davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07
The American Baby.

Save your pity for the unhappy little
traveller, American born and white, who
is abandoned to the tender mercies Of
nurses. He will be dressed too tightly
perhaps, drugged with sOothing-syrup
(or worse), slapped if he cries, and left
alone in the dark. He will ride in his
carriage with the sun in his eyes, if it
is sunny and with arms and hands un-
covered and half frozen, If it is cold.
Flies will be allowed to tickle his fat
little nose, and pins to stick into his
tender little back. The strings of his
absurd lace cap will choke him till he is
black in the face; and he will nearly
break his neck falling over the arm of
Bridget when she wants to gossip with
a crony. His troublesome clothes will
be twitched down and jerked around;
and he will be laid down, set up, turned
over, and arranged any way convent
ent to her. Above all, If he dares open
his mouth to complain of these tortures,
his delicate little body will be trotted
on her hard knees till it will be nothing
short of a miracle If his precious little
life is not worried out of him.
The calm Oriental baby in his tray or
basket; the Chinese baby in his cage /;
the baby of Burmah, naked or wrapped
in silks, smoking at two and married at
ten; the baby of the "Cradle" and the
Founding Asylum of Paris; the Lima
baby in its hammock, and the stolid In
dian papoose on its boards,-each and
every one is happier and better off than
our poor little mother-abandoned Amer
lean baby, left to ignorant and careless
nurses.
The "mother-baby, the happy little
traveller who is not left TO the mercies
of nurse, whose throne is his mothers
arms, whose pillow is SOFT, and whose
needs are wisely met,-he is the happi-
est of all. Fair, fat, and hearty, the
SORROWS of babyhood come not near
him. He truly is the one 'born with
silver spoon in his mouth. ."-S. Nich
alas
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07
A Laugh n Good Thing.

What capital, kindly, honest, jolly
glorious good thing is laugh. What a
tonic, What digester, What febri-
fuge, What an exorciser of evil spirits
A hearty laugh, which is ever in order.
stirs up the physical man from the
centre to the circumference, and tends
to improve the whole physical and
spiritual being. Ii promotes animal
health and spirits, and is TO the man
what the tides are to the ocean; it stirs
up the sluggish depths, prevents stagna-
ton, and keeps the whole system fresh
and wholesome. 1t is what the Gulf
Stream is to the Ocean-a vivifying and
warming element. The convulsion pro-
duced by hearty laughter penetrates to
the minutest blood vessel, and causes
the blood to flow with a freshened I'M
pulse. Laughter shuts the mouth of
malice and opens the brow of kindness
Whether it discovers the gums of in
fancy, or age, the grinders of folly, or
the pearls of beauty; whether it racks
the sides or deforms the countenance of
vulgarity, or deep lines the visage, or
mOistens the eye of refinement-in all
its phases, and on ali faces, comforting,
relaxing, overwhelming, convulsing,
throwing the human form in happy
shaking and quaking, a laugh is a
glorious thing. There is no remorse in
il IL leaves no stipO pxeppt 10 the
sides, and that soon goes off.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07

POwer of Sight in Birds.

So keen is the sight of the condor of
the Andes that if carcass be exposed
where the naked eye can detect none of
these creatures in the horizon, yet in a
few minues they are seen streaming
from all directions straight towards
their hoped-for meal. But though birds
be long sighted, it is also highly neces-
sary that they should see minute objects
at short distance. No entomologist
will deny that an insectivorous bird
must have keen eyes for short distances
if it is to get its living with ease. A
microscopic sight is scarcely less requi-
site for grain-feeding bird. The swal-
low, which plunges with such reckless
impulse through the air will neverthe-
less seize a small insect as it dashes
along with almost unerring certainty.
Usually the prey is so small that the
WONDERFUL powers of the bird displayed
in the chase cannot be observed; but
sometimes when the insect has large
wings, this dexterity may be seen. The
writer has seen a swallow seize, while
in a headlong flight, the beautiful,
scarce swallow-tailed butterfly, and
shear out its sapid body from between
the wings, and let them float severally
down; aud then not satisfied with q
feast so little proportioned to the splen-
dor in which 1t was dished up, glance
round and seize the several pieces be-
fore they reach the ground. How, then
is long sight and a keen short sight TO
be obtained from the same eye? This
is done mainly by the aid of bony plates
so disposed that the edge of one is capa-
BILE of sliding over the edge Of its neigh
Dor; so that when the fibres of the mus
Gle which unites them contract they
compress the eye all around and make
it more tubular, while the humors of the
eye, thus subjected to pressure, cause
the cornea to protrude more, also the
retina to be removed further from the
lens.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07
Eating vs.. Drinking.

II you would keep from drinking so
great a quantity of ardent spirits, eat,
eat more. Eat nutritious food. Eat
something whenever you take drink.
The drunk, in all cases, comes from the
stomach full of whisky and no food.
There is simple lesson yet to be learned
by many, and that is, they do not eat
enough of blood, bone, nerve and tissue
making food. You may half starve to
death on salt fish, potatoes, cabbage,
turnips, fried liver, stewed kidneys,
and score of other dishes which please
the taste, but add little or nothing to
the body force. Eggs, the best of steak,
mutton and bread are what one requires
for strength. 1t is this unconscious half
starved condition which causes so much
of the craving for temporary increase
of strength, and that is quickest gained
through glass Of whisky. That gives,
for a few moments, spasmodic impulse
to the wheels of life, sending them
whizzing and spinning around for a
few moments; then comes reaction, and
they turn more sluggishly than ever.
The best spirits in the world reside in
good blood, the worsti in bad. 1t is that
which sends false imaginings, suspicious
and dependencies to the brain.
T. IL fc hA 1x-cil nf
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07

Drums and flies are probably the
most ancient, as they are certainly the
most familiar, of all our musical para
phernalia; and they have been through
many ages associated with scenes of
warlike interest and diplay. Whatever
be their origin, there is a charm which
is alien to all other Instrumental an
which makes the music they produce
more applicable to military purposes
than any other. 1t would be difficult,
if not wholly impossible, to describe
the cause of this, but it is certain that
on the line of march men find il easier
TO keep step to the lively tones of the
fife and the brisk roll of the drum than
to follow brass band, which cannot
be heard further than about half the
length of battalion. 1t is singular
thing. however, that it is only the Eng
lish speaking people who make this
kind of music national, for the French
and other continental armies generally
march to the sound of the drum and
W WltIl liltlI UIdcS lVl
playing. But this kind of music has
never found favor with our British re-
giments, though many attempts have
been made to introduce il. 1t has
foreign ring about it which makes it
unpleasant TO English ears, and it is of
very monotonous character, there be-
ing no more than five notes on the
common bugle, consequently the few
tunes that can be played upon it have a
sameness about them which is exceed
ingly wearisome 10 the ear. But this
does not prevent its being used Occa-
sionally, as a change TO the music of
the trombone or the fife. The chief
glory of the drum lies in the crispness
of its sound and the beauty of its APP
pointments, though of late years the
instrument has been sadly used, by be-
ing cut down to mere skeleton. COM
posed principally of bolts and screws.
with scarcely any body to it at all. The
handsomest specimens of the drum
which have been familiar to us from
childhood and TO preceding genera
tions are those born by the drummers of
the Guards, which are beautifully en-
blazoned with the royal coat of arms
and the names of the battles in which
each regiment has been engaged; and
the bearers take pride in keeping the
plain brass brilliant, while the emblaz-
oned part is always well polished with
beeswax.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07
AIbinOs.

Albinos are frequently met with. We
find them, says the Turf, Field and Farm,
in the human race as well as in the ami
NAL races of lower order. They are al
ways what we call white. By some de-
feet in their organization the substance
which gives color to hair, skin and eyes
is absent. The eyes are red, owing to
the deficiency of the black or blue hazel
pigment which in normal cases conceals
the network of blood vessels and the
intense hue they difluse over the sur
face. In the ranks Of men the albino
has peculiar harshness of skin which
suggests a diseased organization. This
absence of color it would seem is not
hereditary. At least, there is case on
record where two albinos married
and had two children who were not
albinos, but of brown color. An in
stance is given where every alternate
child of large family was an albino !;
but commonly when parents begin pro-
ducing albinos there is no departure in
the progeny TO the end of the line. The
defect makes itself apparent to the close
of the chapter. We often hear of alb:no
birds and albino deer being killed. As
we write there is before us partridge
which is half albino, and which the
taxidermist has made to assume the out
ward proportions of life. In the Eagle
hills of Kentucky Tom Marshall has an
albino squirrel in cage. He caught it
when it was quite young, and, although
he has had it for more than year, has
not succeeded in tanning it. Its nature
is thoroughly savage. Attempt to caress
it and it will jump at you with the
greatest fury, its two red eyes glowing
like balls of fire. 1t is of the large
tailed fox tribe, and keeps fat and
hearty, although sour-tempered in con-
finemen:. 1t evidently was one of a
family, as albinos are frequently seen
in the woods where the capture was
made. Naturally, Tom prizes highly his
unruly pet. in all countries the albino
is regarded as an object of curiosity and
interest. In India, the white elephants
are yenerated by the natives. These
mammoth albinos are believed to be
animated by the souls Of ancient kings,
and so it is not surprising that they
should be looked upon with awe and
guarded with the tenderest care. Hum
boldt has expressed the opinion that
albinos are more common among nations
of dark skin and inhabiting hot climates,
and doubtless he is right.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07
A Speaking AutomatOn

The latest marvel (says a London
correspondent among mechanical au-
tomatons - beating even Mr.. Mask
elyne's card-playing Pyscho-is lay
figure which actually speaks. A French
professor named Fabre has spent
twenty years in constructing the inge-
NOUS mechanicism of this talking
Frankenstein, and the counterfeit
presentment" of man, which it COM
pletely resembles in appearance and
voice. is being exhibited in Brussels.
The figure has organisms correspond
ing to the arrangements of the mouth.
the larynx, and chest, and, strange to
say, there are keys arranged behind
the figure SO as, when pressed, to pro-
duce kind of vocal piano. each key
representing a vocal sound and the
operator being able to play upon
words in the manner OF the human ar
ticulation. This talking Pyscho can, in
fact, carry on a conversation; and the
movements of its mouth are so like
Dature that the machine is to be used
for teaching the deaf and dumb how to
carry on a system of speech by imita-
ting the lip movemements of the talk
ing figure.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07

difficulty with the long sweep of the
"Dutch roll"-the most graceful Of all
the larger movements in the art. In
fact, where the pond is not too crowded,
there is nothing nearer akin to luxury
on skates than the ''Dutch rolf with a
good partner. The confidence thereby
acquired proves of great service when
skating backward is afterward attempt
ed, and If that be also practised In cir
Gle, the outside and inside edge back
ward may be readily learned. After
that, all else is comparatively easy, de-
pending more upon the time and pa
tience that the skater is willing to ex-
pend than upon any intrinsic difficulty
in the performance. Skating proffers
to Americans in general the most health
full exercise tina. they are willing to un-
dertake at the smallest cost. The dam
gers are few in comparison with nearly
all other outdoor sports. Already
there are not few of our citizens that
have noted the fact that their health in
spring and summer has been on high
er plane than usual when they have
had more than the average of skating
the preceding winter.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07
Sleep as n Medicine.

A physician says that the cry for rest
has always been louder than the cry
for food. Not that it is more important,
but it is often harder to obtain. The
best rest comes from sound sleep. OF
two men or women, otherwise equal,
the one who sleeps the best will be the
most healthy and efficient. Sleep will
do to cure irratability of temper, peev-
ishness and uneasiness. 1t will restore
vigor to an over-worked braiu. 1t will
build up and make strong a weak body.
1t will cure headache. 1t will cure a
broken spirit. 1t will cure sorrow. In
deed, we make long list of nervous
and other maladies that sleep will cure.
The cure of sieeplessness requires a
clean, good bed, sufficient exercise to
promote WEAKNESS, pleasant occupa-
tion, good air, and not too warm a
room; a clear conscience and avoidance
of stimulants and narcotics. For those
who are over-worked, nervous, hag-
gard, who pass sleepless nights, we
commend the adoption of such habits as
will secure sleep; otherwise life will be
short, and what there is of it sadly i'm
perfect.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07
Selling his Birthrfghf.

'Poor fellow, he is selling his birth
right; i: makes ny heart ache to see
him.
Selling his birth right, Mr.. James !.
What do you mean ?" said | to friend
with whom was walking. George
Norton is a noble fellow; he is only
sowing a few wild oats; he will come
out of it all right; only give him time" !"
81 repeat it. Stanley" answered my
friend; shat the young man is selling
his birthright. Let me try and ex-
plain what mean to you. and We will
take for an example George Norton,
by way of illustration"
Here is a young man who has re-
ceived many presents at the hand of
God. A noble and vigorous physical
frame, youth, beauty, manly-vigor, in
tellectual capacity far above mediocre
ty: a generous nature, frank. affection
ate, tender-hearted, liberal to fault,
filled with noble impulses. and yet,
though endowed with all these gifts.
he is very spendthift of these blessings,
frittering them all away for present
pleasures and mere worldly amuse-
ments.
"When such a young man gives HIM
self up to his social companions. gives
time to this idle fellow and money to
that spendthrift, passes one evening
in the billiard room. and another at a
card-table is the 'hail-fellow. well
met at the drinking saloon. he will go
from bad to worse, wasting and scat
tering the riches of Gods blessings,
and before he reaches middle life he
will be a mere noDentity in the So
ciety of which he might have been an
ornament, freQuenter of drinking
saloons and gambling dens, and may
at last become dwelling idiot or fill
a pauper's grave. Is not this selling
his God-inherited birth-right, and
where is the place for repentance here I
1t is not an Overdrawn picture. have
watched this downward progress,
rapid and fatal as it Is, in many young
man misdirected, misguided ultimate
ly and irretrievably lost"
How many of our young men, and
women, too, are daily and hourly bar
tering away their birthright, most of it
for less than Esau's mess of pottage.
Some for wealth, some for worldly
emolument, but oh how many just for
present pleasure.
And when at last, with physical
frame enfeebled by excesses, opportu
mites for improvement utterly thrown
away, mind weakened and imbecile,
nothing but a wreck of all the noble
manhood with which God had endowed
them; then-do they try to find a
place for repentance. We leave them
in the hands of Him whose mercies
cannot be numbered, but yet who has
said: "Thus far shalt thou go, and no
further There may be for them mo
place for repentance, though they seek
1t carefully and with tears"
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07
rhe Antarctic Regions.

In lecture at Glasgow Sir Wyville
Thomson discussed the Antarctic re-
gions. He said on coming near the area
of icebergs in the Southern Hemisphere
the bottom of the sea was found TO con-
slst of clay mixed with very fine particles
of gravel, and in some cases mixed with
larger pebbles, and sometimes with
large masses of stone. There was no
doubt that all those deposits were due
TO icebergs, the matter falling TO the
bottom as they melted. The bergs they
saw TO the south, and breaking down
and melting little further TO the
north, were prismatic blocks riven from
the edge of the great Antarctic ice
sheet. The stratifcation of the ice
bergs, he believed, was due to success
i've accumulatioDs of snow upon a
nearly level surface. Taking the area
within the parallel 20. south, they had
no evidence that the 4, SOC, 900 square
miles were continuous land; the pre-
sumption would seem to be that the
area was gradually broken up, or at all
events was rendered less compact, at
the places where the warm currents
weIe diverted to the southwark. The
curious question arose, would they ever
be able to reach the South Pole? He
thought the answer must be unhesi-
tatingly in the negative. Ross south
ernmost point was upwards of 200, and
Graham's Land, 200 miles from the
South Pole. The remainder appeared
TO be perpendicular clid of ice, 23O TO
$50 feet in height, without shelter, kept
in motion by the gales, and great por-
tion of it subject to high winds anc in
cessant falls of snow. They had now
learnt that the North Pole. if not actu
ally inaccessible, was much more diff
cult of access than was imagined, and
they could anticipate disasters hun
dred times multiplied should the South
Pole become the goal of rivalry among
the nations
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07
Rummaging.

Who does not love to rummage, es-
pecially in an old attic of some house in
the country? There is quite fascina-
ton in running away by yourself, of a
dull day, and looking over things which
have been put away for future refer
ence, and some things which have had
their day, but will be useful never
more; yet are endeared by so many
pleasant "reminiscences and remem-
brances that we haven't the heart to de-
stroy them.
We sit by the low window, against
which the rain is pattering while we
rummage over a big pile of old almanacs,
with their quaint spelling, coarse paper
and wonderful predictions which never
came to pass, except by accident. We
wonder how we would like to have
lived in those old times when the post
man arrived but once week, and folks
were sound asleep just about the time
we commence our modern balls and
routs. Then the wretehed attempts
made at wood engraving, that adorr
each page, cause US to laugh, for We
cannot tell whether men are scattering
seed or throwing snowballs. Yet,
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07
MIFFLINTOWN, JUNIATA COUNTY, PI
He died, leaving the sentence unfin

He died, leaving the sentence unfin'
ished.
II have lived long enough to see jus
tice DONE" said the stranger, sinking
to the floor.
They picked him up, and laid him
upon the lounge. Then the doctor hur-
riedly examined his wound.
''No use," he said, shortly. "He is
bleeding internally. He cannot live y
Nancy, filled with compassion, had
forced her way to his side, and stood
looking pityingly upon him.
''Great Heavens!' exclaimed the
wounded man, in agony, sis it Nora
Sherwood my wife, or am l dreaming
l fancied she was lost in the Sea Wave.
There is a mystery here. She had a
locket upon her neck-I mean my child
with the initials of her name upon it.
Do you know"
1t was disjointed sentence, for the
mans mind was evidently wandering
Nancy was shaking with emotion.
''Is this itf" she asked, drawing il
from her bosom, and handing it to him.
"It is, Great Heaven! l have found
my daughter only to"
''To lose her." he would have said,
but Death finished the sentence for
him.
In his pockets were the papers that
showed that he had spoken truly.
Nancy Sheppard was, indeed, his daugh-
ter.
They buried the avenger and his vic
tim in the quiet graveyard, and Nancy
assumed the fortune that was rightfully
hers.
Joe Crawford did not leave the place
to seek his fortune afterward. He had
found it already in Nora Sherwood, in
loving whom he had so narrowly missed
being hung as a murderer.