davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
Mars Satellites.

The official report of Rear Admiral
John Rodgers, superintendent of the
Naval Observatory, in this city, in re-
gard to the recent discovery of the sat-
elites of Mars, was received at the Navy
Departm ent this morning. He says that
from the observations made by Profess
sor Asaph Hall, of the Observatory, with
the twenty-six inch refractor, the planet
Mars has been found to have at least
two satellites Professor Hall finds on
examining his observing book that the
satellite which was first discovered, and
which he supposed was seen for the first
time August Is, at 1142, had been, in
fact, observed August II, at IA hours 40
minutes, but as he had no opportunity
at that date to wait for the planets mo-
tlons he failed to recognize the object as
a satellite. 1t was, however, recognized
and observed as such on August Is, and
has been observed on the 18th, 18th and
10Th of August. This satellite has an
apparent distance from the centre of
Mars of 80 seconds, and it's time of rev.
olutlon around the planet is 80 hours.
| is magnitude Professor Hall estimates
as the 18th or 14th The plane of it's
orbit has now considerable inclination
to the line of sight from the earth to
Mars. At its elongations its angles of
position are II degrees and 252 degrees.
The second satallite was discovered
August II, at 16 hours. 1t appears to
be quite as bright as the first one, and
at its elongations has nearly the same
angles of position, which correspond to
the equator Of Mars. Its apparent dis
lance at the elongations and its periodic
time are not yet known. The following
are the preliminary elements of the
outer satellite as calculated by Professor
Simon Newcomb: Major axes Of orb,
80 seconds; angle Of major axis, 70 de-
gress and $50 degrees; minor axes, 90
seconds; passage of satellite through
western apsis, August 10, 16 hours 40
minutes. The period of the inner sat
elite or satellites is so short, probably
less than hours, that it cannot be fixed.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
Old Trees.

The Oldest tree known by naturalists
is the Great Dragon tree of OrOtOva
Teneriffe, which was blown down by a
hurricane a few months since 1t was a
stately tree seventy or eighty feet high
in A. d. 1902, and SO old and remarka-
BILE a tree as to excite particular care
and notice for its preservation. When
it was destroyed, it was believed to be
no less than 5000 years old. On the
banks of the Senegal river, Africa,
there are or were in 1913, trees grow
ing, sixty or eighty feet high. and some
thirty feet in diameter, which are esti-
mated by Andanson. the French natur-
alist, to be over 5000 years old. They
are known as the Baobab or Andansen-
la. The English yew is another very
long lived tree.
There are numbers of these trees in
England and Scotland which are be-
lieved to be from 1,4O0 to 5000 years
old. A cypress tree in Oaxaca, Mexico
which forty years ago measured one
hundred and twenty feet in height, one
hundred and seventeen in circu1n-
ference and which sheltered Fernando
Cortes and his followers under it's wide
spreading boughs about the year 1920,
is supposed to be now 1000 years old
And in California there are mammoth
expresses which stretch their heads up
800 or 400 feet, and which are believed
to be some 5000 years old. There are
many of these trees in different parts
Of the world-single trees, famous in
history, and groups of trees, as locusts,
and oaks, and lines, and elms, and
pines, nut trees, ETC., ETC., which are
either absolutely known, or believed to
be all along from $50, 40, SIG, $40, 720,
800, 900, 1000, and SO on up to 5000 or
more years Old
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05

cries OF JOY or fear appeals for help,
cries OF war. All these explosions of
voice borrow the sounds of vowels and
consonants, and show how easy and
natural Is articulation among them
Those species which are distinguished
as song-birds have very complicated
vocal apparatus. For quality of tone,
power, brilliancy, and sweetness, the
nightingale stands lnrivaled; yet it does
not acquire this talent without long prac-
tice, the young ones being generally
mediocre. The parrots, which live in
large numbers under the brightest suns,
have a love for chattering which cap
tlvlty does not lessen Attentive to every
voice and noise, they initiate them with
extraordinary facility; and the phenom-
enon OF their articulating words is still
unexplained. 1t is supposed that
there is a peculiar activity in the up
per larynx. AS a rule, they attach no
meaning to what they say; but there
are exceptions. When very intelligent
and we'll instructed, these birds can give
a suitable answer to certain questions
Ha7per's Weekly.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05

stock of ammunition. The general
stated that if Sitting Bull was discovered
to be on this side of the line he would
be pursued to the bitter end by the en-
tire available force of troops in the
Yellowstone country.
In regard to the route to be taken by
the commission, Gen. Terrey said that,
taking it for granted that Sitting Bull is
encamped in the vicinity of Woody
mountain, the shortest way would be to
go by steamer to old Fort Peck, and
thence across the country to the British
line, instead of following the river up to
Fort Benton. He thought it would be
extremely hazardous for the commission
to undertake the trip with a small es-
cOrt. 1t would not be safe to treat with
that treacherous old villain unless there
were five hundred soldiers within shoot
ing distance No such escort as this
could be spared from the field just at
this time. Nearly all the troops in the
upper country had been ordered in the
direction of the Yellowstone park, to
take care Of Joseph and the Nez Perces,
should they attempt to come eastward.
Quite a considerable force of cavalry
and infantry under the command of
Gen. Brisbin, is campaigning on the
Little Missouri, trying to overtake some
renegade band of hostiles that are
skulking in that section. The general
said he didn't see how he could spare
more than two hundred and fifty men,
at the outside, as an escort to the COM
mission
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
DeadwOOd i'm Rrief.

There is no such place anywhere. 1t
shows up in its worst forms the &C fast
and flash" American trait A little over
a year ago the sight of this swarming
camp was a part of the bowling wilder
ness To-day there are along the streets,
and up and down the gulches, within a
mile, over 10000 people. Here is a
city of 1000 inhabitants, with floating
population of 1000 more. About 800
houses and huts, and hundreds of tents
up the hillsides, an academy, church,
two daily newspapers, four banks, TWEEN
ty lawyers, physicians, dentists, artists,
club-houses, theatres in full blast every
night, the streets thronged with specu-
lators, tramps, and bummers; gambling
bells open all day long, and cappers''
On every corner for the next victim
such is hasty glance at Deadwood.
1t is a place in which the few prey upon
the many. You cannot buy anything
for less than aquarter; your living costs
you double what it would at Denver or
Salt Lake City, You can't step in any
direction without facing some device for
getting rid of your money. They have
even got e corner" on postage stamps,
and you must pay from a dime to a
quarter for three-cent stamp-C5r-
responde11ce Ne,U York Times.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
Incident at Rutland. vt.

An amusing incident of the reception
of the presidential party by the young
ladies at Rutland, Vt, is related by the
Boston newspapers. AS the story goes
they arranged themselves in line with
boquets in their hands ready to throw
them upon the president. Being in some
doubt when the great men moved along
as to the proper person on whom to be
stow their honors, they very naturally
took the best looking man in the party
for the president and bestowed their IA
vors accordingly. In consequence Gov.
Van Zandt was almost smothered with
roses, and had to beg Mrs. Hayes to set
the matter right. She did not care, how
ever, to interfere, and the fun went on.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
Animal Speech.

In comparison with the human voice,
that of animals seems poor indeed. The
barking of the dog, the mewing of the
cat, the bleating of sheep, can not be
called language, in the proper sense.
Yet the larynX of these creatures is on
the same plan as that of man. Among
monkeys the resemblance is perfect.
To all appearance the impossibility of
speaking is due to the formation of the
lips and tongue In Ills Leibnitz an
nounced to the French Academy that
he had met with common peasants
dog that could repeat thirty words after
his master. In spite of such an author
ity, we must always say, when we most
admire the intelligence of this faithful
companion, +" He only wants words" So
we'll endowed with memory, affection,
and intelligence, he can only express
his JOY by sharp, short expirations of air
through the CLOTHS. Howling is pro-
longed note in the pharynx, excited by
deep grief or pain. Yet they in COM
mon with many other animals can COM
municate with each other in a marvel
Gus manner when they wish to organize
an expedition. A dead bullock was
lying in waste far from all habitations,
when a solitary dog, attracted by the
smell, came and fed upon it; immedi-
ately he returned to the village and
called together his acquaintance. In
less than an hour the bones were picked
clean by the troop.
Opportunities for studying the Ian
guage of wild animals are rare; they fly
from man. and when in captivity they
become nearly silent, only uttering a
few cries or murmurs. Travellers have
sometimes been able to watch the grace
apes. Living in the branches of trees,
they descend with great prudence An
old male, who is the chief, climbs to the
top and looks all around; if satisfied, he
utters cultural sounds to tranquilize his
band; but if he perceives danger, there
is special cry, an advertisement which
does not deceive, and Immediately they
all dispense. On one occasion natur-
alist watched solitary monkey as he
discovered an orange-tree laden with
fruit Without returning, he uttered
short cries; his companions understood
the signal, and III moment they were
collected under the tree only too hap
ply to share its beautiful fruit. Some
kinds possess curious appendage, a
sort Of aerial pouch, which opens into
the interior of the larynx and makes
a tremendous sound. These bowling
apes, also called stentors, inhabit the
deepest forests of the New World, and
their cries may be heard at the distance
of one OF two miles.
1 The great number of small birds have
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
INDIA.
The Progress of the Famine.

An official telegram of August 30th,
from the victory Of India summarizes
the progress of the famine from Aug 20
to %. 1t says in Madras the situation
is not improved anywhere, and is dis
tinctly worse In Madura, Coimbatoor,
Nellore, and Salem 919,771 are on relief
works, and 1,326,971 receiving gratuit-
Gus relief In Mysore, the crop pros
poets are worse, and showers less fire.
quent; 243,273 are on the works or re-
ceivlng gratuitous relief. More favor
able accounts continue of the condition
of the crops in the Bombay Presidency
owing to the recent rains. In the north
west Provinces the autumn crop in the
divisions Of Agra and Jhansi is nearly
lost, and in the Alahabad Benares divis-
ions it is critical. There has been good
rain in Meeryt and Rohileund. The
crops in Oudh are suffering from hot
winds The Condition of Punjaub is
critical, and that of Gwalior, Roakhut-
ana, and Hyderabad bad There is
much distress in the south of Nizam's
dominions. The Ocean is improved
The prospects are good in South Bengal,
Burmah, and in the central Provinces Of
Berar, Indore aud Rutlam.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
Some ROnec.

Charleston is located in the center OF
a geological basin of twenty miles di-
ameter, which contains the bones OF
enough animals to stock the present
world. How they came here is not
known even to scientists A facetious
lawyer gave as good an account of their
origin as can be given, when he said
q" Noah's ark was built in Charleston
and all the animals of the world having
come hither to embark, and being dis
appointed in obtaining passage, were
drowned by the rising flood"
These bones are found in the post
pleiocene beds of the tertiary forma-
ton. some six or ten feet below the sur
face of the land, and along the beds Of
the rivers. They are easily dug with
ordinary tools upon the land and from
rivers by dredge-boats built for the pur-
pose, or by common oyster-tongs.
With the latter good hand can easily
dig ton day; 800 to 1000 tons per
acre may be dug on land
These phosphates were known many
years ago, but their practical value for
fertlllzlng purposes was not ascertained
until since the late war They were
then subjected to scientific tests by
Prof. f. S. Holmes and DR.. n. A. Pratt,
and about 60 per cent. of phosphate of
lime was obtained from them. These
gentlemen Immediately organized a
company to dig and sell the phosphates.
This brought them into notice and
soon hundreds of thousands of dollars
were invested in the business. At the
lower edge of the phosphate basin
stands Stone Inlet, and from that port
alone 100000 tons are supposed to have
been shipped last year. 1t is sent to
the continent Of Europe and to the
United Kingdom, to northern ports, and
to sundry fertilizing factories neal
Charleston.-Charlestoo IS. c. Cores
pOndence NeaU York Sun.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
A BRAVE-HEARTED MOTHER.
She and Her Five Children Walk Eigh-
teen Days through the Wilderness.
Detroit Free Press, August 25.

Yesterday afternoon there arrived in
this city Mrs. Helen Scranton and five
children, the eldest not being yet four
teen years old, who have made very
interesting journey within the past
month.
Mrs. Scranton, with her husband and
children, resided on farm in Manitoba,
1870 miles north of the boundary line.
Early in July her husband was taken
sick and after brief illness died, leaving
his wife and family and unharvested
crops to get along as best she might
without money. To pay the expenses
Of the funeral Mrs. Scranton Secured an
advance on the growing crops, aud when
she had paid the last tribute to her
dead husband had nearly 500 in cash
With this sum she procured few
necessaries and selecting camp outfit
from her household furniture set out
with her children to traverse 200 miles
of wilderness, hoping with what money
she had left to buy passage by way of
the Northern Pacific Railway and great
lakes for herself and children to YOungs-
town, KY.
The little party were eighteen days
on loot, camping out at night and sub
sisting almost wholly on berries and the
product of the boy's-the eldest child
hunting forages. Occasionally they re-
ceived assistance from settlers, and
meeting a large stage-load of passengers
on their way north received apaper
sack filled with crackers and purse of
IS sash. They reached the railroad in
good health, and receiving reduced
rates of fare by rail and steamer,
arrived here with S3S in nand and in ex-
cellentspirits.
When it is realized that the youngest
child is not yet three years old and that
another child is just turned five years,
the success of the long tramp will be
appreciated Mrs. Scranton left last
evening for Kentucky by way of In
dianapolis, and hopes to reach her faith
er's home Sunday morning with little
money left
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
Nine Changes of Name in two Centuries

The Nashua IN. H. Telegraph pub
fishes the following: THE name was
Carr, and the registrar Of deeds traced a
clear title for more than one hundred
years. He could go no further, and
when about to abandon the search it
occurred to him that possibly the name
might have undergone some changes.
He turned to the letter K on the index,
and followed the same title clearly as
Karr and Kar. Recently he had oc-
casion to trace the name of Rollins
back two hundred years, which includes
the record at Exeter and Cambridge.
He discovered that in the number of
years mentioned the spelling had been
changed nine times, as follows: Rawl-
ings, Rawlings, Ralins, Rallins, Rollins,
Ratings, Ratings, Rollings, Rollins.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
Roads at the Seat of War.

The road-making department of the
Russian service is simply wretched.
Holes that are surrounded by broken
wheels are left yawnlng for fresh vic
TINS, when few moments labor would
remove the nuisance. Even at Sistova,
in the street over which passes all the
supplies Of the army before Plevna,
there are several fearfuul gaps, into
which plunge struggling horses and
creaking wagons, as we'll as ambulances
loaded with wounded men, to whom
every jerk is torture, while hundreds
Of soldiers loiter about, and there are
ample supplies ofstones and gravel with
in q few yards with which these holes
could be filled in ten minutes Va
Correspondence London Times.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
Terry at Headquarters.
From the Chicago Times 18th

Gen. 4. II. Terry, who is answering
a summons to report at Washington at
his earliest convenience, spent several
hours last evening IN consultation with
Gen. Sheridan, and resumes his journey
eastward this morning, accompanied by
his chief of staff, Maj. Smith As the
general is the big end of the commission
to treat with Sitting Bull lis, in fact. the
only one who has consented to serve
representative of The Times endeavored
to extract some information from him
regarding the objects and purposes of
the commission. No one could have
evinced heartier disposition to impart
information on this subject than Gen.
Terry, and no one knows less about the
matter than he. This he frankly con-
fessed, to begin with; but he hopes to
be enlightened within very short time
Week before last he received telegram
from the secretary of war asking if he
would serve on the commission if APP
pointed He replied that he knew of
no reason why he should not serve. AT
terward he learned from unofficial
sources-from the newspapers, In fact
of his appointment. A day OF two since
he received a second telegram from the
secretary of war ordering him to report
at Washington for consultation" He
presumed the consultation would de
velop the nature and purposes of the
commission and the instructions by
which it will be guided IN treating with
the fugitive chief The general said he
had no hand whatever toward instigating
the scheme for Sitting Bulls extradition
He believed the suggestion came orig
inally from the Ottawa government.
Gen. Terry was asked whether he re-
posed any credence whatever in the re-
port that Sitting Bull had recrossed the
Canadian line with his band. He re-
piled that. the only advices he had re-
garding the matter had been furnished
him by Gen. Miles, and his information
had heretofore been found very trust
worthy. He had advices from Miles
under date of the 10Th inst, which repre-
scented that Sitting Bull with force OF
thirteen hundred warriors, was en-
camped south of the line. The parties
who brought this intelligence to Gen.
Miles had understood that Sitting Bull
had got into difficulty with the British
authorities and recrossed the boundary
IN high dudgeon. His band was repre-
sented as being in good trim for travel
ing and fighting. Their horses had re
cuperated their wasted strength and the
warriors had replenished their depleted
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05

If we die to-day the sun will shine
as brightly, and the birds will sing as
sweetly tomorrow. Business will not
be suspended a moment, and the great
mass will nOt.s bestOw a thought upon
our memories. els he dead?' will be
the solemn inquiry of a few, as they
pass to their work. No one will miss
us except our immediate connections
and III short time they will forget and
laugh as merrily as when we sat beside
them. Thus shall we all, now active in
life, pass away. Our children crowd
close behind us, and they will soon be
gone. In few years, not living being
can say, [ remember him." We lived
in another age, and did business with
those who slumber in the tomb. Thus
is life How rapidly it passes
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05

Truth is the only basis upon which
true character can rest that will bear the
scrutiny of the Eternal Ages" When
the dignity of truth is lost sight of, the
nobility of the soul is forfeited. Rank
and titles may be purchased for money,
but they do not make true honor. An
immoderate desire to possess wealth,
or position, contaminates and destroys
truth in the soul, before which, virtue
and honesty will flee away. All beauty
radiates from truth. There is little at
traction where the loftier sentiments of
the soul beam not to give an assurance
that the character is founded upon that
basis which only can bear the test of
eternity. Custom cannot change the
nature of truth, or the opinions of men
destroy justice. 80.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05
EXPECTATION OF DAIRY PRODUCTs.

EXPECTATION OF DAIRY PRoDUcTs.-
We learn from the United States Butter,
Cheese and Egg Reporter that the exports
of butter for June, 1877, amounted to
1891, S31 pounds, against 7O9, $50 pounds
in May. The export of cheese in June
1877, amounted to 17,590,3S6 pounds
nearly all of which went to Great Britain
How much of the latter was returned
to us and sold as genuine Cheshire the
Reporter does not say. 1t is an interest
ing fact that in June 5000 pounds OF
artificial butter was exported, against
4,951 pounds in May, from which it
would appear that the manufacture Of
artificial butter, called butterine OF
oleomargarine, is on the increase. These
figures indicate the growing commercial
importance Of the American dairy
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05

RAISING RABBITS FOR THEIR SKINS
In some parts of Europe it has been
proposed to raise rabbits for their skins,
but note of warning comes from New
Zealand that these animals multiply at
such a rate as to prove destructive to
crops. In parts of New Zealand large
tracts of rich pasture-land have been
converted into d wilderness, and sheep
farming and cattle-ralsing are becoming
impossible. Farmers that used to keep
$4,000 sheep can now scarcely keep as
many hundred. One landowner in
closed with a stone wall an area Of 49,
900 acres, the work taking seven years
to complete, and involving an expendi-
ture Of $4,000 About 100000 rabbit
skins were exported from Hobart Town
in 1874
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05

AT TABLE.-Never talk of disagree
able things at your table, but let the
conversation be kind. genial, social and
cheering. The more good company
you have at your table, the better for
your children. Every conversation with
company at your table is an educator
of the family. Hence the intelligence,
and the refinement. and the appropriate
behavior of a family which is given to
hospitality. Never feel that intelligent
visitors can be anything but a blessing
to you and yours. How few have fully
gotten hold of the fact, that company
and conversation at the table are no
small part of education.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05

A REMARKABLE instance of canine af
lection recently occurred in Belgian
village. A young butcher died after a
short illness. During his sickness his
pet bulldog remained at the foot of the
bed, refusing all food and when his
master was buried, it was with great
difficulty that the dog could be induced
to leave the cemetery. A few days later
the grave-digger was astonished to per-
ceive a large hole in the young butchers
grave, which he recollected to have en-
tirely filled up. On approaching, ne
found the faithful animal ct.rled up In
the hole. Upon being taken home, the
dog obstinately refused to eat, and died
of starvation.