davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21

A magistrate in Galveston, Texas, on
being informed by counsel that his dispo-
silion of certain case was against the de-
cision of the Supreme Court, replied, 'Then
1 Ioverrule that decision"
Just amer the strike, says the Hawk
eve, when Solomon closed the discussion
by telling the sluggard to go 10 the ant, the
sluggard replied, with knowing wink,
that he had much softer thing than that.
"As howP" inquired the proverbial mon
arch. 81 will start a savings bank" replied
the man of inertia.
The Danbury News reports disgrace
ful fight in that usually peaceful hamlet.
"The combatants," it says in conclusion,
"were sci zed by friends, dragged apart aud
lined out of the dust. Flushed, bleeding,
bruised, they stood and glared at each 9TH
or with malignant hate. What pitiful
sight Two friends At enmity, one eye
BACKED, two hearts assunder, two coats
torn. two lives forever embittered, and three
teeth missing y
Deacon Rathfel asked his family physi-
clan last week "Doctor, you have such an
extended experience atdeathbeds, and have
seen so many people 60 hence, that would
like TO ask you what class are the most re-
signed aud die the happlestT" The aged
man cleared his throat and said; "Well,
deacon, 1 have not seen so very many
deaths, but so far as l have been able to
learn, the people who die the happiest are
those who are hung."-AUiaaes.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21

A Salt Lake correspondent of the New
York Tribune makes out bad showing
for Brighams realm. He says that the con-
ditiou of the Mormon people is hopelessly
wrelched, their earnings being swallowed
up by the greedy and canting leaders.
From end 10 end of Utah the people barely
live-lhe leaders excepted. There are no
free schools, no hospitals, and only one in
sane asylum, and that has been establish
ed comparatively recently. The surplus
earnings of the people are absorbed in tiih-
ing, marrying, preaching and building
temples. There is no growth or prosperity
anywhere visible. Brigham Young died
exceedingly wealthy, showing, beyond
question, to what end his energies were de-
voted. In consequence of his policy the
general level of squalor and inanity has
been steadily lowered instead OF raised.
This is hardly the earthly paradise that
Utah has been made out to be.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21

No star In the heavens is invested with
the interest that now surrounds Mars,
since 1t has proudly displayed 10 admiring
astronomers the two moons which il may
be supposed TO regard with paternal pride
and pleasure. They are, however, inslg-
nilicant little moons, the smallest heaven
ly bodies thus far known, and they whirl
through space with a velocity that makes
one dizzy TO think Of. A whole year of the
inner one is accomplished in seven hours
and thirty eight minutes and lis whole cir
cumrerence may betraveled in a few hours.
A moon ten miles IN diameter is something
never dreamed of in astronomical proba-
blities, and IL is a marvellous tribute to
telescope power that it can detect any
thug so minute more than thirty million
miles away.
Mars Is now a superb object seen through
the telescope; we had on Tuesday evening
view of the ruddy planet through the fine
instrument of the Roger Williams observ-
atory that is something TO remember for
lifetime.
A fiery ball of glowing red seemed sud
denly to spring into existence as the planet
entered The field of vision. In size it APP
preached that of the full moon when high
up in the heavens, while such was tue
brightness and ferceness OF its rays that
we involuntarily sought to shade our eyes
from the glare. At first we saw nothing
but a brilliant hame-colored disc, its cir
cumference aglow with prsmalic hues
caused by chromatic ALTERATION, without
tIace Of zones of snow or the strange
marking that pIactised eyes discover on
the Marian globe. AS we observed more
carefully, the ice bound circle came as
plainly into view as the well-known fea-
lures Of the man in the moon on our own
luminary, and we enjoyed peep at the
Marian poles, the southern polar cap be-
ing much larger than the northern, for ii is
summer in their northern hemisphere, and
the ice zone around the pole has partially
disappeared under the influence of the
suns heat. A still more careful scrutiny
revealed the presence of dusky spots on
the beaming disc. These indicate the land,
W hich is of a reddish hue, when the plan
cts atmosphere is clear, while the lighter
portions Of greenish hue mark the con-
| tour of the seas and oceans.
Thus with our own eyes we saw land,
water and ice on the surface of our Marian
neighbor, and had view of its ruddy disc
which, after a few weeks have passed, will
| not be equalled in size and brilliancy until
1892. Though Jupiter, with lis sparkl ling
and brilliant moons, is a grander telescope
| object, and Saturn with its wondrous ring
system and numerous moons, exceeds in
beauty every sight in the celestial picture
gallery, yet we obtain better view, and
on a larger scale, of Mars than of any 9TH
er object in the heavens except the moon.
1t is probably the only planet whose real
surface is ever visible, for Venus, tho most
splendid OF all the planets to the naked
eye, is, on account Of its great lustre, un-
satisfactory for telescope observation, while
Jupiter and Saturn are surrounded by
cloud envelopes OF Immense extent that
hide the solid portions from the eye
Providence Journal.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21
LIgh. and the DI.,ance. Of the stars.

1t IS perfectly well established that we
see astronomical events later than they oc-
cur, and ii was this fact which taught us
that light moves with a velocity of $4,000
miles per second. The eclipses Of the
moons of Jupiter revealed to Roemer, the
cele biated German astronomer, this fact
lie found an irreeulsrity which no astron-
omical data could account for, and he OBJ
served that the periods between these
eclipses were longer when tue distance be-
tween Us and the planet was increasing,
WHILE inversely, the periods became short
er when the distance was diminishing. He
found ut lasi, 10y close observation, that ev-
cry time that the planet was, say 100000
900 miles further of, we see that eclipses
happen minutes later than they do when
the planet is at its shortest distance. As
minutes is $40 seconds, we have only TO di-
vide $40 into 100, 1000, 600 to find the velocity
of light per second, which is very nearly
lS5, 900 miles. This has been verified al(er-
ward in various other ways; the velocity
of light has been directly measured (by the
help Of most ingenious and delicate appar-
tus) by FOucault and Fresnel; while the
aDefrailOn oil Tue HNeu stdISt WHICH COuslSts
in an apparent displacement Of the same,
produced by the yearly motion of the earth
in its orbit, fully corroborales the scientific
theory. 1t is, therefore, positive fact that
we see the Stars as they were at the time
when tue light which reaches us now len
them and we see the sun as he was min
utes ago, the nearest fixed star as it was 81
years ago, and the pole star as II was 30
years ago. OF the other stars, very few of
them are near enough for us 10 measure
their distances but most Of them are thou
sand of times further of, and therefore We
zee them as they were thousands OF years
ago and when the telescope reveals in the
depths of infinite space, stars thousands of
thousand times further off still, we are con-
WINGED that, as their light can only reach us
in millions of years, we see them as they
were millions Of years ago. Perhaps at
that remote period, in those uniath-
omable distances, blazing suns have
been created of which the light has not yet
reached us, and inversely those may have
become extinct of which the light reaches
us now; in the same way as when tho
sound Of gun, exploding at great dis
tance reaches us, the real explosion is a
thing Of the past, and may have taken place
so, 60, or more seconds before, according TO
the distance. Scientific American.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21
Very Little Bank Account.

Among the subscribers TO Audubon's
magnificent work on ornithology was John
jacob Astor. lie was always ready TO en-
courage such works, and he put his name
down on Audubon's book for one thousand
dollars. During the progress of the work,
which proved 10 be more expensive than
had been at first anticipated, Mr.. Audubon
often found himself obliged 10 call upon
his generous patrons for assistance; but he
did not call upon Mr.. Asor until the letter.
press and the plates had been delivered.
When the final delivery had been made,
however, he called upon the great mer-
chant for his thousand dollars.
"Ah, Mr.. Audubon" said the owner of
millions, "you come in very bad time.
Money is scarce and hard, and I have
everything snugly and tightly invested"
And so the ornithologist called lime after
time, and was oflen put off. 1t was not be-
cause Mr.. Astor did not wish TO pay, but 1t
was from that strong desire, growing
stronger with his years, TO keep his proper
ty intact and see it increased. When he
had paid away huudred thousand dollars
for really benevolent purpose be felt
of an aching tooth. 1t was only the wrench
ing away Of the money that hurt him.
At length Audubon called the sixth time.
Mr.. Astor had commenced TO bemoan the
low ebb condition of his cash in hand,
when he caught disapproving look from
his son William, who happened 10 he pres
ent.
"But," said the old man after pause, ~
suppose you want your money, and really,
should like Ia let you have it. / may
have very little in bank -. William
have we any money in bank?"
Evidently John jacob had expected his
son only TO answer a simple yes; aud it
may he that William B. thought his father
wished TO know something Of the bank ac-
count. At any rate he was just fresh from
the CASH on-hand page OF the ledger, and
lie answered:
"Yes, we have little over hundred
thousand in the Bank of New York (; eighty
thousand in the City Bank ninety-elght
thousand four hundred in
"That'll do, William! ] guess, Mr..
Audubon, William can give you check
| for the money. y."-ErchdRge
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21

This pleasant story is just told OF Mrs.
Grant: George Joyce of Unadilla, N. Y,
n soldier who served honorably during the
war, acted, during portion OF President
Grants first term, as door-keeper at the
Capitol. About three and half years ago
he returned to Unadilla, sick with con-
sumption. Mrs. Grant accidentally heard
of his illness, and straightway sent him
check for 500. This was repeated every
month, fourteen in all, Till he died. The
charity was so quietly bestowed that few
persons in Unadllla knew of it until now
when the story appears in print. We seem,
in these later days, to be fortunate in our
Presidents wives. OF Mrs. Hayes, as OF
Mrs. Grant, only the most agreeable re-
ports are made. She won many friends
during her trip through New England, by
her quiet, lady-like waysi and for unos-
tentatious charity and kindness she, too,
bears an enviable reputation. Mrs. Secre-
tary Thompson has just been saying OF her
that "she thought Mrs. Hayes exerted
pleasing and benign influence upon the So
ciety of Washington, her manners were SO
charming and her conversation so agreea-
ble." All this is pleasing to hear, for the
thought that "the first lady in the land"
as the lady of the White House has come to
he called, is real lady in the fullest sense
OF the term, is an agreeable one.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21

MILKMENIN NNAPLES.-Neapoliia milk
men are funny fellows. They do not have
a milk. wagon and horse, or even pail and
dipper. They have only little three-legged
stools tied to themselves $50 that when they
want TO sit down they are all ready, and
they drive their goats before them 10 the
different houses, and milk them at the door
in a bowl provided by each customer. No
chance of watered milk there, you see.
That Is not the queerest part of it, though.
Italian houses are very Might've, six and
seven stories oflen, with differ ent family
on each floor. Even the "palazzos" opal
aces) of the rich are divided in this way.
To the first floor mot the ground floor
there are sometimes from eighty to one
hundred marble steps leading up. On this
floor perhaps a duke may live; on the next
above, some one lower in rank, till il would
not be impossible that the noble dukes
laundress might live in the seventh story
of his palazzo. These uppermost families
usually take goats milk, because the goat
can go upstairs, even to the very top floor,
aud be MIXED in full view of the custom
eri Part of little Paolo's pleasure was in
patling the goat that came up to his grand
mothers door, rubbing its little nose, and
giving it roasted chest nuts to eat. After it
was milked, the goat would turn and skip
down stairs so briskly that the milkman
could not begin to keep up with it,-H.
Nicholas.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21
The RenneIt MEDAL.

In 1869 the late James Gordon Bennett,
recognizing the services of the fremen at
the burning of his house, sent check for
$500 to the commissioners, 10 be used in
the purchase of medal for the most meri-
torious member of the department each
wear. Five hundred dollars were spent in
the purchase of die, and the interest Of
the remainder is annually applied 10 the
purchase OF gold medal. A roll of honor
is kept at department headquarters, re-
cording all noteworthy actions of the men,
and the one who has especially distinguish
ed himself for bravery is chosen as recipi-
ent of the medal, at the annual parade.
Ten medals have already been awarded,
the first TO NJ. d. Tompkins, foreman of an
engine company, who, at the risk Of his
own life, saved woman from the second
story of building, and the second to B. A.
Gicquel, who rescued two women aud two
children. Charles l.. Kelley received one
for tho heroism he displayed at fire on
the northeast corner of Division and For
syth streets. The flames were burning
fercely on the first floor, but Kelly climb
ed up the shutters TO the second floor, and
thence carefully lowered three persons to
the ground. He also saved The lives of 9TH
ers, who were paralyzed by terror, in d.
recting them TO stairway, and in leading
them down. Ambrose L. Austin was at a
fire and saw a woman striving 10 climb the
basement steps; the flames steadily repul-
sed her, but Austin dashed through them
aud carried her out. Thomas Henry,
another medalist, rescued eight persons
from the second story Of burning build
ing. Thomas Hutchinson was told that
some persons were in burning tenement
house on Baxter street. He made his way
up the exterior to the second story, rear,
and found boy hanging from the third
story platform of the fire-escape. He told
the boy 10 drop, and that he would catch
him. The boy obeyed, and was snatched
by Hutchinson as he fell through the air.
William ii. Nash was awarded a medal for
saving the lives of two children at No. 223
Division street, and William Mitchell was
awarded another for rescuing a man from
pit of flame at No. rs Pearl street. James
Horn rescued six persons from No. Sol
Rlvington street, and Henry Schuck, at
great personal risk, fought his way through
a furnace to save an infant. There is not
one among these instances OF bravery that,
If given in greater detail, would not read
like romance, but the romance is reality OF
a very good sort.--HdTper' for October.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21

IL seemed TO the impatient watchers that
day would never dawn, and with the first
streak of light they mounted their horses.
They had just started, and Mrs. Bennett
was putting up the bars for them, when her
husband put his hand TO his ear with the
exclamaliOn-"Harkr u
"By Jehosapbat but that's Brun Yes"
rs he raised himself up in the saddle, "ips
him, and no mistake, and now we stand a
chance to find them. Let's wait minute.
Bless my soul, but what's he got in his
MOUTH A-a-yes, as sure as Pm alive,
it's hat, a little straw hatr
"wilie's batr And the father lcapcd
TO the ground, tears streaming down his
face. "Whero's the boy, Brun2'
lie asked the question rs passionalely as
though addressing human being. The
creature seemed TO read his feelings, for
giving him a wistful look and wagging his
tail, he daited back.
"Follow him, he knows" cried Nick.
And they started on a galiop. Mile after
mile the dog led them on, pauslng not Till
he came TO the "dvide." Then lie struck
off, made tho circuit of slough, and halt
ed beside gopher mound, on which grew
luxuriant clump Of hazels. Half blind,
dizzy in brain, aud with a heart near
bursting, the father sprang from the sad
die. Ono look-one only he gave, and then
fell lauting to the ground, the joy-the
sudden, delirious joy, being almost as hard
for his stricken soul to bear, as would have
been mighty sorrow. There they lay,
their little white arms twined about each
other, their dimpled cheeks pressed close
together, sound asleep-the dear little babes
Of the prairiel
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21
Miscellany.

Two Apple Trees.
1t happened thus on one green afternoon,
When harvest fields were waiting for their moon,
And fruit was ripe and good,
That two amid the orchard grasses strayed,
while apricots and yellow peaches made
Bright stains on the warm wood.
And on a branch that hung right overhead
Two golden apples grew, necked through with red
Grew perfect side by sidO.
"They are for us, sweetheart; Love made them fair
with color Of thy cheeks and Of thy hair;
Come, gather them, sweet bride"
She stood on tiptoe in the pleasant place;
The swaying leaves made shadows on her face,
The apples touched her feet.
"Now this is mine, and this Ia thine, but we
win make Of them gracious memory
They are too fair to eat"
Then, half in loving earnest half in mirth,
They hid the fruit beneath the rich, warm earth;
And year by year there grew
Two trees, that made green shadows by their door,
And bore OF golden apples wealthy store
Gold fruit hecked rosy through:
Two kindly trees, that when the children played
In autumn nights within their scented shade,
Would freely drop their store,
Or shed with lavish grace their sweetest flowers
Upon young lovers in the spring-time hours,
Telling the old tale DER:
Two trees that always thought one couple fair,
One aged couple crowned with silver hair,
Who held without sigh
Sweet sessions, where clear Memory sat content,
serenely satisfied with life we'll spent,
And immortality.
There are two graves beneath two Apple-trees-
Two happy graves, made by the sweet spring breeze
With apple blossoms white;
Tapped in cool grasses when June roses blow
In Autumn's splsndor or in winters snow,
Always peaceful sight.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21

II is with feelings of pride that an Amer
lean should read of the gorgeous metamor-
phoses which our young people who go
abroad TO study music undergo. To see
plain Miss Rice, after six months in Italy,
change her cereal surname for that of Mile.
Ricci, and thus show foreign snobs what an
American girl eau do, is supremely salts
Tying to our national pride. Blanche Tuck
er, who need not have been ashamed of
her name, for she is of no kin TO that name
sake who sang for his supper, now appears
in her home paper as Blanche Rosanella,
while Mary Trimble, daughter Of our late
consul at Milan, is utterly glorious in the
name of Beatrice Amore. Go abroad, dear
old Yankee Doodle, and change your Pile
bian name for that resplendent one of Juan
X. Dudli. Now that we have shown how
1t is done, look out for an exodus of all the
Smith, Brown and Jones girls.-Boston
Herald
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21

The days once more their dainty fare outspread;
For Nature, reused from dreams and making good
At length the promise Of her motherhood,
No longer doles out her wine and bread
In scanty sort, but pours for us, instead,
Her spicy, sweet September. Now, the blood
OF high resolve begins again to food
Our nerveless souls, and life wakes, duty-wed.
Nature, wise steward, thou art JUSTIFIED!
For thou hast kept the good wine until now,
Against this marriage Of our sous-this vow,
Pledging our days to toll while days abide.
Where are the fallow nelds, that we may sew
And reap the latter harvest, ere we GOT
Caroline 4. Mason.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21

A Convention of colored people has been
lately held in Mississippi, to consider the
subject of emigration. The difficulties and
the cost of emigration to Africa were fully
realized and appreciation was expressed
OF the proposition to emigrate 10 Arizona,
New Mexico or Texas.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21

"Will the boy who threw that pepper
on the stove please come up here and get
the present of a nice book" said Sunday
school superintendent in Iowa; but the
boy never moved. He was a far-seeing
boy.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-09-21

"A Russian army chaplain addressing
his regiment before its departure for the
seat of war, said that towards would be
punished in hell "by standing In brandy
up their necks without being able to enjoy
a drop of the liquor"
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-17
General News.

Dom Pedro, as Emperor of Brazil, has never
attached his name to death warrant.
A national temperance convention meets in
Cleveland, Ohio. to-day.
The subscription for monument to Tn ers has
reached nearly 1900, contributed by s.S25 per-
sons.
Boston ians have already contributed over fifteen
hundred dollars for the relief Of the Fernsndins
sufferers.
The republicans of Georgia have dsbanded their
State organization. The Presidents order to
ofice-holders left them without any working men,
bers.
| Gen. Grant returned to London, Saturday, with
bis family, where he will stay for the season. He
dens, in the West End
Miss Minnie E. Hodges. late cash Ter and money
order clerk in the Des Nome Iowa) postofice,
handled during six years 81, O00, 900, and never
made mistake Of cent.
Eccentric King Ludwig of Bavaria has at his
summer residence boat built in the shape of A
| nautilus shell, large enough to hold two persons
and covered with mother-of-pearL 1t is lined with
scarlet velvet, and the row-locks are of coral.
Another within of his is to have in his garden
kiosque, arranged with ingenious candelabras as
to cause, when lighted, a reflection of stars and
moons on the ceiling.
Three fellows stole ride on a coal train be.
tween Lancaster and Grovesport. o. When near
the latter place they cut the train in three parts
for the purpose Of escaping, but BY wrong calcu.
ton they wrecked part of the train, one Of the
! scamps being killed and another breaking his leg
The third escaped. 1t is bell eyed they were bur
glars, as a bag of tools was found in their pos.
session.