davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
A ChOleric Fathers Revenge.

A sentimental young gentleman in
Galveston, Texas, was paying his ad-
dresses to pretty daughter of a choleric
Frenchman, and was drifting gently
into the smooth haven of wedlock. Sud
denly he ran across a snag. A jealous
rival told the young lady that her
affianced lover had called her father a
snappish, snarling, gouty old frog-eater,"
and had described her as ga firt of the
first water, with a temper equal to that
of Beelzebub's spinster aunt" The
young lady was angry. She told her
father and he was also wroth. The
doors were closed upon the lover; the
old gentleman even threatened to brain
him. A few weeks afterward the young
lady discovered that her lover had been
maligned, and forthwith he was sum-
moned with prayers, promises and tears.
He called one evening and everything
was satisfactorily explained. The chol-
eric old Frenchman did not know that
the charges were false. He happened
to pass through the hall and saw the
happy lovers sitting close to each other
and holding hands. His ire was inhamed.
He went on tip-toe to the water-cooler
at the end of the hall, carried it to the
parlor door, and suddenly reversed it
above the heads of the devoted pair.
Explanations and dry clothes were soon
in order,
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
A Human Salamander.

A famous man was M. Chabert, the
fire king, fire eater and "poison swal-
lower, rather less than half a century
ago. By trade baker at Paris he gain
ed much notoriety by his fire-resisting
qualities. According to the stories told
of him he would rush into burning
house and bring out the inmates. Once
passing smiths forge he took out n
white hot piece of iron with naked hand,
placed the end on an anvil, and had the
smith hammer away. The son of Vul-
can, too much alarmed, ran away, fear
ing that denizen of the neither regions
had made his appearance. For time
Chabert was inspector of the royal kit
chen at the Tuilleries but he was prone
to go into the heated oven and give out
the dishes of baked viands with his
hands. The king, fearful of the results
from such proclivities, discharged him
with a small pension. He went to Vien-
ma, and in the presence of the imperial
family sat in tar barrel flaming and
smoking until he was blackened like a
negro. Coming to England, he exhibi-
ted at White Conduit House, where he
entered a huge oven, took in a leg of
mutton, shut the door, sang some French
songs and came out with the mutton
baked. On other occasions he bore the
heat Of an oven raised to 500 degrees.
Repeatedly he swallowed PHOSPHORUS
and prussic acid, or appeared to do so
but when Mr.. Wakley, editor of the
Lancet, proposed to administer the last
named powerful poison as test Chabert
refused to comply. This and other Cir
cumstances led to the failure of the fire
king as profitable exhibition.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
Silent Americans Abroad.

A London letter writer says: Ex-
President Grant astonishes some of his
English friends by his silence. Ameri-
cans have generally plenty to say for
themselves. AS a rule they are ready
after-dinner speakers. Two great ex-
cepti ms may now be recorded in Lon
don's experience of famous Americans.
When Longfellow visited London,
dinner was given to him at the Langham
Hotel. The poet having made some OBJ
lection to lip glorifcation, and it being
understood that he would like the COM
pliment intended to be paid to him all
the better if there were no speeches, it
was arranged that this dinner should be
unlike the usual semi-public banquet,
inasmuch as there should be no address,
es and no proposing of toasts. There
were many distinguished guests present.
They were each in turn presented to
Longfellow. Then came the dinner. 1t
was excellent. A bright and general
conversation had sprung up, untram-
melled by this mans fear that he would
have to speak ON mis- legs and the other
mans fear that he would not. But there
was well known old gentleman at the
table for whom this scene of contentment
had no attractions. Mr.. s. g. Hall,
known better by the men he has met
than on his own account, and still more
widely known as the husband of Mrs. s.
@. Hall, suddenly rose in the midst Of
this happy throng, and, laundering on
the table, began to speak. He would
not be put down. Yes, he knew what
the agreement was, but he also
@hot l,a,r f1,a
eloquent of Englishmen, and he called
upon Mr.. Gladstone to say few words
in honor of the greatest American poet.
Mr.. Hall had done his ruthless work
well. He sat down amid loud cheer,
and presently Mr.. Gladstone rose to still
louder plaudits. The orator himself was
taken aback, but he was equal to the oc-
casion, and be paid glorious tribute of
eloquent praise to the poet. When Glad
stone sat down Longfellow stood up.
Thunders of cheers greeted the grand
old man, but the grand old man was very
miserable. If they had given him pen
and called on him for a poem, he would
have done well enough, but asked for q
speech, and without notice, Mr.. Long
fellow was nonplused. He opened his
mouth. No sound came forth. A second
time he essayed to speak with like re-
suit. At last he said: "Gentle ,nen, I
thank you; but it was understood that
there were to be no speeches I
imagine that in spite of his poetic gen.
tleness and amiability Mr.. Longfellow
must cordially hate the name of s. G.
Hall. Longfellow could chat pleasantly
and learned enough away from the for
NAL restraints of oratory; but ex-Presi-
dent Grant is what may be called silent
man all round. Now and then he breaks
out into an easy vein of conversation,
but this is only seldom. Midhat Pacha
himself is not more reticent than Gen
eral Grant, when he pleases.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
DetrOit's Hero,

Anthony Grogan, jumping for the
ferry boat Victoria, at the foot of Wood
ward avenue, Detroit, Mich, missed and
fell, but he was saved by John Horn, jr.
This makes the one hundred and thirtieth
person that Mr.. Horn has rescued from
drowning. 1t is thirteen years since Mr..
Horn, ST., took up his quarters at the
foot of Woodward avenue, occupying the
restaurant on the wharf. His son John
was then youth of twenty years, power
full athlete, we'll known in base ball Cir
cles as one of the strongest batsmen ever
turned out in Detroit. Before Mr.. Horn
established his headquarters ON the wharf
at the foot of Woodward avenue, the
place was dangerous, as there We're no
ratings along the shores, and oftentimes
the nights were SO dark and so foggy
that it was easy to walk off suddenly into
twenty-five feet of water. Mr.. Horn has
lost 81 800 worth of clothing in saving
life, sometimes running new and hand
some suit within an hour after putting
OF for the first time. In 1871 his ad-
mirers in Detroit gave him beautiful
gold medal, and this he lost in rescuing
person from drowning. In the rescue OF
Anthony Grogan, Mr.. Horn lost his gold
watch and chain and medal presented
to him by the city authorities. Two
years ago Congress voted him a gold
medal, e.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
A~COLLECTOR'S STORY.

Goodbye, DEAR" I said, after had
put on my coat and gathered up the
reins.
She took hold of my wrist and detain-
ed me.
"Wait moment, John"
Then she called to Mack, my great
Newfoundland dog, and he came out Of
the house, and, at motion from her,
jumped into the sleigh and curled him
self at my feet.
He was noble fellow, my brave Mack.
1 really think there never was such
another dog. Ihad brought him all the
way from New Hampshire, and we had
grown to feel perfectly secure in the
house with him, SO watchful and faithful
was the noble dog; but it never occurred
to me to take him on this trip, in a
sleigh.
"Belle," I said, "you are silly
girl. The dog will only be botheration
to me, and ten to one you'll want him
here before get back"
"Now, John, please do take him
for me Please do take him, john
take him, just because your silly little
wife is afraid to have you go without
him."
OF course the girl had her way. 1
was never able to understand how a man
can resist this kind of persuasion. /
never could, and never expect to. So L
kissed her and chirruped to Chevalier,
and he bounded away through the set
tlement like an arrow.
. 1t was the dead of winter and an
= unusually heavy snow had fallen, filling
in the roadway to the depth of four feet.
There had been travel enough to pack it
hard, so that found the sleighing ex-
cellent. Chevalier's hoofs glanced nimbly
over the snow, and in two hours 1 had
made more than twenty miles, and had
reached the substantial log-cabin of one
of our best and most intelligent GUS
toners. He received me with hearty
welcome, and when told him what my
mission was, he invited me to make his
cabin my headquarters while L remained
in the neighborhood. thankfully ac-
cepted the Invitation, stayed all night,
and the next morning, under the guild
ance of Dick, my hosts youngest son, a
clever boy of about thirteen, I started
ont to make my first experiment in col
lecting. 1t does not concern my story to
describe everything that happened to
me during my stay with our friend,
which lasted rather more than week.
When began to realize that had
collected about as much money as my
employer expected from this trip, 1 sat
down to count it up. I had been out all
day, and it was now just at the edge of
the evening. Supper was almost ready,
and 1 made up my mind that if my
portmanteau contained as much as
thought, would only wait to appease
my hunger before returning to the settle
ment. I poured out the money on the
floor, and counted it. 1t was all in gold
and silver, for bank-notes would have
been despised among us then, and
there was the sum of eleven hundred
and seventy-three dollars. They were
all sorry to have me go, and made me
promise to come again and bring nv
wife before the winter was gone. 1 put
on my coat and muffled up my ears, and
started.
The sleighing was still excellent the
night was clear and cold, and the full
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
Turks Diving for TGrpedOs.

The Turkish government has organ
lied a corps of divers, whose business it
is to root up the torpedoes which the Rus
slams plant in the Danube and ON the shores
of the Black Sea. These divers are Mo-
hammedans from Lazistan, and certain
number of them are attached to each of
the Turkish squadrons. When the ships
arrive near spot where the existence of
torpedoes is suspected two divers row to
the place in very light boat, which
draws SO little water that there is scarce
ly any danger of it's striking against a
torpedo. On arriving at the destination
one of the oarsmen dives into the sea;
if he finds the wire or rope by which the
torpedo is attached he cuts it with a
sharp instrument, and returns quickly
into the boat. The liberated torpedo
floats to the surface of the water, the
men pass sort of lasso round it, take it
in tow, and then row back to the ship as
quickly as possible. For each one thus
captured the divers are paid about $50
in addition to half the value of the tor
pedo itself.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
A Small Feast of Horrors.

A war correspondent on his way to
Widdin on the Danube gives the follow.
ing little episode of his journey: The
Tcherkess, who acted as our guide and
who called himself Mahmoud, became
talkative, and gave us to understand,
more by gestures than words, that he
was in the last war. He complacently
related to us the part he took, and he
made the most amusing figure as he
strenuously endeavored to explain him
self. His eyes shone like burning Goals.
"It was here" said he, "that shot the
Servian officer whose horse 1 am now
riding; there cut off the head of cor
poral, who seemed determined not to die.
Further ON cut off the ears and nose of
a soldier. "There," pointing to little
shrub, 81 buried the nose. Shall
show it to you?" We asked to be ex-
cused. While he related to us all his
terrible story he occasionally shifted the
perfume of rose which a pretty little
girl had given him just previous to our
departure. AS he held it almost continu-
ally to his nose and month ventured to
remark that the Turks were very fond OF
flowers; when he was not smelling the
rose he was drinking absinthe-a very
agreeable amusement TO him, no doubt,
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
HARD TIMES.
Present Relation Between Production and
Consumption.

Consumption
The Popular Science Monthly says:
Production and consumption do not
have that intimate relation to each other
they once had. In old times the weav-
er, for instance, was in contact with his
customers; he wove cloth as he discov-
cred the need; he cautiously set up q
second loom when it became fully evil
dent that it could be kept employed;
and thus supply and demand went, as it
we're, hand in hand. But now gigantic
mills filled with many spindles have lit
tie accurate relation to consumption.
The power of production by means OF
improved machinery is something i'm
mense, and it is exercised with no very
watchful or cautious regard to the imme-
date needs of the community. Goods
are piled up in vast quantities in waiting
for future market, or for an anticipated
change in price, or they are pressed
upon the market at such low rates or on
such long credits that buyers are Sc
duced into over-purchases. In favorable
times these establishments are run at
high pressure. The old-fashioned nice
relation between producer and consum-
er disappears. Speculation takes the
helm. Much more is produced than
there ia corn, leather, or other goods, to
exchange for it. The resources of the
mills are great; they can borrow from
the banks while they pile up their fab
RIGS in their warerooms; they can by
means of their concentrated capital keep
their machinery running, even ut loss,
if by 80 doing they can crush out a rival
or manipulate the market. But in the
height of this prosperous run there is O
check-no matter for what cause-and
suddenly the work stops. There is little
sale for goods produced; the fires
must be put out, the doors closed, and
thousands of operatives are deprived of
employment. This would not be so un-
fortunate if this over production had
been diffused among the work-people.
But it had not. Notwithstanding the
high pressure and the excessive manu-
facture, wages have been kept down;
while producing in six months as much
as could be exchanged in year, the
workmen have not been paid in this way
their wages have been upon the basis
of the whole years work as result,
they are turned empty-handed upon the
street. And, what is particularly unfor-
tunate, they are reduced as consumers to
the minimum point. Here the evil works
both ways. The excessive production
which has shut up the mill has weak.
ened the power of the community to alb
| sorb this production-the goose that lai6
the egg has been slain. Inevitably the
recovery from hard times brought about
in this way must be slow. The spindles
cannot be set in motion until the stocl
of goods on hand is reduced and fresh
demand revives; this demand cannot re.
vive because the great body of consum.
ers are in state of impoverishment
This condition of things is entirely
sufficient to explain the genesis and the
prolongation of business prostrationD
Capital is not impaired; it is locked ur
in machinery that is silent, in goods thai
cannot be exchanged, in money that has
no borrowers. 1t is the paralysis O.
consumption that is the cause.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
A Sad Story.

"Married, in New Orleans, Thursday, June7,
1877, at 5:30 P. NJ, James NJ. Walpole and
Monnie NJ, daughter of the late George W.
Pritchard."
"Died, June 7, 1877, at $50 P. NJ, Monnie
NJ, wife of James NJ. Walpole."
The above, from New Orleans paper,
is the simple announcement of one of
the sorrowfulest stories it ever falls to
mortal pen to recount. Monnie M.
Pritchard, of New Orleans, was beau
tiful, gentle, very intelligent girl. She
was q cousin of Mr.. William McAlpin,
of Cincinnati, and some time ago visited
Cincinnati and the North for the first
time. Her visit of few weeks IN Gin
cinnati stretched itself out to many
months, before she left finally for her
Southern home.
She naturally had many friends and
admirers. Mr.. James M. Walpole, city
editor of the New Orleans Picayuae,
had been devoted to her for four years,
and at length, on the nineteenth of
June, they were to have been married.
Before the happy day came Miss Pritch-
ard was stricken with sudden, fatal sick.
ness. Thursday, June Z, it became
plain that the lovely girl could not tarry
longer among the living. They told her
so, and she sent for her bethrothed, and
asked to be married to him before she
died.
eyes," said Mr.. Walpole, /" if she is
to die, want her to die as my wife"
The solemn marriage ceremony was
performed hurriedly and sadly, while the
gentle soul was even then passing into
eternity. Three hours after she was
dead, and Mr.. .Walpole, four years a
lover, three hours husband and now a
widower, has only her sweet remem-
brance left him.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
Items of Interest.

The plague of 1346 is said to have de
stroyed in Christendom 23,840,O per-
sons.
Immigration from Russia brought us
$3.50 Individuals last year-mostly
Mennonites.
At q Michigan wedding a man of one
hundred and six years danced with
young lady eighty-nine years his junior.
This war has already demonstrated
one thing, that the Russians can run as
we'll as the Turks can when occasion re-
quires.
The French mint has struck 10000
francs worth of centime pieces in bronze,
each representing about the twelfth of
an American cent.
It is useless for physicians to argue
against short-sleeved dresses. The con-
stitution of the United States says that
"the right to bear arms shall not be IN
terfered with"
Daniel Webster, Wellington, Napo-
leon, Bismarck, or any other great man
whose enius put its brand upon the
age, would feel his insigniicance as
quickly as you or we if he ever attempted
to wade through Texas wheatfield.
A Baltimore hack driver reached his
home q few nights since and complained
of severe pains in his side. Rising from
his chair he said to his wife: II shall
die before morning." and walked toward
the window. Suddenly he fell to the
floor dead.
A Western paper has improved on the
original plan, and now says "No COM
munication will be published in this
paper unless accompanied by the full
name of the writer and a five-dollar bill;
these are not requested for publication,
but as guaranty of good faith.
In Pittsburgh Jacob Klonsking wrapped
$500 in notes up in paper and put it in
drawer. His wife wishing to kindle a
fire soon after began a search for paper,
but found none until she opened the
precious drawer, and a cheerful blaze
was soon on the hearth, which cost
Klonsking nearly $500.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
A School Girl Thrashing a Boy.

A curious example of female grit oc-
Cured in one of the rural school dis
tricts in Skowhegan, Me-, recently. The
school was disorderly one, the teacher
having lost her control over the scholars.
Some of the boys had annoyed the girls
exceedingly by throwing wadded paper,
iunks of clay, etc. Finally, one of them
reported a certain boy to the teacher.
The teachers reply was that she
"wanted no tattling." Soon after, while
the school was in session, this boy, in
firing across the school room, hit this
same young lady, hurting her quite bad
ly. Her supply of patience and grace
was exhausted. Immediately seizing q
large book with these words "If the
teacher can't lick you, Ican," she started
for him. 1t is said that she pounded
until through his tears he begged for
mercy. 1t is also stated that the boy
has been remarkably supple and obedi-
ent ever since.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
Thoughts for Saturday Night.

A difference of tastes in Jokes is a
great strain on the affections.
Narrow-minded people deliberately
shut out half the pleasures of life be.
cause the enjoyment of them clashes
with their own peculiar views.
Base natures Joy to see hard hap hap
pen to them they deem happy.
Decency is the least of all laws, but
vet it is the law which is the most strict
ly observed.
Envy makes us see what will serve
to accuse others and not perceive what
may justify.
Everything is worth seeing once, and
the more one sees the less one either
wonders or admires.
In the species with which we are best
acquainted-namely, our own-I am far,
even as an observer of human life, from
thinking that youth is its happiest sea.
son, much less the only happy.-Paley
Every other sin hath some pleasure
annexed to it, or will admit of some ex
cuse; but envy wants both; we should
strive against it, for if indulged in it viii
be to us foretaste of hell, upon earth.
To a man of delicate and sensitive
mind, nothing is SO truly revolving as the
discovery of an offensive habit in the
woman he respects.
Let grace and goodness be the princi
pal loadstone of thy affections, for love
which has ends will have an end, whereas
that which is founded on true virtue will
always continue.
Extravaganza is one of the Creates
evils of the present age. 1t is under
mining and overturning the loftiest ant
best principles that should be attained
and held sacred in society. 1t is annually
sending thousands Of young men anc
women to misfortune and ruin.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-19
The Fourth Abroad.

The presence of General and Mrs.
Grant in London naturally gave addi-
tional interest to the celebration of the
"fourth," this year, in the British me-
tropolis. The cable reports that the
principal feature of the celebration of
our nation holiday took place at the
Americ IN legation, where Mr.. and Mrs.
Grant acted as receiving guests, together
with Mr.. and Mrs. Pierrepont. The re-
ception lasted from four until seven
o'clock, and was attended by all Ameri-
cans at present in London, among them
ex-Govegnor Hendricks, Senator Conk-
ling, Gen, Sickles, Mr.. Eugene Schuy-
ler, and host of other political and di-
plomaticpersonages Thereception closed
with the singing of the "Star Spangled
Banner by Miss Steel, an American,