davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07

ducing spontaneous fire, which they told
they people was sent by the gods from
heaven in answer to their prayers. The
accounts OF old writers still preserved
and dating back to 300 years before
Christ describe a "sul phurous and in
dammable substance" Enthusiastically like
our gunpowder. There was a certain
place called the "Oracle of Delphi"
once visited by Alexander the Great,
where this kind of fire was produced by
the priests, and it is said that the Druids,
the ancient priests of Britain, also used
something of this sort in their sacrifices,
Tor they not only produced sudden fire,
out they also initiated thunder and light
nlng, to terrify the people with their
power. This must have been more than
1000 years ago. 1t is known that the
Chinese, on the other side of the world,
had gunpOwder about the same time, but
they used it chiefly for fireworks, which
then, as now, formed the main feature of
all their festivals and ceremonies In
india 1t was early used in war, for
writer who lived about A. d. PA says:
When towns of India are attacked by
their enemies the people do not rush into
battle, but put them to flight by thunder
and lightning" 1t is said, too, that one
OF the Roman Emperors, who lived Just
after the CrucitiXion of Christ, had ma
chimes which initiated thunder and light
ming, and at the same time emitted
stones" Then, about A. D. 220, there
was written a recipe " for an ingenious
composition to be thrown on an enemy"
Ehieh very nearly corresponds to our
ghnpowder. During the many hundred
years that follow, little is recorded until
about the ninth century, when there
appears in an old book, now in a Paris
library, an exact recipe for gunpowder,
and description of rocket. 1t is said
that in 1899 the SaraCens, in defending
Jerusalem, "threw abundance of pots of
fire and shot fire darts no doubt some
kind of bombs and war-TOckets. History
affords accounts of other wars about this
time, in which gunpowder was undoubt-
eddy used in some form. But in 1916
monk, Friar Roger Bacon, made guupow-
der; and it is asserted he discovered it
independently, knowing nothing OF its
existence elsewhere. 1t is not unreason-
able to believe this, for in those days peo-
pie kept their inventions to themselves
if they could, and news travelled slowly.
Some authors say German named
Schwartz discovered it in 1920, and per
haps he did, too, and as honestly and in
dependently as did Friar Bacon, or the
East Indians, or the Chinese. Others in
sist that it was invented originally in In.
i. 1 i
Africa to the Europeans, who improved
it. AT any rate, an English gentleman
who has made d translation of some of
the laws of India, supposed to have been
established l 800 years before the Chris
tian era, or over $500 years ago, makes
one of them read thus: "The magis-
trate shall not make war with any deceit
full machine, or with poisoned weapons,
or oIth cannon and guns, or any Kind Of
firearms. st. Mich0laS for Juyy.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07
0m ponrg falls.
/" WILT SHALL NE DOn

A mother sat stitching and stitching away.
1t rained and her boys were indoors at play
When one of them came and leaned on her chair
And said with touchingly wearied-out air:
" We've played every play in the world that we
know;
Nor, what shall we do?'
Before poor mamma had chance to reply.
The rest of the little ones gathered close by
And the sum Of their troubles all seemed the
same:
:. We wish that we knew some wonderful game:
We've been sailors and soldiers, and fought bat
Now, what shall we do?'
Mamma thought for moment then gayly replied:
" Build palace of blocks with portco wide,
And play that the owner had money to spend,
And wanted to decorate rooms without end,
And ordered some pictures painted by you.
THAT'S what you can do.
- Now each take a pencil and paper. and draw
The most wonderful thing that you ever saw;
A lily. a sunset. Il shore. or IA sea
gorgeous winged butterfly chasing bee:
Or-three little boys that are saying like you,
Nor, what shall we dor"
The brghtened-up children took pencils in hand.
CAS- amateur artists you'll all understand
And worked at their pictures until it was plain
The funny gray clouds had forgotten to RAIN
And mamma had rest mot a long one. It's true)
From what shall we do?"
o sweet patient mothers! in this earnest way
You are doing life's work while your little ones
play;
You are fashioning souls that hereafter shall rise
Gods beautiful angels winged, to the skies
And Heaven makes reply to your what shall we
dOY'
Since Lore teaches you.
Hrs. L. c. Wilton, in VIDE A'rake.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07
History and Uses OF GunpOwder.
Who invented gunpowder?

Who invented gunpowder?
No one knows. All agree that its COM
position and properties were understood
in remote antiquity. Authentic history
extends but short way into the past,
and it is always difficult to draw the line
separating the authentic from the fabu-
lous, Like some other things, gunpow-
der, as ages rolled on, may have been in
vented, forgotten and re-invented. Ger
tainly in some form it was known and
used for fireworks and incendiary ma
terial long before anyone dreamed of a
gun, or of using it to do more than create
terror in warfare. And yet it is said that
some of the ancients had means of using
it to throw destructive missiles among
their enemies-probably a species of
rocket or bomb. Nor does it seem, in
its infancy, to have been applied to in.
dustrial purposes, such as blasting and
quarrying rock, for there is evidence that
the people who used it for fireworks at
their feasts quarried immense blocks of
stone by splitting them out of the quar-
ries with hammers and wedges.
Its first uses probably were connected
with the religious ceremonies of the
pagan ancients. An old tradition taught
that those were the most powerful gods
who answered their worshipers by fire.
The priests, therefore, who practiced
upon the credulity of the people, exercised
their ingenuity in inventing ways of pro-
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07

We paid visit to California street
this week and came home depressed
Moving in and out among prominent
stockholders. we listened to their con-
versation. Where formerly prominent
dealer would regale our ears with; just
bought thousand shares Con. Virginia
at $3.50" we heard faint whisper:
" New bonanza on Front street-three
dishes for twenty-five cents and coffee
included" Another operator, behind
whose blooded team we have often
ridden to the Cliff House, informed US
that he knew place where he could buy
ten car tickets for half a dollar. We
lent him the equivalent of ten car tickets
and walked sadly home. Stocks are not
booming San Francisco NeaoS- Letter.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07
THE FARMERS WIFE.

The farmer came in from the field one day;
His languid step and his weary way,
His Bonded brow, his sinewy hand.
All showed his work for the good Of the land
For he sows,
And he hoes,
And he mOws.
All for the good of the land.
BY the kitchen fire stood his patient wife,
Light OF his home and joy of his life,
With face all aglOw, and busy hand,
Preparing the meal for her husbands band;
For she must boil.
And she must broil,
And she must toll
All for the good OF the home.
The bright sun shines when the farmer goes out:
The birds sing sweet songs. lambs frisk about;
The brook babies softly in the glen,
While he works so bravely for the good of men;
For he sowS,
And he mOws,
And he hoes,
All for the good of the land.
How brsSly the wife steps about within.
The dishes to wash. the milk to skim;
The fire goes ont. the flies buzz about
tOr the dear ones at home her heart is kept stout
There are pies to make,
There is bread to bake,
And steps to take.
All for the sake of home
When the day is Ger and evening is come,
The creatures are fed the milking done.
lie takes his rest meath the old shade tree,
From the labor of the land his thoughts are free:
Though he sOws,
And he hoes
And he mOws,
He rests from the work of the land
But the faithful wife, from sun to sun.
Takes her burden up that's never done;
There i no rest. there is no play.
For the good of her house she must work away;
For TO mend the frOCk,
And to knit the sock.
And the cradle to rock.
All for the good of the home.
When autumn is here with its chilling blast,
The farmer gathers his crop at last;
His barns are full his fields are bare,
For the good of the land he meier hath care;
While it blows,
And il SHOWS,
Till winter goes.
He rests from the work of the land.
But the willing wife. till life's closing day,
Is the children's guide. the husbands stay;
From day TO day she has done her best,
Until death alone can give her rest;
For after the test,
Comes the rest
With the blest,
In the Fathers heavenly home
Christian Union.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07

1t will be seen that the total strength
of the regularly-trained soldiers of
Europe amounts to nearly 5000 600; or,
having regard to the fact that the whole
adult population of the nations of Europe,
except Great Britain, is liable to be called
to take arms, the total military force
may be estimated at from 6 1000, 900 to
100000. The lesser number equals
the whole of the adult and efficient pop
ulation of the British islands. 1t has
been pointed out that if only one half of
the present excessive armies of Europe
were disbanded, at least 5000, 600 of
men twenty to thirty-tive years of age
would be restored to productive labor,
and $500, 900, 900 of money saved from
oppressive taxation. The tract before
US contains table enumerating the wars
between 1858 and 1877, and the loss of
life they occasioned. There were killed
in war, or died of wounds and diseases,
$50, 900 men in the Crmean war, As, 900
in the Italian war of 1859, 3,0O0in the war
of Schleswig- Holstein, 800, 900 men in
the American civil war, As, 900 in the
Prussian war of 1866, 155, 900 on the
French side and 10000 on the German
in the FrancO-German war of 1901,
which, with other and smaller affairs,
brings the total slain to / ,94S, 900 during
twenty-five years. These wars are not
less costly in money than they are in
lives, as the following figures will show:
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07

THE humblest can do something toward
making the local paper interesting. If
you cannot be a defaulting bank clerk,
you can, at least, step on an orange peel
and sprain your ar.--Rome Sentinel.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07

The Bishops, book agents and ed
itors of the Methodist Episcopal Church
at New York, Cincinnati, Chicago and
St. Louis have had their salaries fixed at
SO, 900 each, with an allowance for house
rent. The rest of the official editors get
salaries ranging from 50 900 to 81 800.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07
The Cost OF War.

According to a little tract published
recently by the London Peace Society the
ornaments of Europe in the present year
are.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-07

This calculation excludes the allied
expedition against China, the Indian
mutiny, and the Abyssinian and Ashantee
campaigns. These items may be in.
cluded in the general expenditure of
Great Britain upon war, debt and war
like preparations since 1851, which
amounts to the large sum of Sc, 52S, 163,-
995. 1t is estimated that the enormous
sum given in the foregoing table would,
if divided, allow about so for every
man, woman and child in the habitable
globe. 1t would make two railways
round the world at the rate of $3.50, 900
mile. 1t would provide freehold
farm of 100 acres in this country to each
of the fifty million of adult males in
Europe.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-03-17
Arctic Cold,

Lieut.. Payer, in his account of the
Austrian Arctic Expedition states that,
on his sledging excursions to Franz
Josef's Land, the cold was so intense
that, when one of the party wished to
take draft of rum, he knelt down
while another poured the liquor into
his mouth in order to prevent the
metal cup touching his lips and freezing
to the skin. The effect of the cold
upon the articles of food and drink
carried by the party is thus described
"This rum, though it was strong,
seemed to have lost all its strength and
fuidity. 1t tasted like innocent milk,
and its conscience was that of oil. The
bread was frozen SO hard that we feared
to break our teeth in biting it, and il
brought blood if we ate it. The at
tempt to smoke a cigar was a punish.
ment rather than an enjoyment, be.
cause the icicles in our boards always
put them out, and, when we took them
out of our mouths they were frozen;
even the shortest pipes met the same
fate. The instruments l used in sur.
veying seemed to burn when | touched
them, and the medals which my com.
panions wore on their breasts felt like
hot iron"
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-03-17
FOREIGN,

1T Is stated in military circles that the measures
announced for the formation of new military
corps, WILL II carried out, be equivalentto the mo-
ollzation Of the whole country except Finland.
LORD DERBY denies the treaty obligation of the
powers to defend Turkey. Their right to defend
her integrity and independence, that of France.
Germany, Italy Russia herself exists without the
sanction of solemn treaty; hut Lord Derby has de-
,lsred that Turkey cannot expect help from Eng
land. thus the final result of the treaty of Paris is
asuperfuous affirmation of right we do not in
tend to use.
CoRrlNAs has been tried by the military court at
Natamoras, and found guilty of kidnapping, and
Will be shot.
The ipanese troops have captured four steamers
from the insurgents of Satsuma at Kumomats, The
otner provinces quiet
LONDON dis patch of March Sd says The week
has been calm, politically, but the hopes Ct peace
are materially strengthened From all that can he
gathered here disarmament by Russia is prop.
aoe. The Eastern QUESTION will, in all likelihood
Dc sneIvsd Tor another year, Turkey being mean.
while left to work out her own salvation or DIES.
ruction, with long odds i'll favor of the latter.
RU 'sIAS troops have been ordered to evac,,ate
Servian territory.
HE Pesther LtOyfs special from Berlin states
that the Porte has already prepared note for nre
entation on the conclusion of peace with Aonten.
esc o, pointing ont that Russian mobilization s =,
OBSTACLE to reform and financial reorganization ir
t"iAey' hhgand1 Is using strong arguments tc
oissuaoe the Porte from presenting the note
1HE senate OF the University of London bave
oecioed TO admit women to medical degrees,
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-03-17

WE have taken wood, potatoes, corn,
eggs, butter, onions, cabbages, chick
ems, stone, lumber, labor, sand, calico,
sour-kraut, secondhand clothing, coon
skins and bug-juice on subscriptions,
in our time, and now man writes US
to know if we would send the paper
six months for large owl. There sre
few things az editor would refuse on
subscription, and If We come across any
fellow who is out of al owl, and is il
need of one, Wen do it,--Osbora Kan.
Farmer.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-03-17
The Kind of G.. WASHINGTON HI
Was
From the Atlanta ga Constitution.

From Inc Auanta (da) ConstitutiOn.
Old ST recently personated Gen
Washington at ball masque in At
lanta, G. Some one asked him if he
proved himself " first in war, first IL
peace, and first in the hearts of his
countrymen." Il dunno bout dat,
said ST; +" but l kno's dis, das | waz fust
at de hall, de wildes' boss in de dance
an de las man at de feed bor'd ! Dat.
de kind of Gin 'rul Washin ton dis old
man made, yer kin jess on'erstan
right now"
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-03-17

a gLRnsYMAN recently aroused bis
sleepy audience by asserting N the
most positive manner that "notWlth-
standing the hard times, the wages OF
sin had not been cut down one iota,
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-03-17

When President Hayes alighted from
the carriage, the thousands gathered at
the Executive Mansion to witness the
entrance of the new occupant, cheered
heartily and Justify, while the discharge
of artillery made those at distance
aware of the time of the event, half
mast two
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-03-17
CRIMES AND CASUALTIES.

AT Greensboro, KY, on the 9Th inst, Ben I1piett,
aged nine years, committed suicide. Ben's mother
refused to give him apple, when ne oeca1ne
angry and to brighten his parent secured piece OF
clothes line, tied one end to tree, and making
moose of the other end slipped it over his neck and
hung himself.
VIM. McGRAw was killed, and VIM. Mahoney
severely beaten by unknown negroes in the capitcl
grounds Washington, the evening OF the 'tn
inst.
Two brothers named Kid quarreled at Barnston
In the province of Quebec, the Sth inst. ana one
fatally shot the other.
WHILE firing salute at Alton, ILL.,, in honor OF
the Inauguration Of President Hayes, the cannon ex
ploded, terribly manging Chas. Rurneson, aged 10
who loading it at the time. Two pieces OF the
cannon entered Burnesons bowls and both hands
were taken eff.
The Coroner's jury in the Ashtabula bridge dis
aster case have rendered a verdict declaring thai
the bridge defective, and throwing all RESPONSE
bility of the accident on the railroad company.
CAPT. WILLIAM w. DoBBINs, well known on the
lakes, dropped dead on the 5th inst az he reached
his home at Erie, Penn, returning from walk.
The building known as the WaItham Manu-
featuring Conpany's building, at Nos. 1, 3, and
Bond street. New York city, was burned on the
night of the 9Th. The loss on the structure and its
contents is estimated at from $780, 900 to 81 00JO0o
JOE CCBURN, the pugLlst, mas oeen senteuCeu IL
Sing sing prison for 10 years, for attempting to
kill New York police officers recently.
FIVE bodies have been taken from the ruins OF
the Bateman House at Kansas City, Pa, DESTROYED
by fire on the 5th inst. The RI mains of n Brown,
Jr of go Chestnut street, Philadelphia, have been
identified by a key check. Charley Bateman
aged Il years, who rescued by his
father, died Of his injuries the morn
ing Of the 9th inst. Mr.. Bateman, the
father, and only remaining one of the family, lies
in very critical condition.
MIR. AND MRS. ALLEN, of Bath, H., were attend
ing party at neighbor's, night or two since,
when the mother laid her month old child on the
bed in an adjoining room to sleep. During tie
evening the guests that arrived, not noticing the
child, stored their overcoats and shaws upon the
bed, burying it out Of sight. When the parents
dug out their infant to start home at late hour, it
vas dead, having been smothered to death.
LEONARD HOWARD was hung at Hartford, Conn.,
on the ID inst, for killing Sheffield, in June, 1876
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-03-17

ARMY officers are arriving at st. Paul TO form q
court martial, before which, rnmor says s''
Reno of the seventh cavalry and Capt. Hall, OF the
same regiment. will be arraigned on charges pre-
ferred BY each against the other but not involving
Reno's action on the Little Big Horn.
Poa1LAsp, Oregon, dispatch Gays tnat inc crop
prospects are unusually fatterins througnout Tue
state The area sown is greatly increased over any
previous year.
The Mississippi Valley Immigration ConVenoor'
which was held at Little Rock, Ark, aoJourueo oh
tho I'd inst. Seventeen states were represented
resolution was adopted urging upon the several
states represene ed In the convention the esiaoish
ment OF Bureau of immigration.
The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1877-03-17
THE EAST.

AHE failure OF John j. Hoyt OF New York with
haoiiities amounting to sI,73O, 1926 is announced.
ohN. JOHN A. DIX has resigned the chairmansbin
OF the Grand Army of the Republic and isspad on
aaoress 10 the veteran soldiers and sailors Of tbe
united strtes urging them to maintain the orgoni-
ha'ion, and calling upon all members to pivs a
hesrty support TO the policy of civil service REFORM
u conclnauon SO forcibly expressed in the
Inaugural address of president HAYES
HE committee of experts and prominent rnirir,
men ana operators are exploring the newly onanad
i'o'o ioot level consolidated Virginia min a. tbe,r
ieport is awaited with the great st interest on Ca
nornla street snd is expected to set at rest v,ro
contradictory stories set atoat CONCERNING tho ~.
poets of the mine. VIC pi0s-
aAh'E Is 3 ALBERT, telegraph operator OF Rich
ouu' ino' mas been bequeathed ST 000 600 bv a
osoeaseo uncle in Germany,
MAJ. W. G. R1IsKY, a Mexican war re.ar.u a.,
Carroiiton, Ill, on the 7th inst, aged So
JOHN A. HoyT, prominent New YORK snocr,o.,u
islied, with liabilities amounting TO 81 73o COS OK
Inc assets will not exceed S225,OO0 and will he
much reduced by litigation.
HnoNioifAL elections were held In the yartous
"'les OF New York State on the 9th inst. re-
e,eo'ed Democratic mayor BY .so0 ns;or,.,
ouoa chose Republican mayor BIZ s00 n,ai,rj.v
anu democratic treasurer by 2,0O0 ms ior;ty
hinlra elected Republican recorder bv s50 met
e republicans ed Rochester. where
only minor offices were vote for
THE WEST.
,s..s,..,,' OF Minnesoa, has vetoed the
-e'ia'''e act which proposed uniform, STAT co.
upon property for school PURPOSES - ''e'e tax
uoeo according TO enrolment OF popils n ths.ns
as se.oois ~hish wcuid have taken spont an ~,
sssn isom st. Paul and Ninnsapon, fer s.. ~.
Pert OF country schools. up
,,.. Ainnesota state Prison Board discoveries
'Aa'' through mistake, the Legislature faiIas -
-1-AAe any appropriation for the support ~ ~
prison for the coming year.
The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1877-08-13
LEGAL ADVERTISEMENTS.
NOTICE.

To Jerry B. GRamme. Taylor Waterhouse and
whom it may concern:
XvOU and each If you are hereby
notified that l. the undersigned, have,
pursuant to an Act of Congress, approved May
l0th, 1870 commonly known a. the United
states Mining Law, expended in labor on tn
silver Aouarch Lode, situated in Central
Mining District, Humboldt hnty, State of
Nevada, nad governed by the silver Monarch
Company ten dollars for each claim OF one
hundred {. ct of said Lode in aud for the
assessment year ending December 3lst. 1876,
and you aud each of you are hereby further
notified that If You do not contribute your
proportion with neces-a airy cost Of advertise
ment, to mcet such expenditure with n
ninety days from the date OF
the first publication of this notice. the
respective interest of yon aud each OF YOU in
defaalt will pass to the undersigned, your co
owner Of said Lode.
n IT. KING
Winnemucca May 18th. 1877, GOD
The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1877-08-13
A ssessnent n office.
HURRICANE MINING COMPANY.

HURRTcASE MINING COMPANY.
n OCATlON Of principal place Of business,
4 San Francisco, California. Location of
WORKS Humboldt codnty, reyada.
No ice i, hereby given, thar at u meeting Of
the Board of Directors held on the 20 Ii day of
me, 1877, an asse sInent o. y If ten tl0)
cents Per share was levied upon he capital
stock Of the corporation. payable imIne-
distely in United states gold coin, to the
Sec etary. at the Office Of the company, No
5a5 California st.eet, room 2, san Francisco
California.
ANY SO k upon which this assessment shall
remain unpaid on the
FOURTH DAY OF AUGUST. 1877,
Will be delinquent, and advertised for sale at
public auction; and unless payment is made
before will be sold on
SATURDAY. HE TWENTY-FIVE DAY
OF AUGUST, 1877,
10 pay the delinq ent assessment, together
with costs of advert sing ana expenses Of
sale
BY order of the Bot I'd o6 Directors.
j. ii. DICKINSON, secretary.
Office, No. 535 California street, San
Francisco.
iuIy Old