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 as
large as saucer; it had weights and was
called "the pocket clock" The earliest
known use Of the modern name occurs in
record of 1912, which mentions that
Edward /. had aonne larum or watch Of
iron, this case being likewise of iron guilt,
with two plumetts of lead" 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 equiva-
lent Of 81 500 in our currency, and after
one was ordered, ii took year to make it.
There Is watch in Swiss Museum
only three sixteenths Of an inch in Diane
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. It is a relic Of old times, when
watches were inserted in snuff.boxes, 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

A novel and interesting surgical opera
tion was performed few weeks ago, in
Baltimore, upon the eyes Of a patient who
had been seriously injured three years pre-
viously from the effects of caustic lime,
which had eaten away the thin covering
of the eyeballs and syelids. When the
inflammation subsidized, the eyeballs and
eyelids were found firmly grown together,
thereby rendering him totally blind
Heretofore the operation ofcutting through
the adhesions ayailed nothing, as the raw
parts could not be prevented from again
growing together. To overcome this ten
dency, the physician who performed tke
operation adopted the novel method Of
facing the raw under surface Of the lid By
taking the smooth, delicate lining Of a
white rabbits eye, which resembles very
closely that Of the human subject This
delicate skin was transferred Immediately
from the rabbits eye to the raw surface Of
the lid of the patient, and was very
carefully sewed into its new position.
The rabbits membrane will attach itself
by growth to the inner surface Of the eye
lid, and prevent any further sticking Of
the eye and lids together.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

AN AGaRIEvED FIsHERMAS.-A ne
gro fisherman caught jew fish weighing
l40 pounds, recently, and securing the
game with heavy line SO that 1t could
enjoy the native element, he sought pur-
chaser The gentlemen saw the fish and
offered what they deemed 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
ly, IL blieve you knowed dat shark wos
dere oil de time. p Galveston, Teras, Neics.
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
box Of relics, and thought no more of
the matter until a week or two ago, when
he was overhauling the pile, and discover
ed the ball. Taking it to machine shop,
ho 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 cannon ball, with the exception
that it is heavier than iron.
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 1905, at which time the roof re-
eeived 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 good roof for an old one. It
does not leak, and the only repairs on it
have consisted Of shingle added here and
there where portion Of poor shinglc
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 bsen 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.
1t is quite as important that the under
side of every shiDgle 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 eak-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 smear
a roof with this material once in four OF
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 is
used for painting shingles, it is always
better to employ some light color rather
than black, as the apartments Of the attic
story, beneath a black roof, are liable to
be uncomfortably hot in the summer; and
more than this, as black paint absorbs
more heat than any other color, neither
the paint nor the shingles will endure as
long as if the roof had been covered with
light-colored paint. A metallic roof COW
cred with light cOlored paint viii last much
longer than if it had been painted with a
black paint. The most economical paint
for roof is generous coat of coal-tar
once in few years; but cOal.tar will color
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
Grasshoppers by Nail.

The Chicago Tribune says I'VE notice
that some Of our exchanges are becoming
seriously alarmed at the transportation Of
grasshopper in the mails, and one of them
mentions an instance in which box CON
tanning grasshoppers had its glass cover
broken IN post-ofice, 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
grnsshopper sendes 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

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 clean
field for sl6O, giving his note for the sum,
endorsed by his intended father-in-laS.
A wedding was next in order, and then
that shrewed Benedict resisted paymer Yof
his note on the ground Of there having
been mo value received"
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 a
good lesson. Their controversy upon the
real merit Of works and 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 aFaith" on the
other They smiled at his whim, but
they found out what he meant, when, iu
the middle Of the stream, he dropped
Works" and pulled only at aFaith, go
ing round and round, getting on never
rod. Then, taking aWorks" alone, he
had no better success. Finally, with
"Faith" in one hand, and works" in the
other, he shot across 10 the shore.
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,
tofere, to carry up case to higher
court, which came to be known as the
writ of tOa, which was pronounced tote.
Il was applied particularly to cases Gear
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, lot us not
ridieule tote as mere Maryland and Del.
aware proviucialisms
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07
Odds and O5nds.
An Early View of Phrsnology.

ln looking over the number Of the Neic-
gate Calendar in which Thurtell's hanging
is recorded, the following curious aIIusion
to phrsnOlogy, 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 demoralizipg doctrine
called phrenOlogy. The following anec-
dOte will show what use these decipherers
Of the marks on the heads Of Others make
Of the contents Of their own. Some time
ago gentleman found large turnip in
his field Of the shape of a mans head and
with the resemblance Of the features Of a
man. Struck with the curiosity he had
a cast made Of 1t, and sent the east to
society Of phrenologists, stating that it 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, III 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 psrssyer-
ance, with another which indicated Gre
dulity. The opinion was transmitted to
the owner Of the cast, with letter request
ing, as 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 de day before pith their mutton.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

TRIAL by JURr,-Is trial by jury d
iAilureY Il has long been the impression
Of some thoughtful observers and writer's
in this country and in England, that q
modification Of the ancient law is desirable.
In most civil eases, a jury trial Is Iess
likely to secure even Justice, than sub
mission 10 the experienced and balanced
Judicial mind The most important issue
in respect Of property that can arise ii our
courts, is tried before a single judge with.
out jury-and within week our Sumo
gate has rendered an elaborate opinion il
a1will case involving millions Of dollass,
and with such thoroughueu and cisoum-
spection tha. bis decision upon questions
Of fact h accepted without murmur
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 me-
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 it 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 6g, the pome-
granate, the plum, all varieties of berries,
the olive, the banana, aud 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-
riate in Southern Florida. We have
within our boundaries 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.card King IN
Scyibaer's.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

General Schenck, U. s. Minister 10
England, has been using an old American
anecdots to good advantage. To the wife
Of a British cabinet officer, who assured
him that England made America all that
she Is" hs 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 yOufp He replied, @why
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
Our @lio.
How India shawls are made.

The camel's hair is used for artists PEN
ellis, for coarse clothing, and for tent COW
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 climes, rapidly deterio-
rates, the wool starting later in the season,
aud losing in quality and 6neness. The
goats Of Thibet and Cashmere have the
fine curled wool close to the skin, just as
our common goats have a 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 a 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. To
this end the spinner uses for spindle
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-
broidering 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-
siye. To accomplish it number of skew
ers are used, sometimes of wood, but for
the best work always Of ivory, about the
size of a common packing needle. They
are sharpened at both ends, and each
skewer is covered with a different colored
thread; these are then worked according
to set pattern, stitch by stitch, into the
web rs 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 a really fine shawl on the spot
where it 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 move 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
Selert puetrp.
Complaint of the whip-poor.will.

complaint OF the Whp-foor-W1l.
When other birds sit hushed and still
Upon their nests with folded wing.
All night the wandering whip-poor.will
Her melancholy solo sings.
Why whip poor wni9
Is he untrue7
Won't he fulfill
His VOWS to your
Why wake us with thy pensive strain
When summer woes the flowers to bloom
A garden seems the grove and plain
The air is laden with perfume.
Why whip poor VIII
When flowers are here,
And odors MI
The atmosphere
Why fiii with song from grove to grove,
Thy lamp the glowwonm's gentle lightf
Art thou spirit doomed 10 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, TO share
Another maiden's love instead?
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,
oh apar,t fr..a M husband haar
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 a
letther there for me ?"
"Who are you, my good sir ?"
I'm meeself, that's who am"
"Well, what is your name?'
And what do ye want wild the name
Isn't it on the letther p
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"
"ls there no way to get in there but
through this pane of glass"
"No, sir"
It's well for ye there isn'tl I'd tache
ye not to insist on a gentleman's name |
But ye didn't git it afther all, SO | am
even wild ye sorra a bit is me name
Byrne."
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

Mr.. Blivens, an old bachelor Of Roches.
ter, who is much absorbed in politics, Wis
tied the widow Graham the other day,
just after reading Grants letter, and asked
her what she thought Of third term,
Now the widow had been twice married,
and in response to the question she made
rush for the astonished Mr.. Blivens,
and taking him tightly in her arms, ex-
claimed 20, you dear, dear man What
a happy woman ! am !" At last account.
Mr.. Bliyens had locked himself in hi.
wodd house, and was endeasoring to ex
pls things % The widow through the key
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. Chat6eld, 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 "con.
fscated" couple of geese; at the sugges-
tion Of an ingenious fellow and natural
"bummer," 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
"Colonel, said the startled musician, ~
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 q couple Of geese in here" The
Colonel Strengthened up and gravely said,
"Well, 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

I" 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 do occasion of de FIRE ?"
"Combustshun."
:" And what's combustshun p
my friend replied the other, crossing
his legs, "dar's heaps of things in this
world that no nigger ever knowed or ever
will know, an Wen change de subject"
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 asef 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

Lsmon,juice has been recommended in
a paper presented to the French Academy
of Medicine as most eiiicacious remedy
for diptheria. Lemon,juice 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 snd hacked and made many
incisions, when, getting out Of patience,
the count asked why they cut him up 50
much. ave are seeking" said the sur
geon, 'for the ball." "why didn't you
mention that beforef l have the bali in
my pocket"
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

CoNTRABAND CoMPLIMENTs.-"Miss
Snowdrop," said gentleman of color the
other afternoon during shower, to lady
of his acquaintance, "as de wedder is
somewhat amphibious, win you do me de
honor to step under my umbreller an
form quorum 2"
"Tank you, Mister Billips, will. In
dis wedder an umbrcller is RAIDER cosmo-
politan."
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07
| certain roune rsntlema,

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

A Maine girl Iefl her clothing in an
open boat and hid herself, and when her
pareuss were crying and saying Il they only
hsd her back they would obey her slightest
oh, she appeared and said she wanted to
marry George.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

The groves Of rose-trees and the flower
farms of Morocco are said by recent
traveller to exceed in extent and value those
Of Damascus, or even Of the valley Of
Mexico.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

Men rather trust TO their eyes than their
ears; the effect Of precepts is, therefore,
slow and tedious, whilst that Of examples
is summary and efectual.
The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-08-07

When all is summed up, man never
speaks Of himself without loss; his accusa-
sions Of himself are. always believed, his
praises Aontaiigus.