davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06

A SoRRowING CoUNTkY.-George
Ticknor thus describes the way in
which Washington's death was re-
ceiyed: 4}ANe-steito s.
"There never was more striking
or spontaneous tribute paid to q man
than here in Boston when the news
came OF Washington's death Q799). It
was little before noon and often
heard persons say at the time that one
could tell how far the news had spread
by the closing Of the shops. Each
man, when he heard that Washington
was dead, shut his store as matter of
course, without consultation. and in
two hours all business was stopped.
My father came home and could not
speak, he was SO overcome; my moth
er was alarmed to see him in such =
state, till he recovered enough to tell
her the sad news. For some time ev-
eryone, even the children, wore Grape
OH the arm no boy could go into the
streets without it. l wore it, though
only eight years old"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06

IT,
WONDERS OF CHEMIsTRY.-The to-
mato vine, which furnishes food so
palatable to almost every one, belongs
to the same family of plants as the
deadlytnightshade, which attains such
a rank growth in the edge of swamps
and by the shady roads, and which all
children are educated so cautiously to
shun. Aquafortis and the air we
breathe are made Of the save materi-
ais. Linen. sugar aud spirits of wine
are so much alike in their chemical
composition that an old skirt can. be
converted into its own weight in SUI
gar, and the sugar into spirits of wine.
Wine is made of two substances, one
Of which is the cause of almost all COM
bustion, aud the other will burn with
more rapidity than anything else in
nature. Peruvian bark and the pois.
onods principles Of opium are found
to be composed of the same materi.
ale.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06
THE OLD WAY.
How the Secretary of Wars Wife Dresse
in 1880.


Hew the Secretary of Wars Wife Dressed
in 1880.
In 1929, Caleb Atwater was sent to
arrange treaty with the Indians at
Prairie du Chen. He took his work
to Washington, where it was acted
upon by the Senate, approved, and
Mr.. Atwater being off duty, attended
the first levee of old Hickory which
occurred January 10, 1880, at O'Clock
p. M, in the round room." Here is
the description of Mr.. Atwater:
Commodore Rogers was there,
dressed as plainly as any simple citi-
zen, easy in his manners and unas-
suming. The lieutenants and mid
shipmen made all the display they
could. In the same way the officers
of the army appeared. The Secretary
of War and his family were dressed in
the neatest and plainest manner. The
Secretary's lady, whose person is SYM
metry itself, neither needed nor wore
anything but plain American calico
for dress, without ruffle or single
ornament upon her person. Her ap-
pearance bespoke reliance OH her
native beauty and her accomplish
ments, nor was her reliance misplaced
for no sooner had she taken her place
near the Presidents family, than all
the beauty and fashion in the room
gathered around her to do her honor.
The gentlemen were all dressed alike,
but our Western ladies unanimously
dressed in plain American calico,
without ornament upon their per-
sons. The simplicity of their dress,
their unaffected manners, their neat.
ness, their ease, grace and dignity car
ried all before them like an electric
shock. The diamonds sparkled in
vain at that levee, and Western una
derned neatness, modesty and beauty
bore off the palm with ease. Our
Western ladies had felt some uneasi-
ness before the levee about the result,
but their friends of the other sex as
sured them correctly that enough that
republican simplicity would triumph
over all the crosses and diamonds that
the East would bring into the field.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06
BEDS.

As we snuggle between the sheets,
and lay our heads on seft pillow
some cold winters night, it sometimes
seems as if nothing but luxurious
couch of this kind would be worth
calling a bed. Yet a large part of
the world enjoy no such arrangement
for sleeping and could not enjoy it if
they had it. Our own ancestors re-
posed in much less luxurious fashion.
In Eastern countries people common
ly spread net on the fiat roof of
their house. and make that their bed.
In Russia the top of the stove is the
bedstead. In both cases the sleepers
do not undress themselves. I
In ancient Egypt-as still in China
and Japan-wooden pillows were in
vogue, followed out to fit the shape
of the head. But the ancient Egyp-
tians, while, on account of the heat
and vermin, they preferred hard pill
4ows, anu nave considered their COM
fort at night in the Invention of spring
mattresses. They were made of slips
of bamboo crossed over each other,
and must have been as cool, if not as
soft aud yielding, as the webbing of
twine stretched over frame ,on which
the natives of India rest.
The Israelites used sheep and goat
skins stuffed for pillows, and in early
times the same for bedding, their bed
steads, at later period, at least, must
have been very costly. The prophet
Amos speaks of couches OF ivory.
Among the Assyrians, and after
wards among the Romans, couches of
gold and silver were possessed by the
rich. The reason for this splenflor
was partly that the beds were not kept
in separate rooms, but in the same
room occupied by day, and were used
for sitting on, and reclining on at
at meals. Al Roman feasts the guests
all reclined, aud sometimes each per-
son occupied a separate couch.
The Anglo Saxon ancestors were
not at all refined in their sleeping ar
rangements. Their beds consisted of
wooden boxes, filled with bag of
straw. In an old illustrated manu-
script there is picture of king GO
ing to bed. He has crown on his
head "a very uncomfortable night cap),
but has no night dress.
King Henry VIII, of England, is
said to have slept upon a straw bed,
while his servants lay upon rushes
strewn OIL the Aoor of the royal kitch-
ell. The Kings bed was not what we
should call luxurious; but so much
ceremony was used in going to it that
seven ohaMberlsins were employed in
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06

The durability of soles of boots may
be greatly increased by coating them
with gum copal varnish, which also
has the effect of making them water
proof. Four or five coats should be
given, ,alIowing each coat OF varnish to
dry before the succeeding one is ap-
piled. Soles thus treated posses twice
the usual durability, and generally.
outlast the best uppers. The. leather
uppers of boots or shoes may be rem
dered soft and waterproof by rubbing
into them, while warm, before the fire,
a mixture composed of four ounces of
hogs fat and one ounce of resin.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06

"WIpE of yoor chin" may not be
very elegant, but it is the latest, and,
as usual, the Dutchman, in endeavor-
ing to pass it around, blundered, and
told his friend that ssthere was some-
thing on his chin"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06
AMATEUR MECHANICS.

A good thing to give Boy is a
chest of tools. They should be of the
very best quality, just as good as the
market affords. 1t is surprising what
progress he will make in = little time,
in learning how to use them, what
amusement they will afford him. and
the possible benefit the knowledge he
acquires may be to him in after life.
just now it is quite the fashion to
werk in wood. In city homes, even,
delicate ladies are learning the art of
weod carving, and thousands of beau
tiful ornaments are made with the
fret saw. There is fair prospect of a
genuine revival of the art of wood
carving, and 1t 10 not improbable that
ere the century closes, we may rival
the works of'the old masters Of this
noble art and that the best work may
bc done, too, by those who were born
to life of leisure, who took it up
and pursued it from sheer love of it.
But mechanical tools furnish a delight
full means of recreation for adults, for
people whose brains are overtaxed,
aud a well-equipped workshop is
something worth having. A friend of
ours, an ex-judge, and lawyer of
note, surprised US, not long since,
while on visit # his house, by All ex-
hibition of this kind. With the excep-
ton nf a foruo tho ehops mo q oo,,, - n
There were lathes for turning wood,
and iron, drills, chisels. and almost ev-
cry kind Of tool for working wood all
in fine order, and systematically ar
ranged. And the judge had made
good use Of them. Every roem1n his
house bore testimony to his industry
and mechanical skill. There were pic
ture frames, and easels, and tables that
could be folded up-we wish we had
made q drawing of one most ingen-
iously constructed-ands scores of arti-
cles useful and ornamental; and all
this the result of play, not work. The
celebrated DIR. J ohm Todd was noted
example of the amateur mechanic, al
though there is no evidence that he
achieved very much skill; he was
rather more OF tinker than workman
at least SO we judge from the account
given in his life. His shop, however,
was . very elaborate affair, and con-
tanned wonderful variety of appli-
ances for executing mechanical work.
He was . clergyman, and fine tools
were his hobby, and his parishioners
knew his weak point, and 50 centribu-
ted to his collection; besides, he did
not spare time or money himself. in
securing them. These amateurs often
go to great lengths when, once they
are thoroughly in earnest. DR.. Todd,
it is said, would spend days and travel
many blocks, when in New York, in
search of some of new tool for his
shop. And he was very methedical,
kept all in perfect order, and could
place his hand on any article he want
ed, even in the dark. = Ame,acDn
Builder. 4.~ai s4s.a
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06

LITTLE four-year-old, playing with
her dolls: "Now, you lay there. my
dear, and you lay there" Mother
"Why, Edie, you know that isn't
right, you should say lie." .sOh, ne,
mamma, I'm playing they are chick
ems"
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06

The milk of human kindness is,
without doubt, the most condensed
milk in existence.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06
A HOMEMADE CARPET.

An Eastern lady says: Have any
of you spare bed-chamber, seldom
used, which you would like to carpet
at little expense? Go to the paper
hangers store and select a paper as
much like a carpet as you can find.
Having taken it home, first paper the
floor of your bedroom with brown
paper or newspapers, then over this
or these put down your wall paper. A
good way to do this will be to put a
good coat of paste upon the floor the
length of the room, and then lay the
paper down unrollina and smoothing
at the same time. When the floor is
all covered, then size and varnish, only
dark glue and furniture varnish may
be used. aud the floor will look all the
better for the darkening these will
give it. When it is dry put down a
few rugs, by the bedside and before
the toilet stand, and you have as pref
ty a carpet as you could wish. A car
pet, too, that will last for years if not
subjected to too constant wear-and
at trifing expense. l myself used a
room one entire summer prepared in
this way-used it constantly; and
when the house was sold in the fall,
the purchaser asked me to take up the
oil-cloth, as he wished to make some
alterations which would be sure to in
jure it.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06
srLpISs. ND. HP HUGUs, n.
REIDING 4 HUGUS.

Physfclans and Surgeons. Once, Main strees
over BeIding & Armstrong; Drug Store,
special attention paid to the treatment Of
Chronic Disca,es. Office hours, from 10 70 II
an. to and to sp. M 10.
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06

.cx.rrs r-p- JOHN n CRAFTS. n. D.
CRAFTS & SON,
Ph1 nj Hans and Surgeons. Office in Crats'
Block, Mantua Station, Portage County, Ohio
s3s-
The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-04-06

BARGAINS IN TURKEY.-A little trait
of Turkish honesty might be initiated
here. A gentleman wandering through
the bazars desired to buy an embroid-
cred handkerchief of Turkish shop
keeper. He asked the price, Seventy
five plasters.' Me- said the gentle
man, aware that it is usual among all
traders, whatever their creed, to ask
at first more than the value; that's
too much; 1 will give you seventy ;
and as the dealer seemed to assent he
counted out the money. But great
was his surprise when the heavy
bearded Osmanli grayely pushing
back to him twenty piasters, observed :
This is more than the Just price. 1t is
always the custom here to bargain
over thing down to its fair value,
and as fifty piasters is my fair price,
those twenty belong to YOU Many
q Christian might take lesson of the
believer in the Koran.
The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-27
ANTOINE's CHANCES.
Cencordia mnd Wa dison.

Dave Young Is really quite irate
against the dapper. little Antoine, and
threatens to carry his constituency
against him. The threat Is not at all
vain. In 1874 Frank Morey, In some
way, offended the negro leaders OF the
river parishes, Dave Young, Bill Muir
rell and the rest. They threatened
vengeance and they got It. The Fifth
Congressional District rolled Kellogg
up q majority Of six or seven thousand,
but Morey was left In the cold, with
majorities against him in the largest
Republican parishes. H ''''
The same leaders threaten Antoine
with similar treatment. Dave Young
promises majority for Wiltz in Con-
cordia; and Cruzan, In Madison, says
that the little gentleman, Antoine, will
change 500 votes In his parish for Pack
ard, with Wiltz In the second place. %
Under these circumstances and this
pressure, Antoine will undoubtedly give
in, and grant Dave, all he asks fora
supervisor OF registration.
The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-27
ReglStPetlOM.

IA In our columns this morning will be
found an important notice from Hon.
Michael Hahn, Registrar OF Voters,
giving notice Of the location OF tbs
Offices Of registration. We commend it
to the attention Of our readers, and
trust that every man entitled to vote
will see, to it Immediately that he is cor.
rectly registered. Those who can do
SO, should go at once, az there will
always be more who will, delay, while
those who act promptly will not only
leave more time to laggards, but will
set q good example to their fellow
citizens.
The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-27

Tax Collector. as sup.rv,sor.. 3

The appointment OF y. A. Weber, Tax
Collector Of West FeIiciana. ~ Super.
visor Of Registration in the same parish
shows how widely and literally our
laws are construed. .tfa, gssflf
Weber being u Tax Collector. 1t would
seem that, under the law forbiddihg
any person holding two Offices Mt the
same time, he could not be appointed
supervisor. faurof 2e598 eea no.gFz}t
This difficulty Antoine easily OK plains
away. BY section 3s Of the registration
act: q @ Whenever there shall be any
vacancy In the Office OF Supervisor of
Registration, the Governor shall fill
such vacancy by appointment, or he
may designate some parish officer To
discharge the duties Of such Supervisor
for tho time being" c a
This is construed to allow the appoint
ment of Weber. The law evidently
only contemplates the appointment 81
q parish officer to perform the duties Of
Supervisor in case ef the latter's sudden
death or resignation and for the time
being.. The Office ia vacant and some
one who is present must be ready at
once to enter on the duties Of supervis-
If
does not contemplate the appointment
o. parish officers and, least OF all, tax
collectors, In the first instance, and this
10 virtually the first instance The
registration act compels the appoint
ment OF Supervisors sixty days, and only
sixty days. before election. 1t Is now
seventy-two days before the election.
Antoine could easily walt twelve days
before appointing q Supervisor In West
Feliciana, but instead OF this he prefers
to nominate q man who will not qualify
and then, under act 80, appoint parish
|, officer In bis place. The office Of every
larly filed All that Ia necessary is to
appoint some man who, you know, will
not take the Office the law Is then com
Piled with ond yvu may CffuJpo duy one
you wish, even II he already holds a
Offices. l3 e9llts 9
CANDIDATES As SUPERVISOR. i
An equally brilliant Interpretation is
that OF section 13, which says, mo Su-
pervisor OF Registration appointed un-
der this act, and no clerk OF such Super
visor OF Registration, shall be eligible
Tor any Office at any election where said
officers off1ciate. Is rat
At last election, Loan. Superintendent
Of Police, was Supervisor OF Registra-
lion and q candidate for Administrator
Of Police at the same time. This is ex-
cused on the ground that he was not
Supervisor at the time Of the election
Tor the Office for which he was q candi- |
date, having resigned his Supervisor
ship. This excuse would allow any Sn- |
pervisor OF Registration to be q candi-
late for any Office. All he need do
would be to resign his Office before the
lay of election. ~. ....
The only possible explanation OF the
section is that no one can be candidate |
,or any office that has at any time filled
the duties OF Supervisor. Under An
tofne's construction the Supervisor
might manipulate the registration to
suit himself, and defer his nomination
until asday or two before the election. |
Just what was done in Warmoth's times
Ia DeSoto, Avoyelles and other par
shes, and to prevent which the present
law was framed.
The registration must be conducted
The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-27
ls1TAyE HOUSE. :
49,, Il, - M IH7f17-++s7 WHHfE u f15"I
THE Az f'llIt,fsGAh ce45NfAIGN lCONNITgEE.
Ss1sse Omssevs sas sshe 'Mstsst~n NJ shs
! eas9ny,t ali ssektstfattws.a ans oils vi anp

4 R@9See sOsueHevs hAe Sthe MettstNn NJ ea,,
4 eDs5nysf al NeEts attOW.g na ati yd an
4 The fourth story OF the present State
House. The old ~. Louis Hotel, In a ter
ribly dllap1deted condition, The roo
leaks. 'tbsH phster ltas fatfen 5 in. 7fbs
posts are rotten, md all threaten TO give
i way altogether some day. so aalfi 8ff
lthe steep, and tottering stairs and
liinto tho long vhehtit and echo
ing halls. he will notice OH one side n
dozen or two small littte aitItinht rpons
IN N somewhat better repair than the
others. II be slips gently up, he will
SEQ some dozen men III their shirt
slseves. but II he makes the 1east noise.
he wi i msrely see few pair Of syes
glnpcing at him from behind pillars
and doots. When he reaches these
rooms. he will find the doors shut and
filed. These little roornsltlrs Ebf1t air.
tight. without n breath oftiair gsttinp
into them; they must be literally in
suHefhble In this hot weather, yet here,
day after day, n dozen of more st,sr hrs
toiltng, perspiringly and enetgetioaliy,
over a lot Of papers. fl.l tNT H-i 3f9'
Who are tbey2 Antoine swears bs
does not know Is not even aware of
their existence III the building denies
~ IN hto. Other Stats House officials
cannot deny their existence. but assert
that they are simply employees of the
state Supervisor OF Registration. If |
asked how they are paid, as the law
only permits the Supervisor two clerks, |
These officials grow n little confused, |
and say they do not exactly understand
the matter.
Upon close inquiry, II will be ad-
m1tted that they afe not employees Of
Tho Supervisor tpf Registration, after
all, but sub-committee of the Rsptl,.
lican Campaign COMMITTEES. charged
With the supervision Of the registration.
HOW did they secure rooms In tho
well, you see. we have got a large
supply OF furniture on hand, and by
living them these rooms 1t saves the
,tpense Of storing it. ss5.5. ...s
A further Investigation will show that
hey are police of1icers-indeed. II IL 40
,$n nfessedA-deputed to attend to this
supervision OF the registration. in 4t
:, Ibe Rhdlcal campaign committee
hus has few expenses. The clerical
york is done by tho police at the ex-
'ense OF the city and the rooms are
reely rendered by the State sls.. rsa
These rooms In the State House were
hosen from it's propin1uity tothe office .
y obptiFisoi VI RSEtStIhbIOHs Inc mbB Z
Dol. Wright, has been in his !
flee but little In the past month. nor {
, Governor Hahn often there. The
i1ice Is more than poorly guarded I
gainst any one that should feel in d
lined TO slip in and change. revise or
estroy the registration books. II Ia In n
retired part OF the building and a
lrtually mt the mercy of this campaign '
DrDmittee. y
just what work these policemen are =
!. is somewhat uncertain, but IL Ger Il
linly Is not good work, they keep the
ibject 80 secret. and their very exist d
ice is strcnuously denied by Antoine. v
The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-27
The Fan ef Phi1aaelphia Real Estate.
from the Philadolphia PressJ

The Sheriff sales In June are reported
by the real estate men to nave exceeded,
In the number, of houses disposed of.
those OF any month since the consolida-
ton OF the city. In the summer OF 1875,
when complaints Of dull times were loud
and deep, the Sheriff executed 57a writs
upon property. But that figure has
been increased this summer to 687 writs
in June alone, as many as 800 houses
being put under the Hammer. There
were $50 and 800 taverns near the
grounds In May; many Of
these have been closed. .c...4. NJ 49,.
The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-27
A piece sf Of here.y..

:. A contemporary, in answer to ques-
tion, asserts flat-focted that a man born
on the first OF January, 1900, lie born in
therefore born in the year zero, hence
he was not born at all. We leave our
contemporary to settle with the church
for this piece Of heresy.
The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-27

rA'hnndred dollars can be saved oy purchasihS
your pianos at Philip Werleln's, - 70 pa
rome street. He keeps the best pianos. and
sells them at the lowest prices ON the easiest
terms. 100 pianos and 100 organs to sci ct from.
The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-27

SS" OnA1aRNcp mug AOs
Dear Old Tom-Give us an outrage In
Livingston as soon as possible. It is
going Democratic, so it can do us no
harm. Something in the whipping and
killing negroes. line. You might per-
haps get some bulldozers to fire on q
negro church while the congregation
was praying. Go it strong; no objec-
tion to barrels OF skinned and pickled
negroes. l have telegraphed full par
ticulars on to Indiana. Morton aud
George Sheridan will speak on it TO.
night. So disappoint US not, or you will
get US into trouble. The outrage bust-
ness is going to be worked well in tho
doubtful parishes. asa5 aiaalP. A., ns 1
Chairman Of the Outrage Committed .
u PARISH OF DESoro. Aug. Il.
Dear P. did your job up, as ordered.
full account see the Shreveport Iele-
gram, Of AAg. 20. Two negro churches
and four schools burnt. Several children
The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-27
THE STATE CENTRAL cOMMfTTrrf'

THE STATE CENTRAL COMMtTTEv.a
| Pursuant 20 ths c61f ~ tho Hon. J. n.
Snider, President Of tiss sal3at0n Rougosr
Convention. tho State. Central Commit
tee fflst Yesterday at ~ little after ii
nelocks M room Mo- 4. over tho Obttoii 4
b1noBfges9 lpy 10. sUf9m8up aGB ~ a9sa
The meeting Was esllad, to, order by :,
Mr. T. w. Patton, who. called to tho.
chair tho Hon. Albert VOORHEES, 10 act
as temporary ehairmhtl.@ Msssrs. II.
Powers md " u. sullivan acting ~ "
temporary secretaries. oe sfaIffY ls5a bHs
. Qn motion, q Commlttee on Dredsns
tials,. cofnp6sed Of fye uierhbors, ws4,
appoiotsd, as folIowsf 5AD 77''ll - f''''''fe
George w. Dnpre, Of Otlsans, chair. .
man Henry Rsnshaw, Jr.. OF Orlsstps.;t
sam J. Powell, Of West, Felieians; Jno, ~
gleeR, 9f Lafayette; +, s. Shields, Oh
Coaeotdia. ,lta m 70 Ffie771'f .,TN'sYFsia
d After whioh the committees took a rsls rs
toss Of neatly two hours, at tlis expirs-f
ZION of which the Committee on Oreden-
tials feported the following ~ duly
accredited members TO ths State O0ui, wy
mjttep. ls lff b a8 fFf7ff fITI7fff = esflelf
The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-08-27
RRICE. FLKBvCENTS.tr

| BY thoss whe are candidates Tor so9 ofs :
ticesl md ~ ttfNhss little differences
whether bis nomination be- made bsitfS
sorr after be has been Supervlsor-~h hiAs
taplllty to III up bis OWN election must.