davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19
An Invasion of Bears.

More wild bears than have ever been
known since the swamps have been
settled by white men are reported to
inhabit the bottoms of the Mississippi
valley this year. The carnivorous
plantigrades are particularly fond of
succulent food, and the juicy corn as
it ripens in the field is an especial OBJ
ject of affection. So strong is bruins
for it that the planters Of
Coahoma and Tunica counties, Missis-
sippi, have recently been compelled to
place guards around their corn-felds
to protect them from destruction. A
bear, with an ordinary
has been known to eat down
and destroy two acres of growing corn
in a single night. They so on their
foreign expedition in the nighttime,
and entering a corn-feld they squat on
their launches, suck an ear Of corn, and
proceed to masticate it with an APP
parent relish equal to their bipedal
enemies. When their appetite is
satisfied they cut off cornstalks below
the ear by the armful, and, walking
erect, carry their booty through fields
over fences, and into the dark recesses
of the swamps and canebrakes, to their
hiding places. -MeD1p9is AUdlaache
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19
Sis This Seat Occupied 20

An old but vigorous-looking gentle
man, seemingly from the rural districts,
got into a car and walked its full length
without receiving an invitation to sit
down. Approaching one gentleman
who had a whole bench to himself, he
asked, "Is this seat occupied?" Yes,
sir, it is" impertinently replied the
other. "Well,' replied the broad-shoul-
dered agriculturist q will keep this
seat until the gentleman comes" The
original proprietor withdrew himself
haughtily to one end, and looked insult
ed. After while the train got in mo-
ton, and still nobody came to claim the
seat, whereupon the deep-chested agri-
culturist turned and said Sir, when
you told me that this seat was occupied
you told me lie''-such was his plain
language" never sit near liar if l
can avoid it; / would rather stand up"
Then appealing to another party he said:
Sir, may | sit next to you. You don't
look like liar" We need hardly say
that he got his seat and that the original
proprietor thought that there was some
thing wrong about our social system
Baltimore Gazette.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19

The Atchison (Kan) Champion tells
this story to illustrate how the position
Of 3 creditor of bankrupt became ex-
ceedingly undesirable: GA year or two
ago cigar house in this city became
bankrupt and an assignment was duly
made by the proprietor to prominent
attorney. The stock on hand was not
sufficient to carry on a Presidential cam
paign, and the liabilities were something
over 81, 900. The assignee took charge
Of the stock, and the litigation com
menced. Time and again the stock was
attached, and just as often the assignee
would replevin it. and it afforded many
an hour Of pleasant labor for consta-
bic to serve all the necessary papers for
an attachment, and then, while resting
from these arduous duties, to turn
around and replevin it all back. Then
he would advertise it for SALE and the
day before the sale he would attach it
again, and, if there was nothing else in
the wind, along in the afternoon he
would replevin it. Then when the sale
was about ready to commence he would
attach it all over again and the sale
would be postponed until he had time
to again repleven it. For nearly a year
this game was kept up, and now the
sequel comes. The assignee closed up
things, and after everything had been
counted up he brought the creditors Of
the firm out in debt TO him to the
amount Of about $50, and now he is go
ing to sue them for this sum.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19
A Russian Peasants Savings Bank.

In one Of the small provincial towns
Of Southern Russia a savings bank has
recently been established, the second
clerk Of which, while lounging at his
desk on a @ fiat day" in summer, was
startled by the entrance of a heavy
looking peasant slouching, grimy, I'M
kempt-the very last man one would
expect to see in a bank, except for the
purpose of robbing it. The apparition
came timidly up to the counter, and
the following dialogue ensued:
well, my good fellow, what may
you want here, pray?"
g If it please you, father, [ want you
to take charge of some money for me-
Our folks say that [ might be robbed of
it, and that it will be safer with you"
Money, Ell? Why, how much
money have you got, then? Four rou-
bles? Five? Ten?"
"No, it must be more than that, I
fancy. My wife and | couldn't man
age to count it all, though we've been
at it all morning"
So saying, the gentleman in sheep
skin produced a tattered, filthy leather
bag, and poured out before the clerk S
astonished eyes a perfect pyramid of
bank bills of all values from l rouble to
so. The amazed clerk hastily sum-
moned his two colleagues, and the
three, after long spell of counting,
satisfied themselves that the total
amount was not less than 10000 roub-
les ($15,000.) The peasant, who had
stood watching the operation with a
look of childish curiosity, pocketed his
receipt and walked off as coolly as if
nothing had happened; but the next
morning he reappeared and again adj
dressed himself to the same clerk.
Good be with you, father Do you
take care of gold, too, as well as bank
bills ?"
What, gold? Why, you'd better
start a bank yourself How much
gold have you got, IN heavens name?"
1.-TWO boxes full
At this point the banker himself, who
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19
The Jewish New Year.

This is the Jewish year 5638, and ends
on Friday, September q, 1873. 1t is
STYLED the sixth embolismic or leap year,
kind that occurs but twelve times in a
calendarial period of 247 years. This
one happens to be the last of its kind in
the nineteenth century. Ithas 305 days,
in which there are ffty-fve Saturdays,
or Jewish Sabbath; Ii months, of which
eight have 80 days each, and only 20;
the Jewish lunar cycle Il, the golden
number II; and the Passover on Thurs
day, April Is, 1873, which corresponds
to the 18th day Of Nissan, the seventh
month of the civil year, and takes place
three days before Easter Sunday in 1878
Each Of the twelve years of this sixth
kind has Saturday for its first day, Fri
day for its last day, and Thursday for its
Passover, throughout the 247 years; but,
from the peculiar construction of the
Jewish calendar, the Gregorian dates
from the beginning, ending and Passover
are much oftener varied than repeated
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19
Immense Land-HOlders.

A correspondent of the Stockton
(Cal) Independent writes as follows of
the immense landed and other posses
sions Of Miller & Lux: It is impossi-
bic to estimate, but it is said they have
100000 acres in all in California, an area
nearly as great as the State Of Rhode
Island. There must be at least 100000
acres in one body, running in a strip ten
or twelve miles wide and sixty miles
long, from Hills Ferry southwark The
Canal Farm is, therefore, a very small
proportion of it, 1t is covered with
farm houses as well as equipped IN all
respects as the Canal Farm. They own
about $4,000 head of cattle, and last
year their new born calves numbered
$4,000 head. OF sheep they have vast
number, as well as of hogs, and they
furnish the largest share Of fresh meat
for the San Francisco market. They
can start a herd from Kern county and
drive it through to San Francisco and
have good pasturage on their own land
for the cattle to feed on every night on
the route.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19
The Fail Flower Garden.

The Amercian AgicuHwist for Septem-
Der says: 1.-The excessive heats Of sum-
mer being over, the late flowers now
have their opportunity, and the borders
should be bright until frOsts come.
Dahlias, besides strong stake for the
main stem, often need shorter ones for
the principal branches, else the weight
of bloom may cause them to break
away at the junction with the stem.
Grasshoppers often injure their flowers,
and those intended for exhibition must
be protected by netting. Cut away the
blooms as soon as past their prime, and
remove all buds that show malforma-
ton Chrysanthemums, from their great
beauty and variety. are not IN such gen
eral cultivation as we should suppose;
they are generally hardy, and though
they flower so late that the frosts catch
them in their prime, they stand up to
their work until the very last and, as
the rear guard, molly cover the retreat
Of the floral army. But one can pot as
many as he chooses, and thus enjoy
their bloom for some weeks. AS soon
as the buds are fairly developed, pot
them, give shade for a few days, and
when the increase in size of the buds
shows that they have recovered, give
very weak manure water, or a teaspoon
full Of guano to the gallon of water.
They will bloom more satisfactorily. in a
sunny window Of a room without fire.
Chrysanthemum troubles are numerous;
sometimes a black aphis or plant-louse
will completely cover the ends Of the
l. Il, 4ol> Il
subsequent washing in pure water.
They also are the food of several hairy
caterpillars, several Of which may be
found disiguring the foliage of one
plant-hand-pick Then the stems will
break on the slightest provocation, es-
pecially when heavily loaded with binds
sticks and strings, and a plenty of
them Violets, if wanted in the late
winter Or early spring, must be provided
for now Prepare a frame with very
rich soil, and set healthy young plants
from runners. When freezing weather
comes cover the plants with leaves and
put on the glass. In February remove
the leaves, and flowers will soon appear.
Hardy herbaceous perennials are mostly
through Towering, and may be divided
and reset. Those which form a large
clump Of fine roots, may be divided by
the use of a sharp spade, but those with
large roots need more care; shake or
wash away the soil so that the whole
may be seen, and divide, using strong
knife, SO as to leave each bud with a
share of the root The present is IA
vorable time to procure and set new
plants Of this class, as some flower too
early for successful removal in spring.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19
Railroads i'm Mexico.

The United States Minister to Mexi-
co has transmitted to the Department
Of State an interesting report upon the
railroads Of that country, from which
it appears that there is but one railroad
of any extent in Mexico-that which
runs from Vera Cruz to the City of
Mexico, with branch connecting the
latter place with Puebla, 292 miles, and
another branch running from near
Sefa Cruz to Jalapa sixty-one miles.
All other roads in the Valley Of Mexi-
co aggregate less than fifty miles. The
concession for the building of this road
was transferred from native hands to
an English company in 1857, up to
which time only the surveys had been
made, and by this company it was COM
pleted in 1878. The principal office of
the company is in London The road
is managed by a board of ten, elected
by the shareholders. The cost of the
construction of the road is generalized
as follows
General shares. ........... -. s Z. 658, $50
Government shares ...e............. 3, 633, 100
rivileged shares first issued, per ct. r. no, 500
Bonded Indebtedness a. bonds,
I.LD
. B . bonds, per cent. ..... 3, $50, s85
Special indebtedness. ................ j, 900, 600
Total. &37. 1Os. 735
The total earnings of the road during
the year 1876 exceeded 100000,
while the working expenses for the
same period were only a fraction over
81 ,SOO,O60. The number Of passengers
carried over the road for the year speci-
fed was 23S, 932, the fares amounting to
1854 $50. The freight amounted to
1851 tons. Passenger rates from
Vera Cruz to the City of Mexico, 263
miles, first class, $16; second class,
$12, so; third class, 81 25. Freight rates
per ton over the same route: Foreign
goods, first class, $76.O5; native goods,
$500; foreign goods, second class,
$65.1S; native goods. second class,
$32. 80; foreign goods, third class, $54 80;
native goods, third class. $27. 16.
Fifteen per cent Of the customs dues
was set apart yearly to pay the subsidy
due the company on the completion OF
the road, but the government, in lieu Of
this, has agreed to pay $560,0O0 yearly
for twenty-five years. In consequence
Of the steep grades on this road, heavy
English engines have heretofore been
used thereon, but at present the Ameri-
can Baldwin engines are being success
fully introduced, and American cars
are also superseding the English make.
The want of railroads is felt acutely
throughout Mexico, and the subject of
concessions for their construction will
it is supposed, be leading topic at the
next session of Congress. The capital
abroad to large extent.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19

UNIVERSAL love is like glove with
out fingers, which fits all hands alike
and none closely; but true affection is
like a glove with fingers which fits one
hand only and sits close o~that one.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19

Eli Perkins sympathizes with the
Bulgarians This is the worst blow they
have received. -Puck.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19
The Oldest Man in the World.

A merchant Of this city, who recently
returned from tour of South America,
has given reporter Of the Globe Demo-
crat an account of a remarkable old man
he saw in the city of Tulca, Chill, whose
name is Felix Rojas, and who has I'M
doubtedly reached the age of 1856 years.
Roias was born in 1740, and at an early
age entered the army holding the posi-
ton of sergeant-major in a Spanish line
regiment. When Carlos the Third is
sued the historic mandate expelEng the
Jesuits, Rojas took in charge two mem
bers Of the order and carried them from
Linares to Santiago. lie served forty
eight years in the CHILEAN armies, and
IS thoroughly conversant with the min
utest details of CHILEAN history for the
last century and a half.-& Louis Globe
Democrat.
In the Registration Court, Cupar, Fife,
a man was called upon to appear as a
witness, and could not be found On
the sheriff asking where he was, a grave,
elderly gentleman rose up, and, with
much emphasis, said, My lord, he's
gone" "Gone! gomez said the sheriff;
where is he gomez ThatI can not IN
form YOU" replied the communicative
gentleman, but he's dead"
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-19

The following letter is copied from
the original letter in Mrs. Sherman's
which we have seen.-Eds.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-12
Watching a Rife Balls Flight.

The Rochester Herald says: Three
gentlemen, members of the Amateur
Rifle Club, Yesterday afternoon were in
the town of Brighton target-shooting
The distance was 200 yards; al three
were shooting Creedmoor rifles. From
the firing point to the target the ground
gradually assembled, SO that small tele-
scope, but a good one, firmly fixed in
true bounds on tree, at distance Of
perhaps thirty feet, made fine point
for observation. One of the shooters,
while looking through a glass to mark a
shot of one of his companions, eXclaim-
ed that he saw the ball as it sped on it's
mission. The announcement was re-
ceived with incredulity; but one Of the
other shooters went to the glass, and he
also saw the ball almost as it left the
gun, and through its whole flight, nearly
the whole line Of its trajectory, until it
struck the target. So interesting and
beautiful was the sight that every shot
was watched by one or the other of the
gentlemen; and it is an actual fact that
the point at which the ball would strike
the target could be seen before the ball
struck. It was even insisted upon that
the rotary motion of the bail could be
observed.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-12
How Queen Victoria Opened Parliament.

Sumer described Queen Victoria s
opening of Parliament in her youth as
follows: 1.-The Queen entered, attend
ed by the great officers of state, with
her heavy crown on her head, the great
guns sounding, and the trumpets adding
to the glow of the scene. She took her
seat in sufficient dignity. and in an in
audible voice directed the Commons to
be summoned In the meantime all
eyes were directed to her. Her coun-
tenance was flushed, her hands moved
on the golden arms Of the throne, and
her fingers twitched in her gloves.
There she was, Queen; but q Queens
nerve and heart are those Of a woman,
and she showed that little nervousness
and restlessness which amply indicated
her sympathy with us all. And yet she
bore herself well, and many, whose eyes
were not as observing as you know mine
are, did not note these pleasing tokens
| was glad to see them, more by far
than if she had sat as ii cut in alabas-
ters. The Commons came in with a
laundering rush, their speaker at their
head. Her Majesty then commenced
reading her speech, which had been
previously handed to her by the Lord
Chancellor TWAS a quarter or thin d
through before she could get her voice
SO that could understand her. In the
paragraph about Belgium | first caught
all that she said, and every word of the
rest OF her speech came to me in as
silver accents as | have ever heard
You well know 1 had no disposition to
admire the Queen or anything that pro-
ceeds from her, but her reading has
conquered my Judgment. l was aston
ished and delighted. Her voice was
sweet and finely modulated, and she
pronounced every word slo WHY and
distinctly, with a just regard to its mean
ing / think l have never heard any
thing better read in my life than was
her speech, and | could but respond to
Lord Fitzwilliam's remark to me when
the ceremony was over, How beauti-
fully she performs ="
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-12

a feeble pull. With loud cheers Of en-
couragement, the men above drew it
slowly upward. Oh, the agony to the
waiting heart. which now, for the first
time, was unveiled for Nellie knew, be-
yond doubling, that she loved Allan
Trevor.
At last-at last the end of the rope,
and fastened to it, paid and nearly life
less, the form of the brave man, who
had nobly risked his life. Risked it in
behalf of the rough and uncouth men,
who, as, the death-white tace of their
preserver appeared above tho awful
chasm: rushed forward, and wounded
and bleeding as they were, lifted him in
their arms, and bore him away triumph
ant. They would not lose 81 ht of him.
They lowered around and waited for
his eyes to open, that they might grasp
his hands, and pour forth their wild and
inchoherent gratitude.
Last of all came a whitehead girl, ag-
itated and worn with suffering She
knelt by the side Of the brave man, and
laid both her hands in his. And so
Nellie found her hero after ALL
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-12
Can a Wife Hire her Husband.

A novel question presented itself be-
fore Judge Schenck, at Asheville, North
Carolina, the other day. At the spring
term Of Buncombe court, Judge Furches
sentenced one Shaft to imprisonment in
the county Jail for six months. After
he had remained in jail a month, the
county commissioners, having seen the
recent acts of assembly allowing them
to hire out convicts to do public works,
or, individuals" proceeded to hire
Shaft out to his wife for s. per month,
and Shaft moved his quarters to the old
domicil as the prisoner and "hireling''
of his wife. The matter being now
presented by the solicitor to the court,
his honor ordered that Shaft be COM
mitted to prison as an escaped convict,
holding that though the letter of the law
had been complied with, it was viola
ton of its spirit and meaning, and a
virtual notification Of the sentence of
the court. Capt. McLoud, who is the
prisoners counsel, has appealed to the
Supreme Court.-Charlotte Democrat.
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-12

a study, that one Of the indispensable
conditions to success is that they be
kept both dry and warm. That is, they
should not be exposed to storms of rain
nor the freezing winds of winter. 1t is
we'll known that animals can not be
successfully fattened in winter, nor can
they be made to more than hold their
own even under the best feeding, unless
they be provided with good warm quar-
tiers in stables, or the equivalent in well
covered sheds, where the wind may not
reach them. Even when good sheds
are provided, the stock is checked and
does not gain flesh during the preva-
lence Of storms, and very often with the
greatest care, animals during such
periods will lose flesh, despite the efforts
to prevent it,
10 keep the animal economy intact.
a certain quantity of food is necessary,
All the animal eats over and above the
quantity necessary to supply waste,
koes to increase the original weight. If
it takes a bushel OF corn to keep up
the animal heat and waste daily, and a
bushel is all the animal can consume,
then the feeder loses daily the bushel so
fed. If bushel Of corn worth 40 cents
be capable of making eight pounds of
flesh, worth five cents per pound, and
the bushel makes this eight pounds over
and above the animal waste, the feeder
saves the value Of the manure, and the
difference IN transportation, of, VS. So
pounds to market. He also saves the
difference in the value of a steer weigh
ing, say 1900 pounds in ordinary flesh,
and worth cents per pound and, the
fattened one, weighing 1,400 pounds,
and worth 8 cents per pound fat. this
would amount to 1874, and would pay
for feeding 50 bushels of corn. In this
case, to make all come out right, the
50 bushels of corn must have produced
200 pounds of grain, or nearly q for
each bushel fell AS rule, stock fed
III the fields increase but little if any
during winter, 100 pounds gain to the
steer is very good one. In stables,
where the conveniencesssfo for feeding are
good, 200 pounds and over may easily
be laid on, unless the season be excep-
tionally untoward; and, here again, the
disability will act with greater force out
of doors than in.
The principal question is, will it pay
better to feed out of doors, where the
stock are subject to storms, Elm any
event Decidedly no; shelter of some
kind is essential to success. Good sheds,
protected by timber, will keep out rain,
and also cold to good degree. For the
prairie, the need Of artificial shelter is
more pronounced. Then they must be
made both wind and rain proof. Then,
with water in abundance, stock may be
successfully and economically fattened,
with corn at average western prices.
But, the greater the value of corn, the
greater the economy of increased shell
ter
Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-12-12

A COSTLY railroad will be the extern
sion Of the Metropolitan district line in
London-a section one mile and sixteen
rods long, known as the inner circle
completion as it will connect the Me-
tropolitan and Metropolitan district
roads (both underground lines) at their
eastern ends, and make it possible to
run trains entirely around the elhpse
formed by the two roads, which at pre-
sent are connected only at their western
ends. This link is estimated to cost
e2,1O0,OOO, or at the rate of about $1O,-
100000 per mile. The city will, how
ever allow $2,50O.00O for a new street
which has to be constructed in connec-
ton with the work, which is to be done
by Aug. 7, 1879. Costly as this work is,
however, we have something quite COM
parable to it in expense in this country
in the great St, Louis bridge, which,
however, has but the merest fraction Of
the tariff which supports the London
underground roads. This single mile Of
road will cost more than the entire
system Of elevated roads proposed for
New York.