davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23
The Cedar Mines of New Jersey.

Among the strange productions OF
Gaze May are the cedar mines-swamps
of dark, miry stuff, in which are buried
immense trees of the white cedar.
These consist of enormous trees buried
to depth of from six to ten feet. The
logs lie one across another, and there is
abundant evidence that they are the
growth Of different successive forests.
Indeed, in these very swamps forests OF
the very same trees are now growing.
The miners become very skillful at
their work. An iron rod is thrust into
the soft mud, over which often the
water lies. In striking buried
tree the workman will by several sound
ings at last tell how it lies, which Is its
root end, and how thick it is. He then
manages to get a chip of the tree and
by its smell determines at once whether
it is worth the labor of mining that is,
the workman will tell unerringly whether
the tree be windfal or breakdown.
If breakdown, it was so because it was
decayed when standing; if windfall,
the tree fell while sound, and has been
preserved ever since by the antiseptic
nature of the peat marsh in which it was
buried. The soft earth is then removed.
This makes pit in the swamp. Into
this the water soon flows and fills it up.
This is rather an advantage. The
saw is now introduced, and at regular
intervals q cut is made through the tree,
when the log floats to the surface. 1t is
curious -thata log of sound tree will be
sure to turn over when it floats up, the
lower sides thus becoming uppermost.
Trees in this way are sometimes OBJ
tanned which will yield 10000 shingles,
worth $40 per thousand thus one tree
will yield $500.
The age of such tree, as the season
rings have been counted, has been made
out to be from ten to twelve hundred
years and even more. A layer of such
trees is found covered by another layer,
and these again by another, and even a
third, while living trees may still be
gl owing over all. 1t is evident, indeed,
that New Jersey has experienced what
the geologists call oscillations. Cape
May contains abundant evidence of hav-
ing been lifted outof modern sea. The
recent oyster and clam are found in
natural beds, just as they died in the
ocean, but now in positions many feet
higher than the contiguous oyster bed
while buried trees exist at depths lower
than the beds OF living molusks.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23
kissing the Bride.

The custom of kissing the bride at q
wedding is of great antiquity, and while
among the most refined classes it has
fallen into disuse, it is still insisted on
by many people with great rigor. A
very amusing story is told of Kentucky
backwoodsman who had, after a long
and ardent courtship of the belle of one
of the Kentucky cities, won her for a
bride. She had for long time wavered
in her choice, undecided whether to
take him or gentleman of wealth and
position in the city, but finally choosing
the humber lot in obedience to her
heart. The wedding was celebrated in
great style, and the manly groom was
almost as much admired for his colossal
proportions and athletic symmetry as
was the bride for her exceeding lowell
ness. Among the guests was the unsuc-
cessful suitor, who was we'll aware OF the
jealousy with which the groom had re-
earded him, but who had overcome his
chagrin at his failure and was sincerely
anxious to congratulate the bride. One
by one the guests offered their good
wishes and their hearty kisses, while the
groom looked on with approval and de-
light. At length among the rest came
the rejected lover. The young groom
watched him keenly, but without the
least animosity in his expression. lhe
unfortunate rival felt the delicacy Of
his position, and not caring to provoke
the husbands ire he did not proffer t e
salute which was customary. AS he was
giving place to others after wishing the
newly married pair we'll, the groom
grasped his arm with his iron fingers,
and in low tone said: "She's my wife
now, and I propose to see that she is
treated as well as my wife should be
treated. If you don't kiss her I'll break
every bone in your body" Rather than
quarrel the gentleman kissed the not un-
willing bride. and the groom was salts
fed.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23
Getting Their Dinner.

The Green Bay (Wis.) State Gazette
relates the following fable A large
dog belonging to one of our citizens, and
who usually accompanies his master to
market in the capacity of porter, was In
trusted with fine steak, securely wrap
ped in paper, to carry home. The ami
NAL grasped the parcel between his teeth
and trotted homeward beside his master.
A short distance from the butchers the
gentleman entered another store, leaving
the dog with the parcel standing on the
sidewalk. Shortly two vagabond look
ing ours arrived on the spot and began
snuffing about. Finally, the larger OF
the two ours began growing and bark
ing at the guardian of the steak, who
stood this sort of thingfor some time, in
a calm and dignified manner, till, finally,
his bullying tormentors, probably hav-
ing applied some opproblious epithet to
him, he opened his mouth to reply, and,
of course, dropped the steak to the
ground. The vagabond cur retreated,
and the other dog, now fully exasperated,
set off in pursuit of him. In an instant
vagabond cur No. 2, who had been
standing off short distance, apparently
a silent spectator of the scene, sprane
forward and seized the steak in his mouth
and put off in an opposite direction.
Not long after, and in an alley not ia,
from the scene of this little episode, were
two ours holding high festival over 6
rich, juicy steak, and those two cnrs
were the identical ones engaged in the
transaction previously related.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23
It was his Turn.

A clergyman was one evening sum
moned to his parlor, and found there @
couple who wished to be married. Nc
objection appearing on the questioning
of the minister, the couple stood up TO-
gether and the service was begun. Ihe
first part of it went off smoothly, but
when it came time for the bride to re-
ply to the question: "Wilt thou take
this man." etc., she replied: "No, I
won't" There was sIdden pause,
some hurried questioning and e1postu'
lation by the astonished groom, which
effected nothing more than reiteratlon
of the brides refusal, and the outraged
clergyman, in dignifed and severe
words, delivered a scathing rebuke and
showed the party to the door. A hall
hour elapsed when the bell rang again,
and the same couple a peared. The
groom, no way abashed, explained to
the clergyman that he had made up the
quarrel between himself and the lady,
after considerable coaxing, and had pre-
vailed on her to return and be married.
The clergyman hesitated, but at length
consented, and the service was again
begun. ,
When the groom was asked: "Wilt
thou take this woman" ETC., he replied,
most emphatically: "No, I won't; it's
NV turn now" The bride burst into
tears at this unexpected sign of pluck in
the man she had fondly hoped to rule,
and the clergyman, fairly incensed,
turned them out of the house with scant
ceremony. An hour later they returned
and the groom again explained that he
had made up with the lady, and they
had finally determined to be married,
and have no more nonsense about it.
The clergyman. consented this time with
alacrity, and the groom responded to
the questions asked with satisfactory
promptness, and the lady performed ber
part with dignity and ease. When ne
came to the last part of the ceremony,
however, the clergyman said: "ltsmy
turn row. I will not pronounce you
man and wife. You may go somewhere
else to get married" And the tickle
couple, after the third attempt, were
turned away still single.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23
/" An Ak to Grind"

We owe more of our common sayings
and pithy proverbs 10 DR.. franklin
than many of us think or know. We say
of one who fatters or serves US for the
sake of some secrets, selfish gain OF
favor: "He has an Ak to grind" In
the doctors "Memoirs is the follow.
ing story (much after the manner of the
"whistle " story, which explains the
origin of the phrase
Franklin SAYS: When was little
boy, L remember, one cold winter s
morning, I was accosted by O smiling
man, with an ak on his shoulder.
"My pretty boy" said he, "has your
father grindstone9"
eyes, sir" said I.
"You are fine little fellow" said he.
"Will you let me grind an ak on it Z"
Pleased with the compliment of ca
fine little fellow" "Oh, yes, sir" l
answered /; "it is down in the shop"
"And will you, my man." said he,
patting me on my head, "get me a
little hot water9"
How could refuse? ran and soon
brought kettleful.
Chow old are you, and what's you're
manner" continued'he without waiting
for reply. elm sure you're one OF
the finest lads that ever I have seen.
Will you just turn few minutes for
me2"
Tickled with the fattery, like fool l
went to work, and bitterly did I rue the
day. It was new ak, and toilea and
tugged till I was almost tired to death.
The schoolbell rang, and I could not
get away. My han.s were blstered, /,
and it was not half ground. At length,
however, the Ak was sharpened, and the
man turned to me with ::
"Now, you little rascal, you've played
the truant; scud to school, or you'll
get it'll" :,
Alas thought I, it was hard enough
to turn a grindstone this cold day, but
now to be called little rascal, was too
much. It sunk deep in my mind, and
often have thought of it since.
When I see merchant over polite to
his customers, begging them to take a
a little brandy, and throwing his goods
on the counter, thinks I, that man has
an ak to grind.
When I see man fattering the peo'
pie, making great professions OF attach
ment to liberty, who is in private life
tyrant, methinks, look out, good people,
that fellow would set you turning grind
stones.
When I see man hoisted into office
by party spirit, without singe quail,
ication to render him either respectable
or useful, alas methinks, deluded peo
pie, you are doomed for a season to
turn the grindstone.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23

til it was over. Then returning to their
young charges, they saw tall, gaunt
woman, with q horror-stricken face,
gathering the whole group in her arms.
It was the mother.
"I don't know who you be, young
men, but thank you from the bottom
of my heart" she said. Eyes, I thank
you from the bottom of my heart-and,
oh! I thank God, tool" And she burst
into tears.
Arthur, at loss what else to say, re.
marked " Your wagon is all smashed. "
"I don't care-don't care" said the
woman, Historically rocking herself to
and fro where she sat with her children
clasped to her bosom. "So's the
Young ones are safe, the rest may 60 to
wrack."
As she spoke, a couple Of horsemen
came madly galloping down the valley,
far in the wake of the flying herd. They
paused, thunderstruck, at the fragments
of their wagon trampled in the torn
soil. Then, seeing the group on the
rock, they fastened on, dismounted, and
climbed the little eminence.
"Great powers above, Jemimyl we
stampeded the bufaloes !" said the elder
of the pair of hunters.
Arty expected to hear her say that she
was thankful so long as they we're all
alive.
eyes, and nice mess you've made
of it." This was all her comment.
"Whar's the cattle, Zepha" asked
the father of this flock.
"Gone off with the buffaloes, 1
reckon, dad" was the response of his
son Zephaniah.
The man looked up and down the val
ley with a bewildered air. His wagon
had been mashed and crushed into the
ground. His cattle were swept out into
space by tho resistless food, and were
nowhere in sight. He found words at
last:
"Well, this is perfeckly rediclus. -
ST. Nicholas for March.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23
How Meats are Kept.

1t May interest our readers to know
how meats are kept fresh for the Eng
lish market during q voyage across the
Atlantic. The process is protected by
letters patent on both sides of the ocean,
and the proprietors have shown a desire
to have the public generally acquainted
with it. A traveller who crossed the At
lantic last winter in the steamer on which
the first experiment was made, writes as
follows: A New York business man, in
terested in the company and intrusted
with the management of this first ven
ture, was one of the passengers. He
not only made no "trade secret Of the
enterprise he was engaged in, but took
those of his fellow passengers who
seemed interested in the subject (myself
among them) to the part of the steamer
where the refrigerator was placed, open.
ing the door and explaining every point
in principle and practical working as
clearly as possible. The principle is ex-
tremely simple, and it involves no
chemical process or application of any
kind. To keep fresh meat sound and
sweet during the ten or twelve days
needed to cross tho ocean it is necessary
merely to keep it dry and cool, without
freezing it. This was the entire problem
before the inventor, and lie has solved 1t
by purely mechanical means. The meat
being in one part of the refrigerator and
the ice in another, fan, worked day and
night by small engine, keeps constant
stream of air passing over the meat and
the ice alternately. This is the whole
process, and there is no "secret " back
IF it. Of course the air from the ice
keeps the meat cool, but not as low as
the freezing point. If i'll passing through
the meat chamber the air takes up the
slightest moisture this is necessarily con
densed into water as soon as it reaches
the ice again, and it flows away in run
ways at the bottom OF the ice chamber
when collected in sufficient Quantity.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23
4 Good Year for Them.

It is a great year for the old man;
Grandfathers who have been neglected
and made to feel that they were IN the
way, and wished that they were dead,
who have long been thrust away in the
kitchen and left to humble to them
selves in the chimney corner, are aston
ished by being brushed up OF an even
ing and brought into the parlor, where
they are shown off to the company as
centennial relics. Grandfather, you
knew Washington, didn't your screams
q granddaughter in his ear, for lie Is
very dea;. eyes, yes" says grand
father, "the gin'rel borrer'd chsw ter.
baccer Of me many ard many time J.
The old maa is going to Philadelphia,
sure.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23
The Young Lawyer.

The tie which bound certain Detroit
youth to o lawyers Office was severed
yesterday, and his parents were happy:
They wanted the boy to make great
lawyer, but he was getting along too
fast. He pursued his studies with all
ardor which cast a judicial shadow Ger
the household and created considerable
neighborhood talk. He got trusted for
candy and repudiated the bill on the
grounds that he was a minor. He
bought dog and went into bankruptcy.
He borrowed pair of skates and defed
the owner to get out wait OF replevln.
He borrowed fifty cents and then made
the lender his assignee.
But the worst of it was in the family.
He had legal name for almost every
thing, and his desire was to prove to
his parents that he was just absorbing
dead-loads of law. If he wanted potato
at the dinner table he would remark:
"Father, file my claim against that
baked potato and I'll prove the indebt-
edness this afternoon"
If he wanted bread he said: "Moth-
er, get me out writ of attachment for
piece of bread"
It was expected of him that he would
build the morning fires, but no sooner
had he gained an insight into law than
he said to his father
"I'm going to move for change Of
venue unless some other arrangement is
made"
He moved for q stay of'proceedings
when asked to 60 the grocery, and if
chided for being out nights he replied !:
"File your declaration and give me a
chance for jury trial"
When he was in good humor he would
sit and regale his mother with stores
about how Old Chancery was going up
town one night and met Old Equity and
asked him how Decree was getting along.
Old Pleading and Expectations came
along just then, and there WIS big
fight, and the young lawyer would slap
his leg ard add:
eff Indictment had only been there
he'd have whaled the whole crowd j.
The other day the long-sutfering
father severed the tie. He was trying
to bear up, hoping for reform, but as he
sat down to the tea table his son bright
ened up and remarked:
"The defendant will now take the
stand and be sworn. Now, sir, did you
or did you not come out of Grlswold
street saloon at eleven o'clock this morn
ing, wiping your mouth on the back OF
your hand Z Tell the jury all about it,
sir"
It was little too much, and the boy
doesn't study law any more. He plays
with woodpile in the back yard.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23

Nate-No; we got the men out, took
them into caboose and gave them q
little refreshment, and in couple OF
hours started on again. Some folks
would have given that up as bad joa,
but none of the boys there ever thought
of giving up. We stuck to it all that
day and all night, and the next morning
got up to Cisco all right.
Reporter-That was fair snow expe-
riencea
Nate-Fair, but nothing extra. l
was caught along there another time,
and found the snow worse than we ex-
pected. We bucked and bucked for
hours with seven engines, but couldn' t
seem to make an impression on it. l
made up my mind that we had got to
stand siege. So I started man on
snow shoes up to Cisco for grub and
kept at the work. Pretty soon, with the
help of shovels, we began to make head
way, and when I least expected it we
were through the worst obstruction.
Then we started on at full speed, so as not
to get stalled again. All of asudden the
brakes were whistled down. We picked up
the messenger and tossed him clean over
the telegraph wires. Luckily he struck
on his feet and stood there buried In the
snow up to his waist, but not bit hurt.
He motioned us to 60 on, and We did
so, and got through to Cisco all right,
leaving a clean tracking for the passen'
ger trains to follow.
Reporter-What is the deepest snow
you ever encountered in those noun
tairs2
Nate-Thst's hard to tell. I've seen
it thirty feet often. Once I had to blast
it out. I sunk shaft thirty feet deep
and ran little drift along parallel with
the track and against the side OF the
mountain, and then put in half dozen
kegs of powder. That was funny! How
the snow flew But it did the business
for that place.
Reporter-Did you often meet as much
snow as that on the track2
Nate-In some spots it would always
fill up; then again there would be places
where we never had any serious trouble.
I ran u snow plow one time right through
one of those big snowbanks, making as
nice q tunnel as you ever saw.
Reporter-How long was it9
Nate-Not very long, of course; may,
be five hundred feet. Twas just making
for that bank with eight engines and all
the steam we could put on. When we
struck it the snow began to fly, and for a
little ways we made a nice cut in it,
But then the bank got higher than the
plow, and pretty soon We were all buried.
The engines were putting their best and
kept at it. We had good headway to
start in on, and the boys took care not to
lose more than we could help. And 80
they kers headway on her until we
burst through ON the other side of the
banl.. The snow just formed sort OF
an arch over us, and we left the prettiest
lind of tunnel behind us just big
enough for train to pass through.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23
His Choice. .

A pretty anecdote is told of Queen
Victoria and Mendelssohn. A short
time before his death the great composer
visited the queen. He sat down at the
piano, aud played accompaniment
while she sang some OF his songs.
When Mendelssohn rose to go, Victoria
warmly thanked him for the pleasure he
had given her, and said: "Now what at
can [ do to give you some pleasure ?.
expecting exp him to mention some gift of
honor she could confer upon him.
Mendelssohn at first declined to mention
anything, but when her majesty insisted,
he frankly told her that he was lover
of little children, and that he desired to
see the royal children IN their nurseries
The queen mother was much pleased,
and kindly led him through the nurse
ries, and they spent pleasant hour
talking in a friendly way about their
children.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23
The Spring Fashions.

Cashmere associated with silk, a fash
ion journal tells US, will continue ia
vorite combination fer spring costumes,
cashmere having lost none Of its old
favor. Black will be the most popular
color for these suits, as it conforms to
the accessories of the toilet, whichever
colors they may introduce, and is there
fore both convenient and economical.
The most fashionable costumes, how
ever, will be of dark shades of other
colors, as blue, green, etc. Knife
plating, still 80 much used, promises to
remain, at least through the season, one
of the varieties of trimming. Cashmere
suits for the street are to be completed
by small mantelet, held in to the waist
with belt fastened underneath.
Polonaises are constantly growing in
favor, especially those cut after the
princesse model. Basques and over
skirts are also coming out in new pat
terms, though modistes insist that they
must soon give way to new order oi
things. The Lutetia overskirt is among
the latest. This describes on the right
side rounded apron, while the left falls
in a deep point reaching almost to the
bottom Of the underskirt, and is crossed
diagonally over the right side, giving
the effect of double apron. The bach
shows two scant puffs, supplemented by
deep founce, and the left side is or
namented by one of the long paraso
pockets. A long tight. fitting basque
in cuirasse shape, known as the Aspasia,
is designed for two materials, one fol
the sleeves and the rest described in the
front, and another for the remainder ol
the garment. The roma sleeve gives
coat sleeve of graceful design it ftt
closely at the waist, and is ornamented
with very deep puffed cuff. This pat
tern is especially appropriate for cash
mere and thin goods.
Side plating, still much used, re-
quires a length three times repeated,
and shirring only half or one: third more
than the single length, according to the
fullness desired. One-third more il
enough for the fullness which is gathered
up at the sides in shirred overdresses,
the front breadths of walking skirts, OF
for velvet Aounces. Shirring, which
many ladies imagine is difficult trim
ming to make, is really quite simple,
merely gathering repeated at regular
intervals.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-03-23
MartellO Towers.

Martello towers are solidly built,
circular, bomb-proof, towers for coast
defense, about forty feet high, usually
situated on or near beach. The base
contains the magazine, above which are
quarters for the garrison and over
these is fat roof, upon which is gun
mounted so as it may be fired in any
direction. The name is derived from
similar buildings that were erected on
the coasts of Sicily and Sardinia during
the period that piracy was common III
the Mediterranean, for the purpose OF
keeping watch, ana giving warning II a
piratical vessel was seen approaching,
this warning being by striking on . bell
with a hammer-and hence the name
"Torri da Martello." Those at Quebec
are portion of the general plan OF the
fortification of that city, and we believe
are not directly connected with "The
Citadel" There are number IN the
United States as, for instance, that on
Tybes leland.