davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-26

AMERICAN SKIIL.--The Chinese govern
ment has for some time past been making ar
Engagements in Europe with a view to the de-
fence Of the coast and principal rivers Of the
empire. Engineering works on an extensive
scale, and supplied with formidable artillery,
are about to be constructed at various
strategic points, and the general system of
defence has been condded to Major-Geueral
Ripley, formerly of the United States Army,
but who went over to the confederates at
the outbreak Of the civil war. Gen. Ripley
was in command at Charleston when HOSTILE
ties commenced. lie is now in England,
but will sail for China in few days pre-
coded By other artillery officers whose ser
vices the government OF China has secured.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-26
The New Hampshire Outrage.

IL seems that there is but one opin-
ion among all fair-mindod mon, Of whatever
party, about the glazing usurpation commit
ted by the democratic governor and council
Of New Hampshire. That the indignant
condemnation is not confined to Republicans
alone, there is abundant evidence.
The New York Tribune denounces it as
"fraud,' and says that all Governor Yves
ton and his council Of Cheap Johns will have
gained by it will be the notoriety attending
a very weak and stupid attempt to do very
dishonest aud dishonouble thing" It fur
Their denounces the act as "kind of petit
Jogging which "seems TO be inspired by
nothing but intrinsic dishonesty and absolute
inability to do right when there is an oppor-
tunity to do wrong and that it crises to
the diguity-if we may be allowed the para.
dox--of total dcpravity."
The Springfield Republican says of the
same proceeding " It is worse than a crime:
it is a blundor-a particularly ill.timed and
stupid blunder at tlat-which the New
Hampshire democrats and the party at large
VIII be very sorry for presently. That party
is not in a position at present to play tricks
with the laws, or upon the people" The
New York Eceaiag Post equally condemns
it as political scandal"
We have made these quotations 10 show
what the sentiment is among those who can
not be charged with speaking as Republican
partisans. Among honest men there can be
only one opinion as to this nefarious trans
ncIinn.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-26

The FoREsT FrREs.-Great fires gener-
ally bring rain, for nature works by "golden
balances of change and compensation" and
this happy law has checked the progress of
the terrific conaagrations in Pennsylvania
and Now jersey. The principal danger is
now over, but the destruction of property
has been immense, and the burning of Osce-
ola and other villages has caused suffering
which demands instant relief
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-26

FRENcn FfNANcEs.--The exports Of
France usually most in request for American
merchants, like silks, velvets, wines, bran
dies and readymade wearing apparel have
manifested a marked decline within the past
year in fact, ever since the panic, showing
a great effort at economy on the part of our
people 10y dispensing with foreign Injuries.
Nevertheless, the public debt of France is
steadily liquidated notwithstanding all the
embawassmontso fthe manufacturing aud ar
tisan classes. Her present indebtedness is
sl5000o0000 the interest upon which is
SlGj0Oo0O0 considerably the largest paid
by any country in the world, and yet, the ex-
cess of import over export of bullion and
specia last year, was sl575O0,0O0 showing
a remarkable state Of substantial prosperity,
Notwithstanding the fascinating character Of
the French government aud people, and a
national industrial development superior to
that Of any people Of the globe
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-26

The Oshkosh fire promises almost endless
litigation. The mills had an arrangement
by which all should shut down during a gale
of wind. At the time the fire occurred all
except one mill closed. The proprietors of
the first mill which was fred, protested
against the running of the Enclosed mill, but
in vain. Now the stubborn proprietors of
the running mill are sued for damages, and
there is no telling where the litigation win end.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-26

A CONVENTION of the colored people of
Tennessee is in session in Nashville. It's OBJ
jet is to consider the emigration movement
now raging in the South.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-26

\ NEW DopGE-Ast stranger with no guile
in his face and no oyercoat on his shoulders.
wandered into a clothing store in Newport.
the other day, and asked if be could be Cited
with spring oyercoat The proprietor
promptly Unanswered in thcaifimative. You
speak very positively" replied the stranger
g. am bigger than you take me for" The
storckeeper was still confident that he had
coats that would answer. al am a pretty
heavy man." said the stranger; 81 win bet
You five dollars that You can't guess my
weight into one hundred pounds" The
man was not particularly large, and this as
founding challenge entirely diverted the
seller Of clothing from the ordinary course of
his business. He took the wager, named his
guess-about a hundred aud sixty pounds
the money was put up in the hands of a
third party and all started of for n pair Of
scales, and the stranger balanced two hun-
bred pounds Of weights. The store man
looked sad and puzzled. With a smile that
was childlike aud bland the stranger took
his money and walked OFF without saving
anything more about the overcoat 1t has
since been learned that this man wears
lead jacket, aud has been making an honest
living by playing his scurvy trick on unsus-
pecting dealers in clothing lie came from
Connecticut
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-26
PennsYlYanln Politics.

The Republican state Convention will be
held at Lancaster, on Wednesday. The re-.
nomination Of Governor llartrauft win prob
ably be made by reclamation, as he has no
competitor. II is Acknowledged OH all hands
that he has made an excellent executive.
lie is commended Ivy men of both parties
as faithful, honest and capable Governor
Three years ago he passed through one Of
the most acrimonious campaigns ever known
in that state, and tho people then responded
to The charges against him by eleciing him
by over thirty-fve thousand majority At
the present time, however, the bitterness of
that contest has passed away, and in view
Of the integrity and purity Of bis admins
tratiou it is not believed that The opposition
will have the eifrontcry 10 revive the base
and outrageous reports about him, which
were so freely banded three years ago.
His administration is a credit and an honor
TO Pennsylvania and he viii enter the cam
paign as an exceptionally strong candidate.
His prompt action in sending forward the
military to suppress the riots in the mining
regions will be used against him 10y the stri.
kers, but it will be strange, indeed, If among
the law-abidiug citizens Of Pennsylvania
generally he does not gain more than enough
to offset all the votes he may lose IN the
mining counties II those who so long and
brazenly dehed the laws make this an issue,
we shall look for overwhelming majoritics
for Governor IIartnuft ia all other sections
of the state. With a wise, strong and iu-
dcious platform, and the present worthy ex-
ecutive for standard-beror, the Republicans
of Pennsylvania win enter the campaign
with all the elements of success on their side
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-22
About the Size of a Suit of Clothes.

IT may have been questioned by mat
ter-of-fac people whether the amusing
tricks called sleight- of-hand or prestidig-
itation were of any practical application
or use. A sharp performer in Detroit
has settled the question in the atfirma-
tive. He was sleepy-looking fellow,
and he went into clothing-store carry.
ing bundle about the size of suit of
clothes, wrapped neatly in brown paper.
But this customer wanted to buy new
suit, and selected thirty-fve dollars worth
ofstore- clothes, which the dealer wrapped
up in package also about the size ola suit
of clothes. The sleepy fellow suddenly
discovered that he had nothing but a
check to pay for his suit, and he asked
that the package might be laid aside for
him until he could go around to his bank
and draw the money. To this the store
keeper had no objection, and he laid the
package aside. The customer departed
as he came, carrying bundle about the
size of suit of clothes. He did not re-
turn, and several days passed. At length
the clothing-dealer thought it about time
to open the bundle and replace the
clothes in the stock. This he proceeded
to do, and found to his surprise and dis
gust that the bundle contained greasy
ragged, cast-of suit. There was only one
explanation-the prestidigitator had dex'
terously exchanged bundles-both being
wrapped in paper of the same color. II
was a very neat and sharply practical
trick of legerdemain of about the value
and size of suit of clothes.-St. Louis
Republican,,
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-22

blemishes-are yet pleasant to look at
for the care bestowed on them, their
dainty perfection of cleanliness being a
charm in itself. Nothing, indeed, is more
disgusting than dirty hands and neglected
nails, as nothing gives one such sense
of freshness and care as the same mem
bers well kept. But one of the ugliest
things in nails is when they are bitten;
which, to judge by what one sees, is a
habit having irresistible destinations for
those given over to it. 1t is an action,
by the way, that has more than one sig
nificance. 1t may mean consideration,
doubt, hesitancy; or it may mean anger
or annoyance; or as habit it may point
to the not remote possibility of madness.
In any case it is ugly to look at and
worse than ugly in its results; bare
finger-tips, with the protecting cover
gnawed to the bleeding flesh, belonging
to the list of things mutilated and will
fully spoiled-therefore taken out of the
category of things ugly by nature, hence
misfortunes for which the sufferer is in
no wise accountable"
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-22
Tea Drunkards.

DR.. ARLIpGE, one of the pottery in
spectors of Staffordshire, has put forth
very sensible protest against very
pernicious custom, which rarely receives
sufficient attention either from the med
ical profession or the general public
He says that the women of the working
classes make tea principal article of
diet instead of an occasional beverage.
They drink it several times day, and
the result is a lamentable amount of
sickness.
Tea, in anything beyond moderate
quantities, is as distinctly narcotic
poison as is opium or alcohol. 1t is
capable of running the digestion, of en-
feebling and disordering the hearts &C.
ton, and of generally shattering the
nerves. And it must be remembered
that not merely is it a question OF mar
cotic excess, hut the enormous amount
of hot water which teabibbers neces-
sarily drink is exceedingly prejudic;al
both to digestion and nutrition. In
short, without pretending to place this
evil on par as to general effects with
those caused by alcoholic drinks, one
may we'll insist that our teetotal reform
ers have overlooked, and even to a small
extent encouraged, form OF animal in
diligence which is as distinctly sensual
extravagant and pernicious as any beer
drinking or gin-swillng in the world
Boston Medical and Surgical Journal.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-22
An Old Family.

THOSE who believe that mental and
bodily traits are transmitted among hui
man beings in as marked degree as
among animals-and this class of believ-
ers comprises most intelligent people
have strong illustration of the sound,
ness of their theory in the history of a
Maine family The family resides al
the town of Castine, and consists of one
male and four females. The united ages
of the five persons is 410 years and the
average age is eighty-two years. The
mother, Mrs. Mary Hasty, is nine
ty.nine; the Oldest daughter, a
Mrs. Goodwin, is seventy-two, and
the youngest daughter, Mrs. Mill.
kin, is sixty-seven. The husband
Goodwin-is eighty-seven years of age
and sister-in-law living with the family
Is eighty-five. All live in the same house,
all were born in the same town and all
have been in excellent health from birth.
Two or three long-lived families inter
married and formed this little communi-
ty, where, as the occupation pursued has
been OF no enervatlng tendency, the
charm of health has never been broken.
The family is engaged in the dairy bust
ness. The secret of living seems to be
here clearly exhibited. Descended from
good stock, engaged in proper avoca-
ton, who may not live for century,
ST. Louis Republican,.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-22
A Mennonite Wedding.

THE first Mennonite wedding since
coming to this country occurred in Bar
ton County, Kan, Oh the 2Sth of March,
and the contracting parties were Benja-
jamin Unruh and Mary Unruh. A cor
respondent of the Atchison Champion
thus describes the event: "The ceremony
was performed in accordance with the
customs that prevail among the people
of Russia, and as such is of interest to
those who wish to get acquainted with
them. The day was Easter Sunday, and
as such was especially observed The
writer went to the school-house at $50
o'clock. The congregation were singing.
The music was not of the most artistic.
At ten o'clock the bride and groom en-
tered, entirely unattended, and took seats
on two chairs placed especially for them
directly in front of the pulpit. The
Easter sermon took one hour and three
quarters. 1t was entirely without note.
The wedding ceremony was read from
manuscript and occupied half an hour
The bride and groom kept their seats
during most of the half hour. Both
answered Yes five times. To what
they answered / do not know, as | do not
understand German. They left the
house as they came, and apparently as
happy as folks generally are under such
circumstances. The parties are of the
most well-to-do families that are settling
here. The bride came from Russia with
her parents last fall. She was dressed
very neatly in black. There was no
paint, jute or other modern improve
ments in her outfit, and think Ameri-
can girls might protitably follow her ex-
ample in this matter. The groom has
been in this country about sixteen
months, and has been in Nebraska till
about two weeks since. He speaks very
good English, is plowmaker, and very
we'll informed. He has bought railroad
land near here and is going to farming.
They are of the class that are bound to
succeed in Kansas, and they will be the
most wealthy, intelligent and happy of
our citizens"
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-22
Three-Card Monte.

A PASSENGER on Michigan Southern
train en- route for Chicago was recently
swindled out of large sum of money
by a trio of three card-monte operators,
Just before the cars reached that city
The Tribune gives the following account
of the operation:
1.-THE facts of the case are about as
follows: Mr.. Bedell, of Norwalk, Ohio,
was in the smoking-car, and one of the
confidence operators had for some time
been sitting on the same seat with him.
Presently another accomplice came in
the car, sat down near Bedell and began
talking. He said he was Mexican
drover, and told of fluctuations with 900
head of Mexican cattle which he had
had on his hands. Then he mentioned
that he had lost $500 at the three-card-
monte game. The young fellow who &C.
cupied the same seat with Bedell asked
how it was, and the alleged Mexican
drover told all about it, and then added
that they had given him the cards and
taught him how to play, and when he got
home he could win all the money he
wanted The young fellow asked him
to show him the game. The other one
said he had no table to deal on. The
young fellow suggested that he might
use his coat, and he accordingly pulled
out his pasteboardsI and began opera
lions. An old man, the third member of
the gang, who was sitting across the
aisle, bet $40 he could turn up the queen.
He lost, and then bet $40 and won.
The young fellow picked up the
queen while the dealer was ap-
parently looking the other way, and
made pencil mark on it. Then he bet
$50 and won. Bedell showed signs of
nervousness, and began fumbling at his
pocket-book. The young fellow said to
him, "Bet your pile; you've got sure
thing on it." Bedell bet 81, 400 and lost.
Then the dealer pulled out fresh deck,
and while he was looking the other way
the young man again marked the queen
with cross. The old man stepped over
to Bedell and said: Your only chance
of getting your money back is to size
your first bet So Bedell bet 81 SOCIAL
he had left except $10-and lost again.
"Then the young man observed to
Bedell that he was his friend, and when
they got to the city he would 60 with
him to the police-station, the location of
which he knew. The old man also con-
doled with Bedeli, and told him he
would ask the dealer back into the rear car
where his wife was, under pretense OF
giving him a cigar, and would keep a
close eye on him until they got to town.
Re did ask him, and the two went back.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-22
Would You.

WOULD you keep your rosy complex
ion, wear thick soled shoes.
Would you enjoy quiet content, do
away with airs and pretenses.
Would you have others respect your
opinions, hold and never disown them
yourself.
Would you have good health, go out in
the sunshine. Sickness is worse than
freckles.
Would you respect yourself, keep your
heart and body clean.
Would you retain the love of friend,
do not be seltishly exacting.
Would you gain the confidence of bust
ness men, do not try to support the style
of your employer.
Would you never be told lie, do not
ask personal questions.
Would you sleep well and have good
appetite, attend to your own business.
Would you have the respect of men,
never permit yourself to indulge in vul-
gar versation.-Rural Neao Yorker.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-22
Important Decision on a Life Insurance
Case.

A decision just rendered in the United
States Supreme Court at Washington
relates to a matter of general interest in
respect to life insurance. We gather
from the brief Geographic report that the
administrator of an estate, which includ-
ed a life insurance policy, sued the COM
pany that issued it. For defense the
company alleged that it was obtained by
false representations; that the allegations
of the person insured formed the basis of
the policy, and these were not in accord
ance with the facts. The statements to
which exception was thus taken at 80
late an hour were in the usual form of
replies to questions. The plaintiff seems
to have met this argument by showing
that the particular replies whose truth
was disputed were immaterial to the risk
assumed by the company; and that in
any one no falsehood was intended by the
person insured. On verdict adverse to
the estate the case was appealed, and
now the United States Supreme Court
has affirmed the decision of the court be-
low.
A few months ago when the Chamber
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-22
Finger Nails.


A WRITER says: off finger tips have
language of their own, so have the
nails; and the manner of keeping them
is as eloquent as all the rest. Some keep
them long and pointed, like "reminiscences
of claws; others bite theirs close to the
quick; some pare and trim and scrape
and polish up to the highest point OF
artificial beauty; and others, carrying
the doctrine of nature to the outside
limit, let them grow wild, with jagged
edges, broken tracts and tagnails or
black friend as the agonizing conse-
quences Sometimes you see the most
beautiful nails, pink, transparent, filbert-
shaped, with the delicate, filmy little
half moon' indicated at the base-all
the conditions of beauty carried to per-
lection, but all rendered of no avail by
dirt and slovenliness; while others, thick,
white-ribbed, square, with no half-moon,
spotted. like SO many circus horses, with
gifts and friends and the like-that
IL, without beauties and With positive
-
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-22
kBob-TaiI HOrse-Car Incident.

DRIVER, why don't you stop when I
ring the belle" The lady's eyes flashed
fire as she glared through the opening in
the door upon the Jehu of the bob-tail.
did you ring the bell, ma'am?"
Eyes, rang it twice, you stupid"
"If YOU bad rung it only once | would
have stopped, but, as two negatives make
an affirmative, so two pulls Of a car bell
mean go ahead"
"Well, now just see; while you are
talking, you have passed the crossing.
Why don't you stop?"
The driver instantly turned the brake,
and the bob. tail came to halt.
"Do you suppose Pm going to get out
here in all this mud?"
Il will proceed, then, to the next cross
"Yes, and l must walk all the way
back, suppose"
"Just as you please, madam; you can
walk or ride"
How can Iride, / would like to know"
"Take the car going east"
"No. 1 intend TO get off at the crossing
in Mis car, if have to go to the end of
the road and come back"
"All right, madam; shall be pleased
to have your company on the trip"
81 am not in hurry, and I'll do it,
Just because want you street-car drivers
to understand that when the bell is rung
by lady, whether with one pull or a
thousand pulls, you have got to stop,
and you can't put me down in the mud,
neither. And you needn't be saucy when
l complain of you for neglecting your
duty. won't have it."
"Look here, Susan, you shouldn't put
on such airs, if you have been promoted
to the post of chambermaid in a second
class hash-house. remember the time
when you took to mud like a young
pig-that was when i kept house and
you were my maid-of-all-work."
"Stop the car want to get OUT
81. Louis Democrat.
49,