davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15
The Potato Bug.

The Colorado potato beetle has put i'll
its appearance, and has now reached salt
water. Some of the potato growing
counties of New Jersey are badly infest-
ed, and they are equally numerous in
Pennsylvania, and southwark. Last fall,
says the AgriculturiSt, we gave warning
that they were near the coast, and have
this year given timely notice. Knowing
that they were to be expected, the writer
began to examine his potatoes as soon
as they were fairly up, and in the last
week of May few bugs We're found.
Examination was daily made of the vines,
and few hundred in all collected, and
what few eggs were found destroyed.
If the first ones which come from their
winter quarters in the ground are allowed
to breed, then the case becomes serious,
but having, while the plants were small,
and the beetles easily seen, disposed of
the first brood, we hope to keep them i'll
check, though no doubt some will come
in from other places, and it will not do
to omit frequent examination. Those
who have been so unfortunate as to al
low the insects to get the mastery must
resort at once to paris green. Every day
of delay makes the matter worse. If the
bugs are few, pick by hand, and destroy
the eggs, which will be found in little
orange-colored clusters on the leaves.
If toomany to pick, then use paris green,
observing all the precautions g iven
relative to its use. Keep up the watch !;
if no bugs are found now, they are liable
to come at any time during the summer,
and success depends greatly on begin
ming in time.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15
A Strange Superstition.

A singular case has been heard before
the English courts. A laboring man
was tried for the manslaughter of his
son, child two years of age, under
circumstances of the most extraordinary
character. This prisoner was member
of sect called the "Peculiar People,"
One of the rules of this denomination is
that in all cases of illness it is against
the law of God, as written in the Holy
Scriptures, to call upon medical men for
assistance. The church provided that
in all cases they should rely entirely
upon "prayer and amounting the body
with OIL" The infant son of this laborer
was attacked with pleurisy and infiamma-
ton of the lungs. No doctor was sum-
moned. The elders of the church visited
the child, prayed over it, laid their hands
upon it and anointed it with oil. In
time it died, and the father was arrested
ON the charge of manslaughter, i'll virtu-
ally contributing to the death of his son.
On the trial one of the elders of the
"Peculiar People" testified to the anoint-
ing, and quoted Scripture to prove that
his action was according to the law OF
God. He furthermore informed tho
court that the father had given the child
"port wine, arrow root, new milk and
other nourishing things" and he gave
the still further information that the
sect had resolved, in the event of con
tagious disease breaking out among their
number, to call in medical advice &C for
the sake of their neighbors." In re-
sponse to question of the judge this
elder said that they used the same rene
dies for helpless infants unable to pro-
tect themselves that were employed for
grown up persons, and declined to pledge
himself, in response to further inquiry,
or to pledge any of his people to make
any alteration in the treatment of their chill
dren in cases of sickness. They would
still depend upon prayer. A physician
testified that the child died of pleurisy,
and that it might, if properly treated,
have lived. The jury found the prisoner
guilty, but added that they believed he
was acting for the best according to
his religious notions, and that what he
did was intended for the benefit of the
that the law should compel people to
obtain medical assistance for children
when they are i'll. The judge postponed
Judgment, allowed the prisoner to go at
large upon bail and submitted the case
TO The cOurt OF crllnlnal appeal, sitJIlS
that if his view of the law were correct it
would have the effect of compelling peo-
pie, whether "peculiar" or not, to pro-
cure medical treatment for their children.
This is singular phase OF our modern
civilization. It seems to us that the
position taken by the Judge is the proper
one, and that when "religious convic-
tions" develop into manslaughter they
should be interrupted by the law.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15
The Cheese Industry.

According to the American Grocer,
the cheese industry is in danger of ruin.
and the only salvation, it is said, is to
abandon the manufacture of every
quality except full cream cheese, which
is the only kind entitled to the designa-
tion of cheese. So-called cheese is made
of every gradation of quality, from the
poorest skinned to the richest full
cream cheese, and sells in the market
from two cents to thirteen and half
cents pound. If the milk is all skim
med, the poorest product is the result,
and this quality proves an exceedingly
Improbable manufacture, as it costs to
make and sell it at least three cents a
pound, and nets loss of one cent a
pound. The next quality above, with
five per cent. of cream, and made of
good texture and properly colored,
brings a relatively higher price; and so
ON for all gradations of quality until
when the cheese is made with mixture
of morning milk SKINNED and evening
milk unskimmed, in equal quantities, an
article may be produced by proper care
that will pass very well with those who
are not experts for full cream cheese.
Then comes in the oleomargarine cheese,
the cream all taken off and the oil called
oleomargarine, from the fresh fat of the
caul of an OK, substituted in equal
weight for the cream. This produces an
article which in many respects SO closely
resembles the full cream cheese as to be
readily sold for it.
Last year skinned milk cheese sold
very well up to the best grades. This
year they can hardly be sold at all, from
which it appears that, after all, cheating
don't pay. All who are interested in the
export trade, and nearly every receiver
is, tells us that the presence of adultera-
ted cheese in the English market is being
felt here, and that it is absolutely certain,
if their manufacture and shipment is
persisted III, will react disastrously upon
our cheese trade, and ultimately to drive
us out of market that has cost us so
many years and so much labor to estab-
lish. OF the 1,905,9 97S cheese received
here during the year ending May 81 last,
1,701, 1923 were exported, leaving 204, $3.50
for home consumption, about nine pei
cent. of the total receipts. Figures like
these show the importance of sending
good cheese abroad.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15
THE WONDERS OF TIE SEA.
Viewing Fish from Under the Ocean-Am-
pIibious Life Mt the Isle of Wight.


phibious Life mt the Isle of Wight.
After several days energetic sight
seeing in very hot weather, says CORE
spondent of the Graphic, we packed our
valises and stole away to the Isle of
Wight, by way of Brighton, where we
stopped over for three hours to see the
aquarium. You descend series of
elegant terraces, and find yourself ap-
parently at the bottom of the sea. Cool,
arched, grotto-like halls extend in every
direction, ending in ferneries bright
with falling water, while along the sides
of the long arcades. only crystal wall
separates you from the watery homes of
fishes, eels, and all the innumerable
finny and funny inhabitants of the deep.
You look up through the green water as
though you were a fish yourself, and
know for the first time how it feels to be
ut the bottom of the sea. Great, solemn,
aldermanic-looking cod-whiting swim
up and stare into your very eyes ; enor-
nous conger eels writhe playfully around
your head; idiotic-looking dogfsh lie
piled on one another, and blink placidly
into your face like so many sheep, while
the skates and the stingrays are fattened
out in painting flaccidity upon the gravel
at the bottom. Little silver herring and
golden-hued young salmon drift about
like clouds Lit by the moon, and on all
sides, against the rocks that vary the
surface of the tanks, wave the exquisite
fringes of the sea-anemones. Here,
above all, is the supreme beauty of the
water world.
Every variety of fringe and fower-cup
is mimicked here in hues that fairly rival
the roses of the garden. Purest white,
soft, creamy yellows, rich salmon color,
every shade of tender rose and glowing
red and royal purple and vivid green
spring from these rocks living flower,
with petals as delicate as they are dead
ly. For these beautiful fringes and
ethereal-looking bubbles of color are SO
many murderous arms outstretched for
food. AS we watch them swaying gently
in the current, poor little transparent
shrimp comes padding swiftly by. He
touches rose-colored petal, it flashes
round him, he is sucked into the gorge
GUS heart of the flower, and it closes con-
tentedly over his vanished form. They
knew their danger generally, these poor
little creatures, and did they touch ever
so lightly the tip of a floating fringe,
would spring away from 1t with an elec-
tricalrecoil. tits very interesting thing
to spend few hours at the bottom of
the sea to see the eight t-armed dieuvre
hanging from the rocks, or the green
turtle sleeping peacefully just below the
surface of the water to watch the her.
NIT crabs scuttling busily about, each in
his stolen shell and to study the man.
ners of the tip-toeing crayfish and the
fresh-water fish here, too, in large globes.
Among others the Mexican azotis, most
melancholy of fish, ,lrapped i'll inky
hues, black as q hearse and feathers,
with plumy tufts, waving all about their
disconsolate heads. Then there are the
telescope fish from China, swollen and
distorted golden carp, with their eyes SO
google that they really look like spy
glasses.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15
How He Won Hen.

The reader must imagine that the fol-
lowing takes place in snug little parlor
before bright fire. The speaker is a
short, dark-complexioned man, who
seems to enjoy life thoroughly. His
companion is younger man than him
self and bachelor.
I" How did come to get the prize I?
Well, now, that is question. If you
have patience enough to listen I'll tell
you. AS you know, 1 was what my
family called queer boy. 1 didn't
drink and keep late hours, but much to
the pity and possibly annoyance of my
relatives, who were strict Methodists,
1 wandered in the neighborhood of
W church.
" Rather timidly sat down in a pew
on the right hand side of the church,
and fixed myself so that 1 could have q
view of every person coming in, and at
the same time see the preacher. While
glancing around my eye fell on what
you have called my prize.
I" She was dressed in deep mourning,
as 1 subsequently found out, for q near
relative. This only added to her charms.
Her face was beautiful clear pale. Her
eyes were blue, and of that large and
loving kind which fellow cannot help
admiring. When she laughed two rows
of pearly-white teeth were displayed.
Her whole manner was that of q lady
combined with the beautiful simplicity
of child.
"Under the left lapel of my vest all
at once something began to jump. l
guess it was my heart. For the life of
me, couldn't keep my eyes off her.
Now and then L was rewarded with a
smile and glance. For some time this
was our only acquaintance. / attended
that church Sunday after Sunday. At
last / was introduced to her. This was
what 1 had been looking for, and now
that ] had it I seemed to be in the third
evening after church L heard her say:
"Oh, dear, I've no one to leave me
home, my folks are all gone"
81 at once volunteered to be her es-
cort my offer was accepted, and from
that day onward 1 grew into her con-
fidence. 1 gave to her my whole heart.
couldn't help it, she was so good and
SO beautiful. -Four years ran on and ]
ventured to pop the question, although
it had been mutually popped a long time
before. We were sitting alone one even
ing in the cozy little parlor of her house.
Her hand was in mine. nervously
said
" Katie, do you remember that little
two story house said I'd like to live
in2
eyes, what of it9" she said, her large
blue eyes looking into mine.
"Well, 1 have one of them now, and
it is a very lonely place. I want some
person to take care of it for ne. Can
you recommend any person p
81 really don't know a single person
I could trust" she replied.
"'I do" said 1, "and that one is
yourself, Katie. Will you come and
take care of it-take complete posses
sion 2"
ga gentle pressure on my hand was
the answer. That evening we asked
Pa and Ma who both said yes
"There is the whole story. You
know the rest. How happy we have
lived. Not a single quar- here she
comes herself, the best little wife any
man could wish for"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15
Superstition in Kentucky.

The following story seems incredible,
but it is told, apparently in entire
seriousness, by the Columbus (Ky.)
MESSENGER. There lives within few
miles of Clinton, in this county. we'll
known and respected family by the name
of Berry, the oldest daughter of which
has been married, and lives in the edge
of Ballard county. This daughter has
poor health, and it seems must be at
least partially deranged. This daughter
told the family that man by the name
of Mcdonald had died near Charleston,
Mo-, and that he had since appeared to
her in the form of an angel and made
various revelations to her; that he had
told her tie nature Of her disease, and
what to do to effect a cure; and that she
had followed the directions given and
been relieved, thus proving the reliability
of the spiritual communication. She
also told them that on another occasion
this spirit had informed her that certain
neighboring ladies were witches, and
that they would come to the house in the
form of cats and do them some great in
Jury. The family were firm believers in
the power of spiritual to communicate
with physical beings, and their minds
were so wrought upon that they fully
believed the insane story of their daugh-
ter The Holy Scriptures were searched
for confirmatory proofs to prophecies
and in parallel cases of history, as well
as for authority as to what should be
done with the witches. Here they CON
vinced themselves that the witches
should be put to death. In the mean
time the ladies who had been accused of
witchcraft were apprised of the state of
mind existing in the Berry family, and
became alarmed and terror stricken al
most beyond endurance. Finally, one
day while the two boys in the family
were out getting wood couple of cats
came running and caterwauling near by.
The bows, to use their own words,
thought the witches had them," and
scampered into the house; the elder boy,
aged probably fifteen or sixteen years,
took gun and went out to shoot the
cats, or witches, or whatever they might
be; but failing to find them, he began
making threats against the ladies whom
he supposed to be identical with the
cats, for he firmly believed that these
ladies could transform themselves into
cats and again resume their human forms
at will. Some reports say that he actu-
ally went to their houses in search OF
them, making threats by the way.
Having gone thus far, other neighbors
interfered and caused the arrest of the
family, consisting of Mr.. John Berry,
his wife and two sons. Being them
selves put upon oath they testified that
they solmenly believed these stories OF
witchcraft, and that in justice and in
obedience to the Scriptures the witches
should be killed. One or two attorneys
and some other citizens told them that
such belief was insanity, and that if they
persisted in it they would have to be
sent to the insane asylum. After con-
siderable reasoning they admitted that
they might be mistaken, and they were
released on giving bond in the sum OF
$500 for good behavior.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15
The Oiden Time.

Hon. Allen w. Dodge gives the fol-
lowing account of his first examination
when making application for the posi-
tion of schoolteacher
I was reading an account of Concord
when L was young man in college,
over fifty years ago, L taught school
there two winters-and all of a sudden
came to the picture of old Ezra Rip
ley, the grandfather Of Ralph Waldo
Emerson. He was the very man who
examined me and gave me a certificate
I have it at home-certifying that 1 was
"of good moral character" and GER
tifying, too, that 81 was qualified to
teach school in the town of Concord"
and he signed it in q sort of John Han
cock style, "Ezra Ripley, minister"
and the minister par excellence in the
town of Concord. If you will pardon
me, L will tell you how he examined me.
L went there in the evening with fear
and trembling, and sat down and told
him that 1 was the man he was to ex-
anime. He looked at me, and l trem-
bled from head. to foot, and he spelled
me" spelling matches" of that kind
were rare-he even made me read, and
examined my writing, and then put me
through q course of addition, subtrac-
tion, multiplication, and division, vulgar
fractions, and that sort of thing; and
said he: 81 am satisfied with your at
tainments, but there is one thing, before
1 give you q certificate, must require
of you, and you must consent to do" 1
said: : "What is that, sir 2" "You must
open and close your school every day
with prayer!" l said: 81 am not a
professor of religion; l never prayed out
loud in my life, and think it is unfair
for you to require it of me-" He said :
Young man, want no arguing" l
said "What do you want, DIR. Ripley9"
He said : 81 want you to pray;" and l
said again that L could not do it, and he
said "You cannot keep this school,"
Well, now, 1 wanted to keep the school
badly; it was my first attempt, and l
thought to be set aside from any cause
whatever would be lasting disgrace. l
thought it over; thought very quick,
and 1 said "Will you allow me, DIR.
Ripley, to write out the form of prayer
on piece of paper or slate, and pray
with one eye open until L get it by
heart ?" He said to me "Any way you
can fix it, young man; am satisfied if
you are." And / said 81 will keep the
school" And-well, what do you think?
He had to cah his daughter Hannah
Hannah was there in a moment-he
said A" Hannah, draw a mug of cider. !"
Well, we passed very pleasant even
ing, the cider was very nice, and we
parted good friends; and 1 didn't think
he was so stern q man when L left, as
when 1 came. Well, that illustrates, to
a certain extent, the character of the
clergy of that day-they We're the "mas-
ters of the situation ;" their word was
l.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15

LIBERAL.-Aboard of one of the Sleep
ing-car which arrived in Detroit the
other morning, was an Iowa man, whose
big boots had been blacked with the
rest while he slept. When he came to
put them on he asked what the charge
was, and the porter replied that he could
give whatever he saw fit. The traveller
put out a nickle, smiled patronizingly,
and handed it out with the remark
"There-you may keep the whole of
it. When I'm around home 1 like to
know where my money goes to, but
when L travel pay my way and want
things pleasant" /"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15
The Milkmaid's Song.

In Tennyson's new drama, "Queen
Mary" we find the following little song;
NInKMAID (singing withouD.
Shame upon you, Robin,
Shame upon you now!
Kiss me would you2 with my hands
Milking the COW?
Daisies grow again,
Kingcups blow again,
And YOU came and kiss'd me milking the COW.
Robin came behind me,
Kiss'd me we'll / vow;
Cuff him could 1 with my hands
Milking the COW?
Swallows fly again,
Cuckoos cry again,
And you came and kissd d me milking tho COW.
Come, Robin, Robin,
Come and kiss me now
Help it can 1? with my hands
Milking the COW?
Ringdoves coo again,
All things WOO again,
Come behind and kiss me milking the COW.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15

The MISSISSIPPI RIvER.-Captain Eads
reports that provisional works 1000 feet
long have already been constructed in
the south pass of the Mississippi on the
line of the ietty and are being pushed
seaward at the rate of two hundred feet
per day. Two hundred mechanics and
laborers and four pile-driving machines
are at work, and a large quantity of stone
with other material is ready at hand.
Additional machinery aud accommoda-
tions are being prepared, and in short
time the working force will be largely in
creased.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15

HER MoNEY.-An old lady in New
York particularly desired that a certain
cushion on which she sat in church
should be buried with her, and as there
was difficulty about getting it into her
coffin it was luckily proposed to cut it,
when several thousand dollars in green
backs came to light. The old lady was
clearly resolved that, if she did bring
nothing into the world, she would at all
events, as far rs possible, take something
cut Of it.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15

A Hundred Years Ago.

Where, where are all the birds that sang
A hundred years ago?
The flowers that all in beauty sprang
A hundred years ago2
The lips that smiled,
The eyes that wild
In flashes shone
Soft eyes upon.
Where o where are lips and eyes,
The maidens smiles, the lovers sighs,
That lived 80 long ago2
Who peopled all the city streets
A hundred years ago?
Who filled the church with faces meek
A hundred years ago2
The sneering tale
OF sister frail;
The plot that worked
A brothers hurt
Where, o where are plots and sneers,
The poor mans hopes, the rich mans fears
That lived so long ago2
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15

If man has got something to say, it
is proper to let him say it. If he is a
reasonable man he will be satisfied with
the permission to speak, and not expect
you to quit work and listen to him.
The reports from the various departs
ments in the South concerning the cotton
crop are highly satisfactory.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15

A Cleveland woman has cut out all
newspaper accounts on the Beecher
scandal which she could get hold of, and
pasted together they make string
estimated 10 be three miles In length.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1875-07-15

The misery felt by the child who
couldn't go to the picnic is nothing te
that Of the enc who has been TO IT,
The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-20
Trans for the Unwarv.

1t was an error in the city council, when
the street railroad was built, in permitting
the use of the crescent rail-only the tram
rail should have been permitted. THE
ARGUS opposed the crescent rail at the
time, but the council, as is too often the
case, was ready to do anything asked. Of
course that can't be changed now. Blu
our authorities should insist on a strict
compliance with the contract to keep a
space of Z feet wide filled with pounded
rock The trouble is that, inside and close
t. the rail, there are holes or cutters into
which inexperienced drivers get their
wheels and break them. To-day the Rev.
FL. Olsen, of Andover, Henry county,
was driving along in front of Bengston' S
store and run one wheel into one of these
ruts inside the rail and twisted it off.
City people have been caught SO many
times in that way that when they wish to
cross the track they drive as squarely
across as possible. rather than to break
down and have law suit to recover dam
ages. The street car company is clearly
liable to Mr.. Olsen for damages. in this
case. City Marshal Halves, who saw the
accident, Immediately notified Mr.. Me
Masters, one of the directors Of the road
to repair the track, but whether it will be
done or not remains to be seen. If the
company had to pay fine or two they
would soon learn to keep their track in re.
pair. Mr.. Olsen was advised to sue fol
damages.