davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22
The Raftsmen of the POtO-
mae.

By way of a renewal of the at
tempt at class-sk etching, made in
my last,I propose now to glance at
a class of people once as peculiar
to what is designated by geograph-
crs as the Valley of Virginia las
contradistinguished from the mar
rover Shenandoah Valley as were
the Pinehillers. written of in my
last, to portions of Be. kelley and
Morgan counties. / allude to the
Raftsmen.
The Raftsman is a character of
the past, so far as the Potomac and
its tributaries are concerned. In
the northwest and in Pennsylvan-
ia, and elsewhere, he is known by
the name of Lumberman-a more
inclusive name, because having ref
erence to the telling and collecting
oftimber for transportation to mar
ket,whether by water or other car
riage. He passed out of notice
with the incoming of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad and the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal to Cumber-
land from the Point of Rocks. Be-
fore that extension the canal was a
help rather than q hindrance to the
Raftsman. 1t enabled him to avoid
the evils of the Great Falls of the
Potomac, which used to- make sad
havoc of his RATS of pine logs,
while endangering his own safety
also. 1t was therefore a relief to
him to be enabled, while on his
aquatic way to Georgetown, to turn
his lumber over to the slower but
safer horse power and slack-water
navigation. Before this advantage
was given, he preferred to find a
market at Little Georgetown, Will
Transport, or elsewhere, even at
lower prices.
But strange are the revolutions
which are suddenly brought ABOUT
by such agencies as canals and rail-
reads. In the case under consider
alton, that which Was hailed as a
blessing, when only half finished,
was denounced as curse in the
end. The dams, such as those at
Colston's mill and just below Viii
Transport, which were q necessity
as the canal progressed towards
Cumberland, became in turn so
many artificial falls. These rend-
cred river transportation as peri
lous as it had been pre-
vi0usly rendered by the natural
fall, so that, the question of econ
omy aside, there was no choice but
the use of the canal instead Of the
river. so soon as it could be enter
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22
A Sunny Temper.

What blessing to a household
Is merry cheerful W0man--o one
whose. spirits are not affected by
wet days,or little disappointments,
or whose milk ofhuman kindness
does not sour in the sunshine OF
prosperity. Such a women In the
darkest hours brightens the house
like a little piece OF sunshiny wea-
Their. The magnetism Of her
smiles and electrical brightness OF
her looks and movements infect
every one. The children 20 to
school with q sense of something
great to be achieved; her husband
goes into the world In o conquer
er's spirit. No matter how many
people annoy and worry him all
day, far off her presence shines, and
he whispers to himself, AT home
/ shall find rest.n So day by day
she literally renews his strength
and energy, and If you know .
man with beaming face, q kind
heart and prosperous business in
nine cases out OF ten yon will find
he has q wife of this kind.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22
And now the purity Of the lard
Is under suSpicion:

40 0nttCA oU9HtttVne
A correspondent of the London
Pharmaceutical Journal states that
having had reason to suspect the
purity of most OF the commercial
lard offered for sale, he instituted
a series of experiments, which lo(l
to the detection Of large quantities
of some farinaceous substance in Il.
In quantity Weighing 1863
pounds he found as much us Oh
pounds Of this foreign matter, and
In another lot, weighing 432
pounds, he found l2a pounds Of .
similar substance. The permci0us
effects which such adulterati0n
would be likely to produce in the
employment OF these lards for cor
tain pharmaceutical purposes, and
the danger which might enstle
from their application to machin-
cry, are obvious. In another case
the analysis of some American
lard showed that 1t contained from
ten to twelve PER cent. of water,
two or three per cent. OF alum, and
about one per cent. of quicklime-
the plum, 1t is presumed, being for
the purpose Of communicating
to the lard the property Of faciIi-
Eating the rising, and increasing
the whiteness uf the pastry. III
which it Is so largely employed.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22
Always Keeps His Word.

Alfred was missing one night
about sunset. Mother was anxious
for she wished him to be home ear
ly. A neighbor coming In, said d
number o boys had gone to the
river to swim, and he thought IL
was likely that Alfred was with
them. "No.n said his mother, The
promised me he would never 20
there without my leave, and he al
ways keeps his word.
Blu. seven o'clock came, then
eight, and mother was still listen
ing for Alfred's step; but ii was
half past eight before his shout and
whistle were heard when he ran
in at the gate.
Confess now,v said the neigh
Dor, that you have been to the river
with other boys, and so you kept
away till late.
How the boys eyes flashed. and
the crimson mounted to his checks.
mo sir; l promised my mother
that | never would go there with
out her consent and do you think
that / would tell falsehood II
helped James to find the cows that
had strayed in the woods, and did
not think should stay so late.v
Il think said the neighbor, tnrn-
ing to the mother, as he took his
hat to 60 home, there Is a COM
fort in store for you by him. Such
a boy as that will make q noblo
man.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22

And while thus pleading for that
inevitable separation, he reminds
her that
mo distant hearts can sunder
What mutual truth has Joined.
Thus fresh in all the passionate
tenderness and fervor of youth was
that heart which sacrificed love to
duty on the field of death. He
gave his bride, as lovers token,
at that last parting, a locket con.
tanning some of his own hair. She
lived to become Countess of Boil
ton; but, to the day of her death,
wore on her bosom Wolfo's last
gift, covered with Grape.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22
JACK AND ME.

Shine? All right; herey'ar boss
Do it for jest five cents.
Get 'em fixed up in minute,
That is, if nothin' perwents.
Set your foot right there, sir.
Nornin's kinder cold,-
Goes right through Teller,
When his coats gittin old,
Well, yes-call it coat, sir,
Tnot oh tain L much more n tear.
Get another | can't boss:
Amt got the stamps to spare.
Make as much as most on EN- !
Yes; but then, yer see,
They've only got one to do for,
There's two on us, Jack and me,
Him What that little feller
With Gurus lookin' back,
Sittin' there ON the gratin',
Warmin' hIsself, that's Jack,
Used to go round sellin' papers.
The cars there was his lay;
But he got showed off the platform
Under the wheels one day.
Fact-the conductor did it,
Gia him o reg lar throw,
He didn't care if he killed him
Some of 'em is just so,
He's never been all right since, sir.
Sorter quiet and queer
Him and me goes together,
Hes what they call cashier,
Style. that ere for oootblsck, -
Made the fellers laugh;
Jack and me had TO take it,
But we don't mind no chaff.
Trouble ?---not much, you bet, boss !
Sometimes when biz is slack,
don'l know how I'd manage
If twan't for little Jack.
You lest once crter hear him.
He says we needn't care
How rough luck is down here, sir,
If some day we get up there,
All done now, ---how's that, sir ?
Shines like pair of lamps,
Mornin?-Give it to Jack, sir,
He looks after the stamps.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22
A Hint 10 Christian AssOcia.
lions.

Our workingman said Il want
q place where lean smoke and play
ten-pins without going into sa-
loon or whisky shop IT. you ad
dress your mind to It, YOU will see
that what the average working
man, who has been hard at work
all day, would like is chance to
talk, chance to see his race easi-
Iy, a chance, perhaps, to bowl or
play billiards, and chance to
sn. oke. Well, you open your pub
lie reading-room for that man, UNI
der the curious popular impression
hat reading is itself an eighth vir-
ne, to be added to the seven car
dinal virtues. You tax him and
the rest of the town for it. You
put bright newspapers on the ta-
BILE. You nave q public opening,
and you expect him TO come in.--
Poor fellow!
When he comes to the door he
finds a notice In large letters No
Smoking Permitted in This Build
ing.' He empties his pipe, puts 1t
in his pocket and COOS in to read
No Conversation Permitted. -
Two of the four things he wanted
most are prohibited. The third
the bowling alley-was never pro-
vided And for these reasons, the
chances are that In your cheerful
reading-room he will not even
have the satisfaction OF seeing a
crowd OF his fellow-men The the
ory OF the English workingmen's
club Is broad enough to meet these
and disappointments.
In theory they provide for the
workingman of the poorer classes
just what he wants, by the same
methods of cooperation as an up
town club in New York provides
for gentlemen OF the richer classes
what they want. Why does a
OF good income join one
Of those clubs? Because he wants
q place to eat his dinner in when
his wife is out of town; he wants a
place where he can talk politics
while he smokes his cigar, wants
q chance to see O dozen newspapers
and twenty magazines which he
does not care to subscribe for he
wants to be able to introduce a
stranger in New York, who needs
the hospitality of the city; and he
may want,at some time, to play a |
game of whilst or billiards.
Now the average workingman in
England wants much the same
things. CIub-life in England Is bet
ter understood and more develop
ed than it is in America. 1t his its
and its disadvantages,
ana is reduced TO a very thorough
system. 1t is very natural, there
fore, that the English workman
should attempt accommodations
On the same principles as those
which they see succeed SO well in
the upper classes. To establish clubs
where they can read the newspa-
pers, can talk with each other, can
smoke their pipes, can play baga-
Lelle and nine-pins, has been in sub
stance the aim of many different
in England. A great
man have failed but nearly 600 are
now fourishing - H. Il. Hale, in
Union.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22

ed by the raftsmen of Sleepy Greek,
the Cacapon, the South Branch, or
elsewhere. But then Othello's oc.
cupation was gone. The tame en-
ployment of steering a canal boat,
or driving the mules on the
tow-path by no means satisfied the
ambition of the hardy and adven-
turous raftsman. He preferred to
take the chances of an occasional
cold bath, the wreck of his 'sark, J"
the "scatteration" of his saw logs,
or worse, to SO sensationless a jour
ney as the raging canawio afford
ed, even though he had visions of
riding Shank's mare back to his
home--for this, before the advent
of the steam car, he was obliged to
endure.
| can now see squads of the
roughly-clad and rude-mannercd
wayfarers under notice approach
ing the Old Tavern, soiled and
sore-footed- the Warm Springs
road being preferred even after the
National Turnpike was construct
cd. The first words they uttered,
as they entered, were: Landlord,
breakfast-ham and eggs There
was no If you please added. They
were too hungry for such a COM
plimentary surplusage. The man
ner in which they hid the invaria-
BILE ham and eggs under their belts
plainly indicated. If ever tavern
customers got the worth of their
quarter, they were those seif-same
Raftsmen--and that implies no
small supply for their inner man
with eggs and hams Tor shoulders,
which were often substituted, they
not being very fastidious or dis
crimiuating) at the prices they u.s.
ually commanded fifty years ago.
A certain old farmer was in the
habit of testing, at his dinner Ia
BILE, any one who applied to him
for work. He seemed 10 think
that man who at eslowly would
work slow, and Uice gersa. He
certainly would not, if tried by
this test, have hesitated to employ
the average Raftsman, especially
IT the question of relative quanti-
ties at the table and the plow had
been taken into account!
The Raftsman, as we have al
ready seen, did not stand on cere-
mony. Nor did he concern him
self as to the order of his coming.
AS to the physiological law, which
| Is considered as sanctioning the
after dinner, rest awhile maxim
of DIR. Franklin, he assuredly had
no fear of the consequences of its
violation before his eyes. Like the
beggar, he ate and ran, dyspepsia
being nowhere found in his voea-
| bulary.
A hardy and healthy and con-
tented class of men were, those
Raftsmen of the olden time. In
another respect they were noticea-
bic to commendable degree
They rarely seemed to imagine
that their meal of bacon and eggs
needed anything stronger than
coffee to wash 1t down, as the say
ing is, anaconda-like supply tho
it was. They were as temperate
enterprising, and had no ways that
were dark, or tricks that were
vain. In spirit they were fair
specimens of men born in the
mountains. Self-reliance and a
sense Of independence were plain
~ pictured in the eye and the lines
OF the face, while the voice gave
no contradiction to these attract
i've signs of character.
J. Z. S.
WASHINGTON, ID. G.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22
I From We Detroit Free Press.

ETOW Itt DttfVtt 1Ttt 4 TtoSsl
As they entered a dry-gooda
store yesterday you would have
said that love dwelt In both hearts
and that dove Of peace roasted on
every shinglo on the roof Of their
abiding place. she saw a lovely
dress, and she begged him to buy
but he replied:
II can't darling. not before next
week.
sCan't you. dear ~ she smiled.
swell, will wait"
They had hardly passed out the
door before he said:
I'D like to see myself getting
that Dress"
And she answered:
"You couldn't buy one side Of it,
and If you could you are too stingy
and mean to do 1t ~
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22

The following appears Ia q will
recorded in the Surr0gate's Office
In Binghampton "A word Of adj
vice to my wife. / think you had
better sell everything you do net
need for your own use, on a credit.
Take good, reliable notes, to be
paid when you want 1t. Be care
ful how you trust blood relations !;
they are apt to be blcod-suckers. =
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22

= i say, Jim, why don't you walk
straight ~ How in thunder, Tom,
can a Teller walk straight after he's
been drinkin' crooked whisky 2"
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22
R BENIN seen ES.

wrrrrrS FOR THE sARrissBURe INDEPENDENT
BY A BERKELEY BOY.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1875-05-22

InNorway the longest day is three
months. The morning papers are
published there quarterly.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-05
A wOman's Adventure With Mouse.

A Keokuk woman immortalized her
self and wants a crown of glory of which
very few of the sex are worthy. She is
not afraid of q mouse. She proved that
she was mistress of the situation in the
very face of the mouse himself. The
lady, while pursuing her domestic du-
ties, cornered a mouse in a fiour-barrel.
He had been there before. The lady
had been hankering after him. She
slammed down the lid, plugged up hole
with the butt-end Of four-scoop and
the ravenous animal was nicely caught
in his own trap. Now ninety-nine
women in hundred would have taken
refuge in the garret or cellar, as most
convenient, utterIng piercing shrieks
that would have alarmed the whole
vicinity, like cries of murder" or
fire." The KeOkuk heroine in her ad-
venture with mouse did no such thing
She stood her ground manfully. She
summoned the hired man. He came,
and a council of war was held in the
store-room. The man, according to the
settled plan of the campaign, got shot
gun and stationed q big, clumsy bull
dog in a commanding position. Every
thing being ready for the attack, the lid
was lifted and the lady vigorously
punched the four-barrel with a pole,
Soon the mouse started across the floor
the dog in hot pursuit. The man fired
the dog dropped dead, The lady tainted
and fell downstairs. The frightened
hired man, thinking the woman was
dead and he would be arrested for MUIR
der, dropped the gun, ran away from the
house and has not been seen since. The
mouse escaped unhurt, but very much
scared, and that lady walks proudly
over her victorious neld. There's moth
ing 80 noble % pluck In womSn.-Ss
| Lovis Republican
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-05

stances". Old man Bender is said TO
have been captured alive in Flor
ence, Arizona, and the Kansas State authori-
ties have sent requisition for his deliv-
cry TO the proper authorities. .. The Nebraska
Legislature adjourned sine die on the Goth ult.
go. The Virginia Assembly has chosen State
Senator II, Y. Thomas Lieutenant.G Governor 10
fill the unexpired term of n. T.. Withers,
elected United States Senator.
TUESDAY, March 2.-Mons. Buffet has
been reelected President of the French As.
sembly by vote Of 479 to 63-an unprece.
dented majority. He will attempt the forma-
tioD of new Cabinet. The President has
signed the Civil-Rights bill ...At o
special meeting of the Committee Of
Seventy In New Orleans, held on
the Let, resolutions were adopted-that the
members OF the legislative caucus who had
voted for the Wheeler compromise did not
reflect the wishes of vast majority Of the
Conservative people of the State; that such
compromise was unwise and impolitic, and
announcing in behalf Of the Conserva-
tive people Of the State an unalter-
able determination to continue to oppose the
Kellogg Government regardless Of the action
Of the caucus. "A telegram from Sioux City
Iowa, says there is no question about there
being gold in the Black Hills region. The
specimens brought by Gordon and Witcher,
two recent arrivals from the Hills, are on ex-
hibition in that city, and thousands of people
have examined them. According to the
statement made by Gordon and Witcher,
10000 miners in the Hills can make ten to
twenty five dollars a day as soon as spring
weather sets in. The Minnesota State SEN
ate has voted to indefinitely postpone a bill
providing for an amendment to the Constl-
tuition giving women the right of suffrage.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-05
OHIO LEGISLATURE.

SENATE, Feb. ga bill was intro
duced to so amend Sec. 297 OF the civil
code as to extend the grounds for which
courts may grant new trial TO cases where
the verdict Is against the weight of evidence,
aud cases where the verdict is obtained by
false testimony, After the transaction Of
routine business the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE. .-Remonstrsnces were pre-
sented against any medication Of the Liquor
law, and petitions that 1t be amended so as to
render inspection effectual and make the
possession Of a bar and saloon appliances
pripid. .tdcis evidence OF the keeping oftippllng
shops In violation OF law. The General APP
preparation bill was considered In Committee
Of tine Whole. A bill was Tassed to author
iEe counties, townships, cities and incOrpo-
rated villages TO extend the time Of payment
for bonds issued under the general act Of
March 10, 1S40.. Adjourned.
SENATE, Feb. 23.-The House bill CIV
ing County Commissioners the authority to
locate school houses when the school authori
ties OF any joint sub-distrlct fail 10 agree was
passed. The joint resolution instruetine
Senators sherman and Thurman to vote foI
Gunckels Claim Agent Bounty bill was re-
ferred to the Committee on Federal Relations
IA bill was introduced TO amend Sec, 5lt
Of the civil code relating TO practice. The
bill In relation 10 duties Of Master Commission
ere In conducting skles Of real estate BY proxy
was amended 30 a. 10 require ehSrinS 70 MAKE
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-05

6isSe. oats-No. e 5sK@b4c. Barley-No.
., ei.1201.15. Rye-No. 3, 9eD9sHc.
WooJ.-Tub-washed 45D5eo. fleece, washed,
s0050c.; fleece, unwashed, 2703Yc.
LUhBsR--FifHt Clear S52.0O0550o; Second
Clear, S46O0050.0O; Common Boards, $1,000
1900; Fencing, S1200@t300; IA" Shingles,
S3.0O03.S5; Lath, S2.OO02.25.
CINCINNATI.
BREADsTUFFs. s.--Flour-94950D5t0 wheat-Red,
S1.070i10. Com-656o86c. Rye-S1.130t.15.
oats-59a69c. Barley-No. 2, St.2501.3O.
PROVISIONS Ns.-Pork-sis750l9.OO Lard-iSk
014Ac.
ST. LOUIS.
LIVE BTooK.--Beeyee-Fai TO choice, $3.50
500. Hogs-Live, S5.5O07.5O.
BREADsrUFFs.- Fall, S4.40Oi.5O.
wheAt-No. Red Fall, s1.0501.0e. Corn--No
2, 64065c. oats-No. 2, 561@57c. Rye
No. /, 81 O261.U3 Barley-No. 2, 81. .206b1 .22H.
PROVISIONS. -Mess, S1s4011s.5O. Lard
-13h@t3nc.
MILWAUKEE,.
BREADsTUFFs.-Flour-sp Xxx, a4.6On5 .O).
wheat-Spring No. /, 9009OHc; No. 9, s5HQ
s6c. Com-No. 2, 62X063c. oats-No. 2, b2H0
SIC. Rye-No. /, soc.GS1.OO. Barley-No. 3,
s11S1i.12M.
DETROIT
BREADsrUTFs s.-Wheat-EKtra, s1l2h@1.i3.
corn-6e069kc oats-Ssh@59hc. Dressed Hogs
-t7.5O3775.
TOLEDO.
BRBApsTUFFs-Wheat-A Mich, $40
0l.07k; No. 2 Red, S1.Obk01.O6. Corn
High Mixed, 67h@B5c. Oats-No. ,, 57Q
57Mc.
CLEVELAND.
BREADsTUrFs-Whsat-N 1 Red, S1.10n4
iii; No. 9 Red, s1.O4h01.O5. Corn--716
nc. Oats 60061c.
Y
LIVE sTooK,-Beeves - sb0Oa5.i5 Hogs-
Live, S6.5007.40. Sheep-S55OG6.25.
EAST LIBERTY.
LIVE srocK.-Beeves-Best, S6.25Q6.75; me.
dium, S5.4005.T5. Hogs = Yorkers, S6.bSd
$50; Philadelphia, $7.7007.9o. sheep-Best,
50G6.25; medium, S5.0015.5c.
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-05

toe 10 heel, and six inches across the
broadcast part Of the sole, and its former
occupant is not happy, for the other
shoe is just like II, and her feet grow one
size every year. She Is only sixteen
years old-iust budding into woman
hood. We shudder as we contemplate
the result should she live to a good old
age and keep up her pedal development.
In addition TO the main edifice there
is bay window on the east side of the
gaiter, to accommodate a few exotic
bunions, and an extensive corn patch to
the west. A back porch has also been
constructed on the heel to protect a
growth in that direction, while one tiny
toe-nail has cut cash like spade slash
out into daylight on the northernmost
point of the structure.
"The girl only weighs eighty.five
pounds, and has r. tceivcd commission
to go West next summer to tramp
grasshoppers in Colorado"
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-05
A MOnstrOus story.

The Bloomington Paragraph says;
Mr. Damon, a gentleman selling shoes
for leading mandatory of Worcester,
Mass, was in the city yesterday, and in
addition 10 his other baggage brought
with him and exhibited TO few admir-.
ing friends shoe that has done good
service on the foot of reigning belle of
Sandusky. Ohio. This delicate souvenir
might we'll be placed In comparison with
the glass slipper that compressed the
arching instep Of Cinderella. The San
dusky bellies 10 numbered seventeen,
extra large, Is only fourteen inches from
Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-03-05

The farmers of this country now
number 5000, 900, constituting nearly
half the voters; with their wives and
of the 40, 200, 600 Of our population.