davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
A Russian HSpOrt."

Nothing perhaps more strikingly ex-
emplifes the physical fortitude of the
Russian peasants than one of their ma
tional sports--a strang mixture of Brit
ish boxing and japanese harikari. The
nature of this sport will appear from the
following description by traveller in
Russia of what he witnessed A stalwart
Russ, some six feet high, was being pun
ished by an adversary fully six inches
shorter than himself in most atrocious
fashion. The blows fell upon his head
and face one after the other, being dealt
with a slow swinging deliberation and
received with such apparent thankful
ness that for some moments our aston
ishment was too great to inquire of the
admiring spectators around what it all
meant. We were told, to our no less
surprise, that this was Russian boxing
match--the object being, not for the ad-
versaries to infiict the greatest amount
of punishment upon each other, but to
see which one received the greater num-
Der of blows before calling for quarter.
On another occasion, we learn from the
same authority, the actors were stall
wart Boyard and still more stalwart
serf. The contest took place in the vii
lage inn, ON challenge from the Boy
ard. The trial was to be proceeded with
by turns of three blows each, the Boyard
commencing. He dealt the serf tre-
mendous blow full in the mouth, cuttirg q
his lips and bruising them almost to a
pulp. The second blow was dealt
on the nose. which forthwith disap-
peared. The third closed up one of his
eyes, but not sound did the victim ut
ter, nor did muscle twitch in his man.
gled face. The Boyard now put himself
in position to pass his examination ; but
whether he was simply acting as one of
those choice dessert fruits that are put
on the table ON the tacit understanding
that they are not to be touched, or
whether the serf was too conscious of his
power could not be satisfactorily deter
mined anyhow the serf, having raised
his fist with an ominous swing, brought
it with tremendous sweep against the
edge of the massive porcelain stove and
knocked piece out of it the size of a
mans head, observing at the same time
that he did not wish to mess the room
with the masters brains. After this
horrible description we need not wonder
at any tales of Russian endurance.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
A Hundred Scents on the Dollar.

The other day Mr.. Middlerib stopped
at grocery and bought some onions,
giving the grocer a two dollar bill.
Among the change handed back to the
customer was an old one dollar bill. It
had been taken in that morning for kero-
sene oil, and there was just a dash of the
oil on it, that had been spilled in the
morning. Then the grocer had laid it
on pile of Goldfish while he fixed the
stopper in the oil can. Then he had it
on his hand while he cut off a couple of
pieces of cheese, and the cheese on the
bill struggled with the Goldfish and kero-
sene for pre.emince. Then it got a lit
tie touch of mackerel and little tine
ture of stale egg on it, and at last the
grocer stuffed it into his pocket along
with plug of tobacco, and finally,
when Middlerib got it with his onions,
he held it to his nose once or twice,
shifted it with an investigating air, and
at last walked out of the store with a
cheerful countenance, saying: "By
George, we're all right now. Good
times are here again, and the govern
ment is paying one hundred scents on
the dollar. "-Burlington HaDkeye.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
Cntting a Medicine Stone.

The Neaos of Charleston, s. G.. has
the following A number of ladies and
gentlemen assembled at the tent of Gen
eral Hunt, in Summerville, recently, to
witness what is seldom seen in America.
or in any other countryside cutting
and dissection of bezoar. or medicine
stone. At the appointed hour the beau
tiful gem was placed on the table, in
spected and admired by all present.
Professor Holmes then gave short des-
cription of the bezoars found in Eastern
countries, comparing them with those of
America, or more properly of South Car
olina. The name bezoar was, he said.
derived from the Persian words spa "a.
har," which signifies against poison. In
in Africa, hag stones or charm stones.
The specimen exhibited on this occasion
is about the size of large hens egg, of
mottled yellow color, with a tint of
brown, having its entire surface highly
polished. The polish is natural, coused
by the action of the muscles of the stom-
ach of the animal in which it was found
upon each layer of mineral matter de-
posted.
A piece Of scantling having been pre-
pared and mortised with cavity lust
large enough to contain the stone, it was
imbedded therein firmly with plaster of
Paris, the better to prevent taking or
crumbling, to which, from it's laminated
and brittle structure, it is peculiarly liza
BILE. With very fine and highly tenn
pered saw, it was then cut longitudinally
through the middle, which took but a
few minutes. During the cutting some
little excitement was evinced as to what
the nucleus OF contents of the stone
would prove to be.
Upon opening the bezoar the nucleus
proved to be large aud perfect acorn,
which several gentlemen present imme-
diately recognized as that of the white
oak. 1t was covered by four layers OF
lamine of a mineral substance, CON-
posed generally of phosphates and car
Donates of lime and iron, and some silex.
The mold of the acorn is very perfect,
having all the external markings of the
fruit. There are two impressions, ap.
parently made oy the teeth of the animal
before swallowing the nut. Acorns are
favorite food of Carolina deer. During
the autumnal months their tracks are
almost always to be found under the
oaks of the forest which have borne
acorns.
This is the third specimen of bezoai
that has heen cut and examined by Pro-
fessor Holmes, and we believe the only
ones ever dissected in America. The
The nucleus found in the first bezoal
was hattened ball or buckshot with O
fragment of the skin and few hairs
the animal had undoubtedly been woun.
ded six years before it had been killed
as there were six layers or lamine Of
mineral matter surrounding the buck
shot. The second bezoar cut contained
a pebble of quartz.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
Items OF Interest.
The point of death-The bayonet.

The point of death-The bayonet.
A porter in Southern hotel was worth
$3.50, 900 five years ago.
The greatest heat which the feet will
bear in water is 100 degrees.
Oxford, Ala, town of 1000 inhabi-
tants, boasts of more than twenty men,
whose weights exceed 200 pounds each.
Eggs are kept fresh for years in Scot
land by rubbing them with oil or butter,
when newly laid, SO as to stop the pores.
Why are some women very much like
tea-kettles Because they sing away
pleasantly, and then all at once boil
over.
The grounds surrounding the war
monument at Berlin are to be paved with
stones from the several battle-felds of
the Franco-Prussian war.
A North Carolina girl pierced her ears
in order to get a pair of earrings, and
got instead four-and-a-half-po'lnd tu-
NOR, which a surgeon has removed.
Norristown Herald. cold Windica-
tions" is what the Graphic calls him.
There is great deal of blow abot him,
that's fact and he often dis-gusts us,
too"
Girls, whose opinion about such
things is always valuable, say there is
too much shirt collar and too little young
man in the present fashions to suit their
taste.
How to Make O Good Boot Last
says an exchange. The best way is to
leave the boot up stairs in the back room
closet. It will then last till the mold
grows over it.
The st. Louis Globe Democrat has
come to the conclusion that the only way
to bring out full vote in that city would
be to advertise, "a fried oyster given
away after every ballot"
Rhinebeck Gazette It is true that
philosophy can account for most things,
bnt it has always failed to figure out
cats reason for placing its tail where the
dining-room chairs can alight on it.
One of the smartest women in New
York is said to be Miss Juliet Corson,
superintendent of the New York cooking
school. With her lives DIR. Sarah II.
Brayton, lovely, intellectual woman,
and an excellent physician.
SHE UNDERSTOOD HIM.
pensive mood came over me;
remarked with many sign,
The frost and cold will soon be here,
The landscape change to brown and sere,
And all things green will die"
She looked sweet sympathetic
And the tears stood in her eye,
As she murmured in voice divine,
Placing her lily hand in mine,
" I'm sorry, but-Good-bye."
Speaking of the hard times which pre-
vailed in this country thirty-five years
ago, Mr.. Ticknor wrote to Sir Charles
Lyell, under date November, 1843 ::
"There has been great suffering in all
our States. and in some like Indiana and
Illinois, proper currency has disap-
peared, and men have been reduced to
barter in the common business of every
day life. What you saw in Philadelphia
was nothing to the crushing insolvency
OF the West and South. The very post
offices felt the effects of it-men with
large landed estates being unable to take
out their letters, because they could not
pay the postage in anything the govern
ment officers could properly receive"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
A Literal Rendering.

While Mark II. Duncan had charge of
the academy at Bridgetown, he gave to
one of his Latin classes direction that on
the following day each scholar should
bring in Latin rendering of his own
name. If any of them should be at fault
he would prefer that they would not
seek assistance from others, but come as
near to proper rendering as they could.
On the next day, as had been direct
ed, the members of that class brought
forward each slip of paper with his
name written thereon in Latin. MIR.
Duncan looked them over, and smiled
more than once. At length he took up
d slip bearing the following:
johannes Menus Homo"
After scratching his head over the
problem for while, he read it aloud,
and asked who wrote it. An aspiring
youth, from the region of the Crooked
River Interval, arose, and acknowledged
himsels as the author.
The preceptor beckoned for him to
come forward.
"My young friend, did you write this
for the Latin rendering of your name ?"
"Sartin ~
johannes Menus Homo?"
Eggszactly."
"But, isn't that little far-fetched p
little over-done?"
Really, sir, can't see it. My name
is John Woodman. Johannes is Latin
for John Menus is Latin for Wood !;
and Homo is Latin for man. Amt that
so?"
The preceptor, in certain sspse, felt
himself cornered, and after a little
thought, while the school Uttered, he
tapped his finger upon his forehead sig
niticantly, remarking at the same time /:
"Ah, John. I'm afraid there's some
thing loose up here"
"Shouldn't WONDER" returned John
Woodman and then tapping his own
forehead in like manner, he added, with
emphasis, "but it's all right up here,
you bet!'
Duncan was cornered then, surely !;
and he allowed Johannes Menus Homo
to resume his seat without further argu-
ment.
But that was not the end. Years have
elapsed since that day, and even now the
man who keeps the store at Woodman's 8
Corner is often called by his old school
mates, Johannes Menus Homo"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
Sour GRAPES.

There is grape arbor in front of a
house on Macomb street, and the tempt
ing clusters of black grapes make more
than the pedestrians mouth water. A
boy about ten years old softly opened
the gate yesterday forenoon and passed
in. When he came out, fifteen seconds
later, he was only sixteen inches in ad-
vance of the family dog, and he seemed
greatly embarrassed.
:" Hello, bub, been in after grapes ?"
asked pedestrian.
"N-no, sir" stammered the lad "I-I
went in to see if they wa-wanted to adopt
an orphan, but they didn't s-seem to
o-care much about it p
81 see they have grapes in there, h"
observed the man.
"Y-yes, sir, but grapes amt good this
time O. year-they p-pucker the mouth
all up. ."-DetroH Free Press,
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
Learn Your Business.

A young man in leather store used
to feel very impatient with his employer
for keeping him, year after year, for
three years "handling hides. But he
saw the use of it in after years, when in
an establishment of his own he was able
to tell by touch the exact quality of
the goods. It was only by those thou
sands of repetitions that the lesson was
learned, and 30 it is with everything in
which we acquire skill. The great army
of "incapables is large enough we
should none of us willingly join its ranks.
The half-informed, half-skilled in every
business outnumber the others, dozens
to one. 1t was good suggestion, wor-
thy of being remembered, which Daniel
Webster made to young man who
asked him if there was any Groom in
the legal profession. "There is always
room," said the great statesman.
The better you know your business
the better your chances to rise. If you
drone through your allotted tasks with
out keeping a wide awake lookout on all
that goes on about you your progress
will be needlessly slow. You can gather
much information by making wise use
of your eyes and ears, and, perhaps, be
able to surprise your employer in an
emergency by stepping into the "next
mans" place and discharging his duties
satisfactorily.
A fine little lad, some twelve years
old, was employed in telegraph Office
in Southern town last year when the
yellow fever ragged so fearfully in that
section. All the operators were down
with it and others sent on by the COM
pany were attacked. No one knew that
the lad understood the business, but he
had picked it up and kept up communi-
cation between the town and the outer
world all the time the fever lasted.
Ex-Governor Morgan was once clerk
in store in Waterford. A trip to New
York was an event in those days, but the
young man had proved SO faithful that
lie was intrusted with several commits
sions, among them being one to buy
corn. He came back in due time in the
old stage coach, and inquiries were made
about the corn. The price was very sat.
isfactory, but the old gentleman was
afraid it could not be good at so low @
price. A handful which the young man
pulled from his pocket convinced him,
but what was his amazement to find that
he had bought two cargoes.
"Why Edwin, what shall we do with
it ?" he asked in CONSERVATION.
"I have disposed of all you DOM
want" said Edwin, sat an advance. ]
stopped in stores as I came along.
could have disposed of three cargoes if
had had them.
The profits were clear, and his employ
er said the next morning, "We will le
some one else do the sweeping" ant
Edwin was made partner, though un
der twenty one. If you have talent fol
business it will be found.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
LAUREL SPRING.

l was having my fill of fashionable
life. A hand S. breadth from me there
were diamonds flashing, there were
priceless silks cleaning and trailing
along polished floor, there were lights
and perfume and music, and splendid
company, smiling and graceful and
gracious, were going through the figures
Of quadrille. Others were promenad-
ing; others were chatting in gay groups.
Just past the window where L stood, a
pair of these radiant creatures swept at
this moment, the lady coquetting with
her ieweled fan. 1 could have put forth
my hand and touched her as she passed
so near, and yet so far apart from me.
A stately picture, set in costly frame,
having nothing in common with such
everyday, toll worn folks as the people
who stood looking on from without, and
among whom Jacob and I, lured by the
lights and music, had stolen up.
Itwas the piazza of the grand hotel at
Laurel Spring, and grand ball was in
progress. All, how beautiful it all was !!
1t seemed like kaleidoscope of ieYfls,
flashing, changing, alluring, as 1 stood
there at the window looking through.
How should look in just such silk ?
how would Jacob appear in just such a
white vest and elegant dress suit 4? L
looked up at Jacob. He was n tall,
brawny fellow, was Jacob, and he was
my husband, and had got so used to
seeing him in that blue shirt working
> afeld that 1 could not fit him into the
fashionable rig to my satisfaction.
But L said, ecstatically: "Don't they
look beautiful, Jacob ?"
But Jacob answered never a word.
He stood there at nay side, looking on
absorbed.
Again the music sounded, and the
splendid movement on the floor kept
time to it. 1t so wrought upon me that
in spite OF my Quaker bringing up, I
felt my heart beating quick, and my
feet putting themselves in motion.
"Oh, isn't it beautiful |" said again,
clasping my hands by way of steadying
myself.
cts a grand play" said Jacob,
gruffy, "and 1 suppose we've got a
right TO applaud it if we like"
"Ah, but, Jake, Jealous old Jake,
why don't you own up that it's beauti-
ful?"
"Pshaw!" said Jacob, impatiently;
Scc uOtllluS D0uutilul IL
all commercial affair-the whole thing
bought and paid for. These shoddy shop
keepers and officeholders and oil-diggers,
and heaven knows what all, send their
women folks here to keep trade going
for nothing else under the sun but to
bargain and haggle and ogle for places
and power and money"
"Then it's business" said 1, admir-
ingly =; for / was determined to lure
Jacob out of his moodiness. "Well, 1
never have seen business look 30 fair and
desirable, Jake-unless, I added, laugh
ing, "when I've caught glimpse of
you working atield in your old straw
hat"
"Ah, that's different story-a differ
emit story indeed, was the grave reply.
That's business Of another sort,
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
Facts Worth Knowing.

Keep tea in close chest or canister.
Keep coffee by itself, as its odor affects
other articles.
Keep bread and cake in tin box or
stone jar.
Cranberries will keep all winter in
firkin of water in cellar.
Oranges and lemons keep best wrapped
n paper and if possible laid in drawer
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
RIDGwAY, COUNTY, PA, THURSDAY OCTOBER 25, 1877

acres. 1 see it flashing in Jacobs glad,
bright eyes. Stephen Risdale, when he
came up this fall, declared that ours
was the brightest little place he ever was
in. And well it may be, for there is no
shadow nowhere never will be again
between Jacob and myself. f.-Harper's
WoeLI,y
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25
Girl and Woman.
BY FANNIE II. ROBINSON

BY FANNIE II. ROBINSON.
"He will come, will come" she said;
And her breath was like the south,
And the sun lay on her head,
And the morning round her mouth;
And she smiled across the sea
In her girlhood's surety.
"He will come in ship of state,
Like a conqueror to his own,
With bearing Engly, great,
That shall lean to me alone
Laying all his glory down
For my kingdom, sword and crown.
"And the sword shall restore
For the high deeds yet to be,
Since no life of knightly yore,
Vowed to rarest ministry,
With his prowess shall begin
Who has wifely arms to win.
"But the crown I'll fling afar,
Smiling soft to hear him say,
Love, there shineth star nor bar
Like your smiling on my way
Leaves of bay would fall and fade
Where your lightest touch has staid.'
"Other maidens may be fair
He will whisper close and low,
That my loves beyond compare
With the beauty they bestow;
While because he stoops to me,
l shall grow most fair to see'
So left her on the shore
When the dawn was growing day;
And the white ships, drifting DER,
Leaned and listened to her lay;
And the waves, to others dumb,
A., Laughed and whispered He will come. "
So found her on the shore
When the harbor lights were dim
And the expectant curves Of yore
Something sweeter seemed to linn
Still she waited loves surprise
With the youngness in her eyes.
Still she murmured "He will Gomez
Days and sails are drifting by;
Other ships so laden home,
Bright with golden argosy;
And the ship for which l wait
Droppeth anchor soon or late.
~ shall know him, though he stands
With the slain years fronting him.
Though he reach untender hands
OF a warrior worn and GRIM
Though the smile 60 to meet
Shine through tempest and defeat.
" For the pillows will have brought
All their burden to his strength,
And the winds have fed his thought,
Till his Kingdom stretch at length
Irsm the power and peace Of seas
To all loves and mysteries
"And lecause October holds
More of spring-time than the spring,
And because all harvest folds
Both the bud and bossoming,
He shall find my patience sweet
And my unvowed fifth complete"
go left her on the shore,
Does he come? only know
That the noon for eyermore
Draws the tides, and, swift or slow,
Bound, or barred, or flowing free,
Every river finds its sea.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-10-25

Cordelia Howard, the original "Eva "
in the play of "Uncle Toms Cabin, is a
wife now with two children.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-07-05

poses, was secured and approved March 7,
1861. Under that Act egally-incorporat-
ed Association, under the name OF The Seventh
day Adventist Publishing Association was
organized in Battle Creek, May g. 1861. They
immediately erected two story brick build~
ing, IN the form of Greek cross, the main por-
ton 26x66 the transverse section 26x44, for
the publishing work. In 1871 second build
ing OF the same size and form was erected to
meet the necessities of the increasing bnsi>
ness And in 1873 third binding of the
same kind was built for the same reason.
These all stand side by side, opposite the pubs
tic square, at the corner of Main and Washing
ton sts"
youthful, but very prosperous Assoeia-
ton at Oakland, Cal, owns similar buildings
there, running large steam press like the one
used at Battle Creek, doing a vast amount OF
printing. An Association has been formed in
Bale, Switzerland, where another press will
soon be established
Our periodicals are: Advent Review and
Herald: Signs of the Times: Signes de Tenn
pes, French Health Reformer; Youths In-
structor; Advent Tidende, Danish Advent
Harold, Swedish: Battle Creek College. We
also publish many bound volumes, and a vast
amount of tracts, used by our missionary
workers in nearly all parts of the world Our
numbers in America are now about 10000 and
our message is rapidly advancing. Missions
are in successful operation in this, as other
countries We yet see many advance steps
TO be taken and trust Gods helping hand will
attend US as it has in the past
Information of our Fundamental Princi>
pies" will be given soon.
Mrs. HATTIE T. SANBoRN
LANCASTER, JUNE 20, 1877.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-07-05
Sands from Muscoda.

The plank road, by some christen-
ed "McKittrick's narrow gauge
from the peculiar manner of It's con-
struction. (being two thicknesses of
plank laid crosswise of the road, the
proper distance for the wheels to
run on. guarded on the outside by a
piece of timber resembling a car rail)
is verging to completion and is pro.
nounced success.
On Thursday, Nathan Tyler caught
catfish weighing 80 pounds, and
frankie, more successful, captured
one on Saturday that turned the
scales at So.
Postle Il Hippler's new brewery
progresses rapidly and promises a
speedy completion.
Billings, the barber, has a little
shaver at his house but don't think
it can ever be successful in the BUSH
ness of its father, on account of sex.
Just run into Schmiitts and
Fayant's and look at that combina>
ton of elastic and running rigging
called suspenders before you exhaust
yourself over the "new tangled" no.
tions of the women.
School closed the 18th and there
probably will be q change of upper
teachers as it is rumored that the ex-
teachers are taken with the "matri-
monial fever" but will probably res
cover. EAST WIND.