davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27
THE POST OFFICE AS A DE
q 4 a' TEC7TVE AGENT,

"You have no idea how many Of
those fellows who prey on other people
come about MS, said an old postofice
clerk. ''Peoplethinls we don't see them
when they inquire for letters, sitting
as we do inside of a glass box, and
nothing of us visible but the fhcc; but
if they can't see in we can see out, and
wc take note of what we see. Weget
TO know faces by sight as well as the
owners Of them do and take certain
sort Of interest In them. | have caught
myselffeeling sorry enough for a young
Miss who came daily for letters and
never found any, until ] had great
mind to write her one myself, so that
she shouldn't be disappointed so often.
That was at the ladies' window, n long
time ago. She disappeared aitcrawhile;
don't know what became Of her; city
swallowed her up, / reckon. ~
"There was another woman--lady,
| almost said-who lived in Newark,
and knew it, and knew her too, who
came regularly once week and in
quired for letters in another name
They were for her too. | knew well
enough she had no such eager inter
ests as her voice betrayed in another
persons letters. Once when she re-
ceived one ] asked her if she was Mrs.
Statira, and she said Yes and then
knew she lied .rf
"Once detective came in and asked
me ifa certain man, whom he described,
called for letters | knew him as d
person | had set down as a rogue with
out knowing anything of him, and said,
Yes, he is here nearly every day. He
comes at such an hour, and if you stay
here ! will give you the wink. SO he
stayed where he could not be seen, but
if you will believe il, the scamp never
came near the place for a week; a
great pile Of letters accumulated for
him. Finally the detective began to
feel the fellow had lit out, as he cx-
pressed il, and said he would Just
stretch his legs little and come back.
OF course at that very moment the
rascal appeared, and | was in sweat,
you bet. First thing when | saw him
/ sent messenger after the detective
the next thing ! stayed away from the
window as long as dared. When i
did 90 to it | couldn't hear very well,
and had hard work to catch his name.
When that had to be stopped ! couldn't t
seem to find any letter, though there
were ahundred or SO right under my
hand shuflled them all over, both
of us all the while on pins and needles,
he to get away and TO keep him so
he shouldn't.
''How do you spell it, | asked.
He spelled it.
"Where do you expect a letterfrom n
"New Orleans"
threw one, two, three, down.
"Ain't there no more p he said.
"Wait a minute and Ill see. |
stretched the minute all | could, till
finally just as he was going away ours
ing me for my stupidity, ] threw down
the whole of them, and began TO push
them out to him; he turned to gather
them up, but was himself gathered ur
by the detective who came back Just
IN umc. ne was one 0I tnose s'twdusl
swindlcrs.n
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27
APPEARANCES DECEITFUL.
EZEKIEL wHrTMAN's APPEARANCE IN THE
OLD CITY TAVERN OF BOSTON.


When Maine was a district of Mas
sachusetts, Ezekiel Whitman was chos-
en- 10 represent the district in the Mas
sachusetts legislature. lie was an
eccentric man, and one of the best law
ycrs of his time. He owned farm,
and did much work on his land and
when the time came for him TO set out
for Boston, his best suit of clothes was
suit of homespun His wife objected
to his going in that garb, but he did
not care, al will get q nice fashiona-
BILE suit made as soon as ] reach Bos-
ton" he said.
Reaching his destination, Whitman
found rest ut Doolittlc's City tavern.
Let il be understood that he was q
graduate of Harvard, and at this tav-
ern he was at home. AS he entered
the parlor of the house he found sew
eral ladies and gentleman assembled,
and he heard a remark from one of
them. "Ah, here comes countryman
of the homcspun genus Here's fun"
Whitman started at the company, and
then sat down.
"Say, my friend, you are from the
country" remarked one of the gentle
men.
"Ya.as,n answered Ezekiel, with n
ludicrous twist of the face
The ladies' Uttered.
"And what do you think of our cityY'
"lts a pooty thick settled place, any
how. It's got a sweeping sight OF
houses in il. It..r
"And good many people, too"
"Ya-as, should guess So"
"Manypcoplc whereyou come from9'
"Wal, some"
oPlenty of ladies, supposcY'
"Ya-as, fair sprinklin'."
"And | don't doubt that you arc
quite beau among them"
"Ya-as, beaus 'em home--tew meet
in and singin schewl.'
perhaps the gentleman from the
country will take q glass Of winew
"Thonl-oo. Don't keer if | do
The wine was brought
"You must drink toast ss
ooh, git eout. | eat toast--nevei
heard of sich thing rs drinlSin' it
But kin give yo sentiment"
The ladies' clapped their hands but
what was their surprise when the
stranger, rising, spoke calmly anC
clearly as follows 4
'Iades and gentlemen, permit m,
to wish you health and happiness,witl
every blessing earth can afford ant
may you grow better and wiser will
advancing years, bearing ever in mint
that outward Appearances are oitci
dcceitful. You mistook me, from m,
dress, for u country BOBBY, while
from thesamc superficial cause, though
you were ladies and gentlemen. Tn
mistake has been mutual
He had just spoken when Cale'
Strong, the Governor Of the State, en-
tered and inquired for Mr.. Whitman
"Ah, here | am, Governor. Glad I
see you" Then turning TO the dumb
founded company he said.
81 wish you very good morning.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27
MASONRY STALACT7TES.

The North Bridge, which spans the
deep valley lying between the Old and
New Towns of Edinburgh Scotland,
was built upwards Of hundred years
ago Between the arches of the bridge
and the roadway above are number
of chambers or vaults which have not
been opened, till recently, since the
bridge was built. One of them has
been visited by Professor Geikic, who
says: q '4il isn.i "
"From the vaulted ceiling, and es-
pecially from the joints Of the masonry,
hung hundreds of stalactites---delicate
spar iciclcs Of snowy whiteness. In
many cases they reached TO the floor,
forming slender thread-like pillars
Usually they were slim stalks, some
what like thick and not very well made
tobacco pipes but towards the sides
of the vaults they became thicker and
stronger one which we carric;. of
measuring about four feet in length,
and as stout as an ordinary walking
stick. The same material as that form.
ing the stalactites spread in ribbed
sheets down the sides Of the vault. The
floor, too, was dotted Hover with little
monticules of the same snow white
crystalline spar.
"A more illustrative example Of u
stalactitc cavern could not be found
The whole process was laid open before
us in all its stages. Along the joints
of the masonry overhead could be seen
here and there drop Of clear water
ready to fall AT other places the drop
hung by the end of a tiny white stone
icicle, to which it was adding its own
minute contribution as il evaporated
From the mere rudimentary stumps
the stalactites could be traced of all
lengths until they were found firmly
united to the spar hillocks on the floor
Every one of these hillocks, too, lay
directly beneath the drip, catching the
remainder of the stone dissolved in the
dropping and evaporating water In
every case the stalactites were tubes
even the thickest of them, though il
had undergone great changes from de
post on lis outer surface. retained
nevertheless. rs bore. Usually there
hung clear water drop from the end
of the stalk, ready to descend upon its
white stony mound beneath.
ror huhured years thls deiicate
tapestry mas peeh hanging ana grow
ing ana breaking ana growing again
quietly IN darkness, beneath the grind
OF our carriage wheels, and yet high
IN air, with the stream of human life
flowing underneath it too.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27
SOUTH AMERICAN BEA UT7Es

A chapter on Arequipa in Marcoy's
"South America just published, con-
tains some amusing accounts of the
manners OF the society OF that Peruvian
city. He speaks highly of the beauty
of the women. Mareoy notes the pre-
ference for foreigners, and especially
for Europeans, which the young ladies
cyince;
gln cosmopolitan spirit, very fiatter-
ing to the sclf.lovc of Europeans, they
prefer foreigners to their own country
men, with whatever eminent qualities
the latter may be gifted. A foreigner,
though he may have neither youth
nor beauty in his favor, and nothing
whatever be known OF his antccedents,
instantly throws in flutter the whole
crowd of mammas and marriageable
daughters. They dispute possession of
him, one with another; they snatch at
him as at a norsel Of the true cross !;
bequests and recddos (presents) of all
kinds, from the toilet soap of Piver 10
the silk handkerchiefs of Lyons--such
arc the tokens of friendship peculiar to
these countrics-pursue him even TO
his apartments. Flasks ofedude cologne
little attentions, batteries, everything
is done to catch in the net of marriage
this fine bird from distant Europe,
whom innocently cruel hands would
pluck alive soon afterward. The
houses at which he calls are forever
beating to arms, the furniture is re-
lieved Of its covers, jewels are taken
out of their boxes, the family plate is
displayed upon the sideboards and
tables, the servants, properly trained,
have orders tomake themselves agrcea-
bic to their future master, the cats arc
commanded to purr and the dogs to
wag their tails when he approaches
From the venerable grandmother to
the youngest child in the family, the
only question is, who shall show the
highest appreciation of tho strangers
merits, who shall natter him most with
sweet words the claws are hidden il
the velvet paw, the lips distil choice
honey, the tencerest rose color and tn,
bluest azure Is spread over all, and
guitars tuned to the hymencal pitcl
twang necessarily the happiness oftwc
devoted hearts. Everything, in fin,
even TO the air imprcgnated with thu
perfume Of burning pastiles, conspirei
TO charm the soul and the senses of th'
stranger In the midst Of the mice e'
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27
TURKEY HUNTING BYMOON
uliina i LIGHT. 1urfi


Having been sent after n load of corn
to Twas bend. Red River. where we
would have to stay over night, c. and
| placed our guns in the wagon and
drove like Jehn to get there in time to
20 hunting. Arriving some two hours
before night. and mine host not being
in, We shouldercd our guns and march.
ed downa deep ravine to Red River
bottom. After starting several deer
without getting a shot. we started back,
travelling single file up the nvinc c.
in the advance. Suddenly turning an
angle, we came upon fioclS of wild
turkeys, and almost instantly C.'s rifle
broke the silence of twilight, and q
nice gobbler was iiuttering on the
ground Hastily reloading' we ad-
vanccd but a little distance. when c.
dropped his turkey and brought his
rifle to his face. Then turning to me
he said: tasr
gMust shoot7' aI -
replied, ~ sec nothing
There, across the gully don't you
see that object p
yes, shoot -
Bank goes C.'s rifle again. The small
white object, that had been partly OBJ
scured, now became clearly visible, and
ii was evident that G. had missed /
now brought old Spitfre to apoise and
fired. From the movements Of the
little animal, ! was sure my shot had
taken effect. Hurrying to the spot, c.
said;
aWell isn't Il pretty? 2"
"Yes; what is il? ,.io
II don't know what do YOU say ~
Il don't know unless it's polecat.
II looks like the picture of ONE
"Pshaw lr said G. Il have seen many
polecat IN II, but they were not
half so bug as this. Well have its
hide, any how"
About this time the stranger made
some STRUGGLES and C. commenced
stamping on it with his heel Suddenly
were our oliactories saluted with a
scent that sent MS off as fast as our legs
could carry us, c. CRYING out
nIt is n polecat We won't skin IL
will we9u
g.,
on arri',ng ~ ,ho mouse We icunu %
our irichu NC, VINO, on nearing ol our
suYenturei eAcia'ineu, 'ureen IRON iron, 'ne
states term commonly appnoo 70
persons not up 10 an texas Tricks
After supper, NC. SAID -.
"Well, now get your guns, and well
go down in the bottom and kil some
turkeys.
This idea was quite novel TO me
killing turkeys with rifle by moon
light. The fact is, ! doubted killing
by moonlight myself, and thought best
to let Nc. and q. have the first shots.
The moon was not quite full, and just
about the right height for shooting.
And just here | will state that not
only |, but almost every man on the
border Of Texas, ieels a strange SAD
ieellng at Deholding the iuil moon, ior
nc knows that py the light OIL almost
every moon the stealthy savage assalls
the sieePihgiroh.iersman' Du. uigrsss
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27


A recent report from the United
States Bureau OF Statistics nf Washing
ton, contains an interesting table Of the
population Of the Garth, taken chiefly
from the work on that subject, issued
this year at Gotha, by Drs. Behm and
Wagner, and founded on the most re-
cent authorities. By this statement
the aggregate population Of the earth
is given at 1891, ,032, 900, Asia being the
most populous section, and containing
79s 900, 900; whilst Europe has 300, 800
0O0 Africa, 203,OOO, 600; America, ST.
500, 900, and Australia and Polynesia,
100000, In Europe the leading ma
tions are credited with the following
numbers: Russia, Z ] ,000, 600; the Ger
man Empire 4 !, ,0O0, 900; France, 10000
900; Austro- Hungary, 5000, 900; Great
Britain and ireland, 32,O00,000; Italy,
nearly 27,000,0O0; Spain, 100000,
and Turkey, nearly 1G,000,OO0. The
other countries do not exceed 100000
each. In Asia, China, which is by far
the most populous nation of the earth,
is credited with 425, 100000; llindostan
with 24OO00,000; Japan, 100000;
the East India Islands, 30,50O,000;
Burmah, Siam and farther India, a,nearly
26, 100000; Turkey, 13,500,OOO, and
Russia. 1l,O00,0OO The Australian
population is given at 1,674,500 and
the Polynesian Islands at 2,7635O0,
New Guinea and New Zealand being
included in the latter. In Africa, the
chief divisions are West Soudan and
the Central African region, $4,000 O,0cOi
South Africa, 2O,250,000; the Gala
country and the region east of the
White Nile, l5,000,00O; Samanli, 5000,
600 Egypt, 100000, and Morocco,
6,000,000. In America, two-thirds Of
the population are north of the 18th
mus, where the United States has near
ly 39,000,000; Mexico, over 9,000,000,
and the British Provinces, 100000.
The total population of North Amer-
ca Is given at nearly $4,000, 900, and Of
South America, 25,5OO,000 Of which
Brazil contains 100000. The West
India Islands have over 4 1000, 600, aud
the Central American States not quite
3,000,000.
According TO these tables, London,
with 3,254 ,260 inhabitants, is the most
populous city in the world, while Phil
adelphia, GA ,O22 inhabitants (in 1870
is the eighteenth cityin point Of popu-
lation These eighteen cities, in their
order, are the following London, B.
254, ,260; Sutchan (China), 100000;
Paris, l,s51,792; Peking, 100000;
Tschants-chau-fu, 100000; Hangts-ta-
fu, 1000, 900; Canton, 1000, ,000 Sang
nan-fu, 100000; New York, 942,292
Tientsin, 100000 Vienna, s34, 2s4; Ber-
lin, s26,341; Hankau, 500, 200; Tschin-
tu-fu, 800, 900; Calcutta, 794 ,G45; Toxic,
Yeddo, 674 Az and Philadelphia, ga
022 OF cities smaller than Philadel-
phia, the leading ones are, st. Peters
burg, 667 ,963; Bombay, GA ,405; Mos
COW, 61l,97O; Constantinople, 100000;
Glasgow, 594, ,5S6; Liverpool, 493, ,4O5,
and Rio de Janeiro, 100000
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27
ABOUT THE HAIR.

Men become bald Why2 Because
they were close hats and caps. Wo-
men are never bald. Sometimes, from
long-continued headache, heat in the
scalp, bad hair-dressing and some other
causes, women may have bare spots
here and there; but with all these
causes combined, you never see a wo-
man with bare, shiny, bald head.
And you never see man lose hair
below where the hat touches his skull.
II will take it off as clean as you can
shave it down to exactly that line, but
never hair below, not if he has been
bald fifty years. The common black
stiff hat, as impcrvious as sheet iron,
retains the heat and perspiration. The
little hair glands, which bear the same
relation TO the hair that the seed wheat
does to the plant above ground, be-
come weak from the presence of the
moisture and heat, and finally become
too weak to sustain the hair. II falls
out, and badness exists. A fur cap
we have known to produce complete
badness in n single winter.
A man with good head of hair
needs very little protection when the
hair grows. Women who live much
within doors, and who are therefore
peculiarly susceptible to the cold, oil
their hair and plaster it down hard
and fat upon their skulls, so as to dc
stroy ninc-tcnths of its power as non
conductor, have worn for years post
agc stamps of bonnets stuck on the
back of their heads, exposing the whole
tops of their skulls, and then going out
of furnace heated parlors, have ridden
for hours in very cold tcmperatur,
without taking cold and without com
plaint.
Man, with his greater vigor and
habits of outdoor life, and with his
hair not plastercd down, but thrown
up loose and light, could no doubt g
to the north pole, so far as that par
OF his person is concerned, without any
artificial covering. And yet we mel
wear immensely thick fur caps, ant
what amounts TO sheet-iron hats, ant
do not dare step out in n chilly ntmos
lphcrc moment lest we take cold
II Is silly, weak, and really scriou
error The Ceator knew what he wa
about when he covered mans skull
with hair. II has very importan
function in protecting the brain. Bald
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27
the OLD FARM MOUSE.


The easy chair, all patched with caro-, WI
IL placed BY the cold hearth. stone
With vitehinE grace, In the old fireplace,
Ths svsrgresns are strewns 80 .1 rlI II
And pictures hang on the whtsnsd wall,
And the old clock ticks In the cottage hall
More lovely siill, on the window sIll
The dsv.syed Aowss rsst,
While 'nidst the Leaves on the Inoss-grown caves
Nhe martin builds her nest ..f g i..tf
And al day long tho summer bresss ..,f.
10 Whispering love to the bended trees.
Over the door, all covered Ger
4 With . sack Of dark green baltic,
Lays nuskst old, whose worth 10 told
In the events Of other days; -t..,
And the powder flask, and the hunters horn,
Have hung beside Il for many morn.
For years have fed, with nciselcss tread,
Like fairy dreams away,
And In their digit, all shorn OF It's might, fH
A father-old and gray fl.,,-.1ti
And the soft winds play with the snow white hair
And the old man sleeps in his easy chair.
Inside the door. on the ssnded floor,
lishs, .iry S.-ssssPs siids,
And maiden fair. with haxen hair, .If.I
Kneels by the old mans side
An old oak wrecked by the angry storm,
While the ivy clngs to its trembling form.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27

"oh your nose is as cold as ice, a
Boston father thought he heard his
daughter cxclaim the other evening,
as he was reading in the next room.
He walked in for an explanation, but
the young fellow was at ono end of the
sofa. and the girl at the other, while
both looked 10 innocent and unconsci-
GUS that the old gentleman concluded
that his cars had deceived him, and SC
retired from the scene without word
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27

CALIFORNIA SrYLE.-Not long since,
n German was riding along SAMSON
street, near Sacramento, when he heard
a pistol shot behind him; heard the
whirzing Of ball near him, and felt
his hat shaken, He turned and saw a
man with revolver in his hand, and
took of his hat, and found fresh bull
let hole in II.
"Did you shoot at mc'" asked the
German.
EYES," replied the other party
chats my horse II was stolen from
mo recently"
"you must bc mistaken" said the
German, II have owned the horse for
thrcc years"
"Wcll," said the other, "when come
TO look at him, ] believe am mistaken
Excuse me, sir, won't you take
drink 2"
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27


To recognize the character of per-
son by his laugh is mot difficult. There
are as many kinds of laugh as there
are vowel sounds Persons who laugh
in A are frank, inconstant and fond of
noise and motion. The laugh in L be-
longs TO phlegmatice and persons die
posed to melancholy The o indi-
Gates generosity of sentiment and bold
ness in movement. Take care of its
possessor if you belong to the opposite
sex. The laugh or gigglc III ! Of chill
dren and innocent persons denotes n
torrid, irrcsolute, devoted and pliablc
nature. The blondes laugh in | but
that does not say that they are all in
noccnts. Avoid like the pest those
who laugh in T. These are the avari-
cious, the hypocrites, the misanthropcs.
For them the joys oflife have no charm.
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27

Hard times are beginning TO tell on
the small boys Of Akron. A physician
tells Of little Akron boy who came to
him and said, doctor, ! want some
epicac." "What do you want II for2'
"Never mind, Just give il TO me-
"Who sent you here?' Nobody sent
me, came myself II cant let you
have it unless you tell me what you
are going TO do with it.' "Well, doc
tor, our hired girl has swallowed sil,
vcr quarter and she said IL ! would
give her something that would bring
| II IN 1 might have IT,"
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27

An English teacher, cnjoining upon
the members of training class their
duty in giving TO children bright and
happy thoughts of religion, illustrated
the danger Of an opposite course thus /;
A little girl, he said, once inquired Of
her elder sister about heaven.
ado they play in heaven p she asked.
"No, they do not play there"
What do they do2"
"Thcy sing and arc very good"
@Arc there no plaything thcrcY"
"No, not any
mo dolls, kittens, nor Noah's arks?'
"Oh, nol'
"Thcn," said the little one, an take
my dolly and go to hell"
Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-01-27

RAPID TRANSIT OF TUE DEAD,--Thc
dead are TO be furnished with orapid
transit" in Vienna by means of apncu-
matte subtcrraneous railroad, with ter.
mini extending from the cellars Of cen
trally located chnpels in the city TO the
cemeteries After the funeral services
in the chapel the coffin will be placed
lcngthwisc on small platiorm-car
moving on rails, and then shot of
through the tunnel 10 tho cemetery at
the rate of forty miles or 80 an hour,
where tho undertaken will receive il,
Then the mourners will dispene from
the chapel and the funeral will be over