davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

Fair Athletics.

Describing fencing tournament at
Yeddo, the London Spectator says: " A
young lady, not over remarkable for
beauty, now enters the list. She is
dressed in male costume, has a white
handkerchief bound round her head,
and bears in her hand bamboo stick
shaped so as to represent halberd, in
the use of which weapon ladies of good
family generally used in olden times to
take lessons. This stick is about seven
feet long, and is curved at the end, to
represent the sword blade fixed upon the
real weapon. She wears no armor, and
merely exhibits by herself the skill in
the use of the deadly implement. I'm
needing the derisive applause, and the
cries of There's beauty Mind you
don't get beaten etc., with which she is
freely assailed, she goes through her ev-
olutions, and is finally hailed as con-
queror by the umpire. She then retires
and another lady comes forward, dort
cuirass, gloves, and helmet, and advances
to meet one of the pupils, who is armed
with a sword. She delivers a quick
thrust at him with her halberd, and cnt'
at her legs he endeavors to dash inside
her guard and close. It is no use, how
ever; the lady is evidently the better
fencer, and the discomftted youth re
tires crestfallen, while his fair antago
mist is proclaimed mistress of the field
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15
Self-DefamatiOn by a Minister.

Considering the scandalous number o.
ministers of the Gospel charged defore
the law courts or the public with crimes
of the foulest sort, it does-seem a little
superfuous for a minister of the Gospel
to deliberately throw dirt upon his pro
fession without a shadow of provocation
by accusing himself Of nameless crimes
Strange as such course may seem, the
Rev. ]. S. Graves, Of the Congregation
al Church at Maquoka, Ia, has been
practising it. For many months men,
bers of his congregation have been re-
ceiving anonymous letters charging their
pastor with numerous sins, and limiting
vaguely at shocking depravity on his
part. The congregation with frmness
of faith in the clergymen, refused for q
long time to pay any attention TO these
warnings, and the consequence was a
more explicit and savage denunciation
of Mr.. Graves by the anonymous letter
writer. It was ultimately decided to
put the police on the track Of the SLAM
derer, the result being the Identification
of Mr.. Graves himself with his accuser.
When asked his object in thus defaming
his character, Mr.. Graves replied that
he was tired of his pastorate, desired to
be released, and thought his resignation
would be more readily accepted could il
be shown that he was a scoundrel. II
is barely possible that Mr.. Graves IL
sane; but if so, upon what hypothesis
can this freak be explained?
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15
Sam. Sharpley's Death.

Thomas Sharpe, more generally known
as Sam. Sharpley; the veteran minstrel,
died in his home in Providence on Fri
day. He was born in Philadelphia in
1881. His parents were in comfortable
circumstances, and he received an edu-
cation much above that of the average
of his profession. His tastes, however,
drew him toward Ethiopian minstrelsy,
and he Joined wandering troupe when
only sixteen years old. Within the
next ten years he took rank as the lead
ing banjo and tambourine player. He
had rare humor, and was exceedingly
happy in seizing local circumstances and
turning them to humorous account. in
1854 he and Billy Birch organized a
campany that was received with extra
ordinary favor, and with the money they
made they went on a musical tour that
was pecuniarly disastrous. Then Sharp
ley again became a member Of a local
city troupe.
In the early war times Sharpley again
essayed the management of company,
taking Tony Pastor as his partner; but
just as they had begun TO lay the Ioun-
dation of much of the prominence that
has since been enjoyed by the Bowery
Opera House, Sharpley's wandering hu-
NOR again seized him. Hin sold ont his
local business to Pastor, and organizing
the Iron-c clad Minstrels, he travelled
with them for several years, with vary
ing fortunes. For the last three years
sickness kept him from active profes-
sional work. His last illness was lin
gering and painful. On learning of the
death of his old partner, Tony Pastor
said: "He was the most original humor-
ist on the minstrel stage I"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

The second-best and the most striking
building in Louisville, KY, is that oc-
cupied by the Public Library. 1t was
paid for by three Gift Concerts, managed
by board headed by Ex Gov. Thomas
E. Bramlette. The Board is authorized
by the Legislature of the State TO give
five of these concerts. The fifth takes
place on the 9th of February next, and
the profits, after distributing $500, 600
in cash to the ticket holders, are to be
used in perfecting the Library, and
furnishing the blind of the State with
books in raised letters. This is rather q
large thing for Kentucky. Governor
Bramlette has given three years to this
Library, and he is making it the best in
the country. Books are bought for this
Library in orders of $4,000 at a time
and an enormous amount of money has
been paid for painting, statuary, and
other works of art. The next drawing
in aid of the Library, in whichfhe can.
ital prize is $3.50, 900, takes place posi-.
lively on the 9th of February next, or
the money returned. 1t costs only $50
to take a fair chance at fortune, and as
there are 10000 cash gifts, the smallos
of which is $50, the money is likely &c
come back. The time is short. Ad.
dress, for full particulars, Gov. Thoma
E. Bramlette, Louisville, Ky.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15
A Close Calculation.

The London cabmen have an untiring
foe in one Mrs, Caroline Giacometti
Prodgers, who makes her appearance
every few days before one of the police
courts, either as complainant or defend
ant, in quarrel with cabQan, She
has just had great victory over one of
her enemies. On October 18th she at
tended at the South wark Police Court to
answer a summons obtained against her
by cab driver named Gunley, for refus-
ing to pay him 3d., his alleged legal fare
ult. he took up defendant at York Road
Station, Kings Cross, and drove her first
to the Brighton Station, London Bridge,
and afterward to the Southeastern Sta
tion, when she discharged him, and paid
him 1st. Cd. Being over three miles he
demanded Cd. more, which she refused
to pay. He called constable who swore
that he had measured the distance, ard
that it was over three miles, but at the
solicitation of Mrs. Prodgers an officer of
the court Was sent to measure the dis
tance with a pedometer. He reported
that it was two miles, five furlongs, and
two hundred and ten yards. This officer;
however, not being skilled in the use of
the pedometer, another one was directed
to measure the distance carefully. The
cabman having declined to aprea tn II
the guinea costs and the FIVE shillings
Mrs. Podgers had paid for the measure
ment were returned to her by order of
the court, the cabman's refusal being
taken as a virtual admission that he was
in the wrong.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

THE CAE-CAN.-The can-can in a
modified form still continues, notwith-
standing the promises Of the proPrietors
that the Objectionable portions OF the
programme should be eliminated after
New Years Day. In order TO obtain
their license the owners Of the can-ean
shops made abundant promises which,
after the license was obtained they con
strued to suit themselves. On the other
hand it is contended, and is probably
true, that the Fourth avenue exhi-
bition is not half as bad ms the Lydia
Thompson performances which draws
crowded houses of young bloods and
hoary headed sinners every time the fair
priestess of the flowing trcsses and the
nimble limb visits Pittsburgh. The on.
ly remedy for this state Of things il
to compel both performances TO keeT
within decent restraints, "peaceable j
they will, forcibly they must."-[Pitts
burgh Telegraph.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15
VOLUME 2.
Memory or Instinct.


Many years ago was on mail coach,
and as soon as we cameto public house
the coachman pulled up for fraction OF
a second. He did so when we came to a
second public house, and then l asked
him the reason. He pointed to the of
/ hand wheeler, and said that she had long
been completely blind, and she would
stop at every place on the road at which
she had before stopped. He had found
by experience that less time was wasted
by pulling up his team than by trying to
drive her past the place, for she was
contented with momentary stop. After
this I watched her, and it was evident
that she knew exactly before the coach
man began to pull up the other horses
every public house on the road, for she
had al some time stopped at all. think
there can be but little doubt that this
mare recognized all the houses by her
sense of smell. With respect to cats,
so many cases have been recorded of
their returning for considerable dis
tance to their homes, after their having
been carried away shut up in baskets,
that can hardly disbelieve them, though
these stories are disbelieved by some per-
sons. Now, as far as have observed,
cats do not possess very acute sense Of
smell and they seem TO discover their
prey by eyesight and by hearing. This
leads me to mention another trifiing
fact. sent a riding horse by railway
from Kent via Yarmouth to Freshwater
Bay, in the Isle of Wight. On the first
day that / rode eastward, my horse,
when turned to go home, was very un-
willing to return towards his stable, and
he several times turned round. This
led me to make repeated trials, and ev-
erv time that l slackened the reins he
turned sharply round, and begun to trot
to the eastward by little north, which
was nearly in the dirsction of his home
in Kent. l had ridden this horse daily
for several years, and he had never be-
fore behaved in this manner. My i'm
preston was that he somehow knew the
direction whence he had been brought
| should state that the last stage from
Yarmouth to Freshwater is always due
south, and along this road he had been
ridden by my groom but he had never
once shown any wish to return in this
direction. had purchased this horse
several years before from a gentleman in
my own neighborhood, who had possess
ed him for L considerable time. Never
theless, it is possible, though far more
probable, that the horse may have been
born in the Isle of Wight. Even if we
grant to animals sense of the points of
the compass, of which there is no evi-
dence, how can we account, for instance,
for the turtIes-whlch formerly congre-
gated in great multitndes, only at the
season Of the year, on the shores of the
Isle Of Ascension-inding their way to
that speck of land in the middle Of the
great AtIantic.-Ddruin.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15
From California.

An effort made, year or so ago, to in
troduce eastern Holsters into the Pacific
Ocean by the Fish Commissioners of
California, is believed to be success.
In June, of that year, they set out from
New York with one hundred large and
lively Holsters, with the intention of ac-
climatizing them in the Bay of San
Francisco. All save seven of the lob
sters died on the journey, and those
seven arrived in an exhausted condition
They slowly crawled away when placed
on the shore of the bay, and there was
difference of opinion among the Com
missioners as to the result of the exper-
iment. As each lobster bore about a
quart of eggs at the time of introduc-
ton to the bay, the question was one
which a year would be likely to settle.
If either of the Holsters lived, the eggs
she bore would yield a million Holsters,
and these would soon be noticed by the
fishermen. The original Holsters lived
and thrived, and the bay now contains
millions of young ones. a Chinaman
who cast his net for shrimp the other
day, caught fifteen or twenty young lob
sters, some of which he took to one OF
the Fish Commissioners, in accordance
with previous understanding. The
Eastern lobster is far more palatable
than the so-called Pacific coast lobster
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

Old Ira Thornton was n dreadfully
mean man, and had difficulty, sometimes
n drawing his breath, because he be-
;rudged the air necessary for that oper-
tion. One day the old fellow was at
york npon the high beams Of his barn,
then he lost his balance and fell heavi-
upon the floor, twenty feet below, he
sas taken up for dead, with a fractured
,kull, and carried into the house. All
forts to. bring him to CONSEQUENCES
we're unavailing, and the doctor was
,alled. Finally, the doctor having tre-
panned him turned and asked Mrs.
Thornton for silver dollar 10 put in
where the piece Of skull was wanting.
At this remark, Ira, who had teen
breathing heavily, turned in bed and
groaned out "Nouldnt a cent do as
we'll ?"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15
Took Away Her Teeth.

True love has its usual unpleasant
course in the bosom of a woman in the
upper part of Evansville, Ind, who low
ed not wisely but too well. Her lover
presented her with late style Of false
teeth to replace those missing from be-
tween the lips where his were wont to
stray and steal the dew of love. But
coldness finally came, and he sought an.
other object for his affections. She, too
happened to be toothless, and the lover
had recourse to her whom he had deser-
ted. and the teeth were wrested from her
and presented to the new love. No.
wants the assistance Of the police to re.
cover the apparatus wherewith she dis
poses Of her usual pabulum.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

A Teacher in a SundRy-shcool In r
was examining class Of little boys
from a Scripture catechism. The frst
question was, "Who stoned Stephen 2"
"The Jews" Second question: "WheFe
did they stone him9" Beyond the limits
Of the city" The third questions "Why
did they take him beyond the limits Of
the city," was not in the book, and
proved poser to the whole elass; &c pass
ed from head to foot without an answer
being attempted. AZ length little fell
ow who had been scratching his head all
the while looked up, and said, eWel,
I don't know, unless IL was Co set fair
aing at him"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

There Is much interest manifest, d
among printers in what they call "tour-
nament," or, in other terms, a type.sett-
ing contest, which took place a short
time since. Two composing stic<s-ono
gold and the other silver, newspaper
'ize-are the prizes. There are five or
six contestants on each side, who can
each set twice as many type as an equal
number OF ordinary compositors. Clean
.iness Of proof in addition to rapid sett-
ing, is one Of the essential features ofthe
tournament" The type selected is
1onpareil. The contestants have here
ofore set ] 600 ems for continuous hours
md one Of them, who numbered l 1,657,
vas vanquished in a contest at Philadel-
)hia.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15
BLOOD OF THE HUMAr sysT.

BLOOD OF THE HUMAN SYsrA
The axiom that eve die daily" Is rapid
ly illustrated in paragraph Of Prof
Redfern's paper on Biology, recently
read before the British association. Re
ferring to the blood, il is said that The
duration Of life in any Of it, particles ia
but short; they die and their places are
occupied by others, and so continue a
substitution which only ends in death.
After every meal an amazing number Of
white corpuscles are added to the blood;
breakfast doubles their proportion three
times, and dinner makes il four times 40
great. They come from such solid
glands "a the spleen. In the blood going
to this organ, their proportion is one to
two thousand two hundred and sixty; in
that returning from the spleen, il is as
one to sixty. Perhaps the most stupen-
dous fact Of organization is the steady
maintenance Of but slight variable char
acters in the living and moving blood,
which is every moment undergoing
changes Of different kinds as It circulates
through each tissue and organ Of the
body.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15
A Pretty Quakeress Married.


Gen. Alfred Storms, Of Philadelphia,
and a pretty yonng Quakeress named
Kellogg, we're married by Squire Hall,
in Hudson county, n. j., on New Years
day. Miss KeIlogg's parents objected to
the marriage because Gen. Storms was
not of their faith, but the General in
duced the daughter to marry him not
withstanding their objections.
Miss Kellogg quit her home about two
months ago. writing to her mother that
she intended to enter a convent, and that
it would be useless to search for her
Gen Storms had made arrangements for
her reception in cottage occupied by
an elderly couple, named Steinbrenner,
in Wassessing, n. j., and on Friday they
went before Squire Hall.
Detectives were put on Miss Kellogg's
track, and ON Friday last they traced her
to the little house in Wassessing. They
entered the cottage and produced war
rant for the arrest. General Storms said
that he was her husband, but the detec.
tives would not believe him. At length
the officers the fair captive, and General
Storms we're driven to Squire Halls.
The Justice said that he would like e.
speak to Miss Kellogg in private, and
she went into a back room with him.
In moment he called to General Storm,
to step into the room. The General
quickly obeyed and while the detectives
paced the floor of the 'Squire's ofIic,
General Storms and Miss Kellogg were
made husband and wife.
When the trio reappeared before tho
detective Squire Hall said that he wa,
satisfied that General Storms and Mis-.
Kellogg were husband and wife, and tha'
was the end of it as far as the detective
were concerned. General Storms and
his bride went to Philadelphia on Sat
urdav.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

Nellie Collins, variety girl' at Dallas,
Texas, was the only person among the
large population with sufficient heathen
charity TO take in and care for ten women
and children, immigrants from South
Carolina, who arrived there starving
shelterless and penniless. She gave M
her room to them, bought them food
and brought sheiT case before Ne public
authorities, who provided for them.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

Among other discoveries made by the
Wheeler expedition in Arizona was what
is believed will prove TO be q new varis-
ty Of deer. Il isofvery diminutive size,
and, with this exception, nearly resem-
bles the common white tailed deer Is
is found in great numbers all through
the southern portion Of Arizona Terri
tory. The meat Of a full grown doe, nf-
ter being divested Of the entrails, hide,
etc, only filled camp a kettle, and was
very delicious eating. A fat four prong
ed buck weighed only sixty pounds.--
Grasshoppers we're found with colors
brilliant and beautiful a. the butterfly,
and Of great size. A fully developed
black grasshopper was over three inches
long
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

The rabbit forms an important article
of food in Great Britain and Ireland. In
addition to the very large number i'm
ported from the Continent, 1t is estimat-
ed there are annually bred for food 81
100000 rabbits The flesh is sold at an
average rate of twelve cents (goId) per
pound, which is fully third less than
the price of beef, and considerably under
that Of the choicer portions of the sheep
The value of the annual supply is esti-
mated to be 81 ,S75, 900.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

A letter from Mr.. John q. Whittier
vas read at late peace meeting in
Massachusetts,. lie wrote: "No question
Of more importance has ever engaged
the attention OF the Christian statesman
and philanthropist that the settlement Of
international disputes by arbitration.
have seen no argument against the pro-
posed code calculated in the slightest
degree to throw doubt upon It's feasibility
or to dampen the zeal Of its advocates, or
TO diminish their faith in the promise,
that every plant which our heavenly
Father hath not planted shall be rooted
up. Our Christian civilization is a mis
erable misnomer, If il must al ~ays carry
along with it the brutal barbarism Of
war-a survival Of the stone age and
cannibalism."
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

Captain r. B. Lowry, commanding the
United States steamer Canandaigua, has
. been "furloughed" under the following
circumstances: On board the Canandai-
qua literary journal has been publish
ed of the officers and crew called the
Canandaigua Journal. Recently there
appeared in it an article in which the
administration of the navy department
was subjected to criticism. A copy con-
tanning the offensive article was taken
ashore at New Orleans, and the criticism
being copied into one of the daily papers
of that city, was thus brought to the eve
of Secretary Robson, who instituted the
punishment. The furlough places the
officer on waiting orders with but hall
the pay and allowance of his grade
Captain Lowry's sea pay is 81 800 pei
annum; his waiting orders pay $780,
and the furlough, reducing this one hall
will leave him but 81 400 per annum
The time for which the furlough is tc
continue is not designated.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

Mr.. Plimsoll has received a hant.
somely and expensivcly framed address
from the Seamen's Union Of Victoria,
Australia. In acknowledgement Of his e.
forts in behalf Of seamen in general.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

The fine painting by Albert Bieratadt.
called "RinR River Canon. Califonia,"
now ON exhibition In New York, Is soon
to be sent TO England, having been pur-
chased by nobioman for $4,000.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

A Chinese contractor, convicted of
swindling by making false estimates in
repairing the imperial summer palace,
has been sentenced to decapitation.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

Mr.. j. n. Camden, twice the Demo-
cratic candidate for Governor of West
Virginia. il thought to have the best
chance for the United States Senatorship
from that State.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

MicAisaa finds hss rural population is
dsersasfss, while her cities are growing
in awmbsss.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

Emigration from Prussia to America
is Increasing.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

of it, nearly as many as have occurred
in the whole history of the State before
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-15

Remember that the best kind of giving
lie 10 give work.