davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
WIT AND HUMOR.

WHAT kind of robbery is not danger ous? A safe robbery, of course.
 AN exchange speaks with apparent enjoyment of grin-visage war.
 A CROSS dog will make the top of a hemlock board fence feel soft as downy pillows are.
 WHY is the bank of France like the Mohammedan religiong Because it's something to which you and l don't owe assent.
 "No." she said, and the wrinkles in her face smoothed out pleasantly. No, do not remember the last seventeen year locusts. l was an infant then"
 A MAN usually makes as much fuss in steering a lumber stalk of asparagus to his mouth as an old woman trying to thread cambric needle with linen thread.
 You've men of the middle classes are SO little disposed to marry these times that parents of marriageable daughters will have to resort to the seductive chromo.
 CAN the chap at the theatre who in- sists on beating time to the orchestra with his feet be spoken of as "man who has no music in his sole?"
 IT is probably some satisfaction to q mule to know that while he cannot soar as high as the lark, he can sing just as Land. and kick very much sorer.
 SOME one saIu .~ uruo once upon a time l" It must be very difficult rv --...-- good poetry" No, sir" replied the poet, '.it is either very easy or utterly impossible"
 "AH," said man to his son, "hearty breakfasts kill one-half of the world, and tremendous suppers the ether half" "1 suppose then" retorted the boy, " that the true livers are only they who die oi hunger"
 IT was "court week" in country tavern, and late conner was given one of dozen cots which had been put uI temporarily in the parlor. There was a grand chorus of snores from the other cots. After an hour or more of this up roar, one of the most resonant snores broughtup with snort and was suddenly silent, when Frenchman, who occupied a cot in an extreme corner of the room exclaimed, "Thank God, von ees deadv
 A little girl who sat on the front steps of house on Montcalm street was asked by strange girl why she didn't have on better dress. "I can wear silk if want to-" quietly replied the little one "Your folks ain't as rich as them folks over there," sneered the big one. Yes we are, and good deal richer. They was beating their carpets yesterday, and we was beating ours, and we had twice a. much dust as they did!" That settled the big one, and she moved on.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
Truths.

A writer has compared worldly friend ship to our shadow; and better com parison was never made, for while we walk in sunshine it sticks close to us, but the moment we enter the shade it deserts us.
 Woman's silence, although it is less frequent, signifies much more than mans.
 The sweetest, the most clinging affec- tion is often shaken by the slightest breath of unkindness, as the delicate rings and tendrils of the vine are agitated by the faintest air that blows in summer.
 He submits to be seen through micro scope who suffers himself to be caught in a passion.
 We should use book as bee does a flower
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
GarrOting a Woman in Spain.

Prudenca Saint Vera, woman of Sacedon, Spain, was lately garroted in Barcelona for murdering her child. On the day previous to her execution she was singing joyously in her cell at an early hour when the sheriff entered. She listened with tranquility to the reading of the first part of her sentence, but trembled nerveusly as he proceeded, and
 as he closed she tainted. Sisters of Charity restored her, and she was con ducted to the chapel of the prison. She struggled violently, protested her inno- cence, screamed, and rolled upon the ground in convulsions. The night was passed in the chapel with similar mani iestations. but toward morning she slept through exhaustion. On waking she listened to the mass with haggard eyes, confessed internationally to priest, and
 mechanically took the communion.
 Prudencia was then tied in wagon, and, followed by gloomy procession of peni- tents and monks, she reached the scafiold. Being lifted into the fatal chair by the
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
How Indians Enjoy Summer.

We observe with sense of admira tion, which resembles envy as the mis resembles the rain. the manner and capacity of the Washoe Indians en- joyment of the balmy June weather. The buck aborigine takes more solid comfort than the female of his tribe. Here and again the latter is found with huge burden of green tules, freshly cut on her back. This is her spring poplin; her rosewood cradle ]; her marble.top bureau; her cambric shams with shiny lace insertion. But Mir. Buck, with true masculine indif- ference to domestic affairs, forgetting that "man must work and woman must weep" lays him down upon the sun-warmed earth, upon the grass, upon the sidewalk, anywhere in the inviting air, prone upon his broad and manly stomach, and sleeps away the cares which infest the day. Now and then group may be seen taking in the mild Vaccinations of willow-stick monte; but the preference is given to natures sweet restorer, balmy sleep. Such may not be as ennobling an oc. cupation as tending the Aocks which bleat for more copy; b., if we are not in candor bound to confess that there are moments when the weariness i'm posed by the gristless treadmill makes one look with complacency at these happy, healthy, vagabonds, then there is no truth in the editorial chair. -Carson (Neu.) Appeal
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
Tho Meek DetrOiter.

There are some meek-faced and tender hearted men in this city of Detroit. There is one in particular. who owns house and lot in the eastern part of the city. Another citizen, whose face doesn't betray meekness, owns a vacant lot next to him, and few days ago he wanted to buy the meek. faced man out and build factory covering both lots. The figures were too high, and he went away feeling mad and rcvengeful. Coming across snowman who wanted to set up his tent and exhibit wild man and other inter- esting specimens of life and death, he gave him the free use of the lot. It was stipulated that a hand-organ should be kept going, bells rung now and then, and if the wild man uttered yells occasionally, so much the better. When the meek faced citizen saw the tent put up ten. der, forgiving smile crossed his face, and he made for printing-ofiice. About the time the snowman was ready to open the doors to the anxious public the meek faced citizen was ready with his signs and tack-hammer.
 "Gentlemen, walk in and see the great Kickapoo kangaroo from Kalamazoo ]" said the snowman.
 "Tack tack ," and up went sign o1 the fence reading, Look out for small pox !" A second and third followed, and the meek-faced man was putting up the fourth when the snowman closed a bargain with truck to move him down town. He wasn't over fifteen minutes packing and loading, and when the lot was cleared again the meek-faced citizen sat on his doorstep md mased:
 "He who wants to sell out let him sell, and I wonder how much ahead they are ?"--Detrod Free Press.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
Corn for Seed.

In selecting corn for seed, it is often the practice to merely choose large ears from the general crop. It is suggested that this is not the best method, for, while the plant may be strong and vigorous and bear large ears, the corn may have been fertilized by pollen from feeble or ptunted plants near it, and the seed may retain and repeat these adverse qualities in spite of the rigor of the plant on which il grew. It is said that better plan would be to plant some of the seed in small plot by itself, at distance from the main crop, and to give this patch plenty of room and high culture. When the tassels appear in this seed bed every plant should be examined, and all feeble stalks should be pulled out or cut off below the tassel before it has an opportunity to bloom. By this arrangement both the plant on which the ears grow, and the pollen scat tered from it's own and neighboring tas sels, will be alike strong and vigorous, and the seed will partake of the strength of both its parents.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
Tine Supply of Tanuin.

Those who fear for the destruction of our forests resulting from the demand for hemlock bark will take comfort in the successful attempts to obtain tannin from other sources. It has been estimated that one cord of hemlock bark produces one barrel of good tannin extract, worth $20. It is now found one cord of alder will produce the same amount: and one ton of sweet fern gives the best tannin, $22 worth, besides a value of S7.50 in an in- ferior kind. There is said to be consid- erable activity in Hancock county, Me, in the new industy of extracting tannin from sweet fern.
 If a cord of hemlock bark contains $20, a cord of oak bark has at least a quarter more of this tannin principle: yet. nothing is more common in large dis tricts of Tennessee than the waste of oak trees and timber, bark and all.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
ROBERT FULTON.
An Account of the virss Steamboat Trip Between New York and Albany.

An Account of the k1rDt SteombOat Trip
 Between New York and Albany.
 In the Suffolk Gazette, printed at Sag Harbor, on the east end of Long Island, October 12, 1907, is letter from Robert Fulton to Joel Barlow, giving an account of the first trip of the first steamboat on the Hudson river. It is as follows:
 To JOEL BARLOW, PHILADELPHIA.
 NEW YORK, 22d Aug, 1907.
 My DEAR FRIEND: My steamboat voyage to Albany and back has turned out rather more favorable than I had calculated. The distance from New York to Albany is 150 miles I ran it mp in 32 hours and down in 30 hours. The latter is just 5 miles an hour. I had light breeze against me the whole way going and coming, so that no use was made of my sails; and the voyage has been per formed wholly by the power of the steam engine. overlook many sloops and schooners bearing to windward, and passed them as if they had been at anchor.
 The powerof propelling boats by steam is now fully proved. The morning left New York there were not perhaps thirty persons in the city who believed that the boat would ever move one mile an hour or be of the least utility. And while we were putting off from the wharf, which was crowded with specta- tors, I heard number of sarcastic re- marks; this is the way you know in which sif ifn45fPas np4b5ifPossopReas sn and projectoTs
 Having employed much time and money and zeal in accomplishing this work, it gives me, as it will you, great pleasure to see it so fully answer my ex- pectations. It will give quick and cheap conveyance to merchandise on the Mississippi, Missouri, and other great rivers which are now laying open their treasures to the enterprise of our coun. trymen. And although the prospect of personal emolument has been some inducement to me, yet l feel infinitely more pleasure in rehecting with you on the immense advantage that my country will derive from the invention.
 However, I will not admit that it ii half 20 important as the torpedo system of defense and attack for out of this will grow the liberty of the seas; an object ol infinite importance to the welfare ol America and every civilized country But thousands of persons have now seen the steamboat in rapid movement and they believe-but they have not seen ship of war destroyed by a tor pedo, and they de not believe. We can not expect people in general to have knowledge of physic, or power of mind tt combine ideas and reasons from causes tt effects. But in case we have war, anc the enemy's ships come into our waters, i the government will give me reasonable means of action, will soon convince th' world that we have surer and cheaper modes of defense than they are aware of | Yours, etc, ROBERT FULTON.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
Love and Potato Bugs.

There were two of them hanging over the front gate the other night. She was standing within the yard and he on the sidewalk outside, both leaning on the top rail, and apparently as happy as two pigs in a corn field. He was saying, ' Now, my own little darling, sweet idol of my soul whose image is ever on my heart"- "-when he saw the old man com ing down the front walk, and continued in different strain: "These potato bugs haven't destroyed our crops so much since we purchased Paris green, and you will find also that cabbages can be raised better on q richer soil" The old gentle. man heard it, and turned back, saying, as he entered the house: "These young people take more interest in agricultural affairs than people generally suppose"
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
A Modern Cincinnatus.

Those who have read of the old Roman who left his blow, and ruled the nation, returning again to his humble farm, must be proud to think how many in- stances of the same kind our own history furnishes. Washington was Cincin- natus, and here is an account of another.
 At the session of the South Carolina legislature, in 1874, the members were governor. The difficulty did not arise from any scarcity of candidates, for then, as now. men were ambitions, but from a want of the right sort of man. The mat ter became worse as the time wore on, and the election of some objectionable candidate seemed inevitable.
 One day, however, as several of them were conversing upon the matter, Judge O'Neall, then young man, and present by invitation said, Gentleman, why not elect General David R. Williams 2" David R. Williams! he's our man he's the man T" they all exclaimed, a- they began to scatter to tell the news. The day of election came on, and Gene ral Williams was elected by large vote.
 A messenger was at once dispatched with a carefully prepared letter to inform the general of his election, requesting his acceptance, and hoping he would name the day on which he would take the oath of office. After long ride, the messen- ger stopped at the generals residence, in Marlboro district, we believe, and in quired if he was in. He was told that Mir. Williams was over at his plantation. The gentleman said he would ride over, as he had a note to deliver to him as soon as possible.
 When about half way, he met fine looking man, dressed in plain homespun and driving pair of mules "Am I on the road to the plantation of General Williams 2" asked the messenger. "Yes, sir it is about mile further on" was the reply. els the general at home 2" No, sir" "Where is heY" "I am the man." "Don't deceive me. have an important letter for Gen. Williams If that is your name" said the doubting messenger, "here it is handing the let ter to the general.
 Mir. Williams opened the letter, and found, to his utter astonishment, that, without his knowledge or consent, he had been elected governor of South Caro- lima. He took the messenger home, and entertained him for the night, and nam ing time on which he would be in Co lumbia, the messenger returned. On the appointed day, few minutes before twelve, man, dressed in homespun, and on horseback, rode into town; hitching his animal to tree, he made his way to the capitol, where he found brilliant concourse of people.
 But a few knew him personally; still there was something commanding about him. He took his seat in a vacant chair {; and when the clock in front of the speaker had struck the hour of twelve, the general arose. and delivered the most masterly speech that had ever been de. livered there. The farmer statesman entirely electrified the assembly. He made an excelllnt governor, This thing conveys a beautiful idea; here was a farmer elected he accepted, and from the blow went to the governors office to preside, in stormy crisis, over the des- tiny of sovereign state, Long live his memory!
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19

brute; 1t prevents my getting a wink of sleep.'
 "Why did you not tell me 50 be- fore?" said the schcolmaster. "1 would soon have stopped his singing
 As the old pedagogue was somewhat of a nag, and indulged sometimes in a small joke, we took little notice of his reply, but that night we slept quite soundly.
 "Well, did the ass make noise last night?' he asked, when we met in the morning.
 Perhaps not said we; "at all events we did not hear him"
 "No, think not, sa.. he; "I saw to that before I went to bed. You must have noticed" he continued, "that when an ass is going to bray, he always begins by raising his tail, and he keeps it extended horizontally as long as his song lasts. To insure his silence, you have only to tie a large stone to the end of his tail, 50 that he cannot raise it."'
 We smiled without reply. thinking this was only another piece of pleas antry, but he cried:
 "Come, now, and see: you can easily convince yourself"
 And accordingly we followed him to the courtyard, where we beheld sure enough, the poor ass wilh large stone attached to his tail, and with the air of having lost his accustomed spirits His eyes were fixed on the ground his ears hung down, his whole appear ance denoting humility and dejection Feeling quite compassionate towards him, wo now begged his master tc unite the stone directly; and as soor as ever he felt the musical appendagt at liberty, the creature raised first hi head, then his ears, then his tail, anc at last began to bray with all hi wonted energy.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
Nature nnd Electrically,

We learn that new hypothesis as to the nature of electricity has been of fered by Prof. Renard, of Nancy. He considers an electric current to be pro- duced by longitudinal motion of the other particles, which at the same time have general forward motion. When the molecules of body are surrounded by greater ether atmosphere than the normal, the body is in the condition which we call positively electric; when the ether atmosphere about each mole: cule is less than the normal, the body is negatively electric. He has sought to explain various electrical phenomena thus: for example. the magnetization of steel needles by electrical discharges, regarding which Savary has shown that, according to the position of the needle, it acts in one direction or the other.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
AGRICULTURAL AND DOMESTIC.
RineninR Fruit.

The Baltimore fruit dealers think they have discovered a method of ripen'ng fruit which is somewhat better than natures. Upon this point there will probably be a difference of opinion among consumers, but the process is an interest ing one. The fruit is hung in room which is made perfectly dark and as nearly airtight as possible. The room is then heated by means of pipes to the proper temperature, and the room is kept closed except when opened for in spection of progress. The experiments thus far have been with bananas, and it has been fodnd that two or three days only are required to ripen them.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19

cation of the Columbia and Snake rivers. Mount Idaho, whither many of the de- feated soldiers fieds is the county seat of Idaho county, near the Salmon river. Lapwai the other place of refuge, is situated some twenty miles north of Camas prairie. It is mountainous country, and very difficult for military onerations. White Bird creek, where the settlers were massacred, is about thirty miles from Mount Idaho and twenty miles from Camas prairie, between those points, and is tributary to the salmon river.
 Perces refused to go on the reservation when a portion of their land was sold. These reluctant Indians have since been known as the Non-Treats." For some lime. for causes which will be herein after explained, these latter have been endeayoring to induce the reservation Indians to leave the grounds, and join in the annual hunting and fishing excur- sions A report of the secretary of the interior. sometime since, said: "The set Elements made in the Walla Walla valley,
 which has for years been the pasture ground of the large herds of horses owned by .Joseph's band of the "Non-Treaties,' will occasion more or less trouble be. tween this band and the whites until
 .Joseph is induced or compelled to settle
 mon the reservation" This prediction
 has been verified. The Salmon river
 Indians. branch of the Nez Perces,
 joined Joseph's band. Joseph is
 renegade, an ultra "Non-Treaty,o and sss - ls------- some. to such an extent that Gen. How ard. commanding the department of the Columbia. found it necessary to force him upon the reservation. As mentioned before. the Presbyterian missionaries ac- nuired the title to the land in the Walla Walla valley from the Neg Perces. They in turn sold it to settler named T. J. T,angford and several others. Contro-
 yersies arose over the validity of the title. and after much legal warfare the
 secretary of the interior decided that the land justly belonged to the Indians, and
 dispossessed the occupants. This created
 turbulent feelings between the settlers and the Indians, and several years ago an Indian was killed in brawl over the title to the land. Joseph swore ven geance. .,. In 1863 Police officer Hutton of this
 city and five others entered the reserva-
 tion, and were the first whites to prospect
 for gold there. At that time Joseph was
 a.member of the council at Lapwai. The party discovered lake in the Blue
 mountains and named it Silver lake in
 honor of of their interpreter, Silverman: | In 1873 man named Larriott entered
 the country and prospected on Grouse creek, which is near White Bird crack, where the massacre occurred. He was
 warned out of the country by the In
 dians, who threatened that he would be
 the first man to be killed. This threat
 was fulfilled, as Larriott was the first
 settler to meet his death at the hands of the Indians. San Francisoo Chronicle l June 25.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19

zero. No fire heat is used for warming the stables, nor is steamed food in very good repute here. Part of the animals are tied with chains and part are confined between stanchions. Both methods are liked but chains are considered, upon the whole, preferable. Straw for bedding is used very freely, and the cattle are as clean in winter as in summer when at pasture. In pleasant weather water is given in the open yards, but in stormy weather it is carried to them in their stalls
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
The Way the Chinese Stop an Ass
 Praying.

In 1840 Gays the Abbe Huc) we were once making journey in wagon in the province of Pekin. Our equip age was under the guidance of an old schoolmaster, mounted upon magnifi- cent ass, so full of ardor and agility that the two mules that completed our team had all the difficulty in the'world to keep ur with him. This ass, how ever, was SO filled with sense of his own superiority, and 50 proud of it, that whenever he became aware of the presence of any of his brethren, ho never failed to commence boosting of it in such loud, sonofous and harsh tones that his folly became quite in supportable.
 When he got at an inn, instead of trying to rest himself. she beast passed the whole night prao.icing music, set ting all the donkeys in the neighbor- hood to singing the same tune, so that it was impossible to sleep.
 One evening we said to the school master:
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-07-19
Bone SpavIn.

The cause of bone spavin may be either Of the following: Overworking animals while too young, the bones being then soft; using calked shoes or on account of the dam or sire having been subject to the same disease. Treatment-clip the hair off the spavin for some distance all round, then apply about half an ounce of biniodide of mercury in fine powder, powdered catharides and rodine, of each one drachm; lard two ounces. Mix thoroughly, aud rub in four minutes. Repeat every three weeks for three ap- plications, and allow from three to four months absolute rest in a comfortable, roomy box stall.