davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05

There would be less of misftting in
the business of life if parents and teach
ers, instead of ignoring, would consider
the predispositiOn of boys. Andrews
Bazaar gives these two illustrations of
boys whose g~enious was at first ignored {:
Smeaton, The great mechanic, when a
boy, disdained the ordinary playthings
of boyheod. He collected the tools of
workmen, and bothered them with ques-
tions. One day, after having watched
some millwrights, he was discovered, to
the great distress of his family, in a stu.
alton of great danger, fixing a windmill
on the top of the barn. His father sent
him to London to study law hut he
declared that law did not suit the bent
of his genius" and addressed a memorial
to his father to show his utter incompe-
tency for legal pursuits. His father
finally abandoned him to the bent of his
genius, and it was he who built the
Eddystone lighthouse in the midst of
the waves.
Able la Gallo, one of the first astron-
omers of bis time. when only ten years
old, was sent by his father every evening
to ring the church bell, but always re-
turned home late. His father was angry,
and beat him, and still the boy stayed
out an hour after his task was accom-
plished. HIS father went and watched
him one night; saw him 60 into the
steeple and ring the bell, but never came
down for an hour. When he made his
and was questioned, he con-
f ssed that he had been looking at the
stars His father was not a born astron-
omer, therefore he logged his son severly,
and left him to come home by himself. He
met a man of science on the way, who,
seeing his tears, made kindly inquiries,
and when he discovered that a boy of
such tender age possessed p passion for
watching the stars by the hour together,
and had improyised an observatory in a
steeple, he Investigated the matter, and
placed the child in a situation to study
what he most desired.
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05
The Cars Hard Task.

At Russian headquarters 1t Is stated
that no overtures OF peace Will be listened
to until after some overwhelming victory,
when the csar can dictate his own con-
ditions. Unfortunately this Is no vain
conjecture. A politician recently con-
versed with the Emperor Alexander on
the possible issue of the campaign, and
suggested that in ca e OF another defeat
like that of Plevna it would be wise to
make peace on the basis of the status quo
ante beHum. Never" exclaimed the
car, "will / expose myself to the fate OF
Napoleon Ill" and repeating the words
of Gen. Ducrot after the battle OF Cham
pigny, he added, "6 rentrsrdi en- Rass'e
mort on victorieur." The conclusion OF
peace, as | have already shown, is not
wholly dependent upon the imperial will
nor must it be imagined that the reluc-
lance of the car to enter upon the war
originated from considerations of clem-
ency and humanity. 1t has since been
averred that what made the emperor
hesitate was the fear of his army's inef
fciency, and his unwillingness to expose
Russia's inferiority in the face of Europe.
1t is true that he was driven by the Pan
Slovenian committees and his own entour-
age to the extremity of war; but now
that his troops are once in the field they
are not likely to stop halfway in the ter
rible task they have undertaken. If the
looks toward home he beholds his
h%alf-ruined people ready to make the
last sacrifice without a murmur; but the
result must be victory, the Turk must
be taken at any price, and according to
the Grand Duke Nicholas and his staff,
Constantinople must be occupied. To
Judge from the result obtained so far,
these are long-winded plans, if, indeed,
they are ever to be achieved. lnterven-
ton before the Russians reach the gates
of the capital simply means international
coercion toward the Turks, and the recog-
milton of Russia as the mandatory of
Europe. Thus, whatever may be the in
tentions and dispositions OF the porte, no
victory short of actual humiliation can
be looked upon as the actual f%orerunner
of peace. 1t is quite as much a question
of life and death to the car to suspend
hostilities before attaining his ends as it
is to pursue the campaign even after a
single defeat. Hence all hope of the
rapid success of the Russian troops being
now aboneded, people here have made
up their minds to see the campaign pro-
longed for many months to come.-COr.
Of London Daily Telegraph.
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05
Cutting a Medicine Stone.

A number of ladies and gentlemen
assembled at the tent of General Hunt,
in Summerville, on Friday last, to wit
ness what is seldom seen in America, or
in any other countryside cutting AID
dissection of a bezoar or medicine
stone. At the appointed hour the
beautiful gem was placed on the table,
inspected and admired by all present.
Professor Holmes then gave a short
description of the bezoars found in
eastern countries, comparing them with
those Of America, or more properly OF
South Carolina. The name bezoar was,
he said, derived from the Persian words
"pa zahar," which signifies against
poison. In the east they are called
medicine stones in Africa hag stones or
charm stones. The specimen exhibited
on this occasion is about the size of a
lar.e hens egg, of a notified yellow
color, with a tint of brown, having its en-
tire surface highly polished. The polish
is natural, caused by the action of the
muscles of the stomach of the animal in
which it was found upon each layer OF
mineral matter deposited.
A piece of Gcantling having been pre-
pared and mortised with a cavity just
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 its ANIMATED
and brittle structure, it is peculiarly
liable. With a very fine and highly
tempered saw it was then cut longitude
nally through the middle, which took
but a few minutes. During the cutting
some little excitement was evinced as to
what the nucleus or contents of the stone
would prove to be-.
Upon opening the bezoar the nucleus
proved to be a large and perfect acorn,
which several gentlemen present imme-
diately recognized as that of the white
oak. 1t was covered by four layers or
lamina of a mineral substances, composed
generally of p~hosphates and carbonates
of lime and iron, and some slick. The
mould of the acorn is very perfect, hav-
ing all the external markings of the
fruit. There are W. impressions, APP
nareptly made by 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 forests which have borne
acorns.
This is the third specimen OF a bezoar
that has been cut and examined by Prof.
Holmes, and we believe the only ones
ever dissected in America. The nucleus
found in the first bezoar was a fiattened
hall or buckshot with a fragment Of the
skin and a few hairs; the animal had
undoubtedly been wounded about six
years before it was killed, as there were
six LAYERS or lamine of mineral matter
surrounding the buckshot. The second
bezoar cut contained a pebble of quartz.
- rborB sf0,pn NeDs,
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05
THE PLAGUE
In New Mexic8-WhOle Families Pros
Irated -su ferings Endured-FOOd,
Medicine and Money Needed.

The epidemic still continues; the at
tack Is not severe and yields readily to
q~uinine, but unfortunately there is ne
%quinine in the country outside of the
military hospitals. The first symptom
is a chill, which is followed by a severe
fever lasting four or five days, when the
patient-Nith proper treatment--conva-
lesces. Whole families and whole
neighborhoods are Frustrated at one time,
and there is no person to procure and
prepare food in consequence many poor
people are literally starving to death.
We visited one family of six persons
this week, all of whom were down with
the fever, not one was able to get up to
give another a cup of water; there was
not an ounce of food in the house, fine
fields of corn belonging to the head of the
family were going to destruction for
want of care. This is not an isolated
case, most of the neighbors were in the
condition. When able to crawl
out the children would gorge themselves
with green corr and melons they had
nothing else to eat. 1t is a matter of
astonishment that the deaths have been
SO few in this town under the circum-
stances. Over one thousand persons have
already been stricken with the epidemic
in this town, and but fifteen deaths have
occurred. At this moment there is an
unprecedented amount ofsuffering among
the poor people of this country. Over
five hundred destitute sick are in need
of relief. They require medical attend
ance. We know Of whole families lying
sick who are in absolute danger of star
wing to desth.-lGesiWa Independent.
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05
NISCELLANEOUS

Massachusetts, has the largest state
debt-SS3, $50, 464-of all the states. Vir.
ginia and North Carolina follow close after,
On the 10Th instant six hundred and
forty Cinnamon, including several families
left San Francisco by steamer on their re
turn to the Flowery Land.
Harold Power, announced as an unri.
vailed singer of ~drawing.room bufo songs
has arrived in New York from England. He
is the son of Tyrone Power, the famous Irish
comedian.
The Cincinnati Commercials Wash.
ington special says Tom Scott is to resign
the presidency of the Texas Pacific railroad
company, and be succeeded by Ex-Governor
Brown. of Tennessee.
John S. Morton, who has Just con-
fessed that he made an overissue of Phila-
delphia street railway stock to the amount
of nearly a million of dollars, is a great
| grandson OF John Morton, one Of the signers
of the Declaration of Independence.
The transient OF floating population
Of New York city on any one day is est.
mated as follows; Immigrants, temporarily
staying in the city, 5000; seamen and boat.
men, 1000; visitors at hotels, 10000; visitors
at boarding houses, 10000. Total, 10000.
To settle upon a compromise in the
will case, in which Miss Mary Danser. the
gamblers daughter, left $780, 900 to charita-
Bile institutions, cost $2s, 900 for counsel fees.
The various societies still get enoungh to
pay them for making the contest, which
promised to run in the courts for years had
not all parties yielded to propositions for
peace and a settlement.
A press dispatch from Portland says
the steamer California had just arrived from
Sitka. Chaplain Collins, Of the United
States army, a passenger, brings information
of a deplorable state Of affairs at Sitka since
the withdrawal of the troops from that
place. There is now no protection either
Tor life or property. There is not the SEM
blance of law, either civil, military or naval,
and no power whatever to restrain the law.
less elements. At present there are not
more than fifteen white residents at Sitka,
besides their wives and children. and to op-
pose this number are several hundred In
diAns. Since the departure of the soldiers
the Indians have become very bold and
impudent; get drunk and swagger about
town day and night, and have no respect
ehateverfor the rights Of the white residents.
Hey iaforned Chaplain Collins that they
we're IN hourly fear Of their lives aud prop
erty, and that they intended to abandon the
country As soon as possible. The collector
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05

of customs at that port is powerless, and his
authority utterly disregarded. Already the
Indians have begun TO plumber the govern.
ment buildings, carrying away doors and
windows, tearing down and burning for fuel
the stockade about the deserted garrison,
and there is no authority to interfere and
prevent the demolition. Sitka Jack, the
leading Indian chief in that territory, has
notified n number Of northern tribes to come
down to Sitka, where they will hold n grand
powwow about the LIST OF October. Among
the settlers the meeting Of the Indians will
be the signal for the general plumber of the
town and the probable massacre OF the IN
habitants. A government steamer was at
that port only a few weeks ago, but the
Indians regarded it with the utmost con-
tempt, saying they could very easily capture
it il they desired. Generally, a feeling OF
insecurity has completely paralyzed business
in the territory, and unless the government
speedily offers protection to the settlers, 1t
will be totally abandoned
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05
Heating An Insurance Company

The night of the 18th of last May the
weather being oppressively hot, Horace
f. Smith, general freight agent Of the
Memphis division of the Louisville,
Nashville az Great Southern railway,
accompanied by Mr.. Hathaway, aguest oil
Mr.. Smith, and a negro man crossed the
river in a skif for the purpose of enjoying
a skif-ride in the cool night air. Later
in the night Hathaway and the negro
returned to the city without Smith, and
detailed a thrilling story. the substance
of which was that Smith took the oars
for exercise and worked himself into pro-
fuse p~erspiration, but suddenly stopped
and rising to his feet, exclaimed: al
feel as il | had burst a bl~sod-vessel," fell
overheard backward, sank to the bottom,
and was never seen again.
The story was believed by the majority,
but it soon leaked out that policies of
insurance on his life, a~ggregating sl5,-
900, were in existence, which led a few
TO believe that it was a put up job.
A short time ago a brother Of Smiths,
living at Hot Springs, Ark, received a
from Horace F. Smith, written at
point in Texas. The Hot Springs
smith forwarded the letter to another.
H. NJ. Smith, at Louisville, who came to
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05
A Turkish View of the War.

The following is an extract from a let
ter addressed by a Turkish journalist to
the British minister in Constantinople
81 think that am exactly expressing
the opinion OF my countrymen when /
declare that in this struggle for life or
death we need no wish for allies. This
is not because We do not attach a high
price to the ~sympathies and kindly sup
port of Europe. But we have a legiti-
mate ambition to defend with our own
fol &c the integrity and independence of
our own country. five are vanquished
we would rather conclude a separate
peace with a victor, a peace which will
at least deliver us from deliverers.
Having nothing to hope from Europe
we shall have no debt of gratitude to pay
her, and naturally we shall try to make
as advantageous a peace as possible with
Russia without concerning ourselves
about European Interests. Not, however,
that our conduct will be dictated by any
feeling of bitterness for Europo's deser-
ton but in our situation it would be
impossible for us to act otherwise, and
Europe will only be reaping the fruits
of her W selfish policy if the interests
of civilization in the east become gravelv
imperiled. Russia does not fight us
loyalty. After having treacherously
tried to ruin us by exciting rebellion,
she now permits, in the country occupied
by her troops, unspeakable atrocities.
Yet humanitarian Europe, which pro-
fesses to be the home of civilization, has
done nothing to prevent Russia and her
proteges, the Bulgarian rebels, from ex-
terminating the Mussulmen.
"The system of autonomy invented by
Russian diplomacy is simply the exten-
sion, in disguise, OF Muscovite dominion.
By il Russia counts on opening the OAR
dsnelles, which, in the hands of a weak
ened Turkey, would become a mere
passage for Muscovite fleets threatening
every moment the vital interests of
Europe. For Turkey the autonomy of
her European provinces would be equi-
yalent to the loss of them. Without
them she could no longer successfully
resist the assaults of her northern neigh
Dor. who would then have on his side
strength and prestige. Treaties will
have no hold on a power which has
already shown its contempt for interna-
tional rights or pledges. There will be
no longer any limits TO Muscovite ambi-
tiou, in consequence of the indifference
which Europe has displayed for the
maintenance Of treaties and the balance
Dt power"
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05
Tie Sensation Of Scalping.

Two O. the soldiers war a comm for
me all the time, but the business was
done so quick that they didn't have time
to shoot agin, after KILN the squaw,
till the thing war over; but it seemed
morn a week to me. The injin bent
down quick and grabbed me in the scalp.
lock. Lord how he jerked. | shut my
ewes. Then | felt as it some one had
ripped a cash with a dull pair of scissors
ali round the top O. my head, and then
poured a ladle full O. hot lead in it. A
flash of the awfullest sharpest pain that
kin be imagined a all through me clear
to the end O. my toes. Then it seemed
as il a horse were hitched to my hair, an
he Was struck with a whip, gave a sud.
den spring an tore the top O. my head
off from side to side. | cud feel my
knees draw up, and my hands go shut
and grab in the snow, and | set my nails
clean into my flesh. The sensation was
jest as if from the top O my head there
had run cords down through my body,
which were fastened in my flesh all along,
and that these had tore loose from my
toes up, aud followed the top O. my head
when it was jerked off. Iknowed | were
scalped, and that were all | knowed for
three days.-New Hauen Union.
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05
FOREIGN

At the government telegraph office in
| London, eight hundred women telegraph
| clerks work in one room.
One predominant feature of Hungarian
watering.places in general is great extrava-
gance in dress. The ladies dress four times
a day.
The engineers of Marseilles have, it is
said, discovered that, since the opening OF
tina Suez canal, the level of the Mediterra-
mean has sunk three and one quarter inches.
In France political journals must give
security to the government for their good
behavior. Up to a late date nine hundred
and thirty.eight newspapers had given secu-
rity to the total amount OF 6~,593,3ll francs
The drinking fountains presented to
the city of Paris by Sir William Wallace,
the English philanthropist, have proved to
be of such great benefit in the poor neigh
borhoods that one will be placed on every
square and avenue before the exhibition
opens.
Fifty young BARRIERS recently left Co
penhagen for Russia, where they are APP
pointed medical assistants. Every barber
in Denmark has to pass an examination in
the elements OF surgery. They were accom-
panied by a score of working butchers, who
also are to be attached to the Russian army
A great demonstration of w%orkingmen
of Northumberland and Durham was held
on the town moor of Newcastle, Saturday
afternoon, in honor of Grant. Twenty-Five
trade societies participated in the process
sion, which occupied twenty minutes in
passing a given point. The number of
persons present on the moor was estimated
at 10000 to $4,000. The demonstration has
no precedent since the political meetings at
the time of the reform bill excitement.
The king of Italy is hunting chamois
on the Alps, where he leads a trapper's life.
He rises early, and the frugallty of his table
often forces wry faces from the gentlemen
OF his suite. There is rarely anything seen
on the royal table except roast meats, a
haricot of mutton, Bordeaux and
Macon wine. The king knows his life de-
pends Upon his taking exercise. He is very
tout. His neck is unusually thick, and his
physicians advise him to hunt, as the exercise
best adapted to avert aploplexy from him.
He outwalks the best walker and is never.
tired. He wears baggy trousers OF velvet,
roundabout of the same material, and a
Tyrol hat.
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05
An AsvSaaut Killed.

Glade Springs, in this county was on
Monday thronged from all parts OF the
surrounding country to witness the bal
loon ASCENSION. According to announce
ment, the travelling show Of Prot. IL.
Hoffman made its appearance and pre-
pared for exhibition. Their large iron
furnace was put to work, and the balloon
hoisted over by means of two poles on
either side, forty feet high. The balloon
was inflated by means Of kerosene oil and
wood, with a small quantity Of gasoline
added. When 1t was filed as usual, Mr..
Hainur, the aeronaut, wa informed, but
he said III want more gas this time"
Two pints more of oil We're put in, and
when exhausted, the damper TO the fur
mace was shut down, then he jumped into
his position, and, like an arrow, the
great air ship shot upward, carrying its
human freight dangling at Its. end. 1t
had assembled some 800 feet, and while
the actor was performing on a horizontal,
bar, hanging by his feet with his head
down, waving his handkerchief to the
w people below, the patched and
dilapidated canvass split from bottom to
top with a report that was heard miles
away. No sooner had the gas escaped
than the balloon collapsed and came
shooting down as swiftly as it had darted
up. The ~aeronaut saw his situation, and
as quick as thought turned himself and
regained his foothold, and commenced a
maneuvre to dodge a telegraph wire and
post towards which he was failing. This
he succeeded in doing, striking the ground
with terrible force, which bounced him
up, to be caught and pressed down by
the balloon. All of this was the work
of a moment. The crowd was literally
paralyzed, women sickening and fainting,
and men unable, in their horror, to move.
The companions of the unfortunate man
stood riveted to the ground, and not
until some citizen undertook to move the
canvas, did they stir. The man was
found to be alive and conscious, but
dreadfully bruised and mangled. He
was through it all calm and cool, and
described his feelings as, descending, he
felt and saw death staring him in the
face. He was taken to the hotel, where
both Mr.. and Mrs. Thompson did all in
their power to relieve his sufferings.
With all the aid nothing could be accom-
plished, and at 1870 o'clock p. m. he
paid the penalty of death for his reck-
lessness. His name is Frank Hainur,
from Warren, Ohio. His father, we learn,
has been for years a ~book-keeper for
Packard & Barnum, hardware merchants
at that place.-A abingdon Vd.) Standard.
The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-10-05

Springfield Republican The air is full
Of serious political and party questions
Ihev will begin to take on form and history
with the assembling Of Congress.
Charleston Journal of Commerce: II
VIC want an "imperishable union Of imper.
/ hshle states" each state must have its own
military force and MAINTAIN its own peace.
Memphis Appeal, Dem: The demo-
cratic parry ever since the war has urgently
entreated and labored for just such a policy
as President Hayes has pursued-snd for
which, let us say, we give him iull credit.
New York Graphic, Rep: This is a sad
time. II Admiral Semmes we're alive now
he would go and battle the front gate in tears.
while he wept out his welcome, "Presi.bo.
hoo Come into the garden, maudlin."
Savannah New. Dem: II Mr. HAYES
an avawed republi as, Is 50 welcome 10 Inc
eo!ored people thr-t-h his liberal nolicv
how much more W, .lI- would hav. been
r'esihenteieet Tiiuen, the representative Of
The parry which originated that policy?
Boston Herald: Tom Mast is exiled
rom The columns Of Hsrper's Weekly so
INST hr. curtis may champion the admins
tauon undisturbed by the radical carrie a.
tnr,st That is the generally accepted theory
OF N"rs disappearance from the journal
OF Civilization"
William Cullen Bryant: That the