davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
Hard Times in Gotham.

"Jay Charlton" who is evidently
close observer, says in letter from New
York to the Danbury NeaOS.
1 wandered two miles along Broadway.
noticed that men walked less hast
lily than they did two or three years ago.
They were not rushing from store to
store with fat wallets and importunate
accounts. They slouched easily along,
with a sort of sailors roll, and seemed
to have little to do. Boys were no long
Ell tacking to avoid brusque men. Clerks
stood in store windows twirling their
whiskers. Windows of gun and pistol
stores were not patronized by gaping
crowds of countrymen. There was much
moving out of tenants, and a few pretty
damsels stood hesitatingly in front of
Photographic galleries, wondering which
artist they would patronize. Pretty
wagons were displayed, but few were
there to buy. In front of some of the
ribbon stores there were lady gazer
drawn from pure curiosity. Stewards
had no jam in front of its wide doors.
Mems clothes seemed poorer; there We're
ragged edges to vests, and boots, once
shiny, were greyly overlapping their soles.
Perhaps girls fiirted more, because they
had nothing else to do; but the men who
had time to ogle them had not money
for ice cream saloons. The bars were
not so bustling, and the cheap restau-
rants contained a greater number of
people than the dearer ones. 1 thought
there were fewer apple stands. Button
hole bouquets frightened fewer lappels,
and the picture and music stores were
vacant. Where crowds were most to be
expected, in the carpet and furniture
stores, there was lack Of people. The
old street, once crazy as bedlam, was
almost as quiet as the streets of South
ern city. No grass grew among the
stones, but the sparrows had no one en-
ergetic enough to disturb them while
they were stealing stray bits for their
nests. 1t was evident that we are living
in hard times.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17

might taste yet awhile all the sweets of his own
generosity.
Fraulein Muller will be very angry" said
Mary, as they entered the inn. "Sho had a
romantic alteration for Mr.. Manton
SIS that Fraulein's umbrella?" asked Tom,
pointing to a bulgy object of green and white
check which reposed outside the door.
Mary started. at is the doctors, she said,
81 do believe. Will you please to stay outside
little while, Tom, and let me so in first p
She made grand commoton with the handle
of the door, as if it had way of wanting to be
turned six times, and when she entered, 10!
there stood the doctor and Fraulein, III all the
consciousness of having been closer together.
But the gentleman was equal to the occasion.
Hardly waiting for Fraulen' nervous introduc-
ton, he began, solemnly bowling
"This inestimable lady, Meos Cromford, has
done me the honor to promise to become mis-
tress of the Reuss House and loving step
mother to-
"Oh, yes " interrupted Mary, rather rudely
but then she was already tiurried. "Do not
trouble to explain no doubt Fraulein answered
the advertisement"
81 am proud to say she did," said tln doctor.
"But, oh my dear" sobbed Frau1ein, I"
will never leave you while you want me-"
Every well, DEAR" answered Mary. you
don't know how glad am. l am going home,
for have doctor of my own outside"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
Items of Interest.

A Kansas paper reports that the black
birds are destroying the grasshopperss
greedily.
In 1901 Great Britain had 10000, 900
people, Ireland 100000. Now the
former has 27,OO0,O 900, the latter $780,
600.
Small boy, on tiptoe, to his compan-
ions "Stop your noise, all OF you.
Companions" Halo, Tommy, what's
the matter?" "We've got a new baby
it's very weak and tired walked all the
way from heaven last night, mustn't be
kicking up row round here now."
In the Philadelphia permanent exhibi'
ton building large gallery for vocal
and instrumental concerts has been put
up capable of holding $500 persons
opposite the gallery an area has been
left open for accommodating 5000
spectators at a single pop, if they should
come.
Like the generality of kings and con-
querors, Frederick the Great had a most
philosophic indifference to death-in
others. In one of his battles, q bat
talon of veterans having taken to their
heels, he galloped after them, bawling
out: "Why do you run away, you old
blackgrards ? Do you want to live for
ever ?"
A "castle Of patience" eight feet long,
four high, four wide, and containing
3G5, 900 pieces of wood, is exhibited by q
convict in the Virginia penitentiary.
He has been at work upon it, in spare
moments, three years and half. Each
piece of wood was handled eight times,
and it is held together by the "jacks !"
being interlaced.
The latest bore, and gigantic one he
is, is the knowit-all chap who has
Thoroughly studied the situation in
Roumania," and can tell you to q dot
Just where the Russian armies have
got to cross the Danube, just where all
the Turkish gunboats and fortresses are,
Just how far it is from Kalarash to
Shumla, and all that sort of thing.
A curious experiment with the magnet
was recently tried in London. A boy
had broken a needle in the calf of his
leg, and before resorting to surgical in
struments it was decided totry the effect
of powerful magnet in withdrawing
the steel. After a number of expert
ments in different positions the needle
was drawn near the surface on the oppo-
site side Of the leg from which it entered
and was easily withdrawn.
Courtship is very simple matter in
the Andaman islands. The bridegroom
cats certain kind Of rayfsh, which
gives him the appellation Of bachelor
desirous of marrying" When he is
ready to take wife, he sits beside a
marriageable maiden and stares at her.
Then the brides father or guardian joins
the hands of the pair, and they disappear
from the village, plunging into the
depths of the forest, and remaining away
several days.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
My MOther-in.law.

L married woman of sweetness and truth,
And beauty without any flaws
But over my head hung, like Damocles' sword,
That horror, a moth, r-in-law
80 upright and downright in person and looks,
She embodied the dismal old saw
VI scolding and pushing, and worrying and
bothering
Old bore of a mother-in-law.
She decided to live with u.s. Chaos and wreck
Would be the result, foresaw
So gave my cigars and my meerschaum, with
groans,
To friend with no mother-in-law.
One night, as we sat by blazing wood fire,
When the days had grown chilly and raw,
"How cosy and nice you would look with q
ppel
Don't you smoke ?" said my mother-n-law.
Did my ears hear right? Yes, bless her dear
heart
"Don't you smoke ?" was the first happy
straw
To "show how the wind blew" and clear up
the clouds
'Twixt mo and my mothcr-in-law.
And, oh, she's the kindest and dearest and best
Old darling that ever saw
My mother love, and my wife adore,
But l worship my mother-in-law
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
A SymDathetic Porter.

A few days ago lady living with her
husband i'll one of the hotels of Virginia,
New, noticed that young man who
acted in the capacity of porter about
the place, paid rather more attention to
her room than any other portion of the
hotel. One day he came i'll, and taking
a seat, remarked:
Madam, I would like to ask you an
important question"
"Well, what is it-something about
the trunks %
No, mnlam something of far more
Importance than trunks-sometbing that
concerns us both /; and the fact of the
matter is, madam, have been observ-
ing you closely for some weeks past, and
L am led to believe that there is trouble
trouble of a serious nature--gnawing
at your heart. Tell me what that secret
sorrow is.
The porter then leaned over the edge
of the chair-back, with one hand sup
porting his cheek, and assumed listen
ing attitude.
"There is a secret SORROW" rejoined
the laly, "and it weighs upon me like
milestone. 1t is that haven't stove
poker heavy enough to break your silly
pate with. But such as it is, how
ever
Here she grabbed the implement and
ma le a rapid fdvance upon the SYM
pathetic porter, whD broke for the door
an got ont just slowly enough to secure
sharp clip alongside The right ear. And
now thai mans secret sorrow is that he
didn't happen to be little nearer the
door when the poker intruded itself into
the debate,
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
Vanderbilt Refusing a Present.

A curious story is circulating in Wall
street, New York. Some weeks ago
James r. Keene, the California opera
tor, sent into the country to buy fine
pair of carriage horses. OF course he
spared no pains nor expense to secure a
handsome team. They were brought to
New York and taken care of at Lead
beater's stables. When Mr.. Keene saw
them he was not satisfied, and gave
orders to the stablekeeper to sell them
if he found a good customer. VIM. H.
Vanderbilt came across them in some
way, and was pleased with their looks.
He asked the price, and said that he was
willing to buy them if a fair bargain
could be made. Mr.. Keene found out
that the railroad king had taken fancy
to the team, and forthwith gave orders
that they should be sent around to Mr..
Vanderbilt with his compliments. Mr..
Vanderbilt sent them back with the
message that he did not think that his
acquaintance with Mr.. Keene would
warrant him in accepting such present,
but that he would be happy to buy the
horses at fair price. OF course the
California millionaire was taken aback,
but he accepted the situation and sold
the horses at a good figure.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
The RattleSnake and the Rat.

A short time since one of the members
of a prominent Boston manufacturing
firm spent a few weeks hunting in Flori-
da, and on his return he brought with
him monster rattlesnake, the gift of
friend. His snakeship measured about
five feet in length, and has body the
size of mans arm, the white, yellow
and brown cuticle blending rather beau
tifuIly i'll patches of various forms. The
heavy triangular head, Characteristic of
venomous reptiles, has sinister express
sion, and in moments of excitement the
five rattles on his tail keep up an un-
pleasantly suggestive whirring, while a
forked tongue of inky blackness and sur
prising length darts angrily from his
turtle-like mouth. He is no sleepy, half
starved fellow, as may readily be imag-
incd, but wide awake and ready for an
encounter of any kind. 1t was into the
cage occupied by this snake that few
days since rather small sized wharf rat
was introduced, in the expectation that
the rodent would form q meal for the
stranger. The snake seemed to think
so, too, for he darted on the unwilling
visitor and caught him by the neck.
The rat, who had hitherto been running
around the cage trying to get out, gave
a sharp squeal as he felt the serpent's
fangs, and, twisting himself about,
bu. led his teeth in the scaly jaw of the
aggressor. The snake writhed and
twisted and ratified sharp notes of alarm
as the rat kept his sharp incisors at
work, and before the spectators could
fairly comprehend what had happened
the little quadrnped had shaken himself
loose and was hopping in alright at the
further end of the cage for means of
exit. To the surprise of all he showed
no effects of poison, and when the snake
again made a grab at him he met his
creeping foe half way and shipped off a
piece of his long forked tongue. This
seemed to be rather more than the
Floridian had bargained for, and he
dragged himself into corner, cast down
and defeated Since that time the raj
has fourished in his strange quarters.
He capers over the body of his whilom
enemy, and avoids the punch of stick
by creeping under the head of the snake
The rat seems perfectly Indifferent as re-
CARDS the reptile, and when the latter
reused to high degree of anger by out
siders, makes strike at him, he hardly
takes the trouble to dodge, and only
bites back when the rattler is unusually
offensive. 1t is singular condition o
things, and the rats immunity iron
death cannot very easily be accounted Tor
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
A Strange Fashion.

A correspondent says that whenever a
fashion starts in New York it rushes
along without regard to fitness or pro-
priety. This is especially noticeable in
matters pertaining to funerals. A nobby
funeral has especial regard to the hour
of the day, usually eleven in the morn
ing. The sexton has a great deal to do
with giving character to the services. 1t
is a common thing to give to clergy
man, if he is of the right stamp, from
$25 to 500 for his services. The amount
of light let in the room, the pose of the
coffin, the arrangement and costliness of
flowers, the casket itself, with the num-
Der of coaches, attest the social rank of
the departed. 1t is getting to be rather
common for ladies to order their casket
and funeral trimmings while they are in
good health. A wealthy lady in New
Jersey has Just done that thing. Another
lady of New York purchased the material
for her funeral attire, was measured by
a dressmaker, had the garment made in
the nattiest style, fitted and tried on, as
if she were going to ball, and then
carefully laid away in the drawer until
the great change should come.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
During the ninety-eight months from
March 1, 1869, to May l, 1877, the debt
has increased ten times, as follows:
Affecting Sight.

A correspondent, who writes from
Vigo, Spain, says: In the neighborhood
of Finisterre, between the fishing vii
lagos of Bayona and Corunna, after
stormy weather, pieces of wreck are
continually being washed up, and some
times the bodies of the drowned. A
notable instance occurred after the
storms of January, when quantity Of
bodies were thrown out by the waves at
Muros. Among them were the corpses
of two ladies', one poor creature still
holding in her arms her dead child.
The fishermen say they were well dress
ed and fair, and supposed them to be
English. Accounts of these wrecks are
rarely if ever published in the native
local papers, and where all on board
have persisted are never heard of in
England.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
NO.. 13.
The Presidents Proclamation.

The proclamation issued by president
Hayes, calling for ON extra session Vi
is as follows:
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED OIArGS
OF AMER1cA-A PROCLAMATION. =,
Whereas, The final adjournment OF
the Forty-fourth Congress, without max
ing the ,isu, appropriation for the sup
mort of the army for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1878, presents an extraordl-
nary occasion, requiring the President TO
exercise the power vested III hlm by 'he
Constitution to convene the houses OF
Congress in anticipation OF the day 1lxeo
by law for their next meeting. NOW,
therefore. I. Rutherford Is. Hayes,
President of the United States, 90, ny
virtue of the power to this end IN me
vested by the Constitution, convene
both houses of Congress to assemble Mt
their respective chambers at twelve
o'clock noon, on Monday, the fifteenth
day of October next, then and there to
consider and determine such measures
as in their wisdom, their duty and the
welfare of the people may seem to de-
mand.
In witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and caused the seal of the
United States to be affixed. Done at the
city of Washington, this fifth day of
Nav, in the year of our Lord 1877, and
of the independence of the United States
of America the one hundred and first.
r. B. HAYES.
BY the President.
WIN. M. EvARTs, Secretary OF State.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
The War i'm Asia Minor.

The Russian troops advanced On the
strongly fortified town of Erzeroum in
several columns. The main army was
at Kars, while the right wing marched
against the Turkish defenses in the de-
files of the Souganlu mountains. The
left wing was pushing forward against
Erzeroum from the recently captured
town of Bajazid 1t will be seen that
the Russians are advancing into Asia
Minor as fast as the unwieldy move
ments of large bodies of men and mill
tary stores, and the stubborn resistance
of the Turks, will permit
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17

At the zenith of her grandeur Rome
had eleven distinct aqueducts, whose ag-
gregate discharge was equivalent to a
stream twenty feet wide by six deep, with
fall six times as rapid as that of the
river Thames. The daily supply was in
the proportion of 332 gallons to each in
habitant, and it was distributed to the
palaces and humber dwellings in every
part of the city, as well as to innumera-
BILE fountains, many public wells and
large reservoirs, to the numerous baths,
and to the several artificial lakes, where
the emperors held their naumachie, or
sham naval battles. These eleven con-
stituted the most extensive and perfect
system of aqueducts that has been pos
sessed by any city even up to the present
time. Their combined length was over
800 miles, fifty of which were above
ground, either upon low substructures or
more imposing arcades. The loftiest ar
cade was that belonging to the Aqua
Claudia and the Anio Novus; it was in
one place 100 feet high.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
Fashion Notes.

Gemmel rings are coming IN vogue.
Bunting suits are shown in all colors.
Cashmere breakfast shawls are re-
vived.
Bonnets are worn more forward on the
head.
Lace bonnet strings are giving way to
ribbon ones.
Large lace and muslin collarettes grow
in favor.
The handles of parasols are very az
tistic this spring.
Tilleul and mandarian are yielding to
old gold color.
Small standing linen colors are the
only ones at the moment.
Bunting parasols are fringed with
loops of ribbon of a contrasting color.
The Breton is the favorite style for
bunting suits when they are in colors.
Straw braids in old gold color and
fancy patterns are shown for trimmings.
The regulation sizes for ladies' UNI
brellas is twenty and twenty eight
inches.
Colored embroideries and colored
Torchon laces on underwear grow in
favor.
New parasols have handles of ivory,
mother of pearl, and red and white cellu-
loid.
Sandal boots are worn over cardinal,
or blue, or mandarin, or maroon plain
silk hosieries.
The newest French chemises are en-
broidered with bright red and blue en-
broidcry cottons.
The new things in silver filagree show
great improvement in the designs and
artistic finish.
Parasols and umbrella fringes formed
of loops of half inch wide ribbon are
among the novelties.
The latest importations in Torchon
lace show mingling of some bright
color with white in every piece.
White bunting suits trimmed with
black, and black ones with white bunt-
ing, are considered the most stylish.
Silver tilagree card cases of very fine
workmanship are sought for by the most
fastidious society women.
The newest Breton suits are of dark
grass linen embroidered and trimmed
with buttons on a string, q la Breton.
Some of the ribbon fringes of parasols
are formed of alternate rings and short
loops, the short loops being heightened
with tassel.
New silver filagree sets, consisting of
brooch and earrings, come in the form of
butterflies, bees, birds, gondolns, fans,
horns and various fanciful devices.
Pale blue and pale rose colored Isle
thread hosiery, with open clocked i'll
steps, will be worn for dressy indoor
toilets, with Marie Antoinette or Charles
TX. slippers.
Maroon, dark blue, cardinal, pink,
pale blue, and shades of yellow arc seen
in the new Torchon laces, the lower half
or edges being in color, and the head
ings white or cream colored.
Bottlefy earrings in new French
iewelry are formed OF pear-shaped pearls
for the body of the fly. yellow golden
wings studded with small turquoises, land
green gold head with small rubies fol
eyes.
The most fashionable street hosiery
has the foot and one-half the leg il
dark colors-blue, brown, myrtle green,
or red-and the upper half white. A
line Of vanaykes, or castellated, or fori.
atol designs marks the point of junctrre
of color with the white.
A pretty novelty in silver filagrec is g
small bouquet holder in the form of &
cornucopia attached to a finger ring by a
delicate silver chain, the ring to be worn
outside the glove; a silver pin, also at
tached by a chain, fastens the bouquet
securely in the cornucopia.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-05-17
The National Debt.

A statement of the reduction of the
national debt, issued by the Treasury
department, shows that the debt of the
United States, including accrued interest
thereon, less cash in the treasury on the
first of March, 1869, was 1926, 463,
260.01. From March 1 to the end of
the fiscal year, June 80, 1869, the de-
crease was 1886, AGO, 779.43, and for each
successive year the decrease was as fol-
The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1877-10-28
Tho EnglisI, nIIs,lnn.

According to a Washington special
Simoa Cameron will soon again como
TO tho front, having been uuwittingly
drawn from the retiracy OF private life,
by Secretary Evnrts, who appears to
have Thrust his foot into it, like q
very novice. The English Mission
having ;'gone begging" tho Secrctaiy
dropped q note 10 Don asking advice
as to whom the position should be Civ
on. and ut meeting OF Pennsylvania
Republicans immediately called al his
own house by that gentleman, tho elder
Cameron WAS unanimously selected,
and tho Cabinet now hos the matter Of
hia appointment under consideration.
II Simon receives tho nomination, the
whole trapsaction will doubtless 90
charged against the Administration Ms
merely on adroit scheme for the con.
ciliatiop Of tho Carncroninm clan, aud
through II, tho radical Republicans of
Pennsylvania, but we opiue conclu.
sion nearer tho truth would be reached,
by nttributing q successful itsuo in this
instance, 10 Tho sublimily Of "cheok''
posssssed by this family OF promincp,
politicians.
The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1877-10-28
-
General Shern,un's Virus.

Since his recent tour through tho
Indian County OF tho West, General
shermsn, IN his views respecting the
management Of the "Nalions Wards"
has evidently arrived at the Same con.
olusion reached years ago by II largo
InaioIity Of tho whites iuhaJiting those
RoeIioas. While ho jocs not favor A
fighting policy toward tho Indians, ho
believes tho War Department should
have full controll OF tho Indian ques.
toni ip othcr words, hc haa probably
discovered what the people Of this
coast havo long been nwnro Of, that tho
Indian Dnroau is nothing but most
pnmttigated fraud, and that Quaker
Commissions - the legitimate out.
growth Of phhrisNicai polioy--Rro
about 40 effcientin an Indian County,
az arc Quaker suna in an actual en-.
8agemcnt.' ]. "a.
The weekly Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1872-1887, 1877-10-28

a PIUTE sought II Carson wuud-p'ie,
md found ChinGman nlrcad 1T work
saving il. The Ipgcai describes t,.o
scene: Alter loI,iug OF o great yollcy
OF oaths. and. repeating his GcoTniul
ia!mic, 'es, ae made "a short speech to
tho following effect: "Tho pale face
siNcs work To The Celestial hOftns. Me-
tamorG, dcspuilci Of his hunting
GrowJd, hy tho Grcat Father which i,
i'll Washington. must bond al, pGvpJ
form 10 toll. Tho Rcd Man siu;Sc-.
rno Monaghan gets money in Ia,
purse" Then, rising to tho grnnden,
OF his theme, aud hccoinipg eloquent
w''a bis w"OngB and his Ecnac u ill.,
justicc, he nddo: "Inidn ruou get
money, bc spend EN-. !to bct old deck
OF car0& "i,i heap play poker. CHINA
mah hct moucy he 40 spend 'om. IT."
hccp 'eioi biIuoby rerd 'cm 10 Chiny.
lnjnn merry good u,Su. Cdiunmnn--., ,"
etc