davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
Price OF Food In Old Times.
English Magazine

Amid the never-ending comments on
the high price of provisions, it is difficult
for us to realize the fact that time
existed in Britain's history when wheat,
as food for one hundred for whole day,
was worth only a shilling, and the
average price of sheep four-pence. In
the reign of Henry l., the price of wine
was raised to six pence quart for red
and eight pence quart for white, in
order tbatthe sellers might be enabled to
live by it. When wheat was six shillngs
quarter (eight bushels), the farthing
loaf was to be equal in weight TO twenty
four ounces IL made of the whole grain,
and to sixteen ounces il consisting solely
of white. And when wheat was only
one shilling and six pence per quarter,
as IL sometimes was, the farthiDg white
loaf was to contain sixty-four ounces,
and the whole grain ninety-six. Think
of purchasing six-pound loaf of good
wheaton bread for farthiDg In the
nineteenth year OF the reign of Edward
l., the price of provisions of the City OF
London was fixed by the Common Coun'
Gil at tariff by which two pullets were
sold at three halfpence, partridge OF
two woodcocks for the same, while fat
lamb was to be six pence from Christmas
to Shrovetide, and the rest of the year
four pence. In tho fourteenth century
Parliament fixed the price of fat OK nj
forty-eight shillings, two dozen eggs nj
three pence, and the best wine nj twenty
shillings per tun. An act of Parliament
passed in 1888, settled the value OF beef
aud pork at a halfpenny FER pound, and
veal at three farthings.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
A Fatal Mistake.
New York Times.l

Some months ago woman in New
Jersey became the astonished mother OF
novel and intricate infant. Ostensibly
the infant was a girl, but it was fitted
up with a double set of arms, and an
extra leg. 1t would naturally be sup
posed that the mother of child so
unique and interesting would have been
extremely proud of the acquisition, and
would have promptly made arrange
ments to place it i'm Barnum's circus, or
in some other good exhibition where 1T
would do the most good. Nevertheless
the woman was greatly dissatisfied, and
took the ground that inasmuch as she
had not ordered n four-armed and three
legged infant, she was under no obliga-
tion to receive it. After a few weeks
spent i'm bewailing her fate aud upbraid-
ing her innocent and dismayed husband,
she finally announced that che had de-
cided to send the child to surgeon in
order to have it made over so as to re-
semble the usual style of child. II was
generally supposed that she had carried
out this resolution, but as time wore on
and the infant was not returned, the
neighbors began to suspect that either
the surgeon had an unusual number OF
children on hand waiting to be repaired,
or that he had met with some unex-
pected difficulty in remodeling so com.
plicated an infant, and had, in fact, ire
trievably damaged it. As 1t subse'
quently appeared, the surgeon was free
from all blame, and had never even seer
the child for the accidental discovery
of its remains in n we'll adjoining its
mothers house made it reasonably Ger
tain the captious and dissatisfied woman
had actually thrown her child away
Such was the view taken of the matter
by local grand jury, and at the present
moment the unhappy mother is on tria
for the crime of infantcide.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
A Cool Fugitive.

The Paris Temps relates how lady,
travelling alone in 6rst-class railway
compartment in France, was surprised
by the sudden entrance Of man as the
train began moving. He flung a parcel
on the seat, sprang upon her before she
could shrek, and whispered: "Not a
word, or you are dead Take these scis-
sors and quickly cut my hair short" He
knelt down close before her, and she
tremblingly obeyed. When it was done,
he arose and said: "Now, madame, look
out of that window; you will sooD be
free" The terrified lady again obeyed,
but discovered by side glances that he
had taken priests robes out of the parcel
and was putting them on. Just then the
speed of the train began to slacken; the
daring intruder, utterly transformed,
bowed haughtily, and before the cal
stopped, jumped nimbly from the train
and disappeared.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
NUMBER 80
A Japanese Inn.

A correspondent writes: We entered
the village which was once city con-
tanning over a million inhabitants, and
put up at a native hotel kept in native
style. Again observing the custom of
undressing the feet, we passed many
guests sitting upon mats and making
their cbopsticks fly in way that would
make Yankee enviOus even in a rail-
road eating-house. UP stairs we went,
and were shown into room whose walls
consisted merely of PAPER, partitioning
one room from the other, but which
were scrupulously clean. Ordering sup
per and some native wine, we were served
by rather good-looking maid.
While awaiting the result of our order
we were served with "tidbid" pastry,
and with some suckee, also bowl con-
tanning live Goals, together with pipes;
after which, giving us time for smoke,
the courses began with fish, not cooked
enough for our taste, then eggs, chicken,
sweet potatoes, rice, and tea. No bread
was served us nor butter, but as the tea
was remarkably fine, and the eggs,
though small, were duly seasoned with
rock salt, we made good meal, rendered
awkward by lack of experience in using
the chopsticks, which were pei ncil-shaped
and used by holding or pressing the food
between the ends, the guests meanwhile
peeping through the partitions and gig
Cling ut our frantic efforts to eat grace
fully.
While eating supper the governor of
the place sent constable to obtain our
names and residence, that we might be
under police protection, we being the
first white men that ever spent night
in the place. Supper being over, we
took a short walk through the town,
and as there were many pilgrims in the
place who had never seen a Caucasian
before, we were the Conserved of all
observers" especially our friend, an En-
glishman, who is six feet two inches in
his stocking feet, making him giant
among them.
Going back to the hotel, our friend
asked us if we wished bath and sham
poo; answering in the affirmative, he
gave the order, and hearing a long, low
whistle, which we had heard both by
day and night in Yokohama, he went
into the street and brought in blind
man, who he said was to do the sham
pooling. The bath being ready, we went
down stairs and were shown into room,
whose wet floor proved it to be in con-
slant use.
After finishing our bath we donned
our gowns and returned to our room,
where the "blind man" took us in
charge. Commencing with our feet, he
knuckled us all over, prying in between
every joint and muscle of our back and
limbs, excepting the region of the chest,
and which, after he was through, made
us feel as timber as an acrobat. These
shampooers are made blind in their
childhood, that they may ply their voca-
ton without injuriDg the susceptible
ties of any one. The sun rose urclouded
the next morning, and after breakfast
similar in quality to the supper of the
evening before, we paid our bill, which
amounted to one dollar and seventy.fve
cents-this for both of us, including
wine.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
A PrOfiigate Miners Fortunes and
MisfOrtunes.

The death of William Abbott, "the
king of the Cariboo gold Mines" is an
nounced from Victoria, British Columbia
Abbot was one of company who struck
rich pay on Williams Creek in 1861, ar
irving at Victoria with three hundred
pounds of gold in the fall of that year.
He was the "lion "of the winter of 1862,
and spent his gold lavishly. On one
occasion he entered saloon and SHE'D a
handful of $40 pieces at a large plate
glass mirror behind the bar, shattering
it. When reproached by the bar-keeper,
he requested him to keep the beas. for
the damage" On another occasion he
and another Caribooite astonished
Government street by throwing $50
pieces at each other until stopped by the
police. The throwing commenced with
snow-balls. On his return to Cariboo
Abbotts good fortune continued, and he
has been known 10 stake $4,000 on n
hand at poker. After two or three
years prosperity, Abbott got to the
bottom of his claim and his purse at the
same time, and was miserably poor at
the time of his death.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
The Effects of Impatience.

Nothing more incapacitates man for
the lead than impatience. No constitu-
tionally impatient man, who has in
dulged his tendency, ever gets to the
bottom of things, or knows with any
nicely the standing disposition and cir
cumstances of the people amongst whom
he is thrown. Certain salient points he
is possessed of, but not what reconciles
and accounts for them. Something in
him-an obtrusive self, or train of
thought, or liking and antipathies-will
always come between him and an i'm
partial judgment. Neither does he win
confidence, for he checks the coy, uncer-
tain advances which are the precursors
of it. We doubt if thoroughly impa-
tient man can read the heart or be fair
critic, or understand the rights of any
knotty question, or make himself master
of any difficult situation. The power of
waiting, deliberating, hanging in sus-
pense, is necessary for all these-the
power of staving of for considerable pc
RODS of time merely personal leanings.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
Practical Education In Germany.

A school for ladies has been opened in
Berlin OH a plan decidedly novel, but
very practical. The building contains
lodging rooms for forty girls, school
rooms, working rooms, an immense kit
chen, and a permanent bazar. In the
schoolrooms every branch that will fit
the girls for situations in banking, com.
mercial, or mercantile establishments is
taught. Various trades that ladies can
follow are exemplifed by skilled ope;
ratives. The kitchen is, perhaps, the
chief school room, for all the work there
is done by the girls under the supervision
of one of the best cooks In the city. This
feature has become so popular, from the
large number Of betrothed maidens who
aock thither to obtain good domestic
educations, that the managers have be-
gun to charge for instruction In cookery,
and the receipts generally pay the ex'
penses Of the other departm ents.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
A Merry Heart.

I'd rather be poor and merry, than in.
herit the wealth of the Indies with dis.
contented spirit. A merry heart, a
cheerful spirit, from which laughter
wells up as naturally as bubbles the
springs of Saratoga, are worth all the
money-bags, stocks, and mortgages of
Wall Street. The man who laughs is a
doctor, with a diploma Endorsed by the
school of nature his face does more good
in sickroom than pound of powders
or gallon of bitter draughts. If things
go right, he laughs because he is pleased /;
If they go wrong, he laughs because it is
cheaper and better than crying. People
are always glad to see him, their hands
instinctively 60 half way out to meet his
grasp, while they turn involuntarily from
the clammy touch of the dyspeptic, who
speaks on the groaning key. He laughs
you out Of your faults, while you never
dream of being offended with him; it
seems as if sunshine came into the room
with him, and you never know what a
pleasant world you are living in until he
points out the sunny stTeaks on its path
way. Who can help loving the whole
souled, genial laugher? Not the
bufoon, nor the man who classes noise
with mirth--but the CHEEKY, contented
man of sense and mind! A good humored
laugh is the key to all breasts. The
truth is, that people like to be laughed
at in genial sort of a way. If you are
making yourself ridiculous, you want to
be told of it in pleasant manner, not
sneered at. And it is astonishing how
frankly the laughing population can talk
without treading on the sensitive toes OF
their neighbors! Why will people put
on long faces, when it is so much easier
and more comfortable to laugh? Tears
come to us unsought and unbidden. The
wisest art in life is to cultivate smiles /;
to find the flowers where others shrink
away for fear of thorns.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
Ostrich Farming.

A correspondent of the London 7smes
in speaking of Ostrich farming at the
Cape of Good Hope says:
Permit me in your valuable paper to
make few remarks on one of our most
lucrative employments at the Cape, and
which is 50 little known OF in England,
and that is a" ostrich farming" Tanning
the ostrich and making it a domesticated
bird has only been attempted of late
years formerly they used to run about
wild on the plains of South Africa. They
were shot by the traders and natives for
their feathers until they had almost be-
come extinct. l have otter heard my
native servants talk about the number
of birds they have killed and eggs they
have eaten, but that is thing of the
past. They are now watched by the
farmer most accurately until the young
are hatched; these are then taken from
their mother; the eggs that are not
Matched are taken home and generally
put under blankets to complete the incu-
baton. The birds are generally sold
when they are week old for f1O each
to those farming them; they are fed on
lucern, clover, or any grass stuff from
the garden; they are housed at night
time, and are put out during the day
when the sun is warm. When a month
old, they are taken out by a boy to the
fields, on a pasture peculiar to the
country, and will feed about the home
stead with the poultry to the age of two
years. After that age they have to be
kept in paddocks.
The birds commence laying at the age
of three and four years. They are at
tended to the same as wild birds; but
when we find hen has more eggs than
she can cover, they are placed in an
incubator, where it is interesting to
study the process of incubation.
Birds are kept solely for the feathers.
They are plucked every eight months,
and will average at each plucking fl0
worth of feathers after the first picking
which are chicken feathers, and are not
so valuable.
The Cape never offered better time
than the present for enterprising young
men, as farms are being let at nominal
price but should advise those who in
tend going ostrich-farming to rent part
of farm from one who is engaged in
that pursuit, because it does not require
much ground, and at the same time he
will be able to gain information.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
Carpets Seventy Years Ago.

Seventy years ago carpets were rarely
seen in American families of the middle
classes, as they are now rarely found in
Germany. DIR. Lyman Beecher gives
an amusing account of the biography of
his first carpet at East Hampton, l.. l.:
His wife spun bale of cotton, and had
it woven. Then she fitted 1t to the floor,
sized it, painted it in oils, with bright
border around it, and punches of roses
and other flowers over the center. She
took also common wooden chairs and cut
out figures of gilt paper, gluisg them on
and vanishing them. The general effect
was very beautiful. The East Hampton
people were quite startled by the novelty.
One of the old deacons called at the
house, but stopped at the parlor door, as
if afraid to enter. "Walk in, deacon,
walk in," said the minister. "Why, /
can't 'thout stepping on it," was the
answer. Then, surveying it with evil
dent admiration, he gasped out, "D'ye
think that ye can have all that aud
heaven too Y'
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
The W China Manla."


From time to time among our occl-
dental races has sprung up fashion,
almost a rage, for pottery and porcelain
and some fOOlshave become more f0oiish
than before in the pursuit. Still, among
the "wise and the good the subject has
been one of great interest, and the coliec-
tion, study, and illustration of pottery
have resulted in as much satisfaction as
can be got from any pursuit, even fox
hunting or money getting.
To those who are ignorant of this, and
who cannot comprehend why it is, few
words may not be out of place by way
of explanation.
The making of pottery is one of the
oldest industries of man. one of the
most necessary, and it has been made one
of the most delectable. 1t has from the
commonest material-the dust under our
feet-made some of the most delicate
and beautiful things we know of. 1t
uses the most plastic of all substances,
which Obeys fully, minutely, the wish
or the sense of the potter; it may there
fore be stamped with his individual per-
ception of the useful and beautiful more
than any other material man can use.
The perfect forms of the Greek potter,
the exquisite colors of the Persian and
Arabian and Chinese painters, the
brilliant lusters of the Moorish and
Italian decorators, are here displayed
and are in sense imperishable. The
paintings of Egyptians and Greeks and
Romans have perished ; their potterylre-
mains. The antiquarian and the his
torical student have sought here for
many things and have found many. The
artistic sensibility has also seen much to
enjoy. That we in this country are so
little able to comprehend all this is
partly owing to that necessity which has
compelled us to pass our lives in hewing
down trees, damming rivers, killing
bears, cheating Indians; and partly to
the fact that we have had no examples
of pottery or porcelain in the country.
We are nov doing something to overcome
this, and the private collections of
Messrs. Prime, Hoe, Avery, Wales,
Pruyn, and others will soon give the op-
portunity to see and learn which many
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23

THE WIND HARP.
BY FREDERICK x. wEATHERLY.

/ set my wind harp In the wind,
And a wind came out OF the south,
Soft, soft IL blew with gentle COO,
Like words from maiden's mouth;
Then like the stir OF angels wings
II gently touched the trembling strings,
And oh, my harp gave back TO me
A wondrous melody.
/ set my wind harp In the wind,
And storm from the north blew loud
From the Icy north II hurried forth,
And dark grew sea and cloud;
II whistled down the mountains height,
And smete the quivering cords with might,
But still my heart gave hack to me
Its tender, heavenly melody.
All me, that such heart were mine,
Responsive tuned and true,
When all was glad, when all was shine,
Or when storms OF sorrow blew;
That SO, mid all the fret and strife,
The jarring undertones of life.
My life might rise to God, and be
One long, harmonious symphony
Temple Bar.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
NEVER MARRY A MAN WHEN HE'S
BROKE.

Wisdom Is oft TO be found
In wise men as well as In fools,
And advice like mushrooms will come up
Sometimes In spite Of all rules.
So pause In my dinner to say
The very best truth ever spoke,
III you think you must marry at all
Never marry man when be's broke.
When you marry you marry for life
Unless you can get divorce,
The direction OF marriage oft takes,
In spite OF all things, rough course.
The siroDg oak may bear up the vine,
But the vine will not bear up the oak,
So remember this whisper OF mine
Never marry man when he's broke.
You may dine upon love, but you'll find
That at night you will sup upon grief,
You will see that your supper is long,
While your dinner may be very brief.
Money will buy what love can't,
Although the philosophers croak,
So you better 60 visit your aunt
Than TO marry man when he's broke.
A man may be broken In health,
A man may be broken In hope,
But a man who Is broken In wealth
Has got to the end OF his rope.
His affections may he above par,
But poverty Is apt to provoke.
There Is always premium on gold
Never marry man when he's broke
A young man may pay his respects,
But that'sabout all he can pay;
House furniture calls for the cash,
Though love runs on interest away.
say, though you never may heed
This truth which TO swallow may choke,
Contentment depends upon pence
Never marry man VIXEN he's broke.
True love Is said to be long,
But not when the money Is short;
Affection a pleasure may he,
But adversely never Is sport.
A heart full Of feeling is fine,
But purse full OF nothing's no Joke;
SO remember this maxim OF niue
Never marry man when he's broke.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23
SONG.

To dream, and then to sleep
Until the morn return;
An hour OF watch TO keep,
A little lamp to burn.
To weave, but make no end,
To sing and lose the song,
Where busy footsteps wend
Among the worlds gay throng.
To know that day Is here,
To see that spring has gone,
And summers death Is near
And still the hours roll on.
We fail, we fade, we die,
Yet once 'twixt death and birth
To know Love's kiss, loves sigh,
Is light OF heaven on earth.
My God thy sun is sweet,
III, ere the twilight come,
Love walk with sacred feet
Across our naked reom.
-Hdrper'S Magazine.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23

MISS LUCY CoUGHLIN went from
the home of her married sister, at 318
East Twenty-ffth Street New York,
taking two smoothing-irons, and saying,
"You will never see me again." A day
or two after her body was found in
the East River of East Twenty-fith
Street with one of the snoothing-iront
attached to each foot. Miss Coughlin
was about ffty.fvs years of age.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23

SOME Asiatic notions would bear trans
planting. In a town near Beyrout the
young men who have been converted 10
Christianity have founded club for the
express purpose of putting an end TO
living.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23

Miss JANE PARK, niece of Mungo
Park, the African explorer, is living in
extreme destitution in Scotland, aged
seventy-three years, and q subscription
isibeing taken up for her benefit.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23

PROF. LOOMS concludes, after com.
pairing five hundred cases, that storms
move at the rate Of tweDty-six miles An
hour on land in this country and a little
over nineteen miles over the ocean. An
express train or a irst-cla~ steamship
could easily keep ahead of common
storm.
The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-11-23

TIE Australian Eucalyptus Globulus
promises to be profitable timber in the
south of Ireland. At Muckross, Killar-
ney, there are specimens thirty to forty
feet high, which have never been in
jured by frost, and in Wicklow a pro-
prietor finds it succeed so we'll that he
contemplates extensive plantations of it.
If it can only be induced to take to bog
soil it will be invaluable to the country.
The daily gazette., 1876-02-07
Crock of Ages Cleft for Me-"

In the pleasant country of Devon, in
one Of Its sequestered passes, with a
few cottages sprinkled over it, mused
and sang Augustus Toplady. When
q lad of sixteen and on visit to Ire
land, he had strolled into barn in
which an illiterate layman was preach
ing reconciliation to God through the
death of his Son. The hOmely sermon
took effect, and from that moment the
gospel yielded all the powers of his
brilliant and active mind. During his
last illness, Augustus Toplady seemed
to lie in the very vestibule of glory
10 friends inquiry, he answered,
with sparkling eye; 80, my dear
sir, l cannot tell the comforts l feel in
my soul they are past expression.
The consultations of God are so abun-
dant that he leaves me nothing to pray
for. My prayers are all converted in
to praise. l enjoy heaven already
within my SOUL" And within an hour
of dying, he called his friends and
asked if they could give him up; and
when they replied in the affirmative,
tears of joy ran down his checks as he
added, "Oh, what blessing that you
are made willing to give me over to
the hands of my dear Redeemer and
part with me; for no mortal can live
after having seen the glories which
God has manifested to my soul!" And
thus died the writer of the beautiful
hymn, "Rock of Ages cleft for me-"