davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-12-20
The "GOOd Old Times"

A curious book, on THE Good Old
Times" in Berlin, has been published by
Professor G. Langenscheidt. In the mid
could leave the country without special
pass, on penalty of losing the whole of
his property; citizens accused of theft
and murder were put to the torture and
hanged if they confessed their guilt; even
fraudulent bankruptcy was punished by
hanging. A boy ten years old was
hanged for stealing street lantern. The
Weather citizens were ordered by the
king to build houses in the Friedrich
stadt; and, as these houses generally re-
NAMED unoccupied, their proprietors were
often nearly ruined. The punishment
for driving too quickly in the streets was
twenty five blows with stick, and the
king himself used to beat the people of
his court, including the princes and prin-
cesses, with "a long knotty stick Of white
thorn, which has become historical. The
oficers thrashed the sergeants, the SER
geants the prvates, employers their SER
wants. Street fights were of daily occur
renee, and the victims were most fire.
quently the police, whose office was
considered dshonorable. All appoint,
ments in the civil service had to be pur-
chased. The price of privy councillor
ship was FIVE hundred thaers, of an
ordinary counciorship three hundred
thaers, of pri,a secretaryship two
hundred thtlers. For salaried posts the
price was higher; thus, for an appoint
ment, the salary of which was ten thalers,
the price was six hundred thalers.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-12-20

LIGHT What is your
favorite author, Evalinaw her old father
asked, patting the sweet girls head with
his loving hand.
And Evalina, with the tell tale bushes
mantling cheeks and brow, looked bash
fully over toward where shy, timid
young man was fidgetting in rocking
chair and trying to hide his aching feet
behind each other, and said, in voice
tremulous with what it meant:
"George's hand, pspa dear"
"George Sand, eha" said the innocent
old gentleman, "George Sand, eh2 Les
see, he was woman with mans name,
wasn't .she2"
So runs the world awav.-Hawkeye.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-29
The Mule Of sumter.

When Dahlgren's iron-clads began
operations in Charleston Harbor, the
Tenth Army Corps made sudden dash
and drove in the thin line of pickets
which the Confederates had posted on
the eastern end of Morris Island. When
daylight came, every gun which Beau
regard could bring to bear upon the
new work began to rain shot and shell,
and from daylight iii noon there were
lively times in and about Charleston
Bay. Shortly after noon Fort Sumter
opened furiously, and it was feared that
an attempt was about to be made
by the enemy to advance. There
were enough men there, twas thought,
to hold it, but there was . deficiency Of
ammunition, and so mule-driver vol
unteered to deliver the ammunition.
The only road was the smooth and
sandy beach along the bay, and the dis
lance between the two points mile
and half. Half that Distance was
within easy range Of Fort Sumter,
and Battery WagneE's guns covered all
the way to the sand hills, behind which
was the Federal camp. - li.i
Il am describing this incident u Il ap-
peared from the shipping In the bay,
and what called attention to it was the
sudden waking up o. every gun on the
southeast angle 81 Sumter. Lookup
to seo the dsiiss Of the furious oannon-
aiding. everybody WAS surprised 10 - :
mule-team tenring up the bosch III the
direotion Of TIE new work The driver
svan 1nsir,e, H. 1nak ON. and ~ dau1S,
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-29
The Sad Results Of Crime.

Could persons who premeditate crime
foresee the sad results which are al
most certain to follow theinfringement
of the laws Of God and man, they would
hesitate ere plunging into the abyss of
ruin. Such hesitation would induce re-
Election, and slumbering conscience
would assert its supremacy. Unfortu-
nately, he who lapses from rectitude is
seldom the only sufferer; the innocent
wife and children, in fact, all the MEM
bers Of his family, feel the degradation
more keenly than the man whose evil
deeds have placed him within the clutch
of the law. Had VIM. c. Gilman re-
fected ere giving way to temptation
had he foreseen the deplorable conse-
quences of the forgery he was about to
commit shudder of horror would
have caused him to drop the forger's
pen, and, humbly falling on his knees,
he would have exclaimed: "Oh, God,
forgive me! My mother taught my
youthful lips to utter the Biblical COM
mand, Thou shalt not steal! And
now, forgetting Gods injunction, my
mothers teachings and the duty l owe
myself and my relatives, what was |
about to doP Disgrace my innocent
family, doom myself to a convict's cell,
and by the same wretched deed de-
throne the reason of my beloved wife!''
Now, when it is too late, VIM. G. Gil
man bitterly realizes that all this has
come to pass. His children are dis
graced, homeless and worse than
orphaned; he occupies a convict's cell,
and his wife is the inmate of lunatic
asylum. Let those who are tempted
pause. Think of the loved ones who
may suffer for your crime. Turn aside
from the path which leads to disgrace
and ruin, and devoutly exclaim, God
forgive me! What was about to dop
.Getthee behind me, Satan!' Slumbering
conscience is at last aroused; am 9
man again, and cannot be lnred to dis
honor. IN. 7. Weekly.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-29
"That's the Way Papa Does"

A friend gave me lately the expert
ence Of "a skillful professional man in
about the following words: MY early
practice said the doctor, was sue
cessful, and 1 soon attained an enviable
position. married lovely girl; two
children were born to us, and my do
nestle happiness was complete. But
l was invited often to social parties,
wher8 wine was freely circulated, and
I soon became q slave to its power.
Before / was aware Of it was a drunk
ard. Ny noble wife never forsook me,
never tainted me with bitter word,
never ceased 70 pray for my reforms
ton. We became wretchsdly poor, SO
that my family were pinched for daily
bread.
.sOne beautiful ssbbsth my wife went
to church, and left me lying on .
lounge, sleeping on my previous nights
dsbsSich. was aroused BY hearing
something fall heavily ON the door.
opened my eyes and saw my little boy
Of six years old tumbling upon the ear
pet. His elder brother md tos him:
Now get up and faIl again. 1hAt' ~.
wey papa does; LEI : play We are dfunkn
Iwafched the child - be personateQ NY
besstiy movements In ! way that would
have done credit to On actor. ! arose
and left the house, grooming in agony
ana remorse. I vailed "a miles Into
the country, thinking 0yer ny. nbomi.
naiis 81 and 10 eSanple / ~ -
sss-8, - 8 80 ~ S3tsl ~ -, ~
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-29
Our Young Readers.
MILTLADES WAR AGAINST TUR-
.ssA KEY.

II was THANKSGIVING night, and the clock in the
Had struck ten, ere AIiltiades Peterkin Paul,
And, bidding them all. for the third time, good
Left e FL FOom-but DELAYED going straight up to
And crept slyly around to tho pantry instead.
For, /" nid he to himself. e / may certainly say
That didn't get bali enough turkey to-day"
Then little Miltiades Peterkin Paul,
With great lnbor, took down huge plate which
That was left Of the dinner; and, falling to
Very qniskiy had stuffed himself chuck full Of
30 that when he got through pray believe it who
He wa. seven pounds heavier than when he
,Ss shs I'D. Is S<, e he paused don't feel
But, them Thanksgiving Day Only comes once
year."
In his trundle-bed, some hours LATER that night,
Young Mltiades suddenly started upright,
And beheld, looming MP through the shsdowy
vast, ehostly shape, that advanced cross the
With E ssssp just halfway 'twizt askip and a
While 4 uttered meanwhile most horrible
"Oh, dear mer' gasped Miltiades Peterkin Paul.
If here amt turkey dozen feet tallF'
Aver the turkey began, with an unearthly
You are right, Sir Miltiades Peterkin Paul;
And worsA than all that, I'm the ghost, you must
OF the one you deyoured a short time ago.
You imagine, no doubt, It's a very small matter
To be killed, plucked and roasted, and served on
Very well; YOU shall see how much fun there is
in it.
l will transform you into turkey this minuter'
The next instant, Miltiades Peterkin Paul,
Almost persisted with fear, looking round, saw
Had been suddenly changed by enchantment,
Was perched high on branch of the old orchard
tree,
With claws. tail and wattles, and feathers full
As brave a Young turkey as ever was known.
And, on opening his mouth. to cry out, in
A shriii prolonged gooois was all he could utter.
Then little Miltiades Peterkin Paul
All at once saw John Henry Jack mount the
Directly beneath him--who cried out, AHA!
You gobbled too soon, sir! / see where you are"
And who reaching far upward, took firm hold OF
And pulled poor Miltiadea down from the limb;
When the Inter, quite terrified, made no en-
deavor
To fy, but, instead, gobbled louder than ever.
And now sad fate seemed about to befall
Poor little Miltiades Peterkin. Paul.
He vas taken around to the wood-pile, and there
His head laid on the block, the AZ raised in the
air,
And in one moment more its keen edge had de-
scended,
And our hero's young life had been then and
there ended
But that be, with one desperate last effort broke
The dread spell that bound him, and straightway
dcoke.
And little Miltiades Peterkin Paul
Found himself still in bed, while the family all
Who had hurried upstairs in response to his
cries)
We're gathered about. He sat rubbing his eyes,
And feeling to see if his head WAS still on.
. Abr he murmured. " l thought it was certainly
Well, III Just tell you this; that as sure as Tn
ingp'
John BroWnjohn. in Wide A,cake.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-29
they again settled down on their feed
inu.0rOund lfaH-f

tbev ac.;n sattlad down IN the;r food
;nG oy , -u ~ "A ~ - '''9-i 'ee''-
TEaro .nas ,.o Gov ., ~ .h
,:..... "as a"s al ~" ~" ~; -. ' .0
n , eo.; %n hrancb ' dr;ftad d .Un
With the stro.m int tbe midst Of the
,I,,oLs wv onS ,"ado ' .ho,,, .aLa :" q s;s s
once move , R,t whom then fonnd tSat
tho bonrh had dr;ftad hv and dona n"
harm t6.v aew down ~ the wata r az
h ,s.f ,,,e N'' ~" ~ " ''i0 i
Afta,. fo,r or t,o toohs Nod ar;ftaa
hr :, th;s u1oU tha dmais 60 ~ haod
to them and hardly tried IN t,v ont of
their wav on the stream even when
thew were near to be;nc toncbed
Tha cra,,+Ia,,,on VIZ 5oJ hna,, o,,sar
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-29
PERSONAL AND LITERARY.

The father of Charley Ross having
expended his fortune-some $50, 600
in search of his lost boy, is at present
earning living as travelling salesman
for an Eastern house.
The Centennial poet. Sidney Lanier,
has written an "Ode to Wagner, of
which the st. Louis Republican re-
marks: "This makes Wagner's visit to
America certainty. He will come if
for no other purpose than to kill
Lanier.'
Mr.. Voorhees,, the new Senator
from Indiana, has yellow hair and
heavy red moustache and imperial. He
has a rosy face and large body more
than six feet high. which has given him
the title of the "Tall Sycamore of the
Wabash"
Senator Blaine's daughter Alice,
who was shot in the forehead by the ac-
cidental discharge of small pistol re
the ball is extracted, as it lies between
the eyes at the junction of the nose and
forehead.
The assertion that ex-Gov. Coburn,
of Maine, is the largest landowner in
the United States is disputed in favor
of Wilson Waddingham, Of New York,
who owns 665, 900 acres in one lot on
the Canadian River, in New Mexico,
and enough more in other parts of the
same Territory to make total of
l, 1856, 900 acres, or more than twice as
many as are claimed for Mr. Coburn.
Mr.. Conger, the witty Congre IS
man from Michigan, has love history
which is quite remarkable. His pres
ent wife was his first love, but they
quarreled and each married. Twenty
years afterward, he widower, was in
Congress, and she, widow, sat in the
gallery and listened to him speaking.
It was the first time they had met since
they had their lovers quarrel. She
sent her card and invited him to call
on her, which he promised to do if
he might visit her as he used in the
days Of their youth. Her consent was
easily obtained, the old love revived, and
they were soon married. Chicago
Tr;b,,,e
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-29

renewed vigor; then the mule would
put ON another squirt; until, at last, it
became entirely demoralized by the ex-
pl0sion of . ten-inch shell almost under
its belly. Every glass in the squadron
was leyeled at the spectacle. The driver
got of his seat, took the animal by the
head, whirled it around once or. twice
and started it up the beach once more.
Fort Sumter flashed and famed, Bat
terry Wagner belched and Numbered,
and still that daring driver urged his
mule along, though the way was swept
by at least thirty guns.
At last he reached his destination,
but he could not stay there, and in a
moment he was turned around, and ex-
horting that animal to do its level best,
The mule did not need to be told to
step out, for in its rear there was roar
and racket, and about its ears were fly
ing sand and scrap-iron, which seemed
to stimulate its fieetness. Down that
hard beach flew the mule. the. light
cart bobbing and swaying, and the
driver arm rising and falling as he
dealt out lash after lash. At last they
neared the friendly shelter of the sand
hills. In another minute they would be
safe, but just as they near the place to
turn aside, q shell came screaming
from Sumter. Everybody could see
the huge mass of iron as it roared
through the air. It struck the beach
directly in the rear of the mule, and
with bound it overlook it and ex-
ploded with terrific violence. A gen.
eral exclamation was heard from Dahl
gren's flagship, where the Admiral
and his staff were earnestly gazing at
the adventurous mule and his daring
driver. Fort Sumter's ramparts were
black with men, they, too, willing wit
nesses of Yankee pluck. Along the
swell of Morris Island, and covering
every elevation, could be seen the Union
soldiers, who stood with bated breath,
anxious and full of suspense, and every
eye intently taking in the scene. When
the shell exploded a circle of smoke
hid the mule for a moment, but when
the smoke cleared away Mr.. Mule had
his ears laid back, and, with head
down and legs lashing wildly out, he
was making kndling-w wood of the cart,
which had been badly demoralized by
fragment of the shell. Presently the
driver was seen limping to the mule; in
second the mule was free from the cart,
and, with the driver ON his back, and a
farewell whisk of his tail, disappeared
behind the cover of the hills.
The thousands of boys in blue united
in a long and hearty hurrah; the sailors
waved their hats and shouted themselves
hoarse, and, bark! the Confederates
caught the infection and were cheering
too. Hartford Conn., Times.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-29
Vitality Of Ants.

The proceedings of the Academy of
Natural Science at Philadelphia con-
tain some interesting observations of
the Rev. H. G. McCook on the power
of enduring heat and cold possessed by
ants. A nest of ants CT. Pennsytcani-
cay established on an oak-bough was
exposed to the cold of mountain
winter without destroying the in
ruatos. A nnrnher of the little crea-
lures were dropped upon ice, and were
found alive at the end of forty-eight
hours-the body of each having made
slight depression in the ice by its
heat. The species r. rufa was active
in its formicary with the thermometer
at "a deg. F., and sluggish at 80 deg.
The F. Pennsyluanica did not suffer
from the heat of the stones walling a
campfire, to which they had been driv-
en- from their position in a burning
stump.
The late DR.. Lincecum, who made
many original observations upon the
Agricultural Ants NJ. molefacie,as) in
Texas, relates that fire was built, Tor
heating wagon-tires, upon one OF their
mounds. Before the fire was extinct,
the ants were at work clearing away
the entrance to their city. They quick
" exhibited an entire knowledge OF the
situation, and worked among the dying
embers without injury.
Mr.. McCook once.noted mass OF
Mason Ants e.. rutd which had been
accidentally flooded with inches of
water. Their bodies t1oated about on
the fluid, apparently lifeless, for several
hours; but were finally almost all re-
stored to animation. DR.. Lincecum
observed that the Agricultural Ants
were often seen floating, clinging in
masses as large as an orange, on the
surface of wells. After remaining in
this situation a day or two, on being
drawn up by bucket, all proved to be
alive. Ants will drown after sub
mergence of six minutes in water, and
the insects composing these masses
must have kept alive by the bail revolv-
| ing continually with the struggles of
the individuals, or by an instructive
and orderly movement Of the outer
tier.
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-29
Eme's Thanksgiving.

+ - GUESS I'll have q thanksgiving
dinner of my very own" said little Ell
fie Angel.
She had been watching with great
interest the preparations for the grand
dinner at home; the chickens and tur-
keys, the buildings and pies, and the
beautiful red cranberry sauce, all at
tracted her attention, and filed her
with wish to have dinner for her
own family.
Her family was made up of dolls, a
poodle and a kitten, and very nice
family it was. The dolls were all well
behaved and quiet; the kitten was good
tempered, and the poodle was very
bright and loving, and was always neat
ly dressed in white wool.
II want my Sanksgiving before you
have yours Effie said to her mother,
'cause then you'll be so busy that you
can't help me-
Every WE'LL" said Mrs. Angel;
"you can have it to-day; and 1 will
give you some cold chicken and cur
rant jelly and frosted cake. But who
are you going to have for guests?'
"Why, Snowflake and Whitenose
and all the dollies. of course ;:
And no little girl or 6oyF
"Why, mamma, would youp l didn't
think of that
~ think 1t would be NICE plan 10
set your dinner on the little wooden
table that stands in my room and in
vite somebody to eat it with you"
"What, have real dinner. ana not
play eat! why, mamma, l tnink tnat
would be splendid; but who shall l in
viter'
"Whom would you like to invite?"
There is Clara Weston.
She has enough to eat at home. :,
why, OF course she mas, mamma. !,
Cant you think of some little girl
who is often hungry, because ner
mamma is poorP''
Let me see-yes, there is Mamie
Hart and Johnny: They don't bring
anything to school for lunch but little
thin slice of bread, and sometimes
herring; and they look so pale and
poor, mamma"
"Then suppose you invite Mamie and
Johnny. Twill see that you have enough
for them to eat. -
Effie was delighted with the idea; ana
putting on her little jacket and her new
hat with the scarlet wing, she hurrieo
to Mrs. Harris.
The children's eyes sparkled with Joy
when Ellie told her errand' ana MRS;
Hart promised that they should attend
the dinner in good season.
Then Ellie ran home ana began hef
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-29
The Loss Of the United States War.
Steamer Huron.


The following account of the wreck
of the United States man-of-war Huron
off the coast of North Carolina, at l 20
on Saturday morning, is made up from
special dispatches to the Chicago Times
of Nov. rs and 26: Fl. ~
The disaster occurred during the ter
rife storm which ragged along the east
ern Atlantic coast on Friday night.
The vessel was driven on point of
rock known as the Nagshead, an ugly
reef, that crops up some two miles out
at sea, off Kitty Hawk beach. As
nearly as could be learned, about 100
officers and men lost their lives in the
shipwreck. Thirty-four were reported
saved.
Various theories are advanced to ac-
count for the sad occurrence, but none
of them are wholly satisfactory. The
Huron left Hampton Roads for the sur
vey of the waters of the Gulf of Mexico,
on Friday, in defiance of the reports of
impending rough weather made by the
Signal Office. That night the most ter
rife storm experienced on the Atlantic
coast for years came tearing along. Its
fury was felt as far from the coast as
Washington 1t struck the Huron, and
drove her wildly from her course. Some
are of opinion that she lost her reckon
ing, owing to the eccentric influence OF
the iron Of the ship and guns on the
compasses. Another theory is that in
the storm the engines gave out and she
was driven y helpless thing before the
winds. 0 1sc
The Nagshead is an ugly. reef, for
some unexplained reason left without
light. Attention has often been
called to the danger of this neglect, but
no official action was ever taken con-
corning it. el ~ 80. =.
Reports of particulars Of the wreck
were quite meager. The coast at that
point is very tllinly settled, the nearest
telegraph station to the scene of the
disaster being eight miles distant, the
only means of Communication being bya
footpath. AS soon as morning broke,
the wreck was discovered, and as rap
idly as possible word was sent to WASH
ington. The naval authorities there at
once gave orders for assistance, and the
wrecking steamer Resdute was sent
from Norfolk, and the United States
steamer Swatara and the tug Fortune
| from Hampton Roads, to render what
aid they could in picking up the fortu-
nate men who might have escaped with
their lives from the Huron. The Cho-
wan was also sent from Norfolk with
supplies and medical aid for the sur
vivOrS. M t ss
But four officers and thirty men were
L 4 koI
The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-11-29

.M,Ml
Aegregating officers and men.


Of this number the force available for war is
made up Of the cavalry, artillery and infantry
regiments, amounting TO 20,661 officers and
men, to which should be added eleven general
officers and the officers Of the general stan
serving with them, together with $40 Indian
scouts. ~ ~
For convenience Of administration, and to
hx responsibility, the country is divided into
ten Military Departments, each OF which Is
commanded by Brigadier-G General or the
senior Colonel serving In the department, es-
pecially empowered by the President Of the
grouped into three geographical divisions com
handed By the Lieutenant General and BY two
Of the Major-G Generals There is also the Do
partment Of West Point, commanded BY MGj..
Gen. SchoAeld, which Is somewhat exceptional
b It's nature, designed TO give due tmportapce
TO the Military Academy, and to vest the COM
else ali the functions necessary to insure per-
feet discipline and thorough administration.
Each Division and Department Commander
has made an annual report, accompanied by
similar reports from his several stan 01iccrs,
but Is these latter are very voluminous, / have
taken the liberty to segreGate for printing only
p o sss lsSns Hssss sss
hle with the AdiutantG General for reference
when needed.
The Military Division Of the Missouri, Lieut.
Gen. Sheridan commanding, embraces the De-
partments Of Dakota, Platte, Missouri and
Texas, commanded respectively BY Brig. -Gens.
Terry, Crook, Pope and Ord
The Military Division e ths Atlsntic, Nj
partmeuts Of the Eat, G6u4h and Gal1 cofa-
msndsd b hnssll, 81 ca. J. B. RoGsls, I'd
Brig. Gen. Augur respectively.
The Military Division Of the Pacific, Ma
Gen. Mcdowell commanding embraces the