davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04
Altitude FaScinatian.

Jumping from points of elevation is a
fashion Of suicide. To stand on an ele
waited site exercises a singular fascina-
tion ovor some people, leading them to
jump into the air. 1t causes others to
sweat and tremble with fear Last sum
mer I talked with the guardian Of the
steeple of the Cathedral at Strashurg on
the snbject, and he informed ME that
few visitors were free from the feeling of
fright on reaching the first terrace,
which is of great altitude, and that it
was so pronounced as to generally pre-
vent them from going any higher. Some
times the women tainted. confess that
/ was not free from vague dread in
looking oyer the immense reach of land
scape which this view takes in, although
there was absolutely no danger, the
terrace being securely guarded by strong
iron rails. This man of upper air-the
guardian or guide-informed me that
the summer before an Englishman had
tainted, but determined to overcome his
fright, and continued to ascend every
day for a week, until he could look out
in the direction of the Black Forest,
from the lantern, with equanimity. Dur
ing the summer a man had jumped into
the air through altitude fascination. He
was probably dead before reaching the
ground, on account of the immense
height from which he hurled himself.
Formerly the Vendome Column was
the scene Of so many deaths of this kind
that decree was issued to prevent vis-
itors from ascending it unless accompa-
MED by guardian. 1t was the Tar
peian Rock of Paris. Such number
have killed themselves from the fascina-
ton of altitude. or the fright produced
thereby, that elevated places must be
recognized as dangerous for certain peo.
pie. Those whose self-killing is premed-
iiated ofcourse are not comprised there
| in.-TThp Galaxy.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04
Warm Winters.

The following record Of unusually
warm winters may be of interest in view
of the very exceptional warm weather of
our present winter:
In 1172 the tenn mperature was SO high
in England that leaves came out on the
trees in January, and birds Matched
their; in February. In 1889 the
winter was equally mild, and the maid
ems of Cologne wore wreaths of violets
and corn flowers at Christmas and on
Twelfth Day. In 1921 the trees flower
ed in the month of March, and the vines
in the month of April. Cherries ripen-
ed in the same month, and grapes ap-
peared in May. In 1872 the trees were
covered with leaves in January, and the
birds hatched their young in February,
as in l172. 1856 the same thing was re-
peated, and it ia added that the corn was
in the ear at Easter. There was in
France neither snow nor frost through
out the winters Of 1888. 1907, 1909, 1917
and 1859. Finally, in 1862, even in the
north of Germany. the stoves were not
lighted, and trees fowered in February.
The record shows that in New En-
gland in 1895 January was pleasant
and moderate and February summer
monih." In 1873 January came in like
April; in 1740 there were but two snow
storms; February was summer month
again, and March the same; in 1851
January Is, the frost was entirely out of
the ground, February was like spring,
and "the winter ends wonder through
the whole" In 1856, in january, the
6sh, as they are reported TO have done
this year, "struck IN" from the sea, the
weather being 40 warm. February was
delightful, and March clustering, but
soft as May. In 1878. Mr.. Smith records
summer day on January 27th, won
derful moderate" and February 9th 'no
snow since December 29th-wonderfu
weather. We saw two robins" In the
year 1775. February 9th, the New York
Gazette and Post Boys reports that 'lssi
Wednesday the weather was so uncom-
monty warm that many young lads went
! to the river to swim"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04
CROOKED CORN JUICE.
A New Trick to Defraud the Govern
ment.

Says an exchange: The ingenuity of
parties engaged in the practice of de-
franding the Government through the
evasion of the payment of the tax on
whiskey seems to he inc xhaustible. The
latest device has just been exposed
through the efforts of Col. Hunt, Super
visor of Internal Revenue for the Ohio
and Indiana District, and consist in u.s.
ing barrels which are manufactured
with the two slaves opposite the bnng
about twice as thick as the rest. By this
arrangement, the Gauger who, inserting
the gauge through the bung, wonld
strike the thick slaves. and supposing
the others TO be Of the same .thicknest,
would gauge less by 3 or gallons than
the barrel actually contained. Col,
Hunt made a seizure of four hundred
barrels of that description at Lafayette.
Ind, in the establishment where they
were manufactured. The coopers pro-
tested their innocence OF any intent to
defrnud the Government, claiming that
they were making the barrels strictly in
accordance with their orders, and suppos-
ed that the thick staves were pnt in sim
ply to strengthen the barrels-a view of
of the matter which the Supervisor
could not be induced to accept.
A woMAN's CURIOSITY SATISFIED.
The wife of ST. Louis merchant,
who had been reading in the morning
papers abour the whisky frauds, tnrned
to her husband with a puzzled expires
sion of cnuntenancr. and inquired:
"My dear, what do the papers means
by sayirg that man has 'sqneale'i?' "
"Why," replied lhe man. lofIily, they
mean that some memh.. of the Ring has
'peached' on the rest"
"Peached on the rest?" exclaimed the
wife; "now what does that mean?"
"Why. it means that he'S-he's blow
ed on 'em.''
"'Bluwed on them?'
"Yes; YOU see, he's given 'em away .
"'iiven them away?'
"Why, of conrse! Can't you under
stand anything? Do you think I'm an
unabridged dictionary" continued the
husband impaiiently. alt means h~'S-
let out ON 'em'-'gone back on his 'spals'
-'squealed'--you know.
The woman did not Seen quite salts
fed the the mans lucid explanation; but
not wishing to appear ignorant in her
husbands eyes, che remarked, "Ah, yes;
seeI' and fnrebore further questioning.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04
NUMBER 43.
The Cause of the Bard Times.

The Unitarian Review for January
and February, among the other able ar
ticles, has one on the Business Situa-
tion," in which the present stress OF the
times is ascribed to production
the gorging Of the market with more of
those commodities which are in
general nse than the market can bear.
This position of the writer, John G..
Kimball, is tins stated:
"It is due simply to the introduction,
during the last twenty-five years, of such
an enormous amount of machinery.
There Is nothing in our modern civili-
zatfon which ia more wonderful, more
a new thing under the sun, and destined
to be more wide-reaching in its rela-
tions, than this Use Of machinery. A
single pegging machine will turn ont
more boots and shoes now than a whole
village of cobblers at work in their lit
tie cnbical shops ffty years ago. The
cloth woven in any of our large mill
towns is probably equal to half Of what
all Indies used to produce by the slow
hand methods of the Middle Ages.
Steam engines alone are doing a work
which without them wonld give employ
ment to every one of the mulfitndes Of
men and women who are now lying idle
in oHr country. California a few years
ago was groaning over the Introduction
Of so mnch Chinese cheap labor and
yet. at that very time, most Inconsistent
ly, was giving a welcome to mowers and
reaPer- and mining apparatus which for
ch"apne-s and facility Of use made even
Chinaman dear. And then, when it
/ is seen how these mu-clcs and nerves of
iron and steel are employed IN every de-
partmPnt of industrv, from carving into
shape shaft Of iron weighing twenty
tons, down +" the finishing Of a canIbric
needle, and from the sewing of but
ton-hole to the sowing ana reaping Of
whole States, who can wonder that the
market j. Overstocked?
''Of cour-e this increase of facilities
for dDing work incrpa~ ~ed for awhile the
amonnt nf work to he done. But snch
a process ronld not go on forever. There
vas a limit even to The number uf
Stltches which could he pm into a l,dy's
dress. and TO the aHnunt nf wheat which
even an American family conid mike
way with And tins t,niut b.z,t L.,
been reached. The occurrence Of our
civil war with its enormous destruction
Of property, and its Withdrawal Of ener-
gies into the battlefield, put off the day;
but the end of the war, and their return
again into the pursuits Of peace, soon
filled up the gap, and brought us to the
point where it was hardly possible to
consume half Of what was being pro.
dnced-the point, therefore, where busi-
ness was obliged TO stop"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04
A Glimpse Of the Baby Planet.

The small planet Mercury, 30 rarely
seen, will be visible-if the weather
proves clear-on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday evenings, minute Furnished
disk Of silver, flashing in the later twi-
light Of the western sky three quarters
Of an hour after sunset, almost in the
path Of the snnken sun, but a trIle north
Of it. The Hartford Times says: Its
greatest elongations from the sun occur
January %. after sunset and March 10,
before sunrise. This dense and bot ba-
by planet is seldom seen from earth Il
Is 20 small, and 80 rarely visible by rea
son Of its close proximity to the sun
that it is said Copernicus himself dur
ing his whole life devoted to the study
Of the heavens, never once caught sight
OF this swiftly flying and almost invisi-
hle world. Its motion m its orbit r. more
than 100000 miles an hon- and its en-
lire year il but eighty-eighl Of orr days.
Owing TO it, proximity TO The sun from
which he j. separated by mean dis
tance Of hit SO 100000 miles,, Mercury
j. never visible except near the horizon;
and The intense brilliancy Of his disk
gives him the same twinkling appear
ance which distinguishes the fixed stars.
That thiz brilliancy is not an intrinsic,
ont reflected light, il proved by the
fact, which astronomers have discovered, =,
that Mercury passes through changes,
or phases, like those presented by the
moon. When in it, superior" conjuDc-
tiUn, or at its farthest point, or on the
other side Of the sun, this sparkling lit
tie planet, though then al a distance Of
60,000,000 miles from earth, can be seen
in the telescope nearly round, like %
small full moon, presenting nearly the
whole Of its illustrated surface 10 the OBJ
server. As the planet CONES around TO
it's inferior" conjunction, the position
nearest the earth, It's gradually waning
light has made il slender silver cfes-
cent, Of great delicacy and beauty. lts
diameter is but 8, ,140 miles. On Friday
evening this brilliant little planet will
also be in conjunction with Satnrn-thc
ringed world being now plainly visible
in the west every evening. Venus aud
Mars are also now in view; and last
evening the new moon hung oui its ell
very crescent, near Venus, 20 add 90 the
beauty Of the scene. The giant planet
Of the clouded belts is the morning star
at present. and early risers know how
lnstrous and beautiful lie is. Who, gaz-
ing on that luminous aud placid star in
the still sky above the dawn, would ever
suspect or imagine the vast and fright
ful disturbance which is said 10 be ac.
tually going on upon its surface.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04
No Gloves No Wedding.

Pleasant Valley township, has devel-
open an uncommonly punctilions yonng
lady. Her wedding day was set, and
her fathers house was thronged with
seventy guests. The preacher was there
with his book. The bride swept into
the midst Of the company in gorgeous
attire. The groom and his friends were
there on time, and the hour wrs o'clock
in the afternoon. 1t was now first die.
covered that the groom had forgotten to
provide himself with a pair Of gloves.
What was to he done The town was a
long way of, the night was growing
dark, and the roads were bad. The
grOom's next friend offered 10 lend him
the lacking attire, but he nobly refused
to appear in borrowed ''toggery." He
was willing to take time by the forelock,
and he married without gloves. The
bride positively refused to be married
without gloves. Two of the hIIde's broth
ers mounted feet steeds and gallopped TO
town through a storm of wind to buy a
pair Of gloves. About midnight the
gloves came. No matter If they were n
mile too small, they were regulation
white kids. and that was enough TO sat
isfy the whimsical belle. She was mar
ried.-[St. Louis Republican.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04
TIE NILGIRI PLATEAU.
A Scene of Wonderful Beauty.

In a work on the primitive tribes Of
the Nilgiris, or NeiIgherry Hills, of
British India, by late officer in the
British service, we find the following
graphic description Of natural scenery:
1t seldom that so much variety and
beanty is found in SO small a compass
From the bleak heights Of the Kundahs,
with their storm-b beaten, moss hung
woods and rank coarse grass, to the
springy turf and many cOlored sholas of
Octocamund and the tropical vegetation
of the western slopes, every five or ten
miles brings the traveller to a new eli
mate and new scenery. Even on-the
summit of the plateau the rainfall var
les with each different aspect, and, rang
ing from about 80 inches to $50 inches
or more, produces a corresponding range
OF vegetation.
Il is, however, views over the edges of
the table-land that are most singular
and strik from the extreme abruptness
of the descent. Let visitor take short
ride in almost any direction from almost
any part of the plateau. and, passing
along shady English looking lanes, shell
tered by thickefs of black berry and
wild rose; across bare, breezy downs,
sometimes dotted with twisted, crimson
towering rhododendron trees, and inter-
srcted by swampy valleys, where bnfia-
loes wade and wallow, through dense
woods carpeted with rare beautiful ferns
and gorgeous in spring tints, besides
which the eoloring of an English an
tumn is faint and dull; by native viii
lagos, with their watches of cultivation
and their magnificent single trees; he
will find himself on some ridge or pro.
monntorv, looking straight down from
900 to 5000 feet ON a scene that changes
like the figures in Kaleidoscope.
In the morning sea of clouds lies at
his feet, and gradually rises round him.
In the afternoon this has cleared away
and reveals, perhaps, a vast crimson
plain, veined by dark lines of wood,
dotted with isolated hnmmocks, like
giant ant-hills, and terminating in faint
blue lines of mountains. the farthest OF
which seem to hang half way up the sky
perhaps on a tumbled mass of hills and
valleys-a perfect dissolvinR view; for
the eye has hardly traced the outline OF
some rocky ridge. glowing red in the
sunlight, before a hlne cloud-shadow
bloIs it ont, and fresh series of crests
and ravines start into sight beyond
Broken peaks, hung with woods. frame
the picture. and on all lies tropical sun.
light, intensified by the keen, thin noun
| tain air.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04
MISCELLANY.
THE LAWS DELAYS.
Diary of an Exhausted Litigant,
Whose Lawyers's Family was
Large and Clients Few.


My father had slight misunderstood
ing with neighbor about a division
fence which he had inherited from my
grar dfather. A fter several disputes, he
consulted lawyer, who had good
many children but little practice. This
was fatal. A suit was commenced.
Several years ago, my lawyer said ]
must get ready for the trial. l did so
and went to court at every term. But it
was postponed upon every pretense
which human ingenuity could invent.
1871, March Term.-Counsel for de-
fendant moved for continuance because
he was engaged in the Conrt of Com
mon Pleas. Court granted the motion.
bnt intimated, with great dignity, that
such an excuse would never prevail with
him again.
September Term.-Counsel trying
case in an adjoining county, Judge
hesitated, but yielded.
December Term.-Defendant i'll. Prov
ed by the certificate of a respectable
physician.
1872, March Term.-Counsel has made
an engagement to meet client from
New York, who could not conveniently
leave his business again. Continued,
the Judge suggested that New York
clients might find counsel nearer home.
1873, September Term.-Carried the
title deeds to my lawyer. Surveyor ex-
amined the premises; said defendant had
encroached on me. But another survey
or (partner and pupil of the first one),
said that my deed spoke of a hackma-
tuck stump in the line of the fence, a
foot in diameter; whereas, the only tree
anywhere near the fence was pepper
idge tree, not more than seven inches
and half across. Case postponed, to
employ other surveyors.
December Term.-Counsel agreed
that court might visit the premises in
dispute. Judge refused to go, but said
the jury might do 80, provided that no
body went with them to explain, and
confuse. Next morning heavy snow
fell, and the boundaries were covered.
Case continued.
1874, September Term.-Motion to
postpone, on the ground that the defen-
dant's attorney wished to be absent
hunting, for few days. Motion pre-
vailed demonstrated, but my conn.
sci said the lawyers were very accom-
modating gentlemen and the courtesie'
of the Bar required it.
1875, March Term.-Une Of the juror
taken sick. Motion to go on with tn,
trial with eleven jurors. Defendants
counsel objected with great strength o
voice, and demanded full jury trial
pure and simple. think he called i
, the "Palladium Of our liberties" Cas-,
postponed.
September Term Received a bill TO
J retainer's fees, clerks fees and expenses
One item was for the amount of a re
tainer which my lawyer had declined
s from the defendant. l offered him tn
: farm, provided gained the case. H
said that this would not be deemed hon
e orabIe practice, but would take it ant
D give me credit as far as it went.
Took the cars for the West, comin
), mostly on freight trains and after night
y fall.
Mem.-Don't forget inscription 70
n my tombstone: "Here lies one VIII
died of a lawsuit, bequeathed by hi
$ father"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04

The London Economist, in late re-
view of trade and prices of commodities,
has hopeful view 1f this years pros
poets. Its conclusion "is that there t.
no reason why this year should not be
very prosperous, because it follows a
year of crisis. Even the iron trade is
beginning to look mp little, and more
has been doing in it last year than in
the year before. The depression has
been due TO the excessive amount oi
capital and labor engaged in the trade,
but not to an absolute diminution OF de-
mand Indeed, prices are now at level
nj which the demand steadily increases
and there is every prospect Of coniinu-
ous improvement, though possibly sub.
ject TO temporary reactions.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04
4 Disguised Man.

"Bein' I'm here" he said to police
man near the post office-"bein' Pm
here, and bein' may never come here
agin, and bein' I want to zee all kin.
I'd like to know if it would pay fellow
to go to the Knavery Yard?"
"You mean the Navy Yard" remark,
ed the officer.
"Yes; suppose is the Navy Yard
Is there much there to see?"
ayes, good deal"
"Do you 'spose they'll hang any one
there to-day"
"The Navy Yard is not place where
they hang folks" laughed the officer.
''Sol thought it was. Well, what's
the performance, anyhow"
"There is no performance of any sort"
"There hain't9 Don't any one walk
the roper"
"No."
"Nor perform AIRY back somersprings?"
"No.'
"Well, it must be dunn queer knavey
yardp exclaimed the stranger. Perhaps
they've got a grizzly bar over there?"
Never heard of one" replied the Of
hcer.
"Does balloon go upl'
''Guess not"
"Well, what in thunder do they do ?''
demanded the irritated man. "What
does feller go over there for?"
Don't you know what knavey yard
is?" asked the officer.
ayes. ] know what a knavey yard il as
well as you do. I've seen Thousand OF
'em, and expect to see thousands more.
] don I care two cents about seeing this
one, though ifihey are going to play the
Black Crook or have any fun, I'll take
look in"
This Navy Yard" said the officer, "is
a place where they build and repair gov
ernment ships, store cannons, supplies,
&c.
at is, eh!" slowly inquired the stran-
ger. "WeIl, it must he a one horse affair
I don't suppose could even get any
beer over there!"
81 guess not?"
"WeIl; won't CO." said the stranger
in a determined voice. 81 guess I'll
knock around and see If l can't run
across q good dog fight"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04
VOLUME 3.


soon overpowered, and the money taken
from her.
"Let us go now" said one of the rob
bers. "You take the money, and ! will
settle her tongue in a way that it will
remain quiet for an hour at least"
"Don't be in hurry" said another.
al am hungry. and we can just as we'll
take morsel here as not"
The other demurred, hut he continu-
ed: "Set to work and some supper
You've got fire and some boiling WA
ter, and we want some tea. To work, l
say
Mrs. Jacobs saw that a refusal would
only subject her TO more indignity, and
she aro.e to do their bidding.
She put some more plates on the table,
along with such food as she had cooked,
and then proceeded to make the tea'
wondering all the while if there was any
way To regain possession of the money,
and dreading her husbands anger and
dismay on his return should she fail 10
do so.
As she took the tea-canister from the
pantry shelf she caught sight Of bottle
labeled "arsenic." Her husband had
purchased it on the preceding day, in
order to destroy the rats.
Here was the chance of relief, and
she seized it eagerly. Opening the bot
tie she pu few grains in the tea pot
along with the tea, of which she gave
good measure in order 70 destroy the
taste of the arsenic.
A few minutes later the robbers were
sitting at the table unconsciously sip
ping their death.
"They may kill me-" unused the faith
ful wife, shut the money will be found
and my husbands honor saved"
After a few minutes, one by one the
robbers complained of being sick.
.ssI verify believe that woman has poi
soned us, ," said one, and the next moment
he fell with deep groan on the floor.
II know that she has poisoned us,
"cried another" and her ownslife shall
pay the forfeit"
He sprang from his own seat and start
ed towards her, revolver in hand; but he
fell ere he reached her.
"Jane," exclaimed the third, "you
have saved the money, but you have
murdered mew
How strangely familiar sounded the
voice! Forgetting all her old fears ir
the new Mrs. Jacobs sprang forwart
and knelt by the side of dying man.
None tried to harm her now, for al
were powerlAss to do-so.
She pulled the disgnise-a hideou
negro face with large grinning mouth
from the face of the speaker. On
looK-then came a scream which echoed
through the house like a peal Of thun
der. The dying man was her own hus
band
| But little more remains to be told o
the sad story. the money was preserv
ed, but the heroic woman is a maniac
raving in an asylum over the murder o
her husband.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-02-04

A confidence man, Of Quincy, H.,
named J. J.. Termer, of Terry, Ill, has
confessed to being one of a gang Of bur
glars who robbed a bank in Quincy,
Illinois, in February, 1874, Of $780, 900
in bonds and SS4 900 in cash. He says
he was given the bonds and the others
took the cash. lie says the bonds are
buried near Chambers Junction, Iowa,
and the Chief of Police has just return
ed from search, which was unshccess.
ful. There is a reward Of $4,000 offer.
ed for the recovery Of the bonds by the
bank and it is probable that Termer will
be taken TO Iowa TO make good his con
fessinn.