davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
A Vicious Fish.

Right whales frequently find theii
way into the Bay. of Fundy, and are
there captured. The bay is also fa.
vorite resort for the thfasher and the
swordfsh. 1 have heard old coasters say
that they had seen thrashers forty-five
and fifty feet long, moving with great
velocity on the surface Of the water, theif
heads raised ten and twelve feet above.
Bay of Fundy fishermen, in speaking OF
them, say they are the greatest of sea
villains. Twenty odd years ago one OF
these sea monsters got caught on sand
bar, where he was left by the rapid fall
ing of the tide in the Cumberland branch
of the Bay of Fundy, and was killed by
the people on shore after an exciting
struggle. He measured forty-six feet
In length. As Capt. Memo says, the
head is fiat and serpent-like, the eyes al.
most red, with ugly white circles over
them. Indeed, nothing could be more
repulsive than the head of this sea mon
ster. The only other sea villain they
are known to fraternize with is the
swordfish. Both are well known to old
coasters and fishermen rs the deadly
enemy of the whale; and il is the COM
mon belief that they hunt in couples,
and on finding the whale make immedi-
ate war, the swordfsh attacking beneath
and the thrasher on top.
The common belief is that the thrasher
has huge weapon, very like n sledge
hammer, protruding from his mouth,
with which he administers on the whales
back those terrible blows you can hear
ten or twelve miles distant. L have my
self stood on bluff overlooking the Bay
of Fundy, and witnessed three of these
terrible battles between whale and his
enemies, the swordfish and the thrasher.
The swordfish did his deadly work un-
derneath, while, as Capt. Memo says,
the thrasher coiled himself half over the
whale, and applied the blows with his
ponderous tail. In the distance, how
ever, the thrasher seems to raise and let
his weapon fall very much as black
smiths helper handles his sledge. You
could see the weapon rise and fall; you
could hear the blows distinctly, although
the distance was believed to be not less
than ten miles from shore, and you could
also hear the whale below and see him
blow. On one of these occasions the
terrible contest lasted nearly three
hours, the water in the vicinity being
red with blood. About every fifteen or
twenty minutes the whale would disap-
pear in an attempt to escape from his
enemies; but they would quickly pursue
him and force him to the surface, where
the combat would be renewed.
These two sea villains, the swordfish
and thrasher, invariably kill the whale
when they get him into close quarters;
and as soon rs the combat ceases, which
can be clearly seen by the whales body
floating motionless, the thrasher will
proceed to clear water, where, raising
his serpent-like head in triumph, ten
twelve, and fifteen feet above the sur
face, he will continue for fifteen and
sometimes twenty minutes lashing the
sea into foam.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
Clergymen and Trades Unions.

A London letter to the San Francisco
Post says: 1t is gratifying to observe
that the second meeting of the clergy
men of London and some of the leading
trades unionists has excited more inter-
est than the first did. 1t is thought that
the clergymen in this movement are i'm
bued with the noble aspiration to pre-
pare themselves for an intelligent dis
charge of their duties as priests. They
have noted the working classes organic
ing continuously and effectually, and
desire to become better acquainted with
the leaders of their movements. The
spectacle is one of peculiar interest, as
perhaps indicating the growth of party
within the State church who desire a
separation of the spiritual and temporal
connection. The high church party are
ripe for a change, being dissatisfied with
their present position. 1t is thought by
several gentlemen with whom L have
conversed upon the subject-one an edi-
tor of London daily, one public writer
of repute, and one secretary of politi-
cal society-that behind the movement
OF the clergy to meet the trade unionists
lies desire to prepare the way for be-
coming the church of the people. The
vast majority< Of the workingmen of this
country are affiliated with no church,
being indifferent but if they incline
any way, it is to the church of England,
especially in the towns and cities. If
the clergymen of that church identify
themselves with the workmen's move
ments, they will easily distance the dis
senters in their estimation and favor.
We must not pass this movement by as
unimportant, as the spirit that prompted
it will continue to work, and peacefully
effect great change in the relations OF
the church to the people.
Many clergymen greatly regret lost
opportunity that they and the sqrlires
had with the agricultural laborers. Had
these two parties united in helping
poor Hodge to gain the small increase in
his scant pay that he contented himself
in demanding from the farmers, they
would have perpetuated their power in
the counties-the Troy stronghold
an indefinite period. Now, when the
laborers acquire the right to vote, they
will regard the squire and the clergy az
their natural political opponents. The
clergy, who have imbibed some of the
liberal culture of the last half century,
do not desire to see their chance pass
with the town artisans as it has passed
with the rural laborers hence their
latest effort to cultivate better and more
intimate acquaintance with the secre-
taries and officers of the workingmens
trade unions.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
Anxious to See II.

A good story comes from Hungary and
is told in the Cologne Gazette. A party
of strolling players came to the town of
Torda and set about to give an enter
tainment. Everything possible to their
limited resources was done to attract an
audience, but when the curtain rose
naught was to be seen in the auditorium
but most beggarly account of empty
boxes-only here and there a man. The
actor stepped to the footlights and ex-
planned that the play could not proceed
before so small an audience. "What
will you take to play the thing for me ?"
asked gentleman named Marinka.
" Fifty gulden,' was the reply. "All
right; fire ahead; I'll pay the shot, >" said
the noble Mecenas. The play began,
but before the end of the first act Ma
rinka sang out: "There I've had
enough of that; let's see the second act. 1"
In the second act there was very inter-
esting scene, which caused Marinka to
exclaim: " Here go back and do the
thing over again." In the third act the
new M@cenas yawned and cried:
There that'll do. Ring down the
curtain and follow me-" The curtain
was rung down and Marinka took the
players to a tavern, where they all made
a night of it. The treat cost him forty
tlorins, besides the fifty gulden he paid
for the play.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
Do Dogs Reason 4?

The Sacramento Record Union relates
this incident: : A resident of Sacramento
is the proprietor of dog and cat, which
are great friends, and appear to have
much pleasure in each others society.
They play together, eat together and
hunt together. Yesterday they were
each given piece of meat. The dog
swallowed his at one gulp, but the cat
proceeded more slowly, the dog mean
while standing by with countenance
which bore evidence of willingness
amounting to anxiety to help the feline
with the job in hand. The cat, however,
would not be assisted, but growled de-
terminedly whenever the dog approached
too near. The latter looked on reflect
ingly for minute longer: but suddenly
was seized with an idea. A few yards
distant was lSnothole at which they had
been accustomed to watch for rats and
mice. Running to this hole, the canine
commenced brisk scratching and vigor-
GUS barking, as though whole colony
of rats were in sight. The cat ran to the
hole to assist in the capture, and the
dog completed his strategical demonstra-
tion by swallowing the meat.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
troops setting out to oppose the Prus.
slams, and died a soldiers death OH the
field of Sadova.

troops setting out to oppose the Prus-
slams, and died a soldiers death OH the
field of Sadova.
One cold, wet morning a carriage drove
on the dock of one of the transatlantic
steamship companies, and Melville
Brooks stepped out. A steamer had been
signaled from Sandy Hook late the night
before, and she was expected in the East
river soon after daylight. One long half
hour elapsed before she made her ap-
pearance in the stream, and another be-
fore she was made fast; but as soon as
the gangway was thrown across. Mr..
Brooks sterped on board, and made his
way toward young man heavily
wrapped.
"Welcome back, CASTOR, old fellow r'
he cried, giving the young man a sort of
hug, while he scanned his pale face.
'Poor fellow Africa has stripped you
of your fine proportions, and left your
bones nothing but scanty mantle of
skin. Thank God, you are safe home
again, my boy. Your native air will
make you all right again. 1 have a hack
on the dock; come and get in out of this
raw air."
4ui 'olOoho opcucu oll6 CtTCluRe uOOr,
and Castor had stepped in before he no.
ticed that woman was there.
What Odette Miss Falkland
here Oh this is kind, too kind. Be-
lieve me, feel it deeply"
Odette's lips were white and trem-
bling, but she could say nothing. Mr..
Brooks had turned away to see to Cas-
tons baggage.
$50 you remember your old friend,
and have come to welcome him home
again. You have good heart;" and
CASTOR lifted her hand tenderly, and
kissed it.
"Gaston, Gastoni" said Odette, with
choking utterance, 81 can bear your re-
proaches, but not this goodness. Ihave
been so heartless-am so unworthy of
you, you must not look at me so vet. Or
you will make me--you will make me
cry"
Gently overcoming her resistance, Gas
ton drew her fair face against his weather
beaten one, and was not at all ashamed
to mingle his tears with hers. They had
lovers condolences to exchange, and the
future to talk of. But Melville Brooks
himself bachelor once disappointed
in lOve-had stayed away so long that he
could find no excuse for staying away
any longer; so at last he joined them.
They drove to his house, where Mrs.
Wentworth was waiting to receive them;
and there was not a happier quartette in
New York that day.
A few weeks later, Odette Falkland
became Mrs. Castor Sandford.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
A Lawyers WOOing.

Charles O'Conor's peculiar wooing is
thus told by the Washington CORE
spondent of the Cleveland Herald j..
+" The young and beautiful widow of
Commodore McCracken of our navy re-
turned from abroad, and, finding her
financial affairs in a complicated state.
went to Mr.. O'Conor to get his legal adj.
vice, Mr.. O'Conor discovered that the
commodore had died insolvent and the
beautiful widow was left to the cold
mercies of selfish world without a
penny to call her own. This he was
obliged to break to her, whereupon she
held up her hands in piteous dismav
crying: 'Oh, Mr.. O'Conor, what shall
l do? who have lived in luxury ali
my life ! Madam, said the great law
yer, the best advice can give you is to
marry me, They were married." -
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29

The Benefits Of Savings Banks,

An article in Appleton's Journal OBJ
jects to the efforts which apparently are
making in some quarters to discredit the
savings bank system on account of the
mismanagement of few banks; and it
prints some very suggestive figures to
show how small are the losses in these
particular cases compared with the great
benefits derived from the general system.
1t says:
There has been entrusted to the saw
lngs banks of New York State since their
beginning (from 1919 to January l, 1870
the sum of So, ,116 1858, 9S3. There has
been paid or credited to depositors dur
ing this period, as profit or interest, ,S169,-
429, 900, while the banks hold, as con-
tingent fund against exigencies, a sur
plus of nearly $34, 100000. The amount
held by them on January first, 1876 Cat
this writing the statistics for the whole
State up to the first of last January are
not I'M, was 9319, 100000. These huge
figures show the vastness of the interest.
Now, careful estimate of the losses that
have occurred by failures places them at
about three millions of dollars.
That Is to say, the loss is one-eleventh
OF the surplus; one fifty-sixth of the in
terest which the banks have paid to de-
posltors; one seventh of one per centum
OF the whole amount deposited with the
banks; less than one per centum of the
balance held last year, if the loss had all
fallen upon that year. Up to 1870 the
whole loss was less than one hundredth
of one per centum of the whole amount
Of deposits. These facts do not excuse
Encouragement in particular cases; they
do not excuse the makers and ministers
of law for any failure to throw every pos
sible safeguard around these popular de-
positories; but they do vindicate the
confidence in the savings bank system
which has been gaining strength for the
last fifty years.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
A Naughty Girl.

Mary, you are very naughty this
morning" said kind old lady to little
girl whom she had taken under her care,
" but you must learn your lesson. I
will leave you for short time, and, when
1 come back, 1 hope to find you a good
girl." Mary was left in tears, and in a
very i'll humor; but on the old lady's re-
turn, the tears had given place to smiles,
and Mary, running up to her aunt, ex-
claimed in great glee : "Dear aunt,
kiss me for Mary will never be naughty
again; Mary has burned that nasty book
which made her SO naughty this morn
inc -
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
Did he Really Mean It?

Said fond mother at the table of
fashionable Chicago hotel, the other
day: nd
"Do you know, my little son, that the
word menu is French for bill of
fare?"
"Oh, yes, mamma" was the assuring
reply, menu it n =
The mother tainted right there. She
was afraid her boy would grow up to be
q paragrapher editor,
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
Why Biddy and Pat Married.

oh, why did you marry him, Biddy2
why did you take Pat for your spouse?
Sure he's neither purity nor witty,
And his hair is as red as a cow's
feu might had your pick had you waited;
You done dale better with Tim;
And Phelim O'Toole was expectin'-
You couldn't do better nor him.
You talk of us young people courtin-
Pray tell howyou courtin' began,
When you were a wildly woman,
And he was a wildly man."
Tim and Pat, miss, We see, was acquainted
Before they came over the sea,
When Pat was a-courtn' Norah,
And Tim was a-courtm' ME.
She did not know much. the poor Norah.
Nor, for that matter, neither did Pat;
He had not the instinct of some one,
But no one had then told him that;
But he soon found it out for himself.
For life at bets but span
When 1 was q wildly woman,
And he was a wildly man.
81 helped him to take care of Norah,
@h'iN "AiSi hc COiu iJuTcu neT WIFI
he saw, as he whispered one evening,
What woman one woman could be.
She went out like the snuff of a candle
Then the sickness seized upon Tim.
And we watched by his bedside together
twas such comfort to him.
was not alone in my weeping,
Our tears in the same channel ran
For was wildly woman,
And he was wildly man.
"Wehad both had our troubles mavourneen,
Though neither, perhaps. was to blame;
And we both knew by this what we wanted,
And were willing to pay for the same,
We knew what it was to be married
And before the long twelvemonth had fowr
We hadmade up our minds it was better
Not to live any longer alone
We wasted no time shilly-shally,
Like you, miss, and Master Dan
For was a wildly woman,
And he was wildly man."
-Hdrpers Magazine.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
A Fathers Effort.

An extraordinary suit was brought be-
fore q San Francisco court. Francis
Skefington, who is penniless, sued his
son John, who is very rich, for alimony
and counsel fees. The plaintiff urged
that he was the author OF Johns being
and ought to be fed, clothed and housed
in his old age at Johns expense. Judge
Wheeler ruled that the law did not COM
pei son to support his father, and
that the old gentleman was not entitled
to alimony. ~-.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
Burgundy.

Burgundy isn't good thing to drink ,,
Young man beeeech you, consider and think,
Or else in your nose and likewise in your toes,
You'll discover the color of Burgundy rose
Burgundy rose, Burgundy rose,
A dangerous symptom is Burgundy rose
"Tis very nice VINE, and as mellow as MIX
"Tis very nice color in satin or SILK
But you'll change your opinion as soon as 1t shows
In a halo around the extreme of your nose
Burgundy rose, Burgundy rose,
'Tis very bad thing at the tip OF your toes.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29

The poet who wanted to be granger,
and wrote: Beneath the Tall Tomato
Tree I'd Swing the Glittering Hoe," was
not SO badly informed as he sec med. Mr..
Scott, of Los Angeles, has tomato vine
twenty-five feet high.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29

Tomorrow evening"" mused Odette;
''why, that is tonight" She rang the
bell, and gave the servant who answered
it this instruction.: 81 am not at home
to anybody this evening except Count
Bradsky." Then she retired to her own
room, and when she appeared some hours
later, traces of tears were still to be seen
on her face. Late in the evening the
count arrived. Odette sat down to the
piano as rigid as statue. At last the
visitor was announced. Odette did not
turn her head, but struck the keyboard
with nervous force, and the air she PLAYED
was the terrible "March OF Rakoczy."
The count was about to enter the room,
when the sound of the piano stopped
him at the door. For some moments he
stood motionless, his hands tightly
elasped, listening to the music which de-
clared his fate. Too proud to speak, OF
say word of parting, he noiselessly with
drew; and long ere Ode.te had ceased
playing he had left the house. He re.
turned to his own country, Joined the
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-03-29
81 may hope, then l' cried CASTOR.

VI may hope, then p cried CASTOR,
joyfully.
81 do not forbid you, but 1 promise
nothing" said Odette, with downcast
eyes. "You know how much pleasure 1
find in your presence, CASTOR. You will
not mind if l say would like to be alone
now ?"
Gaston took her little white hand,
kissed it, and went without word. He
spent half the night thinking of Odette;
the other half he dreamed of her
AS to Odette-left alone in he1 room.
she soon fell fast asleep.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-10-04
A POLITICAL BLUNDER.

The course of Conkling in the New
York Convention has been a great sur
prise alike to his friends and his enemies.
It has been believed for some time past
that Conkling was unfriendly to Presi-
dent Hayes administration, but it was
never thought that he would allow his
passions to so far master his judgment IS
to induce him to lay down the guage OF
battle to one wing of the Republican
party in the very face of an important
and doubtful struggle with IN opposing
political organization, but such has been
his course in the late Republican Con-
.vention. His fight upon the President
has proved eminently successful, and
to-day Conkling is king of the Republi-
cans of New York. But his crown has
been won at very dear price, and the
Democrats of the State are the parties
who will derive the benefit of the victory
which his services have secured for them.
The Republicans would at best have had
very doubtful chance of securing the
State this year, and the action OF this
convention utterly destroys any prospect
Of victory which they might otherwise
have achieved.
The result of this action will, no doubt
prove beneficial to Southern interests, fol
it demonstrates conclusively that the
president will have to look to Southern
support to carry out his measures, and he
has already discovered that such support
will only be given where the measures
for which it is asked are in themselves
desirable and right. Hence, we are dis
posed to believe that Mr.. Conkling has
unintentionally been of service to the
South in particular, and to the Demo
cratic party in general.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-10-04
OUR GRANGE COLUMN.
Under the Supervision of the Executive
Committee of Pomona Grange.

"Homo," of Hopewell, asks, "will m
in the Grange Column, give us his views
on rice culture"
In answer to the request, IN" of the
Grange Column is sorry to confess that
his experience in rice culture is not such
as will warrant him in coming before the
public as teacher in that department.
But will venture to suggest that there is
an upland rice successfully grown in
Georgia and Alabama, which may be
Just as we'll adapted to the soil and eli
mate of this section of country, and
ought to be tried at least. Our farmers
feel the need of something of this sort,
that would supply, at lower price, the
place of the high priced sea coast grain.
Besides being wholesome diet, it affords
to the ingenious matron the foundation
for a variety of dishes to adorn her table.
We shall be glad to have some dots on
this subject from any one having the E:
necessary experience. Perhaps Bro. ~"
could give us few practical items when
he gets through with the sorghum ques-
tiOn. IN.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-10-04

The principal fight in New York
among the Democrats is over the renom-
ination of John Bigelow. The Euening
Erpress sums up the opposition to him
thus: "He abandons his post, neglects
his duties, leaves the country, and spends
months on tour of pleasure in Europe.
He is not identified in any way with the
Democratic party, yet there are Demo-
Gratis who think the party ought to re-
nominate him. Not by a good deal.
That is not the kind of civil service the
Democracy believe in. If such an office
holder wants to be vindicated let him
come home, strip off his coat and vindi-
cate himself"
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-10-04

We are informed that the special in
vestigating committee have developed a
fraud in connection with $500 of State
bonds, which were deposited in the
Comptroller Generals Office during
Dunn's term by the Southern Life In
surance Company. Dunn was enjoined
by the courts not to deliver these bonds
and yet they are not to be found in the
Comptroller Generals Office, but bonds
bearing their numbers are owned by 8
Charleston Bank. How they got there is
now the question for consideration
Dunn is an applicant for the position of
Collector of Customs at Charleston, and
it is to be hoped the President will not
appoint him until this and other ques-
tionable transactions have been ex-
planned.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-10-04

A correspondent of the Charleston
Journal OFF, Commerce, writing from An
derson, under date ofSeptember 25tb, and
signing himself "Rex," nominates Hon.
Us. Murray, of Anderson, for the Asso-
ciate Justiceship, which is expected to be
made vacant by the retirement or removal
of Judge Wright, and assigns as reason
for the propriety of the nomination that
it would divide the Judges of the Su-
preme Bench equally over the different
sections of our State. There will proba-
bly, be number of candidates for the
position.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-10-04
NOTICE.

A LII persons indebted to the late firms Of
II Simpson, Hill & Co. or Simpson q.
sadler will take notice that they are required
to come forward and settle their demands
OF, or by the 1st day of December next, and
in case they fail to do So. the notes and &C.
counts in said firms will be placed In the
hands of an officer for collection. On &C.
count of the death of one of the partners,
the business must be settled up, and furth-
er time will not be given.
]. B. SIMPSON,
Surviving Partner
Oct 4. 1877 IL I'm