davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21
Be Cautious.

Swindling is often successfully perpe-
trated by raising drafts, checks, notes
and orders for money from small to
larger sums.
The drawers of small drafts and checks
are often careless in leaving the paper
SO that it is conveniently altered. We
have seen alleged frauds of this kind
where, if we were on jury, we should
say that the maker of the altered paper
ought to stand the loss; and we have
seen cases where strong suspicion fairly
rested that the maker, his clerks, or
bookkeepers, were sharers in the swim
die.
Never cash drafts for strangers. Nor
is it safe to collect drafts for strangers;
for altered papers are often paid, and
returned months 'afterward when the
fraud is discovered. Such is the law
and custom. Have nothing to do with
drafts and checks unless you know all
about your man.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21
An Awful Moment.

A man who had been playing for four
or five hours at faro table in Virginia
City, New, said, in quiet, determined
tone to the dealer, as he laid his last dol
lars worth of checks on the tray and
five :" If 1 lose that I'll blow my brains
out" There was q hush in that small
room where souls are bartered nightly
for the chance of winning gold. Youths,
fevered with the excitement of the haz-
ard, drew back at the awful threat, and
old gamesters cast an eye of dread upon
the pale faced man who staked his life
upon card. The gay murnur which
almost always rises from group of
gamblers was hushed. The long, thin
fingers of the dealer trembled. His
eyes watched the cards intently as they
came out. The five lost The player
look at the card for moment, then,
drawing a revolver, pointed it at his
head and fired. The shot did not prove
fatal, and he was lifted up by his
friends and carried to doctors.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21
Fashion Notes.

Plush is used for trimming hats.
Fringes are very fashionable this sea-
son.
Street dresses are to be worn quite
short.
New muffs for this winter are made of
feathers.
Velvet is in great demand for dress
trimmings.
Turbans made entirely of feathers arc
very fashionable.
The square mesh, netted silk ties are
favorites this season.
Few felt hats are to be worn. Velvet
or silk are preferred.
New lace scarfs are of cardinal red
colored cashmere lace.
Long cloaks or dolmans are the ia
vorite wraps this season.
Conch shell iewelry is exceedingly
pretty and fashionable.
The dress skirts are made even more
scant than last season.
Red flannel balmorals, trimmed with
black velvet, are in vogue.
Sandal shoes and slippers are not SO
much in demand this fall.
Only little lace, which must be very
fine, is used on dress hats.
Ruchings with colored edges are only
to be used for morning wear.
Broad belts, with large silver, steel or
jet buckles still continue in favor.
Silleul, or linden color, is one of the
new shades of greenish cream color.
All polonaises are made very long,
showing but little of the dress skirt.
Very deep and heavy worsted fringes
are very stylish for trimming dolmans
Very small pieces of turquoise, set in
steel and silver, ore q novelty in jewelry.
listers will be as much worn this sea-
son as last both by gentlemen and
boys.
White ivory ornaments are very pretty
and much in demand in the place of
jewelry.
Black kid gloves are coming in fash
ion, to wear with carriage and reception
costumes.
Low crowned hats, with quite broad
brims, a. the favorite cnes this fall for
children.
The loopings in ovcrskirts and polo
naises are made very low in the back or
on the sides.
Three cornered silk handkerchiefs
edged with lace, are shown for wearing
around the neck.
Filagree gold and silver necklaces will
take the place of the heavy gold link
chains for full dress.
Many of the long streamers worn on
hats are caught together at the ends by
an ornamental pin.
The hair is worn low on the neck, in
square meshed silk nets, the nets
matching in color either the hair or
dress.
Ruchings, either of fine organdie or
crepe lisse are used in the necks and
sleeves of evening dresses in preference
to lace.
Shetland wool hoods are to be
worn by children this winter instead of
the usual white Swiss and Valenciennes
lace ones.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21
MISS HARPER'S MAID.

After the last voyage but one, the
good ship of which [ was first officer
went into dock for thorough reftting,
and I had longer spell at home than L
had enjoyed for many years. I would
not change this way of life for any in the
world; but was glad for once to stretch
my legs fairly on dry land, and see
something of green fields, brick and
mortar, and my shore going friends in
the neighborhood of Canterbury.
Among the families in which I was
most intimate was that of Mr.. Harper.
He had made comfortable fortune by
trade, and now was enjoying his otiuna
cum digpitGte in good house on the
outskirts of the city An only daughter
kept house for him; for he was wild
over. Now Julia Harper, when I first
knew her, was fine, handsome girl of
two and-twenty; tall, well made, but on
rather large scale, with bright, restless
eyes, and a profusion of dark hair. She
had great many admirers, some of
whom, there is every reason to suppose,
admired the old gentleman s money as
much as the young lady's eyes, but they
met with no great encouragement.
often met with Julia at the house of
mutual friends. I certainly diked the
girl; ard my vanity was flattered, be-
cause, with SO many admirers around
her, she showed me, as thought, a de-
cided preference. She seemed to be
never tirel of talking about the sea.
She wearied me with questions about it;
and on moie than one occasion said
very unguardedly-that she thought
voyage to India would be the most de-
lightful thing in the world. OF course,
made fitting answer, that with con-
genial companion, voyage anywhere
would be delightful; and, more than
once, opportunity being favorable, was
on the point of declaring myself, when
an internal qualm of conscience arrested
the dangerous avowal.
Affairs were in this state, when an ac-
cident befell roe which brought matters
to crisis. There was steeplechase
one day in the neighborhood of Canter.
bury, which I attended on foot. During
the excitement of the race, 1 attempted
difficult cut across the country, failed
at leap which was beyond my powers,
and had the misfortune to sprain my
ankle. The injury was very severe
one, and 1 was laid up for many weeks
in my lodgings. You have often laugh
ed at mefor taking everything so coolly.
assure you that I did not take this
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21
The War in Servia.

Comparatively little information has
yet reached us as to the result of the re-
cent fighting in front of Alexinatz. On
the one hand we have the report of
correspondent of the London Times
with the Turkish forces. Naturally a
man in that position would see the case
through Ottoman spectacles, and when
we consider that his report was tele-
graphed from city not far in the rear
of Nisch-perhaps Sofia-to CONSTANT
nople and thence to London, and was
therefore subject to Turkish censorship
at two points, it is evident that it would
not be likely to contain any truths that
would be unpleasant in Constantinople.
Another source of information is the
correspondent of the London Standard
at Belgrade. Anybody telegraphing
from that side would be apt to give us
the Servian story except this correspon-
dent but as the tory organ is so thor
oughly identified with the support of the
Ottoman cause that it depreciates to the
utmost possible point all Servian acts
and admits no Servian successes. Per-
haps, therefore, the fact that it does not
claim that the Servians were annihilated
in the recent fighting is ON evidence that
they were moderately successful in their
movement. They seem to have moved
from their works to the assault of the
Turkish lines, and to have endeavoreA
to turn the Turks on both fanks at
once; fact which indicates that there is
as yet no tactical genius in the Servian
staff, for the attack on both fanks is al
ways blunder where the attacking
force does not enormously outnumber
the enemy. But though they did not
overwhelm the Turks they doubtless
had some satisfactory achievements, for
the Turks are reported as assuming the
offensive in circumstances which do not
indicate that they had advanced. The
Turks perhaps endeavored to recapture
positions stormed two days before by
the Servians. The one fact certain is
that the valley of the Morava above
Alexinatz has been the scene of some
really obstinate fighting, which is enough
! to show the very great change from a
! few weeks since, when the Turks drove
the Servians down the same valley like
sheep. Already, therefore, the Servians
have established new relation of facts
for the peacemakers. Probably the re-
ports of the contents of the note of the
czar to the emperor of Austria are ac-
curate. 1t is said that the czar proposes
conference of ministers of foreign
affairs of all the powers if the Porte will
accept permanent armistice, but other
wise the immediate occupation of Bull
garia by Russian forces and of Herzego-
vina and Bosnia by Austria; this joint
occupation to guarantee to the popula-
tion of those countries and of Servia
their practical independence in the
future from Turkish domination. This
is very likely to be the turn events will
take. There is no appearance anywhere
of capacity or o will to oppose this
step, and Turkey herself can at most
only protest against it.-Nes0 York Her.
aid.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21
Vel. ".
The Model Church.

Well wife, found a model church 1 wor-
SHIPPED there to day
l. made me think OF good old times, before my
head was gray;
The meetn' house was fixed up more than
they we're years ago,
But then felt when 1 went in, it wasn't all
built for show.
The sexton didn't seat me away back by the
door
He knew that was old and deaf, as well as
old and poor
He must have been Christian because he led
me through
The long aisles Of that crowded church, to find
splace and pew.
! wish you'd heard the singing, it had the old
time ring.
The preacher said, with trumpet voice
" Let all the people sing !"
The tune was Coronat on" and the music
upward rolled,
TIL thought heard the angels striking all
tLeir hsrps of god.
My deafness seemed to melt away, my spirit
caught the fire
Joined my feeble, trembling voice with that
melodious choir,
And sung, as in my younger days, Let an
gels prostrate fall
Bring forth the royal disdem, and crown Him
Lord of all"
tell you, wife, it did me good to sing that
aonp once more
felt like some wrecked MARINER who gets a
glimpse Of shore
/ almost wanted to lay down this weather
beaten form,
And anchor in the blessed port forever fropl
the storm.
The preacbin'? Well, juet can't tell you all
that the preacher said
l know it wasn't written know it waent
read;
He hadn't time to read it, for the hghtnin' OF
his eye
Went flashing long from pew to pew, no,
passed sinner by.
The sermon wasn't fowery; twas simple Cos.
pei truth
1t fitted poor old men like me it fitted hope.
ful youth
Twas full If consolation for weary hearts that
bleed,
Twas full of invitation to Christ and not to
creed.
The preacher made sin hideous in Gentiles
and iii Jews;
He shot the golden sentences down in the
finest pews;
And though l can't zee very wel-I saw the
falling tear
That told me hell was some ways off, and
heaven very near.
How swift the golden moments fed within
that holy place;
How beautiful beamed the light Of heaven
from every happy face;
Again lopged for thstsweet time when friend
shall meet with friend,
When congregations neer break up, and
Sabbath has no end"
hope to meet that miLister-that congrega-
ton, too
In the dear home bt yond the stars that shine
from heavens blue
Idoubt not I'll remember, beyond life's even
ing gray,
The happy hour Of worship in that model
church today.
Dear wife, the fight will soon be fought, the
victory be won;
The ehinin' goal is just ahead, the race is
nearly run
Der the river we are nearing they are throng-
ing to the Shore
To shout our safe arrival where the weary
weep no more.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21

In time of panic, when the bubble
speculation breaks and the timid soul
calleth for its balance, the way of the
banker is hard but alas for the rich,
rich capitalist who has millions that he
cannot invest. The FSnancier gives
this touching incident of financial dis
tress in London: Calling up n an ac-
quaintance the other day, he appealed
to our sympathy, by exclaiming: "I
have just had great misfortune. I"
Indeed" we asked: "what has happen
eda" "Welll" he replied, can old
customer has just called and left with
me 100000 on deposit" 1t was an
old and valued customer, and so the un-
fortunate banker could not refuse to
take the money and now he is at his
Wits end to know what to do with it.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21
Very Careful.

The sum of $314.75 in condemned
money was taken at the gates of the
Centennial Exhibition up to Sept. 1.
Three fourths of the pieces of silver had
been mutilated the remainder were
counterfeits. The largest amount of
counterfeit money received on one occa-
sion, $16. so, was received ON New York
day. The stile keepers, from whose
salaries this loss is deducted, have really
done excellent work. since although
three or four million pieces have passed
through their hands, only few hundred
have been found worthless.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21
Facts i'm Figures.

Mr.. George Blair, president of the
workingmen's assembly in the State of
New York, who is we'll informed on this
question, and whose opinion may be
taken as honestly given, has furnished
the data from which the following tabu-
lar statement was prepared. 1t forms
clearer idea of the precise condition of
affairs among the working classes than
any words of description OR argument:
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21

A needy politician called on his repre-
sentative in the assembly to endeavor
to obtain some government employment.
The member proceeded to write letter
of introduction "This will introduce
Mr.. Smith, who desires employment -
" Hold on" cried the constituent
hold on. It isn't employment want
its a government berth"
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21

A miss of ten or eleven, on her way TO
school, was heard saying to herself {: A
noun is the name of any person, place
or thing, and if any of the girls have
hooked that apple from my desk III
raise fuss with the whole school.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21
Religious Statistics.

In an article on churches, writer
says that in the United States the Meth.
odist, Baptist and Presbyterian preach
ers are the worst paid in money. Epis-
copalian and Congregational next. The
Catholic take what they need; the rest
goes to the church. But the church
officer does not, on the average, find
preaching profitable.
presume a majority of readers think
the Catholics outnumber any other sin
gle denominational membership. I
thought so, but I find that in 1870 the
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21

It will thus be seen that, instead of
an average of $4,000 unemployed men,
as was usual in fair times, there are now
$4,000, or two and half times as many
hands out of employment than there
ought to be.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-10-21

All told, there were at The last count
ing, 72, 459 organizations, 63,082 church
edifces, and 81, ,665, ,062 seats, valued at
1854, 483, ,581.
So scant is the income of the average
clergyman that he is forced to exc it out
as best he may. Some edit "religious
newspapers" some simply write for
them; some correspond with secular
papers; some take pupils-and some
beg. Now and then preacher hires a
hall wherein he talks on Sunday, and
lives on the I" collections"
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-08-05
Summer TriDs.

The heated season is full upon
us, and busy workers in crowded
cities, groaning under the double
burden of heat and toll, "pant for
the water brooks" and envy those
happy, weather. mortals who,
long ere this time, have shaken
the dust of the city streets from
their feet. and gone to pleasant
country homes, where ease and
luxury await them. But courage
workers. Your geodtime is COM
ing. and perhaps it will be none
the less enjoyable because you
have to work for it. Apropos of
this subject, we come across q few
hints concerning travellers which
may not be unacceptable to eur
lady readers; for it is the fair sex
who suffer most inconvenience on
the subject of luggage, dress, etc.
A man can and will go over half
the country with a single suit ,dus-
ter, travelling cap and the neces-
sary changes of linen. But our
poor ladies are overburdened with
dress, toilet articles, travelling bags
and shawls, and the inevitable
confectionery and novel, else they
are miserable. Far be it from us
to deprive them of their comforts,
but rather simply the means OF re-
tanning them. Dress comes first,
of course. Shades of dark blues
and grays are the best travelling
colors. The dress should be easy
but snug fitting; no fiounces, large
sleeves or fringes; parasols should
have a jeint in the stick SO that
they will fold up. Every lady
should have a morocco leather
companion full sfpockets, that can
be rolled and tied up; these pock-
cts will hold q change of gloves,
haudkerchiefs, surplus veil. pins,
needles and thread, q fat bottle of
cologne, any favorite dainty, pos
tai cards and pencils, the latter in
case she wishes to drop a line to
home friends before she reaches
her final destination. A golden
rule in travelling is to make ones
self as little remarkable as posi-
BILE, undue familiarity is apt to
court insult. Have very little
portable luggage, so that, being
comparatively free from anxiety,
there is no danger of losing tenn
per or becoming "nervous;" all the
pleasure which travelling affords
is completely banished by an I'M
quiet mind, or a Marth-like dispo-
sition to fret about little things.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-08-05
Stabbed With a Pitchfork.

The Staunton Vally Virginian
of the Goth has the following ac-
count of a singular fatal accident !:
"a very sad death occurred near
West View, in this county, on
Wednesday of last week. Mr.. j,
Radford was engaged in %threshing
at Mr.. John Il. Calhoun's. While
standing on a rick of straw about
ten feet high he was observed to
slip down on the side. Not aris-
ing, several of the hands went to
see what was the matter, and
found him trying to stand on his
feet. MI. Calhoun caught him
and found him bleeding profusely.
He laid him down and in five
minutes he was dead. 1t is sup
posed that Mr., Bradford had
placed the handle of a fork on the
ground preparatory to jumping
from the stack, and had slipped,
the prongs of the fork, which were
about ten inches long penetrating
the body in the region of the
heart. He must have pulled the
fork out himself before he was no.
ticed by the men."
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-08-05
Short Sermons.

The New York "Herald'' has a
few sensible words to say upon the
subject of short sermons, which
will apply to many other cities.
DR.. Morgan Dix, of Trinity
Church, New York. is quoted as
an example worthy of imitation.
His sermons are models of brevity
force and effectiveness. Many
clergymen destroy the entire eff
feet eta good discourse by spin
ming it beyond the patience of
their audience. Twenty, or at
most, thirty minutes, is long
enough for any sermon !; and yet
there have been drones SO fond of
hearing themselves talk, that once
wound up, they go on forever.
The most successful pulpit orators
says the Herald are those who
comprehend how the methods of
religious teaching have been mod
flied by the influence of the press.
A good article as well as a good
sermon should be short, concise
and to the point, and no clergy
man who desires to impress his
hearers should forget that all-im-
portant maxim.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-08-05

The fearful prevalence of that
latest monstrosity of female dress,
''the improved bustle," gives rise
to the important question of what
is to become of the millions of cast
off ones Are our ponds and docks
to be filled with their CHASTITY skel-
etons as they were with those wiry
relics of an undeveloped civiliza-
ton, hoopskirts: We have a faint
recollection that hoopskirts were
occasionally turned into light,
graceful and substantial frames
for tomato vines in the suburban
gardens, and hasten tosuggest that
the improved bustle' be collected
by a company organized with suf-
ficient capital, and carried to the
fishing ports, where they can be
sold for lobster pots. They would
certainly be much lighter and
cheaper than the present clumsy
wooden ones, and would combine
strength and neatness. Then, again,
it may be argued as no minor ar
gument, they would doubtless be a
deal more attractive to the festive
lobster. Boston Globe.
Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-08-05

According to an article in the
British Medical Journal, it has
been found by DR.. Renger that the
tincture Of capsicum in ten drop
doses is the best semedy to coun-
teract that craving for alcohol
which is the curse ofall inebriates,
preventing their return to rational
conduct. This remedy has been
tested by other physicians, and
they report ~favorably in regard to
it. they give several instances of
men Of various ages, who, half
muddled hung around low drink
ing saloons, Or at home, and who,
when the liquor was shut up,
would pick the lock, or when
money was takenfrom them, would
tipple on credit whenever they had
q chance.
The best way to administer this
remedy is to commence with five
drops in q little syrup of orange
peel before meals, increasing the
dose Of capsicum tincture to ten
drops. In one month most of them
became quite different men, chang
ing from half idiots to men whe
attended to their business and took
an interest in all that was going on
in the world, which they before,
being confirmed drundards, did
not, according to the habits of the
latter class of unfortunates.