davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
China's First Railway.

On the last day of June, the first rail-
way of China was opened after much de-
lay, with great ceremony and success.
1t required much management, discre-
tion and patience for the English engin-
eers to inaugurate this enterprise, that
is small, indeed, compared with the Or
binary advantages of more civilized
communities. 1t is a single line with
very narrow gauge, employing three very
small locomotives, and, at present, COM
pleted for a distance of five miles only,
from Shanghai to Kangwan. 1t is ex-
pected that the other half, from Kang-
wan to Woosung. will be opened in few
weeks. During the day after the open
ing, the natives were allowed to travel
free upon the new road, and the privi-
lege seems to have been appreciated by
large numbers. During the succeeding
week, in which six trains ran, daily each
way, the patronage was SO good that the
receipts were very encouraging. Every
thing that helps to break down the bar
riers between nations, contributes to the
strength of those influences that seek to
make all men one in Christ Jesus.
Steam and electricity will never regen-
crate the world. but they are mighty
forces in His hand who maketh the
clouds his chariot, and who walketh up
on the wings of the wind.-[N. Y. Oh.
server.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
Fluctuating Politics.
From the Austin, New, Reveille.

From the Austin, New, Reveille.
He was seedy and battered, and he
looked powerful" dry. He entered a
Main street saloon, and, approaching
the bar, said to the barkeeper, "It's a
good ticket, amt it?" "First-rate," re-
piled the barkeeper. "You betcher life
them's my men; Hayes'n Wheeler for ne.
'Rah for Hayes'n Wheeler! Set out
some O. yer Publican whisky, barkeep-
er." "My friend" replied the barkeep-
er, "you're little of; this is Demo-
cratic house" "Thunderp' exclaimed
the soaker; the Dimmycrats amt got no.
body to holler for yet, and I'm as dry as
powderhorn; and not cent twixt me
and eternity"
"My FRIEND" said the obliging bar
keeper, "while differing with you in
politics, l can not resist your appeal;
help yourself to some of this" and he
set out glass and the bottle of light
ming, kept for the special use of "stiffs F."
She "stiff" poured out glassful OF
the stuff and emptied it into his throat,
and when he got through coughing and
wiping his eyes on his coat-sleeve, said
81 amt got no money, but if / was the
Comstock ledge, I'd bet myself ag'in 4
Lander Hill razorblade that them darn.
ed Black Republicans don't get away
| with the ensooin' election"
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
Training Horses to Step.

l never draw carriage up to horse
when he is about to be hitched before it.
No matter how awkward and blunder-
ing he may be, he is always taught to
step over one thill to the desired place
between the shafts. Before horse has
been trained to step over one shaft the
two shafts are placed on small bench,
eight or ten inches high. The animal is
led along the side of the carriage and
taught carefully to step over one shaft
with the fore feet, and then to place his
hind feet brtween the shafts. If he is
awkward at first, exercise patience with
his stupidity, and lead him. forward
again and bring him around until you
induce him TO understand what is desir-
ed of him. A tractable animal (if his
driver knows half as much as the horse)
can easily be taught to step between the
thills and never touch them with his
feet.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
Cotton and Wool.

According to the Boston Journal Of
Chemistry there is now produced a class
of goods made entirely Of cotton but
called merino, and which have the look
of the latter fabric, owing to the woolly
surface impaired to them in the process
of manufacture. These goods are found
both in the United States and the Span
ish American markets in large quantities
especially in mems undershirts and
drawers. To cause the cotton to thus
resemble wool, it is scratched, and the
surface raised by particular operation.
On drawing out thread or two and
burning the same in the fame of ta-
per, if the material be cotton it will con-
sumo to light, palpable, whith ash,
cotton being a vegetable fibre; but if, on
the contrary, it is wool, and therefore
animal fibre, it will twist and curl in
the flame and show black ash, accom-
panied with smell which will at once
indicate its origin. Cotton is now SO
cleverly treated that it is frequently ia.
ken for silk-also an animal fibre-and
the simple test referred to can always
be resorted to when there is any doubt
upon this point.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
Cistern Filters.

The best way to provide filter for a
brick cistern is to put a partition
through it of brick, having the pump
upon one eide and the receiving pipe
upon the other. No filter can be made
of sufficient capacity to receive the
water from the pipe and allow it to flow
through into the cistern without, in a
heavy shower running over and wasting
the water. The partition should be curv-
ed, swelling out toward the side into
which the water runs, to prevent the
water pressing it over in case the oppo-
site side should be empty, and should be
built of brick laid fatwise, in cement,
and plastered we'll on both side with the
same. In laying the partition each al
ternate brick in the bottom course
should be left out. and upon the floor
of the cistern, and entirely across it, on
the receiving side, about foot from the
partition, should be built brick wall
eighteen inches high. The space be-
tweens the partition wall and this low
one should be filled as follows: First,
coarse gravel, six inches; coarse sand,
three inches pounded charcoal, six
inches, and fine sand enough to nearly
gil the space. The receiving pipe
should be bent SO as not to allow the
water to pour upon the filter. A cistern
thus built will furnish, as long as it
lasts, purer, better, and more healthful
drinking water than any spring or well
in the world Should the filter become
foul in time, the packing in the box may
be easily removed and clean materials
put in its place.-[Cor. Inter Ocean.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
A Sad Sight.

At the Mayors Office this morning
sad and affecting sight was witnessed.
Two bright little girls, ten or twelve
years old, one of them barefooted, enter
ed the Office and asked for the Mayor.
They were accompanied by woman,
neighbor, who said the mother of the
children was dead. and that they kept
house for their father At the mention
of the name of father" the eyes of the
children, already red from weeping, fill
ed with tears. The Mayor had sent the
father to Jail for drunkenness, and was
soon implored by one of the children to
release him. They appeared to be filled
with horror at the thought of his being
in Jail.
The Mayor, his heart moved by the
innocence of the children, directed
Clerk Me.zgar to make out a release at
once, and when he had signed his name
to it, he handed 1t to the brightest look
ing child of the two, with the remark:
"Take this up to the Jail and they will
give you your father"
1t did not require more than an ordI-
nary observer to discover ray of JOY in
the faces of the little ones, and the feeble
thank YOU that escaped their lips as..they
bent their little steps towards the prison
in which their father was captive, spoke
volumes of the burden which had been
lifted from off their youthful hearts.
Truly, one half the world does not know
how the other half lives, aad the Incl
dent above related called to mind the
scene of the little girl in an Eastern
city, who, as she wiped the perspiration
from the face of an aged drunken man,
as he lay upon the sidewalk, the object
of the jeers of crowd of curious boys
and girls. looked up and said to them
Don't hurt him, he's somebody.
Grandpa. ."-[ Pittsburgh Telegraph.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
Plan to Heat Cars.

A correspondent of the Chicago Journal
has plan to heat cars of all kinds that
entirely does away with the chances of
burning IN case of accident. He dis
cards stoves, hot water and steam, and
use red hot shot that weigh 100 pounds
each, in box under the car, with regis
ters in the floor of the car. Five balls
will heat the car for four hours; the
furnaces for heating to be placed along
the stations, one hundred miles apart.
He states that trial has been had and
is works satisfactorily. A patent based
on this general plan has been applied
for. The recent fearful accident, by
which two human lives were lost through
the burning of sleeping car by over
turning and taking FIRE from the stove,
as well as others of a similar nature in
the past render any means of preventing
such horrors especially valuable and
worthy of consideration.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
To Prevent Chatting.

An exchange, remarking on the chat
ing of the breasts of horses, says: The
common practice of using pads or sheep
skin under the collar is Objectionable,
especially in warm weather, because it
accumulates heat and makes the breast
tender. A better way is to take piece
of thick and smooth leather, cut it out
just the size of the collar, or little
wider, and let it lie fat on the neck and
shoulders of the horse. This will lie
still and smooth on the horses neck,
while the collar itself moves about, and
80 it will prevent chafing. In.addition
to this, let the breasts of working horses
be washed off every night with warm
water.
We used to be told to wash in cold
water Editor Rural Home.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
Keeping Cider Sweet.

The editor of the New England Far
mer indorses the following mode of pre-
serving cider sweet for five years: Leach
or filter the cider through pure sand, af-
ter it has worked and fermented and be-
fore il has soured. Putno alcohol or no
other substances with it. Be sure that
the vessels you put it in are perfectly
clean and sweet. After it is leached or
filtered put it in barrels or casks filled
leaving no room for air, bung them
tight and keep it where it won't freeze
till February or March, then put into
champagne bottles filled, drive the corks
and wire them. The best cider is late
made, or made when it is as cold as can
be and not freeze. We drank some cider
from a barrel filtered as above mention
ed, within an hour of this writing, made
in the interior of New York, which was
as sweet as if only made the day before
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
Stanley Heard From.

Five letters have been received from
Stanley, containing full accounts of his
journeys and discoveries during the pc
riod of more than a year, in which no
word had been received from the xplor-
er. His last letter was written on the
Oath of April, not far from Ujiji, on
Lake Tanganyika, where he found Liv-
ingstone. These letters describe voyages
on Victoria Lake, including violent
storms, and encounters with savages;
journeys across the country between
Victoria and Albert Lakes, including
the ascent of the lofty mountain GAMBIA
ragara. Stanley did not explore the AL
bert Lake and remained near it but a
short time. This explains why Gessi,
who sailed around it in April last, re.
turned with no news of Stanley. He
writes that he is we'll and also his white
companion, Frank Pocock
This successful intrepidity in fathom
ing the mysteries of the African cont
nent appeals to the sympathies of man
kind far more than the comparativel
fruitless feats of Arctic exploration
We see in Africa the working of a Prov
idence that opens door after door to tn,
light of Christian truth and human pro
gress.-[N. Y. Observer.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
Old CuriOsities.

There are certain items which no col |
lector allows his museum to be without.
Every amateur numismatist has his |
Queen Anne's farthing, though the |
number issued was but three, and only |
two are known to exist. 1t was said that |
if all the musical collectors were to join |
together their specimens of the strings |
on which Paganini played in his prison
we should have a length of catgut that
would stretch from London TO Glasgow,
The hull of the unfortunated Royal
George has supplied carved woodwork
enough to furnish terrace, and Ameri-
can ladies are known to have in their
possession so many locks of Charles
Dickens hair that they could supply the
wig-makers of New York with the great
est case. But the -nife with which
Charlotte Corday stabbed Marat has
long been the pride of French museums,
and a recent discovery is likely to add
to the number of its reputed owners.
A Partisan inspector of prisons, find
ing himself in the town of Caen, took
occasion to examine the archives of the
gaol. In cupboard that was fastened
he found parcel, with letter. sealed
and tied up with it. The letter stated
that on the occasion of the perquisition
made upon the house of the parents of
the cItizeness Charlotte Corday, eleven
knives were found, being similar in pat
tern to the one used by the said Char
lotte Corday in the crime perpetrated
by her on the citizen Marat. The in
spector then proceeded to open the box,
and found eleven knives, of great beauty
of execution, and of English manufac-
ture. They were carefully wrapped in
tissue paper, and the whole package was
labelled "To be forwarded at once to
Paris, to be added to the other evidence
against the prisoner" These details are
given in French newspaper "under all
reserve;" but whatever may be the truth
of the story we may expect to find its
immediate effect upon the cabinet of
curiosity collectors. A new prize is aj-
ded to the lottery, and we must in the
future expect to see not merely the
knife with which Charlotte Corday stab
bed Marat, but the eleven others which
constituted the dozen in the house of
her parents. Wherever this strong cor
roborative evidence is wanting We may
feel ourselves justified in doubling the
genuineness of the exhibition London
Globe
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
NapOleOn's Personal Courage.
His personal courage is very distinc

His personal courage is very distinct
ly witnessed by the records of these
events. 1t does not seem as if he court
ed, or defed, or despised danger in the
chivalrous sense; so much as that his
mind was so absorbed in the direction
of his battles that he had no place in it
for apprehensions about himself. Con-
stantly we read of him standing in stu
being destroyed close TO him, and where
shot and shell were falling profusely
about; while he, surveying and contem-
plating the fortunes Of the field, was alb
solutely insensible to what was passing
at his elbow At Hanau, while he was
giving some directions, shell fell quite
close to him. He paid no attention to
it, and no one dared to interrupt his
speech; but those about him hardly
breathed while they awaited the ex .,lo-
sion. The missile penetrated so far into
the ground that its bursting was harm
less. Napoleon does not seem to have
been aware that there ever had been any
danger. At the passage of the Elbe,
when ball struck some wood close to
him and sent splinter on to his neck,
he SO far recognized the danger as to say,
"If it had struck me on the breast all
had been over" When he was sudden
ly recalled to Dresden by the unexpect-
ed attack of the Allies. their fire was
very hot over space which he had to
pass, and he crawled along there on his
hands and knees, but never thought oi
waiting or Of seeking another path
Nobody has ever given reason why
fortune should constantly favor these
strong, adventurous men; nor why they
should be aware, as they seem to be
that they are proof against accidents
that may come to other men. Force o.
will and physical vigor might be urged
as the causes of the mems temerity; bu
strength of will or body cannot keep of
the strokes of shot and she'll Black
woods Magazine.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
Chestnut Posts.

have had an experience of over sixty
years on one farm, and have tested the
matter. ! have found that chestnut
posts of young timber will last much
longer than old, and that those set top
down will stand nearly if not twice as
long as those set with butt end down,
and that small posts, say 8 to A inches
in diameter. outlast larger posts. All
posts should be thoroughly seasoned be-
fore setting. In the year 1918, the posts
of my yard and avenue, say about so,
we're set. They were locust, we'll sea-
soned, and did not average over 4 inches
square. Nine-tenths of them are still
standing we'll. In 1880, set about
100 of like timber also seasoned, but
larger. Seven-eighths of them are
standing now. Seasoned chestnut posts
of young small timber, will last if sci
top down from Is to % years; with butti
down from 8 TO Is years. The best sizt
for lasting is from A to 8 and 10 inchei
in diameter; the larger sizes above five
inches to be split. Those over z inchel
into four pieces.-(M. r. H., in Coun
try Gentleman.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
The Grandm0ther's Trick.

1t was in Natchez. where gambler
was indicted for swindling, having won
from rich greeny thousand dollars
with the grandmother's trick. Judge
Edward Turner was then on the bench.
The Judge was eminently practical in
his character-knew nothing of cards,
find livelihood by handling them. He
had never heard of the grandmother's
trick, and when the indictment was read
asked if there was anything in the stat
utes making the grandmother's trick
an act of swindling. He was answered
there was not, but that it came under
the head of swindling generally. 81
don't know what it is" said the Judge,
land it is moved to squash this indict-
ment because the grandmother's trick is
not in the statutes denounced as swlnd-
ling"
"If your Honor pleases," said the Dis
trict Attorney, eve have witness here
who understands and can play the trick,
and, if the court please, we will have
him to your Honor this trick"
"Let him be called then"
"Mr. Sheriff, call Kali Hurst" said
the attorney. 1t was done, and pack
of cards was provided.
"Can you show me the grandmother g
trick, Mr.. Hurst" asked the Judge. "If
you can, do So"
Hurst took the cards, and, shuff1ing
them well, held them up, and asked the
Judge to turn over the top card. He
did so and said it was the knave OF
hearts.
"What did your Honor say was the
card?" asked Hurst, as he held the pack
in one hand.
"The knave of hearts,"
"Knaves play tricks, your Honor
answered facetiously Hurst. "Are you
sure it is the knave of hearts?"
"Yes, know it is."
"Now perhaps your Honor would
like to bet something on it?"
"Show the trick, sir" testify ordered
the Judge.
81 have no trick to show, your Honor
The cards do this. And now since yor
say the top card is the knave of hearts
will your Honor turn it over?" TIL.
Judge reached forth his hands and care
, fully turned the cards, when it turned
up the ace of hearts. Throwing him
self back in his seat, evidently mucl
, surprised, he brought his clenched fs
l down upon his docket, exclaiming We
, hemently, again and again, "Swindlin
:, -swindling of the very worst sort; lie
the case proceed" and the indicted wa
found guilty, fined, and imprisoned t
p the extent of the law New Orlean
\ Times
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
How to Break off Bad Habits.

Understand the reason, and all the
reasons, why the habit is Injurious
Study the subject until there is no long
er doubt in your mind. Avoid the
places, the persons, the thoughts that lead
to the temptation. Frequent the places,
associate with the persons, indulge in
the thoughts that lead away from temp
tation. Keep busy; idleness is the
strength of bad habits. Do not give
up the struggle when you have broken
your resolution once, twice-a thousand
times. That only shows how much need
there is for you to strive. When you
have broken you- resolution just think
the matter over, and endeavor to under.
stand why it is you failed, so that you
may be on your guard against recur
renee of the same circumstances. Dc
not think itan easy thing that you have
undertaken. 1t is a folly to expect te
break of habit in day which may
! have been gathering long years.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-11
Aiding the Wounded In War-Use-
full Appliances.

The Brussels correspondent of the |
London News, writing of the Exhibi-
ton, says: There is one part of the Ex-
hibition here which deserves notice
and indeed in the present state of things
it is attracting notice more and more
that is the class comprising appliances
for aiding the sick and wounded in war
Never before has there been brought to-
gether such a collection, and it will be
long before the like can be exhibited
again.
UnquestionaSly the finest example of
the German system is the ambulance
train in the Austrian Department. This
consists of seven railway carriages, fit
ted up SO ds to form perfect moving
hospital, with stores, kitchen, and ac-
commodation for surgeons and attend
ants, besides appliances of every sort for
the conveyance and succor of the wound
ed.
The train is composed of seven car
riages. Along the middle of each car
rage runs gangway, and as there is
platform connecting each carriage with
the one before and behind it, there ia
thus passage running from end to end
of the train. All the carriages and
platforms are well lighted at night, and
there is electrical communication be-
tween the different parts of the train
The first carriage is devoted to the COM
mandant of the train, the SOUS COM
mandant and two surgeons. The space
on each side of the gangway is divided
so that there are four small cabins, one
for each of the four occupants. Each
cabin is fitted with seat, which also
forms bed, flap table, and as many
conveniences as can be crowded into the
very small space available. The second
| carriage contains two officers cabins and
number of cupboards for stores and
provisions. The third is fitted up as a
kitchen. The fourth is arranged for a
refectory or dining room, with tables
and benches along the sides. The rest
of the train consists of three ambulance
carriages, each capable of carrying ten
wounded men. The litters on which
the men are brought to the train are
lifted up and placed in a sort of rack, sc
that the litter, when placed on the rack
forms the bed. There are six men or
one side and four on the other, the lit
tiers being placed in two horizontal lines
one above the other, like the berths of {
ship. All the arrangements, even tc
the minutest detail, are most complete
and the only question is whether the,
are not too elaborate to stand the rougl
work of actual service. I cannot hell
feeling that the first week of service il
the field will see half these pretty ap
pliances thrown on one side; but I an
assured by those who ught to know
that this is quite an error. and that n,
difficulties need be expected beyont
those incidental to an ordinary railwa,
Journey