davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1876-04-21

Bad cooking is a positive curse. Per
haps the day may come when even the
daughters of the rich will not think it be-
meath their dignity to lesrp- how to make
bread and pastry, how to roast joint OF
cook potato. Now, it would seem that
this was not a very extended nor difficult
amount Of culinary knowledge to be re-
quired of young woman who is ready to
venture upon the sea Of matrimony, but
it will be considered quite large enough,
if we compare the hOuses-i IN which we get
a well-cOOked potato or a light piece Of
bread with the number of households in
the community. 1t may be set down at
once that you cannot get a well cooked
potato at any hotel. The servants in the
houses where people would like to live
well, and know good cooking when they
see it, are, in nine cases out of ten, under
no genuine discipline. The woman of the
house does not know, or does not care.
A WelI-cOOked potato put on the table
and eaten just at the proper timeAand
it does not exceed three minutes-is some
thing which many men, whose butcher
bills amount to hundreds a year, know
nothing Of. A good meal depends more
upon good cooking than upon cost. The
joint or the steak which it is impossible
to cook so as to be tender to-day, will in
a few days he in perfection; a broiled steak
or chicken is rare. Ninety-nine one
hundredths of the cooks, hired or wed,
fry everything-that is to say, spoil it.
One would think it impossible to injure
sweet corn, and yet it is quite easy to al
low it to remain in the water long enough
to lose a good share of its sweetness.
There is not only economy but ease in
good cookery. For the ordinary male
person a few things made palatGble suf-
ice. The wife who knows how to cater
to one or two whims in eating, and to
roast and boil, and devil n bit of cold
meat, and make good bread can defy all
rivals, whether of animatedo or inanimated
attractiveness.
, 1876-04-21

WASHING days in the olden times were
few and far between, as were the articles
which required washing. The assistance
Of the dyer was much oftener called In
than that OF the laundress. During the
middle agesa linen shirt was rarity, and
matter Of congratulation to its posses
sor. Under-clothes were worn by only a
limited few, the wealthy people wearing
velyets, taffeta aud rich silks next to thoir
bodies. Night-dresses, as now used, had
no existence in those days; indeed. the
people oftener slept without anv cIotbes
at all: Anne Boleyn's night-dfesses are
described as having been made Of black
satin and velvet while Queen Elizabeth's a
were Of black velvet, lined with fur. Ia
ter these night-dresses were called night
wells. Shirts were also made Of colored
silks, as were night-caps and other art;-
cles now composed only of washing
materials, which fashion made the launs
oress' duty an exceedingly light one.
, 1876-04-21

THE COMFORTS OF Wool TO BR1rIsu
LAwYERs.-John Paul, writing from
London to the New York Tribune, thus
discourses of the "Woolsack": Strange
how they keep on doing a thing because
some one, years ago, did it onceI Before
cushions were invented the Lord Chancel-
lor sat on a bag of wool. So the Lord
Chancellor of to-day must still sit ON a
wOOlsack. Where's the sense of it3 If
he sat on a file of Tribunes now he
might learn somethingl All very well to
explain the woolsack by the yarn about
wool being once the great staple of the
kingdom, and this bag being intended to
perpetually remind the LOAd Chancellor
that he sits there pledged to protect the
interests of the people. Had they wished
TO remind him of anything they'd not
have given him so soft a seat of it-a few
pins would have been put in. Cheese was
a staple of the country quite as much as
wool. Why did they not set his Lord
ship up in state on fine Stilton3 In
such a case he wouldn't have had to go
out to lunch. No, no; tell you that
our English friends believe in wool /;
they find that two-fold virtue in a WOOL
sack which by Falstaffs fancy lay in a
good shcrris sack-or possibly he meant
wool all the whilel To their thinking
wool carries with it wisdom as we'll as
warmth. And they insist on applying il
to one end or the other Of all their legal
luminaries, while the Lord Chancellor,
who is looked to for opinions of weight,
involving the vastest interests, must have
it at both. For barons of law and barris-
ters only, it is enough to clap a layer on
the head as a wig,
, 1876-04-21
The Shower Of Flesh.
WHAT KENTUCKY SCIENTIST HAS TO
SAY OF 1T.

LOUISVILLE, March 8.-A special to
the Louisville COurier-JOSrRdE from Mt.
Sterling, Kentucky, conveys intelligence
that during to-day the most wonderful
phenomenon transpired in that section.
The correspondent states that during sun
shine and clear sky there fell from the
heavens quivering flesh, which came down
in large quantities and filled many acres
of territory. Hogs and chickens eagerly
devoured the flesh, specimens of which
have been sent to this city for scientific
examination.
LOUISVILLE, March 1O.-Capt. ]. NJ.
Bent, a retired lawyer of Mt. Sterling,
Kentucky, and a gentleman well known
for reliability, arrived in Louisville to-
night with specimens Of flesh which fell
last Friday in Bath County. The flesh
covered two acres of ground, resembled
mutton, and left traces of blood on the
trees and fences which were touched by
the falling flakes. Chickens and hogs
devoured it with evident relish. The
heavens were clear, the sun shons and
only floating clouds were visible at the
time, 2 P. N, March Sd. Quantities OF
the flesh have been preserved. That
brought to Louisville was given to Prof.
Lawrence Smith, well-knOwn scientist,
who says it is no doubt animal flesh. He
purposes making an examination to-mOr-
row. Hundreds of persons are willing to
attest with affidavits the truthfulness of
the entire matter.
LOUISVILLE, KY, March lin regard
to the shower of flesh in Bath County,
Prof. j. Lawrence Smith, the scientist,
says in his analysis of the specimens ex-
amined: In my mind this matter gives
every indication of being the dried spawn
of the bartrachian reptiles, doubtless that
of the frog. They have been transported
from the ponds ard swampy grounds by
currents of wind and have ultimately
fallen on the spot where they were found.
This is no isolated occurrence of the kind,
| having come across the mention of
several in the course of my reading. The
only one can now FIX the date Of is re-
corded by Muschaubroeck as occurring
in Iceland in 1875. The matter is de-
scribed by him as being glutinous and
fatty, which softened when held in the
hand and emitted an unpleasant smell
when exposed to the action of fire. The
ovum or egg Of the batrachian reptiles is
- round mass Of transparent nutritive
jelly in the centre of which appears a small
black globule. In the present -csse>the
passage through the 9irJ&ould have dried
up more or less the gelatinous mass 50,
that the interior would be as found 1t,
still soft and gelatinous. 1 have desired
more Of the matter to be sent to me, when
il there be any modification of these views
/ will make them known.
, 1876-04-21

FISHING IN FLORIDA.-Winter tourists
in Florida enjoy some royal sport when
they go a fishing. Every lake in Florida
is very low, and low, moist places, where
the cattle found perennial grass, or a
spangle Of Towering mOsses picked out
with tiny gold bells, ~ this year dry Hs
a chip. But this low water Is splendid
for fishing. Trout, indeedl His black
back, spoon snout and generally cOarse
vigOr are nothing like our toy trout Of
the mountain brook, marked with butter
speckles. The weight is from four to
ten pounds, and one was taken recently
that weighed fourteen. Your fishing
preparations are very slight. The troll
is for amusement as you stretch over the
fishing gTOund-a bay in low hum
mock, thick with live oak, hickory and
dense herbage, and skiIlful hand will
throw in the little perch as fast as you
can fix your line. The spoil is chiefly
the black bass, but sometimes a lusty
Dream, broad. fat and fat, an almost
round fish. There is also a species Of
pike, sometimes taken Lake Okeecho-
bee and the Lassinee- In Florida, If the
fish bite at all, they bite so fast that in
an hour you can reel up your line, row
about, sketch or go home, dry and COM
Portable, TO luncheon, and brag Of your
piscatorial skill, although the bass would
bite at clothes line and a meat-hOOk.
It is about as much skill as the cook
shows in taking them out Of the basket
to clean them. In this season the tables
are loaded with fish, crisp, fat, esculent
until some of the more dainty visitors
get tired of the smell Of them and abol-
ish them from the dining-room.
, 1876-04-21

FRIESDs.-Tnere are friends who are
friends only for the hour, friends for the
noontide and the flood; they have no
real rooting,as you discover If your hori-
Eon gets clouded over and foul weather
comes in place Of fair, if your rushing
waters run dry and your goodly vessels
ere stranded on the beach. These are
the parasites of life, the clinging growths
which twine round the stronger trees and,
may be, strangle them before they die.
And there are the real friends, who, If you
get into trouble, stick closer to you than
a brother, and who only need to be tested
to show that they are of pure gold all
through. But this kind is apt to be a
little stiff and stately when things 90 we'll
with you, and you feel it rather hard
that you must be in sorrow or distress
before you can get the starch out OF
them, and would rather they were more
familiar now, if less devoted then-con-
tent to discount the chances Of the future
for the advantage and pleasure of the
present.
, 1876-04-21

PoTATo PIE.-FrOm among the many
methods Of making a potato pie, it is a
serious difficulty to select the most ap-
proved. Very good pies for family pur-
poses may be made thus: four large po-
tatOes boiled and mashed, with butter OF
cream; half a pound of butchers meat,
or a quarter of pound Of ham or bacon
cut small, or chopped hard boiled eggs
season ii, aud cover it with q light crust;
bake for three-quarters Of an hour. Or
cut uneOoked potatoes into slices, arrange
them alternately with layers of meat, OF
preserved fish, add some butter, and sea-
son with a sprinkling of onion finely
shred, or ketchuP, pickles, or anything
tasty; pour over 1t two beaten eggs, close
with good crust, and bake for an hour.
Remark, always employ a proportion Of
butter when the ingredient added is not
Of a rich character, such as fish, etc. A
thin paste may line the dish or not ac-
eording to fancy.
, 1876-04-21

HARD SOAP.-The HOusekesper gives the
following: Four pounds grease, one and
One-half pounds resin, one can condensed
lye, or ready sOap-maker, in six quarts of
water (hoD. Put four pounds Of clean
grease into = kettle, add two quarts Of
the lye, two quarts of soft water, and
boil thirty minutes. Then add three
quarts lye, little at z time, so as not to
impede boiling, which continue from
two to five hours, or until it becomes
soap, which may be tested by cooling in
a spoon. Then add the resin (broken
small, putting in remainder of lye slow
ly so as not to stop boiling, which con-
tinue thirty minutes. Then add a tea
cupful Of salt, boil until the soap is sepa-
rated from the lye and strings. When
cooled in a spoon it should be hard
After standing twenty minutes, dip the
soap into deep tin dish or mold, and
stir in half pound Of melted sal soda.
If perfume is desired stir in little oil
of rose, sassafras or any other. When
cold cut up to suit Thssuceess of soap
making lies principally in the proper
equivalents Of grease and lye. All pork
grease or all tailOw is not as good as half
and half mixed.
, 1876-04-21

ONE hundred years ago farmers did
not cut their legs of with moving ma
chimes. One hundred years ago our
mothers did not worry over disordered
sewing machines. One hundred years
ago horses that could trot mile in 2:14
were somewhat scarce. One hundred
years ago it took several days to procure
a divorce and find a congenial spirit. One
hundred years ago there were no disputes
about the impoliteness of street-car
drivers. One hundred years ago Crooked
whisky was not known. Our forefathers
took theirs straight. One hundred years
ago every young man was not an appli-
cant for a position as clerk or book
keeper. One hundred years ago kerosene
lamps did not explode and assist women
to shuttle off their mortal coil. One
hundred years ago men did not commit
suicide by going up in balloons and com
ing down without them. One hundred
years ago England was not far behind the
United States in all that goes to make a
nation powerful and progressive.
, 1876-04-21
Tragedy in the Indian Territory.


The Waco (Texas) Examiner of theSsd
inst. says: "An old man, his wife and
three daughters passed through the city
yesterday in a covered wagon, On route
to Hamilton County. He stated tn an
Examiner reporter that he was from
Southwestern Missouri, and had left
there four months ago with a family
consisting Of a wife, four daughter
and a son aged about twenty-one years.
While passing through the Indian Terri
tory they were joined by man,
his wife and two small children,
who were also on their way to Texas, and
the two parties travelled together for sew
eral days. They camped one night at a
point near the State line, and during the
night the man who had Joined the Mis-
souri, family took two horses and ran of
with the old mans youngest daughter.
Next day her brother started 10 pursuit and
after following them for several days sud
denly came upon them at a place called
Brush Mountain, in the Creek nation.
The fleeing party was on the alert, and
the young man, the brother, was shot
dead as he rode toward them. 1t was a
month later that the old man heard ofhis
sons death, and he resumed his way al
most heart-broken. He told our reporter
that as soon as he could find a place to
leave his family he intends to hunt down
the murderer Of his son and kill him if it
should be the last act of his life."
, 1876-04-21

The LARGEST SNAKE IN AMERICA
In the geological gallery Of DR.. Cunning
ham, Carthage, Missouri, may be seen the
greatest American wonder extant-a
snake twenty-seven feet eight inches in
length and seventeen inches in circum-
ference resembling in many particulars
the tiger Python of Africa, coiled in tre-
mendous folds, with head erect, mouth
open and mammoth forked tongue pro-
truding as if about to gulp down at one
spring everything in reach. This snake,
which DR.. Cunningham has named the
Lead Python of the Southwest, is, with
out doubt the largest American reptile
ever captured. The history of its cap
ture Is about as follows: Two miners In
Hickory County were returning home
from prospect in the woods in the lat
ter part Of July, accompanied by large
dog. While passing a thicket on the
banks Of stream they were attracted by
Kissing or gushing noise, followed i'm
mediately BY loud yell from the dog
and crash among the bushes. On ap-
preaching the spot they beheld the terri
bic monster in the act Of swallowing the
dog. They fed, but soon returned and
succeeded in capturing the reptile while
gorged. The weight Of the snake when
first taken was about 300 pounds.
, 1876-04-21

WE like fine writing when it is prop
erly applied; so we appreciate the fol.
lowing burst Of eloquence: "As tho os-
trich uses both legs and wings when the
Arabian courser bounds in her rear--ai
the winged lightnings leap from the
heavens when the thunderbOlts are loosed
80 does little boy run when a big dog
is after him."
, 1876-04-21

ONE OF THE ADVANTAGES OF MATRI-
MoNY.-He used to cramp his feet up in
little boots, and limp painfully to her
residence every Saturday evening; but
the morning after his marriage he went
into a shOemaker's, drew a chalk mark
around his foot, and about an inch
distant from it on both sides and at the
heel and toe, and ordered the man to
make him pair of boots after that pat
tern. oh, there's sweet liberty, there's
balmy, boundless freedom in the marriage
state, of which sore-heeled and distorted
bachelors have no conception.
, 1876-04-21

LITERARY PolsoN.-Alas, such quanti-
ties of I'll lis to be found everywhere.
It is cast into the.veTy fountains Of social
life. 1t is injecting the pure life and
heart of our youth. They are becoming
weak-minded, Vapid, sentimental, lustful,
criminal. Parents are mourning over
their distaste for all that Is sensible and
useful. Teachers find study 10 be irk-
some to them. Romantic tales, nara
tives Of love, lust hate, revenge, and
murder, are in their taste. They assimi-
late what they read. And so down,
down they 60, weaker and weaker in all
the mental and moral elements Of true
manhood and WomanhOod. Corrupt
thoughts, desires, and aims supPlant ma
tive Innocence. Virtue flies out Of the
window; vice flies In and takes full pos
session. We condemn the man who deals
out liquid poison to the unhappy drunk
ard. What, then, should we say to those
who supply youth with the demoralizing
venom contained In dime novels, hashy
periodicals and sporting newspapersi
Fathers, mothers, and friends Of our
youth look sharply to their reading.
Search out the secret corners of their
rooms. Be sure the imagery and seeds
of moral death are not in your homes
and schools.
, 1876-04-21

II Mr.. Richard Henry Dana, Jr., &C
cepts the mission to England, he will be
the sixth Minister who has been sent to
the Court Of st. James from Massachu-
sets. John Quincy Adams, Edward
Everett, George Bancroft, Charles Fran
els Adams and John Lothrop Motley
three of whom are still living-have
been the Ministers to Great Britain
chosen from that State, and-togcther they
have served for eighteen years.
, 1876-04-21

STEwART's HOUsE.-In the fashion
able quarters of Washington, Castle
Stewart looms up in solitary grandeur
Only on one occasion has Il ever been
opened in all its magni6cence. After
its completion, the daughter, Bessie,
eighteen years Of age, married Mr.
Hooker, Of the>navy, in May, two years
ago. The house has been closed fol
nearly a year. Mr.. Stewart is no Longer
Senator from Nevada. More than e1OO,.
900 is tied up in this one piece Of prop
erty. Mr.. and Mrs. Stewart and two
children board at the Palace Hotel, San
Francisco. Mr.. Hooker is now a banker
there.
, 1876-04-21

THE editor who was told that his last
article was as clear as mud, promptly re-
piled, "Well,S that covers the ground,
anyhow
, 1876-04-21

PLATO says "a kind no is often more
agreeable than a rough yes" Letgentle-
men remember it this year.
, 1876-04-21

The organ in Albert Hall, London, con-
tains 1873 stops, four manuals, and nearly
10000 pipes, all of which are of metal.
The wind is supplied by steam-pOwer.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-01
I,IIIl:

FEENY-In this city, April 20ih, at 10
O'Clock p. NJ, MARY WILSON FEENY, wife
OF George :. Feeny and daughter OF Col.
BENZ. Wilson.
Funeral from her husbands residence,
No. so Fifteenth street, on Monday, May
LIST, at ~ o'clock A. NJ. Will leave the
cathedral at 10 o'clock. Friends OF the
family are invited to attend.
CAMPBELL-On Saturday, April 18th,
ut I 80 A. NJ, JAMES CAMPBELL, in the 9th
year OF his age.
Funeral will take place from his resi-
dence, No. 90 Eighteenth street, at half
past o'clock this morning. Services at
the Cathedral at 8 o'clock. Interment at
the new Catholic cemetery. Friends OF
the family are invited to attend.
STERRETT-Saturday, April %, 1876, at
9 O'Clock p. NJ, JOHN +. STERRETr, in the
SSjh year of his age.
Funeral from the residence of his
mother, isl sixteenth street, on Monday,
May LIST, at o'clock. Interment at
Peninsula cemetery.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-01
DEBATE ON THE SUNDAY CUES
TIOE.

The Philadelphia Times gives the fol-
towing interesting sketch of the debate in
the meeting of the Centennial Commits
sion on the proposition to close the
exhibition on Sundays:
John L. Campbell Qnd.) moved to
adopt the majority report, but substi-
tute for the adoption OF the majority
report was offered by VIM. Quincy Is.
c. whereupou there began debate that
waxed 80 hot that ere its close more than
one orator had far surpassed Webster in
noise and Clay IN ferc ,ly saving the
air. None Of the Middle or Eastern
States, however, bad a word to say, ex.
cept Connecticut and Rhode Island, the
contest being mainly among the
Rocky Mountain and Gulf States.
The former appeared to be CON-
tent with having gotten the grounds and
buildings ready, and DESTROYS Of giving
their friends from afar of a show to do
some talking. George II. .Corliss (R. IL
doubted that his State would have sub.
scribed penny toward the Exhibition
except with the understanding that it
shoRld 30 kent closed on the Lords day;
~open it." said be, sand you must leave
New England out altogether" Secretary
Campbell declared that the influx to the
from slums on Sunday
would leave New York and other
places quite moral for twenty four
nourA he desired that foreigners
,oming here should see not only what the
lie. but what the American
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-01
'rHF CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION.

hon. A j. SWEENEY, Chairman of the
West Virginia Board of Centennial
Commissioners, returned from Philadel-
phia, on Saturday last, where he had bsen
attending meeting of the United States
Centennial Commissioners.
Mr.. SWEENEY Informs us that West
Virginis's building is by all odds the hand
soonest on the grounds, and was SO pro-
nounced by Director General GosnoRN
and others who were in position to
Judge. This is very crafty in 10 our
State pride, especially wher Nc take into
consideration that everything nj o''t it is
West Virginia. Mr. KEMBLE, Of this
city, was the archiiecs who prepared the
design; Hon. II. 5 WHITE, of Marshall,
was the building contractor, and the
house built of West Virginia wood
Mr.. SwEENY is also of the opinion
that the United States will make more
creditable display than any foreign ma
ton will, and that the American articles
on exhibition are gotten up in better
style and more tastefully arranged. Ev-
erything will not be in proper position
bv the 10th, the time fixed for opening
Vel the grounds will be opened on that,
day.
DE last Friday the Commission, after
warm and protracted discussion, decided
to close the Exhibition on Sundays by
vote of 20 to Q. The minority, who ia
vored keeping the Exhibition open on the
Sabbath, did so because of the fact that
many persons would take that day for
visiting the Exposition who could not
spare business day. They did not re-
gard it as an amusement, but something
instructive.
The majority on the other hand set forth
the fact that while the Expositions
at Paris and Vienna had
been kept open on Sunday, the Amer
can and English departments were closed,
in accordance with the English and
American idea of observing the Sabbath.
The prevailing sentiment of this country
on the subject of observing the Christian
Sabbath is distinctly set forth and pslpa.
bly, felt in the legislation of the United
States and of the several States and
municipalities in laws enacted, not only
to secure to the people one day in seven
as q day of rest, but also to prevent
such secular business rs tend
to disturb the quiet enjoyment of such
religious observance as the individual
preferences Of the community may die
tate. The opinion of the majority OF the
Commission was that any action of theirs
which might conflict with the public sem
timent expressed in our laws and in their
practical observances, might shock the
neral sense of the country and jeop-
srdize the success of the Exhibition, as
it would have tendency to turn The
most powerful agencies throughout the
land from an active support to decided
opposition. The Commission most |
PROBABLY did right in adopting
measure in accord with the American
idea Of observing the Sabbath during the
first Sentury of our existence as nation.
WhilS the exhibition will be closed on
Sunday, the grounds will be open every
day.
The question OF granting license to
sell intoxicating liquors on the ground
wss discussed Saturday.
The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-05-01

The last Braxton county Mountaineer
contains the announcement OF four can
didates tor assessor and three for sheriff
and all subject to the action of the
Democratic county convention. That
looks like our Democratic friends in
Braxton intend to preserve their organi-