davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07
Antiquity of the Watch.

"Watch" Is from Saxon word signify
ing 'to wake. At first the watch was rs
large as saucer; it had weights and was
called "the pocket clock" The earliest
known use Of the modern name occurs in
a record Of 1912, which mentions that
Edward l. had tonne larum or watch Of
iron, this case being likewise of iron guilt,
with two plumetts of lsad.' The first
great improvement, the substitution Of a
spring for weight, was about 1850. The
earliest spring was not coiled, but only
straight pieces Of steel. Early watches
had only one hand, and required winding
twice day, The dials were of silver or
brass; the cases had no crystals, but opened
at back, and were four or Eve inches in
diameter. A plain watch cost the cquiva-
lent of 81, 500 in our currency, aud after
ono was ordered, ID took year to make it,
There is a watch in Swiss Museum
only three sixteenths Of an inch in dame
ter, inserted in the top Of a pencil case,
Its hands indicate not only hours, minutes
and seconds, but also the days Of the
month. 1t is relic of old times, when
watches were inserted in snua-boxss, shirt
studs, breastpins, bracelets and finger rings.
Many were fantastic, oval, octangular,
cruciform, or in the shape Of pears,
melons, tulips or collins.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07
Alligator Leather.

Twenty years ago the secret Of tanning
the alligator hide was revealed to partner
of a Boston boot and shoe house by an old
Canadian. The business of collecting and
tanning the skins was at once commenced,
and now from 1000 to 10000 are tanned
yearly, which are consumed BY boot and
shoe manufacturers 10 every portion of the
United States, as well as exported to Lon
don and Hamburg. In the foreign trade,
however, the French are formidable rivals,
owing to theirsuperiOr methods Of tanning,
in which, as nation, they beat the world.
The alligatou formerly came almost entire
ly from Louisiana, and New Orleans was
the great centre Of the business. Owing
to their indiScriminate and injudicious
slaughter, however, the animals became
thinned out, and but little business in that
line is now done in the Crescent City.
The Florida Swamps and morasses are now
the harvest fields, and Jacksonville, in
that State, is the great depot. The
animals are killed in great number
by the passengers Of river steamboats,,
though there are hunters who make reg
ular business of their capture. The ALI
gators often attain length Of eighteen tc
twenty feet, and frequently live to fierce
old age. The hides are stripped of, and
the belly and sides, the only portions 81
for use, are packed in barrels, in strong
brine, and shipped to the Northern tanner
who keeps them under treatment for frou
six to eight months, when they are ready
TO be cut up. So far the leather has beer
mainly used in the manufacture Of boot
and shoes, for which it is especially adap
ted; and, by reason Of the pleasing varie
cation Of its surface, makes a most excellent
and becoming protection for the masculine
and, indeed, the feminine foot, for il 4
beginning to be employed in the manufac
ture Of ladies' boots. Handsome slipper
are also made both of the BACKED and un
BACKED skin, as well as shopping-bags
porte-monnaies, cigar cases, and small
leather goods Of all kinds; though owing
to the unfavorable state of trade these
latter have been extensively introduced
outside Of this city.-Bostoa Bulletin.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

HUMBUo.-Mr. F. Crossley suggests as
the origin Of the word humbug the Irish
uim-bog, pronounced aum-bug," literally
asoft copper" or WORTHLESS money. James
III. issued from Dublin mint mixture Of
lead, copper and brass 50 worthless that
sovereign was intrinsically worth only two
pence, and might have been bought after
the revolution for halfpenny. Strling
and umJag were therefore expressions Of
real and fictitious worth--merit and hum
bug. Churchill uses tho word in 1850.
Crossley's suggestion is very ingenious,
but probably the mystery lies nearer the
surface. To .'hum" used to signify to
applaud, to express admiration hence, to
flatter, to cajole for an end. The noun
signifed sugared words, worthless rumors.
In reports Of State trials we find the en-.
preston, Gentlemen, this humIning (ex-
preston ofapplause) is not at all becoming
the gravity Of the court =
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07
Grasshoppers by Mail.

The Chicago Tribune says We notice
that some of our exchanges are becoming
seriously alarmed ut the transportation Of
grasshoppers in the mails, and one Of them
mentions an instance in which box con-
tanning grasshoppers had its glass cover
broken in pOst-Ofhce, and that several
Of the active occupants escaped, notwith-
standing the efforts Of the clerks to cap
ture them. Hence, argue the exchanges,
the mails are being used for the diffusion
Of the grasshopper pest, and every mail
bag is box of Pandora, filed with evils
innumerable, which are being scattered all
over the country. There arc two ways in
which this possible calamity may be averted.
Either Congress should raise the price Of
postage on grasshoppers to rate which
would exclude them from the mails, or the
grasshOpper senders should kill their birds
before mailing them. We have received
some in this condition, carefully pressed,
and they are quite as interesting as if they
were alive and perfectly harmless.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07
Preserving Shingles.

The house in which the writer was born,
was covered with shaved pine shingles in
the year 1906, at which time the roof re-
ceived a generous coat of oil paint made
Of linseed oil and Venetian red. After
twenty years had elapsed another coat Of
paint, nearly black, was applied. Since
that period no paint has been applied, and
it is now a good roof for an old one. 1t
does not leak, and the only repairs on it
have consisted Of shingle added here and
there where 4 portion of a poor shingle
was worn out. If the roof had not been
painted, the butts Of most of the courses
would have been worn entirely away; and
If such long periods had not been allowed
to intervene between the times Of paint
ing, the roof would have been a good one,
even after the lapse Of 100 years, The
true way TO paint roof is to apply paint
Of some kind to both sides of the shingles.
II is quite as important that the under
side Of every single be covered with paint
as the surface, to prevent the water from
being drawn up between the courses by
capillary attraction. If good shingles are
painted on both sides, and good paint be
applied to the roof once in 10 years, it
will continue leak-tight for more than a
hundred years. When it is not desirable
to save the water for drinking, coal-tar is
an excellent and cheap paint for preserv'
ing shingles, and it will pay well to smeai
a roof with this material once in four oil
FIVE years. When roofs are not painted
moss is liable to collect at the butts Of
every course Of shingles, which promotes
their decay more rapidly than alternate
rain and sunshine. When oil paint il
used for painting shingles, it is Away
better to employ some light color rather
than black, as the apartments Of the attic
story, beneath black roof, are liable L
be uncomfortably hot in the summer; ant
more than this, as black paint absorbi
more heat than any other color, neither
the paint nor the shingles will endure al
long as if the roof had been covered Will
light-colOred paint. A metallic roof GOV
cred with light colored paint will last mucl
longer than if it had been painted with I
black paint. The most economical pain
for a roof is generous coat Of coal-tal
once in few years; but coal.tar will colol
the water for five years after coat is ap
piled to the roof.-Iadustrial Monthly.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

A man in Dakota, few days ago, was
presented with ball about three inches
in diameter, covered with dust, and having
the appearance of being partly fused on a
portion Of the surface. He threw it into
a box Of relics, and thought no more of
the matter until week or two ago, when
he was overhauling the pile, and discover
ed the ball. Taking it to machine shop,
he thought he would smooth up the ragged
edges little; but, upon putting it upon a
grindstone, he discovered that the ball
was not iron, but material harder than
hardened steel, aud that the stone had but
little effect upon it, and that it would
scratch glass readily. He has come to
the conclusion that il is an aerolite or
meteoric stone, nearly round, and resem-
bling a cannon ball, with the exception
that it is heavier than iron.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

There is an old story Of an oarsman who
taught couple Of belligerent divines q
good lesson. Their controversy upon the
real merit Of works aud faith, as reliable
means Of salvation, was renewed every
time they crossed the river in his boat,
One day they found he had scrawled
@Works" on one oar, and Faith on the
other. They smiled at his within, but
they found out what he meant, when, in
the middle of the stream, he dropped
"Works," and pulled only at 'Faith, 60
ing round and round, getting ON never a
rod. Then, taking aWorks" alone, he
had no better success. Finally, with
Faith in one hand, and work" in the
other, he shot across to the shore.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

The following colloquy actually took
place at an eastern post-ofice:
Pat-"I say, Mr.. Postmaster, is there q
letther there for me p
"Who are you, my good sir 2"
I'm meeself, that's who l am"
"Well, what is your name ?"
And what do ye want wild the name
Isn't it on the letther ?"
al want to find the letter, if there is
one"
"Well, Pat Byrno, thin, if ye must have
it,"
"No sir, there is none for you"
Is there no way to get in there but
through this pane of glass"
"No, sir"
ats well for ye there isn't I'd tache
ye not to insist on a gentleman's name
But ye didn't git it afthsr all, so l am
even wild ye; sorra a bit is me name
Byrne."
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

The word tote Ito carry,) long in vogue
in Southern Delaware and Maryland, and
said to be "a negroism, is of ancient and
honorable origin, from an old legal term,
toftere, to carry up case to a higher
court, which came to be known as the
writ Of tot, which was pronounced tote.
It was applied particularly to cases scar
ried up" from the barous' court, in old
English times, to the county court, and
was as dear to the yeomanry as the COM
mon law itself Therefore, let us not
ridionle tote as a mere Maryland and Del
aware provincialisms
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

An AGGRTEvED FIsHERMAN.-A me-
gro fisherman caught jew fish weighing
lao pounds, recently, and securing the
game with heavy line 50 that it could
enjoy the native element, he sought pur-
chaser. The gentlemen saw the fish and
offered what they deemed a fair price.
The negro wanted more. The bidders re-
fused to come down. Another man, at
tracted by the little crowd that had gath
cred to view the fish, approached the me-
gro and offered him sum in advance Of
the amount rendered by the first bidders.
Still the darkey held out; he wanted his
price or nothing. While the question was
under discussion, large shark twelve feet
long, one of the largest seen in these wa
tiers of late, gently took the jew fish in,
cutting the head from the body as though
it had been done with a sharp knife.
Everybody looked on in amazement, but
the most astonished individual in the
group was the Fisherman, who appear ed
much aggrieved when laugh went around
Turning to the last bidder, he said, grave
", al blieye you knowed dat shark wos
dere all de time - Galreston, 7eras, Necs.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

The particulars Of rather mean trans
action are reported from Minnesota. A
very pretty young lady who had awakened
the tender sentiment in the breast Of two
young men, was Indifferent as to which
should win her, being favorably disposed
toward both. Hard words and blows
failed to settle the point of possession, SO
one Of the men offered the other his chance
for 500. The offer was not taken, 50 the
first party offered to buy for like sum.
This offer was declined, but was advanced
upon until the first young man got a clean
field for s160, giving his note for the sum,
endorsed by his intended father-in-law.
A wedding was next in order, and then
that shrewed Benedict resisted payment Of
his note on the ground Of there having
been mo value received"
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07
Odds and O5nds.
An Early Wow Of Phrsnology.


In looking over the number Of the Nep-
gate Calendar IN which Thurtells hanging
is recorded, the following curious aIlusion
to PhrenOlogy, then . very young science,
is found;
Among those most early and most anx-
ious in their attendance to view the body
were class of people who advocate the
brutal, stupid and demoralizing doctrine
called phrenoloy. The following anec-
dote viii show what use these decipherers
Of the marks on the heads Of others make
Of the contents Of their own. Some time
ago a gentleman found large turnip in
his field Of the shape Of mans head, and
with the resemblance Of the features Of a
man. Struck with the curiosity he had
a cast made of it, and sent the cast to
society Of phrenologists, stating that il was
taken from the head Of Baron Turenpourtz,
a celebrated Polish professor, and request
ing their opinions thereon. After sitting
in judgment they scientifically examined
the cast, in which they declared they had
discovered an unusual prominence which
denoted that he was man Of acute mind
and deep research, that he had the organ
Of quick perception and also Of perseyer-
ance, with another which indicated ere
dulity. The opinion was transmitted to
the owner Of the cast, with letter request
ing, as a particular favor, that he would
send them the head. To this he politely
replied that he would willingly do 50, but
was prevented, as he and his family had
eaten Il he day before soih their mutton.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07
Our @liu.
How India shawls are made.

The camel's hair is used for artists pen
ellis, for coarse clothing, and for tent Gov
ers, but is altogether too harsh for ladies
wear. The best India shawls are made in
the Valley of Cashmere from the soft fine
wool Of the large goat which is native
Of the Himalaya Mountains and the high.
lands of Thibet. The same animal, when
fed in the valley or transferred to the
mountains of other chimes, rapidly deterio-
rates, the wool starting later in the season
aud losing in quality and fneness. The
goats of Thibet and Cashmere have the
fine curled wool close to the skin, just as
our common goats have softer wool
below the coarse upper hair. They are
shorn in the spring, all the hard and long
hairs are carefully picked out, the wool is
washed in solution Of potash, and after.
ward in cold pure water, care being taken
not to felt the fbres together The thread
is then spun by hand, all hard and wiry
twistings Of the fibres being avoided. TIC
this end the spinner uses for spindle a
ball Of clay with an iron wire attached,
and keeps the finger and thumb smooth
with steatite (soapstone) powder The
wool is twice dyed-once before carding
and after spinning-and often again
touched in the shawl itself There are
two very different methods of working the
pattern in an India shawl-one by en-
bordering it in kind of needlework upon
the material, and the other by working It
into the web during the process Of weaving,
The latter is much more elegant and expen-
sive. To accomplish it number Of skew
ers are used, sometimes of wood, but for
the best work always Of ivory, about the
size of common packing needle. They
are sharpened at both ends, and each
skewer is covered with different colored
thread; these are then worked according
to set pattern, stitch by stitch, into the
web as the weaving proceeds. As the
process is very slow, no one person ever
produces an entire shawl the pattern being
given out to the natives in patches or
blocks, whish are then by similar meth
cd united in the common fabric. Of
course but one surface Of the product is
presentable, the uuderside being tumble
of ends Of threads without order or beauty.
The cost Of really fine shawl on the spot
where 1t is made, ranges from two hun.
dred and fifty to FIVE hundred dollars, and
some which arc wrought for native princes
are altogether too costly for export, being
worth several thousand dollars. The best
square shawls imported in this country
will outwear an ordinary lifetime, and,
like diamonds, they are not easily injured
by common use. They are readily resold,
after years Of wear, at moderate discount
from their original cost. The best long
shawls are still more expensive, but are
not as much used, being almost too heavy
and warm for ordinary wear.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07
Select aoetrp.
Complaint of the whip-poor.wnl.

Complaint of the Whip oor.will.
When other birds sit hushed and still
Upon their nests with folded wings,
All night the wandering whip-poor-will
Her melancholy solo sings.
Why whip poor VIM
Is he untrueH
Won't he fulfill
His VOWS TO your
Why wake US with thy penslye strain
When summer woes the flowers TO bloom
garden seems the grove and plain,
The air Is laden with perfume
Why whip poor WIN
When flowers are here,
And odors MI
The atmospheric
Why fit with song from grove to grove.
Thy lamp the glowworms gentle llghtf
Art thou spirit doomed TO rove
The realm Of shadows through the night,
And from thy bill,
To pour the strain,
ofwhip poor VIII,
Ger hill and plain7
Did he betray maiden fair
With many promises to wed.
And then desert her love, 10 share
Another maiden's love instead7
Ifher poor heart
Is bleeding still.
Then let him smart
whip. whip poor VIII
Proclaim thy sorrows far and near,
And wake false lovers from their rest.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

During the early part of the late war,
in the year 1861, shortly after our army
moved from Washington out beyond AR.
lington, General Levi s. Chatfeld, of New
York, went over to visit some Ohio regi-
ments, when the following incident of the
movement was related to him: As they
went along on their way over, some of the
soldiers stepped out Of the ranks and icon.
fiscated' couple of geese; at the sugges-
tion Of an ingenious fellow and natural
drummer" one of the drummers unheaded
his instrument and put the captured birds
in. Shortly afterward the Colonel came
along and noticing that the boy shirked
his usual drum whacks, rode up to him
AMI said, "Why don't you beat the drum p
"ColOuel," said the startled musician, 81
want to speak to you" The Colonel drew
still closer to him, and bending down his
head said, "Well, what have you to say ?"
The drummer whispered, "Colonel, I've
got a couple Of geese in here" The
Colonel Strengthened up and gravely said,
swell, if you're sick and can't play, you
needn't" and then rode on. 1t is need
less to add that the Colonel had roast
goose that night.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07
Fruit Culture in Florida

Very little capital is needed for the start
ing of grove, and the rewards of sue
cessful one are great. Oranges sell at
from s25 to s6S per thousand in Jackson
vile, and are readily transportable to any
of the Atlantic seaports. When the ne
cessary dredging and building of canals
has been accomplished, SO that the Indian
river may have an outlet via the St. Johns,
the North will be supplied with oranges
Of more delicate texture than any il has
yet seen; and the number of groves along
the river will be legion.
The fitness of Florida for the growth Of
tropical and semi-tropical fruits is aston
ishing. Not only do the orange, the lem
on, the lime and the citron, flourish there,
but the peach. the grape, the fig, the pome-
granate, the plum, all varieties of berries,
the olive, the banana, and the pineapple,
grow luxuriantly. Black Hamburg and
white Muscat grapes fruit finely in the
open air; the Concord and the Scuper-
nong are grown in vast quantities. The
guava, the tamarind, the wonderful alliga-
tor-pear, the plantain, the cocoanut and
the date, the almond and the pecan, luxu-
rate in Southern Florida. We have
within our boundaries a tropic land, rich
and strange, which will in future years be
inhabited all winter long by thousands Of
families, and where beautiful towns, and
cities, will spring up.-Ed,oard King in
.Scribaer's
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

General Schenck, U. s. Minister "a
England, has been using an old American
anecdots to good advantage. To the wife
of British cabinet officer, who assured
him that England made America all that
she IS" he said; @Pardon, madam, you
remind me Of an answer Of the Ohio lad in
his teens, who attending Sunday school for
the first time, was asked by his teacher,
who made your" He replied, awhy
God made me about so long (holding his
hands about ten inches apart) but grow
ed the rest"
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

What's do occasion of dat big smoke
over dar?' inquired one colored man Of
another at the market yesterday.
Fire, sab" was the answer.
"And what's de occasion of de Ere ?"
"Combustshun.n
And what's combustshun ?"
"My friend, replied the other, crossing
his legs, "dar's heaps of things in this
world that no niger ever knowed or ever
will know, an wen change de subject"
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

LsmOu;juice has been recommended in
paper presented to the French Academy
Of Medicine as most eiIicacious remedy
for diptheria. Lemonjuice certainly has
this advantage over most medicines, il Is
pleasant, simple, and safe.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

The Count de Grasse was once wounded
In the knee with musket-ball. The
doctors cut and hacked and made many
incisions, when, getting out Of patience,
the count asked why they cut him up 50
much. eve are seeking said the sur
geon, "for the ball. @why didn't you
mention that before2 l have the bali in
my pocket"
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

A certain young gentleman of Evans.
ton, Indiana, recently accompanied a
young lady to a train to see her safely
started on her journey. He carried her
railroad ticket in his pocket for safety, and
found Il there, when he reached home,
some hours after the train left.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

Concerning "hollering' in meeting,
Aunt Judy, an old colored woman, said to
one Of her sisters -" 'Tant de true grace,
honey; 'Tant de sure glory. You hollers
too loud. When you gifts de dove in your
heart and dc lamb in your bosom, you'll
feel assf you was in dat stable in Beth lem,
and de blessed Virgin had lent you de
sleepin' baby to hold"
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

CoNTRABASD CONFERENCE.-The
SnOwdrop," said gentleman of color the
other afternoon during a shower, to lady
of his acquaintance, "as dc wedder is
somewhat amphibious, win you do me de
honor to step under my umbreller an
form quorum II"
Tank you, Mister Billips, l will. In
dis wedder an umbrcller is RAIDER cosmo-
politan."
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

A Maist girl leit her clothing in an
open belt and hid herself, and when her
pass1ts wers crying and saying II they only
va her back they would obey her slightest
isish, she appeared and said she wanted to
marry George.