davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
Silver Coinage.

The act of congress of 1869 very properly stated that the bonds issued by the United States, government were payable in coin. The careful attention of your readers is invited to the wording of this law-to the significant use of the words "gold and silver" The duty of our government now is to set the hints at work in coining the silver dollar, as it was coined from TAO down to 1873, with full legal tender power. The amount of pure silver in the dollar was never changed. In 1790 the silver dollar came from the mint, 4l6 grains of silver, S924 thousand fine--371t grains pure silver This was the standard unit, the legal "dollar." In 1873 changes were made in the alley of the coins, so that the gold eagle was increased in metallic value by 2-lO of grain of pure gold it's weight remaining as before, 25.S grains-giving the present gold dollar 25.S grains, 9'1o fine wh ile the silver dollar retained it's old amount of pure silver 371i grains, but was reduced in weight, becoming the coin of 4l2l grains, 9-l0 fine, which is now justly celebrated as the dollar of the fathers,' and the money of the constitution. ."-Atbany Times,
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
Experience or . stenmsonl Captain

Experience of . Steamboat Captain. Capt. Charles Mclean, of the steamer Geneva, sunk at Hugunilfus in the great earthquake on the
 Pacific coast, on the 18th inst, re- gently arrived at New York, and tells the story of his experiences. He says, though apparently safely anchored, his ship became entaDgled with others near as they tossed wildly about crush ing against each other, sinking almost immediately in fifteen fathoms of water. On the first alarm he came up from be- tween the decks. It was about eight and half pm. There had been several shocks in the previous twenty days, but he had completed his cargo of guano and was expecting to sail next morning. Aside from the frightful rumbling sound his attention was arrested by the extra ordinary phenomena on shore, the noun tains above being so much agitated that great rocks become detached and rolled down toward the sea, resembling balls of fire. Furthermore, the water at the an- chorsge suddenly receded so that the ships in eight fathoms touched bottom. At the same time it was observed that the ships were surging round and round and in opposite directions. and the an chor chains became entangled beneath the cof6er yards and interlocking, while the air resounded with falling spars and crash of the bulwarks. The water came surging in like maelstrom. causing the Geneva to swing round at the rate of eight or ten fathoms an hour in great cir cles until she struck againsta rock, which tore out part of her bottom. The ship was forced in an opposite direction and went down. The other vessel were as violently driven ashore or went to the bottom, as in the case of the English ship Avonmore, Capt. Garfield, which took down with her the captains wife, three children and several others. Capt. Mclean says it seemed to him from the sulphurous or electrical appearance of the mountain that the volcano was burst ing out its sides. The rocks were tumb- ling about with frightful noise. and everything was lighted up. He thinks the damage to shipping was caused not so much by the tidal wave as the upward rush of the water and rotary currents driving the ships repeatedly against each other
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
The Diving Bell.

M. Tosseli states that he has been making experiments with his submarine vessel, or "marine mole," as he calls it. He is struck with the correspondence of many of the phenomena to those observed in ballooning, and considers that it is at the bottom of the sea that the problem of aerial navigation will be solved. In a liquid mass which is still, the machine moves quite we'll in obedience to the screw propeller, which is driven by the hand. But if the vessel meets a current, it is vain to think of contending with it. Another difficulty, as in balloons, is in orientation. Once a balloon has got to some distance from the earth, it becomes impossible to tell the direction in which it is going. The needle is useless. And, similarly, in the marine mole," when it is only O.39 of an inch under the surface, and nothing is seen in motion but the fish, the compass is found of no use. To go to certain point, an artificial meri. dian has to be arranged outside. M. Tosselli remarks, too, on the great dis tinctness with which sounds are heard. At depth of one hundred and ten feet, the screw of a steamer, passing about six hundred and sixty yards of, sounded in the (hermetrically closed) mole as if di- rectly overhead. The contrivance of M. Tosselli, affording as it does a novel op- portunity of observation, may furnish some instructive data in physics.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
The Story of a Mummy.

For seven years the most curious ob- feet in the museum of the Tennessee historical society has been the Egyptian mummy. It has very singular history In 1860 Col. Jeremiah George Harris was purser on United States, man-of war in the Egyptian waters. He went on shore, and was at once ushered into the august presence of the khedive and his numerous household. He was walking one day with a member of the khedive's staff, when the latter was set upou by rufiians. Col. Harris, who is a man of great strength, inter- posed, and the ruffiaDs were vanquished.
 "What can I do, "asked the Egyptian officer, " to show adequate approbation of the services you have rendered me ?'
 "Give me mummy" laughingly suggested Col Harris.
 "A mummy?" repeated the officer, holding his breath and pondering. "Did you know, sir, that our laws prohibit the removal of mummies, under penalty of death? But, never mind; your re- quest shall be fulfilled Just before your vessel leaves the harbor boat will come alongside. It will contain that for which you have asked.'
 Col. Harris had dismissed the subject from his mind. but just before the hour for the departure of the ship three na- tives were seen pulling toward the vessel. The boat contained bundle directed to Col. Harris. The bundle was not opened until the arrival of the ship at Boston. when it was discovered that there were six mummies instead of one. They were unwrapped, and the best one forwarded to the Tennessee Historical society, of which Col. Harris was and is still member.
 When Prof. Huxley was here he ex- amined the mummy with great deal of interest, and said that he believed it to be the best-preserved specimen either in America or in Europe.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
The Dollar of our Fathers.

There seems to be race out west as to which of the two parties will be the first to get on the silver platform. It is clear now that the democrats will be the first in the field, and are determined to pre- sent the silver issue as the controlling one in the fall elections. It is notable, however, that the leading republican organs of the west, the Cincinnati Con- mercial and the Chicago Tribune, are strongly committed to the old silver dol lar, and it is an open secret that Presi- dent Hayes is profoundly convinced of the uuwisdom of paying the public debt in dearer currency than that in which it was contracted. Senator Thurman, ot Ohio, one of the most high-minded and conservative democrats in the country, has come out in a strong argument in favor of this "old silver dollar" It is as certain as any event of the future, that when congress meets, there will be scarcely any effective opposition to silver as we'll as gold, being recognized as a legal tender for all debts, public as well as private.--M ~. Graphic.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
A Model Sentence.

l Three saloon-keepers in Chicago were
 found guilty of selling liquor to miners.
 The address of the justice when they were sentenced, as reported in the Chi
 cago Tribune, is original and eminently
 wholesome. The evils of the liquor
 traffic, and what license involves, are
 rarely set out in clearer light than in
 the following address by Judge Reading.
 By the law you may sell to men and
 women, if they will buy. You have
 given your Lond, and paid your license
 to sell to them, and no one has right ts
 molest you in your legal business. No
 matter what the consequences may be,
 no matter what poverty and Restitution are produced by your selling according to law, you have paid your money for this privilege, and you are licensed to pursue your calling. No matter what families are distracted and rendered mis- erable no matter what children starve or mourn over the degradation of & parent, your business is legalized and no one may interfere with you in it. No matter what mother may agonize over the loss of a SOD, or sister blush at the shame of brother, you have right to disregard them all and pursue your legal calling-you are licensed. You may fit up your lawful place of business in the most enticing and captivating form you may furnish it with the most costly and elegant equipments for your lawful trade; you may fill it with the allure ments of amusements you may use all your arts to induce visitors; you may skillfuly arrange and expose to view your choicest wines and most captivating beverages; ; you may then induce raging appetite for strong drink, and then you may supply that appetite to the full, because it is lawful ; you have paid for it you have license. You may allow boys almost children to frequent your saloon; they may witness the apparent satisfaction with which their seniors quaff the sparkling glass you may be schooling and training them for the period of twenty-one, when they too, can participate, for all this is lawful. You may hold the cup to their lips, but you must not let them drink that is unlawful. But while you have all these privileges, that of selling to children is denied you. Here parents have the right to say, Leave my son to me until the law gives you right to destroy him. Do not anticipate that terrible moment when I can assert for him no further rights of protection. That will be soon enough for me, for his mother. for his sister, for his friends and for the community to take his road to death. Give him to us in his childhood at least Let us have few years of his youth, in which we can enjoy his innocence, to repay us in some small degree for the care and love we have lavished upon him. This is something you who now stand prisoners at the bar have not paid for--this is not embraced in your license. For this oflense the court sentences you for ten days imprisonment in the county jail, and that you pay fine of seventy i've dollars and costs, and tbat you stand committed until the fine and costs of this prosecution are paid"
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
Unnecessarily Severe.

A man holding large cylindrical ma chine between his knees attracted con- siderable attention in "depot" car the other day. An old gentleman who had been talking about the war cast his eyes on it and said:
 "Let lem go ahead with their iron clads; some yankee'll invent a torpedo thatll fix 'em. You see."
 Instantly the man with the cylinder became the center Of ..cldcti0ii. ~
 "Ain't loaded, is she?" said lank countryman, giving it a rap with his horny knuckles that would have ex- ploded twenty-four Poundcr, and caus' ing nervous man to hastily seek the rear platform.
 An invention of yours, my friend p said a bald-headed man with spectacles on the opposite seat, bending over curi- ously, in which he was joined by his neighbors.
 "Waal, not edzackly," said the mar with the cylinder, tugging at the top o it until the curiosity of the whole cal was aroused.
 "I'm an agent for it," he continued as. he pulled off the cover. "Pts Jenkins patent back. action family b'iler. Kir put yer weeks wash in the bottom, ant bile yer dinner in the top; will fit enny cook stove price only dollar narf; takt a cirkelar, it's the only reliable" Putting the man off the car was cer tainly justifable, but tanning the til kitchen over his ears on to his shoulde and bootipg him from the front platform seemed unnecessarily. Boston Bulletin.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
The Coming Cotton Crop.

The committee on information and statistics for the Savannah (Ga.) cotton exchange make the following reports for the month of May:
 Georgia.-One hundred and ninety re- plies, from sixty-iour counties, show the increased area in land planted to be two and a halt per cent. The weather has been generally more favorable than last year. There was too much rain in the early spring the nights have been too cool, and latterly the weather has been too dry. The stands are good, but the crop is two weeks later than last year. Labor is about the same in number, but improved in efficiency. Complaints of want of rain are very general.
 Florida.-Forty replies from sixteen counties state that there has been but a slight increase in the area of land planted in cotton. The weather has been less favorable than last year the nights being too cool. The stands are generally good. The crop is two weeks later than that of last season. Labor is decidedly bettes than heretofore. But little guano har ever been used in this state. The plant is very small, but has been well culti- vated. There are complaints from some sections of cutworms and lice.
 South Carolina The Charleston ex- change report, covering. twenty-seven counties in this state, says the area in cotton planted has decreased three per cent. Weather unfavorable; stand in most cases bad, and ten to twenty days later than last year. Fields clean, but plant small and backward, and, from want of rain and cool nights, mak- ing slow growth. Labor abundant and efficient. Use of fertilizers decreased five and one-half per cent.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
Cold Iron.

Dr. Shepard pointed out to me the po- sition of Gen. Gilmore's swamp angel" battery, and said that only recently his workmen dug up one of the unexplcded shot in the medical college yard. It was rather large for war souvenir, and about as dangerous as a rattlesnake. The cap was set already for the light tap that would explode it. No ,soakipg would ruin the powder filling, and after looking it over he had it carefully and deeply re- buried, hoping beyond resurrection, A negro some time ago found one Of them, and thought he would destroy it and sell it for old iron. He got a sledge hammer and struck it on the point. It exploded, blew the house roof of, and dealt de- struction in every direction, but strangely, Sambo wasn't injured beyond being stunned by the concussion. He reused himself, looked wildly around, and ex- claimed: "Lordy, massy, whar's dat ironV'
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
Beauty UnadOrned.

The principal of young ladies semi nary in Tennessee, :" to repress the inclination of expensive dress" lately issued the following cruel orders regula- ting the garments which his pupils were to wear during the exercises of com mencement day; The young ladies are, to dress in white, and the material to be muslin, tarletan or it's equivelant. No trimmings to be permitted, except when
 made of the same material as the dress. Lace, silk and satin express lly forbidden. No satin nor silk sashes, and no train ot over ten inches in length. No sleeves shorter than the elbow. No low neck or low square neck dresses. No lace ex- cept for sleeves and neck. No flowers except brooch bouquet and as dressing for the hair. No jewelry except ear rings and any young lady disregarding these regulations shall not be permitted to appear at the commencement. This is tyranny worse than Torquemada's'
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
NUMBER g.
PITH AND POINT.
With Thee.
BY W. W. ELLSWORTH.

BY W. W. ELLSWORTH. I'd rather walk through shower with thee 1 Than with another when the air | Is soft with summer, and as fair | The heavens above us ss a sea | Of dim, unfathomed sapphire, where | Slow drifting on liquid sky, l The whte-saied ships of God float by. Sweeter in storm to be with thee, Dark waters round us, and the roar | Of breakers unseen shore l Resounding louder on the lee,- ] han with another, sailing OCT A ripplisg lake. where angry gale May never rend the silken sail. | A YoUNGSTER says if he can't have fireworks on the Fourth, perhaps when he dies he can touch off the northern | lights.
 THE New York beauties walk out with their pet dogs attached to strings, and foreigners wonder at the number of blind ladies going about.
 "THE man who lifts his hand against | woman save in kindness" lives in San Francisco. The woman edited a news paper, and had the misfortune to offend the man by some journalistic utterance. A CHICAGO pork packer whose pew I rent was raised to $25, exclaimed: "Great Cesar, here's nice state of affairs-the gospel going up and pork going down. Whats to become of us" IT makes farmer mad as wet hen to see a potato bug with pick on it's shoulder crawling ever his garden fence, and when it pauses on the top rail tO'ask why in the name of Julius Caesar he didn't plant it earlier, only mortal fear of the pick prevents him from or dering it off the premises.
 THE lamblike manner in which the Chicago and Cincinnati papers refer to their city contemporaries is being emu lated in the far east. The Tokio Times has been called names by the Japan Mail, and retorts by publishing the fol- lowing: Wanted-At the office of the Japan Mail, copy of Roget's Thesaurus, to enable that Journal to diversity it's epithets."
 LYDIA SHERMAN showed great cum nirg in planning and executing her escape, but her presence of mind seemed to desert her when outside the jail walls. She registered in a Providence hotel as "Mrs. Brown, of Philadelphia" After wards she told her landlady that her name was "Moore," and that she was a widow with six children. She showed a napkin ring on which was engraved "Lydia," and volunteered the informa- tion that That doesn't say Lydia Sher- man," but the police thought it did.
 HE started out in the morning happy boy. When at dusk he returned with bloody clothing, a broken finger, sprained ankle and big cut in his lower lip, his fond mother asked him in alarm eff he had been through a threshing machine or had been the unfortunate victim of a railroad smash-up.." Neith- CT, mother" replied the youth, and then triumphantly, "Never mind me, ma. have only been playing base ball. Our beautifully; score, IS to s." and then he sunk into confused heap on the parlor carpet; revived little, lifted up his head, muttered, "Jim, put that to first and be laundering quick about it," then gasped and expired"
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
Ages of the European SOvereigns.

Queen Victoria has just attained her sy-eighth birthday. Only twelve ners of the reigning soveieigns of
 ristendom (out of thirty eight in all) ve attained to this age. The oldest on ! list is the Pope, who was eighty five May IS. Of temporal princes the
 rman emperor has seen the greatest mber of years, his eightieth birthday wing been reached few years ago.
 e czar is older than the queen by put year, having been born on the
 h of April 1918. The king of Italy is ne ten months younger than the queen, date of his birth being March l4, 20. The emperor Francis Joseph is t yet forty. seven. He was born in the ar of revolutions, 1880, and ascended .e throne in the year of revolutions s4S. The youngest reigning sovereign Alphonso XII, of Spain, who is not ct twenty.
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
0, How Hot.

The doors of the church stood wide open; the house was crowded, and the sinners must have felt considerably
 ked up, who were seated in the pews,
 xe out in sweat all over, and listen to the minister telling how hot hell Just about the time they felt 1T clothes scorching, and they smelled nstone, man showing little cart ,e along, stopped in front, and, after ing several blasts through an old horn, led, "ice cream !" and the sinners athed free as they wiped the perspira. from their anxious brows. The hister switched off," and took the s-srack on cooler subject, and lett impression among the "fretful" that Gabriel had started out in the ice am business, and was going about ough the streets Sunday morning
 ling "ice-cream " to encourage 'em,
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28
Without q Newspaper.

A cotemporary thus strikes the key note, and reaches the truth of this mat ter in the following: Nothing presents sadder commentary upon the present condition of society than the large num- Der of families, both in town and coun. try, but more especially ths latter, that subscribe to no paper of any kind
 Hundreds and thousands of families are thus growing up utterly ignorant of what is transpiring in the world around them
 ignorant of the mighty events of the day. But who can tell the vast amount
The Russellville Democrat., 1877-06-28

reasonable to fear woman alone, un- armed, but he doubted not that she wal a maniac; sad presentment agitated him, and with trembling voice he said "Who are you what are you?"
 she replied, with solemn patbos, "and what I seek is vengeance for fathers death!"
 Enough, enough l" said Scanlan, instantly leave this place, or my fol lowers shall thrust thee henceP p
 "They dare not" she replied indig. nantly.
 "Then I will !" he exclaimed, and ad. vancing towards her seized her arm to drag her forth, but she clung to him with convulsive rage. The struggle was severe, and he had nearly succeeded in his purpose when she demanded to be allowed to leave the castle without force.
 ''I crave one boon; let me but once more gaze upon the features of your in- tended bride; 'tis all ask for the deep misery you have caused both me and mine."
 She advanced with him towards FL line who had sought refuge in Lady Gromlaith's arms, for she had an unac- countable feeling of dread which she could not conquer Scanlau himself, while he held her firmly by the arm, obeyed her with reluctance. It was a moment of awful silence as Saova stood before the trembling Filing. Slowly she i, raised the veil which had concealed her features. Then presenting the youth to his lovely bride, she screamed aloud:
 "Elline Mccarthy, l here present to you Scanlan, the Chief of the Glen" The youth instantly dropped the arm he had erasped, Elline fell upon her knees, and Lady Gromlaith stood motionless with horror. A loud, fiendish laugh burst from Saova as she exclaimed tri- umphantly, Now, Chief of the Glen, where are your boasted ramparts? Where your good sword to defend you from the vengeance of a poor, weak woman Why stand you all aghast? Why gaze on me as if in fear? Iris true I am pes tiferous and have inoculated with the poison of death all those upon whom l have breathed. Look on your bride see how beautiful she isl I was once as fair Now what am I? and who made me what 1 am?"
 Fiend-like she sprang upon the object of her hate, chung to him like serpent, and covered his face and lips with deadly kisses. During this horrible struggle neither his mother nor Elline dared approach to assist him; they saw him writhing beneath the poisonous embraces of the wretched woman, and could only weep and call for help. At length the vassals came; but at the sight of Saova they stood petrified and immovable, not daring to approach beyond the threshold. The frightiul contest was terminated by Scanlan's plunging his sword into Saova's bosom. For several days the young chieftain's life was despaired of. During this time the Lady Gromlaith made a VOW to bestow silver lamp upon the blessed St. Finan Lobhra if her son re- covered hom his present danger. She also made gift to monastery to defray the expense of keeping the lamp con- stantly burning before the altar, both by day and night. The Chief of the Glen recovered, but the legend says he never afterwards had the use of his right arm, which was the cause of his having the ap. pellation of Scanlan the Scathed," and that Elline fell victim to the dreadful pestience which ravaged this fair island.