davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-11-04
The DecOy Trunk.

A NEW device to facilitate robberies at
railway depots has lately been success
fully practced on the public. Some in
genious person it appears has hit upon
way by which a trunk can be made
to steal another trunk and portmanteau
to annex to its fellow. In the adventures
of Sinbad the Sailor we are told how the
merchants got at the precious stones in
the valley of diamonds. The merchants
threw down pieces Of meat, which fell on
and absorbed the diamonds; the eagles
swooped on the pieces of meat and flew
with them to the upper air; the merchants
shot the eagles with arrows and thus got
at the meat, the eagles and the jewels.
So we read the plunderers at the railway
depots lay trunk artfully contrived on a
smaller trunk; the latter clings to the
former and the owner Of the larger carries
both away. The decoy trunk is said to
be fitted with false bottom which goes
up when it is laid on a smaller trunk, and
with mechanism inside which does for the
innocent trunk what Polonius recon-
mended to Laertes to do for his friend,
and grapples it to its heart with hooks of
steel In fact the decoy trunk-we do
not know how better to describe it's
made to perform an Office like that of
certain flowers which suddenly close at
the pressure of fly or other insect with
in their cup and imprison it there. 1t
would be well if the ingenuity of detect
ives kept pace with the progress in in
genious contrivances to perpetrate robber
les at the depots, where they are increas-
ing so fast and have become such an evil
of late 1t is certain, however, that the
dodge of the trunk will not explain all
these robberies. In some cases valuable
articles have been taken out and articles
of the same bulk but less valuable put
in This sort of jugglery does not look
like the business of the ingenious trunk.
This trunk, in fact, means open robbery;
but there goes on a good deal of pilfering
which must be done by less accom-
plished class of offenders, ~ -Erchange,
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-11-04
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

KANSAS sows 25 per cent. more wheat
This wear than last
G,I H.u1rroy uante all boteIs GIN
,,,;ed With lihraries
oNANbhhn,H' WIZ NeeP lio'n al" Soo"
1His Is the hottest ana urlest autumn
THE latest weather prediction is that it
will blow great guns next Christmas.
AMONG the mineral treasures in the
Black Hills are mountains of isinglass,
co. ,oe,, o.. ,.
ti,r of two and two topetbcr and n,.liinr
five of thcm
n,.o,.,,,r ,,,.;,o,. ,,,,, ,o,o ,,,oo+.,
o,,11o,, ,d au.I,,.I -,.a iaoa l,rs.a
for instance
u,>-or, loo. 1, o ,,o i,ou.o,
eon ooo ooo ,,,,u,h - A. ,l, r,,a
r,ro on,, rr,,,- ,,.oro rooo,+,,, o;,oo,
~ o1,;o ~, ootinc f,,nn,,s ,rro1.th ,,.l,;o,,
bo,, forna ~ .t,,r, 0no oe t,a,,,
IioJ
,,,, ,,o,, .u-o,,1 ~ :. ,.,.
taLo him ,onr 70 fnd o,,t that ,Lo lrol,o
MOI, oun oil tho ra;Iroods ond +ho o1arl~,
oil tho hotolo
- ,.,--.u
W. ,atal,. .. .,,,a "' ''eA :,: nv,
aaar haot ~; a.l;ot ', ~, sao1aI " 49, 49,
1' -, Wv. c 'i.0N ""' ''''''0 9 A4"n
r, ,,.
-l',''' ,,"' sNi.' ''i' az go Vi
.i ,'.'l''l,'i'o ''''o - 90
.I,snJ - ny - ,,'11 'i-r'' nv i'''N 10 Wv
P'I''s " ~ '''''0'
\ BOSTON butcher mas just received
leSacy vi Flo'ooo IN lecognltloh Oh MS
hIhaheSS Ill seholhs d CHUNK oi meat dally
ior l"or years u tiie 'eS'"'or CAT
ACCORDING to recent statement, pre-
pared 1or the centennial, the Navy De
parlment, since us organization, mas cost
the Government total OF $l,ooo'ooo,ooo'
A FRENcHMAN said to an American:
"T'ere is Won word IN YOUR language |
do not comprehend, and all re time hear
it. Tattlctoo, tattletoo-vat you means by
tattletOO?n The American insisted that
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-11-04
Always " Coin To-"

NETTIE NEAL never did, but was always
"goin' to-" 1t was such a provoking
habit, never to be quite ready to do as she
was bid; never ready to put away her
things, go on an errand, come to supper,
or go to bed, but always "Yes, mamma,
Pm goin' to-" Mamma Neal grew ex-
asperated at last; she was tired of asking,
and telling, and calling over and over for
her little girl TO do what she wished her
to- so she determined one day she would
cure Nettie hom9opathically-by which
she meant she would use the same method
in small doses, ana see if she could effect
a cure in that way.
Therefore, one morning when Nettle
came running in from the lawn with her
dolls arm torn off its shoulder and asked.
Mamma, won't you please fix my dol
lies arm?" mamma lifted her eyes up
from her work and answered: "Yes,
Nettie, Pm going to-" and then went on
sewing. Nettie waited little while and
then asked again: Won't you please sew
my dOllic's arm on, mammal" Yes,
Pm going to-" replied mamma not lifting
her eyes from her work. But, mamma
dear, | want you to do it now, right
away" and there was a little break in the
remulous voice. "Why do you? l
didn't know you meant that; thought
my own time would suit you Just as
well''-and then mamma took the doll
and soon sewed on its limp, hanging
arm.
Nettie went out on the lawn again,
walking a little slowly. There was a
strange, new thought stirring in her little
brain, you see, but a romp with POntO
soon put it all out OF her head, and when
mamma called her to dinner she answered
back as usual: Yes, mamma, I'm goin'
to-" and went on racing over the lawn and
across the brook and back again. until by
the time she was ready to come in dinner
was all over.
Give me some dinner, mamma" she
cried, as she saw the table being cleared
away and mamma preparing to 90 up
stairs for her afternoon nap. Yes, Net.
tie, I'm going to- answered mamma,
going on up the hall stairs. Nettie ran
on after her and clung to her dress, sob
bing " But I'm hungry now. | want it
now, mamma Please come down and
give me my dinner"
Mamma stopped on the stairs then All
answered very slowly: Do you see now
from experience, Nettie, how trying anG
troublesome it is not to do a thing 1t o1lce
which is asked Of you? If | should an.
swer every time you want to ~ waited
upon or cared for: Yes, I'm going to,
Nettie'-as y0u do when | speak to you-
and then not do the thing at once which
you ask, as you dol fear you would go
hungry and neglected and be altogether a
very unhappy little girl. Now that you
have experienced in this little way how
disagrecable and uncomfortable a person
is made, and can be, by always going
to- and never doing at once thing de
sired of them, | hope you will try to
break yourself of the habit and obey i'm
mediat5Ly when spoken to"-and then
mamma took Nettie up in her arms and
kissed away the great tears trembling on
her eyelashes and went down stairs to
give her little girl her dinner; and after
that day Nettie Neal always tried to do at
once what she was told without first an
swering: Yes, I'm goin' to.'-Church-
man
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-11-04
Proclamation for Thanksgiving.

WASHINGTON, Oct n.
The following proclamation has been
issued by the Executive:
In accordance with practice at once wise
and beautiful, we have been accustomed, as
the year is drawing to a close, to devote an oc-
casion to an humble expression Of thanks to
Almighty God for ceaseless and distinguished
benefits bestowed upon US as a nation, and
for His mercies and protection during the
closing year. Amid the rich and free enjoy
ment Of all our advantages we should not for
get the source from whence they are derived,
and extend our obligations to the Father of
All Mercies. We have full reason to renew
our thanks to Almighty God for favors be-
slowed upon us during the past year.
By His continuing mercy civil and relig-
ious liberty has been maintained; peace
has reigned within our borders; labor and
enterprise have produced their merited re-
wards, and to His watchful providence we
are indebted for security from pestilence and
other national calamities. Apart from the
other national blessings each individual
among us has occasion to thoughtfully recall
and devoutly recognize the favors and protec-
ton which he has enjoyed.
Now, therefore, l, Ulysses s. Grant,
President of the United States, do recon-
mend that on Thursday, the 25th day of
November, the people of the United States,
abstaining from all secular pursuits and
from their accustomed avocations, do assem-
BILE in their respective places of worship, and,
in sush form as may seem most appropriate
in their own hearts, offer to Almighty God
their Acknowledgements and thanks for all His
mcrcies, and their humble prayers for the
continuance of His divine favor. In witness
whereof, have hereunto set my hand, and
caused the seal of the United States to be
affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 9th
day of October, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and seventy five, and
cfthe independence of the United States the
one hundredth.
(Signed) U. S. GRANT, President.
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-11-04
The Great Fire at Virginia City, Nev.

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. %.
THE fire broke out about daylight in a
dwelling on A street, near Taylor, point
at about the southwestern limit of the
business and thickly settled portion of the
city. 1t spread rapidly, extending east
ward toward the ravine in which are situ-
ated the works and mills of several prom
inent mines. Reaching as far as F street
northward, the flames crossed Union and
Sutton streets, covering a space of about
ten blocks, comprising, in the words of
one dispatch, almost every decent building
in town. AS the fire worked up G street
the offices of the Territorial Enterprise and
Chronicle were destroyed. Piper's Opera
house was next in flames, and it became
evident that the railroad depot and hoist
ing-works of the Consolidated Virginia
were in danger. The water-supply was
inadequate and the engines of little use.
Recourse was had to blowing up build.
ings. 1t was too late, however, and in a
few minutes the depot and hosting works
were on fire. The latter were recently
completed at an expense Of several hun
dred thousand dollars, and were the finest
on the Comstock lode.
Continuing to the north and east, the
partially completed mill of the California
mine and the Consolidated Virginia mill
were soon in flames, which spread still
further north to the Ophir hoisting- works,
destroying them also, which is about the
limit of destruction in that direction, the
fire dying out from want of fuel. From
Taylor street. near which the fire origi-
mated, it spread southwark against the wind,
destroying the branch Bank of California
and Wells-Fargo's express Office, and
everything else in its line. At this point
the Gould & Curry works were in immi-
nent danger, but were fortunately saved.
In short, nearly the entire business portion
of the town is in ashes, Hotels, churches,
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-11-04
Constant Electric Lamp.

IT is well known that, under the influ-
ence of a strong electric current, body
which is a good conductor, when connect
ing the two poles of the current, may be
heated to such point as to become lumi-
nous. This phenomenon is turned to ac-
count by Mr. Lodygin, of ST. Petersburg,
for obtaining a constant light, which is
both reasonable in cost and also capable
of being used under all circumstances. In
stead Of producing the electric light by
means of the wearing away of the cleo
uodes, as has hitherto been the practice,
that is to say, by the ignition of the parti
cles of charcoal which are transported
from one pole to the other in body Of
air heated to high degree between the
electrodes, Mr.. Lodygin employs short
stick of charcoal, in a single piece, and
reduces the area of its section between the
two electrodes in such manner that it
offers considerable resistance to the cur
rent; so that the portion between the two
poles, being heated to high degree, be-
comes luminous, just as a metallic wire
would do. The lamp consists Of cylin-
drical glass vessel, closed with metal
covers so as to be air-tight both at top and
bottom. Occupying the center of this
cylinder is the stick of charcoal held inits
place by two pieces of metal communicat-
ing, through the covers, with the two
electrodes of the battery. In order to rem
der the light more intense several sticks of
charcoal may be placed in the same lamp.
The conducting wire which leads the
electricity from the battery communicates
with an insulated rod connected with the
cover and in contact with the first piece
of charcoal; the electric current then
passes into the second piece of charcoal
through the lower cover, and from thence
to the next lamp or to the battery. On
account of the heating of that part of the
charcoal which is reduced in thickness
the surface rapidly becomes oxidized
when in contact with the oxygen of the
air, and the charcoal is consequently
worn away, a circumstance which would
tend to considerably limit the duration o
the lamp. To avoid this drawback, how
ever, the lamp is filled with nitrogen,
which is prevented from escaping by the
two air-tight covers; in this manner OK
idation cannot take place, and the pieces
of charcoal preserve their original dimen-
sions. The experiments have given such
good results that the inventor has been
awarded the Lomonossov prize by the st.
Petersburg Academy of science.-N. Y
| GyoroLir
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-11-04
STILL WATER.

HE wrote and wrote, but could not make a
name;
Then cursed his fate and called the world to
The world, that knew not genius when it
came.
"The world" he cried, "that crowns us in a
night
For nothing; but that damns us, wrong or
right,
Rather for sheer Indifference than for spite"
One Of his friends would slyly smile to hear.
"Ah! second hand Byronicsl" one would
sneer.
One said: "Give over" One said: "Perse-
we're"
thought,
Through the long weeks and all the work
they brought,
While the wife toled and while the mother
taught.
There went story that he might have wed
An heiress, this poor seriobler for his bread,
But took little, meek-eyed girl instead
little meek eyed girl without cent,
Who scarcely knew what half his writings
meant
Loved him reveringly, and was content.
And now she unused and unused upon a way
To brighten his dull face again. One day
Her slender hand along his shoulder lay:
" Write this" and then she told him what to
write
In just few feet words, and stole from
sight
With smiling lips, but with look of fright.
He laughed at irst yet in little space
The languid laughter died from out his face,
And'left mute meditation in its place.
If mistake not it was this same year
That suddenly men knew him, far and near,
AS having won the worlds capricious ear.
And she? Why, if she had not seen so plain
How soon the laurels cured his longing pain,
She might have held them even in mild dis
dain.
But now she blesses Fortunes kind decree
Proud, glad through him, though still, for all
we see,
The same small, meekseyed wife she used
to be.
Edgar F'awcett, in L,ppincotS Magazine.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-11-04
Report of the Commissioner of PEN
SiOnS.

THE Commissioner of Pensions has fin
ished his annual report, which shows that
there are on the pension rolls 234 ,S21 pen
sioners, decrease of ,420 from last year.
They are classified as follows: Army in
valids, 105,47S; widows and dependent
relatives, 104, 1856; survivors of the war of
1912, 1885; widows of soldiers of 1912,
5,163; navy invalids, 1885, widows and
dependent relatives of navy officers and
seamen, 1874. More than II per cent Of
the soldiers of 1919 died last year. The
amount appropriated for army pensions
was $29,500,000, of which $11, 1,74S, ,533
were paid to invalid soldiers and for arti
ficial limbs; $15, ,525, ,734 TO widows and
dependent relatives; $533, 900 to widows
of soldiers of 1912, and 81 1856, 500 to SOL
diers of 1912, leaving an unexpended bal
ance of $337 ,231, which has been covered
into the Treasury.
The appropriation for navy pensions
was 1855, 900, of which all but $34 ,051 was
expended. Commissioner Atkinson esti-
mates that reduction of 100000 can
be safely made on the appropriation for
next year. There are now pending near
ly 10000 claims unacted upon, mostly on
account of lack of clerical assistance,
which causes much dissatisfaction among
applicants. The Commissioner recon-
mends additions to the clerical force.
Legislation is asked to define sufficient
proof of marriage of pensioners widows,
SO as to make evidence of cohabtation
81 tiicient to drop pensioners from the
rolls. Large numbers of pensioned wild
ows are known to be living with
men whom the departments cannot prove
to be their lawful husbands, hence no
authority exists to drop their names.
During last year 675 applications for
bounty land were made, and 407 war
rants were issued, calling for 81, $50 acres
of land.
The Commissioner recommends the
abolishment of the present system of ex-
amining surgeons and the appointment of
sixty first-class surgeons, at fixed salaries,
who will give their entire time to the
service. He thinks this measure of econ
omy and one which will facilitate the
payment of pensioners. Fifteen hundred
and thirty claims were investigated by
special agents, of which 300 were found
to be fraudulent. Two hundred and forty
three pensioners were dropped on evil
dence of fraud, resulting in saving nearly
$150,000. Over $4,000 were recovered
from those who had been draw
ing pensions fraudulently. The Com
missioner thinks the knowledge that
an efficient Secret Service exists prevents
large amount of fraudulent claims being
presented, and recommends the organiza.
ton and enlargement of the service on the
plan now in operation in the Treasury
and Postotfice Departments. Congress is
recommended to authorize the annual
publication of lists of pensioners residing
in each county, publication to be made in
the paper having the largest circulation,
and that printed lists be posted in court
rooms and other prominent places, which
would expose many cases Of fraud.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-11-04
less pleased with himself than he did

less pleased with himself than he did
when he first spied the caterpillar.
Thank you. You're as clever as you
are lovely" said the caterpillar TO the rose,
as soon as he had gone.
"Glad you think I'm lovely. Sorry I
can't say the same for YOU" replied the
truthful flower. " You're not pretty-not
at all and really don't like the way you
eat my green leaves. Do stop and wind
yourself up in your cradle or coffin, or
whatever it is, and turn into butterfly as
soon as possible. Won't you?"
But the caterpillar went on eating. He
wasn't ready for his coffin just yet. So
the rose turned her back on him and be-
gan to throw kisses to the slender white
lily that grew in the next garden and was
deeply in love with humming bird
Margaret Eyttnge, in " Y. Independent.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-11-04
THE MARKETS.
NEW YORK.


LIVE STocK.-Beef Cattle -$10.00613 %. Hogs
Live, SS.00GS,12h. Sheep-Live, S4.5O06.OO.
BREADsTUFFs.-Flour-G to choice, $50 q
$780, white wheat extra, S6.35f5s.OO. Wheat-No.
2 Chicago, S1.2 @l.27; No. Northwestern,
$1.260l.27; Nc. Milwaukee spring, $1.319
/ 80. Rye--Western and State, s0690c. Bar
y-$1.10@l.15. Corn-M Mixed Western, no
73nc. Oats-Mixed Western, 47G14Shc.
Observation-Disclosures, $220Og22. so. Lard
Prime Steam, 13H015c. Cheese-6nQ13c.
WooL.-Domestic Fleece, 43065c.
CHICAGO
LIVE OoK.--Beeves-Choice, $5.6006. 90 !;
good, S4.7505.40; medium, Si.25G475; butch
ers' astpck, S2.50@3.75; stock cattle, S2.65b
as LHogs-Live, S7401S.0o. Sheep--Good to
choice, 81 a5@14.5O
PRovIsIoNs.-Butter- Choice, 30033c. Eggs
Fresh, % 124c. Pork-Mess, $20.5O1 90.
Sl3.35G13.s7h
BREADsTUFFs.-Flour-W Winter Extra,
S5.751s.o0; spring extra, S5.0006.OO. Wheat
Spring, No. 2, Sl.nA@11'. Corn-No. 2, 52A
052%c Oats-No. 2, 33933l4c. Rye-No 2,
6S1s 669c. Barley-No 2, S69S7c.
LUMBER.-First and Second Clear, S42.00
04j.fO; Common Boards, $l05g0Il2.00; Fencing,
gil. .00112.0o; "a" Shingles, $a.5O02.So; Lath,
$1.75@2.C0.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-11-04

ACCORDING to the Leeds (England) Mer-
cary of the 30th ult. the large iron pro-
ducers, Blockow, Vaughan & Co., en-
ploying over 10000 men, had given notice
to their employees that all work would be
suspended Nov 13.
A CAIRO Egypt telegram of the Both
ult. says that the Egyptian army had
entered Abyssinia, the inhabitants offer
ing no resistance.
A LONDON telegram of the 31st ult. says
the British expedition to punish pirates on
the Congo River had been heard from.
Many villages had been burned and a
large number of natives killed.
THE French iron-clad Magenta, the flag
ship of the Vice Admiral commanding at
Toulon, caught fire on the 30th ult. and
exploded. No lives were lost.
THE London Times of the morning of
the 1st says that 200 seamen had been
drowned in the North Sea during the gales
Of the preceding three weeks.
A SANTANDER SPAIN special of the
81st ult. announces the capture of Ordune
by Gems. Iona and Quesada.
THE Secretary of the Treasury has di-
rected the sale of 100000 in gold coin on
each Thursday during the month of No
vember.
THE Carleton Wooden Mills, Philadel-
phia, were destroyed by fire on the morn
ing of the 1st. Loss from $500, 900 to
$S00,0
JUDGE DILLON, at Des Moines, has late
" decided that there is no penalty under
the law for sending vulgar matter on
postal cards through the mails but that it
is the duty of the Postmaster into whose
hands such cards come to destroy them.
JAMES OTIS, Mayor of San Francisco,
died on the Both ult.
AN advance in passenger fares has re-
Gently been made on railroad lines be-
tween the West and East, the rate from
Chicago to New York being twenty two
dollars for firstclass tickets.
THE constitutional amendment author
ling the taxation of dogs was defeated
at the laIe onlO tlttllol.
AT an election held in Missouri on the
3Oth ult. the new Constitution was adopted.
The official canvass of the votes cast at
the Nebraska election shows that the new
Constitution is carried by nearl y $4,000
majority. The clause leaving to the peO-
ple the power of locating the State capital
has 1900 majority, and that giving the
people the power of expressing their
preference for United States Senator 49,
800 majority. The Democrats elected two
District Judges and one District Attorney.
All the rest of the officers elect are Re-
publicans.
ApvICEs from st. Petersburg, received
on the 1st, state that the Government had
been engaged in crusade against So
cialist acilators. Arrests had been made
in Moscow, Odessa, Blazau and st.
Petersburg. In one village near Moscow
thirty workingmen had been arrested, and
one of them, resisting the police force,
had been killed.
LYcuRaus, the Syrian Archbishop of
the Greek Church, died recently.
A RAGusA telegram of the 1st says
force of 1900 Turks had been lately de-
fcatcd with heavy loss while attacking
strong insurgent position near Zubl
The Secretary Of the Treasury has called
in for redemption s., 100000 coupon and
s., ,0OO, 900 registered $50 bonds OF the
issue Of 1864.
THE following is the November state
mpnt of the condition of the public debt: