davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-11

published In Paris. To his sister he signs him
self ruefully, "Honore de Balzac, French poet
at two francs the page" He had various expe-
dents fer Increasing the number of hours in
the Cay and for getting the most labor out Of
himself. AT one time he "went to sleep with
the fowls" at six or seven o'clock in the eve.
ming; rose at one in the morning, and scrubbed
till eight; then slept for an hour and half.
then breakfasted. and then returned to har.
ness, dired about five, amt then to bed. An
other practice of his was to sleep from one
o'clock in the day till half past six, and to write
from seven in the evening till seven in the
morning. Zone must turn out copy all night
and slumber by day to reach the results at
which aim." The aim was to cover as much
paper az possible within the twelve hours. and
he went into a kind of perverted training for
this match with time-as exhausting as most
contests OF the sort. Coffee was supplied to him
at short intervals. Coffee, after season, ceased
TO inspire him and produced various disorders
OF the system. But he struggled on. for he had
to produce 1873 columns of feualeton for the
newspapers in one month. These columns rem.
resented hVe different novels, and he was COR
fectlng the proofs of two Others Balzac's plan
was to write his stories over again and again
The first draught was sent, all wet and blotted
to the printers, and then the novel was recast
on the margin of the proofs. The expense of
corrections ate up his profits, and in the long
run the judicious proverb about the relations of
haste to speed was verified. In the midst of all
his labors the touch of the frequent dun would
interrupt the train of thought His friends had
to learn and practice whole code of signals
before they could see him in his rooms. Posi-
bly, he slept by day and wrote by night for the
mere purpose of avoiding the attentions of peo-
PIE anxious to confer with him about money
matters. His last letter was note of two lines
to Theophile Gautier-two lines in which he
said that he could no longer read, or write, or
move; that all was finished.
The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-11

Yes, the medical records show plainly that in nine
cases out of ten the disease known Catarrh was
the foIe-runner of Consumpti on, which, when tas-
tened person, rs like the grasp of the hideous
anaconda. There is no escape until death relieves
them from its torture and they laid in the grave
Friends may say they died Of Consumption. IT'S
FALSE.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08

During the year 1873 the total number
of failures was 5, 1873, with liabilities to the
amount of $22s, 499, 900; in 1872 the fail
ures numbered 1909, with total liabilities
amounting to $121, 056,OO0, and in 1871
there were 2,915, with total liabilities
reaching $S5, 252, 0OO.' These figures show
an increase in the number of failures
each year since 1870, but decrease in the
average amount of liabilities for each fail
ure since then. The following figures ex-
hibit the number of failures and the aver
age amount of liabilities for the past five
years in the United States and in New
York city: United States, 1875, Aumber
of failures, 7,740; average liabilities, $685.
$50; 1874, $3.50, average liabilities, $780,
627; 1878, 5,1S3, $44,Os5; 1872, 4,O69,
500 1906; 1871, 2,915, 500, s45. New York
city, 1875, number of failures, 951; aver
age liabilities, $51, 769; 1874, 645 failures,
$50, $40 average liabilities; 1878, GA, av-
erage liabilities, $143, 843 1872, 1872, $685.
724; 1871, 1924, $60,010.
The following table shows the relative
location of failures:
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08

Mr.. Murdoch, of Columbia street, read
an item in that excellent paper, the Hdaok-
Eye, few days ago, which cautioned
people who used coal stoves in their
houses to always leave window open at
night to secure themselves from the in
furious and often fatal effects of coal gas.
Mr.. Murdoch has coal stove in every
room in his house, and it struck him that
this advice, like everything which appears
in the Hdaok- Eye, was good. So last
night he went to the window of his bed
room, after suppressing the illumination,
and prepared to raise it. 1t was frozen
in its place, but Mr.. Murdoch made
violent effort and up it came with jerk.
Now, he did not notice that Mrs. Murdoch
had whole row of house plants cOlOniZed
on the top of that window, and conse-
quently he was entirely unprepared for
the events that followed the abrupt move
ment of the window, and Mrs. Murdoch
had not the remotest idea that her hus-
band was going to raise the window, and
consequently she was entirely unprepared
for the events that succeeded the turning
out of the light. Those events were
chiefly as follows: A huge balm gerani-
UNI, in pot of earth weighing nearly
fifteen pounds, fell down on Mr.. Muir
docks head, catching him plum cente
on the bald spot, dropping him neatly,
and when he lay prone on his back shout
ing Murder! murder" he was bonn
barded by a choice assortment of
fuchsias, carnations, bcgonias, tea roses
and lot of things he didn't
know the names of, which pounded
him in every accessible portion of his
anatomy, emptied sand and black dirt in
his ears, jammed trellis sticks into him
and distributed lots of scale bugs and
plant insects all over him, while a
vlcious-looking old cactus pumped down
under his arm and jabbed his arm-pits so
full of little prickles that he felt like pin
cushion. And Mrs. Murdoch, who is one
Of your resolute women, thought her hus.
band was assailed by burglars; so she
raised acry for the police, and entrenching
herself between the dressing bureau and
the wash stand opened CALLING and in the
main very effective fire in the general di-
rection ofthe melee, with perfumery bottles,
soap-dishes, hard backed hair brushes,
cakes Of scented soap, hlgh-heeled slip
pers and articles of wearing apparel, rolled
up in compact spheres. Explanations
ensued when the other members of the
family, startled by the din, came in with
lights Mrs Murdoch calmly expressed
her opinion that her husband was a
donkey and the Hamk- Eye was mischief
making nuisance; and the wounded man,
after taking a bath and pulling prickles
out Of his arm-pits until he was sleepy,
went to bed, meekly expires A,ng his opin-
ion that he would rather ! ave case OF
delirium tremens in the family than lot
Of house plants. Huntington Haek-E
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08
ROssi's Duel in the Dark.

A LETTER from Paris to the st. Louis
Globe Democrat relates this pleasant little
fabrication of the proves of the actor
Rossi:
One evening, in an Italian town, Rossi
fore his departure for Milan, and it was
necessary to take an early train in order
to arrive at the scene of his new labOrs on
the following afternoon. Near the orches-
ira was a group of fashionably dressed
ladies and gentlemen, who whispered and
talked together rather more loudly than
was strictly in good taste. Rossi, who
was playing Hamlet" endured it as
long as he could; then he came quickly
down to the footlights, saying:
81 shall cease speaking unless you
do"
Naturally, the public applauded, and
the disturbers were compelled to retire.
After the performance was over R0ssi
found card from one of the gentlemen
who had been reproved. Appended to
the card was challenge. The town had
already heard a rumOr that there was to
be duel as the result of Rossi's rebuke.
and the gendarmes had received orders to
prevent it and to arrest any parties who
should endeavor to fight. So Rossi went
to the house of the challenger and said
1--WE can settle this little affair with a
brace of pistols in my rooms at the hotel.
Will you come there! We shall be Ger.
tain not to be disturbed"
The other consented, and they had al.
ready taken their positions, pistols in
hands, at opposite ends of Rossi's rooms,
when the landlord, who suspected some
thing wrong, knocked, and inquired il
"Signor Rossi was ill, as there was light
in his room SO late" The two antagonists
held hurried whispered consultation.
"The best thing we can do" said ROssi
ais to extinguish the lights" That done
and some excuse offered, the landlord was
satisfied, and retired.
"Now," said Rossi, "we will each
light cigarette, and those will serve to
aim at in the midst of the darkness" Two
minutes later the pistols were fired the
challenger had bullet in his shoulder
and Rossi was unframed. But the noise
of the shots was the signal tor the arriva
in the chamber of the police, who KEEP
watch on the actors movements an(
who brought him to jail. Taken in thu
morning before Justice of the Peace, III
made little speech in his own behalf
adding that he had but a few minutes be
fore him in which to reach the train, and
that he was anxious not to break his en-
| gagement in Milan. The Judge received
him coldly, and said that such an OF
tense as that of last night merited five
years in prison.
Rossi ventured again to remark that i
was then seven o'clock, and that his trair
left at eight.
WELL" said the Judge, "now that thu
servant of the law has spoken, listen t.
the same man in the character of friend
was at the theater last evening. You
acting is divine; you were quite right t.
punish that BLACKBOARD. l know tina
they are expecting you in Lombardy; 81
here is ring, which please accept il
token of my admiration, and-good morn
ing"
Rossi reached the train in time.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08
1875

In the above comparison it will be seen
to what extent New England has suffered,
and that the increase in the number of
failures has not occurred largely either in
the Western or Southern States.
Some conclusions are drawn by the
agency from the amount of liabilities aris-
ing from the years failures, to be
charged to profit and loss. The circular
says:
g The liabilities of the 7,740 who failed
in 1875 are in round numbers 5000, 200, 000
From this amount should be deducted 10
per cent. for advance on original cost of
goods sold to these parties, leaving an APP
parent lock up of $3.50, 900, 900. Estimating
the average yield of failed estates to be
1914 1914 per cent. under the operations of the
new Bankrupt law it will fall far short of
that, the actual loss to capital account by
the failures of the year will stand at about
$3.50 900, 900. This amount is equivalent
to the value of one-h half of the cotton crop,
and is more by 30 per cent. than the en-
tire yield CT all the gold and silver mines
OF the country 1t is serious loss that
individuals have to bear, to be deducted
from the profits of business or to trench
upon accumulations of previous years.
This 100, 600, 900 of loss represents profit
at 10 per cent on 81 ,200, 600, 900 of bust
ness !; in other words, that amount of bust
ness of the country for the past year has
been done for nothing, the profits being
absorbed by losses. This loss of $780,
600, 900 is luckily diffused over good
many centers of trade, and has been pref
ty equally divided between individual
concerns; but it is safe to infer that,
coupled with the decline in values, the
loss by bad debts must have caused a
shrinkage more apparent than in any year
since the panic.-N. Y. Herald.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08
2epOrtOrial Resources.

A GOOD many changes have taken place
in the last few years in the mode of con-
Quoting newspapers. Formerly news re-
ports were very diffuse, but now the rule
Is condensation. Everyone recollects the
time when all great speeches were report
ed and published in full, whereas at pres
ent the most brilliant of orators may con-
slider himself lucky if the summary of his
utterances occupies half column. Dur
ing the Presidential campaign which pre-
cede1 the war, while VIM. L. Yancey was
on his way to attend the Baltimore Con-
vention, he was invited to address an ag-
ricultural fair at a small town in F.
County. He consented to go out Of his
route for this purpose, and, as this would
be his first speech during the contest,
everybody was on the qus vsue to hear his
views ON the mighty questions then agi-
tating the country. The Baltimore news
papers determined to furnish verbatim re-
ports, and five stenographers were dis
patched by the morning train for F.
Junction, where they would meet another
train to take them to the fair grounds,
about six miles away. -Four of the scribes
were thin men, but the fifth a Falstaff.
They had agreed, in the cars, to take no
unfair advantage of each other, no matter
what happened. When they arrived at
F. Junction their dismay may be
imagined when they perceived that the
connecting train had gone. Nothing was
visible in the neighborhood but an
old fashioned country cariole, in the
shafts Of which stood lank, melancholy
horse. The four thin scribes with ashout
made simultaneous rush and got into
the wagon, filing it completely. Poor
Falstaff painted along, larding the earth
and tuning at their treachery; but with
mOckery and derision they waved him
away and ordered the driver to proceed.
In the midst of his anguish thought
struck our fat frierd and he called to John
to allow him seat on the dashboard, offer
ing five dollars for the accommodation.
The countryman consented and stepped
down to hoist him tip. Stop" whis-
pered Fatty; what will you sell this nag
fors I'll give you twenty-five dollars
cash." The animal was not worth half
the money and the bargain was concluded
without another word. Now" said
Falstaff, "help me on his back and take
him out of the traces" In two minutes
more it was done, and Fatty, putting
spurs to his steed and with a jolly laugh,
rode off at a gallop, leaving his amazed
companions to get to the fairgrounds as
best they might on foot. Fatty was the
only Baltimore journalist on the ground
and next day his was the only paper that
had a verbatim report of Yancey's speech.
He returned to the junction after the pro-
ceedings were over, sold back the horse
| to its former owner for ten dollars and
quietly returned to Baltimore. His con-
freres, who had passed solemn and lone
ly afternoon at the station, came back to
the city in the same train to receive the
congratulations Of their respective editors
on their marvellous enterprise.-N. Y
Mercury
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08
The Failures of 1875.

A circular of failures during the year
just closed, with comparisons of previous
years. failures, has been issued from
Messrs. r. G. Dun & Co.'s Mercantile
Agency. From this compilation, which con
tains statistics of interest to business men
throughout the country, some extracts will
be found below. The following table
shows the number of failures In The diff
ferent States and Territories, together with
the amount of liabilities, during the years
1915:
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08

an unnatural look, and when the stripes
fell from him and he resumed an honest
dress and knew that he was to go out into
the world again, was it any wonder that
he hesitated, asked for one more look at
his cell, at the forbidding walls-around
him at the grim sights which had met his
eyes for so many long, long years? He
forgets his age and reaches back to pick
up the thread OF life where the prison door
snapped it in twain.-Detroit Free Press
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08
A Christmas Pardon.

TWENTY-FIVE years ago-back to the
time when most of this generation were
children in years-back to almost the first
day of the telegraph-back, through win
ter and summer, and war and peace, and
political changes until the mind is hardly
clear-Joseph Rabidieux, then a young
man under twenty years of age, living in
Detroit, received the awful sentence of
solitary confinement for life in the State
Prison at jackson. After a few weeks
the general public forgot him-after a
year his name was scarcely mentioned ex
cept by those Of his blood and the few
who had interested themselves in his be-
half.
You can remember back twenty-five
years? So can he, but how different his
memories! He remembers the day he
entered the prison, and he remembers
when the iron door closed out daylight
and left him in the midnight darkness for
life-left him to stand or sit or lie in
cell whose iron walls and floors were to
hurl back his shouts for mercy-mercy
from the appalling darkness and from the
loneliness Of never seeing human face or
hearing human voice. The days came
and went. Weeks made months and
months made years, and at times, per-
haps, he beat the iron walls with his fists
and raved and shouted and shrieked, but
the walls let no sound escape. One day
the long-closed door opened and Rabi-
dieux was called from his cell. Day
light blinded him, the human voice had
strange, weird sound. He had been in
that dark cell-in that awful solitude-for
seven long years.
Were you ever in courtroom when a
prisoner was sentenced for life? Did you
realize that days would come and go,
years pass by, your own life change in a
dozen ways, and yet the prisoner would
live on, growing older every day, yet as
hopeless after a score Of years as the day
he gave his name to the warden? It is
terrible when one thinks of it. Rabidieux
thanked God for sunlight and air, and for
freedom to move about, but hope was al
most dead Death would come some day
to release him, but he was never more to
walk the streets, never to see the green
meadows, the poisoning orchards and
sights which fill ones heart with graft
tude to nature. They gave him tools and
he went to work. Death was one day
nearer every day and some day he would
60 outside the grim walls-in q coffin
That was all he had to look forward to-,
and what hope was that?
Twenty-Five years to day, and the
other day the warden sent for him and
told him he was freei Do yeu wonder
that he stood amazed; that he grew death
ly white; that he sank down without even
strength enough to speak his great graft
tude? For quarter of a century his feet
had pressed no earth except within prison
walls. His daily routine has been the
same, though new wardens and new
keepers came and went. He had worn
prison stripes until he had almost forgot
ten that anything else was worn, and he
had kept step with convicts, eaten with
them and seen them around him until a
stranger passing through the shops had
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08

lot of persons, they might clearly perceive
that they do more harm thar good; but,
as it is, it is to be feared that they will con-
tinue to NEEDLE with and middle the fort
unes of such manageable young people
as are thrown across their paths.-LSberal
Reyseao
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08

LUMBERMEN In Ottawa, Canada, are
said to be sending up lots of teams to the
woods for the winter at seventy-f cents
to one dollar day. Choppers are crowd
ing to the offices for work and are taking
whatever is offered. Wages are not within
so per cent. OF what they were last year.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08

THERE are over 2, 700 varieties of apples,
known by 1900 names: 1900 of pears,
900 Of cherries, $50 of plums, 300 of our
native grapes, 30 of currants, so of rasp-
berries and 80 OF blackberries, accordin q
to counting up Of somebody
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08

The city of New York has "a, 900 build
ings, of which 81. l56 are dwelling houses
and is, 434 are business houses. There are
456 churches.
The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-06-08

DURING the year 1875 the American
Society for the Prevention Of CrlIel'y y
Animals prosecuted $40 cases OF CTuei's'
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-21

in the gallery would pay heed tomy often
and often exhortation to keep peace. ]
do not want to be wounded in the house
Of my own friends. l have enough to
bear from persons that hate me, and are
prejudiced against me, without having
those who pretend to love, bring this
odium on me.
DR.. Bacon-1 want this applause to
cease. II you have the right to applaud
you have the right to hiss, and Il you
have the right to hiss, you have the right
TO throw cabbages. Laughter. q
DR.. Bacon announced that he had sever
al letters from persons who did not sign
their names, and he desired the writers TO
know he did not think them worthy Of
consultation. The first was marked con-
fidential, and contained allegations Of a
more infamous character than any that
had yet been made against Mr.. Beecher.
The reading Of these papers were objected
to, and at the request Of the Plymouth
Church Committee they were referred
10 them. .HNft I'D. T.E4H
The Council having previously resolv-
ed to 20 into secret session, and the time
having arrived, Rev. Ball sought 70 pre-
vent it, and though repeatedly called to
order, talked for long time, bringing on
discussion, not ending until 1:S0, when
the Council went into secret session, the
first half hour to be spent in prayer. DR..
Bacon asked that all Christians pray for
them. .-
The secret session lasted about three
quarters Of an hour, and then the Council
adjourned until 2 p. NJ. Monday.
A number Of delegates. principally
from the East, left this evening for home.
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-21
GRIMES AND CASUALTIES.

PITTSBURGH, February 19.-At an ear
ly hour this morning, while engaged in 9
drunken fight in n house on Mulberry
alley, Pat Ferry stabbed Matthew Long
in the abdomen with case knife, inHict'
ing probably fatal injuries. Ferry was
arrested and locked up.
CLEVELAND, o., February l9.-Gott-
leib Hettinger and Herman Felashow got
into aquarrel last night in n saloon on
Chelon street, in which Felashow drew o
revolver and shot Hettinger, seriously
and probably fatally wOunding HIM
Felashow was arrested.
FT,WAYNE, IND, February 19:-Thil
morning little child five months old
daughter Of Adolph Bloom, was found
dead in its bed. No ether cause thar
suiIocation could be found for its death.
MEADyILLE, Pa, February 19:5JO'
seph Varilla, a member Of the Milton
jasper Company Of Gymnasts, while per
forming difficult feat at the gymnasium
here on Wednesday, fell and received
such injuries as to cause his death, which
occurred this morning,
The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-02-21
HORRIBLE Death.

LOUISVILLE, February 2O.-As horrible
a death probably as il is possible fora
man to suffer occurred at La Grange, KY.
at II o'clock Saturday night. The victim
was John Finnegan, an; engineer on the
Short Line Railroad, whom the Company
considered one Of its best men. AT the
time Finnegan was on freight train, and
anaxle broke'and precipitated the engine
and cars down slight embankment. Fin.
negan was by some means caught fast by
the machinery and held so that his com,
panions could not effect his release. Two
streams Of hot water poured upon his face
and body from the broken boiler. No re.
lief could be extended the sufferer, and
after the most horrible agony he became
unconscious, and soon died. The skin
from his face and body peeled off before
his own eyes. When a physician from
Louisville arrived, Finnegan was dying
with his tongue almost dropping oFfrom
the effects OF the hot water which had
forced itself into his mouth.