davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
Prehistoric Man.

Some late discoveries of cave dwell
ings near Thayngen, in Switzerland, are
valuable as allowing methods OF COM
parison between the !Eroglodytes and
those who made their dwellings, on piles
sunk into the Swiss lakes. Had the
lake habitations been occupied at the
same period of time as the caves, some
evidences of connection would undoubt-
edly have been found, but the contents
of this cave points undeniably to q
period contemporaneous with the re-
moter Troglodytes OF France. Among
the remains OF animals, the mammoth,
rhinoceros, cave bear, lion and reindeer
suffice to warrant this conclusion, while
the handiwork of these cave dwellings
bears a marked resemblance to those
discovered in Dodogne, at the same
time differing most markedly from the
Oldest specimens found in the Swiss
lake villages. Such rude designs traced
in bone as has been found in this Swiss
cave, show quite fair appreciation OF
art, Some surprise has been expressed
at the truth and freedom expressed IN
these designs, appertaining as they must
to 80 remote a period OF mans history,
but when we consider how our own
children take pleasure in exercising this
faculty of imitation, it is not astonishing
that some crude artistic power should
exist together with very low amount
of culture. Prehistoric discoveries seem
to strengthen the idea OF slow and
continuous progression from higher to
lower forms Of art and industry.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
Cash vs.. Credit.

Scene-A butchers shop. Time
Nine A. N. Enter Mr.. Smith, a credit
customer, in hurry.
Butcher (coldly).-Good.morning sir.
What will you have to-day3"
MIR. Smith.-You can send me q good
roasting piece and two steaks; also a
supply OF vegetables.
Butcher.-Anything more?
Mr.. Smith.-Yes, you may send q
ham. Send 'em early, and charge 'em.
Butcher enters the order in his book,
the beef at twenty-eight cents and the
steak at thirty cents-other things in
proportion, and remarks to himself: I
wonder when I'll get pay for these
Isst3 3honth's bill ain settled yet. Guess
III put it down heavy for him, anyhow,
to pay me for waiting 80 long.
Enter Mr.. Jones, cash customer.
Butcher (warmly).-Glad to see you,
sir. How was you suited with that NUT
ton yesterday9
MFR. Jones.-Very well, indeed. What
have you got to-day that's good?
Butcher.--I've got some turkeys, sir,
but they're only middling, and if you'll
wait till Saturday I can get you some
thing real nice, and at low figure.
MI. Jones.-What are you asking for
steaks and roasts to.day9
Butcher.-Steaks, twenty-five cents
roasts, twenty-five cents.
Mr.. Jones.-An right; send me the
same as last Saturday-ten pounds.
(Takes out his pocketbook and pays the
money, having thus saved not less than
one-fourth of Smiths money!
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
The SilYeI.

The New York Herald says: Ten
thousand dollars in silver were paid out
in one day at the sub.treasury in re-
demption of currency to that amount.
At this rate it will be quite week be-
fore the coin will be seen by the horse
car conductors. A week later it will be
seen sporadically in the lager beer sa-
looms. In another week it will drop In
the plate at the churches; in a month it
will be at thu corner groceries; next it
will reach the bootblacks, and in three
months people will be complaining that
the confounded thing is wearing holes
in their pockets, and then people will
put away million or two of paper cur
rency, just as people during the war
kept silver dollars under glass cases.
Never satisfied
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
Population and Area Of Brazil.

By partial census of the population
of Brazil, the home of the Emperor Dom
Pedro, now visiting the United States,
made in 1872, it was estimated that the
entire number of inhabitants was 10,-
1a6,32S. The number of square miles
contained in the twenty provinces OF the
empire is 3,275, 1876. In 1850 the num-
brr of slaves held in the country was es-
timated at 2,5OO,O00, but after the law
for their gradual emancipation was pass
ed in 1871, this number gradually de-
creased. According tc an official return
published in May, 1874, there were at
that time only 1,016,2 1852 slaves distribu-
ted over the whole empire. The popu.
lation of Brazil is made up Of an
agglomeration of many races. While it
remained colony OF Portugal, but few
women accompanied the immigrants to
South America. The earliest European
settlers intermarried and mixed with
Indian women, and afterward an extern
slve intermi1ture pf race occurred with
the Africans who we're brought into the
country as slaves. In the northern prov
irces the Indian element preponderates,
while in Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio de
Janeiro, and Minas, the negroes are
numerous. At the seaports the chief
part of the population is of European
descent,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24

JUST WAr.-" Young ladies have the
privilege of saying anything they please
during leap year." she said, eyeing him
out of the corner of her eye with q sweet
look.
His heart gave great bound, and
while he wondered if she was going to
ask the question he had so long desired
and feared to do, answered
eyes"
"And the young men must not re-
fuse, )" said she. ..
"No, no. How could they 2" sighed
he.
"Well, then," said she, "wiu you"--
He fell on his knees, and said: "Any-
thing you ask, darling"
swat till I get through. Will you
take walk, and not come here SO
muchs" q
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
The London Plague.

What was the nature of the plague in
London in 1866, and has any sickness
like it been known since asks CORE
spondent of Noahs Sunday Times, to
which query the following reply is
made: The plague is an aggravated
contagious fever, characterized by an
eruption of carbuncles and buboes, en-
demic (and frequently epidemic) in
Egypt, Syria and Turkey, and through
ont the East. Before it last appeared III
London, in the years 1868 1866, it usually
visited Great Britain every thirty or
forty years. Marseilles lost nearly half
its population by it in 1920, and Moscow
in 1771-'72; and certain points in the
kingdom of Naples, as late as 1916. .16,
suffered most severely from it; since
that time it has been almost unknown in
Western Europe. The celebrated '.black
death, " which ravaged all Europe in the
middle of the fourteenth century, appears
to have been the "plague."
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
A Fisherman's Wedding.

Along certain portion OF the coast
of Scotland, when young couple agree
to get married, the nearest relations OF
both parties meet to ratify the contract.
This Is an occurrence of great rejoicing.
The women appear in full toilet, and q
sort of feast is prepared. The marriage
ceremony is usually performed by the
clergyman of the district at the resi-
dence of the bride. After the religious
rites are concluded, a contract is signed
by both parties amidst cloud OF wit
nesses. The bridegroom wears his Sun
day suit, and the lady is adorned with
the conventional veil.
The marriages of these people take
place, almost without exception, on Fri
day, and the celebrations attending the
event continue until the dawn OF the
Sabbath puts an end to further hilarity.
On the first night of the dancing the
women are attired in white muslin
gowns, with their necks and arms e1-
posed, the latter adorned with any quan-
tity of glass beads and ornaments. The
men are in their shirt sleeves, with gor-
geous blue waists, ornamented with
brass buttons, and wearing every variety
of hat and cap. Their throats are muf'
fed with enormous Northumberland,
which they persist in wearing in spite OF
the heat. When the entire night has
been passed in dancing, and daylight
appears, q rush is made through the
town to the future home of the newly
married couple. The musician, armed
with his fiddle or bagpipe, as the case
may be, leads the procession, the bride
and groom come next, and the rest Of
the party follow on behind.
Scotland abounds in singular mar
riage customs. One Of the most re-
markable is called "creeling the bride
groom" In some counties on the day
after the wedding, while the marriage
feast still continues, the bridegroom had
a creel, or basket, filed with stones
firmly fastened upon his back. With
this incumbrance he was compelled to
run about the neighborhood followed by
his friends, who would not allow hin
to remove it until his wife came after
him and either kissed him or unfastenec
the creel. It sometimes happened that
as relief depended upon her, he had no
to run very far; but if the lady wa
either very bashful or very sportive h
had to carry his load considerable dis
tance. The custom was very strict.
enforced, for the friend who was las
creeled had charge of the ceremony, ant
he was naturally anxious that the new
bridegroom should not escape.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
The continental Congress.

The Continental Congress OF l774 was
distinctly a legislative body, each OF the
thirteen colonies having contributed it's
most representative men. It was not q
large gathering, and it became very
small as the times grew stringent. Their
movements were watched with consid-
ersble interest on every side. England
was then the mistress Of the world. She
was not only the only mistress, but che
was alone in her conquest.
The Southern delegates to Congress
had rather weary journey through the
wilderness at that time. In 1774 travel
ers between Baltimore and Philadelphia
we're compelled to hire guides to show
them the way. Baltimore was then a
village of eighty houses, and there were
few settlements along the coast.
The first meeting Of the Continental
Congress was in Carpenters ball, Phila-
delphia. It took the boston delegates
nineteen days to reach the Quaker City.
The delegates walked from the city
tavern, where they assembled, in pow.
dered wigs, knee breeches and buckled
shoes, TO Carpenters hall. The address
of Patrick Henry will never teforgotten,
and when he proclaimed himself as not
belonging to any particular State, but
as an American, he struck the keynote
OF the newly born nation. The gran
deur and simplicity of this first Con-
tinental Congress elected the admlra-
tion of the greatest minds of the day:
For fourteen years in all the Continental
Congress governed the United States.
It was, in fact, President, Cabinet and
Congress kind of Venetian Senate
without doge. 1t made war and con-
cluded peace it appointed, promoted
and degraded generals /; it sent and re-
ceived ambassadors it gave us decimal
currency, Never was government
more defective and yet more successful,
and having fulfilled its mission, it be-
came unsuitable and insufficient; and
when the country became ripe for an
other better organized government, the
Continental Congress quietly and wisely
went out of existence.
The members of this Congress were
frequently tested during the Revolution
ary war by allurements of wealth and
Office. John Reid was offered s10, 600
to help to undo independence. His re.
ply was, in simple words: 81 am not
worth purchasing; but, such as I am,
the king OF Great Britain is not rich
enough to do it."
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
Made Them Shake.

When John Brougham, the actor, left
Burton's theater in New York city, it
was whispered that Mr.. Burton had no
very friendly feelings toward his old as
sociate. Tie frequenters Of the theater
were very fond Of Brough ham. Some
time after Brougham's withdrawal from
the Chambers street company, a farewell
benefit was given. The play was John
Bull;" Mr.. Burton as Job Thornbury,
Mr.. Brougham as Dennis Bulgruddery.
The house was crowded from the foot
lights to the dome. Mr.. Brougham's
appearance on the stage was the signal
for perfect ovation. he was hailed
with cheer after cheer. When Burton
came on, and the two actors stood face
to face, the cry went forth
"Shake handsl Shake hands !"
Burton tried to go on with his part;
but he was interrupted by a repetition OF
the cries. The actors stood silent, but
the uproar in the house continued. Mr..
Brougham then came forward, and char
acteristically splitting on his hand, held
it forth to Burton, saying:
"Dhrop it there!"
Burton hung back and looked sternly
at the audience. The cries of "Shake
hands" redoubled. Burton saw that the
house was determined to be obeyed, and
he at last gave his hand-not with tho
very best grace. Brougham shook it
with will, amid the enthusiastic cheers
of the spectators. The play went on.
Burton was in no humor for gagging
that evening. He played his part ad.
mirably, stuck to the text and INDUCED
in no fooling. When the curtain fell on
the piece Brougham was the. first called
out. He made one Of his characteristic
speeches, gave vent to his emotions on
moving again among the "old familiar
scenes" and retired from the stage amid
shouts Of laughter and applause. Bur-
ton was then called out. It was some
time before he answered the call. He
evidently did not relish compliment
en- second. At last he appeared before
the curtain. He moved with stern
dignity which did not fail to impress
his audience. He bowed stifhy, and was
about to withdraw Immediately, when
he was stopped by cells for speech. In
response to these calls he alluded to the
separation between Mr.. Brougham and
himself. MIR. Brougham, he said, had
thought he could do better "on his own
hook" and had q perfect right TO try.
, He had heard with regret that MIR.
Brougham had gone off the track a lit
tie, but he hoped he should not burst
his boiler, etc.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
The Boston Belfry Murder.

Thomas ". Piper, condemned to be
executed on the twenty-sixth OF May TOR
the murder of Mabel Young in the bel
fry of the Warren avenue church, Bos-
ton. made q sworn statement that she
received the injuries that c used her
death from the trap door falling upon
her head, and that he was frightened
lest he would be accused OF numbering
her, and therefore he denied all knowl-
edge of the matter, trusting that his con-
with it would not be discovered.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
The Presidents Salary.

The following is the message of Presi:
dent Grant relative to vetoing the bill
for cutting down the salary of the PreR-,
dent of the United States
To THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:
Herewith return Senate bill No. l72,
entitled "An act fixing the salary OF the
President of the United States," with.
out nv approval. I am constrained to
this course from a sense Of duty to my
SUCCESSORS in Office, to myself and to
what is due to the dignity OF the posi-:
ton of Chief Magistrate of nation OF
more than 40, 600, 900 of people. When
the salary OF the President OF the UNI
ted States was fixed by the constitution
at $25, 900 per annum we were a nation
of but 5, 600, 900 of people, poor from a
long and exhaustive war, without com
merce or manufactures, with but few
wants aud those cheaply SUPPLIED. The
salary must then have been deemed
small for the responsibilities and dignity
of the position, but justifably so from
the impoverished condition of the treas
ury and .he simplicity it was desired to
cultivate in the republic. The salaries
of congressman under the constitution
were fixed at Sc per day for the time &C.
tually in session, On average OF about
12O days to each session, or 1920
per year, or less than one-thirtieth OF
the salary of the President. Congress
men have legislated on their salaries
from time to time since, until finally
they have reached $4,000 each per all
mum, or one.ffth that of the President
before the salary of the latter was IN.
creased. No one having knowledge OF
the cost of living at the national capital
will contend that the present salaries OF
Congressman ore too high, unless it be
the intention to make the office one en-.
tirely of honor, when the salary should
be abolished, q proposition repugnant te
our republican ideas and institutions. !
do not believe the citizens OF this repub
lie desire their public servants to serve
them without q fair compensation fol
their services. The sum of S25, 0O0 doet
not defray the expenses of the Executive
for one year, or has not in my expert
ence. It is now one-fifth in value wha
it was when fixed by the constitution il
supplying demands and wants. HAVING
no personal interest in this matter,
have felt myself free to return this bill
to the House in which it originated
with nv objections, believing that il
doing so I meet the wishes and judg
ment of the great majority of those Wit
indirectly pay all the salaries and othe
expenses Of the government:
U. s. GRANT.
ExecntiYe Mansion, April 18, 1876.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
Some Senator's Wives.

A Washington letter to the Cincinnati
Gazette says: Let me tell you of some
wives I know, whose husbands sit
gravely in the senatorial hall, and whose
oountenances seem to express so much
dignity and wisdom that one, in looking
at them, would consider them far above
the paltry ittleness of everyday life.
"Why don't you go to Mrs. Blank ?" I
said to sewing girl soliciting me for as
sistance after q months illness. "She
will do something for you, as you have
sewed for her so long, and she likes you
80 much"
"Oh, Miss Cleaner" the girl re-
Piled, "you are heap happier and bet
ter off than she, If she is senator's
wife, and wears diamonds and velvets.
She never has cent to spend herself.
Her husband buys everything, and
grumbles over the way the money goes.
he visits the kitchen to see no waste Is
going on, and he comes up where I am
two or three times q day, when he's
home, to see how I am getting on with
my sewing. Sometimes I get so scared
like I run and hide when I hear him
coming"
"Probably he is interested in the
dress reform movement" said.
"And Mrs. Blank" continued the
girl, "never has the enjoyment OF so
much as IS, at q time for her private
spending money, although, Of course,
her husband likes to see her dress well,
but he buys all the dresses!" .
Some time ago there was a pale,
fragile-looking little lady, the more mis-
cradle half OF a Solon, and her pallor
was heightened b, her constantly wear
ing green, which is only becoming,
you know, to persons with color and
healthful tinge of complexion. "Why
do you, my dear Mrs. Solon, wear green
80 muchP" asked an intimate friend.
"It makes you look like corpse"
"Oh, Mr.. Solon likes it, and you
know he always buys all my dresses TOR
me. T have never even purchased
gingham since our marriage"
Another knows that her husbands af-
fections are alienated from her, since
years have marked her brow with wrin-
kles and scattered snowAakes over her
hair. She knows that her husband has
a, "new, new love-" and yet she keeps
cher hearts proud pain superbly still, !"
and is to her lord the same quiet, un-
selfish, uncomplaining woman she has
always been. "Some day." she thinks,
"he will remember all that have been
to him, and he will grow wearied Of the
purchased wiles of this strange woman.
I can afford to wait" Are not her
white hairs crown of gloryG
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
A RiotOus Island.

Barbadoes, the scene Of the late riots,
in which largenrlmber of persons were
killed, is the most eastern OF the Carib-
bee islands, and the earliest settled OF
the British possessions in the West In
dies. It has population of about 15O,
600 people, of whom only about 1900
are white. In 1916, and again in 1926,
there were formidable negro insured
tions in the island. The capital, Bridge
town, is one of the gayest and hand.
soonest towns in the West Indies. 1t
has about 10000 inhabitants, and is a
strong military post. Riots have oe-
Cured throughout the island. Planta-
tions and houses have bet sacked, AMI
mails destroyed, and an enormous de-
struction of property taken place.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-05-24
A Curious Wager.

The following anecdote illustrates the
truth of the proverb anent the slips be-
tween the cup and the Lips: A few years
before his death, the Emperor Nicholas
of Russia sent a looking-glass OF rare
size and beauty, with an embassy, to the
ampress of China. The looking-glass
had to be carried all the way from st.
Petersburg to Pekin by human hands.
Despite the immense distance which had
to be performed in this MANNER, the
looking.g glass safely reached China; but,
in the meantime, difficulties had broken
out between Russia and China: The
Son of Heaven neither admitted the en-
bassy, nor did he accept the present. A
courier was dispatched to st. Peters
burg, who asked the emperor what was
to be done with the looking-glass. The
emperor. replied that it should be car
ried back by the same route, and in the
same manner. When he gave this order
the Grand Duke Michael happened to
be present, and offered to lay 9 wager
with the emperor to the effect that the
lookinp.elass would be broken on the
way back to St. Petersburg. The en-
peror accepted the wager, and the bear
ers of the looking glass received strin-
gent orders to be as careful as possible.
II they should break it on the road, they
would be severely punished; but if they
should bring it back safely, they would
receive handsome reward. They car
r;ad Il hack with the most Incredible
care, forty men bearing it by turns, and
safely reached st. Isaac's palace in st.
Petersburg with it-where the emperor
stood, with his brothers, at the window
of the palace, and laughed at having won
the bet. But on the staircase Of the
palace one of the carriers slipped his
foot and fell down, dragging several oi
his companions after him, and the pre-
cious looking-glass was broken into a
thousand pieces. The grand duke,
therefore, won his bet. =