davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17
The Dutch Poor.

Notwithstanding the unsocial charac-
ter of the Dutch, they are more consid-
crate of their poor than any other peo-
pie There are no destitute poor in
Holland, although the population is ex-
ceedingly dense. The greater portion
of the Dutch poor, including orphans,
abandoned children, the blind, deaf and
dumb, and aged, are provided for in
two ways: First, by institutions estab-
lished by rich individuals, chiefly wild
ows; secondly, by the different religious
denominations, deaconries taking the
charge of their respective poor; and,
thirdly, by societies. The remaining
INDECENT and infrm are supported by
the public, generally in the following
manner: In the parishes (Gemeente)
the expense is taken out of the munic-
ipal funds, if the proportion be too
great, the difference is paid out of
general relief fund raised by collections
or otherwise from property or bequests.
Demands on the public generally have
seldom occurred, for, except under
very unfavorable circumstances,
the deaconries and munich
palities have always provided
for their own poor. The great secret,
however, is in the administration, and
that no man or woman in health can
in Holland, expect to eat bread, find
shelter, or be clothed without giving
labor or other equivalent in return.
The great relief to the country consists
in the non-existence of poor rates, the
collection of which would be attended,
as in England, with great expense
and vexation, and the appropri-
alton of which would be productive of,
generally speaking, doubtful good, and,
to the healthy classes, certain depravity
and degradation. Experience has for
more than two hundred years proved
the excellence of the Dutch plan for
supporting the poor, inasmuch as the
INDECENT, whether men, women or chill
dren, able to work have never wanted
employment, food, clothing, or shelter.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17

Total .S25O
This is a very bold estimate. There
is surely nothing superiuous, and the
prices are such that good materials
could only be secured by having the
garments at least partly made at home.
Yet there is no margin for ribbons,
laces, gloves, handkerchiefs, perfumery,
nor any of those small items of personal
expense, such as stationery, which So
cial life involves; nor does it mention
furs nor gifts of any description for
birthdays or holidays.
No doubt thrifty women could save on
some of the items mentioned, but it
would be by adding to the burden of
their lives the burden of cutting and
making their best as well as their COM
moner dresses, by buying low-priced
stuffs and the sacrifice of their taste to
their economy. This may be all right,
but they should at least have the credit
of it; nor is it always economy to spend
five dollars instead of ten in the pur-
Many women are forced into waste
full habits by never having money
enough to buy really good thing. 1t
is always smaller sum than they need
that is doled out to them, and SO they
are always in arrears with their necessi-
ties, which have no element of durabili-
ty, afford no satisfaction in the posses
sion and are the dearest in the end The
conditions of our daily life are very diff
ferent now from what they were fifty
years ago, and it must be remembered
that women neither make them nor can
they change them. Men make much
more money now than they did then,
but they seem to consider it their ex-
elusive right to save it or spend it as it
pleases them, and exact from their wives
rigid system, which has not the COM
pensation of former times, when the
products of the spinning-wheel furnish
ed them at least with comfortable cover
ing, and the march of civilization had
not proceeded far enough to awaken So
cial competition.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL.

THE funeral of the late Henry Meiggs
at Lima was the most imposing ever wit
messed in Peru. After the conclusion of the
services at the church, the populace refused
to allow the coffin to be placed upon the
hearse, but, taking it upon their shoulders,
bore it to the grave.
JAMES GILFILLAN, nominated by
President Hayes to be Treasurer of the
United States, was formerly resident of
Rockville, Conn.,, where he was editor of the
Tolld,ad County Republican. He went to
Washington as a Pension Claim Agent, and
afterwards was clerk in the Treasury De-
partment, then Assistant Treasurer.
THE American residents in Paris ten
dered banquet to Gen. Grant on the 9th.
The Generals future plans comprise visit
to Spain about the last of the present month,
thence to Lisbon, Gibraltar, Tangier, and
Egypt, returning by way of Malta to Italy.
GEN. FREMONT is going into copper
mining in North Carolina.
REAR-ADMIRALs Preble and Reynolds
will soon be placed on the retired list, and
Rear-Admiral Howell or Commodore Wy
man will succeed the former, and Commodore
Nichols the latter.
GEN. CORREOsO has been duly de-
clared President of the State of Panama
EDWARD L. SEBASTIAN, son of Sena-
tor Sebastian of Arkansas, was drowned on
the I'd in the Mississippi River, opposite
Horn Lake, by the upsetting of dug-out.
A NATIONAL LIBERAL LEAGUE has
been recently organized, with Mr.. F. E. ABB
bot as President and Col. Robert G. Inger-
soil, George w. Julian, o. B. Frothingham,
Robert Collyer and Elizur Wright among
the Vice Presidents. The platform demands
a total separation of Church, and State,
national protection of national citizens, and
universal education the basis of universal
suffrage in this secular republic.
MANUEL M. ZAMACoNI has been dis
patched by the Mexican Government as
Commissioner to Washington, and it is ex-
pected that he will be ultimately recognized
as Minister.
THERE is a small fortune of S25, ZOO
in the shape of back-pay and mileage at
tached to the Louisiana seat which Pinch
ack and Eustis are after.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17
CuriOsities of the Congressional
Directory.

The Congressional Directory, which
has been ably compiled for SO many
years by the veteran correspondent,
Ben. Perley Poore, is out for the Forty
fifth Congress and contains short sketch
es of the lives of the statesmen who occu-
py the two ends of the capitol and much
other interesting information. We learn
from looking over the biographies, that
there are in the Senate and House of Rep
resentatives So ex-Federal officers and 81
ex-Confederate officers, although there
are in the House alone 81 men who were
engaged in some way or another under
the Confederacy during the rebellion.
Some were Governors of their States,
some Representatives or Senators in the
Confederate Congress, others in the
Legislatures of their States. OF the 366
members and Senators whose biogra-
phies are given, 239 are lawyers. There
are 10 bankers, the profession next in
numbers II merchants, 15 editors, II
farmers and planters, 20 physicians,
manufacturers, 5 officers of rail
roads, 5 school-teachers and col
lege professors; brewers 2. (Jones,
of New Hampshire and Quinn of
New York;, millers 2, miners 2, brick
layer (Anthony Ittner of st. Louis),
1 civil engineer (Schleicher of Texas),
sailor (Smalls of South Carolina), oil
well man (Watson of Pennsylvania,
barber (Rainey of South Carolina), 1
butcher (McPherson of New Jersey, l
stage owner page of CALI, l railroad
passenger agent (Nicholas Muller of
New York;. There are several who do
not give their occupations, such as Brog-
den of North Carolina, who has been in
Office almost constantly all his life; also,
George Washington Patterson of New
York (the Oldest member), who was
born in 1893, and began to hold office
when he was 21 years of age, and has
since, in one way and another, continu-
ed in Office Fernando Wood can be set
down as professional Congressman. :"
So can Cox, the only man who has serv-
ed Congress from two States. In Cox's
biography he says he " is tbs author of
several works and a constant contributor
to the press and periodicals" That is
his business Graphic.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17
The Coffee-PIant in California.

Capt. Peter Hansen, of Clayton,
brought to our office this week bunch
of twigs bearing berries about quarter
of an inch in diameter, some of them
red, and some dark purple, almost
black, each of them inclosing twin
grains, which, though of smaller size, ire
semble the coffee grains of commerce.
The leaves of the plant are of oblate
shape, olive green in shade on the up
per and much lighter shade of green
on the under surface, averaging about
an inch in length by a quarter of an inch
in breadth. While none of the berries
upon the twigs were mature, those of
darkest color are presumed to be the
nearest ripe. Capt. Hansen informs us
that the plant from which the twigs
were taken is the growth of a coffee
berry he planted on his place some
eight or ten years ago. The berry was
taken from some coffee purchased for
house use, and planted in the pod con-
tanning both grnins, just as one is oc-
casionally found in the coffee of COM
merce. The shrub is now eight or ten
feet high and quite full of berries. Capt.
Hansen is satisfied that the foreign cOf-
fee plant will do well in our climate and
soil, and to test the matter has sent to
relative in Brazil for a quantity of the
seed berries, which he intends planting
the coming season. .-Coztra Costa (CGI.)
(10zeffp
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17

THE Mississippi River Levee bill, in
treduced in the House by Mr.. Young of
Tennessee, provides for the issue of
bonds, guaranteed by the United States,
to the amount of S45, 200, 900, and Gre
ates Levee District, embracing the
States adjacent to the Mississippi River,
from Missouri to the mouth. A Levee
Board is created of five members, COM
posed of three army officers and two
civilians, the salaries of the latter to be
$4,000 a year each. The Board
is required to make survey of
the river and report to Congress
plan for the reclamation
of all overfiowed lands and those now
protected by levees, ana the means of
such reclamation by levees, cut-offs and
outlets. The whole cost is not to ex-
ceed the amount of the authorized
bonds-S45, 100000. The States in
which the lands lie are to impose di-
rect tax on the lands to be benefited, the
tax to be collected by the United States
Government and devoted 70 the pay
ment of the interest on the bonds, and
the creation of a sinking fund for their
final payment. The bill also provides
for tonnage tax on the commerce of
the river to assist the payment of the
expense of the work.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17

EX-SECRETARY BELKNAP has estab-
lished himself in the claims business at
Washington.
SENATOR MORTON'S son John is now
dangerously i'll on the Island of st. Paul, in
the Territory of Alaska. His wife has gone
to him, but vessels so seldom touch there
that it is not probable that they will be able
to return to the United States before August
next.
Col. CHARLES G.. LONG, the African
explorer, lately in the Khedive's service,
has returned to New York utterly broken in
health. He has resigned his position in the
Egyptian army.
JOHN BROUGHAM, the favOrite COM
edian, was taken dangerous ill in Cleveland
on the 9th, and has been compelled to can
eel all his present engagements.
IT is reported that Col. Il. G. Inger-
soil of Illinois has been unoficially rendered
the mission to Berlin.
IT is charged that the firm of S. & w
Welsh, Philadelphia, sugar importers, are
the owners of a plantation in Cuba together
with 13S slaves. Mr.. John Welsh who has
been appointed by President Hayes as Min
lister to England, is member of this firm.
He emphatically and fully denies the allie
CATION.
CARDOZA, eX-State Treasurer of South
Carolina, has been found guilty of the va
rious Irregularities charged against him.
The Jury in his case consisted of four white
and eight colored men. EX-Congressman
Smalls is now undergoing trial, and B. F.
Whittemore, eX-State Senator, is under in
dictment, both for fraud and corruption.
w. 0. MEAD, Cashier of the Appleton
City Bank, st. Clair County, Mo-, has alb
seconded, owing to a supposed irregularity
in the handling of Kansas City and Memphis
Railroad bonds, $4,000 worth of which are
missing.
DIR. PAUL F. EVE, distinguished
surgeon and medical writer, died at his
home in Nashville, Tenn, on the Sd. He
was II years old, and native of Georgia.
THE President has nominated Henry S.
Sanford, of Colorado, to be Minister to Bel
gium.
THE Senate has unanimously confirm
ed the nomination of Mr.. John Welsh as
Minister to England.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17
WIT AND WISDOM.

A LIBEL-Some vile old traducer says
thlt for the period of a month before
marriage and month after death, men
regard their wives as angels.
GENERAL NEPoKOITCHITsKY Nicho-
lass Chief of Staff, went from Warsaw
to war, see? He must be - the largest
Pole" that knocks the persimmons.-
! Graphic.
A TRAMP called at a house on West
Hill the other day and asked for some
thing to eat. He was so thin, he said,
that when he had pain he couldn't tell
whether it was a touch of the collie or
the backache.-HdUkeye.
AN American SHUant named Smith
observes that you rarely if ever see
politician with smooth hair, great
scholar with fine hair, an artist with red
hair, fop with coarse hair, or an edit
or whose hair is carefully adjusted"
WHEN man gets to telling his friends
of the big fish he just caught down in
the river, which he sent home by two
boys and dray, it lacerates his feel
ings with the worst kind of lacerate to
have lad come along with half-pound
bass and say: "Here, Mister, 8 yer
fish; we couldn't find yer house. oil
ttty Call.
THERE are many reasons for marry
ing and some for not marrying. We
have never before heard, however, that
a refusal could be put on the highest
moral grounds. We do not marry"
said a young philosopher, " "because we
have such a high esteem for each 9th
err That deep affection which sternly
refuses to infict misery on its object is
to be commended.
''THE Lord will provide' is an ex-
cellent motto, but 1.-THE Lord helps
those who help themselves" is equally
good. The patriot who sits all day in
the sun on dry-goods box before the
village store, whiting and talking
bout last lection, though he have all
the faith in the world, mustn't expect to
90 home to supper and find quail and
buttered toast waiting for him when he
gets there.-N. Y. Commercial AdUer-
tiser.
In Connecticut district school few
days since little boy six years old was
seen to whisper, but denied doing so
when reproved by the teacher. He was
told to remain after school, when the
teacher, trying to impress upon his
youthful mind the sinfulness of not
speaking the truth, asked him if they
did not tell him in the Sunday-school
where bad boys went who told false
hoods. Choking with sobs he said
g Yes, marin, it is a place where there
is fire, but l don't just remember the
name of the town.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17

Mr.. THOMAS A. EDISON, a well
known electrician of Newark, n. j.,
claims to have invented (but not yet
perfected) an instrument which he calls
the Phonograph, by means of which
human speech can be permanently
registered and reproduced with every
tone exactly as uttered, at any time.
The instrument is not unlike the tele-
phone in construction, and the vibra-
tions Of metallic diaphragm cause to
be permanently impressed upon an un-
winding strip of paper, various indent-
ations, somewhat after the manner of
printing telegraphic messages. These
indented slips, bearing the phono-
graphic record of the words uttered, are
then run through what is termed re-
productor, very similar in principle to
the first apparatus, and this causes the
vibration of another diaphragm to cor
respond to the indentations on the pa
per, reproducing exactly the original
tones of the speaker. Mr.. Edison has
so far experimental upon his invention
as to feel confident of its practical utility,
and expects soon to be able to put it to
public test. The wonderful possibili-
ties Of this invention, by which the ac-
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17
What it Should Cost a Woman to
Dress.

The following extract from Jennie
June's New York fashion letter to the
Louisville COaIrIer-JOatrnGE will be found
especially interesting to those impe-
cunious young men who are contem
plating matrimOny the coming season ::
An indignant individual of the male
persuasion addressed to me recently
what he evidently considered a highly
sarcastic letter on the score of a remark
in one of my letters, to the effect that
the majority of women had not more
than from two hundred and fifty to five
hundred dollars per annum to spend on
their entire wardrobe, and therefore
could not be expected to spend that sum
on one dress alone. GO Not more than
two hundred and fifty to five hundred
dollars per annum,'' he repeats, '' he
should rather think not,'' and he adds
that perhaps l am not aware there are
plenty of people with families who actu-
ally liUe on these sums and less. Quite
true. But, then, they do not dress, at
least only in such clothing as the people
who do, give them, and they do not read
fashions, and naturally fashions are not
written or created with reference to
them. 1t is undoubtedly true that some
women spend too much on dress, but it
is only true of comparatively small
number. The majority spend too little.
There are men who make and lose
hundreds and even thousands of dollars,
who complain of the cost of a necessary
dress or pair of shoes purchased by
their wives.
Complaint is the normal condition of
those who hold possession of money
against those who have to spend it.
Women in the country, the wives of
well-to-do farmers and prOprietors,
spend altogether too little on themselves
and their dress. They grow old before
their time with hard work, and they
look older still from the poverty of their
personal belongings. The subtle influ-
ence of becoming dress, the refinement
of habitual association with the fine in
stead of the coarse, is unknown to chem.
The clothing of persons ought to be
VI IHelI poSIIloH, anu d
man should be ashamed, who has money
to spend upon lands or horses, or his
own pursuits, to grudge that which his
wife needs, and which she would prob
ably have were she not tied to him.
Two hundred and fifty dollars seems a
large sum to some men, who can very
well afford it, for a woman to expend on
herself. But how much will it buy of
ordinary clothing?
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17
AnecdOte of Daniel Webster.

During one of the college vacations
Daniel Webster and his brother return
ed to their fathers, in Salisbury. Think
ing he had right to some return for
the money he had expended on their ed
ucation, the father put scythes into
their hands and ordered them to NOW.
Daniel made few sweeps, and then
resting his scythe wiped the sweat from
his brow. His father said, What's
the matter, Damp "My scythe DOM
hang right, sir" he answered. His ia
ther fixed it, and Dan went to work
again, but with no better success. Some
thing was the matter with the seythe,
and it was not long before it wanted fix
ing again, and the father said in a pet
Well, hang it to suit yourself Dan
iel, with great composure, hung it in
the next tree and retired.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17
WAR NEWS.

The Russians, advancing from Olti to
in consequence of snow storm. A Con-
stantinople dispatch of the 9TH states that
the Russian Gen. Gourko has died of his
wounds.
A Turkish report of the 9th states
that Chevket Pasha with a strong force is
advancing to the relief of PIevna, and that
notwithstanding Russian progress west
ward, the Turks are confident the garrison
will hold out. Mehemet Ali is reported as
having arrived at Sofia to organize a COM
mand for the defense of the Western Bal
kan passes.
The Russians on the Sth were erect
ing siege batteries in front of Kars. The
Turks attacked them, supported by the fire
from the forts, but were driven back into
their intrenchments.
A dispatch from Mukhtar Pasha,
dated Erzeroum, 9th, noon, says that at 4
a. m. the Russians attacked the Turkish
fortified position, but were repulsed with
great slaughter. press dispatch says the
battle lasted II hours and was fercely con-
tested throughout. The Russians finally
gave way and were pursued several miles,
losing many guns, though but few
prisoners. Previous to the battle
the situation at Erzeroum was very critical,
the inhabitants demanding the authorities
should capitulate, reinforcements not hav-
ing arrived. The Turkish army at Plevna is
believed to be in a very critical situation,
and it was thought Osman Pasha could not
hold out many days longer. The Russians
have field telegraph completely around
Plevna so they can concentrate Immediate
| ly on any point attacked.
A Constantinople dispatch of the 10th
says that 40 of the retainers of ex-Sultan
Murad have been arrested, and it is rumor-
ed strangled, because of an alleged con-
spiracy to reinstate Murad. The Turks
have resolved to defend Kars to the last ex-
| tremity.
| STANNARD Vt has q wild man of
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17

THE following is the substance of the
Bland SILVER bill, reported by Judge
Buckner's committee, which passed the
House under suspension of the rules
on the 9TH; 1t provides that there shall
be coined at the several mints of the
United States, silver dollars of the
weight of 4124 grains Troy of standard
value, as provided in the act of January
Is, 1887, on which there shall be the
devices and superscriptions provided by
said act, which coins, together with
all silver dollars heretofore coined
by the United States of like weight and
fineness, shall be legal tender at their
nominal value for all debts and dues,
public and private, except where other
wise provided for by contract; and any
owner of silver bullion may deposit the
same at any United States coinage mint
or assay Office to be coined into such
dollars for his benefit upon the same
terms and conditions as gold bullion is
deposited for coinage under the existing
law
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17

Kansas-The Republican nominees, Hum
phrey for Lieutenant-Gove and Horton
for Chief-Justice, are elected by a large ma
jority-probably from 10000 to 10000
Nebraska-Republican by about 10000
majority.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17

CANADA has decided that Sitting Bull
shall remain where he is, during the
coming winter, and in spring shall go to
the Red Deer River, on a reservation
there. This latter is the region that Sit
ting-Bull himself applied for, as it is in
a good hunting ground.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17

tual tones of a great orator or singer, or
of dear parent or friend, can be trans
mitted to pOsterity, render it the crown
ing discovery of this age of scientific
progress.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17

Gov. PORTER of Tennessee has call
ed an extraordinary session of the State
Legislature, for the purpose of adjust
ing the State debt, levying tax TO meet
interest on the new bonds, etc.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17

A TREATY has been arranged with
Mexico permitting troops to cross the
border in pursuit of marauders, provid-
ed they do not enter towns, interfere
with the civil authority, or proceed
more than so miles from the frontier.
American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-11-17

Hon. D. w. VOORHEES, has been ap-
pointed by Gov. Williams of Indiana
United States Senator to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of the late Senator
Morton