davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30
Mexican Beauties.

Ben Perley Poor writes from the city Of
Mexico. 1T used to be said that the Mexi-
can ladies began the day in black, on their
knees in chapels, and ended their waking
hours amid the blaze of dress and jewels in
the family box at the opera. think that
the matin prayers are rather out OF fash
ion, but an opera box is still an indispens-
able necessary of life. Social visiting is
not common, but ladies are at home in
their opera boxes, where their friends call
upon them between the acts. The moment
the drop curtain descends there is q crack
ling of the wax matches in use here, cigar
cites are lighted, and the gentlemen go the
rounds of their lady acquaintance, who
receive them courteously, coquettishly using
their fans, while their lustrous eyes well
come favorites. A gentleman who has re-
sided here for some time declares that il the
Mexican ladies are not SO variously beauti-
full rs the women of northern lands, in
whose veins the blood Of many nations has
mingled, they are most lovable creatures In
spite of the uniformity Of their national
type. There is a degree of exquisite ten
deruess and an expression of affectionate
sincerity in the faces of Mexican women,
which instantly wins not only respect but
the confidence of the gazer. The toilets we
saw at the opera were elegant but not in
any way gaudy, and at an operate perform
ance in any Of our cities we should have
seen much more of the wearers, although
the Mexican ladies are almost all so stout
that they can appear deeolette without ana
tomical suggestions"
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30
LITERARY
VERY GOOD TEST.
A MateraIized Ghost Willing to Risk 6ul
let.

mateta"<eo N"o1s .W"'"s 70 0's~ ou'
A St. Louis exchange says:
1t will be seen by the correspondence be-
low that w. c. Clark, a Spiritulist, who re-
sides in this city, has agreed to submit him
self to very severe ordeal to prove the
genuineness of materializations. To shoot
at materialized spirit is an experiment to
which mediums have never before consent
ed.
Many marvellous tests have been made,
but they were generally harmless, and it
may be said that ghosts have shown quite
an aversion to gunpowder and projec,iles.
Distinguished experimentalists, such as MIR.
Olcott and Mr.. Crokes, declare that they
have frequently enjoyed the liberty Of
caressing and kissing them, but it has been
uniform assertion on their part that the
atmospheric conclusion Of pistol discharGe
would be too great shock to the nerves Of
both spirit and medium.
Mr.. Clark, however, claims that he has
the power to STAND the test, and will sub
NIT to it under the strictest conditions. A
skillful marksman will be selected for the
occasion, who will be permitted to load and
aim the rife, and, if any physical being is
personating the ghost, something is liable
TO drop. A large hall is to be selected fol
the exhibition of the feat, in order that al
may have an opportunity of witnessing
il.
II was Mr.. Clark's intention to give
private seance first to select few, in ordel
to demonstrate his power to endure tn
/ ordeal, and then offer second exhibition
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30
LOSSES

y
Upon the white sea sand 81.
There sat pilgrim band,
Telling the losses their lives had known,
While evening waned away M
From breezy cliff and bay, Ga
And the strong tides went out with weary
W. One spake with quivering lip -@3
OF q fair-freighted ship.
With all his household to the deep gone down.
But one had wilder woe a g4
T For q fair face long ago a,s5 t45sv.sss
Lost in the darker depths Of great town.
There were some who mourned their
youth
With most loving truth, d 3.
For its brave hopes and memories ever green,
And one upon the west
Turned an eye that would not rest,
For far-off hills whereon its joy had been. ~
But when their tales were done,
There spake among them one,
A stranger, seeming from all sorrow tree
s'Sad losses have ye met,
But mine is heavier yet,
For believing heart hath gone from me-" II,
"Alas!" these pilgrims said,
stFor the living and the dead,
For fortunes cruelty, for loves sure Cross,
For the wrecks of land and sea,
But however it came to thee !,
Thine stranger, is life's last and heaviest loss.
-[Athenaun.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30

UP TO SINE DIE.--In neighboring county
the Democrats had, for over twenty years.
been IN the habit Of holding all their county
nominating conventions at the house of a
staunch old Democrat, Mr.. G! He happen :
ed, on recent occasion, for the first time to
De In when motion was made to adjourn
sine die. ''Sine de-" said he to a person
near him, "where's that?" .sAway up in
the northern part Of the county," replied.
"Hold on. If you please, Mr.. Cheerman. p
said Mr.. g., with great earnestness and
emphasis; ''hold on, sir. I'd like to be
heerd on that question. I've kept a public
house for more'n twenty years. I'm poor
man. I've alters been q Democrat and never
split my ticket in my life. This is the most
central location in the county, and its where
we've always had our county caucusses. I
have never had or asked an Office, and have
worked night and day for the party, and
now think, sir, it's contemplate, it's infer
nally mean, for to 60 for to adjourn this ere
convention way up there to that sine die ="
The convention adjourned in commissions.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30
An Old-time Torture.

The London Daily Telegraph Of July 90
says: The Paris newspapers have-with
what foundation in fact we are unable to
say and reluctant to surmise-been actively
engaged lately in lioniring certain Father
Remy, who is said to have returned from
Thibet, in which regions he has made num-
Der of conversions under certainly extra
ordinary circumstances. The story goes
that he fell, IS missionary, under tide sus-
picion of the local authorities. and the
od,um tAeologicum reached the unpleasant
climax of the luckless ecclesiastic being
condemned to be eeartele, or quartered. An
attempt was actually made to put the sent
ence into effect-le Pere Remy's legs and
arms being tied to four horses, which were
straightway driven in different directions.
But, it is added, the devoted missionary is
q very powerful man, and the steeds, with
all their strength, did not succeed in tearing
him assunder. His prosecutors, the story
goes on to say, were so struck by his seem
ingly miraculous powers Of endurance that
they embraced the quasi-martyr, and were
forthwith converted to Christianity. Oh
this tale it may be said, first that it answers
the Italian condition Of being ben trorato
and next, that if it be an invention, il
should have been written by medical man
for only skillfdl anatomists know what I
herculean task it is to tear living human
being into quarters Muscularity ha'
nothing whatever to do with the resistanc,
the human frame will offer to inordinat.
| tension. 1t is matter of thews and sinew'
of gristle, in fact. 1t is very difficult te
break mans skull, unless knowingly o.
unknowingly the head be hit in precisel,
the proper place; but it is much more d-fh.
cult to rend him assunder bodily. In tn
days Of torture prisoners might be racke.
day after day and their limbs dislocate,
and rent time after time, put the frame 0
the tormented wreschssin held good. A
for quartering . sufferer by means d
horses, there are two celebrated instance
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30

that continually; and it is . perfect mystery
that gentlemen Of my profession care - It,
tie, do and know so little about q poison that
is doing mischief at soterrible rate.
ssSir," the doctor continued. 81 was at q
council Of physicians the other day, "a the
border Of this town; the patient was young
man prostrated by paralysis; he was de-
prived Of the use Of his lower limbs from the
abdomen to the toe. We overhauled him;
we Withdrew and talked about antecedenss
and probable causes, and came to no salts
factory conclusion. Dissatisfied and impa-
tient, inquired Of the attending physician
whether the poor fellow used tobacco"
:, 20, no. he replied, II guess not" and
with an air of nonchalance, added, What
if he does? that can have nothing to DO with
his case"
Il did not ask yop," I ,repled.--"about
the effects Of tobacco, but simply if. the pa
tient used il"
Grufly he said, 500 and see" I'll 9ti .ist3
Stepping to his bedside, said, ssNIy
young friend, do you use tobacco?''
With squealing voice, more cat like than
human, he answered, II use little.'' n
t.How do you use it!'' a -
II smoke ittle:'' s.s .ef5..f ssI3
ibid you smoke this morning." III.
Yes, 4 little" '1.
Before 1 quit his side ascertained that
he had, actually consumed sixteen cigars q
day, and the poor fellows soul was, so obfus.
Gated ~ smoke that he considered that pro-
dicious amount but little! 'Htaa.l .sss3ss
'.This," continued the doctor, "may seen
strange, but the strangest thing Of al is tn,
fact that his attending physician, regular
and we'll bred, did not know, in the frs
place, that his patient used tobacco, and sec
ondly, if he did, he did not know that :
rank and deadly poison could have anything
| to do with his case.''
We ara indebted to the medical profes
fession for the most effective testimon,
against this popular poison; hence we hav'
no wish to arraign it and denounce it il
wholesale style. But account for it as w
may, on the score Of selishness or igno
rance, the main body Of the profession ar
mournfully derelict in duty touching tn
ruinous effects Of this great and fashionable
narcotic. ' -
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30
Starting Osprscation. in Value.

A very lntelligent old darkey was met BY
IN ane-bellum friend the other dav forthe
nrst time since the war, and the old mans
dehgns IN seeing one Of Massa's ticker
friends ID old times was unbounded After
= hearty hand-shaking and . protracted
laugh peculiar to The Southern dsrkey. the
gentleman asked:
"Well, Uncle. Joe, how are you getting
along 10 The Morld,"
~ ''e5orter slow, Narse -. Been Md
rheumatft right smart lately, and thinss
amt gon1 'saetly right no. how" replied tie
'd3rk%y.ar. a. ss s.DA 5s'.f
d'sA greet many changes have tAkxs place
since 11ast saw Ypp. Uncle Joe. De.k ~
taken your old misier away. X f.n;i, s..
scattered aabout the four ofarte;s. M M.
globe, the tsymie divided up, ssd ttfan1.eiis
occupy the old house !. Il nenee - ~
right sis, tn1le Joe. 10 thinl a ~ .s..... -.
a.. ss'e dss'a wrought y "a 7fifir
|,,sf'Y.ss Z replied The .UDcls, Joe. .. ~Ysu
nenoer wnen vas slaye ! worked Aard
q oda times. snd made money 'nuff 10 ,huy
myself Paidaeld MAsss$ b, 000 for ny iff f'ee-
|, 200 ':.Ye,. ~; ;iA ss Fl: ,' ~
"a saas nsd DIT money now mnssd the
well yes,n replied Mr. -.i45 ~ would
oe quite fortune far.you. "1,sn b. s ~
esc q fortune 6ar," ssid the old mas
| geer.s1ily; esd every fine ink About Il
Atnpeer re d. haEgnis- Niger was 3iul
. Thousand dollars then, .hstnpew -. ais.i
|: Era essA Mighty changes u A. Hegld
.-s-s~.ss, org
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30
An Ancient Metric System.

The library Of Asshurbanipal, King Of
Assyria, found during Mr.. Layard's excava-
tions At Nineveb, shows that science had
made no little progress IN Asia twenty five
hundred years ago. This curious library
consisted Of fat, square tables Of baked
clay, having on each side page Of closely
written cuneiform cursive letters, which had
been impressed on the clay while it was yet
moist.
The great majority Of these tablets are now
in the British Museum, and have been found
to contain the remains Of an immense gram
NAUTICAL encyclopedias. There are also frag-
ments Of many mathematical and astrono-
mical treaties, with catalogues Of observa
tons, tables, calculations Of eclipses of the
moon, and observations Of solar cclipses, the
earliest Of which occurred nearly thou
sand years before the beginning of the
Christian era. There are also fragments Of
law books and legal records, books Of chro-
nology, manuals Of history, accounts of As
hymns in the style of the Psalms of David,
geographical encyclopedias, works on nat
ural history containing lists Of plants and
animals, Of timber trees employ d in build
ing and furnishing, Of stones fit for archi-
lecture and sculpture, etc.
Perhaps the most interesting Of all these
lists IS classified catalogue Of every spe-
cies Of animals known to the Assyrisns
showing scientific nomenclature similar
in principle to that Of Linneus. Opposite
the common name Of each animal is placed
scientific and Geographic name, composed
OF two parts, : family name and . charac
teristic epithet denoting the species.
A still more remarkable indication Of thu
scientific advancement Of the ancient Assy
rams appears in their system Of weights
| and measures, in which, as in the French
system. all the units OF surface, capacity
and weight we're derived from enc typica
linear unit. The basis Of the system wal
the cubit (equal to 2O-577 inches). Thii
Was divided into sixty parts, corresponding
with the minutes Of the degree. The cubit
multiplied BY $50, the number Of degrees il
the circle, produced the stade, the unit fol
the large distances.
| The Fundamental unit for areas was thu
square foot, the square Of measure bear
ing to the cubit the relation Of 3 TO 5 q
l2-4 inches Of our measure. The cube. .
the foot was the metreta, the Standard Q
all measures Of capacity; and the weight O
fundamental unit Of weight; the sexagesi
NAL division Of the talent gave, first tn
nina (-5lO-6S grains) sid second, ID
draehma Esq. ge gas,sc
The sexagesimal system was employs
throughout their mathematics. the unit Be
ing invariably multiplied " disidedfby ~
y. the resaltr again III -sizsy, and soea
iDnhi'y- esrret~.- ~, : 81. g. -ss-ss.. e
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30
MN AND HuM0R+
EDITED BY
Is. Donne11y, J1.:
EDITED BY

The only suits that can last longer than
you want them are law suits
SExs1BLE.-A little boy being asked,
"What is chief end Of man! replied, ssThe
end that's got the head on"
The OH SToRY-sWhy should we cele-
brate Washington's birthday more than
mine!" asked q teacher, .Because he never
told lie!" shouted little boy.
A member Of our FIRE department. in
speaking of the decease Of . friend. last
week, remarked that his complaint was Gin
formation on the bowels" when bvstandcr
asked II. the deceased had swallowed an en-
cyclopedia ora pub. doc. 8seait sii1 s3f3
When . Vicksburg negro woman was in
formed the other day. that the price Of sea
lions had increased fifteen per cent DURING
the present month, she elevated her hands
and exclaimed: ode Land. only knows what
is to become Of poor folks! Seems zif de
more we morked de otter Vie white folks 20
and riz de price on de nessumsaries of life!''
EATING AMI tipsy husband
said to his wife, ''You need-needn't BIZ
blame me. Twas woman that first tempted
| man to eat forbidden things" woman NAV
have tempted man to eat forbidden things.''
inngs, said his wife, t'but he took TO
drinking Of his own accord" sal
scorcH W1sDoM.-A Highlandman once
remarkedto an English tourist, s.Toot ava.
ma man, toot ava; dinna We boast sac much
ABBOTT yer ain countrie; dinna ye ken that it
was only caa'd Breetin till Scotland cam T.
ye, and then We became Great Breetin? Ave.
an we've remained Great ever since. You'd
be puir lot left to yersels.'.Q nj.
IRISH RoAns.-An Englishman, having
asked son Of Erin if the roads in ireland
were good, received this reply; Eyes; they
are so fine wonder you do not import
some Of them into England. Let me. see.
there is the road to love, strewed with roses:
to matrimony, through nettles; to honor.
through the camp; to prison, through the
law, and to the'undertaker's, through ply
SIC Have you any road to preferment?''
asked the Englishman .sYes, faith. we
have; but that is the dirtiest road in the
kingdom IA
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30

to the general public. He has been advised
nv the shirts. however, not to try this thing
but once. He claims that he has band OF
spirits about him, comprising thirty-two
disembodied beings. "
The head of this band is one Peter. Peter
is the wandering soul Of q doctor who died
thirty wears ago, and for the last nine years
has acted in the capacity Of guardian spirit
to Mr., Clarke. Wednesday night he met
Peter and the rest of his band, and had
consultation concerning the propriety Of
giving two seances. Peter, like a sensible
creature, counseled him not to submit to
such a novel test, and in no event to try it
but once.
The reason for this advice was that the
shirt was able to materialize only by the
odic or mesmeric force which it received
| from the medium, and that second trial
would be a positive injury to his physical
health. Peter finally agreed to help pull
him through one seance, but refused to
permit a second. Mr.. Clark remarked that
the cause of the pallid appearance which
generally characterized Spiritualists was
the fact that they expended too much odlc
force in materializing efforts.
St. Louis, August 4, 1875.-Mr. Clark
Dear Sir: Having attended a seance given
by you, and having seen the wonderful ma
terializations, l will give you fifty dollars to
produce one face at the aperture, If you
will let me or any person l may name fire a
shot at it with rifle. If it is spirit-face,
| it cannot hurt it, and it will satisfy me it is
not you with mask on your face. My con-
ditions are that you will disrobe yourself
and put on clothes shall produce, and per-
nit me to fasten you to the bottom of the
cabinet.
Yours, respectfully,
HENRY T1MKENs.
st. Louis, August 4, 1875.-H. Timkens,
Esq.-Dear Sir: Received yours of to-day,
and accept your proposition with pleasure.
Will meet with you as soon as convenient
and arrange time and place.
Respectfully yours,
w. c. CLARK.
Another St. Louis paper reports that the
test came off thus:
As soon as the face appeared, Mr.. A. B.
Cunningham, at Mr.. Timkens' request, had
coolly sighted small rifle at it. The eyes
looked almost into the muzzle Of the gun
without any sign of finching Without
the tremor of muscle, Cunningham fired,
apparently thinking no more Of shooting
girls than Comanche would.
At the shot the face remained steadfast.
1t wasn't scared and didn't wink. few
seconds it remained as before, and then the
curtain mysterious'y slid across and OBJ
scured it from view. When the door was
opened the medium was found tied jast as
he was left when the door was first closed.
The cords had been strained little and
that was all. Everybody said it was good
thing, and nobody could tell how it was
done.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30
An Antique Sword in a Dead Tree.

Among the relics gathered up by Profess
sor Collect, . few days ago, in Owen coun-
ty, Ind, is an ancient sword blade Of Curl
GUS make, with an inscription on either side,
which has not yet been dcciphered. It is
related that it was found in the decayed
trunk Of tree. The superstition is that it
was hidden in the tree while it was stand
ing in the long ago, but when or by whom is
yet to be determined by those versed in an
cient relics. .-s t. ii
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30
POETRY.
A CAME or CHESS.
BIZ BAN. DIAN.

BIZ RAN DIAN.
They strolled upon the beach SO long
He missed the train, belated;
And SO they played q game Of chess
For pastime, while he waited.
It must have been q charming one,.
For both seemed quite enraptured;
She took . Castle and q Knight,
And he the white Queen captured.
| cannot tell who lost or won.
Because it is related - I
Although the game was only drawn,
The players both were mated.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30

There are 2, 500 miles of streets in London!
The metropolitan houses At the present time
amount to nearly half million; they are
consequently sufficient, with an average
frontage of Eve yards, to form one continu-
GUS row of building right round the island
Of Great Britain, from Lands End to John
o'Groat's 900 miles), from John o'Groat's
to the North Foreland $40 miles,, and from
the North Forelanl back again to. the LandA
End (s2O miles,. equal to 1900 miles ,alto-
gether. -. s.
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30

In the excavations nov being nsds ut
Fiesoie. near Florence. An ancient theatre
has been brought 70 light, and isnst inferior
inits ample proportions and the xicAn0s ot
its decoratiens to the similar nonnnsntsssl
Poupeii and Sicily. 49, ,e
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30

! /. aeorxy, ). ssid 1 benevolent oid gentle.
man to the -youthf1l son ~ : fanny II wa
lisiting, ':vhat are ysp,ta Do Whsn ysuiE 4
T. be mani" ~, q.
-r..Wha1e Joe'Pefkinsi was the prompi
reply. s.o-7i ..g-stIf ''ra' Il 80 izfs-iaH-f
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30
SCIENCE

JNsrcTIvoRoUs PLANTs.-Mr. Darwin in
his "Insectivorous Plants" after quoting
from Tribune article with regard to the
swallowing process of the bladder, says:
"But as the valve does not appear to be IN
the least irritable, the slow swallowing pro-
cess must be the effect Of the onward move
ment of the lara" Unfortunately for this
theory, have seen hundreds of mosquito
Larvae swallowed tail first, with the head
and first joint left out-too large to be taken
in, and l am now putting such specimens IN
alcohol with view Of sending them to Mr..
Darwin. am VOL king with four distinct
species of bladderwort, and the structure Of
the bladder Of each is quite dlssimilar.
The purple lowered one Utsoculario Pur-
pureal, is the oldest Of all. The long
hairs about the mouth Tor prolt ngations OF
the bladder, or anten@ as Mr.. Darwin calls
them) are unlike either of the other species
that have examined. The antenn@ and its
bl anches are all beautifully knobbed in this
species. instead Of terminating in sharp
points and it has other marked differences.
find mosquito larva is just as good or even
better to work with than the chironomus
larva. The water in which my plants are
growing is swarming with mosquito larv@.
and l see them swallowed head first or tail
first, just as it happens, and have often
seen the larva caught about midway when
taken in tail first, and sometimes held in
this position for hours, when suddenly the
bladder would seem to give gulp and swal-
low it entire. or if the head was too large
for the mouth Of the bladder it is left out
and the larva dies in this position It mai
tiers not iu what condition larva il caught
it never escapes. So the swallowing pro
cess cannot be due to the onward movement
Of the larva-Ndrv Treat
The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-30

MORTALITY By PREvExrABLE DISEASE
Self preservation is the 6rst law Of our
nature; but it is . law which we ignorantly
and constantly disregard in laying our life
and health at the mercy of the fonl condi-
ton of life prevailing among our neigh
bors.
We roll up our eyes and stand sghsst
when contemplating the horrors Of war;
yet the mortality Of war is trifing as COM
pared with the mortality by preventable
disease. England, IN twenty-five years OF
continuous wars, lost, 70, 700 lives, in one
year Of cholera she lost IA, 86Olives.
We look idly on and see our population
decimated BY IN infant mortality 90 great
that its like among calves and colts would
appall the farmer, and set the whole comma
nifty energeiically ct work to discover
remedy.-GEoRcE E WAHIsu, IN, IN Allan
tic AonfAly 10, September. @