning it of. The gas rushed
out, the room was close, and in about
half an hour the smell became so strong
that the stranger got out of bed, opened
the door and shouted for the clerk. The
clerk came up and demanded to know
what was up. 81 never stopped in De
troit over night BEFORE" replied the
stranger, "and ! don't know but thiI
smell is all right, but it pears to me Al
il something had busted somewhere"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

The sisters of colored Baptist church
at Raleigh, N. c., held public meeting
the other day, and raised a subscription
to release their pastor, who was in Jail
on a charge of bastardy. When the fine
had been paid, the sisters marched TO the
Jail door and received the reverend gen.
tleman with open arms. The scene is
described as deeply affecting.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

II is now agreed by the doctors Of
England and France that tapeworm can
only be eliminated from the human body
by effectually expelling the head Of the
parasite as well a. is tail and lengthy
trunk. Drugs properly administered
will reach the head, after the trunk has
unloaded
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-01

John Bright will, il is reported, visit
this country next year.