davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08
The Power of Memory.

An individual well known in London
by the name of "Memory Corner
Thompson, was remarkable for an as
tonishing local memory. In the space
of twenty-four hours, and at two sittings,
he drew fr,m memory a correct plan of
the whole parish of st. James. This
plan contained all the squares, streets,
lanes, courts, passages, markets, church
es, chapels, houses, stables, angles of
houses, and a great number of other OBJ
jects, as walls, parapets, stones, trees,
etc., and an exact plan of Carlton House
and st. James palace. He made out also
an exact plan of the parish of st. An
drew, and offered to do the same with that
of St. Giles, St, Panl, Covent Garden, St
Clement and Newchurch. II particu-
lar house in any given street was mem
toned, he would tell at once what trade
was carried on in it, the position and
appearance of the shop and its contents.
In going through a large hotel, COM
pletely furnished, he was able to retain
everything and make an inventory from
memory. He possessed most mechani-
cal memory, and he could, by reading a
newspaper over night, repeat the whole
of it next morning. He died in Febrn-
airy, 1843, at the age of eighty-six.
Mr.. Paxton Hood knew man in Lon
don who could repeat the whole of Jo-
sephus and William Lyon, like Thomp-
son; could read the Daily Advertiser
every night and repeat it word for word
the next morning.
Mithridates, king of Pontus, had an
empire in which two, and-twenty Ian
guages were spoken yet it is asserted
that he had not a subject with whom he
could not converse in his own dialect.
But in later times the royal linguist
has been eclipsed by the late Cardinal
Mezzofanh, who died in 1849. He had
wonderful memory for the retention OF
words, and with grammatical intuition
which has never been properly explain
ed. He went on acquiring languages
till, at the age of seventy, he could con,
verse in upwards of fifty, besides having
an acquaintance with at least twenty
more. He was at home in both of the
dialects of the Basque language, the
most difficult in Europe also, in the
different dialects of German with Eng.
lishmen he never misapplied the sign ol
tense. Besides the foregoing. he was
so far master of at least one Chinese dia'
lect that he delivered set speech tc
Chinese students at the vatican. Sc
conversant was he with all the dialects
of each tongue that he could at once de-
tect the particular country, province OF
district to which the speaker belonged
He himself was upon several occasions
mistaken for a native Of totally different
countries. According to his own words
as related to his friend Cardinal Wise
man, his method of studying Language
was to read straight through the gram
mar, and when he had arrived at the enc
he was master of the whole. He never
forgot anything he once heard or read
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08
One Form of Rudeness.

A fragrant breach of politeness, and
one which is most annoying to refined
and sensitive people, is the very general
practice of ones conversation. The i'm
punity with which this is done has de-
graded rational conversation, which ought
to be the greatest charm of social inter-
course, into proving farce. A man OF
woman who has anything to say that is
worth saying, desires to say it in his or
her own way and those who have brains
to appreciate it, will be equally desirous
of hearing it without interruption. Yet
it is common thing for parlor conver-
sation to partake more of the babble of
Babel, than conversation among rational
beings, who are supposed to know and
appreciate what each othes says. One
begins to relate an incident, and before
he has finished two sentences, some parrot
in fine clothes chimes in with her sense
less gabble, breaking the thread of dis
course. and compelling the narrator to
begin again, or abandon the attempt to
instruct or entertain.
This is the grossest impoliteness ; it is
as'common an occurrence as conversation
itself. It is not much to say, that nine
out of every ten people who indulge in
this habit are incapable of carrying on
rational conversation on any useful topic,
and indulge in these breaches of etiquette
by way Of covering their retreat and
hiding their ignorance.
We suggest to young people-and old
ones, too for that matter-that here is
promising field for social reform. Never
interrupt conversation by interjecting
remarks, however appropriate and witty
they may seem. All sensible people
will respecs you, and conclude that you
have good sense, and know how to use it
to the best advantage.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08
The Chinese Joss and Temple.

A traveller writes We enter temple
whose outside is adorned with gliding
and lacquer, and quaint designs of birds,
animals and unreal monsters. They
have a religion of some sort, Wang
Heng "a very intelligent Chinese with
whom am acquainted) assured me, with
churches and endowments as in England;
that is to say, they have the system, but
not the faith. I had supposed all along
that the curiously constructed temples,
sacred to Joss, had more or less of
religious character about them, but l
was now undeceived. Ny habit on pass
ing these edifces was to call in and see
what was going on, and one day found
out that Joss was nothing more than
fortune-teller, after the manner of the
Oracle of Delphos When inside the
temple we see the figure of Joss placed
on high, with ornaments of peacocks
feathers, whilst long streamers of colored
ribbons, pictures and flowers; presents
of tea, oil or opium 4; lighted tapers in
colored wax joss sticks burning slowly
and sending their perfume around
heaps of josspaper smouldering in trays
bamboo boxes with bundles OF small
sticks. on one end of which are inscribed
certain cabalistic characters, surround
the figure. At certain hours in the
morning the temple becomes sacred. 1t
is the hour of divination. Any one now
about to undertake a journey or make
a purchase, and desirous of knowing If
he will arrive in safety or make profit
able investment, comes to Joss. He
pays his obeisance by profoundly bowling
and salaaming then lights certain
number of matches or tapers and makes
present. After while, when it thought
Joss is conciliated, the suppliant takes a
box of marked sticks, and, after shaking
them about, selects half dozen, and pass
es them to the priest or Sheong-to (son OF
heaven) in attendance, who refers to the
book of mysteries and there reads the
will of Joss. If he is warned of misfor-
tune he forbears the journey or declines
the bargain, and waits for more
fortunate day. If Joss advises otherwise,
and good profit the result, the happy
merchant makes a substantial present.
Joss is, therefore, as will be seen, a
fortune-teller and nothing more, and
Sheong-ti is only sensible, cunning
fellow, who prefers to live by the credu-
lity of his neighbor rather than by the
labor of his hands.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08
" AID the holiday, sir ?"

buC lOAAQnlR
fake your holiday when you choose;
only don't make such fuss about it."
"And Is there nothing more you in Z.
tended to say to me, Mr.. Maitland ?" in
quired Tom.
"I should say" remarked Walter,
with a iealot,s anger in his eyes, :" it is
an irreparable mistake you are making
to marry on your own income, unless
you had chosen wife in your own po-
sition and used to such life as your
mothers"
"My mothers life was such life as
Isabels, at Isabel's age, said Tom, and
for a moment his face was really hand
some in its flush of honest pride; "and
Isabel has known what my mothers life
is for many yeaf past. Would 1 marry
her under any false pretenses ?"
presume, then, that Miss Conyng-
ham knows the extent of your income ?"
asked Maitland, with compressed lips;
cor have you, in your foolery, been
representing yourself as partner in this
bank Her eyes are open to the folly
of what she is doing, eh p
"She knows everything, sir" reioined
Tom, his eyes much puzzled, and little
angry; "and she does not call it folly. "
"You can CO."
The clerk left the room, closing the
door quietly behind him.
"They must have had harrassing let
ters," he said to himself, trying to ac-
count for the partners impatience.
"They have a good deal of anxiety
which we subordinates are spared" i"
And thinking this he took his seat and
wrote away more diligently than ever,
while his fellow-clerks wondered over
his mood.
"Leslie ought to CO."
Those were the words which at last
broke the silence of the room which Tom
had left.
eyes"
Then the days work, went on to its
close, and the partners, separating on
the bank steps, went their several ways
thinking very longingly of one to whom
both had been faithful. This was the
first night for many months which either
had spent without these bright, vague
dreams Of what his home might be with
Isabel at its head; and their hearts were
filled with resentment against the win
ner of the prize which they had coveted.
"You knew this morning that she was
to marry some Que else; why should
your thoughts be harder, now that you
know who has won her?" So voice
seemed arguing with them, but below
all the angry thoughts surged on.
" For him to be the one to cain her
he paid servant in the bank p
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08
YESl
Miss Maria ROOp's Answer by Telegraph
to the Offer of n Heart and Hand.

Miss Maria ROOp's Answer by Telegraph
TO the Offer of Heart and Hand
The NeUs of st. John, n. b., tells
the following interesting story of re-
cent matrimonial engagement that was
brought to a happy climax by telegraph:
Miss Maria Roop, author of a series
of pleasing New York letters that ap-
peared in the NetUs some months ago
under the title of "Glimpses of
Gotham" was married in Boston on
Saturday last Capt. Roop, a distant
relative who sails an English ship,
visited Mr.. John Roop's few weeks ago
on his way to Parrisboro, N. S., and
met his fate in the person of the young
lady who 10 now his- vito. He oarne,
saw and was conquered. He returned
to New York and began to load for Java,
but sang Her her sweet smile haunts
me still, )" and whistled "The girl [ left
behind me. Would she marry him
and go on that long and lonely voyag ge to
the East ?
He wrote to her, and proposed that
she meet him in Boston the next week,
marry him, and sail for Java. His boat
was on the shore and his bark was on the
sea, or loading at the wharf, and she
must decide at once. The letter was re-
ceived in the morning, and had not been
read more than half dozen times (such
letters require great deal of reading,
it seems), when dispatch arrived to the
following effect: "Please answer my
letter by telegraph-yes or no." Any
girl can promptly say yes or no to the
offer of a hand and heart, but when such
on offer is coupled with three days
notice of marriage and sea voyage to
the East Indies, the case requires lit
tie more consideration. So she took
time to consider, and added strength to
the saying that the woman who considers
is lost, for when the afternoon of the
same day brought her another dispatch,
which was simply eyes or MOP" she
went to the telegraph Office and wrote
{" Yes" " on a blank. The operator know
ing nothing of the vast Importance Of
that monosyllable message, placed it on
file for transportation, and the most
anxious man in New York was soon
made happy by its reception. The lady
left here on Friday morning last and
met and married the captain at the resi-
dence of relative in Boston. Their
wedding tour will be long one-around
the world, but not in eighty days.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08
An English AstrOlOger.

An aged astrologer was convicted in
North Devon, England, about the mid
die of August. He was charged with
"using certain subtle craft, means or
device by palmistry and otherwise, to
deceive and impose on certain of her
majesty's subjects" Elizabeth Saunders
had been i'll. Doctors had been Of no
avail, and finally her husband sent for
"The White witch" He went to the
house, felt her pulse, and said he did
not know whether he could do her any
good, as he was only an humble instru-
ment in the hands of God. He gave
her four or five rods in succession, with
which she tapped piece of iron held by
her in the other hand, while lying in
bed. At the end of the rods were the
names of different planets, such as
Jupiter and Mercury. He also asked
the age of the woman, and the hour she
was born, saying he wanted to find out
under what planet she was born. He
gave her some bitters to take, but she
died few days afterwards. The defence
was that the rods and piece of metal
were rude means of using electricity,
by which means the defendant had made
many cures, bnt no explanation was
given as to the meaning of the names of
the planets. 1t was stated that "The
White Witch charged the woman
twenty-five shillings for his services,
stayed in the house five hours, and had
glass of rum and some biscuits He
was sentenced to months imprison-
ment.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08
GUILDHALL, VT, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1877.
as this" said the senior partner. 1--WE

as this" said the senior partner. 1--WE
can wait"
" I can wait no longer" put in the
younger man, impatiently. "Anythir, :,
will be better than this suspense. ms
on earth should we wait j? Isabe', ,,,o,,,, g
us. both thoroughly now cSh, hnonrs
We are both old for this ove ~ ~ orrO nnO1o 70
be anything but deep . earnest S Sbo ~
knows enough of us and of pS, our nosst;ons ions
W. W naAe Ia s ner aec 14sion easy to her. So
let let us know me worst, or-best. You
hav9 I'VE Ine r4ght 10 speak FIRST"
III not take it. I" said Mr.. Dart,
Spe" = <ing more quickly than he had yet
me, "Let us write, Let us write
, together"
A few minutes silence, while Walter
thought this over-leaning his head on
the arm which rested on the chimney
piece.
Let that be decided, urged Maurice.
"We will write tomorrow. Let her re-
ceive the two letters together, that she
may think of us both together. Promise
me that your letter shall be ready for
to-morrow's post.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08

ways called it: I" to little music" But
her genial hospitality was, after all,
as prompt as his, and so, though she
kept the accounts, there was, as said,
never a penny of Toms salary left when
the year was up.
"He thinks that that 9400 year of
his is kings revenue" thought Mrs.
Leslie, one Saturday morning, watching
her son cross the road, drop his gift into
the expectant hand of the crossing
sweeper, and turn at the corner to nod
te her. "He will soon expect me to
adopt few young men whose salaries
are less than his own. If he had but in
herited his fathers saving nature |"
She tried to regret this dolefully, but
after all she could not help the warmt' :,
of perfect satisfaction filing her eye
Even his practical father had -a;o;caa
that his nature was his mott t-,er's from
the time that nature begar. to assert n
self in little Tom" little Tom :" then
to his parents; 81 Ittle Tom Leslie " af-
terward among b Is school-NeIlows. CIT.
tie Lesle noEf among his fellow-clerks.
On tms pc.rtcular Saturday morning,
as ne wal led to the bank, Tom loitered a
httle "a one street-a quiet street Of
har. r.dsome private houses, before one of
which stood couple Of cabs piled with
boxes. Tom waited long enough to be
sure that the cabs bore nothing but lug
gage. Then he walked briskly on, and,
entering the 5ank excitedly, told his
feiiow-clerks of the arrival of the
colonels household; and for fully five
minutes forgot, in his excitement, to add
his genial invitation for the morrow.
Wnen the coming of the regiment had
been discussed, and Toms pleasant in
vitation accepted, he turned to his desk,
not to loiter again throughout the day.
An hour afterward, Mr.. Dart drove up.
and with a quiet "good morning"
passed through the bank to his own pri-
vate room. Here presently Mr.. Matt
land joined him, and, standing before
the fire, discussed various items Of town
news-among them, of course, the az
rival of the regiment
Colonel Conyngham has only one
daughter. We must help to introduce
her. Young Dart, having once belonged
to the regiment, gives it, as it were, a
claim upon us.
"The colonel's daughter will need but
little introduction" remarked Maurice
Dart, quietly.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08
Suppose.
Suppose

IHe.l Suppose,
Fadette, that l. instead Of keeping tryst
With you tonight. had staid away to doze,
Or call upon Miss Brant, or play at whist
Suppose?
tShe.l Suppose,
You had ? Think you should have cared 2
Indeed,
Amt you bit tconcei--dont take my rose
A gift to me-from whom2 Well, Joseph Mead,
70 Suppose2
[He.l Suppose
1t is? Then I'm to understand Fadette-
fImust read your words as plainest prose
Ny presence matters not to you and YETI
Suppose.
[she.l Suppose .....-
You are to understand me SOP You're free;
Do, if YOU wish And oh the rivers froze I;
What skating we shall have Tomorrow We
That's Jose
[He.l And Jose
Be hanged. 1t seems to me, Miss Lowe, that
Are acting rather lightly; rumor goes
That he-but since seem to bore, adieu!-
IShe.1 Suppose
IHe.l Suppose
We say goodnight.
[She.l Goodnight, sir, and goodbye
[He.l What does this n.ean Fadette2 Are
[She.l Well close
This scene at once, My words are plain, sir, I
Suppose?
IHel Compose
Yourself, Fadette
(~he.l My name, sir, is Miss Lowe
[Hel Come come, Fadette, do look beyond
your nose,
And
[She] Here's your ring, sir!
'[He.l receive it, though
Suppose
[She.l Suppose
You do, sir ?-you-
[He.l Enough, Miss Lowe; Farewell
'Tis best I've been deceived in you, Goo
knows
Coquette heartless fiirt naughty belle
Who chose
[She.l Suppose
Oh let's part as friends hate you there
[He.l Fadette why, sweet, in tears Thi
surely shows
You'll pardon me, a brute
[She.] And Frank, well. never
Sup,ose
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08
That Awful Bat.

There may be people into whose bed
room windows bats have not flown this
summer, the summer before, and all
the other summers as far back as they
can remember I,ut we doubt it. We
doubt, further, that there be people
who, when the bat arrives, have not
risen in their night garments of sum-
mer style, and turning high the gas
pursued that bat with pillow and canes
and even chairs, arousing the family in
terror of assassins and giving the man
on the other side of the street, who is
up with the toothache, a strong suspi
cion that Kirkbride has established a
branch asylum in their house. Bats
have been knocked down under these
circumstances also have shins been
smashed and shins skinned but man,
in the end, has been victorious over the
bat-never. If he picks him up with
bis fingers he lets him go again imme-
diately. If he picks him up between
two sticks, and drops him out one
window the bat scars into the air and
flies in at another. The bat cannot be
persuaded to go away. He can't take a
hint. Let him alone and he'll go home
and carry, etc. The bat, they say, is
good for eating the night bugs which
are always SO much interested in what
one is writing about. But whether the
bugs were made so long before the bat,
and increased SO much ahead of him
that he hasn't had fair show, or his ap-
petite is not powerful, there are plenty
of bugs yet to transact business. Let
the bat look at the sparrow and how
nobly he fulfilled his contract with re-
gard to the measuring worm. The
sparrow, too, is an excellent bird, with
only one bad habit, that of getting up
too early in the morning, while the bat
is afflicted with every wickedness, and
doesn't get up early only because he
doesn't go to bed.-Philadelphia Press.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08

There are ninety public and one hun
dred and eighty private banks in Cor
many.
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08

He. suppose,
Fadette, that l, instead Of keeping tryst
With you tonight, had staid away to doze,
Or call upon Miss Brant, or play at whist
Suppose?
Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1877-09-08

The fire roared and cracked cheerily
in the private room at the bank, but
neither of the partners had arrived.
81 never knew him SO late," re-
marked Tom Leslie, as if finishing aloud
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-27
JAMES sUrTON's TRIiL.
A Bowl OF brandy Punch. aud q Rerson
Why Il WINS Made.

Tho trial on a charge ~ perjury OF James
Sutton. President OF the company that pub
fishes the Aidine and various chromos. wins bc-
gun two weeks ago In the General Sessions.
continucd "a week. and then interrupted by the
illness of Recorder Hackctt- II WIS resumed
yesterday In 1875 the 1ldine establishment
occupied buildings at 5s Liberty street and -
Maiden lane. fire partly DESTROYED the prem
Uses. The accusation IA that Mr.. Sutton. in
swearing that the loss was t2o0 900, exaggerated
the loss grossly for the purpose OF swindling
the insurance companies.
Tho previous week OF the trial had b'cn oc-
cupicd 10y the prosecution In presenting tcsti-
mouy to show that the real loss WIS only about
$4,000. Yesterday Albert IIass testified that
he was employed hy Mr. Sutton at the time of
the lire. and thnt inter the IRE lnrgc pilu oil
copies Of the ihiine and other costly publica-
tions tied up in packages. and very slie htly
damaged by water were In the basement. MIR.
Sutton. told Hass that II more water could be
poured on he could get more money from The
insurance companies for damage A plan TO
effect THIS was carried out, @,,ordlng TO uas
Of brandy punch made. aud invited the menu
! hers of the insurance patrol. who were watching
the property "a 60 up stairs and drink. They
| accepted the invitation. and deserted the
! hnsrinrnt Mr.. Newton. secretary Of the COM
nnuv si,1.I n th, stairs to give warning i'm riisc
| IT ~" return uf the wHrhmcn. llu-s poured
water ON the piles OF printed matter. carry NJ II
| in pnils. and tearing open the packages 80 thii
! further testified that ut Mr. Sution's request he
siened II paper avcrrin1. that h. knew Of no such
thing n water hcing Intentionally poured upon
! the goods. The testimony OF this witness was
sprruinrated 10y that OF Frederick NJ sing and
! Henry Bc"chalm. an agent of tho 1time, usf l.
! hrl that Mr.. Sutton told him that the brand,
| punch WAS provided forthe purpose Of dlvertinP
ih- attention ~ the watchmcn. so that the work
! Of damaging the property might hc done, -
The opening speech Tor the priHnnef, ny Col
7 Follows. outlined the defence. Mhich VIII hr thai
swearing 60 an uniruth Is not necessarily perjury
in the view of the law and that Mr.. Sutton II
statement of TIA" losS was based on his own non
est eslinairs. however much they may exceed
thuS,' 1T competent experts. Has and Myslng
tn LAWYER sad. are liars probably hlrcd u
commit perjury" Witnesses would sWehr. Col
Fellows continued. that no water could haN'
bran nIinin,d Mhnre they said thry got Il.