davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03
The Wear and Tear OfIrOn.

Ii j. now evident that the bridge OF
the Lake Shore road. while strong
enough for the test of weight at the
time of its construction. has since that
time lost its strength. Ten years ago
the art of building that class of iron
bridges was, compared with the pre- sent,
in its infancy. The fatal defect may
have been in construction or in ma. erial
or in both. There is popular belief
that iron or steel at low tcmpcra ures
become brittle. Before the introduce
ton of steel for rails. il will be rcmcm-
bercd that they were constantly break
ing during the cold season. some ines
with lameniable results. Not many
years ago the iron roof of railway
station at Troy gave way. involving n
considerable loss of life. It appears
certain that cast iron can never 10 any
extent be used in the construction OF
railway bridges, and that any iron with
constant use and under daily pre- ssurc
will lose something of its strength. On
the other hand, many and very thorough
experiments by careful experts give no
such result Iron and steel have been
subjected to the low temperatures which
chemical mixtures afford, far below any
thing possible in an American winter,
and while in that condition have been
tested by every variety of strain. II is
the firm conviction Of those who have
made these experiments. says the New
York Tribune, that the metal is moi in
the least weakened by extreme cold, OF
even by frequent and great changes OF
temperature. There is also theory cur
rent that frequent vibrations, such rs are
caused by passing trains, change in time
the molecular constitution of the iron.
rendering it more crystalline and brit
tle This theory seems to be supported
by the practice of condemning and dis
carding cannon that have been fired q
certain number of times, though there
is then no external evidence Of their
growing weakness. But it is replied to
this that cannon are subjected to a
strain which is far beyond the elasticity
of metal, and it thus becomes perma-
nently stretched. When the metal has
been subjected to millions of blows and
strains, each one of which was within
its capacity for separate endurance, the
clOsest tests reveal no change in its
structure or strength. Rut here is the
terrible fact before us; the bridge at
AsntaDula gave way unuef Welgnt
that was far below its nominal and
tested breaking strain. That change has
taken place during the ten or eleven
years it has been in use. Whatever the
laboratory experiments on the effects OF
cold or vibration may teach to the con-
trary, this disaster ought to and will
confirm the popular belief, unless some
different and more complete explanation
can be afforded. The bridge, As now
appears, could hardly have been safe
for very heavy trains under any circum-
stances. In the weather of that bitter
night il was no better than trap.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03
The Pedigree of Words.

a study ofthe pedigree ofmany words
which are i'll daily use would prove more
facinating than almost any other Kind of
mental recreation, Trench in his little
work on the "Study of Words" has
done much to cultivate the taste for
this kind of investigation; but he made
only beginning. The field is incxhaust-
able. In this article we propose TO give
short list, to which we shall add from
time to time
"Jet' derives its name from Gagalcs,
river of Lycia, where was found the
black stone which the French call gag
ate, or iact, which we abbrcviatc into
jet.
Pamphylla, a Greek lady, who COM
piled the history of the world in thirty
five little books, has given her name to
the pamphlet"
Punch and Judy are the relics of an
tors were Pontius PLATE and Judas Is
cariot."
Dollar is from the German thaler /:
which is derived from Thai, the valley
of Joachim, in Bohemia, where the sill
yer works are situated that made this
coin.
Bigoi is from Visigoth, in which the
fierce and intolerant Arianism of the
Nisigolhic conqueror of Spain had
been handed down to infany.
Humbug is from Hamburg; ''a piece
of Hamburg news" was in Germany. q
provcrbial expression for false political
rumors.
"Exhort" and "yeast" are from the
same root, which signifies something
boiling or overflowing
"Gas" and "gusl" have the same par
entage.
"Bluc Jeans Williams" probably does
not know that the fabric from which he
gets his name was originally made bv
the Moors at Jean in Spain.
"Gauze" derives its name from GAIA.
where it was first made.
Damask silk was first made at Damas-
Gus.
The word ''panic" has curious ori-
gin. According TO IIerodotus the god
Pan was supposed to have assisted the
Greeks at the battle of Marathon, 400
B. c., striking such terror into the
Persian hosts that they fed to their
ships in perfect dismay. From that
time the Greek term panikon was
used TO describe unreasonable or sud-
den overpowering fear.
"Tabby-cat" is all unconscious that
her name is derived from Atab, a famous
street in Dagdad, inhabited by the manu-
facturcrs of silken stufiS called Atabi, or
taffety; the wavy markings of the wa.
tered silkEresembling pussy's coat.
"Old Scratch is the demon Skraiti,
who still survives in the supcrsitions
of Northern Europe.
cold Nick" is none other than Nikr.
the dangerous water demon of Scandin-
avirn legend
In the phrase ''Dcuce take il" the deity
Tiw still continues to be invoked. In
his book De Civitatc Del, Augustine
speaks of ''quOsdom ddmo0cs dusios
goW nnncuponf.
The lemon takes its name from the
city of Lima.
Loadstonc is Il corrupted translation
Of Lydi"s "pis. The stone of Ly-
dia.
The money reminds us that the COIN
age of the Romans was struck at the
temple of Juno Moneta, the goddess of
counsel. -[Transylvania Prcsbytcr-
ian.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03
The Mexican Tiger.

M, It,,,or of proo,.l,.r COMA .o,.a,,
,onths oarn ryoorrod c,.o,' ~ tb, thn,,,;,,
nr so;,;no rosso, q honst '-h;a -" '',,, hn
tormoJ y No ;con t;@e, i, ,ros ms"vn 'n,,no nv
", ti,ot tive h,t ,,.ot ,.,,o,',oi'. ;:;nS
and Mr. Wur,or tool, ,ho ,,,.onan,;n,, 80
Lnwo H. tooth oxtractod ma ';'''o" ~ oIa' ~
ni;nnod os fact ~ tbev oro,v ""' omd ',it" ,h",,
onnpffnod II to etroSn, ,.;'n ",,'' "o ',,
Panam,I, nm o,,l ,,.a, Sa.1oh ",
mun,ar. ,v cni,oct;ar m wa, an, '"v" oh; =" -n.,
into tho o,noo roon, ,,;,I ,I'o ,;o,o,, ~
rosnIt - u.a' d;sasirons Tha ,;nor ,,ou,,h, &
ono o,;mnsc Of tLo owl ond III, "m5 49, ~
v.h;c2 had thore,oforo hoor ,'i, Iaron
w of at,ard l linn aen,oo nrnnaSo5 ,S ~ I,'" & =
Je"ix " hecane @ 80 sooi, o'.,' ~ nnnt;m h, 'n,
Enr ioIf s minnie % nn ' H. hara ."''"," ,',',
nor, Of ihe ;ntor;or nr ,ioi oao,, ~ 'iu' l.
ihn ,;aa,. ,,as no, i;s,;mo,i1 i,;,', ~ W u" oii
,ho ,;,s,o ."d ,hn ,'';sa ~ +; 'oan, o,1;. az,
n,orGnu,oI u,a ,oa,', a,,1 aa,.,I ''''I 'uI's
e;Ja,uoiI. at,ra,.,;,,s % " ,'" u',"sou lii.
fh,s,ar,"r. a pres :" oan ii,','nel
~, ~ - ~, 80 ~, III, .i 9'''hiiiS
aI', a.. =, ';' ' va ',", Se.'',Iu i,'
- =" '"'S "' Wv
Em' i';,,, o'.,e W, ~ " nv" Nv" 'i'' '''' s">'
'''a H., ,,, u.o -.
,;,,,n M 'n"' ','''''v,,, ,''"."''S ~ tnc ,os-
.h'.''s y, " n,,',,'v' ~, W -Mi'nrsscs'
nv NY ~, ,'.',,'' iu'; y, '',a. "nv ''scl'
anno ~. 'J ,.,a M"' va ';ai.i,' ,'''s min his Pi1s,
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03
POST OFFICE NOTICE.
CHURCH DIRECTORY.
MIpDLEBU RY.

MIpDLEBrRl.
CongregdtiOnai-Corner Pleasant and Main sts.
Rev. s. p. Hooker, pastor. Sunday services at
10: IS AM. and 90 PM. Thursday evening prayer
meeting at 1900.
Mefhodist-North Pleasantst. Rev. $. Wash.
burn, pastor. Sunday services at l0:45 AN. and
u 80 Pm. Thursday evening prayer meeting at
20. Glass meeting on Friday evening at 7: 90.
Episcopal-Sf. Stephens Church-Main.st. -
rector. sunday services at 10 30 AN.
and :0OP.M
Roman Weybridgest. Rev. p. Gun
ninghanl, pastor. Sunday services. alternate Sab
baths, High Mass at 10 90 An. Vespers and bene-
uirtion at o 30 Pm.
EAST MIDDLEBURY.
Methodisf-Rev. ID. +. Brooks pastor. Sunday
services nj ? :00P.M
vER0ENNRs.
Bopfist-Rev. Charles Hibbard, pastor. Services
in town hall Sunday services at 10:45 AM. and
JPN. Weekly prayer meeting on Thursday eve
Mefhodisf-Rev. J. NJ. Edgerton, pastor. Sunday
services at 80 and 20 Pm. Weekly prayer
meeting on Thursday evening at I 100.
Episcopdt-,Sf. PduPs Church-Rev. G. /. Chaplin,
rector. Sunday services at 10 As AM. and 90 M.
Friday evening at 7 80.
Mission Chdpel-Dr. ii. A Ingham. Sunday
services at 10 AS AM. and 7:PN. Weekly prayer
meeting on Thursday evening.
Roman Cdtholic-Rev. p. Cunningham, pastor.
Services, alternate Sabbaths, High Mass at 10 90
AN, vespers and benedictlon at :00P.M.
CONGREGATIONAL pastor. Sun.
day services at 10 As AM. and I :0OPM. Weekly
prayer meeting on Thursday evening at 200.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03
The Victim ofa Joke,

College boys are so full of their mis-
chief that they ought to be spoken to.
1t has just come TO our knowledge that
the learned and distinguished president
of one of our colleges has been made
the victim of a practical joke which we
are induced to record with the express
sion of our regret that the boys will do
such things. II seems that the worthy
president went down to Virginia, where
he was personally stranger. TO attend
an ecclesiastical meeting at which many
eminent ministers were to be present,
On arriving, he was surprised to find
that after making himself known no at
tention whatever was shown him, and
from certain ominous whispers. he in
ferred that he was an object ofsuspicion.
His position was embarrassing, and the
conduct of his brethren inexplicable.
In vain he sought to make himself agree
able OF useful, and when at last he was
constrained to make formal demand.
he was informed that few DAYS before
his arrival letter had been received
from the president of the college which
he proicsscd to represent, stating that
he should be unable to attend, and that
man who was unfortunately out of his
mind was travelling around the country
pretending TO be the president of the
college, and would very likely present
himself at the meeting.
The truth flashed on the reverend
doctors mind in moment. He had
been sold by his students for crazy
man; some of the rogues having got mp
the letter and dispatched it in advance
of his visit. After much difficulty, with
the aid of letters in his possession ,;he
succeeded i'll dispossessing the minds of
the brethren of their first impressions,
and he took his seat as Il member. But
they kept bright look out on him all
the while, lest the crazy" should get
the better of him.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03
.\n Immense AerOlitc.

-
nv n.I?c Ll'iipcI vi liclcors ialcl!
;1o,, Iv,t Al 'iio sh, ''as "l:luc.cu con-
aie,.oie n;e,.;G "o.enaipn' cSPcchil! "'lols
Ln, i,t,no .I,n NIL WIZ ;,lc vi .nc l''',io,
''r.' .llY G"r''' Is m passiiis 'ilro"gi Il oell
", " n;,,;n ~, III H., NUi',r rIsl,!
~ Upi,,so,, ie''tonns ny ; ,.,,;aiIe aii" OF
cTIatod ~ IooS, : 900 r,iI ciI' ~ ~ W. ~
oortts .''rc,on ,'oori,. ,rh i'',' npo' 'lie
i5n,, onno,,,oa - 40, ,,n, ',,uo ,,ios'
Of our ,'londtor,. s,'s,on, ny, ',u ho ",onoo
noor o,nnotb 70 bo octad ,ron I,' o,',.
h;ts root ,,ou'' ooroIi,oi "! -, W,
cn,,d an ," ,.l'",, ur'iiir, ,'' i poti'
n,t;on IN Tho v.o,:ld = Eossossod or o,r
~. ,nnrn rho Ia,.o,oi, = ~ ,.I,;oh up " "';c
a,,' authon,;'. ronora ,'.a' 'i%, cod 'l'' ,u -
sn:oi;'I, nrn.;o a,.,n1;,;N ip.li,' ,oIn y!
na, '',, ~ uoId u,li'io, ~ -" li'
,,ant,.Gvo tons Ii,,,,r, any IN mn. n'N '5sn' p
~ \nadn,o, or t"I.hnI M ,nI Nv" III II" NV!
" An oeroiitc or ', "rnhnhI,. 'I,.' r,uc, oo,or
20" ~ io"";n 10 ,'',e,i ''",rI &
~, h,. romo,'o, v '' VI 'iie ,''. III,
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03
Cheap Drinks and Plenty of them mo-
Cure for nkenneS>.


Not as | saw it on ship-board. Thei-
were plenty of all kinds of drinks, from
lemonade and ginger pop 10 French
brandy and whiskey straight. But the
passengers did not coniinc themselye,
to the former. In fact. there was very
little lemonade, pop. porter, or ale
drank. though no doubt of good Eng
lish qualities.
Those who found it convenient IT,
take anything, found it desirable to take
the strongest ..and good deal of il.
Not Il single American-born passen-
ger indulged even in the milder drink,
The professor or minister who mus
have brandy-toddy before leaving hi,
berth in the morning on account of the
damps and fog was not on board. We
were glad of it. But Young Briom
put in so much of his time at the dinner
table and bar in inspecting the qualitic>
of the stronger drinks, ALWAYS ending
with whiskey. that his presence became
a nuisance.
The demon he thus summoned was
not appeased by pounding and kicking
the sides of his room all night, to the
disgust of his nearest neighbors, but hc
must insult Spanish lady. and come
blows and scratches, and be put to bed
with piece of raw beef applied to his
right eye, and the promise of being put
IN irons if the like occurred again.
His restoration to something approx
mating total abstinence was secured,
however, only by the suspension of the
small bank he brought on board (afiec-
ted by the money panic in America, no
doubD, and the consequent failure OF
the bar to honor his demands.
On the return passage, the one whu
drank the most, of the best and highest
priced liquors, was II reticent Scotch
man, middle-age and intelligent. In
the morning he was a modest, shy man.
who scarcely passed common comtesie-
with the ladies; after lunch at noon he
was affablc; after dinner he was v0ia-
tile; after tea he was jolly. He sang
Scotch songs. declaimed Scotch piece,
with great gusto, and applied Burn.
cndearing 'epithets to the ladies, until
all would leave his presence. BY nine
O'Clock he was more than hilarious. He
had to be taken forward and cared for
in manner of which know not
Why do Englishmen and Scotchmen
drink strong drinks! Why do not their
many cheap and lighter drinks, Of lal-
better quality than we have in thi-
country, prevent these excuses, and
cure them where they exist, as it i,
proposed by some to have them do ia
this country?
Ion say these two cases are eNcep-
tions. Just the same kind of exceptions
as will generally be found on ship
board every time Woman's Temper
ance Union.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03
Business Before Congress.

y very large number of bills are be-
fore the United States Congress which
We're left over from last session, but il
is not probable that onc-fourth of them
will be acted upon. The calendar of
the Senate shows that PIP bills are PEND
ing before that body, besides a number
of resolutions. Seventy-four of the
bills now before the Senate have been
passed by the House, and 1873 are Senate
bills. many of them being of minor i'm
portancc. The calendar of the House of
Representative shows that there were
forty-two bills of a public nature. and
33l of n private character pending he
fore that body.
Among the bills of importance before
this Senate are the three bills amrnda-
tory of the Pacific railroad acts.
The bill TO equalize the bounties of
soldiers who served in the late war.
which passed the House last session,
also stands upon the Senate calendar.
having been reported lavorably from
the committee on military affairs. This
bill passed two years ago. on the last
day of the session, but did not become
a law, The vote upon its passage in
Senate resulted in tie, and the late
Vicc-Prcsident Wilson gave the dccid-
ing vote in the affirmative.
The bill reducing the salary. of the
president ofthe United States from s5O.-
600 TO $4,000 per annum passed last
session. and was vetoed by the prcsi-
dent.
The House last session passed bill
to repeal the bankrupt law, and the sem
ate committee on the judiciary reyorted
il back without amendment. but also
reported a bill providing for the ap-
pointment of a commission TO investi-
gate the operation of the several statutes
in relation 20 bankruptcy. and TO recon-
mend legislation thereon. This bill has
never ! IN considered by the Senate,
but still occupies place on the calendar.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03
Which do YOU Prefer!

IF you prefer the keg of lager, or tie
bottle of wine, TO me-" said Mary. ''inst
take them TO the magistrate and get
married to them"
'What do you mem?" asked John.
just what l say. | don't want a
young man to come here evenings chew
ing cloves TO cover his breath, and hice
his habit of drinking. Ifyou like lager
more than you love me, just marry il at
once, and don't divide your affections
between a woman and wine, or wo-
man and lager; love and liquor have
no affinity.n
"Why, Mary, how YOU talk" ex-
claimed John.
"Yes, / mean just what say; unless
You sign the pledge, and keep II, you
had better not call here again"
John did sign the pledge, and KEPT ii,
and married Mary.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03

A PARTY COMES TO GRIEF.-Ihc Al
bany Times gives the following inter-
esting account of the untimely ending
of a party in that city: A family liv-
ing in Lancaster street went to New
York, leaving the servants in charge
of the house. Supposing that the visit
was 10 be prolonged till after New
Years, the ''Belles of the Kitchen" de-
termined TO improve their opportunity
and give a select party. Invitations
were issued and rs jolly crowd col
lected as was to be found i'm the
whole city. The "spread" was ample.
the luxurious belongings were well
enjoyed, and all went merry MS mar
riage bell. Suddenly a sharp ring at
the door startled those who heard it.
A telegram was handed IN announcing
that ''the family would arrive within
an hour." All was CONSERVATION
the "guests" were made aware of the
situation and l.aving the table but part
ly cleared of is good things, donned
their outer garments and departed.
The ''hostesses" begun the almost i'm
possible task of putting things to rights
in the short time allowed them; but
did tlieir best, and at the expiration of
the hour something like order reigncd
once more. But the family came not
aud haven't come yet. The telegram was
a heartless forgery committed by some
envions creature who didn't get AN in
vitation.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03

y druggist in New York. for the
greed of gain, boldly ornamcnt, H.,
shop windows with beautiful dccanter,
III bright labels of gold and silver
Rum, Brandy" "Whiskey," ""Gm,"
"Winc," etc, stand in beautiful rows
and groups. tempting the Young and
innocent. and exciting in the older one
an appetite which is rapidly gaining
mastery ever them, making fiends of
friends, bringing wretchedness to wives
and children while the proprietor,
under the cover of a license, may enjoy
the reputation of keeping temperate
house, and his wife be a very active
member of Il temperance union"
In every Vermont village of any CON
siderable size, there can easily be found
half dozen men, representing variou-
positions and occupations. from The
highest 10 the lowest, who are 30 well
known as daily drinkers Of intoxicating
liquors that proof is thing unthoughi
of. Now, adopting the Vermont plan
let us arrange these living decanters in
beautiful(D rows and groups in our
shop windows. Their looks and actions
are as easily read q, are the gilded H.
bels on the New York bottles, Run,
brandy, " Nmskey, I'm, W me; and yet
they are known in our communities IL
Doctor, Lawyer, Merchant, Broker,
Lounger, etc. Although both dealer,
already give painful evidence of having
lost control of their own appeiites, still
the same greed constrains, urging other
oil to ruin, while they follow closely
themselves.
What's the difference?
There is very little difference in the
movements of the two dealers; there r.
no difference in the ruin wrought. Blu,
the New York license says, "You may"
while Ncrmont's statute says, "You
shall not" And therein lies the differ
ence. With such scythe as this law
furnishes. il would seem as though these
things might be brought to n more tenn
perate level. But the hands that WELD
il are so weak, that in many cases The
"lallc-t grasses wave on in defiance.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03

have heard the wall OF children lor
bread, and their mother had none ia
give them. | have seen the babe pull
ing at breasts rs dry as if the starved
mother had been dead. have known
a father TO turn Il step-daughicr into the
streets at night, bidding the ,ohbins
girl. who had bloomed into Momanhood.
earn her bread there as Others were
doing. have bent over the foul pallet
of dying lad 10 hear him whisper that
his father and mother, who were sitting
half drunk by the flrcside. had pullcd
the blankets of his body To sell for
drink. have seen the children blanched
like plants growing in a ccllm'-ior
weeks they never breathed a mouthlMl
of fresh air, for want of rags 10 cover
their nakedness; and they lived in con
tinual terror of a drunken father on
mother coming home to beat them.
do not recollect ever seelnS a mother in
these wrctched dwellings dandling her
infant, or hearing the little creatures
crow or laugh. These are some OF
drinks doings, but nobody can know
the misery | suffered amid these scenes
of wretchedness. woe. want and sin.
- DIR. Guthrie.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03
Woman's Temperance Column.
" The LORD IF Hosts is wiH as, the God
gfJdcoJ is oiO rcfugc."
10 Me Lodies of Me Uomoo's Cb,ys-

1o the Lodies Of lie Uomon'S Chris
tim Temperance Uaion
], Norman f. Rider, hereby agree
that ! will not sell, furnish or give away
any Intoxicating liquor, wine or mali
liquors in connection with my business
as a druggist, or otherwise, except upon
the prescription of physician in good
and regular standing-said prescription
TO be written in regular form. and To
be recorded by me; and in no ease will
! sell or dispose of said liquors clear.
(Signcd) y. +. RIDER.
Middlcbury, VT, Jan. %, 1877.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03

Can't go to church. Why not? o!
my cough would disturb the congrega-
tion. Cure il then with ''IIale's Honey
of llorchound and Tar" a pure vegcta-
BILE remedy. uniailing as The sun and
harmless as the summer air. Sold by
all druggists.
Pixies Toothachc Drops cure in one
minute. Al
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03

Only few years ago, a man used to
put the seal of affection on her lips.
Now he has to put il on her back, and
IL II Isn't trimmed with otter, she makes
trouble. The new style costs more,
but II can't compete with the other kind
for real comfort.
The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-02-03

Let Turks delight to howl and fight,
for It's their nature TO; let bear and lion
growl and bite, for madnes, made them
so. But Yankees. YOU should never let
yonr angry passions rise; don't quarrel;
trade, work hard, lie low, and forward
the supplies.