davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
PhOtOgraphing the Sun.

Several years ago it was announced
that DR.. Draper, of New York, had
photographed the spectrum Of a star,
but in this country it is only during the
past year that Mr.. Higgins has sue.
ceeded in obtaining satisfactory pho
tograph. He had obtained some in
1868. The difficulty to be overcome is
to keep the telescope moving with suf-
fcient exactitude to keep the star in
the same spot of the field as the expos
ure has to be for considerable period.
The application Of Grsbb's method OF
controlling the movements of sidereal
clock has overcome this difficulty, and
now satisfactory photographs have been
made. The Importance of this work
will be recognized when it is under
stood that the composition of the more
brilliant stars is now known to be SINH
lar to that of our sun, and all that is
now needed to determine their chemi-
cal constitution in detail is to compare
such spectra photographs with the NOR
al solar spectrum. Physicists are in a
position to predict that no hues will be
met with in the spectra of such stars
which are not within the spectrum OF
rOu sun.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
ScraWny Girls in Washington.
WASHINGTON Letter.

Those who are familiar with society
in Washington can not avoid observing
that all the girls have attenuated forms.
We who are accustomed to the fine de-
velopments of western and southern
women, look with establishment at the
thin arms and scraggy necks that are
exposed to view. To render the atten-
uation more apparent, young ladies
have adopted the close-cling skirts and
corset-waists laced down the back.
Thus attired our girls can be ikened to
nothing but an exclamation point.
There is as much symmetry Of form in
one as the other. When these girls
dance the German, humane persons
are inclined to petition the gentlemen
to handle them with care, lest they
break in two at the ffteen-inch waist.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS basques would
be far more becoming to these girls
than the corset-waist, which, with
them, scarcely requires any expansion
from the waist to the hips. Such a
style of dress was only intended for
e,obonpoiM and not for the fragile.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
Reading-ROOm Tramps.
New York Times.

A little better class of the tramps,
out thorough tramps nevertheless,
haoltually haunt the reading-rooms at
the Cooper Institute and Aston Library.
Ihey strive to wear some sembIance of
shabby gentility, shave themselves with
Iazors winch they carry carefully in
tnelr pockets all the time, wash their
faces and hands occasionally, and are
seldom seen without paper collars, even
II their coats are pinned tightly over
their breasts to hide the absence of
shirts, and their pantaloons are neld
together by hundreds Of pins. They
do not frequent those places to read.
but to have in the open books before
them excuses to sit in q warm place.
1t is really wonderful how well soundlv
sleeping hummer will simulate wake
fulness. A lot Of them used to fre-
quent Mat. Gooderson's in old times,
and sit about the stove to snooze, which
annoyed the proprietor to such an ex-
tent that he took the chairs away.
Then they would lean up against the
wall and sleep standing. Determined
to put a stop to their slumbers, he made
a regulation that everyone of them
should hold paper up before him, as
if he were reading, whether he could
read or not, and if one Went to sleep
and dropped his paper ne should be
expelled. They speedily adapted
themselves to circumstances, and learn
ed to sleep standing, holding the paper
up mechanically ali the Tune. Then
he required that they should keep one
foot moving constantly, to show that
they were awake. Even that did not
trouble them. They would stand up
hold the paper, wag one foot steadily
and sleep soundly, andsome of them, it
is averred, acquired such practice in
the art of deception that they could
even do all this and sleet-with their
eyes wide open.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
The Panic One Man Caused in a Color
ed Church.

Mr.. Dolde, the giant powder man,
has the reputation Of being practical
Joker, but his last performance may
be regarded as going to extremes too
great to place it within the pale even
of allowable waggery. Mr.. Dolde IS IN
terested in a powder manufactory at
Delassus, in ST. Francois county, and
on last Sunday, while in company with
crowd of gay wassailers In that place,
bet was made that Dolde dare not en-
ter church near Pennington, occu-
pied by a colored congregation, dressed
in his Boyton suit, used IN swimming,
of which he is the owner. Dolde &C
cepted the challenge He put on his
Boyton suit, inflated it with air as if
ready to plunge into the river, and,
placing q fuse in his mouth, and carry
ing a powder tester in his hand, he en-
tered the church. He walked up the
aisle spouting forth fire from his
mouth, and at the same time exploding
his powder-tester. The congregation
were struck with CONSERVATION and im-
agined that the devil had come upon
them this time sure. The pastor
caught the infection, and, after breath
ing forth short ejaculatory prayer, he
turned round, kicked out the window
at the rear of the pulpit with his foot
and jumped outside. The members of
the congregation tumbled over each
other in their efforts to reach the door,
and soon the church was evacuated.
The result was that the perpetrator of
the wicked joke was arrested by the
sheriff of St. Francois county and
kept in'jail over night, when, on the in
terposition of friends, ne was released.
ST. LOUIS Republican.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
Admiral Porter on Arctic Exploration,

Admiral Porter, of the United States
Navy, in letter to Captain Howgate
On the subject Of Arctic exploration,
says:
open sea for two hundred miles toward
the Pole; that there are high noun
tains, from which are prscipitated tho
icebergs which lately blocked up Robe
sons Channel, and that, had Mark
hams farthest point been exceeded by
sixty miles, the pack would have been
passed and open water reached again.
Every few years We must expect just
such pack as Captain Mares encoun-
tered, which will probably last for q
year or two, and will then break up.
If, at the moment of breaking up, men
and boats are in readiness to take ad-
vantage of the opportunity, great ad-
vance could be made toward the Pole.
There are no greater hardships to be
encountered as high as SO degrees than
have heretofore been surmounted by
the intrepid explorers Of the Arctic re-
gions, and when one reflects that g. par
ty from the Polaris drifted eighteen
hundred miles on a cake of ice; and
that an infant and its mother were all
that time exposed to the inclemencies
of the Arctic regions, We ought to have
no doubt about company of strong,
active men, we'll provided with every
thing necessary to make life endura-
BILE in that desolate region.
The greatest difficulty will be found
in keeping up the spirits of the men.
To do this each member of the crew
selected should have g. knowledge Of
some useful mechanical trade, and be
kept occupied at this when in winter
quarters.
In the event of such an expedition
as you propose, I see O. fine opportuni-
ty Of utilizing the electric telegraph.
Wires could be laid along on the
ground Or ice without much danger Of
their, being carried of by bears or fox
es."
In closing, the Admiral expresses mis-
approval of Captain Howgate's pro-
posed expedition.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
A Terrible Ride.
From the Truckee (Nev) Republican

From the Truckee (Nev.) Republican.
We have often heard how persons
who were trying to steal their way over
the Union and Central Pacific railroads
had secreted themselves on brakebars,
under the cars, ia the fre-boxes and
boilers of new engines, and in other
perilous positions, but the experience
of man who was recently attempting
to deadhead his way from the East to
this state eclipses anything of the kind
that has ever como to our knowledge.
It seems that he boardered a train at
Omaha, and after having been elected
from several trains, he succeeded in
getting to Green River, in Wyoming
Territory. Here the train men be-
came more vigilant, and the man saw
that he would have to find very Sc
cure hiding-place. Accordingly, while
the train-men were busily engaged, he
crawled into the fire-box of stationary
engine that was standing On q flat car,
and which was going through to San
Francisco. Soon after the train started
some one, purposely or not we do not
know, shut the engine door and the
man was prisoner. The mans posi-
GiOu WdS ~ tCl11UlC O1C. LIZ OOulu lIOo
sit down and could scarcely turn
around, and in this way he rode for
four days and nights without mouth
full of food or drink, excepting few
crackers he had in his pockets. When
the train arrived at Virdi, Nevada, q
distance of nearly nine hundred miles
from Green River, the man managed
to attrast the attention of the conductor
by scratching on the inside of the en-
CINE with his finger nails. He was ib-
Grated from his awful situation, and
was almost dead with cold and hunger
and from remaining SO long in a
cramped position. He was properly
cared for at Verdi, and at last accounts
he was in fair way to recover. 1t is
safe to conjecture that he will walk
after this rather than attempt to beat
his Way over q railroad.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
FOR THE YOUNG FOLKS.
Totty's Arithmetic.

Totty's Arithmetic.
One little head, worth its whole weight in gold
Over and over, a million times told.
Two shining eyes full of innocent glee,
Brighter than diamonds ever could be.
Three pretty dimples for fun to slip in,
Two in the cheek and one in the chin.
Four lily fingers on each baby hand,
Fit for princess of sweet fairy land.
Five on each hand, If we reckon Tom Thumb
Standing beside them, so stiff and so glum!
Six pearly teeth, just within her red lips,
Over which merriment ripples and trips.
Seven bright ringlets, as yellow as gold,
Seeming the sunshine to gather and hold.
Eight tiny waves running over her hair,
Sunshine and shadow they love to be there.
Nine precious words that Totty can say,
But she will learn new ones every day.
Ten little chubby, comical'toes,
And that is as far as this lesson goes.
ST. Nicholas.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
A Frenchman'S Curious Error.
From the London Examiner.

An able writer in the Revate dies Deala
Morades mars an ingenious argument by
q curious misunderstanding of two or
three English words. Writing on mad
ness, and particularly on homicidal
mania, the author maintains the theory
that the touch of warm flesh is very apt
to make the homicidal impulse irresisti-
BILE. Among other illustrations, he re-
fers to celebrated case in England in
1867-the murder of little girl by a
man named Frederick Baker. The
murderer, it will be remembered, was
found to have recorded the crime in
his diary in the following cool terms;
Killed young girl; it was fine and
hot" The writer in the Revue des Deux
Momdes falls into the odd mistake of
supposing that the words, fine and
hot" refer to the body Of the child in
stead of to the weather, and adopts
them accordingly as conclusive evil
dence in favor of his theory.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
Fashion Waits.

SQUARE-NECKED corsages are much
worn.
A POPULAR thin material is pearl-col-
ored Or pink wire mesh gauze.
LACE is no longer used for bonnet
trimmings.
BLACK satin is revived and is combin-
ed with black silk or velvet for street
costume.
NECKLACES in real lace, with pendants
of various styles, have taken the place
of lace collars.
BUTTONS are now placed on the bot
tom of corsets to which the underskirt
is attached.
RICH India shawls are again in vogue.
They are worn over long polOnalses by
Partisan women for full dress.
ALBUM fans, each stick painted by
different artists, with subject of their
own selection, are among the novelties
in Paris.
CLUNY insertion an inch wide altern-
ating with English embroidery of the
same width, Lakes very effective.
trimming for ladies' underwear.
FROM the robe de chambre to the
ball toilet every dress has it's fringe to
match, put on in waves, taps or seal
lops.
LADIES who wear no petticoats at
tach handsome founce with buttons
and button holes to the lower part of
their flannel undergarments or the short
balmoral.
THE newest thing in sleeve bottoms
are separable; that is, the two parts are
connected with string, and no button
hole is required, eyelets permitting the
shanks to pass through.
CIRCULAR handkerchiefs of Valen-
ceinnes lace and Swiss embroidery are
much worn around the neck outside of
the ruche and fastened by bow or
flower.
A LONG, slender dress, without scarves
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
Beauty of the Hebrides Girls.
From Chambers Journal.

Save for the moaning Of tue wind
and the dull thud of the Atlantic break
ing on the shore, which is dlmly dis
cernable in near distance, an absolute
silence reigns; for here no bees hum,
no birds sing, and the occasional
mournful cry Of the sea-gull or curlew
is the only reminder Of the feathered
race. A few small herds Of sheep or
West Highland cattle grazing the sweet
scanty grass, and tended by bare
legged children; and an occasional
group of two or three women or girls
carrying on their backs great baskets
full of peat, are the only signs of life.
Looking at these girls, with their sweet,
fair, wind-bronzed faces and tawny
hair, their supple shapely limbs and
picturesque dress, one wonders how
their lives flow on from year to year in
this wild land of desolatlon; and what
can be the sensations, events, and in
terests that fill up their lives: passed SO
far away from the din and turmoil Of
cities, and suffice to satisfy their minds
and hearts. How perfectly these beau
tiful girls harmonic with their sur
roundings and stormy wind-blown skies.
The rare CLEANS of sunshine glance in
the blue Of their eyes, deepen the rich
glowing red of their cheeks and lips,
and glorify the tawny gold of their
hair, seeming to pour out upon them
the SUMS love as well as his light and
warmth. The wild wind that wakes
the sea to snow-crested beauty; that
whirls over the treeless tracts of gold
tipped grass, low bent beneath its
breath; that drives the massy clouds
faster and faster through the changing
sky, forever renewing the shadows that
chase across the mountains, striking In
infinite variety the chords and harmo-
MES of each exquisite tint and color,
now darkening the blue to the purple
and gray, now Frightening the brown
to rose, the green to gold; this wild
northern wind seems to claim these
girls for its own, and lends it's aid to
increase their simple beauty, for it
wraps them in its rude embrace till
their graceful limbs stand sculptured
beneath the short, dark-blue clinging
petticoat against the dull blue back
ground of the hills and skies, the NOV
ing folds of their short skirts leaving
bare the symmetry of their limbs and
well-turned feet and ankles. The very
baskets, peat-laden, which hang sus-
pended from their shoulders by belt
of plated straw, which is passed round
their chests, add richness of tone and
picturesqueness of outline to them and
to the rugged landscape behind them.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21

business. By her tender care she can
often restore him to health, if disease
has overtasked his powers. By her
counsel and her love she can win him
from bad company, if temptation in an
evil hour has led him astray. By her
examples, her precepts, and her sex's
insigh hit into character, she can mould
her children, however adverse their
disposition, into noble men and women.
And by leading in all things a true and
beautiful life, she can refine, elevate
and spiritualize all who come within
reach; SO that, with others of her sex
enulating and assisting her, she can do
more to degenerate the world than all
the statesmen or reformers that
ever legislated. She can do
much, alas perhaps more to degrade
man if she chooses to do it. Who can
estimate the evils that woman has the
power to do? AS q wife she can ruin
herself by extravaganza, folly, or want
of affection. She can make demon
or an outcast of q man who might
otherwise become good member of
society. She can bring chickering's,
strife and discord into what has been a
happy home. She can change the IN
nocent babes into vile men and even
into vile women. She can lower the
mortal tone of society itself, and thus
pollute legislation at the spring head
She can, in fine become an instrument
of evil instead of an angel of good
Instead of making flowers of truth
purity, beauty and spirituality spring
up in her footsteps, till the eartd smiles
with loneliness that is almost celes
tial, she can transform it to black and
arid desert, covered with the scorn OF
all evil passion, and swept by the bitter
blast of everlasting death. This is wha'
women can do for the wrong as we'll az
for the right. Is her mission q little
one? Has she no worthy work, as has
become the cry of late? Man may
have harder task to perform, s
rougher road to travel, but he has none
loftier or more influential than wo
mans.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
An Eagle Carries Off a Pig.
Pottstown (Pa.) Ledger

On Monday afternoon last the
scholars attending the Fegely school in
Pottsgroye Township, saw a very large
bird alight on a tree about 800 yards
from the school house, on the Cue
property, carrying in its talons small
sucking pig, which it began to devour.
The children scampered off in the di-
rection of the tree, when the bird went
sailing away, leaving behind it the two
mind legs of the young porker. From
the description given of the bird by the
children, it was no doubt an eagle.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21

A FIRM of umbrella makers in Glas-
gov have lately filed an order for forty
enormous sunshaues, which are to be
sent as presents to African chiefs.
Three OF these parasols-or palanquins,
as they are also called-are about thirty
feet in circumference, and the rest
about eighteen feet. They are covere d
with rich, variegated damask silk,
fringed around the edges, ornamented
at the top with gilt balls, and lined with
finished cloth. The handles, which are
of Lakewood, are armed with spike
for tenting purposes, and bayone
joint on each stick renders the Who'll
more portable.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
THE FAIR SEX.
The Leaf Prophetic.

The Lear prophetic.
This year-Next year-Some time-Never.
How laughed at some ones folly,
AS in play he read my fortune
On leaf of shining holly.
Next year!" said the leaf prophetic;
"Next year," softly whispered some one,
While l said with voice coquetish,
'I shall wed next year with no one.
christmas comes and Christmas goeth;
You shall see-for have said it
When the next years Christmas cOmeth
1t shall find me still unweded,"
But the spring time came with blossoms,
Left a bud SO sweetly hidden,
Which the perfumed breath of Summer
Famed into flower unbidden,
And when Autumn's golden glory
Cleaned over fields and purple heather,
Thea our love reached its fulflment
When two hands were clasped together.
And the frosts aud SHOWS of winter
Brought us not one thought of sadness,
For the outer deSOlatlOn
Made more bright the inner gladness.
Christmas camel and some one fastened
In my hair q leafet golden;
q Wear this as penance, darling,
For the sake of memories Olden."
Chambers Journal.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21

The time seems to be coming when
we will have to hire few potatoes
from the grocery to ornament the ia
BILE on company occasions.-Neay York
Paper.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21
What a Woman Gan Do.

AS wife and mother, woman can
make the fortune and happiness of
her husband; and, if she did nothing
else, surely this would be sufficient des.
tiny. By her thrift, prudence and tact,
she can secure to her partner and her
self competence in old age, no mat
ter how small their beginning. or Low
adverse fate may be theirs. By her
cheerfulness she can restore her hus-
bands spirit, shaken by the anxiety of
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21

SHE was telling a female friend now
Mary Jane quarreled with her feller,
and said she, "Why, if you heard 'em
talk, you'd think they were married"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21

THE Berkshire Mass. ice product is
so clear that newspaper may be read
through three feet of it.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-07

Police ARREsTs-A UES-RoosT RoBBEI
SHOT AND CAPTURED-CHARGEDW WITH EGBEZ-
ELEMENT Captain Epps yesterday arrested
Andrew James (colored), charged with en-
tering and robbing the hen-house OF An
drew J. Ford, in Henrico county, some
three or four nights ago. Mr. Ford lives
on the BIook turnpike; about two miles
from the city. He is celebrated shot, and
has made 4 fine record in the piseon-shoot-
ing matches as well as in this affair. On
the night in question he discovered man
on his premises with 4 hen in his hand, lie
hailed the fellow, but the latter ran, and as
he was jumping over fence was shot
at by Ir. Ford, but succeeded i'll max
ing his escape, though MIR. Ford was
at the time certain that his hre flad
been effective. Captain Epps, learning
that James (who is IN eX-penltentlary
conyict) was wounded and was lying con-
cealed in a kitchen on west MARSHALL street,
took him into custody. James at first de-
clared that his ankle was sprained, to ac-
count for stayng in the house; but being
examined bv DR.. Brock and shot found in
his skin, he changed his story, and said he
was shot near the basin Saturday night by q
colored man. Circumstantial evidence
seems to point him out as the man fired
upon by Mr.. Ford. James's sentence to
the penitentiary was for a hen-roost ana
meat-house robbery, He has been out OF
the penitentiary year or two, and Is a no
torious rascal. i
Thomas Carroll was arrested in Sidney
Yesterday by Sergeant Daniel Wren on the
charge OF embezzIing and fraudulentiy con-
verting to his own use eight dollars In
money, the property OF j. c. Hardy, who
lives on the western suburbs, and keeps a
dairy in addition to his employment at the
Gallego Mill. Carroll drove milk-Wason
for Mr. Hardy, aud. it is alleged, collected
the money in question. Carroll is an Eng
Iishman, Is about TWENTY-FIVE or twenty
three, and is OF honest appearance.
Wednesday night the store OF w. j. Rose,
on the Broad-Street road near the Fair
Grounds, was robbed OF a considerable
quantity OF dry goods and clothing. Mr.
Rose was absent at supper when the robber
came came up with wagon, took the property,
and went of. The county authorities oush'