davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18
PHILADELPHIA In IVA.

Old Philadelphia during the sessions
of the Continental Congress presented
probably a more picturesque appearance
than at any other time of her history.
A dense background Of forest threw her
few busy streets into strong relief; the
river was crowded. with shipping the
halfdrilled troops of the new army
passed down High street from time to
time, drum and fife stirring the long
sobered air; the vague electric excite
ment of impending war was abroad, and
gave new meaning to ordinary greetings,
to even the boys play; there was, too,
every change and variety of costume, as
in shifting panorama. The Episco-
palians and modish gentlemen of other
churches appeared with troupees pow
dered, satin knee-breeches, velvet coats,
and lace ruffles; fine ladies wore hoops,
high.tossing feathers, lawn aprons, deep
lace rrills depending from the elbow, and
patches of every shape on the face. A
bevy of Quakers, in their sad drab
paduasoy gowns, passed them, perhaps,
on their staid way to the Yearly Meet
inc to give in their testimony against
slavery, indorsing John Woolman; or
stray monk from Ephrata, in his white
cowl and gown; or an Indian, with MS
load of peltry; or some countrymen from
Bucks county, with tow trowsers and
pleated hempen coats and leather aprons;
or a gang of idle Barbary slaves, with
their gay turbans and slouching walk.
II was such a scene that presented itself
to the Massachusetts, and Virginia dele
gates, and gave to the little town, in
their unused eyes, the air of the capital
city. John Adams writes in his diary of
how he went to the Methodist and other
dissenting meetings.-Harper's Magazine.
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18
The Hot Springs In Arkansas.

The Hot Springs village occupies a
valley running north and south between
two spurs of the Ozark Mountain, its
southern end being traversed by Hot
Springs Greek, an affluent of the Washita
river. The springs are contiguous to the
banks of this brook and their healing
qualities are well-knoWh throughout the
Union. These springs and their medi-
cinal qualities were we'll known to the
early Spanish adventures, and even to
the Indians before them. In the time of
Adams the government laid out reser-
vation, covering the territory in which
these springs are located. After the
earthquake which sunk 80 much of the
country below Cairo and made so much
land untenable, Congress passed law
giving those who had suffered the right
to pre-empt quarter sections of land, or
an area equivalent to what they had lost,
within certain limits and upon certain
conditions. Some of these parties who
secured the scrip, in looking about, hit
upon this Hot Springs property, and To-
Gated their scrip upon the very ground
which the government had set apart as a
national reservation. They squatted
upon it, and, as there was no immediate
contest, they at once began building,
leasing ground, and drawing rents, and
many men have made fortunes out of
their leases. Some fifteen or twenty
years ago suits were commenced involv-
ing the proprietorship of the grounds.
The contest has been long and desper-
ate one. 1t was interrupted by the war,
but has since been renewed, and is now
closed by the decision of the Supreme
Court, which disposes of all the indi-
vidual claims and vests the title in the
pOyernment
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18
A Large Land Suit.

In May, 1922, Iturbide was made
Emperor of Mexico. He maintained his
nominal throne till October of the follow
ing year, when he was dethrOned ty the
forces under Santa Anna, and the con-
stitution proclaimed under the Presi-
dency of Vittoria. In July, 1924,
Iturbide was tried for treason, and
was shot on conviction. His family es.
capped to the United States, and his son,
who at one time asserted his title as
Emperor of Mexico remained here, was
married, and died leaving son, who is
now at school at Georgetown, near
Washington. This grandson of the
Emperor Iturbide, by his mother as
guardian, has now commenced suit for
the recovery of" twenty square leagues !"
ofland in California, claiming title under
grant made by the Mexico IN Congress
to the Emperor Iturbide, in considera-
tion of his services in their war of inde-
pendence with Spain. 1t is also claimed
that this grant was duly located in 1S46,
before "Alta California" became an
nexed to the United States. The location
of this grant Of" twenty square leagues F."
embraces some seven counties of the
present State of California. Those old
mexican land claims" and "Spanish
land grants" have been bones of conten.
ton during all the time of our possession
of California. Should young Iturbide
recover his twenty square leagues" he
will be richer man than his grand
father was even when he was Emperor
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18
The Home OF TennysOn.

Anna S. H., in the Cleveland Plain
Dealer: Here is little story told me by
General Schenck: He was travelling with
his party in the Isle of Wight. Their
guide was extremely attentive, showing
with true insular pride the mansions of
various noblemen, with their splendid
grounds, and dwelling with special en-
phasis upon the numbers of retainers
kept by each. At last, coming suddenly
upon picturesque cottage whose climb
ing vines and nicely kept lawn pro-
claimed the taste of its owner, the visi',
ors inquired who he might be. "Only a
very plain country gentleman, sir, as
comes down ERE now and then, an lives
very quiet-like; nobody you would know
anything about, sir! / believe as is
name is Tennyson" and the cicerone
was hurrying on. "Tennyson's cot
tage Oh stopl we must have a look p
chorused the lady travellers. The car
riage was stopped, but the driver was ut
terly unable TO comprehend the sudden
interest. "Mayhap you know i'm 2" he
said, interrogatively, and his igEoran :
was 80 delicious that the ladies delighted
themselves by drawing him out. They
declared they had heard Of Mr.. Tenny.
son in distant America, and insisted
that he who lived so near must know
something about him. He may be
summat up in Lunnon, but down ERE,
sir, he makes no show at all, sir; he lives
mostly alone" Then as if to stamp Mr..
Tennyson's utter insignificance, he
added, He keeps only one man, sir, and
he sleeps out of the 'ouse." Such is fame
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18
A Dove Story.

The following strange affair has oc-
Cured in this city, and we give it to our
readers as it was told to us. s. Ehrens-
weig, q well-to-do Hebrew, lives with his
wife and family at No. GOA Clinton street,
and some days ago his wife was blessed
with little girl. The birth of the child
took place about five o'clock in the even
ing, and few minutes after that hour a
beautiful grown white dove flew to the
window of the room in which the child
was born and landed on the window sill.
The dove took a position by which it
could look into the room and have a
view of the bed upon which the child
was lying. No notice was at first taken
of the feathery visitor, and it remained
in the same position it had taken all that
night. When morning dawned the
family again took notice of IL, and they
raised the window. The dove appeared
to understand that this was an Invita-
ton to enter the room and he flew in,
taking his position over the head of the
bed. It began to COO sweetly and at once
became attached to the child, whom it
seldom left.
The bird soon became attached to its
new home, used to fly about the rooms
of the house, and, as it showed no desire
to escape, it was not put in a cage. A
few days after Its arrival the child was
taken sick, and as each day came it got
worse. The dove appeared to notice this,
and as the child grew no better it be.
came despondent, and its cooling, which
was once pleasant to hear, turned to a
disagreeable sound. Last Friday the
child died, and the dove began to carry
on in very wild manner, screaming and
flying about the house madly. The peo-
pie attempted to drive him out, but he
would not 90, so yesterday they captured
him and placed him in covered basket
and carried him off out into the country.
-Bufdlo Leader.
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18
NUMBER 3.
Got Her Letter.

For many days, says the Charlottes-
vile Va.) Jetersonian, we have noticed
an old colOred woman plodding her way
to the postOffice, never missing day,
and invariably returning as she came,
without any mail. She had imbibed the
idea prevalent among these people that
as the post-office is a Government in.
stitution. she had right to exercise her
new privilege of "'quirin' dar fur let
ter" even though she expected nothing,
and with q persistence that was COM
mendable, her face appeared at the gen.
eral delivery as regularly as the mail
was opened. Some person getting tired
of seeing her fruitless attempts to accom-
plish her desires, fixed up a letter in hero
glyphics, signed it "Jeems Higgins"
stamped it, and left it to await her COM
ing. She was there on time. When the
clerk handed out the missive she had no
idea it was intended for her, and looked
all around at the crowd, who are usually
at the windows, expecting some of them
to take it; but when the clerk insisted
it was for Polly Brown" it was study
for physiognomist to see the variety of
expressions that her countenance under
went. She took hold of the precious
thing and exclaimed, "Bress de Laud I"
and as she backed out of the crowd,
with the letter held high above her
head, her cOuntenance open from ear to
ear, she calculated, "Pse got it! Bress
de Laud knowed the Government
was guine to gimme a letter fore long.
/ seed dat letter last night on de candle
dat l did," and she waddled off down
the street hunting for some one to read
it for her. She finally got gentleman
to open it, but as the writing was en-
tirely unintelligible, he could do nothing
but tell the writer's name. She pom
dered long time over the name, trying
to remember who "Jeems Higgins" was,
and where she had known him. She
tried several other gentlemen, but all
failed to decipher the hieroglyphics.
At last she said, "Well dat Jeems Hig-
gins mus be mighty smart young
culled pusson to write letter what desc
white gemmans can't read. 'Spect he's
some O. dem ginruls in de army, who
knowed me when / was gal. And he
members poor old Polly yit," and she
assumed such an air of dignity as to
make it excruciating to look at her.
She took her letter and went home.
She comes to the Office no more now.
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18
Mounting a Camel.

Charles Dudley Warner tells how it is
done. Mounting the camel Is not diff
ficult, but 1t has some sweet surprises for
the novice. The camel lies upon the
ground with all his legs shut up under
him like jackknife. You seat yourself
in the broad saddle and cross your legs
in front of the pommel. Before you are
ready something like private earth
quake begins under you. The camel
raises his hindquarters suddenly, and
throws you over upon his neck; and be-
fore you recover from that he straightens
up his knees, and gives you a jerk over
his tail; and while you are not at all
certain what has happened, he begins to
move off with that dislocated walk which
sets you into see-saw motion, waving
backwards and forward in the capacious
saddle. Not having hinged back mt
for this movement, you lash the beast
with your koorbash to make him change
his gait. He is nothing 10th to do it,
and at once starts into high trot, which
sends you up foot into the air at every
step, bobs you from side to side, drives
your back bone. into your brain,
and make castanets Of your teeth.
CAPITAL exercise. When you have
enough of it you pull up, and humbly
inquire what Is the heathen method OF
riding dromedary.
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18
A Mule Commits Suicide.

Chicago Times: A few days ago little
son of J. G.. Philpot, who resides four
miles west of Lebanon, Tennessee, went
to the barn to feed one of his mules.
When he entered the stable the usually
docile animal rushed ut him and seized
him, crushing his arm between his iron
Jaws. With great difficulty the terrified
youth made his escape from the infuri.
ated brute. When the mule found that
his intended victim had escaped, he
became frantic, and began breaking
down the stalls next his own, using, his
mouth and heels until he succeeded in
making his way out Of the stable. Wnen IN
he found himself at liberty he trotted on
about twenty yards, when suddenly
wheeling he dasifd full tilt at the barn,
striking it with tremendous .n force. SO,s, ss lie
then commenced tearing the a:, ilesh rom ron,
50 = weak that he could no longer stand.
He suffered for hours, and finally died
in great agony.
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18
GENERAL NOTES.

The story that DIR. Mary Walker has
prosecuted the man who kissed her in a
silver mine is authoritatively denied. 1t
is the man who told about it that has
been brought to the bar of outraged JUS
tice.
GENERAL BUTLER's famous "Dutch
Gap" canal has been widened and deep
ened by Government aid, and will soon
be ready for use. 1t cuts of a heavy
bend in the James river and saves seven
miles.
WHILE John Sterrit, Fourth Ward,
Wheeling, West Virginia, cartman, was
endeavOring to extricate fallen horse
from his cart, he was kicked in the
face by the animal and almost instantly
killed.
The London Times Berlin dispatch re.
ports that the King of Bavaria has given
permission for the erection of a colossal
statue of Bismarck in Kissengen, to mark
the spot where Kullman attempted to as
sassinate the Prince.
The following is official: Mukhtar
Pasha telegraphs that he has entered
Nicsic in triumph, after defeating the
great mass of insurgents at Bresjika, and
occupying their entrenchments. Nicsic
has been revictualed.
A GYPSY Convention was held in
Joliet, ILL.,, May /. About five hundred
Gypsies were present. 1t was their an
nual May Council, at which the Chief
lays out the routes to be pursued by each
band during the year.
SIXTY years ago, the Saranac river,
which flows out Of the "North Woods"
into Lake Champlain, was navigable for
sloops for some distance. Now it is a
small stream, hardly navigable for
row boats, except during the Spring
freshets.
ADvICEs from Cape Coast Castle re-
port that the King Of DahOmey has re-
fused to pay the fine recently imposed on
him, for maltreating British subject,
and has sent an insolent message to the
British Commodore, inviting him to
visit Dahomey, where he promises to pay
the demand in powder and bullets.
AT the sale of the Lyon collection of
porcelain, in New York, two plates of
the Washington "Cincinnati china"
sold for one hundred dollars each, and
one from the set presented to Mrs. Wash
ington for two hundred and fifteen dol
lars. A pair of candlesticks, sent by the
Tycoon of Japan to President Lincoln,
brought one hundred and ten dollars.
A SAFE deposit vault just completed
in London is deemed invulnerable. 1t
is sunk fortysix feet into the ground,
with walls of brick and concrete six feet
thick. Inside this structure is the safe,
three feet thick, made of fire brick and
undrillable iron. The metal doors weigh
four tons each, and are swung by hy-
draulic power.
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18
TRUTHS AND TRIPLES.

The disproportion between the weight
of a small boy and the noise of his boot
heels as he walks out of church at the
quietest moment is "a curious problem in
dynamics.
OUR ANGELS.
In this dim werld Of cloudiri cares
We rarely know, till wilder eyes
See white wings less ming up the skies,
The angels with US unawares.
Gerald Massey.
Mr.. EDWARDS, of San Francisco, has
no little hatchet, but says that he gave
away his cat and kitten to a friend in
Santa Clara, forty-nine miles away, and
that the cat came back, the next night,
carrying the kitten in her mouth.
NEVER 20 back. What you attempt,
do it with your strength. Determination
is omnipotent. If the prospect be some
what darkened, put the fire of resolution
to your soul, and kindle fame that
nothing but death can extinguish.
"Now," said a citizen of Rawlins,
WyO. Ter, at a recent dance, "yOu see
that heifer in a red dress; that's my
wife; an eff yer dance with her more'n
two times, pard, I'll shute the hull top
Nv yer he'd of. What'll yer drinkw
The Troy Press says: GA teacher in
one of our prominent female seminaries
on the Hudson, on being asked by a
young lady of her class what pig iron is,
replied, 'Iron given in exchange for
swineP ="
THAT must have been a beautiful
sight at the Moody and Sankey meeting
when four mothers-in-law arose to pre-
sent special requests for prayer that
their sonsin-law might experience
change of heart.
WE are born for higher world than
that of earth, there is realm where rain.
bows never fade-where the stars will be
out before us, like islets that slumber on
the ocean, and where the beings that
pass before us like shadows, will stay in
our presence for ever. g..
GOoD takers are becoming rare, now
a-days, but are occasionally to be met
with. OfOne whose conversation is very
entertaining, but rather disconnected, a
witty lady once remarked, ooh, yes he
is very clever but he talks like a book
in which there are leaves occasionally
missing" ="
"YoU have a lawyer!" said Justice
Bixby, of New York, looking inquiringly
at the youthful prisoner. 81 have, your
Honor" replied the weeping lad, point
ing to a smiling and well-known Tombs
practitioner. "Then l will save you
from him, continued his Honor. "You
may CO."
MARES tails leave scanty sails; red in
the East like the least red in the West
/ like the best when the clouds spread
like a feather, mariners look for fair,
good weather when the lofty hills the
mist doth bear, let the mariner then for
storms prepare; lead fog, lookout, and
be steady, keep an eye on the glass and
fer changes be ready.
TEMPTATIONS are true tests, and ac-
cordingly are often the best friends we
have. The man or woman who has no
temptations can never know the strength
of principle he or she may possess. The
merit of virtue is brought out when it
is beset by the enemy. The world likes
the strong and the good, but it never
sees it till it has shown itself by severe
contact and struggle with the opposing
elements, and been on several trials, as it
were.
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18

The good people of certain country
village in Indiana hungered and thirsted
for an organ to assist in the church serv-
ices; but as they could not afford to hire
an organist, they bought selfoperating
instrument warranted TO grind out forty
tunes of religious cast. The musical
instrument was placed in position for
the next Sunday. The sexton was in
structed how to set it going, and how to
stop it, but unfortunately forgot the
latter part of bis business, and after
singing the first four verses of hymn be-
fore the sermon the organ could not be
stopped, but continued playing two
verses more then, just as the clergyman
completed the wsrds, "Let us pray"
the organ again clicked and started an.
other tune. The sexton and others con-
tinued their exertions to find the spring,
but no one could put stop TO it; 80
they got four of the stoutest men in the
church to shoulder the perverse instru.
ment, and they carried it dewn the aisle
of the church, playing away, into the
church-yard, where 1t continued clicking
and playing until the whole forty tunes
were finished.
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18
Man Has a Woman Arrested for
kissing Him.

The Memphis avalanche says: A
rather novel case was taken before
Esquire Miller the other day, being no
less than a prosecution. for malicious
kissing, designated on the warrant as a
breach of the peace. The party causing
the arrest was u negro named Charles
Glosson, and the malicious kisser was
Ella Daily, who it is hardly necessary to
state, is also colored. The prosecutor has
a wife, and he stated that Elias malice
did not consist in the mere act of kissing
him, which ordinarily he did not object
to, but in persisting in kissing him in
the presence of his wife, which had a
tendency to make things unpleasant at
home, and was expensive, when the
broken crockery and frying pans that
had to be replaced were taken into the
account. Esquire Miller, after patiently
hearing the case, suspended judgment
during the COED behavior of Ella, who
left the Office, remarkipg that she would
&c hit dat niger wild brick" for having
her arrested.
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18

A GERMAN author states that the num-
ber of useful plants has risen to about
$4,000, but that others will no doubt be
discovered, as the researches yet made
have been completed only in portions of
the earth. Of these plants there are
1850 varieties of edible fruits, berries
and seeds; 103 cereals; 81 onions AGO
vegetables and salads; 40 species of
palms; 81 varieties of arrowroot, and 81
different kinds Of sugar. Various drinks
are obtained from 200 plants, and
aromatics from 266. There are fifty
substitutes for coffee, and 129 for tea.
Tannin is present in 140 plants,
caoutchouc in 96, gutta percha in 2, rosin
and balsamic gums in 39S, wax in 10,
and grease and essential oils in $50; SO
plants contain potash, soda and iodine;
$50 contain dyes, AZ soap; 26O contain
weaving fibers; IA fibers used In paper
making; 4S give roofing materials, and
100 are employed for hurdles and copses:
In building, 740 plants are used, and
there are 6l5 known poisonous plants.
One of the most gratifying developments
is. that out of 278 known natural fami-
lies of plants, there are but 18 species for
which no use has yet been discovered,
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18

IThe following (" Song Of Praise for Our Country
with aspirations Tor Its true and Enduring GioIy y,
written by Mr.. George CoolTidse. Is copied from q
he National Board Of Centennial Commissioner
who will decide upon Its official adoption as the M
lion Ode j
The ages, mighty God, are thine
The Nations Thine the ages bear
All people to Thy sway incline,
Thy sovereign providence declare.
Our hearts exult In thy great Name!
We bless Thee for our country free
For all its greatness and Its fame
Thy glory its refulgence be.
o, Sovereign ruler Of our hearts,
Our country guide the agesthrough-
Our country guard from baleful arts
Our country keep forever true.
OF all the fathers sacrifice
May children's children mindful be-
And on the wings OF morning rise
Forever anthems OF the free
Thou hast outspread the wide domain,
Responsive TO our toll and skill
The seed, the sun, the timely rain,
With bread our habitations fill.
u, praises, praises, gracious God
We bring Tor all our land receives
For herds, the verdure OF It's sod,
For verdure's crown, Its bursting sheaves !
D, give us, Parent OF our race,
Thy law OF brotherhood TO know
For all are beauties OF Thy grace;
For all, the crystal rivers flow;
Our cOuntry's every child enfold
In loving hearts fraternal all
Defenders all, may each behold
In brothers arms living wall.
Our Fathers sought Thee in the land,
Their faithful homage given TO Thee,
Thou gavest to their soul 8 demand
The Constitution Of the free.
Forever shall Thy work endure
For ever more our country bless
The truth their egis ever sure,
The Sons the fathers steps shall press.
In all the future, GOD OF Grace,
Thy favor to this people give,
Its rulers ever seek thy lace;
In snion all Its children live.
Give Legislators laws TO frame
The laws to execute, the wise
Be justice all judicial aim---
The wisdom be this peoples prize.
Eternal God The starry spheres
Thy everlasting dwelling are
Thou giyest man his feeting years,
Thou givest him this earthly star.
Among the nations Of the earth,
In this Thy holy christian age,
We bless Thee for our country's birth,
For all Its rolling years presage
y, may our country's glory light
The ages as a rising sun
A dayspring to all human sight,
Till earth and Thine own heaven be one
The human heart with Christian grace
The blessed reign Of Peace pursue,
Until the glory OK ia J faco
The nations OF the world shall view.
The Lake County star., 1876-05-18

BREvITY is lost art; but It is the
fault of time that writers or speakers
cannot be brief. There is too much TO
say, because too many things have hap
pened since the world started. In the
beginning Adam and Eve could talk AZ
concisely ~ the ten commandments.
There were no old Greek frauds to quote
from, no precedents, no remembrance on
the part of Adam of his mothers
cooking. With the first couple brevity
was the soul and body of wit, and there
were no words to waste, and nothing
but plain business TO do.