davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31
The Leather Medal.

We often hear Of the leather medal,
and in some instances our military marks
men have won, and occasionally wear
the leather medal as a sort of Absurd re-
gala marking very low rate Of marks
manship. 1t may be Of interest TO our
readers 10 learn the origin of the medal.
Some time during the fourteenth century
the bad King John for the ransom of his
royal person promised TO pay Edward
III. Of England 8, 600, ! 900 Of gold crowns.
In order to fulfill this obligation he was
reduced 10 the mortifying necessity of
paying the expenses of the palace in
leather money, the center of each piece
being n little point of silver. In his
reign is found the origin of the burlesque
honor of boyhood, called conferring a
leather medal The imposing cere-
monies accompanying the presentation
gave full force, dignity and value to the
leather Jewel, which even noblemen
were proud TO receive at the hands Of
majesty.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31

A correspondent u n Portland paper
gives some interesting particulars con
cerning the late Admiral Alden's family.
His grandfather was Robert Tate, the
fourth son Of George Tate, Of London.
who came 10 this cormatry some Tune be-
fore the wear 1856. George Tate bad
been a seaman on board the first Russian
frigate that even went 90 sea. When he
came 10 America he bnilt large two
story. gambrel rooted house at Stroud
water. Me-. which vet stands unaltered,
outside or inside. and is the best example
in that vicinity Of the prevailing style Of
Good houses nj that time. BE died there
in I794. in the ninety-fourth year of his
age. leaving four sons, al born IN Eng
land. His third son, George, entered
the Russian naval service. Catharine III.
appointed him lieutenant in lT9O, and
she aftarward raised him TO the rank OF
rear admiral. Alexander l. made him
first admiral and q member OF the hus-
sian Senate. For his gallant services ut
the siege Of Ismail he received from the
Empress Catharine a gold medal bearing
her likeness and suitable inscriptions.
He received from the different sovereigns
under whom he served the badges OF the
orders Of St Waldimer, St. Alexander
Newski. St Ann and the military order
Of st. John. He died in the service IN
1921. unmarried, highly honored and re-
spected. His last visit TO Maine was IN
1919. when he erected a handsome monu-
ment 10 his father and mother at Stroud
water. The fourth son of George Tate,
Robert, had one son and several daugh-
ters. One OF the latter WAS the wife Of
Captain James Alden, of Portland, and
the mother of Admiral Alden. One OF
Admiral Alden's sisters married L. >.
Arthur, OF Philadelphia, the well known
author.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31
Don't Worry About Yourself.

To retain or recover health, persons
should bc relieved from anxiety concern
ing disease. The mind has power over
the body-for "A person 10 think he has n
disease will often produce that disease.
This wc see effected when the mind is
intensely concentrated upon the disease
Of another We have seen n person sea
sick. in anticipation of a voyage, before
reaching the vessel We have known
people 10 die Of cancer in the stomach,
when they had no cancer in the stomach
or any other mortal disease. A blind
folded man. slightly prickcd in the arm,
has tainted and died from believing he
was bleeding 10 death. Therefore, per
sons well. to remain well, should be
cheerful and happy; and sick persons
fhould have their minds diverted as
much as possible from themselves. 1t il
by their faith that men are saved, and it
is by their faith that they die. As man
thinketh, so is he. If he Wills not to die,
he can often live in spite Of disease; and,
If he has little or no attachment to life,
he will slip away as easily rs child will
fall asleep. Men live by their minds rs
well as by their bodies. Their bodies
have no life of themselves; they are only
receptacles of life-tenements for their
minds, and the will has much to do in
continuing the physical occupancy or
giving IL up.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31
NUMBER %.
Coins OF the World.

The following is the value in round
numbers, in CENTS of our currency, OF
the coins Of the world
Aus'rala-Cold, pound, 5S2 SOW
erign, 4sb.
Austria Gold, dueat, DDS; sovereign,
675; crown, G64. Silver, old dollar, l02
old scudo, l04: old aorin, 5i new iiorin,
IS, new dollar, ~; Maria Theresa dol
lar. l02.
Belgium - Gold, twenty-five francs,
472. Silver. five francs, gs
Boliyia-G0ld, doubloon, ] ,659. Sill
yer. dollar, 70; half dollar, 80.
Brazil Gold, twenty milreis, $50
Silver, double milre 8, lO2.
Central America-Gold, two scudos,
30s. Silver, dollar, 100.
Chili-Gold, doublO0n, l,659; ten
pesos, gl5. Silver. old dollar, l06i new
dollar, 9s.
Denmark-Gold, ten thaleu, 700. Sil-
yer. two regisdaoa, 10.
Ecnador-Gold, four escudOs, T55.
England-Gold, pound or sovereign,
4eG; pound ~ sovereign, average, 4s4
Silver, ahilliug, new, %; shilling. aver
age. -
France-Gold, twenty francs, new,
3S5; twenty francs, average, 354. Sal
yer, five francs, 90.
Gernany-Gold, ten thalers. 100;
krone, 664; ducat, 22S. Silver, old
thaler, =; new thaleT, 70; dorm, GO.
Greece-Gold, twenty drachms, 3l4.
Silver, five drachms, ss.
Hindoatan-Gold, nohur, 70S. Sill
yer, rupee, SO.
Italy-Gold, twenty lire. 3S4.
Japan Gold, old cohang, ~; new
cobang, 357 Silver, itzebu, 81 new
itzebu, 80.
Mexico - Gold. doubloon, average,
1852; new doubloan, 1861. Silver,
dollar, average, lO6; new dollar. l07.
Naples--G0ld, SIX ducats, 900. Silver,
scudo, 90.
Netherlands-Gold. ten guilders. 396.
Silver, y guilders, I03.
New GranhdA-Gold, doubloon, Bo-
gotta, !. sci; doubloon, PopAyan, !, ,537
ten pesds, 967. Silver. dollar. 81.
Peru-Gold, doubloon, .555. Silver.
dollar, old, l66; dollar Of 1853. GA; half
dollar, IS.
Portugal-Gold, crown, 5s9.
Prussia Gold, ten thalers, 797;
crown, Goa Silver, thaler, old, 72i
thAler, new. 73.
Rome-Gold, two and one-hAlf scudi,
2c0. Silver, scndo, l05.
Russia--Gold, five roubies. 397. Sill
yer. rouble, 70
Spain-Gold. 100 reals. 465; eighty
reals, 3S6. Silver, pistareen, 20.
SWeden-Gold, ducat. 223. Silver,
rix dollar, III
Tunis -- Gold, twenty-five piastres,
299 Silver, five piastnes, 62.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31
Coerciur an Audience.

One OF the poets Of the first empire,
Nepomucene Lemercier, wrote tragedy,
whose hero was Christopher Columbus.
He had in il violated the unities, which
Frenchmen for years considered an In
violable law of tragedy. When Lemer-
cicr's piece was played, the students
Kissed II with great vehemence. Napo-
leon admired Lemercier, and when he
heard the tragedy had been Missed, he
ordered it played again. 1t was again
hissed. He became furious. He order
ed it to be played third time, and went
10 the theater accompanied by n regi-
ment of soldiers. The first and second
acts were heard in silence. 1t was at the
third act that the misses were most Wig
orous. When the curtain rose on the
third act. Napoleon leaned over his box,
and looked at The students to see If they
would dare oppose his known will in his
presence. What should he see but the
whole audience, from the pit to the last
tier. wearing nightcaps, and pretending
to be fast asleep. The sight was so odd,
Napoleon could not help laughing, and
he gave up attempting to support the
tragedy,
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31
The Human Fgcp

The countenance Of every nation de-
fines the characteristics of It's people.
Every human face indicates the moral
training as well as the temperament and
ruling traits Of its owner, just as much
as every human form indicates the
quality and amount Of its physical exer-
else. This is proven by the variety Of
human faces everywhere visible. Those
whose lives have been given 10 physical
labor, unbrightened by an education Of
ideas, have always stolid, stupid ox-
preston, even while their limbs and
muscles are splendidly developed The
more savage the people, the uglier they
are IN facial development. The very
features of their faces are disfigured by
violent and ungoverned passions. Peo-
pie whose employInents are intellectual
have invariably n large, clear gaze, n
bright, outraying expression, as if from
an inward light shining through vase.
Where fine organization and a deep
sensibllity accompany the practice Of in
tellectual pursuits, often the features
take on a transparent luminous look.
Persons endowed with powerful sensi-
bllIty, however PLAIN their features,
always have moments o. absolute beauty.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31

As an illustration Of the extreme dry
ness of the soil during the dry season in
Brazil, it is stated that in June all vege-
tation ceases, the seeds being then ripe,
or nearly so. In July the leaves begin
to turn yellow and fall off; in August an
extent of many thousands Of square
leagues presents the aspect of a Euro
pean winter, but without snow, the trees
being completely stripped Of their leaves;
the plants that have grown in abundance
in the wilderness drying up, and serving
as a kind of hay for the sustenance of
numerous herds OF cattle. This is the
period most favorable for the preparation
of the coffee that grows upon the noun
tains. The beans are picked and laid on
the ground, which gives forth no mois-
ture, but on the contrary absorbs it, and
being surrounded by an atmosphere pos
sessing the same dessicating properties,
the coffee dries rapidly without molding.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31
ENGLAND 10 Protect Her Intcrcsts.

The London Times, in . leading nrti-
Gle. dcprocntcs needless panic concern
ing the war. aud says England may
have 20 strengthen her fleet IN the Mcdi-
termnean and send il nearer the scene Of
action. Daring the Franco-Gcrman war
England had cp and real interests 10
guard; but the nation displayed no weak
or noisy alarm. We assumed that we
were perfectly able 30 defend our in
terests if they were attacked. and mean
while We maintained the strictcst ucu-
tralitv We cannot do better than
follow the precedent we then set our
selves. Our interests in Turkey are
manifold and great, but il would bc easy
10 exaggcIate them so long as the war
keeps within certain limits and at
present they cannot bc compared in inn
portaucc tp those 81 Austria No doubt
the war might, both in Europe ond Asia,
roll 10 points of greater Importance 10 us
than 90 any other State, just as the war
in 1870 might have rolled to Antwerp
but we have precisely the same security
now as We had then in the sclf-intcrcst
Of the principal comhgtnut Russin,
Whatever bc her faults, has, nc least, n
peculiarly keen sense Of her own inter
este. To presume she would absolutely
court "a collision with the greatest naval
power in the world is 10 presume sha
would suddenly become ns infatuated as
Turkey. II is sometimes assumed that
Constantinople might bc taken by n
dashing attack, but, in reality. IL is one
Of the strongest places m the world.
The Turks might. so long as they COM
mand the sea, hold it siuglc-handcd, and.
perhaps, the lnowledg, Of this fact adds
emphasis to Russia's declaration that she
viii not seize Constantinoplc. At all
events, it sufficiently rcbukcs cries OF
uud gnifcd alarm, and undisguiaed ap-
peais TO ignorant passion. England can
afford to regard the present contest
calmly, for the simple reason that it will
be perfectly well able to defend It's in
tcrests if and when they are attacked.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31
Elro nnrs 70 Mnke a Week.

An extraordinary proposal to reduce
the wcesi from seven days 10 five. and,
further. b. rename the days, comes from
Australia. Mr. H. X. Rusden, the au-
thor of the scheme, cuunciates his view
in paper on the Week in the trans
actions Of the Royal Society Of Victoria.
where he expresses the opinion that
while reducing the number Of the days
in the weel, it would hc a good opportu-
nifty 20 discard the present pagan names,
and 10 substitute Oncday, Twoday,
Thrcclay and Fourday for them-Sun-
day To be called Guodday. The author
is sanguinc as to the success of his plan,
and answers the plea of impracticability
with the remark that "the week itself
was actually altered 10y the Romans,
Greeks and many other peoples; and, in
fact, as there is no record of any attempt
to alter the week having ever failed, the
allegation of impracticability is so far
proved % be baseless'
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31
London Streets.

On a fine day what sight are these
London streets, with their dim back
ground of grand masonry, stretching
away, away, as boundless to the vision
ms the ocean itself, while through them
pours a multitude of our fellows, the
noted names of earth in every sphere of
endeavor. There goes the queen, drawn
by four prancing bays, and attended by
eduerries ON horseback, themselves the
finest flowers of England's mobiles.
Yonder the delicate Princess of Wales,
fair, but so frail it seems a rude breeze
would slay her like frost-smitten daisy.
Look, here is Tennyson, the prince of
poets, with slouching felt hat, long gray
locks and furrowed cheeks. That ex-
quisite beauty is the Countess OF Dud-
ley, the heroine of the lost diamonds,
the wife Of a msn more than double her
RgN
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31
A Clever Trick.

One day. seeing large ship with the
appearance ut a well laicu m,rchautmau
near the shore, the steamer Speedy gave
chase On nearing her she suddenly
raised her ports. and Lord Cachmuo dis
covered that hc bad O. deal not with
rich. helpless m,rchautmau. bat "a large
Spanish frigato, crowded with men. who
had hitherto been kept ont ~ sight To
Sight the Spauiarl would have been
simple act uf folly; 10 escape from her
los taking fight was equally ont uf the
question Some of tho officers were
anxious 20 try the fate uf an action. hu,
Lord Cochruuc. iirc-catcr us hc was. pos
scsscd clear. we'll balanced mind and
saw that the Speedy would have no
chance. He therefore had recourse 10 q
rtts,, for which lac had prepared before
hand. Having heard that the Spauiaris
were particularly bittcrabuut the SPEEDY.
he had caused her to be- painted 30 as To
resemble Danish brig. the Clomcr,
well known on the Spanish coast. lie
had also shipped a Danish quartcrmas-
ter, and provided him with a uniform of
nm officer of that nation. A soon rs the
Spaninrd disclosed her real character. the
Speedy hoisted Danish colors. The
Spaniards not being satisfied with this
evidence Of nationality. sent boat 10
board the British brig. Had the Speedy
been boarded, the trick would, Of course,
have been discovered in n moment. To
prevent such catastrophe, and at the
same time dIsarm suspicion, the Danish
Quartcrmaster, in his uniform. was
placed IN prominent position on deck,
and told TO carry on n conversation. The
yellow quarantine flag was run up at the
same time. The Spaniarls have always
had an ablcct and unrcasoning terror Of
infection, and on this occasion their fears
were increased 10y the intimation given 10y
the Dane that the ship was only two days
ont from Algiots. whore the plague was
raging. This intelligence was quite
enough for the Spaniards, the boat nt
once returned 30 the friRatc, which i'm
mcdiatcly set sail, the Speedy losing no
time in making or in the opposite di-
rpCtiOn
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31
4 New York Club House.

The Lotos Club. composed in the
mann oI journalists, artists and actors,
Tcceatly removed e. new building ON
Fifth avenue. New York, and It's interior
is thus described Entering the hall
door, the eve Is 80 once taken with the
grand sweep uf >tur-asc that rises
spirllly 10 the r0of, unj with the great
height and massive pauedng of the hall
itself Al the woodwork m sight Is Of
polished walnut, oak and rosewood, the
,ilec; Of which, though perhaps too SOM
her iuc such a gay place as the LotOs
club house, Is nevertheless extremely
rich. To the right oi the hall are the
three principal apartments II the ystAb-
L>AIeut, which are connected 10y folding
doors. The first Of these is the mann
parlor. a magnificent room. elegantly
furnished, with heavily curtalued VIM
lows looking ont ou the avenue and ON
Twenty first street Its walls and ceiling
are richly paneled IN white and gold.
and the chandelier and other cas fix
tures. rs well as the frames ot the mas
stye mirrors, ara also heavily gilt The
hoor Is covered with Gobglu tapestry.
whose ucA EgcS blend tremendously
with the pale green SATIN covering Of the
furniture. lu.aId tables and stands &C.
cupy their proper places near the VIM
doWs, anu the walls are hung with PIE
turcS, many cf which are from the
studios Of members Of the club. Ad-
Joining the parlgr Is smaller room.
handsomely furnished In brgA. culurs,
prOiusely decorated with pictures and
artistic knick-kuarhs generally. which
viii be used Is "a sort Of cafe and smok-
ing room; and Immediately back Of TINS
again Is the club diulu--rolm. heavily
pane.ed III oak, and furnished with mas
,sve chairs, tables, silgboaris, etc. IN
black walnut and rosewood The cell
ngs %! these three rooms are different
from each other, and each displays all
the art Of the frySro painter. TO tie
LETT ui the dluiug-r1om ami back ui the
main hall, ara the buffers rooms. also
fitted up IN oak, and the other apart
ments that properly intervene between
the dMlug-To1m and the kitchen. The
front room on the second floor is the IL
brary. This room Is literally fun OF
statuettes, hGsts, aud photographs. me.
meutoes OF men ce.rbruted in art and
literature, some of whom vere members
Of the club, and many oi whom are now
dead. Separated from the library by
folding doors is a t4Stefullv furnished
private d!ning-ro1m, where members can
entertain their personal friends at DIM
uer, and adjoining It 90 tae rear are the
customary cgrl-reoms and dressing
rooms. The top floor is divided OF into
urlVafg sllttS glFk 1Fg .f.s rr-.-r.fH5fsr az r
par!ur and bedroom. handsomely lur-
nlsheI, which are rented annually L.
members. The basement viii be occu-
pied by the bjllari-raom. wine-room
and kitchen. II is anticipated by the
officers that the removal ~ more spa
cious and elegant quartz viii cause
the list @! membership o. swell - ITS
maximum in q very short time. The
list VI members uow includes about $50
names.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31
AnIntelIigent Dog.

M. Naples, n Connecticut man, keeps
a Newfoundland dog and takes weekly
newspaper The latter is thrown from
the train by the baggage-master every
Thursday, and on that morning, as soon
as the cars come round q curve ia sight
of the house, the dog is seen waiting
expectantly, and then running down to
the track. When the paper is thrown
off he picks it mp and carries it to the
honss. On other mornings he Is either
not in sight at all or else lies coiled up
Rnd paying no attention to the train,
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31

Al. dearest, il our tears were she'd
Only for our beloved dead
Although our life's left incomplete,
Tears would net he so bitter, sweet,
As now all no,
Al, dearest, II the friends who die.
Alone were those who make us sigh
Although life's current is So ac,t,
Sighs would not be SO weary, sweet
As now sh no.
II 81 man pain 10 dil not give
To know that our beloved hvo
Than learn pic,y hearts have ceased 90 beat,
Grief woald not he - hopeless, sweet,
As now , ah no.
- Ton. HNcl
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31

We met noble son of the forest,
whom we have known for years, and he
was in so dilapidated condition that
we inquired what troubled him. The
seat of his unmentionables was torn out;
tears ran from his bleary eyes, and he
looked veritahle "Lo | the Poor In
dian, to perfection. "Give fifty cents,
said jim; "me want him plaster; / go
dig garden; dog jump ont door; catchum
my breeches heap; take more as two
pound steak Off me and eat him all up.
The four bits was handed out.-C1rsOn
Tribune.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31

A curious and remarkable experiment
has been tried in India. A Mr. Adams,
OF Bombay, has invented n solar battery
consisting Of two hundred small mirrors
so arranged that they focused the suns
rays upon n small copper boiler, and
generated steam in it in twenty minutes
Mr.. Adams contends that he could by
the same means generate heat enough
to drive the largest spinning mill in
Bombay. What would be do if the sun
didn't shine
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31

lie total manufactures Of silk in this
country for the past year are valued at
e26, ,5e9, ,10S.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31

Tho king of Austria has 1877 dia-
monds, and yet he can't make a wood
box, put up stovepipe os paint the
kitchen door.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-05-31

In the deep and mighty waters
There is none 10 hold my head
But my only Savior Jesus,
Who was slaughtered in my stead.
he. a friend in Jordan's river,
Holding up my sinking head;
With his smile I'll 60 rejoicing
Through the regions Of the dead.
It appears that they were singing this
when the welcome tappings were heard !;
''and, said Thomas Morgan, "off went
our jackets, and my beloved son, who is
no more, worked all night with the en-
ergy Of lion. He passed the Jordan
river, and is to-day on the holy hill Of
the better land"
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-12-06
Weeks Fatal Accidents IN London.

DURING the week ending Oct. q, in
London, twenty-seven deaths were
caused by fractures and Commissions.
Two men, aged respectively forty-two
and thirty-nfne years, two boys eight
years old, a woman seventy three years
old, and girl three years old, were
run over and killed by vans or carts.
A girl four. years old was run over
and killed by q cab; boy two years
old and woman, twenty-seven years
old fell from q window and were
killed. A woman sixty-nine years old
fell on the pavement and died; another
woman, seventy-two years old, was
killed by falling from her bed. A boy
three years old fell from child's arms
and was killed. Two men, aged re-
spectiveiy forty-nine and twenty EIGHT.
were run over BY the railway cars. An
old man aged sixty-nine years, . young
man Of tws1ty-six years, hn old woman
of seventy-two years, and middle-age
woman Of fifty yeerss tell down stairs
and were killed. A ms1f 6fthfty -nine
years was killed by falling down =
ship bald; 8 man ofsforty-four years
by falling into cellar; and man Of
thirty-nine years by falling from .
roof The number Of births was 975
more than the number of deaths.
Eleven infants under one year died Of
suffocaticn. A. =. ECssis0 Hbst. siss.