davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10
Strange Freaks of the Insane.

Alady was one evening sitting in her
drawing-room alone, when the only
other inmate of the house, a brother,
who for a timehad been ~betraying a ten
dency to unsoundness OF mind, entered
with q carving knife in his hand, aid,
shutting the door, came up to her and
said: Margaret, an odd idea has &C.
CURED to me. I wish to paint the head
of John the Baptist, and I think yours
might make an excellent study for it.
So, if you please, I will cut off Your
head" The lady looked at her brothers
eye, and seeing in it no token of jest,
concluded that he meant to do what he
said. There was an open window and a
balcony by her side, with q street in
front !; but q moment satisfied her that
safety did not lie in that way. So, put
ting on q smiling countenance, she said
"That is a strange idea, George; but
would it not be apity to spoil this pretty
new lace tippet T have got9 I'll just
step to my room to put it off andbe with
you again in half aminute." Without
giving him time to consider, she stepped
lightly across the floor and passed out.
In another moment she was alone in her
own room, whence she easily gave the
alarm, and the mailman YVES secured.
The story of the gentleman command
ed by some insane persons TO Jump
from the top of O tower in their asylum,
and who escaped by telling them he
would rather jump from the bottom to
the top, and rar down stairs as if to
execute his intention, iswell known; but
the following anecdote of a similar situa.
ton will be news to most readers. A
gentleman accompanying a party to in
spect an asylum, CHANGED to be left be-
hind in the kitchen with q number OF
the inmates who acted as cooks and
scullions to the establishment. There
was q huge caldron of boiling water or
the fire, into which the madmen declared
they must ut him in order to boil hin
for broth. They would fain have as
sisted him into tho large pot; and, al
they were laying hold of him, he re
Elected that in a personal struggle he
would have no chance with them-all he
could do was to gain time. So he said
"Very we'll, gentlemen, [ am sure J
should make good broth, if you do MOI
spoil it by boiling my clothes with it.
"Take off your Clothes" they criec
out; and he began to take off his clothes
very slowly, crying ~outloudly the while
CHOW, gentlemen. my coat is off, vii
soon be stripped. There goes my waist
coat shall soon be ready" and so on.
till nothing remained but his shirt. For
tunately, The keeper, attracted by BIZ
loud speaking, hurried in just in time tx
Java him.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10
Instructing the Postmaster.

There were vigorous inquiries OF the
Detroit post.ofice for the chief clerk,
and when the captains face appeared at
the window the inquirer asked:
"Hs O cross-eyed woman been here
asking for letters addressed to me?"
The captain hadn't seen her.
"Well, she'll be here this forenoon.
She's my wife, and she's a leetle weak
in the head. She's got tic notion that
I get love letters from a woman in Cana.
da. and she'll be here to ask for my
mail"
"WellG"
"Well, I don't get any such letters,
of course, but you mustn't give her my
mail. She might get one with a draft in,
and not know it's value. Just say to Der
that you never knew of my receiving q
letter here, and that you had repeatedly
heard me say that I had the best vito
in town."
"But I don't know you"
"Never mind that. In dealing with
an insane woman it's best to be soft and
slick and smooth. Just shake hands
with her, praise her small feet, and tell
her she ought to be proud OF such a hus-
band as I am"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10
Looking at the Wreck.

"Gath" writes to the Graphic OF
the Brooklyn fire /: All that I could see,
as I looked in the hollow theater from
the exposed stage rear on the street, was
a rectangle of brick walls, on three sides
unbroken, at my end fallen in. The OPP
posite gable, q high, clean piece Of brick
work, retained the stain or print OF the
stairs which led to the fatal gallery, far
up the lofty interior. Those who fell
from the gallery itself fell probably fifty
feet into the cellar, on the bed Of Gin
ders and burning GOALS already prepared
there. They fell into the depth OF the
block, one hundred feet from any street
but the side alley, where nobody walk
ed. They fell like q man in the interior
of o prison, into an oubliette or den OF
oblivion. From burning zenith to
burning hell. From shrieking to chin
new tops and frightened birds and moth
ING more but the intimidated stars, they
fell to q roasting pit amongst the rats OF
the ewers and cellars, and not a sound
thew made for mercy or death, relief or
Identification, reached the outer world.
There the flames we're roaring, the en-
eines whistling, bells and valves and
speaking trumpets were making mid
night din. The nearest spectator-the
only cognizant part of nature that peep
ed in-was the sky, which showed its
pale face in place of the fallen roof.
Piled together in suffocation, the dying
and dead nestled down together, grow
ing black and consuming to stumps OF
human forms. There, within a hundred
feet, was a lightning press, and never
suspected that there vas such news to
tell. All the New York papers the next
day announced that the audience got
off safely, and still three hundred buried
forms were in that cellar, charred and
still. It was in the focus of Brooklyn,
vet people we're saying hours afterward
that nobody was hurt. The smoke that
blew above the ruin looked innocent to
all, as if it merely bore away the doors
and ashes of old properties and scenes,
benches and fddles, but it wal pregnant
with the bloom of youth, tho strength
of human hair, the lime of strong arms,
the remainder of recently bounding
hearts. They died in the midst OF the
city, like the pioneers of Montana's
meadows, murdered on the desert. They
died lonely, as the heroes OF an anab@-
sis, yet beside everybody.
I looked into those hollow walls where
a fow men were digging like scattered
pigmies on the charcoal Uttered floor.
There were the foundation walls of the
rear main entrance, the three brick
arches through which the audience
walked, and under my eye the stones
that supported the stage. It vas clean
as q ruined church standing out in IN old
field. They were no floors, and little or
no debris remained. If the bushes had
grown up while I gazed upon the hol.
low waste all would have seemed natural
opnuoh
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10
Getting the Ladies' Interested.

A rather funny device was recently
introduced into a neighboring church
social which promises to become very
popular. a prize of ten dollars was
offered to tho gentleman bringing the
largest number of young ladies, and
their enthusiasm was so great that ever
mothers-in-law and old maids were de-
lighted and astonished by polite invita-
tions to attend the evenings entertain
ment. It is limited, however, that the
young man winning the prize consider
ed the money more than earned.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10
FIFTEEN MONTHS for "a.
The New York Clerk.

Young men in the country imagine
that if they could only manage to get a
clerkship in New York, or some other
large city. their fortunes would be
made. The New York clerk does not
have so feat cry q bed to lie in as
many imagine. A correspondent writ
ing on the subject says. Take, for in
stance, the dry goods clerks on Broad
way. Some of the establishments like
Stewards, Lord & Taylor's, Jafray's,
etc., have as many as two hundred
clerks in their employ. They arc ex-
pected to dress we'll, to keep up with
the fashions, 80 as to be in keeping with
the general style of things about them.
They must be at business promptly at
eight in the morning, a strict account
being kept of any failure to do so,
which'is reported by the head OF the de-
partment to the general manager. ALI
the day long they are kept on their feet,
under watchful eyes, and with a multi
tude OF details to attend to; and at noon
they must hurry out for q hasty lunch
and be back as soon as possible, flying
the day through until seven or eight
o'clock at night. In the busy season
they are liable to be worked until eleven
or twelve o'clock at night; and in the
dull seasons, which come on the city
often enough, they arc just as liable to
be discharged at q weeks notice, even
though they have been years in the
house, and been faithful in every way,
and all this for from 50 to SIS per week.
The head bookkeeper of a prominent
Broadway house gets a salary OF thir-
teen thousand dollars. while under him
are no less than six men, having the
brunt Of the work to do, who are paid
three dollars q day. There are men in
other houses who enjoy princely in.
comes, because they have drawn n OF
the prizes of trade; they have a trade OF
their own which brings in large sums to
their employer; they are paid for their
work with unstinted hand. But all
around them are men without this spe-
cial advantage, though competent, who
are barely getting a living. A large tea
house that employs sixty clerks hos only
five who receive yer $40 per week.
How city clerks live l-considering
tho meager condition OF the salary mar
ket. Living any way, in New York, is
expensive, as living in O great city al
ways is. Ten, fifteen, twenty dollars a
week in some places gives o man all the
comforts of modest expectation; nay,
often gives one a triAe for the saving
fund, OF the luxurious. Not 81 here.
Decent board will range up to ten and
fifteen dollars; decent board-which
means a narrow, close room, clean food
very plaiu-and nothing more. And
then you come down peg by peg to the
horrors and misery and slack and dis
comfort of New York boarding house
life-the cheapest and meanest being
five and six dollars a week.
Clerks pack themselves away in these
holes, making them just sleeping and
eating places, cast out from all amuse-
ment and society upon the town; or else
they hire lodgings in some obscure
quarter, and "live by the card" Of
cheap eating houses. They make all
sorts OF shifts to keep stylishly clothed.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

Whether for use on man or boast,
Merchants Gargling Oil will be found
an invaluable li1iment, and worthy OF
use by every resident in the land: We
know of no proprietary medicine or
article now used in the United States
which shares the good will of the people
to a greater degree than this. Yellow
wrapper for animal, and white for
human fesh.-M Y. Independent.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

The Mason & Hamlin Organ Go. re-
ceived from London. a fec days since,
q single order for $50 Of their organs
which are becoming nearly as celebrated
in Europe as they ri in America. They
have just completed to order an organ
for the celebrated DR.. Franz Liszt,
Pesth, Hungary, for nse in his concerts.
N. Y. Phil. Journal.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

Durang's Rheumatic Remedy will
most positively cure any case Of rheumatism,
govt, neuralgia or lumbago on the face Of the
earth, no matter Of how long standing. 1t is
taken internally, the only way the disease can be
reached, and cures quickly and permanently.
Price, one dollar a bottle. For sale by
Wholesale and retail druggists everywhere.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

Last April a pair Of young horses ran
away in Green, R. l., with the neck
yoke hanging between them. No. one
could find them. The other day their
skeletons were found in a wood seven
miles from where they started. The
bones, harness and neck yoke showed
that they were caught fast in the brush,
and had starved after eating everything
within their reach.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

FOR A HOLIDAY PRESENT moth
ing would give a lady 70 nluun satisfaction as
q set of PARTISAN DIAMONDS. They are
worn by the elite Of New York 'ity, and cannot
be told from the real gem. Handsomely set
in eighteen-carat gold, after The latest Paris
styles, they are sold at figures low that every
one can purchase q get for d holiday present.
Send to Humphreys, 779 Broadway, New York,
for samples Of diamonds and catalogue Of
prices.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

The figures of the Massachusetts State
cepsus Justify the theory that the for
eign born population of that State is
more prolific than the native. The
average number Of children of the native
mothers is 3.52, while of the foreign
born it is 4. 81. The rule is probably
general, in New England at least, if not
in the country.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10
The Great Question Settled.

Nobody doubts that danger turks behind q
cough or cold. How to cure these f%orerunners
Of consumption has been the only question.
It is a question no longer. 1t is triumphantly
answered every day and every hour, by the
beneficial and astonishing effects of Hales
Honey of Horehound and Tar. Take in time.
This preparation is a specific for every disease
Of the lungs tending to a fatal issue. Sold by
all druggists. Pixies Toothache Drops cure In
one minnfa
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

At our request Cragin & Co., of Phila-
delphia, Pa, have promised to send any
of our readers, gratis ION receipt OF
fifteen cents to pay postage), a sample
of Dobbins' Electric Soap to try. Send
OF once.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

A prophetic itemizer remarks: Pales.
tine is to have a railroad, and the cry
will soon be: All aboard for Jerusalem.
Passengers for Moab and the Dead sea
will please remain in the forward car"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

There can be no mistake about it.
"Matchless" plug tobacco takes the lead. Ole
fine out chewers say it gives better satisfaction
and is cheaper than fine out. You cannot be i'm.
posed upon, as each plug has the words."'Matoh
less P. r. Co." on q wooden tag. Try it once
and you will always chew it. Manufactured by
the Pioneer Tobacco Company, New York.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

A gentleman, on walking out one
Sunday evening, met a young Scotch
peasant girl, whose parents lived near
his house. Where are you going,
:Jenny2" said he. "Looking for a SON.
in.laE for my mother, sir"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10
LADhEEESS,c R29K dkR ME REMEb HAsE OF

PRIvENrIvEs for ALL FEMALY COMPLAINTS; the reme-
dos are s.nctly scientific, and in full accord with the
cessful physicians OF Europe and America. accompanied
by a neat book describing FEMALE CoArIA1sTs ONLY.
each disease may distinctly be recognized. with full and
Indicated, so s~ystemized and %simplihcd that mono can
fail 10 understand; For circular containing, full partieu:
-y~an Avanu~. BROOKLYN. E. D.. New York.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

TIE IMPORTANCE OF ONE VoTE.-The
| returns in the Office of the secretary Of
State give Pacheco. Republican, for Con-
gress in the fourth district of California,
q majority Of one vote.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

If your horse Is lame, sore or CALLED,
you should use Johrson's Anodyna Liniment
Wash the part with CASTLE soap and warn
water, rub dry with q clean cloth, then apply
the liniment /; rub in we'll with the hand.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10
A Universal Remedy.

browns Bronchial Troches" for coughs,
colds and bronchial affections stand first In
public favor and confidence; this result has
been acquired by a test of many years.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

Have the readers of this paper ever
used any OF Parsons Purgative Pills2 II not,
why not? They arc the best family physic,
besides being the greatest anti-bilious remedy
there is in this country.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

HELP FOR HARD TMEs.-Read the
advertisement elsewhere on this subject. You
osnnot expend q small sum just now better
than to get the help there offered.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

4 Valuable Gift.-By on arrangement with the
Publisher, we will send every reader Of this paper Z
sample Package of Transfer Pictures free. Send Scent
and easily transferred to any object. so as to initiate OK.
actly the most beautiful painting. Agents wanted.
j. L.. PATTEN i CO., 1862 William Street, New York.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

INVENTORS, PENSION AND BOUNTY
Claimants. should Mrite Col. l. BINGHAM d Co., Aty'a
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10
go COLLINS
VOLTAIC PLASTERS
Afford the most grateful relief in all
Affections of the Chest and Lungs. ,
4
CHRONIC PLEURISY CURED


Messrs. Wees l. POTTER:
Gentlemen Having for many months past suffered
with o very lnue side. called by my physician Chronic
Pleursy, caused by o former injury and strain, andf for
which fused many prescriptions and llntments, as well
NJ the so-called rheunati cures, without the least
benefit, my physician recommended one Of your COL
LIXs' VoLrAIcPLAsrERs which, to my great surprise,
relieved tho pain and soreness almost Immediately,
and have been able to attend to my household q.
fairs ever since with perfect ense and comfort, where.
ns before the application Of your invaluable plaster
/ was scarcely able TO do anything. consider them
10 the afflicted. Yours respectfnllA .-
Mira. FRANCES HARTMAN.
ORLAHp, Me-, April n, 1876.
There Is no medical or protective appliance that
will prove so grateful and effective In Tickling Coughs,
Irritation and Soreness Of the Chest and Lungs. We
believe them capable OF preventing serious diseases
OF these organs.
!
Price, IS cents. Sold by all druggists. Mailed on
receipt Of price, q Gents for one, SIZE for six. or $2.2s
WEEKS & POTTER, Proprfetors, Boston, Mass.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-10

sPreBldent Grant, IN hB letter to the united
States Senate, replying to the resolution re-
q~uesting information as to whether troops
of the United States were stationed at the city
Of Petersburg, in the State Of Virginia, on the
seventh of November, 1876" answers: at
may be that the presence Of twenty-four
United States soldiers, under the command OF
q captain and lieutenant, quartered in the
custom house Of Petersburg, Va, on the
seventh Of November, at a considerable dis
lance from any polling place, without any in
reference On their part whatever, and without
going near the polls during election, may haze
secured a different result from aohat 'oouM hare
been obtained if they had not been there Ito
maintain the peace in case Of riot) on the face
of the returns. But il such is the case, it
is only proof that in this one congressiona
district in the State Of Virginia the legal and
constitutional voters have been able to return
as elected the candidates Of their choice"
The italics are the Presidents. He also sends
TO the Senate q communication from General
Sherman in which the general states that a
detachment Of troops was necessary at Peters
burg to preserve the peace, and they were
sent. The Enclosure also embraces affidavits,
etc., relative to the necessity for troops at
Petersburg, covering some thirty pages OF
manuscript. ..... Wade Hampton was inaugu-
rated governor by the Democratic Legislature
OF South Carolina, being sworn in by Judge
T. J. Mackey. The ceremony Of Inauguration
.aving been concluded, he was raised upon
the shoulders Of the multitude and carried
through the etreets from Carolina Holl to the
Wheeler House in the same block, where he
delivered his inaugural address, in which he
protested against the acts Of the Republican
party and Gov. Chamberlain, and counseled
peace but earnestness in all acts Of the party.
The official returns show that the Demo-
cratic electors for the State Of Texas at large
received 1o9, 612 votes; Republican electors,
1862 votes. Democratic majority, $1,000.
Total vote, 14s, 1854, against a vote at the last
State election Of 200, OBJ ...... Twenty-Five
buildings we're burned in Bolivar, Tenn, many
OF them occupied by prominent business firms.
The losses amount to s2oO, 900; insurance,
10000. The original fire is supposed to have
been inoendiAry. ..... The losses by the Little
Rock fire aggregate S14O. 600, and the insur-
ance $50. 900. There is not q Hrst-class hotel
left in the city. During an alteration on a
steamboat at New Orleans, two colored men
were shot by q white deck hand, while at
tempting to return to the steamer after being
put of. A crowd Of co!ored men gathered, and
a. the police were taking the white man to the
station house, they were o~verpowered and
Ellsworth American., 1877-06-07

Corn FOR GREEN FODDER The prar-
tlce Of planting about AN re Of ihickly
planted corn for every twenty coz, in
the dairy IS, We are glad To note. on the
increase. II j. a. yet an open question
whether the short sweet corn j. not bet
ter for ills purpose than the common
yellow or larger growing kinds. II !.
claimed that the small growth of the
former i fully compensated by the it,
creased percentage OF sacchariuc matter
which it contai :. la either case we
would advise that il should be planted
IN rows three to four feet apart. aud tie
grains from three to five inche. apart in
the row, according to the strength of
the ground. We know many prefer to
sow it more thichly in the row. under
the impression that they thu, secure a
greater amount Of fodder. While we
are willing 10 admit the validity of the
claim 50 far as the amount i, concerned.
we must also claim that practical ox-
perience during number of wears has
thoroughly convinced II. that the thinlv
sown, though it may be deficient in
bulk, is superior in nouri-hmcnt aud
butter producing power. 1t will AWAY.
pay TO Geter feeding the crop until il j.
out in tassel, after which time TWO arm
loads contain more actual nouri-hmemt
than three at a previous stage OF the
growth. This bring. it ready for feed
ing during the dry weather OF mid,um.
mer.