davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1875-01-20

OUR RAILROAD BUILDING In the whole
country in 1873, Notwithstanding the panic
there were built $500 miles of railroad, while
in 1874 but l,S25 miles were constructed, the
longest and most important being that OF the
Chicago division of the Baltimore aud Ohio
railroad, two hundred miles Of which were
completed during the year
Smyrna times., 1875-01-20
Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad
Delaware Division.
FALL ARRANGEMENTS.
MONDAY. Sept. sth. 1874.
NORTlIWARD.
IA aAu4.r AuN Oh

tSundays excepted) Trains will leave
a foIIo,ys.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
A Man and his Baby.

In the first place, he was homely, good-natured looking body, dressed in common clothes, and having the appear ance of one who did rough work for 8 living but such heart as he had, such unlimited patience and ingenuity and jollityl He was travelling in the cars with his wife and three small children, the youngest baby, cross, homely, and with perversity which made one be- ieve in total depravity, bound not to be amused or good-natured whatever was done for him, but the father did his best, and his best was worthy of beholding :; he dived into one pocket and out of it into another he brought forth strings, knives, nails; he made a rabbit of his pocket hankerchief he made his already homely face homelier still by the most comical contortions of nose, mouth and eyes; he put his hat on the back side of his head, he pulled it over his eyes; he played peek-a-boo behind the corner of baby's cloak and at last he plucked 8 feather from some unknown place and blew himself black in the face in order to keep it floating in the airf for the bene- fit of that remarkable baby. The last I saw and heard of him he was trying to sing that child to sleep with the words, jig, jig, joy, jig, jig, joy, repeated over and over, accompanying each word with 8 swaying motion of the body.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
Thirty Years Ago.

The English seamen and marines of thirty years ago, says ETozer's Mogo- zine, came quite up to the descriptions in Marryatt's novels. Few could read or write; man able to do so then was soon known to every one as "noble scholar-can read and write beautiful, sir" Chow often we have heard the eulogy ), and the "noble scholar " in question read and answered She letters of the whole mess, and perhaps the one next his own. and was very often a rather dissipated character, finding himself often in trouble. A portion of the men then were the most lovable, the grand est, finest, biggest, most warm hearted grown-up children that could be found in the world. One third perhaps of every ships company were of this class, another third were of 8 negative order, and the remaining third were simply worthless. With the first set you could do almost anything. You might scourge them when they behaved badly, it did them no more moral harm than 8 whipping does 8 child; their feelings could be worked on until the would cry, yet their courage and endurance were without limit. Sea dogs they were; se- verely treated, they loved the hand that so treated them. They feared nothing, literally nothing; fear was word they did not know. One who would lead them they would follow to the death. When out of 8 ship and under no restraint, they were quite helpless, spending what money they had and getting afoat again the first opportunity.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
What the GrasshOppers Did.

The commissioner of statistics of Minnesota gives the following figures of damage done by the pests in that State this season. He says the estimates of amount of loss in bushels were made by the respective farmers themselves, and in many cases no doubt exceed the loss actually caused by grasshoppers. The wheat crop in most of these countries suffered greatly from the effect of heat in July, when the grain was heading out, from rust and also from hail. The grand totals given by the tables are as follows :: Acres wheat damaged or destroyed, 24O, O,417; bushels wheat lost on same, 2,646, ,8O2; acres oats damaged or de- stroyed, 52, ,125; bushels oats lost on same, l, 1,816, 733 acres corn damaged or destroyed, 34,139; bushels corn lost on same, 738, 145.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
The First Finger Ring.

An amusing myth is, in Frazer's Magozine, told of the origin of the finger ring. When love released Pro- metheus from the bonds by which he had been confined he condemned him, as sort of penance-perhaps somewhat after the fashion of modern ticket-of leave-to wear upon his finger as ring a link of the iron chain that had bound him to the Caucasian rock, in which was set fragment of that rock itself. In that way, so the fable goes, the custom of the finger ring originated. There is every reason to believe that this use of the engraved stone began with the Greeks, and from them was copied by their servile imitators, the Romans. It is every way convenient and a natural one, and our grandfathers' custom of wearing their seals at the fob, as it was called, or hanging from the side pocket, was recurrence to old Assyrian usages, which did not long hold it's ground.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
Notable Inventions.

The first mention in history of the use of steam as 8 motive power is as follows: Hero, mechanic of Alexandria, Egypt, about fifty years anterior to the birth of Christ, invented machine in which 8 motion of continued rotation was i'm parted to an axis by the reaction of steam issuing from lateral orifces in arms placed at right angles to the revolving axis. This, we believe, was the first machine that was ever put in motion by steam. The first actual model of steam carriage of which we have written ac- count, was constructed by Frenchman named Cugnot, who exhibited it before the Marquis de Saxe in 1763. The first passenger steam car was put upon the Stockton and Darlington railroad, Eng land, September 27, 1925. Professor Morse patented his invention of the tele- graph in 1887, but the first line in oper- ation, from Washington to Baltimore, was not completed until 1844.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
The Male Gossip.

A Cape May correspondent writes There are men gossips -mostabominable of all-who hang around the hotel doors or stroll the piazzas; but they generally hang (would that they could be hanged). They have marvellous insinuations to throw out, dreadful charges to make, and many a woman's fair fame hangs upon their smoky breath. Your model masculine gossip is tall and scrawny, with small, watery, blue eyes. At times they assume greenish cast, when the fever is at it's height with him and he has found new victim. He steals along the corridors with cat-like tread and his eyes roll to and fro, but you cannot hold his gaze. The sneaky eye drops when it meets an honest look. He isn't thinker ; nothing excites him. His head is ever clear, and his temperament, like his soul, is hard and cold. He will get the best of you in bargain. The greed for gain is his ruling passion next to gossip 1; but his clutch is tight on dol lar, and his wife has to beg hard for her meager pittance.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
An Inkling of Chemistry.

A lady who can talk poetry, fine arts, and moral philosophy till the stars drop, had the misfortune yesterday afternoon to spill some ink on her white dress. It left an ugly spot, and she flew to chem istry for relief. First she set the drip ping inkstand on marble-top table, and the ink left it's mark there of course i; then she flew for towel, and bathing it in tartaric acid, proceeded to rub out the stain on her dress. She placed the towel over the table, whereupon the acid shook hands with the lime in the marble and ruined it's polished surface.
 Then the towel fell on the handsome Brussels carpet, and away with the beautiful colors in that. At last report the original ink spot was master of the situation, and held it's own on the dress.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
SALISBURY, CONN, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER "A,

with him, and it was agreed that he shouldn't have "the cholera unless he broke through his resolution @ ..'s About year after that, in the dead of a severe winter, the superintendent was coming through Crosby street into Bleecker, and he met Johnny Maas. The fellow was dressed in thiI bombazine coat. He was collarless, and his feet were out, and he looked hungry, pinched and wretched. a+N .s-., .a ..s
 |" I'm glad you've kept your word, Johnny. But it's going pretty hard with you, suppose, to be honest9"
 "Awful hard, sir," said Johnny i; G but I told her I would, and did,"
 "That's right. Don't you go back of your word. Stick it out. You'll have better times by -and-bye." -..
 "Do you see that bank over there 2" said tha young man, pointing to the marble building in Bleecker street., "Well, there aint money enough in that place to make me go back. I'd rather go cold and hungry and not be hunted so would 't-ssgs-' ''.'
 The next summer one of the hotel pro- prietors at Long Branch sent up to the superintendent for man to keep an eye on the thieves that hang around water ing-place. ''I can get yod man," said the superintendent, thinking of Johnny, but I'm bound to tell you he's been 8 thief" r.,... -...... .e,... ...... ,,....
 ".Then I don't want him."
 Then the superintendent told the story I have told, only he told it better.
 Send him down." said the landlord. A chap that1l do that ought to be helped" . -.,.. G...Ey.l ;. It was $25 a week to Johnny, and it made man of him.
 During that season there wasn't 8 robbery committed at the Branch. Johnny stationed himself at the railroad depot, and when he saw former pal he warned him off. s'It's no use," he would say, |" don't want to pipe none O you boys, and I ain't goin'' to do it if you stay away. If you come here it'll be awful rough on both of .us." ..4
 And to their credit it ought to be said that they always went back. -..
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
Anecdote of Sir Wm. Sidney Smith.

I once heard an anecdote of this dis tinguished British naval officer which is worth repeating. ........
 When in his eleventh year-a year be- fore he entered the navy as midshipman our hero formed strong attachment for girl cousin of about his own age, who was stopping at the old hall in Sus- sex, and the gallantry which distinguish ed him in after years was not wanting even at that early age. Among the many accessories to the beauty of the place was broad, deep lakelet of clear, shim- mering water, which particularly at tracted the attention of the embryo ad- miral, and from the margin of which the anxious entreaties of his parents could not restrain him.
 It was the custom of the paternal Smith, every evening, to summon his household to prayer, and the members thereof were called together in the primi- tive fashion of the sounding of the horn. One summer evening the horn was sound ed in the usual manner, but in answer to repeated blasts, no William Sidney nor Mary Anne appeared. The father be- came alarmed, and caused the horn to be sounded louder and louder, but without avail.
 The young absentee heard the horn plainly enough, but he did not obey the summons, because he could not In short, he was in situation extremely nautical, and if it was pleasurable to him, it certainly was not to those who finally gathered around to behold.
 The boy had launched large wash tub upon the lake, and having embark ed with his fair cousin, he had, by means of long pole, set himself well out from the shore. Whether he paid more at tention to his lovely companion than to the navigation of his frail bark, or not, we cannot say, but. from some cause of inattention he had lost his pole, and when the household reached the shore they beheld the tub in the center of the deep lake, with not breath of air to move it landward, it's only motion being a revolving one. The future hero of many battles stood with his arms folded, while his more timorous companion crouched low down, wailing with terror.
 The situation was truly perilous, for @ very slight motion would have been suf- ficient to overturn the tub, and those on shore were totally at loss how to bring the frail craft, with it's precious burden, to land Not one of them could swim. Night was drawing on apace, and the situation was becoming every moment more critical and dangerous.
 At length, however, he who had created the difficulty proceeded to overcome it. When he had sufficiently enjoyed the glory of the situation he hailed those on the shore, and directed them to give one end of the string of his kite to his favor ite dog. This having been done, he called the dog to the tub, and thus gain ed tow-line, by means of which his first command was safely lowed to the shore, where the relieved parents quick ly snatohed the rescued pair from the stranded bark. The father was so deep- ly affected that he could not speak. Not so, however, William Sidney.
 t'Now, father," said the yonng hero, "I guess we'll go to prayers
 They did go to prayers. and it may well be imagined that snshep the Sysae oR sincere
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
Cant. Kidd's Treasure.

A few months ago member of the that association very interesting paper assertion that Kidd, the pirate, ever buried any of his treasure on this conti- nent. There are in the possession of of the fact that Kidd did bury treasure on this very island, that the treasure be- came treasure -trove, and that the colo nial govel nment became possessed of the same through John Gardiner, son of the first David of that name, in the year 1899, only year or two before Kidd's execution. Some time in that year Kidd landed on the island and buried chest containing gems, gold, silver, and fine cloths valued ct many thousand pounds sterling. l-- -a 's-.}.s as..
 He came to Lord Gardiner and ad- vised him of the fact. As soon as Kidd's feet was out of sight the proprietor manned small sloop and sent trusty messenger to the seat of the colonial government with the request that 8 commission might be sent to investigate. The commissioners came and in the swamp on the northwestern corner of the island they found the chest. It was opened and an inventory taken. The contents were, among other articles of value, 783 ounces of gold, $50 ounces of silver, number of diamonds, rubies, pearls, and other gems, cloth of gold, silk, and satin. The original Earl Bel lamont's inventory is here, properly sig Aed, attested, and indorsed, and I have no doubt that among the records kept at Boston will be found duly cer- tifed entry of the "fnd." One dia- mond which dropped from the package was found after the departure of the commissioners and is now in the posses sion of the family of Gardiner Green,
 of Boston, and little square piece of cloth of gold, part of that which once served as the cove1let to baby's era dle, is preserved by Mrs. Gardiner, of Gardiner's island. Another piece is held by the Kimball family, of Flatlands. At one time during the Revolution a part of the British fleet lay in Gardiner's bay, between the island and Orient point, and the officers frequently came ashore for amusement. The oaken floors of the old mansion bear witness to the fact that one of their recreations- haps on rainy days when they could not hunt deer and turkey-was quoits.
 From the marks on the blanks it is plain that the disks they used were Spanish
 milled dollars. t 5..
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
THE THREE R'S.
What the Boys Learn at School and What They Should Learn-A Reformation Wanted,

What the Boys Learn at School and
 What They Should Lenrn-A R Reformation Wanted. .-
 It is practically true, however it may be denied by school teachers, that with what has been called the progress of education, and the reduction of teaching to science of which there are instruc- tors, and for which there are colleges, there has been a neglect of those ele- mentary branches of knowledge which to the unscientific mind are the founda- tion of all requirements those popular ly known as "the three R's," reading, writing, and arithmetic. Boys will know some Latin, and even some Greek, will be we'll up in Euclid, know some thing of physiology, chemistry, and geology, have even some inkling of con- stitutional law, and international law, and yet be unable to read aloud lead ing article, or @ page from an unfamiliar book, intelligibly, not to say clearly and with good emphasis. They will be equally unable to express themselves in writing so that their meaning will not be mistaken for as to grace or, force of style, we shall not be so presumptuous as to ask for those. They will be unable to go quickly and surely through little arithmetical calculation, or even to keep on exact account of their receipts and expenses. Itis, however, chiefly in the two former respects that the young peo- pie of the day are deficient. The spirit of trade prevades the whole time so much that some ability to "cipher is found in almost every boy who has not the fortune-good, or bad, who shall say 3- to be born with strong tendencies to literature and to art. But in reading and in writing our boys and girls, of whatever grade in school, of whatever position in society, are, as whole, lamentably deficient. How many boys does any reader of this article know who could take it up and at sight read it off aloud as if he understood it, and it 8 way to give his hearers pleasure How many boys who could write in Q plain and handsome hand a clear account of any transaction at which they have been present Very few indeed, if any, we are sure. Now, these accomplishments are of great importance and if they may not be said to be at the very foundation of all sound education, they are at least not inferior in value, for the benefits they confer, the refined pleasure they give, and their efficacy as means of cul- ture. to many of the fancy branches upon which much time, and trouble are ex- pended while these are neglected. For, Dogberry to the contrary notwithstand- ing, reading and writing do not come by nature. 1t was by daily training that the many good readers of the past and of the passing generation were made, and the good handwriting, and the simple, clear expression of the same period came in the same way. We are sure that tho more intelligent and the bettre educated the parents of pupils are themselves, the more wiling wi or . even saoa, as'irous, they simplihed, to have the number of branch es taught reduced, and to have more at tention given to daily and thorough drill in "the three R's.-N. r. ISnees.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
New Sign of d Hard Winter.

"Next winters gwine to be mighty hard one, eff you b'leive me" said 8 Vicksburg steamboat rouster on the ele- vator recently.
 $ Why so 2" reporter asked.
 "Look at de ahS-keeters."
 Well 2"
 "Y'ever see 'em so thick ?"
 [" They are rather numerous"
 And dey don't sing bit"
 |" Maybe they're out of music. The throats of the little warblers out of order. Their little songs melt away in the dis tance, as it were j the sound is refracted, and"
 "Wen, I don't know muffin bout dat boss, but tell you's gwine to be hard winter. When you sec so many skeet- CTS not singing a bit, but jest gettin' down right square to business, you may know dey's layin' in supply of pervi- shuns for hard winter. Oats my sipn."
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
All They Want.

An aged minister of the M. B. church, we are told, died not long ago in Ohio, who, to his dying day, wore no buttons on the back of his coat. because, when young, he was remonstrating with 8 newly converted sister for wearing jewelry, saying that it was needless, and that Christian should be restricted to what was useful. His coat had metal buttons, and the girl at once replied by asking "Of what good are those but tons at the bottom of your waist ?" He saw the point. called for pair of scis- sors, cut off the appendages and re- stricted himself forever after to buttons in front. An apostolic writer also takes exception to broidered hair, pearls, and costly array.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
My Life.

My life is like the summer rose, .. .,. ..t. That opens to the morning sky; f-.s But, ere the shades of evening close,
 Is scattered on the ground--to die. But on the rose's humble bed ,'r-...7 The sweetest dews of night are shed As if she wept such waste to seq:
 But none shall weap tear for me. My life is like the autumn leaf, ....:.s .- That trembles in the moons pale ray; Its hold is frail, it's date is brief,
 Restless, and soon to pass away. Yet, ere that leaf shall fall and fade,
 The parent tree shall mourn it's shade; The winds bewail the leafess tree
 But none shall breathe 8 sigh for me, My life is like the print which feet .r Have left on Tampa's desert strand; Soon as the rising tide shall beat,
 This track shall vanish from the sand, Yet still as grieving to efface r-., r... .:.- All vestige of the human race, .n. On that lone shore loud moans the sea
 But none shall e'er lament for me.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
Mosquitoes.

When mosquitoes become troublesome in the house, whether at night or during the day, take some Persian insect pow der, which may be obtained of any drug gist, and burn it slowly upon 8 fire shovel of live coals so as to make as much smoke as possible. Walk slowly through the rooms and passageways, and the mosquitoes will speedily disappear. This is an 1nfallible remedy. The smell of the powder is peculiar, but not part icularly unpleasant. Those who objec- to it have the option of being bitten in preference.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24

THE ART OF CONVERSATION, First party {opening conversation )-"' Ave you 'eard as Jim Bates father says he'll give i'm the sack?" Second ditto (after pause)-" Whose father 9" First ditto -"Why, Jim Bates P Second ditto (after pause) )-" Jim Bates who?" First ditto" Why, Jim Bates father." Sec ond ditto (after pause)---" Jim Bates father We'll, what does he say ?" First ditto" Says he'll give i'm the sack I" Second ditto (after pause)---"G i'm the what9 ?" First ditto" Give i'm the sack!" Second ditto (after pause)--- "Give who the sack ?" First ditto "Why, Jim Bates p Second ditto (af- ter long pause)---" I 'eard that the day before yesterday P
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24

REApY.-Miss Alta M. Hulett, the lady lawyer in Chicago, is gaining suc- cessful practice, and appears in the vari- ous courts with ease of manner and con- fidence, and with an ability decidedly above the average lawyer. She is ready in debate, and is never taken by surprise.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
A Printer,s Epitaph.

To mark the head, where weary, tis lain
 'Tis matter dead !-its mission being done To be distributed to dust again. The body's but type, and head, of man l.g Whose impress is the spirits deathless page Worn out, the type is thrown to pi again;
 The impression lives through an eternal age.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24

What He Owes to Society and How He Pays the Debt---some Interesting Inci- dents.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24
@nsinIe|ss Gards.

nEALER In Watches. Clocks, Silverware and
 D Notions. Repairing neatly done. 1yfm14vAs
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24

COAL AND LUMBER. VI 21'T ' SALISBURY Coal and Lumber Yard. igosfra d O .5s H. J. WILBUR, Proprietor.
Connecticut western news., 1875-09-24

John Knox is going to have monu- ment erected to his memory in Hadding- ton, Scotland, to cost ever so much money. Washington may yet get his.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-29

Aennebft yournal*

Published at AUGUSTA, MAINE, Water Street,
DOT of Court by SPRAGUE, OWEN Il NASH.