davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1875-03-25

How A CAT Won A WAGER.-A number
of persons were in the American House
billiard saloon last night. when man
came in with cat in his arms. A mo-
mentary wonder was expressed as to
what the companionship meant, as men
are not in the habit of going about with
cats in their arms. The observers had
not long to wait. a. the cat carrier ex-
claim I'D: "Bet anybody this cat will
carry q bottle of ale ten feet" Some
body, either doubling the pussy would
perform the feat, or willing to see il
done, took the bet. Two chalk lines
were made on the floor. the bottle was
produced. and the performance began.
The bottle was placed on one mark,
and the cat was to carry it to the other.
Selling the animal by the tail, the man
hung her head down over the bottle.
Obeying a known impulee. the cat
grabbed the bottle with her fore feet.
The man then walked over to the chalk
mark, and the cat, clinging desperately
to the bottle. carried it along the floor
to the specified distance. The wager
was won.- Miners Journal. ---
, 1875-03-25

r. Professor Churchill, of Oberlin,
says that too many hours of study
are exacted of pupils in the public
SCI ools; that instructors are careless OF
the amusement Of children; that the
courses of study require too mu,h. only
few of the brighter ones being able to
perform the labor required in the time
allotted. He advocates not the lower
ing the standard Of the high school. but
the lengsLening Of the time devoted to
the lower grade. 'i'f lts4'.
, 1875-03-25

WHO PAYS FOB Ir?-The New York
Sun says: .'Mr. Leland Stanford. Of the
Central Pacific Railroad is about to
build house in San Francisco which
will eclipse in splendor the magnificent
residence lately erected by Mr.. Sharon.
the newly elec.ed Senator from Nevada.
who. by the by, actually resides with
his family in San Francisco. Mr..
Stanford's house will be 125 feet square
ON the ground, and the largest private
residence in California, and will be fin
ished inside and outside in the most
elaborate and expensive manner. In
the meantime the people of the whole
country are annually taxed to pay the
interest on the bonds of Mr.. Stanford's
railroad.
, 1875-03-25

n A nephew Of Stonewall jackson
married niece of Geo. B. Mcclellan,
at Denver the other day.
, 1875-03-25

Work Oxen kept for sale. Barrelled
Beef and Pork constantly ON hand
and at prices to suit the times.
Patronage respectfully solicited. Ap-
ply to the SEATTLE MARKET, corner
Commercial and Washington Streets
Seattle. W. T. Ang. 27 1874.
, 1875-03-25

TwKxrY-cxNr PIECES At LAsr.- The
coinage of 20 cent pieces has been au-
thorized, and the eame arc made legal
tender to tho extent of e5. This il
purely . Pacific coast measure. but viii
be slike bens6cial 70 all parts Of the
United Ssates upon the resumption Of
spscie payments. tits long step in
the way of petfectisg our decimal sys-
tenn, and we presume does away with
the coinage of Is cent pieces. 1t will
of course be some little time before the
new coin can Be issned. but its intro
duction into our currency system will
put a stop to = great deal Of petty
swindiipg which has been developed in
connection With what is known here As
tho bit system. The. .days. Of long tifs
and short bits ars'numbered. and hon
est dealing in respect to change is at
hand. -.5f u 4.tat. s.is
, 1875-03-25
or California

YUlHE STEAMSHIP VENTURA CAPTAIN
4 SholN carrying Her Majestys Mails and
sailing on the 9Th and Goth Of each month, calls
at Victoria only, but connects with steamers for
all Ports on Puget Sound and the new gold dig
gings of Stickeen and Cassiar.
The Steamship Los Angeles (Ca>t. HowelD
carrying Her Majes,y's mails and sailing on the
18th ard 27th of each month, calls ut Port
Townsend Seattle and Tacoma touching at
Victoria fer passengers and mails only.) M
, 1875-03-25

marx TWAIN DELIVERS A CHARITABLE
LECTURE = CHARACTERISTIC LETTER. =
Samuel L. Clemens has consented to
lecture in Hartford for the benefit Of
the poor. Following is his letter:
an.t 1o@E
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-22

handkerchief is worth any more, but
even should it be pay dear enough for
it, and you ought to excuse me for the
difference" Then, taking the handker-
chief, he kissed it and gave it to the
Captain. "My Captain" said he, in
two years you will return to our mount
aims if you go near to Arenburg ask for
Marie; give her this blue handkerchief,
but do not tell her how bought it."
He then knelt in prayer, and marched
with q firm step to his execution.
l retired then and entered the wood
that l might not witness this cruel trag.
edy. A few musket shots soon apprised
me that all was over. l returned an hour
afterward: the regiment had departed
all was quiet; but in skirting the edge OF
the wood to regain the road 1 perceived
at = few PAGES before me traces of blood
andra heap of earth freshly made.
took y branch of fir-tree and made sort
Of cross; 1 placed it on the grave of poor
Pierre, forgotten row by all the world
except myself and perhaps by Marie
Translation from the French.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-22
CultivafIng Oak Trees.

IT is not too late at the North to direct
the attention of our tree planters and our
nurserymen to the planting and propaga-
ton of the varieties of the native oak, SO
abundant in the American forests. The
oak is au emblem of strength and endur-
ance. 1t is a notable, stalwart tree,
stretching its brawny arms out far and
wide and towering as loftily as its more
rapidly growing companions of the for
ests. No one who has seen those fine
specimens of native oak in the public
squares of Philadelphia but must have
admired their vigorous forms and strong,
spreading branches. They are striking
specimens of successful growth. Yet
the same objection exists to the oak as
TO the white wood: its wide-spreading,
lateral and deep-descending tap roots.
For successful planting they should be
started from the acorns where the trees
are to grow. OF all the varieties the up
land white, the common oak of the ship
builders, and swamp or lowland white,
and the Over-cup oaks are the grandest
in their growth and stature. The latter
throws up antler- like branches, which,
when denuded of their leaves, have a
bold, striking appearance with less of
spray than the others, but deeper col
Ored, larger and longer leaf The red,
yellow, gray and black oaks, as they are
severally called, but which in reality
differ little in size and appearance, are
also noble trees and grand objects when
standing apart or in groups in the park
or on the lawn.-N. Y. Herald
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-22
Culture of CauITfOWer.

MANY of our rural friends would like
to grow this delicious esoulent il it were
not for the mistaken idea that its culture
belongs exclusively to the professional
gardener. Never was greater mistake.
1t is true, very much depends upon the
character of the season; much more, in
fact, than upon the skill of the grower
No vegetable is more dependent upon a
copious supply of rich, stimulating ma
nurs than the cauliflower; consequently
the bed where it is grown must be
thoroughly enriched to begin with. The
soil, also, should be dug deeply, and if in
q low, damp locality, SO much the better.
In regard to applying manure to this
plant, some of the best caulifiower-grow-
ers in England recommend digging a
large hole and dumping small barrow
load of manure to each plant. This,
however, is OVERRIDING the matter, rs less
will answer the purpose equally we'll.
The plants (which should have been win
tered in cold-frames, or else have been
grown in hOt-bed from very early sOwn
seed, similar to early cabbage) should be
removed with little balls of earth at
tached to the roots during damp,
cloudy day. Mulch the surface with
strawy manure to hold the moisture, to
preserve the soil cool and to afford addi-
tional nourishment to the plant. The
idea is to have the plants head" before
the hot weather is too severe, so that the
stronger our plants and the more rapidly
they grow the greater will be our sue.
cess. As soon as the compact white
flower buds show the leaves should be
carefully drawn over them and tied to
preserve their pure white color. Some
seasons the best gardeners will only sue
coed in heading very few heads, SO
that the novice must not feel discour-
aged with similar fortune; if the season
however, should prove wet a large per
centage will, in all probability, head well
strain of seed.-N. Y. Tribune.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-22
especially it cauQe extensive dam age
sometimes riddling them through and

especially it cauQe extensive dam age
sometimes riddling them through and
through.
Soap being offensive to this insect, it,
has been much used as a preventive to
their attacks; but since these insects do
not confine their depredations to the
| trunks of trees the soap should also be
applied to the larger branches. The
application should be made twice in the
season-once toward the end of May,
and again in July or August. Besides be-
ing obnoxious to the borer, it also is ben
efcial in Kidding the bark of moss, and
keeping it smooth. 1t has also been
found beneficial to paint the trees with
| a mixture of soap and lime; and the
| Farm and Garden" would ado, if carbolic
soap is used, or a little carbolic acid
say one part of impure crystals to TWEEN
| ty of the soap-so much the better. In
cases SO treated the larvae have been
known to make their way out, fall to the
ground and perish.
The presence of the young borer is
easily detected by discolored spot, the
cracking of the bark, or sawdustlike
appearance. If examined in the sum-
mer it will be found just gnawing into
the tree, and can be detected by drop
of moisture exuding from the bark. So
it may be easily extracted with knife,
or, better, by means of a bent wire.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-22
The Flat Headed Apple-Tree BOrer.

"ADELLA," the chronological CORE
spondent of the Chicago Tribune, writes
as follows concerning this destructive
insect:
Although the larva of this borer enters
the tree in similar manner to the round
headed borer, Its habits are entirely diff
ferent-the latter living nearly three
years in the tree, while the former
Fenorata-remain only two at the far
thest, and by many are supposed to re-
main only one year in the tree.
The eggs are deposited by the female
the latter part of May or first of June
in the latitude of Peoria, Ill, in the crew
ices of the bark, or under loose scales of
the trees-sOmetimes mere than one be-
to the family Buprestide, and may easily
be observed basking in the sunshine on
the trunks Of the trees.
The head of this bOrcr being wide and
fiat, the hole is always recognized by its
peculiar shape. The tail of the insect is
always found curled up over the back
They are very destructive when several
are found in one tree, as they sometimes
girdle the entire trunk or limb.
The larva of the round-beaded borer
attains much larger size than the one
we are now describing. The fiat-heaued
borer breeds readily in decayed stumps,
and is more liable to be found in dis
eased trees than in healthy ones When
about to transform it always cuts pas
sage back to the outside, leaving thin
covering of bark; then retires, and,
making q smooth cavity, changes into
chrysalis-thus providing for itself an
easy passage when just Matched and weak;
so the jaws of the larva are much stronger
than those of the beetle, and it thus
forms the passage for the exit of the
beetle from the tree and, in three weeks
from the formation of the pupa the true
insect emerges from the tree through this
prepared way.
The beetle is of greenish- black color
above, with brassy polish. The size
varies considerably, and, to the eye not
educated to recognize them, they re-
sembl0 other members of the same fam
lily, SO that other insects are often taken
for this. II attacks the apple and the
peach; and, besides, the soft maple, oak
and other foro st trees. To the soft maple
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-22

Yesterday morning, about eight clock,
the down stage en- route from jackson to
Gait was stopped about four miles below
lone, at a point in open country where
there is brush fence on each side of
the ruad, by two armed men, who sud-
denly stepped out from behind the fence
and commanded the driver to STOP
Alexander Torges, one of the proprietors
OF the Cincinnati Free Press, was one of
the passengers by the stage, being en-
route for Sacramento from lone, and from
him we obtain the following particulars
of the robbery:
One of the highwaymcn, armed with q
shot gun, stood at the head of the horses
and covered the driver with his gun,
commanded the driver not to attempt to
proceed further and directed him to
throw out Wells, Fargo 81 Co. s treasure
box. As it was tossed out he inquired if
there was much in it. The driver re-
: sponded that he thought not There
upon the robber picked it up, shook it,
concurred in the opinion that the contents
were light, and declared that he would
be compelled, in order to make up for it,,
to levy forced contribution upon the
passengers. He commenced by assuring
them that he was one of the oldest hands
at the business on the coast and would
go through with the matter in hand with
neatness and dispatch.
The GOODNESS with which he acted went
Tar toward bearing him out in his claim
to experience; but his confederate. who
silently maintained his position in front
Of the team, trembled noticeably, and
probably he was a novice. The passen-
gers were told to get out one at a time;
there were seven of them-six men and
one woman-of whom we have the
names of four, viz: Messrs Aiken and
Thomas, of Jackson; E. johnson, Super
intendent of the Newton copper mine,
located near lone, and Mr.. Torges. The
fifst passenger searched was relieved of
$l60; the second Of $42 and a silver
watch; the third-Torges-of a gold
watch, chain and locket, valued at $500
800 in currency and $50 in coin, all of
which was in his pocket-book; but $3.50
in twenty-dollar gold pieces, which were
loose in his pocket, were not found, and,
as his coat was buttoned up, and he had
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-22
INDUSTRIAL.

BUTTER to the amount of 2,0o7 tubs
about 1O4,35O pounds-was shipped
from st. Adams, VT, during March.
ly being made in various parts of Massa.
chusetts, Utah, California, Oregon and
Washington Territory.
TIE Virginia (Nev.) Chronicle says
that there are now 5000 or 5000 more
laboring men in Virginia City than are
wanted at the mines, and still they come
IT is estimated that 1857, 800 pounds OF
butter and 6,0S1, 1893 pounds of cheese
were shipped from St. Lawrence County
N. Y, during the year 1874. Total value
"a, SOC, 900.
PAYMENTS to laboring men should be
at short intervals, especially when the
men have families depending on them. l,
is better to pay In money than in goods
or orders.
THE sulpburic acid used for cleansing
and deodorizing petroleum at Cleveland
refineries is restored by chemical proc
ess there to better commercial article
of acid than the original.
FIVE cotton-mills are in operation
within five miles of Lawrenceburg
the way In which cotton factories are
springing up all through the South.
THERE are five or six manufactures oil
is an extensive trade with Germany in
this article, and sor,e of the companies
do q large business with China and
Japan.
PENNSYLVANIA, in 1874, produced 81 !,
677, 600 tons of anthracite coal, and yet
all this digging made hole in her coal
deposits no more appreciable than q
bucket of water taken out of Lake RO.
land.
PoRK-PACKINa this season has turned
out about 1, 100, 900, 600 pounds of hog in
various forms, or 555, 900 tons, enough to
load 81, 500 cars and 3,7O0 railroad trans
Ten full trains each day the year round
would hardly move the meat packed al
the West during the last winter.
THE English oil-buyers are objectine
to the American certificates of fire test
as not conforming to the English law
The trade has been in the habit of pass
ing as standard oils bearing American
certificates of fire test, but the English
law requires that the oil be tested in q
close vessel, while it is the custom here
to make the test in an open vessel. The
different modes of testing give results
varying from ten to twenty degrees
apart.
A DAY LABoRER who saves three dol
lars a week is a capitalist. If he puts
his savings in horse and dray, or into
a chest of tools, or into candy. shop, he
reinvests; and now his capital is, pri
marily, his own productive force-thai
is, himseh-and, secondarily, these new
means of carrying on business. Every
step by which he rises from poverty to
competence is in the direction of aug.
mented capital. Every prosperous
workingman is proof to himself that
there is no need of conflict between
labor and capital.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-22
Planting Potatoes.

TIE best possible soil for potatoes is
land from which the timber has been
taken the next best, new land, the Sec
ond or third year from breaking. After
that a clover sod plowed and narrowed
until it is pretty well broken down.
If you want to get the most bushels
from gwen quantity of seed, check the
land three by three feet both ways, and
drop a single eye, cut from large pota-
toes, in each check. If you want to get
the most potatoes from given piece of
land, drop two pieces in the checks; or,
if varieties with dwarf or medium tops,
mark your land, if rich, three by two
feet, putting two pieces in each check.
There is no need OF hand-hoeing on
land in good condition, and ordinary
clean. Plow the land thoroughly, har-
row and mark, as heretofore directed,
with a common sled-shaped commander,
the shoes three feet apart. Drop the
potatoes, stepping lightly on each piece.
with horseshoe, or ridging plane, leay
ing the soil as light as possible. So soon
as weeds show themselves drag length
wise of the lows with light harrow, or,
if you have not that, then with heavy
one turned upside down. In a day or
two ridge again with the horseshoe.
Just as the potatoes are coming up, or
before II weeds appear, harrow again,
with the harrow upside down, the way
of the rows, or run a tour by four scant-
ling along the rows.
The first time you pillow your potatoes
work across the ridges, and SO work both
ways-always with the horseshoe or
ridging plane-until the potatoes are
ready to blossom. After that it is better
to cease cultivating; at least, no more
earth should be given them.
If the Colorado beetle appears, use
Paris-green and plaster-say three pecks
of plaster to one pound of pure Paris
green. The plaster is an excellent appli-
cation for the crop, and also a good
you should raise potatoes of the best
quality, and at a minimum cost.-Chicago
Tribune
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-22

And he handed to him the following
letter, every word of which is present to
my memory:
MY COOP FRIEND PIERRE-I profit by the
recruit Arnold, who is engaged in your regi-
ment, to send you this letter and silk purse
hide myself from my father while made it,
for he continually scolds me for loving you
SO much, and says that you will not come
back. You will come back, won't you? But
if you never return l shall love you all the
same. promised myself to you the day you
picked up my blue handkerchief at the dance
in Arenburg and brought it back to me.
When shall sec you again? What makes
by your superiors and beloved by your COM
rades. But you still have two years of
service. Get through them quick, for then
we will be married Adieu, my good friend
Pierre. Your dear MARY.
p. S.-Try to send me something from
France; not that I am afraid that shall for
get you, but that may wear it always. Kiss
what you send me. / am sure that shall
find the place of your kiss again.
When the letter was read Pierre re-
sumed: Arnold" said he, "gave me this
letter last night when my billet of quar-
sleep. l thought of the village and of
Marie. She asked me for something
from France. had no money; I had
pledged my pay for three months for
my brother and my cousin, who had re-
turned home a few days before. This
morning when arose to leave opened
my window. A blue handkerchief was
hanging on line; it resembled that of
Marie's; it was the same color, the same
white stripes. 1 was weak enough to
take it and put it in my sack. 1 went
down into the street; repented of what
l had done, and was about returning to
the house when this woman ran after me-
The handkerchief was found upon me.
That is the truth. The capitalization de-
mands that be shot. Shoot me, but do
not despise me-"
The judges could Hnot restrain their
emotion-but, notwithstanding, when the
vote was taken, he was unanimously con-
demned TO death. He heard the verdict
with composure; then, approaching his
Captain, he begged him to lend him four
francs. The Captain gave them
to him. I saw then that he ad-
vauced toward the woman, to when
the blue handkerchief had been restored,
and I heard these words: Madam,
here are four francs; I don't know if your
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-22

THE PEOPLES FRIEND.-lt Is susceptible
Of easy proof that the sewing machine has
been greater blessing to the masses Of
American people than any invention OF the
present century. Nothing else has done SO
much to save the lives and health of the wives
and mothers, the patient, overworked women
of the land, who. as a class, most needed re-
lief from the burthens of every day life.
Every father and husband fails in his duty Il
he negIccts to endow his home with such q
triumph of science as the Wilson shuttle sew
ing machine. Machines will be delivered at
any railroad station in this county, free Of
transportation charges, If ordered through
the company's branch house at 1917 State
street, Chicago. They send an elegant cata-
logue and chrome circular free on applica-
ton. This company want q few more good
agents.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1875-05-22
SKETCHES OF CORRESPONDENCE.

April 10, 1s!o.-DE. DopoE: Sh-Your prescription
is 10 hand. We commence its once, but we fca
it is too late. Mrs. Mann is very low Your article
on Cardiac Heart Disease raised her hopes very
ly covered with water April l9-NIrs Mann
appears still on the verge OF the grave. . April
2-Ne have now faint hopes. she is improving; her
feet are warmer the limbs not so lifelcss, breathing
not SO short and worried; instructions closely fol-
better That "all-gone" feeling. smothcring and
blood Improves in the limbs and less blood rushcs
TO the head. May i2-Dcar Doctor yours to
HAND. Mrs. Mann is decidedly better: her breath is
free and easy and satisfies her, which 1t has not
pcrspraion the skin the region of the heart
since which she has felt wonderfully relieved !.
hopes you may succeed in wifes if you
do shall regard 1t almost miracle, after many
eminent medical gentlemen have failed. :. June
SeDear Doctor, your fresh supply Of remedies is to
suocaton, sinking away, shorness of breath, weight
and pressure about the heart rush of blood to the
head, cold feet ard limbs are all much better.
Aug Dear Doctor, We consider Mrs; Mann about
well. she has great strength and good health, for
which we can never fully repay you. We shall ever
praise and recommend you. tseveral Of neghbors
will write you this week.
My wife was often troubled with Erysipelas eleven
years since which disappeared suddenly from tDsur-
face and medical men said that it struck heart
She sank very low and was given up to die at that
time and has been very low ever since and no rene
dies gave permanent relief We consulted YOU and
your remedies helped almost from the first And as
ed and removed the cause Of disease which was tie
ESys;pesas; This we think the key TO your success
A g. MANN, Louisville. KY.
Dr. codges articles on Cardiac or Heart Disease win
be occasionally inserted for some time come.
dollars to DIR. NATHANIEL S. DODGE
Care Palmer House, Chicago Ill.