davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
4 Nevada Phenomenon

The Virginia lNey.) Enterprise says
that much excitement was recently
created in that city 10y ono of the
strangcst phenomena Of the century.
At first it had the appearance Of sparks
Of fire coming up through the pools Of
water beside the street These sparks
seemed to explode on reaching the sur
face, III many instances producing re-
ports loud enough to bc heard across the
street, and being accompanied by n little
cloud of smoke and emitting n decidedly
sulphurous smell After watching these
performances for long time, and trac-
ing them all along the street, it began to
bc noticed that they occurred only on one
side and that under the telegraph wires
This led 10 n closer examination, when
the following supposed solution was
arrived at The sparks seemed 10 be
caused by drops of water falling from
the wires, which exploded when striking
the pools Of water, with the effect above
mentioned. This solution was seeming
ly confirmed 10y the fact that when the
wires bccamcdry the phenomenon ceased.
There still remains to be explained,
however, why. under the circumstances,
such results should follow the falling of
the water drops from the wires.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
1 Thonghtfnl undcrlakcr.

We noticed ON thc street uur old friend
Charley Brown, the great mining expert
and principal owner IN tac Houston
mime. Saws the Austin New Esr,iNs.
Every one knows Charles rs one ot the
most polite and ailablv 81 undertakcrs
living. Some years ago ho presided At
muuruinl occasion Iu Virginia City,
brought about by the shooting 81 q gen
tlemau who kept saloon. He was "a
popular man, and was buried by the fire
department Several companies were IN
attendance, with bands al music and "a
large cnucourse Of people. The officiating
clergyman was a comparative stranger,
acting for the time for one OF the rcrI-
dent clergy. When everything WAS III
readiness and the services about 10 COM
mcncc. the thoughtful Charley quietly
approached and suity remarked " Par
SON, / reckon Won are "a stranger up
here - Somewhat, replied the clergy
man. Thought $40, said he look
Mind a strange like You didn't know
the deceased p "Nu" Well q"
added the accommodating Charley, Il
thought nobody but me would bc likely
to help You out, 50 thought I'd tell You.
He was shot innocent, he was. Tie was
just n pourin out glass O. whisky, free.
YOU know. and that miserable skunk Just
mp and draw'd and shot him dead, and
there he is. He wouldn't alarmed no.
body, he wouldn't Why, that man had
q mcnagcrie IN the corner of ms saloon,
where he kept tanned animals and fed
EN- with his own hands every day. Dogs
and rats and cats and mice and little
pigs and lizards and horued-toads and a
monkey, and every darnei kind Of var
miut-lke that eats each other. And he let
the little boys and girls III to see 'cm for
nothiu'. He was kind 10 animals and
little children. Put il in. II viii please
the boys. Iou hear me? / mean 10
have this thing 60 through clean. The
parson "put il in and Il did please
the boys At the proper time the pro-
cessiun was formed with a carriage nj the
head, then q band OF music, a fire com
panv, then the hcarsc, and so on. When
the clergyman came out he said E" Mr..
Brown, | think there Is some mistake
about the arrangements. My carriage
should not be at the head Of the process
sion, hut Immediately preceding the
hearse." The prince of undertakers
gave him one severe look, and said firm
" Parson, what do you know about
a way-up funeral2 You ride head, you're
the principal man III the outfit except the
corpse" The parson took his seat, and
as the sequel proved, he was the princi-
pal man, for at the first blast from the lead
ing band his team started, and ran vio-
lently, reaching the cemetery n full half
hour in advance of the procession. Char
ley met the clergyman some years after,
and in speaking Of the circumstance, said:
"You remember that, do you? Well,
don't You sec, can always make things
pleasant and agreeable in them affairs by
Just giving the pnrson word when he
nccls IL "
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
4 Famous Bible.

The Hartford CDuraut says AZ the
meeting of the Connecticut Historical
society the chief interest gathered about
thr exhibition 81 one a. the Turcst and
most valuable books in America. aud,
indeed. in the world. DR. Trlmbull
brought ont the Mazarin Bible, belong
ing IN the collection of the late Mr..
George Brinlyy This Is one Of the only
two copies IN America, and only siN in
the world. Ii WAS printed ia l45j. Two
years ago two copies were sold az auction
IN London in the same sale. and one,
printed upon paper, brought $4,000
gold the other, ON yelum, broucht
So. 600 gold Usually vcllum copy Of
any work brings four or five times as
much as paper one but the history of
the Mazarin Bible raises the value Of the
paper copies relatively 70 those on vel
lum. Gutenberg printed the first copies
in 1885, and all those were on paper in
l45G Faust got possession oi the types.
and his edition was partly on vellum.
Those, consequently, are not 80 com
pletcly " original. The Brinley copy
is on papcr-onc Of the genuine Gutcn-
berg priuts-and IL is n marvel cf the
printers work. It's equal could not be
made to-day. The ink. though four
hundred years old and more, is as dis
tinct rs INK could be. and the paper Is
still whit and clear. Tho Register Is
perfc, and the appearance Of the page
far passes that of the best modern
books. The first letter Of each chapter
ia an illumination done by hand. and
there are frequently full-page illumiua-
tions through thetwo volumes, also done,
Of course. hy hand These are exquisite
specimens uf work, and their Coloring is
as fine and rich "a IL was when put on
finer in some cases than il could be made
now. The work is printed in Latin,
with a number Of curious contract SYM
bols in the text, used 10 space the lines
evenly. Three different ways of the let
ter IS broad, moderate width and
narrow-are examples Of the care taken
in such respects. This volume was
probably bound about hundred years
after Its printing, and must have been
hidden away for centuries in some
monastery. The Mazarin Bible was the
first book printed with movable type.
It's date is not given. but Vas discovered
by means Of certain marks upon the
manuscripts found with one copy. The
oldest dated printed book is marked
MCCCCLIX. The Watkinson library has
copy of this. A curious feature of
the Briuley copy Of the Gutenberg Bible
is that upon each page is n faint pin
mark at the top and bottom. This solves
the hitherto inexplicahle problem Of how
the register had been made so exact
that is, how exactly the matter upon OPP
posites sides of the same leaf had been
made TO cover the same space, lines and
margins corresponding precisely.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
Horse Statistics.

The number Of horses in the various
countries Of the European continent and
III the United States Of America has been
estimated as follows: In Russia, 16,-
10000; the United States, 9,50i, 200;
Germany, 1882, 281 Great Britain,
2,790, ,S51 France, 2,742, 73S; Austria
Hungary, 1869, l38 (of which 2,179,8l1
belong to Hungary; Italy, G57, ,54l;
Norway and Sweden, Cos. $40; Spain,
3s2, O09; Denmark, 2lG $40; Belgium,
282, 1853; Holland, 26O, ,O56; Switzerland,
100, 93I; Greece, %, 938; and Portugal,
1916. The proportion OF horses to
each ], 900 Of the population is 227 705
in Russia, 24416 in America, 175.55 in
Denmark, 146 80 in Hungary, 1l4SS in
Sweden, So 10 in Great Britain, 31.G4 in
Germany, and 18 % only in Portugal. OF
mules there are found 500 in Germany,
303, 775 III France, H. .935 in Austria
HUNGRY (0f which 1896 are in Hun
gary proper, 293, SG6 in Italy, and the
large number Of 6,655, ,472 in Spain.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
NUMBER %.
A RUSSIAN REPULsE.
virtsry for the Turisa near Batoum~-IIenvy
I.sss of the ftpssians and bravery Of the
TuFka.

yirtsry for the Turks near Intermediary
I.oss Of the ttasuiaBs and bravery Of the
THrks.
A special dispatch 10 the London
DGiLy Tetegraph says The Russian
forces, which bad been largely augment
ed for the purpose, advanced with bat
teries 0f field artillery nj five o'clock ia
the morning, aud made a furious attack
upon the heights defending BatOum on
the land side, which were occupied by
Bashi- Baz1ukss The Ottoman troops
were intrenched ia a very effective man
ner upon the slopes aud lodges Of these
hills, and upon the advance Of the enemy
they opened on his columns terrible
and well-sustained fire Of cannon and
musketry, which literally moved the
Russians down In swaths. They fell by
scores and hundreds on the plain below
the Turkish positions. During their al
tempts 10 make way against this fire, q
body nf Turkish horse aud foot, taking
advantage Of a thick forest, broke forth
upon the flank Of the Russian column,
and made great slaughter The Mnsoo-
yites being upon ground perfectly open,
and having no choice but 30 fight or hy,
IA u hAoEt A4tlc the hlfpl WHICH MlA1 TIC
scene Of this flank movement Was covered
with dead and dying Russians. But the
enemy quickly brought up reinforce
ments, and the battle was renewed with
much determination. For many hours
the efforts Of the assailants were despe-
rately maintained, but toward midday
their artillery fire gradually slaekened,
and they at length withdrew. after suffer
ing very considerable losses. myself
Was an eve witness Of this important en-
gagemeut from first 30 last, and gan
testify that the Ottoman soldiers behaved
with a gallantry which was most admir-
able. They had. however, during a
great part Of the action, the advantage
Of intrenehments on high ground, and it
is due 10 TINS fact, no doubt, that their
losses, compared % those inflicted upon
the enemy, were small. The victory
WAS won by the extraordinary courage
Of the Bashi- BaBouls. The dead and
wounded on the Russian side viii exceed
1000. The engagement lasted over
eight hours Of actual fighting. The last
Of the Russians did not withdraw until
near midnight The Russians lost many
guns The only Turkish officer Of note
killed is khalim Bey, major Of irregulars.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07

"Did | over love any other girll' re-
peatcd n prospective bridegroom in
answer 10 the fearful query of his in
tended. "Why, darling, Of course not !;
how could you ask such a question :?
You are my first, my only love. This
heart knew no awakening until the sun
shine Of your love strcamed in and woke
il to ocstacy" Aud then he kissed her
tcndcrly and went home, and said to
himself: - must hurry them things
out Of the way right of or there'll be n
row. " and collected together a great pile
of letters, written in all kinds of feminine
hands, with lots OF faded flowers and
photographs and locks of hair and bits
Of faded ribbon, and other things, and
when the whole collection had been
crammed into the kitchen CRATE he drew
deep sigh and said to himself: There
goes all that's left of fourteen undying
loves-let'em flicker"
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07

A black. walled barn, with roof Of sombsr red
Within. dusty, sunht granary floor;
On either side widely opened door
Let in broad sunlight on the thrasher's head.
And showed the cattle meath neighb'ripg
shed.
Beyond the sunshine, piled in golden store,
Lay the clean grain, while ever moro and
more
The empty straw, and The bright heap il made,
Oorloppod the well stacked sheaves OF heavy
wheat
That in the sunlight close beside our feet
Lay ready 10 the thraSh,Fs busy hand,
Who in the midst, with wiiful falling Gail.
Boat a slow music they could understand
To lazy barn fowls seated on the rail.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
High Foreheads.

The notion that high foreheads, in
women as well as men, are indispensable
10 beauty, came into vogue with phren-
ology, and is going out with the decline
OF that pretentious and plausible sci
ence. Not long ago more than one
''fine lady" shaved her head 20 give il
an intellectual appearance, and the
custom of combing the hair back from
the forehead probably originated in the
same mistaken ambition. When 1t is
considered that great expanse Of fore
head gives bold, masculine look-that
from irons (forehead) comes the word
" effrontery," it viii not be wondered
that the ancient painters, sculptOrs and
poets. considered a low forehead 3" a
charming thing in woman, and, indeed,
indispensable TO female beauty. Horace
praises Lycoris for her low forehead,
and Martial commends the same grace
as decidedly as he praises the arched
eyebrow.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
Wedding at Forty Mile, an Hour.

We take tho tulloWiugpieaaut episode
IN railway travelling from the san Fran
CISCO thratig'f, The passengers un the
overland tram from the East were treated
e. a little sensation plv.sluJyr than the
regular one, ui the rush through Echo
cauvuu aui the rauuiugc ci Cape Horn.
ur tlc occasional uuc ,i meeting ON the
s...ue track u tram accidentally houud the
other Way. lt WAS "a marriage ut thc nate
ot forty miles au hour between Galt and
Stockton. by the Rev j. &. Hamilton
ui the latter V'acc, ut De- Israel Davis,
ot Stockton. O. Mrs J. Susan Armstrong,
ui LtaytuVorth. Kansas. lt would be
tao long story, the romantic one Of
thelr youthful brtruthal, the lutrrposI-
ton az ctuy, fake that married each 90
one other than the first choice, the COM
biaeI death 10y rr,cut.ng fortune Of
both the second choices, and the renewal
Through the United States mail. of the
interrupted lowe of their Younger years
Tie engagement was renewed, and Mrs
Armstrong. "a very pronounced brunette
ytrg.uE now upou cmhuupoIut and forty,
ser forth u be married. She WAS de-
tanned tcr short timc hv snow near
CAgyguue, and the ardent doctor, deter
mined rLA. uo mahgu circumstance
should ags.h puS aside his happiness.
set oil post haste tI meet her The miu-
istsr set III pest haste after the doctor.
and 10 is Supposed that II there had been
any intervening TRAINS the guests would
have sc; oil post Aastc after tho oticia-
uug clergyman. The doctor, an elderly
but remarkably well preserved gentle
man. IN iul dress and fau,tlcss beaver
and black thr,c-hUt-aued hid gloves, met
the tram ui his ailauc,j az Sacramento.
Both came on 90 Galt, where they were
ms; 10y the Rev. Mr.. Hamilton. All
three then continued ON % Stockton, but
the long endured STRAIN had now become
too severe. There was an arient and
uuhearI request 10y the gentleman. coy
and hlu~hiug consent by the lady; the
peanut boy WAS dispatched for the CON
ductur tp lend an official mir 70 the cerc-
nguy: the gentleman and lady stood up
IN the aisle AS well as they could, hang
iug uu o. each other and 10 the ends oi
the seats. the clergyman stood up Ii.
front Of them. and. amid the boom and
rush OF the tram, the questions were
beloved out and responses shouted back
hap-hararl. and then the minister. in a
voice ike "a trombone. declared the lev
ing and long separated couple man and
wife. 80 Stockton the marriage party
got Of and were immediately driven 60
the residence of the groom. and the train
relapsed into It's humiyum gallOp TO the
Pacific.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
An ETHEREAL BRIDE.
strange atarriaMe--A Mortal Welded to IA
spirit.


All Memphis. Tennessee, is agog over
sensational occurrence at the spirit
rooms Of Or. Samuel Watson, being no
less than the marriage If resident Of
the terrestrial sphere, Mr. c. a. Still
man, a. Miss Alice Robert, long an in
habltaut Of the spirit world. The cere-
muuy was performed, with all due
s1lcmuity, 10y Mr. Watson, who is a
regularly ordained clergyman, the bride
matcriuliziug for the occasion. With
one who WAS present, the AtIiauchs re
porter held the following conversation :
Where did the ceremony take
place."
AT the residence Of Mr. Watson.
Did YOU ever see the cabinet p
The reporter had not.
There. sir, Is where the wonder of
the matter comes in. ID ls shut of IA IA
corner 10y "a curtain, leaving about sutli-
cieut room for one person 10 turn around
comfortably IN. The walls behind are Of
solid brick masonry Out of this email
space the matcrlalizci spirits came
about "a dozen IN number.
THE bride Was h. have married Tom
Moore had she not died, / believe. Was
il Tom Moore. the poet?'
1--WE didn't know what Tom Moore
she referred 10, but she was pretty
enough 70 be amy ones bride She was
the most beautiful thing | ever SAW"
Had negotiations for the marriage
between the spirit bride and Sullmuu
been arranged beforehand p
"Oh, yes, for some time Two or
three times before had preparations for
the ceremony been made, hut the bride
had not until this evening acquired sui
iicIeut power 10 remain ont long enough
o. go through the ceremony. She spoke
only in whisper, but her voice grows
stronger each time aLr appears.
"What sort of "a marriage ceremony
was used -
1T didn't differ much, / think, from
the ordinary religious marriage ccre-
muuv.
Now. is this marriage TO hold in the
spirit wurld?'
Oh, certainly; she Was very much III
earnest about d.
Docs il dcDar Sullman from marry
ing now uu earth
.' think he $50 understands IT, l DO. y
The gentleman sand that there was "a
subluri lamp-hght IN the room az tie
time. and that fully nine matcrlalIzrd
spirits appeared The company present,
Was composed Of about dozen persons,
and Mrs. Miller WAS thc medium. On
the same evening this gentleman bad his
little ch.ld baptized 10y the spirit ui "a
deceased Episcopal clergyman who came
out from the cabinet ia his robes Of
Office. and taking the babe in his arms
performed the hApt,smal ordinance.
People who haven't learned the A Il
G Of the philosophy Of sp4ritualism, I'm
aware. can't understand, and viii ridlculr
tins, but e. me. il is all matter Of
kuowlcjge-uf fact, said ;hc gentle
man.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
Russian Soldiers.

The Russian army in Europe does not
exceed 10000 men, and that in Asia
numbers 250,O00. The soldiers are
often stigmatized as towards, dependent
ON vodka for their nerve. But the same
was. said of them in 1854. 1t is true that
among army stores forwarded to head
quarters the supply Of spirits is aston
ishingiv prominent. But the worse vice
is disaffection. The much discussed i'll
ness OF the Grand Duke Nicholas was no
illness, but gunshot wounds. An ut
tempt was made 10 assassinate him by
Soldier, and he received bullet through
his arm and another grazed his side.
4" Ny information, says a resident long
in Russia, "on this point is indisputa-
BILE, but / cannot give my authority 1t
was hushed up most successfully at the
time, to the extent Of the interrogation Of
half n dozen private kilograms Of my
own alluding to the event.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
A Gingerbread barometer.

A French editor has invented a new
kind Of barometer 1t is a general in
gingerbread, which he buys every year
a. n certain fair. On returning home he
nails his acquisition to the wall. Every
body knows the influence of the temper
ature on gingerbread; the least damp
ness softens it. Dry weather, on the
contrary, dries il mp and hardensit All
that this gentleman has TO do every
morning is 10 ask his servant what the
general says. The faithful domestic
goes aud puts his thumb on the figure
and answers either: THE general is
soft to-day; you will please take your
umbrella;" or, 1.-The military man is
firm: You can put on your new hat.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
The Wives of Brooklyn Pastors.

A correspondent says: Mrs. Cuyler
never does any pastoral work, is elegant
and refined, and lives in a fine mansion
in Oxford street Mr.. Cuyler's mother
does considerable calling among the
members of his congregation, being ener-
getic and untiring. Mrs. Talmage is,
socially, very active and popular, has
pronounced talents, and frequently pre-
sides at women's meetings. Mrs. Duryea
is in feeble health, and unable even to
attend to the duties of her own house
hold OF Mrs. Beecher, the writer says:
"There has always been a little eoterie
in Plymouth church as exclusive as that
which surrounds the queen. Outside OF
this Mrs. Beecher has seldom ventured, y
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
Then and Now.

used 20 ;hink YOU very fair,
Aud, oh 50 very simple,
because YOU had a chndhke air
And such a saucy dimple
used TO think you loved the birds
Aud iVed among the aowers,
And that yoR meant the whispered word
Iou saldin twilight hours
And Oh l thought you would Ee true,
Although you were 81 never;
And vet viii he true 70 YOU
For ever and for ever.
! Iwondty il you quite forget
The DAYS we spent together,
Or Il yon think with vague regret
or tangled grass and heather,
! wonder II YOUR ewes Sgc stan
As b,Ut as when VIC parted
SAW them turn away and all,
And Thought yoa broken hearted
az, Well Won vtgc a sad cNluc,Je5
But III forge, Yea never;
I'll keep your r1so al is treasured yeD
For ever ANA .ug ever.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
A Black-and.Whitc Woman.

There is an old colored woman in the
Flatbush almshouse on Long Island,
whose skin has for some years been un-
dergoing n change Of color. White spots
have from time to time appeared on her
face, while the skin of her arms from the
elbows down has become as delicately
colored as that of blonde, under which
the blue veins are plainly visible. White
spots have also appeared on her shoul-
ders. The change seems TO be steadily
going on.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07

MorHs IN CARPET.-Mrs. ''S. I. W."
has tried salt and various other applica-
tions. and still the insects trouble her
carpets. We advise her to try the plan
proposed by Prof A. J. Cook, in his re-
port on injurious insects. He advises to
take n wet sheet or other cloth, lay it
upon the carpet, and then go over the
wet cloth with hot flat icon; the steam
thus produced will penetrate the carpet,
and not only destroy living moths, but
cook their eggs, and prevent them from
matching. It is cheap and easy of apph-
cation, and we have no doubt that 1t viii
prove effective. The only wonder is,
that no one has thought of it before.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07
VOLUME X.

Mr. BROAD d.d not pra,our hjs visit. lie went
dlc,, to has wife. aua rt,atgd 81 her what had
ttgnsIlUd,
gr,st mistake whom thinking " fyI the tu,urv.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07

An English woman, who was born
without arms, has just had twins. She
wears her wedding ring ON her toe, and
does all the housewurk with her feet with
a dexterity that is surprising. How she
will manage to nurse her twin babies is
Il problem yet TO be solved.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-06-07

A man returned his newspaper to the
printing Office with "jackass written on
the margin, and IN the next issue the
editor stated the fact, and wound up the
paragraph by asking: "Will our indig-
nant subscriber please let us know at
what stable he can be found p