davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
TIE LAY TORPEDO.
Another Invention for Use in Marine
Warfare.

Congress adjourned early Saturday af-
ternoon, and a large numbers, accom-
panied by distinguished officials, went TO
the navy-yard to witness experiments TO
be made with the Lay torpedo. This Is.
one Of the most formidable torpedoes
yet invented. 1t carries its own motive
power, and is guided through the water
by electricity, acting through a small
it can also be guided to right or left,
made to go fast or slow, as the engineer
shall direct. In case of an engagement
at sea this engine ofdeath can be launch
ed and sent out In any direction at rate
of speed equaling Is knots an hour, and
can be controlled with accuracy to dis
tance of FIVE miles. If this new torpedo
proves to be all that is claimed for it, it
will revolutionize sea warfare. With il
vessels attacking a torpedo-boat could
never get within range before they would
be destroyed. The experiment this af-
iernoon was very beautiful and success-
ful one. The Torpedo, when launched,
carried smaller torpedo upon its for
ward point, for the purpose of ilIustrat-
ing what would be done without destroy
ing entire machine in the water, This
iron-clad, round, cigar-shaped torpedo
looked every inch like some sea monster.
Ii would dash here and there as though
it were imhued with life peculiarly its
own Finally it was recalled from
great distance and sent TO explode
small raft stationed quarter of a mile
from the directing engineer. The torpe-
do dashed for this platform with a vim
and directness that surprised everyone.
Some thought that the raft WAS too small
TO be hit at first venture, but the aim of
the engineer was unerring, the torpedo
striking the raft directly in the center
and in a second after the whole raft was
Aving upward, blown into a thousand
Oiecas
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
The Moon and the Weather.

The notion that the moon exerts an
influence on the weather is so deeply
rooted that, Notwithstanding all the at
tacks which have been made against it
since meteorology has been seriously
studied, it continues to retain its hold
upon us. And yet there never was
popular superstition more utterly
without basis than this one. If the
moon really did possess any power over
the weather, that power could be exer-
cised in one of these ways-by reflection
of the suns rays, by attraction, or by
emanation. No other form of action is
conceivable. Now, as the brightest
light of full moon is never equal in
intensity or quantity to that which is
reflected toward us by white cloud on
summer day, it can scarcely be pre-
tended that weather il affected by such
a cause. That the moon does exert at
faction in MS is manifest-we see ii
working in the tides; but though it can
move water, it is most unlikely that it
can do the same to air, for the specific
gravity of the atmosphere is so small
that there is nothing to be attracted.
Laplace calculated. indeed, that the
Joint attraction of the sun and moon to-
gether could not stir the atmosphere at
a quicker rate than FIVE miles a day. As
for lunar emanaiions, not sign Of them
has ever been discovered. The idea of
an influence being produced by the
phases of the moon ia therefore based on
no recognizable cause whatever. Fur
thermore, it is now distinctly shown that
no variations at all really occur in
weather at the moment of the changes
of quarter. any more than at any other
ordinary times. Since the establish
ment of meteorological stations all over
the earth, il has been proved by millions
of observations that there is no stimuli
taneousness whatever between the sup
posed cause and the supposed effect.
The whole story is fancy and supersti-
tion which has been handed to MS un-
contradicted, and which we have accept
ed as trns because our forefathers be-
lieved it. The moon exercises no more
influence on weather than herrings do
on the government of Switzerland.-
Rlack wood
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
A Warning to Bathers.

Ii has long been known that it l. in
judicious for any one TO go into the wa
ter TO bathe jnst after eating fun meal,
hut il is not so well known that the
practice may result in death This lat
ter fact seems to have been demonstra-
ted by the recent death in a bath in
Bristol, England, Of a boy thirteen
wears old. lie had never had &c, and
IL believed 10 have been in perfect
health. When found in the water the
crown Of his head was just above the
surface. and he was standing in n stoop-
ing position, with his face just under
the water. At the place where he was
the water was only three feet four inches
deep, while the boy's height Was four
feet nine inches. The temperature Of
water was IS degrees. The medical tes-
timony disclosed the fact that the de-
ceased had eaten heartily just before en-
tering the water, or al least had not
given his food time to digest. lie had
vomited a large quantity Of food, and
when found his mouth and throat were
full. The opinion was expressed in the
medical testimony, and indorsed by the
verdict Of the jury that death resulted
from epilepsy, brought on by the dam
gerous practice of entering the water
Immediately after eating meal.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
Making the Best of Things.

Fusay people want everything juat so.
and expect that the snn, moon and stars
are going out of their way to Oblige
them. The first lesson of wisdom il
Accept cheerfully the inevitable.
You can scarcely understand how
much sweet and wholesome wisdom lies
in simply making the best of things. If
we fancy we are going to make circum-
stances bend to us, we shall be contin-
ually running our heads against stone
wall. The wall will never stir out of
our way, but we can easily go round it.
We cannot help or hinder that very
independent thing, the weather. 1t will
rain or shine, be hot or cold just as it
was cent. ! have seen foolish people
who made themselves quite miserable
about the weather. 1t was never going
to rain again. or it would rain foreverl
The wind blew too strongly. or else they
were suffocating for a breath of airi
Their time was filled with complaints of
things they could no more alter than
they could alter the earth's orbit.
There are others have known com
pleteIy conquered by dust, fiep. or mos
quitoes. Such things are troublesome
and annoying, to he sure, hut can we
avoid them by fretting and fuming?
Fly-specks are bad enough. but fret
full disposition ia thousand times worse.
Let the flies buzz and the mosquitoes
bite, If they must. but try and keep
yourself sweet and tranquil.
remember reading of philosopher,
who was so very poor he had everything
stripped away from him but miserable
straw bed and one wretched blanket
The weather became intensely cold, and
to prevent freezing TO death he wrapped
himself completely in the blanket, and
cut holes for his ewes, nose, and mouth
Here, he says, he not only existed. but
was very happy. You have heard the
story, perhaps, of two little street beg
gars who, on bitter cold night, crepi
under an old door. Instead Of lament
ing over their misery. one says to th'
other, "Ah, Pete, what do you s'pos.
the folks do who hain't got any door,
Such examples OF cheerfulness unde
great evils, should surely help us. q
meet the little evils of life in the righ
SPIRIT Times OF Blessing.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
"Speed the PIOW."

The only way out of our financial
difficulties. az a nation. is by the pillow,
the loom and the anvil. We may talk
about the financial policy of Congress,
and the wisdom of our leaPinE fnanci-rs
as the instrumentalities through which
relief may come, but it will prove Idle
talk and waste OF words. Congress
will not be likely TO act upon the subject
OF our national finances at this session
OF the next; indeed, not until the session
which follows the Inauguration Of a new
administration, which will not, in all
probability, commence until 4 year from
December next. and il will take some
time, even after the definite action Of
Congress, before the measures which are
then adopted can be put into successful
and general operation.
In the meantime what are we to do?
The great manufacturing, mercantile
and agricultural interests Of the country
are all in paralyzed and suffering CON
dition. The manu- racturing and mer-
camille Interests depend wholly upon the
success of the farmer. The poor crops
for the past two years. in the West, have
prostrated every branch Of trade, and
brought upon us an amount Of distress
in business affairs, never before expert
enced in thi4 country. Never has there
been n time when the fact has been more
forcibly impressed upon the minds OfaII
classes of men that while the farmers, as
class, are depressed and embarrassed
by short crops and low prices, all other
branches of trade and commerce suffer
eorrespondinglv. The only thing ther
that the country can look to for relief in
the near future, is the farmer and his
sncces1fnl tillage Of the pOil "Speed
the pillow" now, if ever. The producers
of the West, with their nntiring indust-
ry and indomitable will, must come 10
the rescue of what remains Of our na-
tional commerce prosperity. Agricul-
tnre in this country OvershadOws every
other pursuit. 1t ia the basis ofall bus.
iness transactions. We are emphatically
an agricultural people, and will so re-
main for very long time. So far as
our own views are concerned, we could
wish that our industries we're more
diversified and that the surplus produce
of the country we're more largely con-
sumed at home. for that would be far
better for the farmer than to pay two
bushels Of grain for one in market at
Liverpool. But that thought aside,
agriculture leads all other pursuits in
magnitude and importance, and for
whatever Of easement is vOGchsafed to
the commercial interests of the country
during the next six months at least, will
be due to industry and economy, and
the success which shall attend the efforts
and labors Of the great farming indus
tries of the nation. Therefore, "speed
the plow"-[Western Rural
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
wasn't any more talk.
Spectral Visitors.
from the Boston Globe. J

The village Of East Falmouth, four
or FIVE miles from Falmouth, revels in a
ghOstly sensation. 1t is no ordinary
ghost that walks in the twilight, or ap-
pears At midnight TO the terrified behold
er. Broad daylight and clear sunshine
are the conditions Of its appearance.
Several weeks ago the wife Of Elrazer
Fish while calling on a neighbor, looked
toward her house and saw woman sit
ting At the window. Knowing that she
had left the house empty. She immed-
lately returned home, hut to find il
still ePpty. In "A few days
the same thing happened again. A wit
ness was called, and plainly saw the wo-
man. On approaching the house she
vanished and did not appear Shortly
after the apparitiun was again seen at
the window, this time with u baby in
her arms. And since there has been
many appearance Of the ghostly lady,
sometimes with and sometimes without
the infant. She generally appears on
pleasant day, and usually when the
spectator stands at a certain distance
from the house. Within this distance
no shape is visible. The spiritual visi
tor is supposed to he the first wife Of
Mr.. Fish. who died some years since
and the infant Is set down ~ the present
Mrs. Fish's child, who died last winter
Mr.. Fish's family are not the least di-.
tnrbed bv the Apparation, but rather en-
.jOv the novelty Of the situation. In fact
some Of the members Of the family take
pride in saying that in addition TO the
spectacle at the window, ghostly noises
are frequently heard within the house
But there are scoffers at all this, and al
though every one admits that at times
the window in question shows singular
appearance, the scrptics say il Is merely
n reflection from some object near by,
and that its sudden appearance is due
alone to its never having been noticed
before. One lady remarks that nobody
but weak-minded persons can see ghosts
and that the village clergyman, on heing
invited to inspect the spectacle, said af-
ter a minutes observation, that some
folks could see great deal more than he
conld, whereat the believers are greatly
inceBsed.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
MISCELLANY.
Robinson CrusOe's Island.

Every boy who has read the story of
Robinson Crusoe will be glad to know
how that island looks to-day. The late
Professor Agassiz wrote of it as follows:
= "The Island of Juan Fernandez is
more famous from Defoe's description
than from Selkirk's history. Selkirk
discovered the island in 17l3, and intro
duced goats. In 1771 an Italian was
left there and subsis,ed on goats three
years before taken of. In 1904 Scotch
sailor. Alexander Selkirk, was left here.
and taken off in 1909, having lived here
four years and four months in solitude,
living like his Italian predecessor, most
ly on goats flesh. He told his story to
Defoe, and out of il grew Robinson
Crusoe'
The wild goats are still numerous
here. and focks of hundreds of them
may be seen upon the mountains. This
island is about ten or twelve miles long
by four in breadth, the shores mostly
precipitous, and the mountain sides
three thousand feet in hight. The wa
ter around the island il deep, and the
whole appearance is as if there had once
been an extensive island with a rugged
chain upon it, that suddenly the bottom
had been knocked from under all except
this patch of ten miles by four, and all
hut this patch had sunk into the tea.
Valleys and mountain spurs and gentle
slopes are all cut of by this precipitous
edge. and there are but few places on
the island where you can effect land
ing.
There are to day twelve persons, in
cluding several children. living on the
Island. They have good poultry and
vegetables, splendid beef and can get
goats by climbing after them. Other
things they purchase with the proceeds
of their beef, milk and poultry, for
which they find purchasers in American
whalers."
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
George Washington and His Equip
age.

Washington's carriage was Of a light
cream color, painted on the panels with
beautiful groups by Cipriani represent
ing the four seasons. He was preceded
by two gentlemen with long white wands
who kept back the crowd. His stables
at Mount Vernon were furnished with
thoroughbred horses. When he appear
ed on horseback it was always with fine
equipments. accompanied by his servant.
For Mrs. Washington he kept chariot
and four horses, with black positions in
livery. The following order, sent to his
London agent. for out-of-door equipage,
savors of a republican simplicity which
would csnse a stare in these later days:
Mans riding-saddle. large plated stir
rnpa, and everything complete.
A very neat and fashionable (D New
market sadd!e-cloth.
A large and best &! por:manteau, sad
die. bride, and pillion.
Cloak bag. surcingle; checked saddle
cloth.
A riding-frock of a handsome (D drab-
colored broadcloth, with plain double
gilt (D buttons.
A riding waistcoat of superfne scarlet
cloth and gold lace, with buttons like
those of the coat!
A blue surtout coat.
A neat q switch, whip, silver cap.
Black velvet cap for servant.
He was very fond of horses, and his
equipages were always of a superior or
der. He kept a register of both horses
and hounds, and in hunting was super
bly, mounted, and wore blue coat, scar
let waistcoat, buckskin breeches, top
boots, and velvet cap. His pack of
hounds was very numerous and select;
and he used to hunt three times a week
When he broke up his kennel he formed
a deer park of hundred acres. For
breakfast the custom of bis time and
society WAS tea and coffee, roast fowl,
ham, venison, game and other dainties.
Never was there a more generous hospit-
ality than his. House and apartments
and servants were at the disposal of the
guest. At dinner the centre of the table
contained FIVE or six large silver or plat
ed walters, those at the end oval on one
side TO correspond with the shape of the
table. The walters were filled with
NEUROLOGICAL alabaster figures. On the
outside OF the oval formed by the wait
ers were the dishes. He had a silver
mug of beer by his plate, and he drank
several glasses of Madeira wine. His
wines were always the best that could be
obtained, and nothing conld exceed the
order with which his table was served.
Every servant knew what he was to do,
and did it in the most quiet and rapid
manner. The dishes and plates were re-
moved and changed with silence and
speed that seemed like enchantment.-
Galaxy.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
Feline.

There is a common impression pre-
vailing that white cats with blue eyes
are invariably deaf; but letter from a
New Zealand correspondent, printed in
Nature, shows that they are not so in
all cases. "At Taranki, n. H." says
the writer, 81 saw a white cat with blue
eyes which was not at all deaf, and
good many of its kittens were white and
had light-blue eyes. AS many of these
had perfect hearing as were afflicted
with deafness. This cat had a grown
up kitten, perfectly black, which had
sometimes also white young ones with
blue eyes; it showed, as did the old cat,
a singular partiality for them. On one
occasion it happened that the old white
cat and her black daughter had kittens
Mt the same tine; amongst them there
was only one white kitten with blue eyes,
the black cats. The two fought
fiercely for possession of the coveted
beauty, and the old cat frequently took
it away and placed it amongst her own,
one morning the unfortunate object OF
quarrel was found divided bv the recon.
menda,ion of some feline Solomon, and
each cat quite contentedly in possession
of half Both of these litters had some
tortoise. shell colored kittens among
them, Of which a moiety appeared 10
have their hearing imperfect"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
Friendship.

The point that We wish to make is,
that we should not expect to have the
sentiments and actions Of our friends
and companions always equally saiisfac-
tory to Us; and after we have once made
up our minds that, on the whole, we
like certain person; that we like GER
tain or all of his ways, opinions. tastes.
qnalities-whatever it is that draws us
TO him. it is rather foolish to be rejudg
ing him too severely every five days on
a new issue. After a man is once "A
member of the National Academy he
should not be subject to the annual
my's Hanging Committee.
You may say that, after We have
known a man well for thirty years-and
that is a long lease for friendship in
this mutable world-ii is idle TO talk
about it being possible for him to sur
prise or disappoInt us. But did you
ever hear of "the old mans disease"-
avarice? Do you suppose that an afiic-
tion like that comes to the surface late
in life, if the seeds have not been deep
in the soil all the time? Bnt that is a
hard and a cruel question. Let us rath-
er speak of a more pleasing and no less
surpring development. There was an
old woman about whom we once wrote.
to prove by an example that il is the
di+agreeable young folks who make the
disagreeahle old men and women; and
that sweet girls and boys need not be
troubled by nightmare of grabbed
old age. The woman we wrote about
had lived out and down three husbands.
and was about as unpleasant an old gos-
sip as you might meet in days iour-
ney; vet the traits of her age were only
the traits of her youth. stripped Of
whatever charm yonth must have lent
her. But presently, after We had held
up this aged person as a warning and
consolation, what does she do but fall
one of the sweetest and gentIest disposi-
tions with which mortal ever blessed
his or her neighbor. All she asked was
her doll and her prayer book, and all
went merry as a marriage bell. No; We
never know our friends. And, curious
ly enough, while we are going on with
our discoveries concerning them, they
are making the same observations upon
us, and are having the same surprise
and ddisappointments.-[The Old Cabi-
net: Scrihner
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
Contamination of Air In Houses.

An adult person consumes 500 grains
Of oxygen per hour, and gives or 600
grains per hour Of carbonic acid. A
child Of so pounds weight gives OF ~
much a. an adult Of 100 pounds weight.
school room filed with children will.
il not well ventilated nj tie beginning
Of the hour, contain 25 parts in ] COO uf
carbnnic acid, NJ tie end of the Grst
hour Al, aud AZ the end Of the second
hour 81. The air il also spoiled by the
Precipitation OF the body; aud hy the
volatile oils given out through the skin.
An adult civ 8 OF through the kin in
twenty four hour- from 1900 to 1900
grains Of water mixed with varians ev-
cremenis poisonous II brcaihed
A stcarin candle consumes from POO
to 300 grains Of Oxygen per hour. and
gives of four-fiths of a cubic fDot Of
carbonic aei :, aad half on ounce Of wa
ter. Carbonic oxid II q much more dan
gerous gas than curbonic acid, aud thI- ob.
tains entrance To- our rooms in many
ways, through cracks in stoves aud de.
fective stove pipes, or when the carbonic
acid nf The air comes in contact with "a
very hot stove and il converted into
carbonic oNid. I he du,f Of the mir may.
on a hot stove, b. burnt to produce it;
or it may flow out from stove pipes
when the gas il not perfectly consumed
Another form Of air injury il the dust
Of a fungus growth which Ellis tie air in
damp and warm places; We call il mias.
ma from a want Of a true knowledge Of
its character. Accidental vnpora are
the crowning source Of air poisoning;
these are tobacco smoke, kitchen vapors,
washroom yapors, and the like
When We hent our houses and close
them from outside air the hest turns
mixture into vile mess unfit for breath
ing. The only remedy Is ventilation.
During cold weather, when the rooms
are closed from free currents Of Outside
air, one must look after the matter
thoroughly and DO his best to prevent
injury TO himself and family from pol
luted arr Manufacturer and Builder
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-06-02
A SeVeH-MiIe Rare for a Gra-s. Wild
Ow ship.


Knoxville (Ia.) Demncr1t.j
A novel and exciting race took place
between a married couple at this place a
few days ago. For obvious reasons we
shall suppress their names. They had
been on a visit to some friends, some
seven miles northwest of PeIla, and got
mp a quarrel between them, Just A. snch
things commonly happen. lie is one of
those kind of fellows that when he says
a thing he means it and sticks TO it
line, healthy, and we'll -proportioned fe-
male-does not believe in saying yes
when she means no. So, for time,
they had it mp and down,-with words,
their eyes flashed fire and il 10, ked as
if there would he battle, when the wo-
man proposed that they had better settle
their quarrel by running race to Pella.
whoever shOuld be the frat at their resi-
dence, all the property would belong to.
and the loser was to walk quietly out
and "vamose the rancho" never TO
hlOhDiS thO "AHhrA again. Il ne HlhH COH-
fdent in himself as a pedestrian, agreed
to this, and proposed that they should
start at that time. He threw off his
coat and she Enlightened her cor-et. and
otherwise prepared herself for the trial
of speed and endurance, and then they
started. Adam took the shortest way by
cutting across farms; Eve kept the main
thOroughfare. We did not witness the
race, consequently We cannot say how
they stopped, but the result was in favor
Of the woman, who had a plain, we'll
beaten track; while the man-thinking to
be the gamer by the short track-was
the loser on account, Of the soaky con-
ditioI of the sloughs, which were bard
ly passable. The woman il now a sweet
sample of the grass-widow.