davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
Dynamite in a Patent Office.

A pretty rich story comes from Vienna
to the following effect: In the midst of
the excitement consequent upon the
Bremerhaven disaster the clerks in the
dororbnao of tho painiotry Of com
merce, corresponding to our patent
Office, suddenly came upon four boxes
which had lain unnoticed since 1874, the
letters and specifications accompanying
them not having been reached. The
boxes were marked dynamite, and con-
tanned, as was subsequently learned,
samples of that explosive, for which q
patent was asked. The clerks of course
were in state of emotion, and the boxes
were sent to the nearest police station
with a request that they be thrown into
the Danube, which request was COM
piled with. A police agent on the op-
posite bank, however, Witnessed the
operation. and feeling suspicious, fished
for tho boxes, finding two and carrying
them to the commissary of police.
When the word dynamite was found
every one but the commissary took n
sudden departure. The commissary,
evidently cool hand, investigated the
affair, sent to the department. of COM
merce for information, and soon got all
the facts. The two missing boxes could
net be found, and as they may be washed
ashore somewhere on the river banks,
warning has been sent to all the people
living below Vienna.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09

The Virginia City (Nev.) Enterprise
tells this story of popularity of the
Chinese: Although the back of the
donkey was piled high with wood, and
although "John's" errand abroad was
to sell this wood as quickly as possible,
his inborn frugality would not allow
him to lose an opportunity of gathering
in a little something in the way of clear
gain. The prize that fell in the way of
John and his donkey was nothing more
nor less than a large wilted carrot,
thrown into the street from one of the
markets. Which found it first, China
man or donkey, we know not, but when
we saw them both seemed equally inter-
ested in the treasure trove. John stood
patiently by holding the halter of his
donkey, while the latter leisurely MUNICH
ed the carrot. For once the donkey
found pleasure lin what was business
with his master. 1t was good illustra-
ton of Chinese character, that little
scene in the street. John might miss a
dozen chances to sell his load of wood,
but he was bound to save that carrot. 1t
was bit of clear gain that ne could not
find it in bis soul to pass. Had any one
called him we doubt if he would have
crossed the street to sell his wood until
his donkey had safely housed that car.
rot
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09

morning broke, gray and chill, shorn of
her glory, stripped of hor pride, over
the bleak waves Of the North sea drifted
the Serapis, the prize of American
prowess, and an eternal witness to the
deathless fame of her victor. Europe
was electrified with the wonderful news,
and the fame of Paul Jones was at its
height At Versailles and Paris he wes
caressed and courted. Men and women,
king and subjects, We'd in their efforts
to do him honor.
From the princely hands of Louis
XVI. he received o sword of gold, with
transcription "Vindicati Maris, Lu-
dovicus XVI, Remuneration Streuno
Vindici Prom franklin and Washing
ton letters of congratulation, and from
Congress vote of thanks and gold
medal. Yet this mans land claim was q
subject of long debate, and nowhere has
there appeared comment on the coin
cidence of second Scraps this centen-
NAL year. His subsequent career, when,
his services ignored by his country, he
wandered first to Russia, then to France,
eating bitter bread, broken hearted, in
his exile dying in poverty and want, is
the record and the shame of history.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
Fashions i'm Silks.

GRos GRAINS FOR COSTUMES Plain
solid colors, says the Bazar, will pre-
vail in gros grains, as they have always
done. The reps are of medium size,
and the gros grain has the soft finish
necessary for drapery, instead of falling
into stiff, heavy folds. The fancy is for
rich dark colors for costumes, and the
list of shades is not long, nor does it
show any novelties, since the object is
to return to old-time subdued yet posi-
tive colOrs. there is seal brown, myrtle
green, marine blue, mud color, and va
rious gray shades, such as steel color,
caoutchouc, Coomassie, Bilboa, etc.
SILKS FOR EVENING DRESSES. The
shades for evening silks are ciel glace,
which is very lustrous shimulering
blue, soarire Ga smile), rose-tinted Law
ender, sea foam green, and every shade
that has yellow hue, such as cream
paiue or straw color, chair or fesh
Isabel, buff, canary, etc. With these
plain gros grains are imported two fab
RIGS or corresponding shades from which
to choose overdressos, viz: brocaded
silk and brocaded Chambery gauze.
Three shades of white double failie are
shown for bridal dresses. These are
blanc mat, or dead white; blanc rose,
with faint rosy tints; and blanc creme,
or the rich cream white like that of
syringas and orange blossoms. Double
faiIle has double twisted chain in the
grain, making very rich looking reps,
yet retaining the desired softness.
BLACK SILKs.-New importations of
black silk show the cashmere finished
silks which are now the first choice by
reason of their softness and their sub
dued luster. The best manufacturers
such as PCnson and Bonnet, have done
away with the harsh, heavy stitfn SIS
that caused their silks to fall into set
locking folds, and have given this cash.
mere finish to all high priced silks made
in their factories. There is welcome
reduction in the price of silks. Fol
So 80 or 81 yard can be bought rich
8 ks that formerly brought So or $6.
LIGHT TAFFETA Silks The pretty
light taffeta silks for making simple
suits for the spring show new effects il
checks and stripes. Thus there are sill
yer gray grounds barred with black and
white-a very stylish design. The ole
contrasts of white with dark brown
blue, or black are also repeated. From
twenty-five to thirty yards of these silks
are required for a very simple dress, as
they are only nineteen or twenty inches
wide, and cost 81 yard.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
A Fatal Mistake.

A man may drink moderately but
steadily all his life, with no apparent
harm to himself, but his daughters be-
come nervous wrecks, his sons epileptics.
libertines or drunkards, the hereditary
tendency to crime having its pathology
and UNMARRIED laws, precisely as scrofula,
consumption, or any other purely physi-
cal disease. These are stale truths to
medical men, but the majority of parents,
even those of average intelligence, are
either ignoraut or wickedly regardless
of them. There will be a chance of rid
ding our jails and almshouses of half
their tenants when onr people are
brought to treat drunkenness as dis
ease of the stomach and the blood as
well as of the soul, to meet it with COM
mon sense and a physician, as well MS
with threats of eternal damnation, and
to remove gin shops and gin sellers fol
the same reason that they would stag
nant .onds or unclean sewers.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
The Dynamite Fiend.

The st. Louis Republican identifies
Thomassen, the dynamite monster, as
one Alexander Keith, Jr., son of one
AMI nephew of another prosperous brew
er in Halifax, N. s., and during the
early days of the war person of consid-
erable note in that city. The particulars
recited by the Republican make it seem
probable that the Thomas or Thomassen
of Dresden in 1875, was really the Keith
of Halifax in the years preceding 1868,
and that the identity of the mysterious
villain, so carefully guarded from his
wife and from his later companions, is
at last cleared up. He seems then to
have possessed the same jovial, convivial
characteristics; the same huge capacity
for food and drink, and the same art of
passing with everybody for jelly, open
hearted, good natured fellow, as those
which are recorded of him in his rela-
tions with the American society in Dres-
den and in his recent voyages across the
Atlantic. He was known among his
friends and familiars as Sandy, title
obviously derived from his hair, and
which fits equally the chevelure of the
monster into which he grew, and no
social gathering or drinking bout was
complete without his presence. In the
early days of the war he left his employ
ment in his fathers brewery and seems
to have engaged largely in the business
Of blockade running, and to have i'll
some way become possessed of large
amounts of money. His credit rose
with these acquisitions. Irregular
cargoes of cotton and tobacco were
consigned TO him, and he was intrusted
not only with money to purchase
supplies for shipment to the blockaded
ports but with the safe keeping of the
funds of fugitive Confederates who
made Halifax temporary place of refuge
and asylum. Late in 1864 he departed
for New York on pretense of business.
and Halifax saw him no more He
carried off all the funds he could lay
hands on, having appropriated the pro-
ceeds of the cargoes consigned to him,
and scattered forgeries right and left
He was followed by handsome Nova
Scotia girl who had been a servant in
the hotel where he had lived and dis
pensed bountiful hospitality during
his prosperous blockade running days.
This unhappy female came back haggard
and stricken q few months after
ward, with the story that she had
married him in New York, where she
had nursed him through severe and
dangerous illness. In due time she
gave birth to twins, who, as well as her
self, are since dead. 1t was not long
after this that Keith, under the name of
Thomas or Thompson, appeared in st.
Louis, and there within year he
married the lady who is now his widow,
and who, with her children, arrived from
Europe but few weeks ago.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
Power of Pure Love.

A very distinguished lawyer of Rich
mond, Va, who has passed the meridian
of life and has won renown as an orator
and iurist, was addressing a court re-
Gently, and was in the midst of bril-
liant argument when he saw his wife
the idol of his heart -erter the room.
He at once became confused and con-
cluded with some abruptness. 1t was
the first time his wife had heard him
speak. Fearful that he would not make
decidedly favorable impression upon
her, he who had triumphantly faced
judges, iuries, legislative assemblages,
mass meetings, political conventions and
the best of the iterati, succumbed, and
before one who in her love for him
would have seen only the gems of his
speech, and whose criticism would have
been fullest praise.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
A Ruby of Great Value.

A ruby, which was formerly in the
possession of the Diamond Duke, Charles
of Brunswick, has been sold to the en-
peror OF Brazil for IS, 600 francs. This
gem, which is ruby of rare value, had
an interesting history before it fell into
the hands of the Duke OF Brunswick.
1t belonged to o certain Portuguese,
Duke Walicl1y, who appeared suddenly
in st. Petersburg in 1911, and exhibited
q fabulous amount of wealth, his jewels
and objects of veitu alone being valued
at $4,000, 900 rubles. How the quasi
duke came into possession of his riches
has always been a riddle. He was the
son of Lettbauer nobleman. and left
his home in the government of Grodno
in 1898. For eighteen years he was dead
to his friends. In 1911, however, as
before stated, he appeared in st. Peters
burg, and astonished every one, even the
court of the czar, with his riches and
costly possessions-how and where they
had been gained was never fully made
clear. After the death of the duke,
who never married, paper was found
in his heritage, which said that his jew
els and riches were taken from the tent
of q Bedouin chief, whom he had killed
in combat during a journey through
Middle Africa. In the tent, besides
other costly articles, was chest filed
with precious stones, valued at several
millions. These treasures Duke Walicky
brought to Portugal, there disposed of
many of them, and, after several sue
cessful speculations, arrived in st. Pc
tersburg. Further than this, nothing
was ever known of the means by which
this rare collection of jewels found their
way to Europe.
The one ruby, which is of great rarity
and beauty, after passing through sew
eral different hands, came into posses
sion of the Duke of Brunswick. After
his death it was given, in accordance
with the bequest, to the city of Geneva;
was sent from there to Paris, where the
court jeweler of the emperor of Brazil
purchased it. Now, perchance, it has
found permanent home, after the vari-
Gus vicissitudes through which it has
n,csa1
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
A Wonderful Boy.

A four-year-old boy of Boonville,
Mo-, by the name of James Martin Will
liams, is crammed ith dates, ii ures,
facts, and volume of lore, such as Or
dinarily requires lifetime to acquire.
In history he is very encyclopedia of
knowledge. The ancient kings, their
wars, the rise and fall of the Roman
empire, the career of Bonaparte, the
times of the death and the age of the
rulers of England, the settlement of this
country, and similar facts, are as familiar
to him as the alphabet to an older per-
son. He can name the capital of every
State in the Union, and of every foreign
country. He repeats whole chapters of
the Bible, and speaks in childlike man
ner, just as though rattling off the veri-
est commonplace remarks of other chill
dren of his age.
The first indication of this marvellous
faculty came to his parents in this way :
They are religious people, and each
morning read from the Scriptures be-
fore prayer. Shortly after the exer-
cises one morning-several months ago
his mother YVES astonished to hear
him repeating, word for word, the lines
from the Bible which he had heard an
hour or so before. She called him to
her and found that he could recite other
portions of the holy book. She COM
menced teaching him his letters, and in
an hour and half he had learned the
whole. He progressed with wonderful
rapidity, and soon could spell. A ply
sician was consulted, and advised them
to keep the boy away from books and
not allow him to study, as his health
would not allow it. since that time he
has been read to by his father, and
nowremembers everything he has heard.
This parents are people in ordinary
circumstances, and cannot in any way
account for the remarkable memory of
their child.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09

DR.. Pierce's Pleasant Purgative Pei
let's are go compounded from concentrated
principles, extracted from roots and herbs, as
to combine in each small granule, scarcely
larger than a mustard seed, as much cathartic
power as is contained in any larger pills for
sale in dru., stores. They are not only pleasant
to take but their operation is easy-unat-
tended with any gripping pain. They operate
without producing any constitutional disturb
ance. UnliLe other cathartics, they do not
render the bowels costivo after operation, but,
on the contrary, they establish a permanently
healthy action. Being entirely vegetable, nc
particular care is required while using them.
$500 reward is offered by the proprietor to
any one who will detect in these pellets any
calomel or other form of mercury, mineral
poison, or injurious drug, They are sold by
druggists
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
Poisoned Arrows.
Tho Papuans poison their ,

The Papuans poison their arrows, ac.
cording to private letter received by
DR.. Hooker, by plunging the bone points
with which they are tipped into a human
corpse and keeping them there for sew
eral days. Poor Commodore Good
enough and some of his men suffered
from arrows so poisoned. The results OF
a wound from one of these arrows do
not declare themselves for some days,
being a blood disease induced by inocu.
lation. Death, which is almost inevi-
table, is accompanied by tetanic con-
vulsionq, with consciousness 10 the last.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
Preparing for TOrpedOes.

Iron says that it is proposed to
crinoline" the British ironclads with
a network of iron wire, supported by
booms at distance of twenty-five feet,
and reaching to below the keel. The
reason is not, as the reader will be only
too prompt to remark, because of the
sex attributed to all ships, but because
the authorities hope thus to guard
against the attacks of the "fish-torpedo, +"
that can be propelled under water
against the side of ship with lair
accuracy from a distance of mile, ex-
ploding. when it strikes.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
Important to Persons Visiting New York
or the Centennial.

The GRAND UNION HOTEL, New York. oppo
site tho Grand Central depot, has over $50 ele
gantly furnished rooms. Elevator, stcam, ant
all modern improvements. European plan
Carriage hire is saved, as baggage is taker
to and from the depot, free OF expense The
restaurants supplied with the best. Guests
can live better for less money at tn, Grant
Union, than at any other first-class hotel
Stages and cara pass the hotel constantly to al
parts of the city, and to Philadelphis depot.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09

The first stage coach from New York
to Boston started June "a, 1772, from
the Fresh Water" 1t was to leave
each terminus once fortnight, fare four
pence per mile, and reached Hartford
in two and Boston in four days. The
proprietor promised weekly stage "if
engaged in their enterprise"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09

Pimples on the face, rough skin,
chspped hsnds ealtrheum and all cutaneous
affections cured, the skin made soft and
smooth, by the use of JUEIPERTAR SOAP. That
made by Caswell, Hazard & Co., New York. is
tho cnly kind that can he relied on, rs there
are many limitations, made from common tar,
which are wort hless.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
Going for Him.

The people have been suffering too
much from The raids of regular organ
lied gangs of professional politicians.
At least one of the candidates who re-
Gently returned to town from visit
among his rural friends thinks so.
"Are you running well out there9"
we inquired.
"You bet. One Of the most infiuen-
tial men in the settlement set four dogs
on me-"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-03-09
CONSUMPTIvES, TAKE NOTICE.

Every moment of delay makes your case more hope
less and much depends on the judcious choice of a
remedy. The amount of testimony In favor Of DR..
Schencks Pumonc Syr Up, a cure for Consumption,
far exceeds all that be brought to support the
tensions of any other medicine. See DIR. Schenck's
Almanac containing the certificates of Of
the highest responsibility, who have been restored to
health after being pronounced incurable by physicians
of acknowledged ability. Schenck's Pulmonic Syrup
alone has cured many, these evidences will show but
the cure often promoted by the employment of two
other remedies which Dr. Schenck provides for the
pose These additional remedies Schencks Sea
Weed Tonic and Mandrake Pills. By the timely oi
these Medicines according to directions, DR.. Schench
certihes that most any case of Consumption may bs
cured.
Dr. Schenck is professionally at his principal Office
Corner Sixth and Arch Streets, Philadelphia every Mon
day. where all letters for advice must be addressed
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-07-27
WHAT MR.. HA YES LEFT OUT.

Admirable as Mr. Hayes's letter is
there is one unfortunate omission. He
nowhere says that he, Rutherford B
Hayes, thinks the subsidy and land
grant business, under existing circum.
stances, swindle upon the people, and
will do all that in him lies, if elected
President, to put stop to it True, he
tells us IN general way that the resolu'
tions adopted at misunderstanding
we are to assume, the one which "reaf
firms" the party's opposition to the fur
ther grant of public landsto corporations
and monopolies-are in accord with his
views, and that he heartily concurs in
the principles they announce. Perhaps
they ought to be satisfactory. But a
good many voters were hoping for some.
thing more specific and emphatic. They
wanted the assurance from Mr.. Hayes's
own lips that he would make it his duty
and pleasure, if elected, to block the
grabbing schemes of the Vanderbilts, the
Tom Scots and Jay Goulds. The report
ed claim of the first named interest" to
part ownership in his candidature
heightened their desire for such an as
surance. 1t is not Forthcoming. We
dare say the omission is accidental-a
mere oversight. That does not make it
the less regretable from the party point
of view. Mr.. Hayes's failure to express
himself, personally and specifically, upon
this topic, has left an opening for Mr.
Tilden.-SprinQfeLd Republican.
The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-07-27
THE WAR IN THE WEST.
A Battle With the Red Devils of the
Plains One Indian Killed,

Cheyenne, W. T., July l9.-General
Merritt having marched nearly one hun
dred miles in thirty-six hours, success
fully intercepted the eight hundred
Cheyennes who had left the Agency, and
drove them back to that place. The In
dians, being advised by runners of the
approach Of cavalry, broke into small
bands and scattered like sheep. Their
vigilance, and the jaded condition of Mer-
ritt's animals, enabling them 10 gain
their peaceful Agency at home with no
casualties save one killed by Scout Cody.
Gen. Merritt believes to have by this
frightened these Cheyennes out of any
further attempt to join the hostiles, and
has taken up the line of march for Fort
Laramie, thence to join Crook as early as
possible. Four companies of the Fifth
Cavalry are here now, and will leave for
Fort Laramie in a few days. Whether
they will join the regiment and go north
or remain to guard the settlements and
watch the Agencies, is not yet fully de-
lCl
The report reached Fort Laramie to-
night that thirty Indians were seen this
evening twelve miles below that place
on Platte river. Capt Eaton with his
company started to hunt them down.
Loyal Bly, was killed near Pawnee
Springs, Nebraska, while returning to
North Platte from South Loop Fork with
an OK team. He was shot twice, it is not
known whether by Indians or not. A
number of Eastern papers have publish
ed statement accrediting the officers of
Fort Laramie with having denounced
the conduct of Gen. Crook in the late
action. A meeting was called at the
post tonight and resolutions adopted
denying the charge, and, on the contra
ry, upholding and applauding the Gen
erals action, Characterizing it as wise
and prudent, and that any criticism
thereon would be unsoldierly.
A man named Fay came into Sidney
tonight from Red Cloud and reports
that an Indian named Lane Deer came
into Red Cloud Friday and reported that
Crook had had fight and lost many
AS there is no such news at Fort Lara
ME where there are later dates from
Red Cloud, we do not credit this.