davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23
a GAS WELL.
tenlants.

They have new sensation in Odrll, Hi
nois. 1t is stated that aS j AID III. Ilosache
were boring for water on their farm. about
four miles south of that town, with a five
inch auycr, at the depth of eighty feet. they
struck vein Of water that spoutcd 200 feet
in the air, throwing out gravel the lie of a
hens egg. The ground for a distance of six
hundred feet from the well soon became
covered with dovc-colorcd sand to the depth
Of one inch. Some time during the night,
the water ceased flowing. and on measuring
this morning the well was found t. Lave
filed up about twenty feet at the bottom
with quicks;,nd, there still being thirty 'eet
of water in the hole, and kind of gas was
issuing from the top. One of the party lit a
match, when instantly Il streak of flame,
twenty feet high. leaped into the air with a
roar like that ola city in flames. The hole,
which in the beginning was but five inches
in diameter, has increased to twelve. with
the volume OF flame steadily increasing. 1t
is situated on the open prairie, and can be
seen for miles. 1t has been visited by hum
dred, to day. who gazel awe-struck upon
this weird and wonderful scene. Whether
some reservoir Of petroleum lies deeply
buried beneath the surface. or some other
causes have produced this wind we know
not, but can only gaze with wonder, and
speculate on the hidden force of Nature that
bids defiance to man'- inqui>itivene>s.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23

An interesting case was recently brought
before one of the criminal courts of London,
the Grand Jury throwing ont Il bill of in
dlctmcnt again>ta gardener who was charged
with numbering a fellow servant by giving
her poisonous mushrooms to cat. Although
there WAS no reason to suppose that the
mushrooms were given with any felonious
intention, yet three persons were actually
poisoned By them, and one died the fungi
being so much like mushrooms that even
skilled witness saw nothing in them to dis
tngnlsIted them from grnainc article Of
food. 1t tappcaring in evidence that mush-
ROOMS growing under trees are dangerous,
the presiding judge gave great emphasis to
the importance of such fact being widely
known, and called attention to the following
tabu!ation by Prof Ben ntcy-- though not an
uncrrin% onc-showing tic general charac-
tcrS by which the edible and poisonous
species of fungi may best be distinguished
The edible mushrooms gov solitary. in dry,
airy places, and are generally white or
browni>h they have a compact, brittle
flesh do not Change color, when cat. by
the action of tie air juice Matery, an odor
agreeable taste not bitter, acrid, salt, or
aStrinyent. The poisonous mushrooms, on
the contrary. grow in clusters, in woods,
and dark, damp places, and are usually of Il
bri ,5ht color their flesh is tough soft, and
watery, and they acquire a brown, green, or
blue tint when cut and exposed to the air:
the juice is often milky, the olor commonly
either acrld a-t,ngcnt acid, salt, or bitter.
Thcsc characteristics are almost nyarable.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23
EFFECT OF IMAGINATIOS.

Dundas, the celebrated Scotch statesmen,
though popular with the highest order OF
his countrymen. was by no means in equal
estimation with the lower and it was during
one of his visits to Edinburgh that this ad-
venture occurred. Some act of government
had recently giving offence thereat, and to
none more so than to knayish tonsor Of the
city. whose services Mr.. Dmndas had occasion
to call into requiSition. The fellow was a
practical Jester, too, and determined to ainuse
himself at the minister's expense. The great
man accordingly had no sooner resi- gned him
self into the operators hands than the follow
ing coll,qny ensaed
'We're much obliged to you, Mr. DundaS,
for the part you lately took in Londrn.'
"What! you IL politician! l sent for
barber, was the others reply.
"Oh, yes, I'll shave You directly, was the
rcjoinder, AMI performing the operation on
one side he suddenly drew the back of the
instrument across his victims neck, Take
that, ye traitor" and hurried down >tairs,
leaving Dunda> seemingly bathed in blood.
The statesman was alarmed; an outcry
was then raised; and half the faculty in the
town was speedily in attendance when, on
removing his hand, which Mr.. Danlas had
kept firmly applied to his throat, it was dis
covered that the blood flowed from artificial
means, which the impudcnt rogue had em-
ployed to give effect TO his hoax. and that
not single scratch was visible. The iellow
consequently escaped punishment; and hi.
triumph was the greater as Mr. DundaS had
the modification of being laughed at, as well
rs of having to pay the Jealous medical at
tendants.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23

Some iokers of Dubuqu". Iowa. played 4
rather rough one on nobby young gentle
man. Il few days since, who im,ginc> he i
general invo,i'e in cIrtv circles, and boasts
that he never gets tie mitten from the
girls \ short time since ''club bail was
announced. and the invitations extended to
the young gentlemen, they to invite their
"company The-' jokcrs countcrieilcd nu-
mcrouS notes Of invitation H. Young ladies,
signed with this Young gcntieman'- name.
The general IayorIte' lmmcdiate!y there
after commenced. to his amazamcnt, receiv-
ing letters of acceptance from hi- young
lady lriend-. bat more t! at seat their declina-
tiuns with rrgret-. lie was dumbto, nded
and astonishcd beyond measure, rs note alter
note came pouring in: and he found, when
he lat down to foot up the list. that he had
five engagements and fifteen dcclinatonS.
Sweat poured from hi, broad and gentle
brow aS he contemplated the pile of letters
before him What did they mean? Had
the women. by some sudden revolution,
achieved their ''right-' and turned the tables
in society matters as well as in everything
else? Had these correspondents all cnnnlv-
ell together to play joke on him? What
the deuce is up, anyway? These and hum
drcd- of other thoughts whired through his
brain, bat he didn't hit the right one. And
then among ;he ''rcgret-" We're some that
wounded hi pride and he didn't know how
many of ;he>t. iny ions had been received
and consigned to the contempt of grinding
under somebody's heel. He was in an an
guish of torment from which tEc"c was no
rest. Selecting from among the ''acccptan-
cess one with whom he was ON familiar terms,
he called ON her and asked to see her note of
invitation. This was produced, and then
"the cat was out Of the bag" Although it
was a good counterfeit Of his own hand writ
ing and the lady thus imposed upon, he cx-
planned to her the real situation of Things,
and then they had Il good hearty laugh. 1t
didn't take that young man long To get ont
of his dilemma after th< lie wrote notes
explaining the fraud, and replied in quite as
naughty terms to those who had haughtily
wordcd their notes Of declination.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23
SCIENTIFIC.

RusTISG OF RAILWAY Rails the re-
cent session Of the American Association for
the Advancement of Science, Professor Hal
dcman read a paper on this subject, showing
that railway rails when in Use oxdised but
very little, hut when not in use were subject
to rapid oxidation. In fact, disuse for one
day, for example, Sunday, resulted in u Wis
ibic increase of rust OF the track rails This,
in the opinion of the author, would indicate
that in chemical combination. vibrations may
interfere with the molecular arrangement of
the clements In the discussion which fol-
lowed, Professor Wander Wcy, took the
sable view. and thought that IL -rlecular rca-
tirns tended to prevent rust But other
speakers combatted this view, and it was
suggested that possibly the oil employed up
on the locomotives might be more Or less
spread in thin film over the rails in use,
and thus prevent their oxidation.
Professor Robert M,llet, of London, has
had his attention called t. this discussion,
and in q recent note to The Engineer states
that some thirty years ago he was requested
tc examine and report upon the same matter
on behalf OF the British Association for the
Advancement of Science, IL grant Of money
being allowed for the purpose. lie made a
variety of experiments and examinations, all
Of which were duly reported. lie found, in
brief, that one of the reasons, why rails
when used corr",le less than The same rails
when not used, is bccause the vibration of
the used rail, tends to shake of the rust
formed, so as to prevent its prolonged con-
tact with the metallic IRON from acccleratins
the corroson II the latter
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23
AILEGANY COUNTY, MARYLAND. JANU
AN OLD STORY WELL RETOLD.

"IIafe you got some OF dot kind of oysters
what hafe been sphicd?"
"Spiled oysters Yes, we have a few
cans left over from la: week that think
viii fit YOU"
GLOW YOU sot EN- d1zcn?"
"Oh. I'll sell 'cm right you may have all
you want for nickle."
well. den. mine gnnt trent, will you be so
kind to pring me four dozen for dot damaged
lot? p
The oysters were brought and the custom
er put them qnetl> down into the pit of his
stomach, and, having finished the job, lie
sand to the rcStauratcur;
Nov. my very kind trent, YOU have got
some good oysters, ain d it?'
"You re mighty right, have :"
"Vell. takes u hale dozen raw und some
pickles"
These were in turn servcl and quickly put
down on top of those gone before. But the
reStaurateur was troubled, and when the
patron came to sctr the bill said to him
"Look here, pard, don't like to be too
inquisltive, but bowed ef | wouldn't like
ter know why you have took Il fancy to so
many spilled oysters and so lew good ones?'
'Neil, replied the man. you have been
a gpot irent 10 me, und 50 told you some
thing You see. it was dis way. Now, |
hatc got tapew worm, my kint trent, you
understand und ciry time dot is the way
hate to do. You see dot last hafc a dozen
vas for me minesclf; bat dot damaged lot,
ain'd dot kind of a Comodore Vanderbilt
what can afford it to preak up mine whole
pecSness to feed il tam tapcw worm on goot
oysters'
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23
Ss'.ART STOCK.

A member of the Saginaw county bar, was
recently in one of our thriving interior towns
on professional bu. ne>s In the Office of the
hotel he was accosted by very agreeable
gentleman, evidently OF the genus drummer,
who wanted to know 'wherc he was from"
The legal gentleman not exactly reiiShiny the
strangers familiarity, answered shortly,
Prom Detroit" The next question was,
"For what house are you trave.ing?" For
my own." "You are! May | ask your
name?" "You may" Pau>e-cnjoyable
to the lawyer, embarrassing to the other.
"Well desperately what is your name?"
Jones" "What line are you IMP 81
don't understand you, sir" "What are You
selling?" (impatie"tly). Brains" (cnoily).
The drummer saw his opportunity. and !o.k
ing at the other from head to foot he said
slowly, "Well, yol appear TO carry deuced
small line of samples" Blackstone says he
owes that drummer one.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23
A Marine Curiosity.

The "San Diego World" says: "a little
eirl while playing on the beach found in
small pool Of water the most curious marine
butterfly it has ever been our good fortune
to behold. We say butterfly because its
hueS are so gorgeous, although in appear
ance it more resembles Il grub. 1t is about
an inch and Il halt long, and is composed of
Il gelatinouS substance. DR.. Barnes, who
examined it with us, rhinks that it is a yer-
teFra:c, bat we confess tina, we could see no
evidence of articulation. rwo very long
antcnne projected from the mead, and two
small er prohgS erect themselves like pIumes
further back on the head when the thing is
in motion. 1t has two strong orange colorcd
prongS, which some Of the spectators were
disposed to call his eyes, dependent from the
lead. Its back WIS covered with what looks
like bright Orange fringe. Small as this
creature is, these spiculie count by the
thousands and they seem to answer as fins.
as the nondcScript evidently propels and
guides itself by them. The body and belly
of this marine curiosity Is Il bright purple.
ltcan contract and expand itself at pleas
ure, and i as galiSh as the brightest butter.
dy of the field. 1t is probably of the sa.4s
natnra. order a. the ,iel,y-GSL.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23

TIE CRYsTALLIzATIoN OF CARBoN.--1
would like to add my testimony to what
you have already published to the world on
the crystalliza,lon OF carb,n. especially rs ut
last we seem to be on the high road to sue
cess.
Twenty years ago, while conducting ex-
perimer;s for another purpose, was ac
cidcntly led to the conclusion that the dia-
mond is a crystal of slow growth, from carbon,
first reduced either t, Il liquid or gaseous
state. inferred this, partly, from the
growth Of large cry stalls of other substances,
whose full size was not attained in less than
from five to eight years time This theory
is less complex than that Of Mr.. Thic>e, Of
Rochester, and it consists in confning car
bonic acid gas in a large strong receiver, and
in submitting it to a moderate heat and great
pr' sire l..- considerable length Of time.
The oxygen would probably be first thrown
down to form ozone other constituents and
spurious carbon would follow, forming a
m,s' at the bottom, upon which the crystal
lization of pure carbon would takc place in
due time
! would suggest the construction of several
large and stout glass vessels tol The purpose,
81 that different combinations OF chemicals
may be Submitted to trial and the result
noted from day to day.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23
HUNTING FOR HIMSELF.

The Greeley (Col) Tribune contributes
this story to the gossip of the day:
The ludicrous spectacle of Il man looking
for himself and suffering the keenest chagrin
at failing to find himself, was exhibited on
the Union Pacific Railroad not long ago
An caStern-bound cmigrant train stopped
at Rock Creek station for breakfast. One
emigrant >trayed away, and the first section
Of the train started without him. He
reached the second on time and managed to
get away. His friends in the first section
missed him, and were seized with dread
that he had been killed. The conductor
teIcgraphcd to the second section to look for
him and bring him or his body to Fort Lara
mic. The passengers turned ont readily to
aid in the search. Foremost among them
and displaying Il terrible anxiety, was the
man for whom they were looking. He
hunted for the missing emigrant with a zeal
which could only be accounted for by the
fact-unkn1wn to him-that he was looking
for himself. Daring the whole day, and
following night the search wns continued,
the unconscious cause Of it sutferin. deeply
to think he had been lost. When he reached
Laramie the idea occurred to his friends that
the railroad employees might still be looking
for the missing emisrant, when one bright
individual startled the crowd with the re-
mark that our hero had been looking for
himself, and lad failed to find himself.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23
A PRINTER AND A MONTE sI1AEr.

The Truckee (CalD Repnb'mon relates the
following: One of the propriet"rS Of the
Downicvilie Messenger recently visited Tue
kec and also rode on tie car for the first time
in his life. While on the latter he was
saluted by IL monte sharp and a~kel to bet
on the peculiar game. The unsophis;icateI
Messenger man protested that while he
would like to bet and win some money. he
lie emp,ed hi> numerous pockcs and pro-
duccd half dozen letters of introd :ctioN to
hotel keepers, conductors and clargymen,
BE. ide n certificate of character, but nothing
save 4 three-cc't postage stamp (Which had
been uSerD appear, in the sa Of money.
The monte man inqui dof the lmpccuniou>
individual who was thu, ravclng wt,lous
purse OF scrip, where lie was horn / reared,
what was his business, and whittier he was
going. and how he Travelled. The modest
man of the press replied that he was born
and cradied in the nj gh Sierra. in Downie-
vile; that he was Il printer and was going
out into the world for the first time; that he
had been taught rigid economy from neccs-
sity. and for that reason had started out on
his tour of observation without cent, being
determined to set IL good example to himself.
The monte man was struck by the artesS,
pathetic story of the Downicyillean, and
tossing him shining half dollar. remarked
that this was the most heartrendjng case Of
impecuniosity he had ever met with.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23

WHEAT CRop IN MArxE-The Maine
Farmer says "From all quarters Of the
State we hear grand accounts of the wheat
crop, and believe the yield the present Fall
will he heavier than it has been Tor several
years. So far rs we have learned, Mr.. j.
NJ. Garland, OF Winslow. is ahead. lie has
just tlreshed out twenty-one bushels Of
handsome lost Nation wheat from five
eighth. of an acre. The soil is . clayey
lonm, which has been fairly dressed for the
past three or four years. and borne a crop
of potatoes each year. One and onc-fourth
bushels of seed was also used, it being sown
upon the furrow>, narrowed in, and then
rotled smooth Had the hens not destroyed
two Stooks-thcre were forto-sx stocks on
the p cce-it is safe to s.y the yield would
have been twenty-five bushels. No manure
was applied to the land last season.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23

HOLDING Up THE MILK.-C. F. Drake,
Sullivan, Ohio. writes ~ noticed, some
tim. ago, IL plan recommended to break cows
of holding up their milk While being MIXED,
and that was to place weight on her back
while milking COW that had such trick.
Now, have had two such cows, and one Of
them had been subjected to that kind Of
treatment, and, in fact, every other device
which could be thought of to cause her to
give the milk down, and all to no avail, till
they gave her some meal or bran, or some
thing she liked to eat; then she would give
her mix down. But she must be MIXED
while eating. The other one even n mesS
would not induce to give down her milk.
Both we're Western CONS, and | have heard
of numerous others like my two here. We
get rid OF them as soon AZ possible.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23
LITTLE; SINS.

In Carolina forest of a thousand acres you
can scarcely find tree that is not dead and
erumbling to decay. No fire has swept over
it, no lightning scathed those naked, bleach
ing pines. This ruin was wrought by little
insects larvae. no larger than grain OF rice.
What a hundred axr-mcn could not accom-
plish by years of hard .abor, this seemingly
insignificant insect sent its feeble offspring TO
perform. One alone could have littlepow
it is true. but millions were marshailed, and
all the skill of man could not stay their
course. Such is the power Of little sins.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23

REsu,RpENlNG FLIES We'll worn files are
first carefully cleaned with hot water and
soda; they arc then placed in connection
with the positive pole Of Il battery, in bath
composed of 40 parts sulphurc acid and
1000 parts Of water. The negative is form
cd of Il copper spiral, surrounding the files
but not touching them; the Coil terminates
in wire which rises toward the surface.
This arrangement is the result Of practical
experience. When the files have been in the
bath ten minutes, they are taken ont. wash
cd and dried, when the whole Of the hollows
will lie found to have been attacked in very
sensible manner: but should the effect not
be- sufficient. they are replaced in the bath
for the same period rs before. Sometimes
two operations are necessary, but seldom
more The lilcS, thu treated. arc to all ap-
uearanccS Ik,. new ,,fic. and a.e said to be
good ior sixly hours work NJ Werdcr
mann employs twelve medium Duu>cn elc-
mcntS for his batteries.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23

DEPARTMENT OF AGRIcULruRE-REroRT
FOR ls73-Tne yearly report Of the COM
missioner of Agriculture for 1873 has been
received. This volume contains very full
report of the Staii-tican; n report from the
Ento,noIogkt, in which we find some inter-
esting inlormati N respecting the use Of
Paris green as remedy against the cotton
caterpil aer ; u report Of the Chemist. with
various anaySeS ot sails, fertilizers, &c. {;
the Mi>cr ,c"pist's report IN which are de-
tailed Il series of Investigations into the po-
snto rot black knot upon plums, the orange
blight, and other vegetable fungoid diseases.
Also, details of various experiments with new
seeds; valuable papers upon dairying, the
culture Of indigo, the growth and m,nufac-
turc Of ramic and .jute, y rcsun,c Of what
has been effected i'll establishing and oper-
ating agricultural aud industrial colleges.
and inauy other matter OF interest. The
volume, we believe, is BOW rendy for diStri-
button. Applications for copies should be
made to the Department of Agriculture.
Washington, ID. &.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-01-23
CREST, AND RE THA..KFUL."

Such are the words rudely carved upon
stone in a wild mountain region among the
Scottish lakes After winding along steep,
rugged road. you cor suddenly upon
heather-covered dingle, like n true oasis in
the desert, and there. near clear, hubblins
spring, stands the stone. well remember
that the little party of tourists OF which |
made one were very thankful for that most
refreshing rest upon the sweet, purple heath
after an unusually long walk. A walk!
why, it was a yeritabe pilgrimage we had
achieved that day. No vehicle could be
hired in the part of the country where our
destination lay, so we Obtained two lake
boatmen, who also acted rs guides, to row
us up Loeb Long, and upon landing at the
head of the lake they carried the small
quantity of light baggage that was to serve
us during our sojourn among the lakes and
mountains, the heavier portion h:,lng been
forwarded from Glasgow to Edinbu-gh.
1t was very hard to leave that pleasant
resting place, but a few more miles still lay
between us and the small hotel at lnversnald,
which we were anxious to reach before dark
ness closed around us; for though ii bed upon
the heather, with the starry heavens Tor
canopy, may be puctical sort OF arrange
ment yet the more pro>aic one OF mattress,
coyerle sheets nd pillows. is, possibly,
better a.aptci to the +, iui "emcntS ot Tired
natu,e's sweet -~torer" There, too. stood
ID maid and D..can, a. we had named our
guides, waiting for us. and enjoying. In
prospective. the warm tireSide of tie inn
Kitchen their supper. and the "drap o ba'
ley bree - so we must cen rise, reluctantly
though it be, and travel onward.
That day is now in ';'' iir of past; the
blue placid lake, the mountains, swept over
alternately by cloud and sunshine, the road,
varied by hill a, d lell, by moor and meadow,
along which we at last pioddetl so weariy-
all these are almost forgotten but that old,
gray, moss grown stone and its inscription
will ever he remembered. How often have
| repeated it tn myself, when tired and Worn
ont with bodily or mental labor! And
somebody when life j. ended. and the hands
are folded. ard the eyes are closing. amid
the murmurs of the last prayer once more
will b. b.ea,hei those wu.ds, Rest, and be
t'avk f.,l ~