davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
Centennial Notes.

The women of Massachusetts have for
warded 81, 400 to the Treasurer, making
their total contribution to the Centen-
nial $40, 900.
The Philadelphia sportsmen's club
has appointed committee empowered
to offer, through the agricultural de-
partment, one or more prizes for the
best settlers or pointers exhibited at the
Centennial. " ." ..
Upon many of the casts in the Egyp.
tian building on the Centennial grounds
are hieroglyphics or Inscriptions In
Arabic, q noticeable one of the latter
being: Hooa m1ash-Allah, which trans
lated means: GAS it pleases God"
Prominent in the Spanish space ore
six excellent medallion paintings, each
nine or ten feet in circumference, rep
resenting Columbus, Queen Isabella,
Ponce de Leon, De Soto, Cortez and Fl
zarro. These medallions are inserted IN
the front and rear of the structure form
ing the entrance to the pavilion.
The clock for memorial hall has been
completed in Thomaston, Conn. 1t has
1,160 pieces, the estimated weight Of
all being six tons. The main wheels are
four feet in diameter. The pendulum
ball and rod weigh respectively 700 and
800 pounds, the rod being fourteen and
one-half feet long and connected with
the clockwork by what is known as
gravity escapement. and makes two:
second beats. The rod is of steel, and
to compensate for contraction and e1,
pansion is encased in two cylinders, one
of zinc and one of steel, which, by theil
relative expansion upward, maintain q
Uniform center of oscillation.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
The Two Agents.

A;beneyolent looking old gentleman
with a travelling bag in his hand entered
a life; insurance Office, and setting bis
bag on the floor, seated himself beside
the agent.
"You insure lives here, sir ?" he in
quired.
Eyes, sir; that's our business.
"Yaas Waal, now, how much might
it cost to have ones life insured 2"
"Well, cir, that depends on the sum
YOU wish to be insured for What
amour do you desire ON your life, sirs'
asked the agent, taking down bis refer.
ence book. = > =, y y '-.'
"Waal, s'pose we say five thousaA'
now, what may that come to-"
"Your age, Sir :"
Somewhere about sixty, -, 90. ..
The agent made the calculation and
informed him.
"Yaas. Waal, that's all right. And
how much to pay down2" ~ g..
He was told. "And now shall ]
make out the application for you. sir =
said the agent, getting ont the blanks
and putting a new pen in his holder.
"Wsal, let's see-let's sec. To-day
is Toosday, is ."
"Yes, sir; your name is -
"Waal, Browns my name; but locke
yer, mister" and the old man opened
his bag and took out little bottle
"I've got suthin in this bottle that'l
take that wart off your nose inside 9
| fnrtv minits. Won't You try some 7" :
It is astonishing how rapidly the be
nevolent old gentleman went, out OF tina
Office,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
A Sad Scene.

That must havsbeen sad procession
of Northwestern editors which filed out
of the diniug-room in Port Royal the
other day, says the Savannah NeOs.
They were on On excursion, and most of
them had the well known habits of edi-
torial excursionists. They had been re-
ceived at the Port Royal station with
beating drums, gay banners, and a
crowd of tumultuous and enthusiastic
citizens. The chairman of the reception
committee, mounted on barrel, made
them speech of welcome, and they
were then taken for supperto building
over which the word "Welcome "sowas
displayed in gigantic letters.
Supper being over, the e1curslonlsts
prepared for stroll about town: At
the door they encountered an efusive
citizen, who calmly extended his hand:
They shook it and called him ''brother,
but he calmly and sternly said to every
man: "Seyenty-fve cents, If you
please" And every man paid. 1t wat
sad scene.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
The Stuff that Fell.

During the month of August, 1857,
masses Of gelatinous matter containing
minute granules were found in the
streets of the city of Albany, New York
State. The following account OF the
phenomenon, published at the time, Is
from DR.. J. s. Mosher, then OF the
Albany university:
Viewed through q microscope the
small, brick colored bodies were some.
what of the shape of grains of wheat,
and the gelatinous matter seemed to be
connected to each one as q separate
covering. They were apparently sepa'
rate cells, very uniform in size, being
1-12O of an inch long and 1-150 OF an
inch thick, filed with granular particles,
from which they derived their color
The gelatinous envelope and their ap
pearance gave them at first somewhat
the character of one of the single celle6
prototypes, resembling most the palmo
glea. That they were not these wa.
proven by their behavior with iodine
and their containing distinct cell wall
Several persocs claim to have seen then
fall in shower, and they were notfouno
under trees or shelter. They have
probably been carried great distance
by the wind, and are likely to be germs
Of marine growth, perhaps the fucaH
platycarpus, which they resemble. Ine
nresence of chloride of sodium, which Is
found largely in the gelatinous enve'
lone. 1s corroboration OF their marine
oroin
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
Settlers and Railroad Land Grants.

The following is the full text OF bill
passed by the United States House OF
Representatives relative to homestead
and pre-emption entries within Land
grant limits. The bill was passed with
out amendment, just as it came from
the Senate, and will therefore become q
law as soon as it receives the Presidents
signature. It does not confirm, but, on
the contrary, entirely reverses the ruling
of Secretary Delano- --taiat railroad grants
can take effect prior to the reception at
the local land officers and notices OF
withdrawal:
Bet enacted, etc., That all pre-emption and
homestead entries, or entries In compliance
with any law Of the United States, OF the pub
Lie land, made in good faith by actual settlers
upon tracts of lands Of no more than l6O acres
each, within the limits Ct any land grant prior
to the time when notice Of withdrawal OF the
lands embraced In such grant WAS received at
the local land Office of the district In which such
lands are situated, or after their restoration to
market by order Of the general land office, and
where the pre-emption and homestead laws
have been complied with, and proper proofs
thereof have been made by the parties holding
such tracts or parts, they shall be confirmed,
and patents for the same shall issue to the
parties entitled thereto.
SEC, a. That when at the time of such with
drawal as aforesaid valid presumption or home.
stead claims existed upon any lands within the
limits of any such grants, which afterwarc
we're abandoned, and under the decision ant
rulings Of the land department were re-entered
by pre-emphon or homestead claimants who
have complied with the laws governing pre-
emption or homestead entries, and shall make
proper proofs required under such laws, suet
entities shah be deemed valid, and patent issue
to the persons entitled thereto.
SEC. 8. That sll such presumption and home
stead entries which may have been made BY
permission of the land department or IN pur;
suance Of the rules and instructions thereof
within the limits of any land grant at the time
subsequent to expiration Of such grant, shal
be deemed valid, and compliance with tn:
laws and the making OF the PROOFS required
shall entitle the holder Of the claim to patent
therefor
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
aHGh Msdng q shoN.s ssaseg

"A friend of the late A. T. Stewart re-
lated an anecdote which showed the
methods that the merchant adopted
when carrying on small business to in
crease the number Of his customers.
Mr.. Stewart made inquiries among bis
friends and learned the name and resi-
dence:o Of the leader of fashionable socie-
ty in the city and also the church that
she attended. He then sought out the
sexton of the church and leased q pew
directly in front of that of the lady.
Regularly Sunday after Sunday there
after he sat in his seat and took part in
the worship. A few months passed, and
one Sunday as the congregation was
about leaving the church it suddenly be-
gun to rain. The fashionable lady had
carriage, ebnt the sidewalk betWeenthe
church door and the roadway was wide,
and she stopped irresolutely at tho door
upon perceiving the drops OF rain,
dreading injury to her costly dress.
The freauent,mists and rains,of Ireland
had caused sMr. Stewart to- form the
habit of carryying an umbrena on all days
of tie year, and he had one on this day.
Raising it, he told the Lady he would
shelter her beneath it until she could
walk to her carriage, if she would accept
the service. The proffer was accepted,
he took her to the carriage, and was
heartily thanked. The following Sun
day, after the service, sheaddressed him
and again thanked him for his kindness.
A short conversations followed. and oc=
casionally on Sundays that succeeded,
as they were coming out of church, 8 few
words passed between them. While
talking with a member of the church
one day the lady learned Mt. Stewarts
occupation, and the next time she met
him she said:
lex "Mr. Stewart, have you any articles
Iat your store that You think 1 would
like to buy9" .0TUVG
q ."No," he replied "1 don't think I
have anything"
IS "I would like to aid you in your bust
ness in some way"
"You can in this way: have noticed,
that your coachman exercises your horses
every day, and you not caring always to
ride, I presume, the carriage is fire.
quently empty. If on the days when
YOU do not wish to use the carriage you
will order your coachman to take it to
nv store and remain in. front OF the
store for half an hour, you will do me q
good turn"
The lady was amused by MI. Stewart's
suggestion, and cheerfully granted the
request. The frequent appearances OF
the carriage in front Of the store and the
presumptive presence Of the fashionable
owner Of it within the store was soon
noticed by other women, and MIR. Stew
arts scheme was speedily successful.
Carriage after carriage stopped before
the store, and the stream Of fashion was
started that has since run ceaselesay IN
and out its doors. - 40 x - ~ - y
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
Oh! For q Man.

In 1856. DR.. Holland wrote the follow.
ing lines, now being generally repuo-
lished: g. -5 ~ ':a3Gs ~. y
Give us men Z time like this demands =. /"
Strong minds, great hearts, true faih and
ready hands. 3.
Men whom the lust Of Office does not kil
Men whom the spoils Of Office cannot buy; x
Men who possess opinions anda Wilt rsT*a
Men who have honor men who VIII not ae =
Men who can stand before dsmagogue,
And damn his treaoherous fatteries Without u.
winking, .,,.,.~.,-i IS
Tall men, sun crowned, who live above the foe
In public duty and in private thinking .kq =
For, while the rsbble with their thumb. worn
creed, p g.. siaset: ~. szs7s8 :: z
Their large professions and little deeds, = =,
Mingle In selfish strife, 10! freedom weeps, :
Wrong rules the Land, and waiting Justice
sleeps. .. 49,. .,,,:.t,s, - sses,s H.,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
A Plea for Mercy.

The wretched murderer Dolan pleads
again and again for mercy OF Governor
Tilden, as if he himself had not been
obdurateIy deaf to the beseeching
PRAYER of the man he killed. "Spare
my my life," said poor Noe, as he was be:
ing beaten to death, "and go free. I
will not follow you, nor appear against
you. Spare my life for the sake of my
family. I will never harm YOU" 81
can't trust you," said the villain, and
the murder was finished. This is the
cruel, heartless fend who now pleads OF
his lawyer for him, for "Christian
charity" vexing the air Of Easter day
with reiterations of his innocence with
cries for pardon. ..-NeW York World.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17

b Hrs MEANS OF SUPPoRT.-The Toron-
to Leader relates the following At the
Division court witness was under ex'
animation in the case of an unpaid &C
count. The Judge put the question to
him. "What is your occupation The
witness did not seem to understand the
meaning of the word occupation" and
answered with "Ehl" The Judge
"What do you-do for alvmgf" Wit
Meas" Oh, my wife's dressmakerl"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
ALI About the Spring Styles.

A graceful and favorite coifure is COM
posed of twisted braids with long curls
at the back.
Half dolmans are popular design for
evening wraps. r ..'.T ..,,,
Black promises to be again the
fayorite color for street dresses.
Among the novelties are cream colored
cashmere lace overdresses.
Shoes and boots with straps are still
fashionable.
Camel's hair sacks of black trimmed
with gold, and seal brown and myrtle
green trimmed with silver are much
worn for carriage wraps. EaiHi.I...l
A tendency to return to single akirts is
marked in the long polonaises and over
skirts, which hardly show the under
skirt.
The poloraise and princesse prevail In
Paris, but basques and oversklrts are
most popular with the New York Ladies.
Cuffs and collars of colored percale,
and white with colored bands stitched on,
are newer than the plain white ones, but
are not more worn.
One of the new shapes in bonnets,
called the Chevalier, has square crown,
with the brim turned up on one side.
The tight fitting shape OF the cos
tune remains the molding cuirasse
and the bridled train mark every fashion
able toilet. -, .,
In colored lingerie set consists OF
cuffs. collar, handkerchief and necktie,
all matching in the colored embroidery,
or bands, as the case may be. 8.
New house jackets are made OF gray
ecru and black cashmere, trimmed with
chain stitching, done with fine gold OF
silver threads. :,
Black cashmere and silk costumes sell
more readily than any others for walking
and ordinary house wear. e..
Ribbon bows, though still worn, have
become common for the hair. Jet pins
and small 5aigrettes are more worn
When flowers are employed, the prefer
ence is given to natural ones
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
New Mexico.

The population Of the Territory OF
New Mexico, of which it is proposed to
make new State, ie, according to q
letter writer, composed of Mexicans, In
dams, half-breeds, 'greasers, and
whites, is less than one inhabitant to
the square mile. One sixth of the popu-
lation are Indians, many of whom are
hostile, and, where these are found, it is
unsafe for whites. The Spanish Ian
guage is used altogether. Even when
they understand English, it is almost
impossible to get them to converse in
that lang uage. Outside the large towns
English is about unknown. There are
few schools, and nothing to elevate the
people to a higher standard. There are
q few missionaries who are trying to
raise the people from their degradation,
but the policy of the Jesuit leaders
seems to be to keep the masses in ig-
norance and superstition. They culti-
vate little ground, using asbraneh or a
trunk of tree for 9. plow, and the little
grain they raise is threshed by allowing
cattle to walk over it and the wind to
carry the straw and chaff away. A
shawl for girl and shirt for boy are
considered sufficient clothing until they
are ten years Of age. Avirtuous woman
or a trustworthy man is unknown. I
never expected to see such race In
America; they hardly deserve the name
of human. OF course there are excep-
tions, and here and there an intelligent,
wealthy man is found, but they always
have all their neighbors under them as
serfs, in q condition bordering upon
slavery. They are very superstitious,
aud completely under the control of the
Jesuit priests, who, know, are none too
good, having met many of them in busi-
ness. The American population is
small. have been told that there are
not more than fifteen hundred Ameri.
cans in the Territory. With the exeep-
tion Of the sheep and cattle men, the
large proportion Of the whites are out.
casts from the East, the scum OF our
large cities. The resources Of the Ter
ritory are few. There is some very fine
stock country, and along the Rio Grande
river there are good farming lands.
There are no mines of any value, and
no hopes of finding any, unless in the
northwestern portion of the Territory,
where the Indians now hold sway.
There is not single mile of railroad in
the Territory, and not much prospect
of any, as there is nothing to draw
them. Robberies and murders are ot
every day occurrence, and mans life ii
hardly safe.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17

"Well," said I, I" that's an adventure,
certainly, and not badly told, either. It
made me feel very shaky about the
knees when that poor fellow went down
the hole. I suppose he got all right
again ?"
!. "No; poor man," said Maitland, with
sigh; "that is the saddest part of the
history. He was dreadfully knocked
down for some days, and then apparent
ly recovered his general health, except
that he had lost all his buoyant spirits,
looked like an old man, and always
seemed to avoid me. He has since
gradually sunk into state little better
than idiotcy, which the doctors attribute
to the shock to highly e1citable brain,
and declare to be quite hopeless"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
A STRANGE STORY.
A BnItimerean's Experience In a Robbers'
iH0H3c..Beaf and Bruised. -

XSssDcHt uuu
MI. Bernard Feldman, aged abou,
ffty:eight years, living in Baltimore,
after several days of mysterious absence
puts in q reappearance and tells most
marvellous story. He'left his home on
Wednesday for the purpose Of visiting
Highlandtown, o. suburban village ap'
parently in sound mind and having with
him about $40 in money. Not return.
ing that night his family became alarm
ed, and all efforts to discover his where.
ab0uts were unaYailing until he pre-.
sented himself at bis house about three
o'clock on Sunday morning, and related
a curious array of experiences. He said
he had not proceeded far on the rosd to
Highlandtown when he saw q wagon,
the sides Of which were closed Like
prison van. '-H" s'i Il. - '.'i ''''@ wa
The wagon halted near him and a man
jumped out and remarked to him that
there was dead man in the wagon, and
That he should look in the vehicle, as he
might be able to identify the body. As
he attempted to do 30 he was seized by
four men and thrust, violently into the
wagon, which was rapidly driven of, and
being closed on all sides he was prevent.
ed from seeing the road. About nine
o'clock, as he supposes; the wagon halt
ed, and getting out he was taken through
a dense woods and finally taken into q
cave. of which two desperate men were
sin charge. "A fire was burning, and after
robbing him of. his money they, threw
faggots from the fire In, his face. and
burned off hisbeard and the entire hail
from his head, following this by kicking
and cutting him until he was almost
senseless. 'He passed the night without
food OF rest, and on Thursday and Fri.
day i1nplored bis captors to allow him te
go home, hut their only response was tc
again assault and beat him, in the, most
cruel manner, threatening at the same
time that, If he did not cease his impor.
tunities, they would murder him. Dur:
ing his entire stay in the cave small
piece of stale bread was his only food,
and the nervous, prostration and physical
suffering he endured were indeseribable.
On Saturday morning Some Of the gang
brought in q girl about nineteen years od
age. -Four Of them soon after left, leav'
ing two with the girl, and, while they
we're guarding her in another partof the
cave, ,'he escaped. ;i''.''1 5G1;'.a.
He was suffering intense agony from
his injuries, fearful Of recapture and did
not know the road he was travelling an
til he recognized the dome of Bayview
asylum on Saturday night, finally reach.
ing his home at the hour stated. 10 His
beard and hair are entirely gono, his
face and neck terribly bEstered, and his
physical strength SO much exhausted
that he is unable to leave bis bed. Field.
man Is man Of strictly temperate
habits, and his story is accepted by all
those who know him as. entirely true. Al
present be is unable to give any clew by
which his abductors and assailants car
be secured. ,.a... 49,. -
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
The Eruption at Widow Wade's Farm.

The loud report which, 80 startled
James McManus, the Hudson River
trackman, the other day, and the accom-
panying dreadful eruption OF rock, earth
and water which has been the wonder of
all ever since, are but occuTe ices. which
may be repeated during any wet season
in any place which hasfor itsnear neigh,
Dor q mountain as high as the familiar
old "Sugar Loaf" People living in
mountainous districts may therefore
learn lesson from the so-called "phe-
nomenon" which shook tho Widow
2Wade's farm, and take care how they
select future sites for their houses, es-
pecially if any neighboring mountain
have lake or pond at it's summit. It
would not be pleasant for the practical
farmer to wake up some morning and
find his house turned into ar asteroid,
and although the retired merchant may
now and then sigh for something higher
and nobler than the things of this earth,
it does not follow that he would wish to
have his rural cottage shot up to the
orbit of the moon without Q moment'G
notice given him to lay in provisions for
such tour.
The pressure of column of water is
usually reckoned at about one atmos-
pheric or five pounds to the square inch
for every thirty three feet, Supposing
the area covered by a country house of
ordinary size to be nine hundred square
feet, and the height of the mountain at
the top Of which the pond lay ], 600
feet, the hydraulic force exerted on the
base of that frail wooden structure would
amount to something like Sc, 900 tons.
In considering the subject, one cannot
help thinking what lucky thing it
would be if there were only tall noun
tain in the near sneighborhood OF this
city, with little lake at it's summit and
connections extending to some Of the
monstrosities that disfgure the lower
part of this island Another Sugar Loaf
standing, say in the place Of Bergen
Hill, with subterranean water passage
leading to q sandy reservoir under. the
new post-ofice, would exert gentle
lifting force to the base Of that granite
pile of at least 1900 million tons-a
force, however, that would be sufficient,
if put forth within narrow limits OF
time, to carry the building clean over
Trinity steeple and dump it into the
middle of the East river.-Neso York
VorII .r. ...f ... ..
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-17
The Bounty.

The large sums of money which were
paid by the authorities Of several coun-
ties in the mountainous parts of Pennsyl-
vania as bounties for scalps of wild ami
mails during the last year prompted an
investigation, which revealed well de-
vised and carefully executed scheme OF
defrauding the county treasures. In
one instance the skin of a colt which
had died was deftly cut up and made
into ears, and palmed off as those Of q
fox. A Erge number of warrants have
been issued against the persons suspect
ed of the fraud.