davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06
Lapland Infants.

A correspondent tells strange story
about the Lapland infants, and how they
are kept still at meeting. The Lapp
mammas don't stay at home with their
babies on Sunday. The Lapps arefa
very religious people. They go I'M
mense distances to hear their pastors
Every missionary is sure OF large audi
ence, and an attentive one. he can hear
a pin drop, that is, should he choose to
drop one himself. His congregation
vonldn't make 80 much noise as that
upon any consideration. ALI the babies
are outside, buried in the snow. AS
soon as tie family arrives at the little
wooden church, and the reindeer is Sc
cured, the papa Lapp shovels snug
little bed in the snow, aud mann
ma Lapp wraps baby snugly IN
skins, and deposits it therein;
Then papa piles the snow around 1t, and
the dog IS left to guard it, while the pa
rents 90 decorously into church. Often
twenty or thirty babies lie out there III
the snow around the church, and i new
er have heard OF one that sufocated OF
frozs. Smoke-dried little creatures l
suppose they ara toughl
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06
" The Boys"

Are We "the boys" that used to make
The tables ring with noisy follies d?
Whose dsep-lung'd laughter oft would shake
The ceiling with its thunder volleys?
Are we the youths with lips unshorD,
Atbeautys feet UNIV inkled suitors,
Whose memories reach traditions morn
The days Of prehistoric tutors?
1.-THE boys" We knew-but who are these
Whose heads might serve for Plutarch q
cages,
Or Fox's martyrs, if you please,
Or hermits Of the dismal sges2
1.-THE boys" we knew-can these be those
Their cheeks with mornings blush were
painted;
Where are the Harrys, Jims and Joes
With whom we once were well acquainted
II we are they, we're not the same;
II they are we, why then they're masking;
Do tell us, neighbor Whst's-your-name,
Who are you3 Whats the use OF asking
You once wero George, or Bill, or Ben;
There's You, yourself-theres you, tha;
ether;
know you pow-I knew you then
You used 10 be y:ur younger brother!
-Olirer Wendell Holmes.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06
Pitts Proposal.

Pitts is a fast man, a sharp man, and q
man of business tact. When Pitts goes
to make purchase, he always gets the
lowest cash price, and then says !:
"Well, I'll look about, and if l don't
find anything that suits me better, III
call and take this" Pitts, Like all fast
men, is partial to the ladies, young ones
in particular. Now, lately, Pitts says
to himself: 81 am getting rather along
in years, and so I'll marry" His basl-
ness qualities wouldn't let him wait 30
off he travels, calls upon Lady friend,
and opens conversation by remarkIng
that he would like to know what she
thought about his getting married.
"Oh, Mr.. Pitts, that is an affair in which
I am not very greatly interested, and ], l
prefer to leave it with yourself" "
"But," SAYS Pitts, "you are interested;
and, my dear girl, will you marry me 2,
The young lady blushed very red, and
hesitated; finally, as Pitts was very well
to do in the world, apd of good standing
in society, she accepted him. Whereup'
on the matter-of-fact Pitts responded
"WeD, I'll look about and if I don't ind
any body that suits me better, III come
back"
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06
An Unfortunate Masquerade.

A ludicrous incident at a recent ball
in Denver, COL, is thus described by
the News:: Among the masks worn by
the burlesque Maennerchor during their
stage performance was donkey's head
of enormous size, worn by st. Louis
gentleman who had just reached town,
aud was almost an entire stranger here.
The mask was unfortunately SO con-
ssructed that the wearer couldn't have
seen his sweetheart if she had stood
right before him, ard consequently ne
trusted to his comrades to lead him on
and off the stage, and also to remove bis
mask, which was strapped and buckled
like pack saddle. They led him on the
stage all rigl', Lit forgot to lead him
off And there he stood, like veri'
t, lie donkey, for half an hour, entirely
h-lpless, fearing to move and unable te
speak,
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06
Sailors Yarns and Wishes.

Notwithstanding their hardships,
sailors cannot refrain from "yarning "
in the most extravagant manner.
"If I was king" said sailor, "!
would make everybody rich; I would
take off the taxes, and make everybody
contented and happy. Then I would
marry apretty girl, buy horse and COW,
and 90 to farming" Jack always has a
great terror of taxes, though he never
pays any, and most romantic idea OF q
farmers life, although he may never
have passed day on farm. That the
farmer has oil night to sleep, while Jack
is liable to be called at any moment, is
the one great cause of sailors wanting to
be farmers. eff I was a king" said the
other, "I would make my father and
mother and all my brothers and sisters
rich, and then get all the money could
and leave" He failed to say where he
would go-probably to "parts un,
known" "svast there" said the first
Jack, chow much money would you
want, anywhy3 Be easy, now, don't
take hogs bite"
"Well," said the other, ~ would be
satisfied if that ship were loaded down
with needles, and every needle would
be worn out with making bags to hold
my money"
one. "Don't be fool! When, you
make a wish, wish for something in rea
son. Now, I wish that I had o pile OF
money SO big that your pile wouldn't
be enough to pay the interest on m,nt
so long as you could hold a red-ho'
knitting kneedle in your ear !"
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06
The Laws Delay.

A correspondent tells US story OF the
laws delay as follows: We have been
for two years knocking at the door OF
the supreme court of the State OF New
York, praying for Judgment on claim
so obviously valid that We are utterly at
a loss to conceive any tenable ground
upon which it can be defended. The
debtor is anxious for delay, and the ex-
cuses by which he slaves of trial have
been O great deal more numerous and
far less cogent than many of those which
are cited above. The other day we re-
ceived notice from our counsel that the
trial was positively to be "reached. "
We smiled incredulously, but neverthe'
less performed our customary journey
to the courtroom, with q cartload OF
books and cloud Of witnesses. To our
great surprise the case was actually
"called," a stage of progress far ahead
of any that it had previously attained,
and for moment we were cajoled into
the belief that the end was approaching,
OF one of the chief miseries of our e1-
istence. Vain delusion! The Offend
ants LAWYER had case to try In another
court, and ours "went over, the judge
aud counsel on both sides acquiesclng
with as much readiness as if they con-
si1ered it matter of course. Not the
slightest consideration was given to the
circumstance that dozen witnesses or
more were waiting, as they had waited
many time before. Our own advocate
smiled blandly while the adverse party
mentioned that he was otherwise engag-
ed, said rever q word, but took up his
hat and papers and left the room, very
much with the air of man who felt that
he had been practicing the recognized
courtesy" which the gentlemen OF the
bar are SO fond CT displaying towards
each other, when they have clients who
are able to foot the bills.
However, we were told to keep com,
ing until these little hindranoes were got
ont of the way, and we did. Sure
enough, after several daysof expectancy,
it happened that there was no other case
ready, and ours really did begin. The
jury was impaneled, and our attorney
rose to commence his opening. He had
not got sentence before his alert oppo'
nent interposed some objection. Their
ensued sort of conference between the
two lawyers and the judge, and it turned
cut, as near as we could get at it. tina,
our counsel hadn't put in the right sor'
of complaint-that it was not in sucl
form as would admit of his getting hi:
evidence in, and that everything mus
be done over again. And SO here W.
are, with nothing to show for our two
wears of anxiety but keen realization O.
the eccentricity of law and the SHADOW
of On impending bill of costs OF sufi
cient magnitude to convince US that ou
system of judicature is the dearest OF al
| human institutions.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06
A Health Suggestion.

It is suggested in the London Lancet
that there should be an extension OF the
"workship regulation act" which would
compel the registration and inspection
of all rooms in which the making OF
wearing apparel for sale is carried on.
It appears that in England as we'll as IN
this country epidemic diseases are fire.
quently spread by tailors and seam
stresses. Garments are made up in the
homes of workpeople who are not only
unclean and unhealthy, but who are suf-
fering from such diseases as scarlet fever
or even smallpox. The Lancet men
tions several instances of work being
carried on in rooms where some person
was sick with scarlet fever, and OF gar
ments being handled by those who were
recovering from that disease, thus scat
tering far and wide the contagion.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06
Danger from the Cat,

Stories of danger to infants from cats
attempting to suck their breath have
been frequently narrated, but similar
attempts of the animal in regard to
grown persons are not so common. An
instance occurred in this city, says the
Utica IN. W Observer, which would at
least warn people to keep cats out OF
their sleeping apartments: A young
gentleman was awakened by a slight
pain to find the huge tomcat of the fam
ily with his paws about his neck anden
deavoring to get his mouth open. The
cat was working on his chin, and haa
partly succeeded in opening his mouth
when the movement awakened him. he
tried to push the cat of, but could not
get it away until he seized it violently
about the neck, choking the animal un-
! til it released its hold and then throwing
it off. The cat has been excluded from
! the sleeping apartments OF that FAMILY
since the young gentleman's uncomtort
able experience,
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06
A Glimpse of the Cuban Rebellion.

The Machias (Me.) Union publishes
the following letter, received by MISS
Susan L. Brown, of Machias, from her
sister, Mrs. Julia NJ. Garcia. The Gar
cia plantation was situated about four
miles from Sagua. The insurgents made
q raid about the middle of January, and
burnt one of the sugar houses. stole one
horse and departed. 1t was hoped that
they would not return, and MIR. Garcia,
with some seventeen hands, was busy
with his seasons work, having about
three hundred hogsheads of suga,
nearly ready for the market. The story
of the second raid is thus touchingly
told: .
SAeUA, Jan. "a, 1876.
My DEAR SISTER: Now don't be
frightened when you hear what has hap
pened to us, with thousands OF others,
We have been visited by the insurrects.
and our house and plantation burned
with everything we had in our house
We are left without bed to lie upon OF
dress to put on.
Only about twenty or thirty negroes
came, afoot. They tied Deslderlo anG
another white man, and made us al
form a line, with guns at our breasts, tc
kill us if we moved to save anything,
First they killed my dog with shot ano
stabs. for he defended himself until che
last moment. Then they stole every
thing they wanted, even taking the
rings from my fingers; then set fire tc
all the houses, took my oxen and COWS
and then marched us off among them
with D. tied with rope, and negro
hold of the rope, and a gun at MI
breast.
When at last they took us off outside
of the plantation, I was determined te
save Desiderio, so I took hold OF tht
captain, a negro, and would not let hin
20 until he gave me back D., but tht
other man they would not let go; they
took him little way off and chopped of
his head. Oh, my God! what nighto
horror. Is there no one to hear, to see
to save?
Make nv case known, and if possible
sec if something cannot be done. ALI th'
houses, all the plantations, they arr
burned. Every one is coming to tow
and famine will follow.
We are here, in Sagua. 1 have $l7 tt
commence life anew with. All my pho
tographs, all my books, papers, every
thing lost. Do please send me Bibl'
when you can. I don't know what tt
think or do; one can find no house here
we are in the house of friend for q few
DAYS, no more. But nothing can b'
done-but patience /!
Don't think that we shall have to sui
fer hunger, for we can all do something
to gain our living until better days. Blu
these things ought to be stopped; thu
war ought not to last longer.
We are all quite we'll. After we ge
settled will write again. JULIA.
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06

AS her eyes fell upon the pictures,
she stood motionless for time, and
then said: "Why, you have painted
two pictures of me, instead OF one, Mr.
Gilbert" -,
Yes-would you not like copy 2"
ooh, so much!" she answered, her
eyes becoming brilliant in anticipation
"You shall have one OF them. Which
do you prefer2"
ssThis, feel as if I could love it r
and the young creature knelt before the
motner, while tears filed her eyes.
This was too much for the grand
father. He sunk into seat, and Gov
cred his face with his fingers.
"What is your name 2" asked Gill
bert.
"Katie Courtney. I thought you
knew that before"
|. "Courtney was his name, groanec
the old man. -,
"Do you remember your parents 2
again asked Gilbert.
"Only my father. He was not very
kind to me, and died in Plymouth sew
eral years ago."
"And you have been singing for your
bread ever sincea"
"I have"
"Well, if you are to have the picture.
I want you to sing me song now. You
will do so, will You note"
"Oh, yes, willingly"
She began one of her wild strains, and
the dwelling was filled with melody:
This had not long continued before
the door of the study was opened, and
lady entered the room. She was pale,
and staggered as if suffering from great
weakness. She clutched the back OF
chair for support ssnd then asked, In
faint voice: Who is this singera"
To have answered in words would
have been useless, however, for her eyes
had fallen upon the face of the child
and, with dull shrek, tho mother fel
fainting upon the floor.
In an instant, Katie, or Oracle, as was
her real name, was by her side. As she
gazed upon the marble face, she ex
claimed "Oh, this is the other pic
ture!
"Can you imagine who it isl"
"Not my mother! Oh, tell me, Is Il
my mother?"
"It is"
JOY never kills. The orphan child o.
this moment gave vent to her feelings II
sobs, caresses, and words OF endearment
and it was not long before the mother
was fully conscious of her great happl'
ness.
Those twin portraits had been tho
means of Uniting those loved ones, who
had been 80 long and cruelty separated
Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-04-06
MIR, Butterwick's Gas Bill.


we have had this winter the gas meter In
Mr.. Butterwick's house Was frozen. Mr..
Butterwick attempted to thaw it out by
pouring hot water over it; but after
spending ON hour upon the effort, he
emerged from the contest with the meter
with his feet and trowsers wet, his hair
full of dust and cobwebs, and his temper
at fever heat. After studying how he
should get rid of the ice in the meter,
he concluded to use force for the pur-
pose, and 80, seizing hot poker, he
iammed it through a vent hole and
stirred it around inside of the meter
with a considerable amount OF vigor.
He felt the ice give way, and he heard
the wheels buzz around with rather
more vehemence than usual. Then he
went up stairs.
BE noticed for three or four days that
the internal machinery of that meter
seemed to be rattling around in re-
markable manner. It could be heard all
over the house. But he was pleased to
find that it was working again In spite
of the cold weather, and he retained his
serenity.
About two weeks afte.ward his gas
bill came. 1t accused him of burning,
during the quarter, 1,500,0 feet OF
gas, and it called on him to settle to the
extent of nearly $350,000. Before MIR.
ButterNick's hair had had time to de-
scend after the first shock, he put on his
hat and went down to the gas office. He
addressed one of the clerks:
Chow much gas did you make at the
Blank works last quarter:
"I dunno; about million feet, l
reckon" -,
"Well, you've charged me in my bill
for burning half million more than
you made; want you to correct it."
"Less see the bill. Hm-m-m-this
is all right. It's taken off the meter.
That's what the meter says"
"Spose'n it does; I couldn't have
burned more'n you made" ..
Cant help that. The meter can't
lie."
"Well, but how d'you account for the
difference
"Dunno. 'Taint our business to go
nosing and poking around after scientific
truth. We depend on the meter. II
that says you burned six million feet,
why you must have burned it, even If
we never made a foot of gas out at the
works"
"To tell the honest truth, said But
terwick, "that meter was frozen, and !
stirred it up with a poker and set 1t
whizzing around"
"Price just the same, said the clerk.
"We charge for pokers just like we DO
for gas"
"You amt actually going to have the
audacity to ask. me to pay $3.50, GOO on
account of that poker2"
eff it was 800, 900 I'd take it with a
calmness that would surprise you. Pay
up or we'll turn off your gas"
"Turn it off and be hanged" !" explain
ed Butterwick, as he emerged from the
Office, tearing his bill to fragments.
Then he went home, and grasping that
poker he approached the meter. 1t had
registered another million feet since the
bill was made out. It was running up o
score of hundred feet minute. In
month Butterwick would have owed the
gas company more than the United
States government owes its creditors.
So he beat the meter into shapelest
mass, tossed it into the street, and turn.
ed off the gas inside the cellar.
He is now sitting up at nights writing
an essay on "Our Grinding Monopo'
lies" by the light of kerosene lamp.
The Portland daily press., 1876-02-12

NOTE-By act of the Trustees the membership of
this Company is limited to one hundred thousand in
sured lives.
The Portland daily press., 1876-02-12
Republican National Convention.


The next Cniou Republican National Convention
Vice-President of the United States will be held in
the city of Cincinnati, Wednesday, the fourteenth
day of June 1876 at II o'clock noon and will consist
of delegates from each State equal to twice the num-
Der of its Senators and Representatives in Congress-
and of two delegates from each organized Territory
and the district of Columbia.
In calling the conventions for the election of dele
gates, the committees of the several States
commended to invite all Republican electors and all
other voters, without regard to past political dit
ferences or previous party affiliations. who are
opposed to revving sectional issues, and desire to
promote friendly feeling and permanent harmony
throughout the country by maintaining and enforcing
all the constitutional rights of every citizen nclud
ing the full and free exercise OF the right of suffrage
without intimidation and without fraud; who are in
favor of the continued prosecution and punishment
OF all official dishonesty and economical admnis-
traton OF the Government by honest, faithful and ca
pable officers; who are in favor of making such re-
forms in government experience may from time to
time suggest who opposed to mpairing the cred
it OF the nation by deprecang any of its Obligations
and in favor of sustaining in way the national
faith and financial honor; who hold that the common
school system is the nursery of American liberty and
should be maintained absolutely free from sectarian
control who believe that for the promotion these
ends, the direction of the Government should con-
tnue to be conded to those who adhere to the prn-
the Constitution and the laws and who are in favor
Of recognizing and Strengthening the fundamental
principle of National Unity in this Centennial An
niversary of the birth of the Republic.
E. D. MORGAN, Chairman,
VIM. E. CHANDLER Secretary,
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
Washington, january 13, 1876
The Portland daily press., 1876-02-12
News and Other Items.

The 6overnor-General opened the Dominion
Parliament Thursday. His speech indicates
fair prosperity though in common with other
countries Canada has suffered from business
depression.
The jury in the case of Piper, tried for the
murder of Mabel H. Young in the belfry of the
Warren Avenue Baptist church, Boston, re-
turned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first
degree. The prisoner received the verdict
calmly. Several of the jurors wept and many
spectators could not repress their feelings
In answer to the reports that he knows of
dispatches that if obtained would conclusive.
ly prove Babcock's guilt, President Orton of the
Western Telegraph Co. has written letter
stating that such reports are falsehoods, that
he knows of no such dispatches and that no
efforts have ever been made by or in behalf of
Babcock to prevent the company furnishing all
messages in its custody.
Dispatches disagree in regard to the result of
the investigation into the loss of the American
ship Harvest Queen in the English Channel.
The despatch to the Associated Press says the
verdict censures the captain Of the Adratic for
not reporting the collision to the British consul
at New York. On the contrary despatch to
the agent of the White S:ar Line says the cap
tain was acquitted of all blame. The jury had
no doubt that the ship was sunk by the Adriat-
The Portland daily press., 1876-02-12
TERMS $500 PER ANNUM IN ADVANCE

columns more than once, with full knowledge
OF the fact that N. Taine's Christian name is
Hlppolyte Adolphe, and never was Henri, at
all, we nave been at some pains to solve the
mystery of the origin of the blunder which it
seems NOBODY can escape. 1t appears that by
some inadvertence NJ. Taine's name was
printed Henri on the title pages of the early
American editions of his works, published by
Messrs Henry Holt 81 Co., of this city, and
thus many persons learned to think of him as
Henri before they knew that he was Hippo
lyte Adolphe.-Ne,0 York EUening Post.
Harper & Brothers have in press for immedi-
ate publication the novel left incomplete by
Balwer-Lytton, a historical romance, called
'Pausanias, the Spartan" Not quite half the
novel was written when Lord Lytton died; but
he left many notes for its completion and these
are given by hfs son in a long preface The
proofs, en- route from the present Lord Lytton,
in Lisbon, to the London publishers, met with
curious adventure. The mail steamer was
wrecked on the voyage from Lisbon; but her
mails were soon fished up, and among them
were the proof-sheets of "Pausanias" They
had dried, when they reached London, into
solid mass, and the printers had to bake them
before the sheets could be parted.
Professor E. S. Morse's "First Book of Zoo
logy," has just been published in London bS
Henry S. King & Co. 1t is good indication
to see American ext-books being republsh ed
on the other side of the water.