davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28
Village Society in Winter.

First AS to sewing. club; the work should
be carefully restricted to such embroidery,
etc., as cannot be done.by women who earn
their living by their needle. The justice
of this ought to be at once apparent; but
it is, as a rule, overlooked. We have
known the plain sewing taken from the
sempstresses of a village, and given to
church clubs, for winter; the consequence
of which was, hungry women asking parish
help, and o stained-glass window back of
the pulpit.
Secondly In reading-clubs, let the time
for each reader be limited by infexible
rule. If this is not done, there will be
found in every such club, at least one dog
matte, selfish reader who will force his
author and his voice upou the club, until
in disgust and weariness the members fall
off and the experiment fails.
Thirdly: If we may trench upon a most
delicate topic, we would suggest that in
merely social combinations, for the purpose
of music, dancing or conversation, the old
castle lines of the town be disregarded.
There is no despotism more narrow or
cruel than the aristocracy of a village
New blood and new ideas would generally
revivify it; outside of the so-called "good
society" of such place which has been
| fenced in for two or three generations, is
frequently found the larger proportion of
intelligence, culture, and breadth ofthought.
Fourthly: The great want experienced
by cultured men and women in a small
town is of books, periodicals, ETC., which,
individually, they are not able to buy.
There are very few circulating Libraries in
American towns of population less than
ten thousand. This want can be obviated
in measure, by a friendly combination
between certain families or individuals, in
which each contributes a given number of
books to a common stock; these books are
loaned to the members in turn.
A more formal and much better way is
the formation of a book club. such as were
common in England before the establish.
ment of Nude, in which each member pays
at the beginning a certain sum, with which
as many books are purchased as there are
members, each one choosing book these
pass in regular rotation from hand to hand
remaining fortnight with each reader
twenty books may be thus read for the cos
of one. When the books have passed
around the circle, they are sold to mem
bers for the benefit of the club. Fines for
detention and abuse of books also kept VI
the funds. No officer is required in thi
association but treasurer. Another ad
vantage in the plan is that books can b,
bought by the quantity at lower rates thar
singly. The same rule applies to subscrip
tions for magazines, newspapers, ETC.
Scribner for Dec.
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

SOLD AS "PURE LIQUOR. oR."-ConsumeFs as
we'll as retail dealers in liquors will be in
terested in the following particulars rela-
tive to the adulteration of liquors of every
kind by the wholesale importers Of this
city. From the facts given it will be seen {:
/. That fully one-half the Imported"
LIQUORS sold here are Of American manufac-
ture.
ii. That not only the brands, but the
stamped corks of famous foreign houses are
largely initiated in this country by importers
of the best credit and standing.
III. That importers regularly adulterate
their imported liquors and sell them to the
retailers as pure bonded liquors.
w. That the retailers then adulterate
them second time, and sell them thus
doubly poisoned across the bar to deluded
customers.
V. That in this imposition on the ratailer
the importer has the aid of the keepers o
the Government bonded warehouses.
The ability of the purchasers to judge o.
| the quality of samples is artfully ascertainec
before sales are effected, and the adultera
ton is made accordingly. In nine case
out of ten the buyer is incompetent t.
Judge, and even when the cask delivered j
far below the grade Of the sample selected
the buyer is content to trust the marks o
the bonded warehouse as full guarantee
that he has received the article which h
| purchased.
An investigation of this system Of swim
ding. so far at least as the Government
bonded warehouse is concerned, has bee
made. and facts have been obtained in
volying many of the largest importin
houses in the liquor trade in the city.-A
| Y TriJitne
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

In ICELAND.-Men and women, masters
and servants all inhabit the same room,
while cleanliness is not much attended to ;
but poor as they are they are an example
of contentment. The beauty of the young
girls is remarkable; their fair hair falls in
long plaits, partially covered by black
Golf, daintily worn on one side of the head,
and finished at the top with tassel OF
colored silk run through q silver steel
buckle, which floats on the shoulder. 1t
reminds the traveller Of the Greek head
dress; but the blue eyes with their sweet
benevolent expression soon recall to his
mind their Danish origin. The dress is
made of the cloth woven in the country,
and on festival days the bodice is gaily
adorned with silver braid and velvet, while
the belt and sleeves are ornamented with
silver devices, beautifully chased and often
of great value. On wet and cold days the
shawl becomes a useful mantilla, completely
enveloping the head, and defending the
wearer from the effects of the frquent
storms.-C Chambers Journal
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

WHICH ARE THE Best OYSTERS ?-As for
comparative merit, that is matter which
rivals the oyster itself in delicacy. In
Washington or Baltimore, the oyster dealer
will generously admit that it is quite posi-
BILE to find good oysters outside Of Chesa-
peake Bay; but for perfect" oyster, he
will tell you that it is useless to look to any
other locality. The Philadelphian is equally
sure that the estuary of the Delaware is
the perfect oysters only home,-a local
prejudice which the oyster-eater of New
York attributes to a deplorable ignorance
of what first-rate oyster really is. Doctors
differ; and the unprejudiced can only re.
joice that anywhere between the parallels
of $50 and 40' north, one may find oysters
worthy of any human palate. Here in New
York the favorites are, first and formost,
the Saddle Rocks,-a variety which Jersey.
men insist has been exterminated these
many years. They still remain, however,
not only as direct descendants from the
colony about the original Saddle Rock,
but in many other localities in Long Island
Sound; for it was not distinct variety
that gave the name its fame, but only an
exceptionally thrifty chance.sown bed Of
the common natives,-a grade of oyster
that artificial culture easily and constantly
rivals. Next in rank may be mentioned
the Blue Points, coming chiefly from Great
South Bay, Long Island the same as the
former in stock, but bred under different
conditions, and so differing somewhat in
flavor. The products of Shrewsbury River,
N. j., probably come next; these were
formerly transplanted natives of Newark
Bay, improved by development in the
favorable waters of the Shrewsbury; but
more recently, we are informed, the seed
is commonly brought from Long Island
Sound.-James Richardson; iScribner .forCDec.
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

A New Colony FOR VIRGINIA.-The direc.
tors of the Irish Catholic Colonization
Society of Philadelphia have just closed
negotiations for securing tract of land at
GAINESVILLE, Charlotte county, Va, contain
ing about seven thousand acres, at $ll an
acre and on ten years. time. There are on
the tract saw mill, grst mill, tannery,
about forty small dwellings and a large
mansion, valued at several thousand dol.
lars. The society is negotiating for the
sale of the latter to religious organization,
which proposes to use it for school pur.
poses. The land is to be sold to the colo.
nists on ten years time, alta slight advance,
in tracts of twenty. five, fifty and one hun
dred acres. Colonist intending to settle
thereon next spring are now enrolling.
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

THE SMALL PARTY MAJoRITIEs IN EACH
HOUSE OF CoNGREss.-The admission of Mr..
Metcalf, of Missouri, Saturday week, re-
duces the democratic majority of the House
Of Representatives to thirteen. There are
now 29l members, Of which 152 are demo
Gratis and 139 republicans, with one con-
gressonal district unrepresented-that of
Colorado. The Senate now stands, with
the new democratic Senator from Indiana :
Republicans 3S, democrats 81, independent,
Mr.. Davis, of Illinois,) l, with three vacan.
cies, 2 from Louisiana and from South
Carolina. With Mr.. Sharon, of Nevada,
democrats, with whom he has voted on
some questions, the republicans have but
two majority. The Senate has not been so
closely divided for forty years.
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

COFFINs TO RENT.-The poor people of
New York are said TO have an uncountable
mania for funeral pomps and ceremonies !;
consequently when member of family
dies all available funds are expended in
laying the body in state, and in an impress
sve cortege. The matter of carriages is
not vexatiOus to the purse of the mourners,
as their occupants are expected to con-
tribute their quota to the expense of con.
veyances, privilege eagerly embraced by
hundreds who regard funeral procession
in the light of a gatla parade. But the
lying in state, to be imposing, is a costly
luxury, particularly with the impecunious
consequently as a corpse is an object of
curious inspection by admiring friends the
beauty Of the exhibition can be secured at
smaller expense through the hire of a
casket than through its purchase outright.
In an undertakers window can be seen a
coffin of the most costly fabrication, with a
uper-abundance of silver ornamentaton,
lined with rich satin, and otherwise
adorned is munifcently. A face simile of
the $500 casket can be hired of its exhibitor,
who supplies an exquisite lining in accord
ance with the rules of the trade, pink for
a brunette, light blue for a clone and so on
and into the loaned receptacle places the
corpse until the hour of burial arrives
when the inside frame of the coffin, is slip.
ped out and the deceased transferred to q
cheap stained wood imitation of the costly
outer casket, and planted without the
imposture being detected. At present a
handsome external case demands rental
Of five dollars a day and as the body is
generally "laid out" for three days, this
with incidentals, constitutes good source
of revenue.
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

"Here," she said, leading the way into a
secluded part of the garden, and sitting
herself languidly down upon rustic settee,
Ihere is what we call 'lovers' retreat. Isn't
il easy and pleasant.like ?" "Y.a-a.s," he
responded lazily folding his arms and look.
ing about him, "deuced nice, but damp.
saw, let's Join the folks in the other part Of
the garden" And she arose and refused hi:
prohered arm, and stalked indignantly
ahead. while he followed after, muttering
g What ails the gal, anyhow"
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

The RESULT OF THE CENTENNIAL.-It is
stated that Belgian gentleman, who was
the commissioner from that country to the
centennial exhibition, is organizing q
company of European capitalists for the
purpose of making plate glass in America,
and he proposes to return to this country
in a short time to select a location. The
company's works are to be situated in the
neighborhood of Pittsburg, where the firm
also contemplate the purchase Of coal
Hnlda
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

An old gentleman in Franklin county
town, who recently became the recipient of
of his first postal card, placed his specs care
fully astrde his nasal organ and eyed the
pasteboard closely.
What is this thing, any way?" he
finally demanded.
"Why, postal card, of course" was the
answer.
"a post hole card? What is sich a
thing good for, I'd like to know"
He was informed that cheap rate of
postage had come into vogue, and writing
paper was at a discount.
Blast it all !" famed the old gentleman
in a sudden rage, while his nose described
a semiclrcle, with sharp angle; they've
got to dulteratin' tea with weeds, terbacker
with licorice ard copper, whiskey with
pepper and turpentine, and now they've
got ter 'dulteratin envelopes to save paper!
Confound 'em !"
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

OATMEAL BIsCUIr.-The following recipe
is offered for the use of those who find oat-
meal an agreeable diet, but who tire Of it
in the form of mush Soak one pound of
oatmeal all night in quart of sour butter.
milk. The next day mix one quarter
ounce of carbonate of soda and little salt
into one pound of white flour, and mix
with the oatmeal. Roll out any thickness
you please, cut with biscuit cutter or a
tumbler and bake in q moderate oven.
They are delicious and healthy
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

CURE FOR DIPHTHERIA.-A correspondent
OF Victorian paper writes: Should you or
any of your family be attacked with diph-
liberia, do not be alarmed, as it is easily
and speedily cured without doctor.
When it was raging in England few years
ago | accompanied DR.. Field on his rounds,
to witness the so-called wonderful cures 3"
he performed, while the patients of others
were dropping on all sides. The remedy,
to be so rapid must be simple. All he
took with him was powder of sulphur and
quill, and with these he cured every
patient, without exception. He put tea.
spoonful of -four of birthstone into wine
glass of water, and stirred it with his finger,
instead of a spoon, as the sulp phur does not
readily amalgamate with water. When the
sulphur was we'll mixed he gave it as a
gargle, and in ten minutes the patient was
out of danger. Birthstone kills every
species of fungus in man, beast, and plant,
in few minutes. Instead of splitting out
the gargle, he recommended the swallow
| ing of it. In extreme cases, in which he
had been called just in the nick of time,
when the fungus was too nearly closing to
allow the gargling, he blew the sulphur
through quill into the throat, and after
the fungus had shrunk to allow of it, then
the gargling He never lost patient from
diphtheria. fla patient cannot gargle, take
a live coal, put it on a shovel, and sprinkle
a spoonful or two of flour of birthstone at a
time upon it; let the sufferer inhale it.
holding the head over it, and the fungus
will die. If plentifully used, the whole
room may be filled almost to suffocation
the patient can walk about in it, inhaling
the fumes, with doors and windows shut
The mode of fumigating room with sui
phur has often cured most violent attacks
of cold in the head, chest, ETC., at any time
and is recommended in cases of consump
ton and asthma.
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

The nineteen.year-old daughter who
presides over Senator Cameron's house
hold is of commanding stature perfect
Juno in face and form. She superintends
the education of her FIVE brothers and
sisters, attends state dinners, and sits with
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

UNIFoRMING MAIL AGENTs.-The Post.
office department has issued orders that all
mail agents must clothe themselves in a
suit of navy blue within the next 60 days.
The coat and vest are embellished with
brass buttons, upon which are the words
=" Post-office department" They are also
either to have a blue navy regulation cap,
or black slouch with a stiff rim, cord and
tassels. The order has just been issued,
but each mail agent is given 60 days in
which TO get his suit
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

Having in my youth severe notions Q
piety," says a Persian writer, 81 used to
arise in the night watches to mediate,
pray, and read the Koran. One night.
fully occupied with these practices, my
father, a man of practical piety, awoke.
Behold (said y, thy other children are
lost in irreligious slumber, while l alone
awake to praise God" "Son of my soul" !"
answered he, ait is better TO sleep, than
wake to remark the faults of thy brethren ~
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

A Scotchman, being examined by his
minister, was asked, "What kind of man
was Adam9" "oh, iist like ither folk"
The minister insisted on having a more
special description of the first man, and
pressed for more explanation. "Weel,"
said the catechuman, abe was just like Joe
Simpson, the horse couper." 81 How SOP"
asked the minister. "Weel, naebody got
onything by him, and many lost"
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

Too SHARP BY HALF.-An enterprising
business man runs two branches of trade,
to wit
A grocery and fish market. The
grocery he runs himself, and the fish
market by a duputy, and every night the
latter makes returns of the proceeds of the
days business to the proprietor.
day or two since the grocer found in
his fish market returns a counterfeit five
dollar bill. He took the chance of trying
to pass it off again. So he called an old
darkey who was hanging about the premises
and said to him:
"Sam, here's a five dollar bill that's
little doubtful. If you will take it and
pass it, I'll give you a dollar out of the
change"
every WE'LL" said Sam, and he took the
bill and went off.
Later in the day he returned, having ac-
complished the feat, and handed over four
dollars to the grocer.
That night the grocer, in counting over
the cash returns from his fish market, was
more surprised than delighted to find the
identical five in the pile.
Look here" said he sharply to his
market clerk, "here's a counterfeit bill.
Who did you take it Of? Didn't you know
it was bad ?''
The clerk took it and looked at it for a
few moments.
"Oh, yes" said he, " l remember now,"
81 took it of Sam, the darkey. thought
it was little doubtful, and wasn't going to
take it, but he said he got it of you, so |
thought it was all right"
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

gentleman was called upon to apol.
ogize for words uttered when in wine. II
beg nardon." said he, did not mean to
saw what did; but I've had the misfortune
TO lose some Of my front teeth, and words
slip out now and then without my knowing
itn
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

General orders have been issued by Gen.
Sherman, at the instance of the President,
announcing that no further clemency need
be expected by officers of the army who
violate the article Of war in regard to in.
temperance. The President holds that q
person who cannot be trusted had better
not be continued in Office, and rigorous
execution Of the sentence imposed in such
cases may be looked for.
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

Politeness costs nothing, but it is not
expected that you will wake man up at
midnight to ask permission to go through
his hen-house. 1t is more courteous to let
him enjoy his needed repose."
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

A boy came along to one of our neigh.
bors' houses holding a very dirty dog, and
asked the gentleman of the house: q Don't
YOU want to buy dog, Mister?" "What
kind of dog is it?" asked the gentleman.
The boy looked puzzled. "Well," said he,
ait is part terrier" "And what is the
rest ?" asked the gentleman. "The rest"
answered the boy, "why, the rest isis
lust dog"
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

play called "The Colorado Beetle" has
been put upon the stage in England. II
ought to run pretty well. Now, won'l
somebody bring out Grass.opera 2-N. y
Comic Adv.
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

Well, how uneasy am seated between
two tailors," said self-important fellow.
They suffer the greatest Inconvenience
replied gentleman, shaving but one goose
between them.n
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28
Jew or Gentle.

1. Dewitt Talmage, the noted Brooklyn
preacher, in recent lecture upon Current
Events" discussing certain alleged differ.
ences between jew and Gentle, gave some
hard hits at few Of the weak points of the
Gentle. He said:
Last summer the land was ablaze with
discussions about the Jews being excluded
from one of the leading hotels. have this
to say: A Gentle is no better than j ew
no better in morals, no better in provi-
dence and forethought. There are more
Gentlles in Sing Sing and in the Tombs on
Blackwells Island than there are Jews.
The Gentlles are no better in the profession
OF Iaw--Moses, the greatest lawyer who
ever lived, was a jew. They are no better
in banking-Rothschld the greatest
banker, is jew. They are no better in
military life-Joshua was a Jew. They are
no better statesmen-D' Israeli is a Jew.
They are no better theologians-the Lord
Jusus Christ was jew. The Jews are not
physically inferior to the Gentiles. Why
is six feet high any better than five feet
high? Did you ever hear of Wellington or
Napoleon? They were small | know a
great many tall fools. A crane is taller
than dove. Their features are not so at.
tractive. Who decreed that "a nose curved
up 10 al OtllCl lIldII IL IiOSC curved uOWll
UncIeanly? What charge to be made by
the smoking Gentle nation. Think of the
| floating pig.sty attached to- all railroad
trains, and the gentlemen's cabins in our
ferry boats. Most of the smoke belongs to
the new dispensation. The weak point Of
the Gentle is not washing too much
Look at the City Court room after a trial
or a public hall, after a Democratic con
vention or a Republican meeting. Is that
atmosphere ali Jewish? Analyze it, anC
you will find it to consist of parts o
whiskey, 3 parts of garlic. of cologne anc
of oxygen. have baptized people wht
were so dirty that | was tempted to leave
them in the tank. Flash jewery! That i
not peculiar to the Jews. The American
nation is covered up with it. You can ge
a gold" watch for ST so in Chatham street
Jews sell them, but Gentiles buy them!
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

Rev. DR.. William Alvin Bartlett, now of
indianapolis, who was on intimate terms
with Senator Morton and visited him often
during his last illness, says that the Senator
uniformly declined to hold religious con.
versation with any one, and that he died
without any change of mind on the subject.
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

Keep out Of debt, out of quarrels, out OF
damp clothes, out of reach of liquors, and
out of doors all you can in good weather.
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

A BAD SHowIxG.-The Chicago Times
publishes q list Of fifteen banks and eigh-
teen insurance companies which have burst
in Chicago within few years, and which,
it declares, "were proved by an examina-
ton of their remains to have been little
better than swindles."
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

Georgia will realize $l,500000 out Of
dried peaches this year.
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28

Government is the soul of society:
Smyrna times., 1877-11-28
WHOLE NO. LIS.
Consumption a Disease Of Indoor
Life,

Among the natives Of Senegambia, pulmo.
nary affections are not only nearly but
absolutely unknown; yet a single year
passed in the over crowded man pens and
steerage hells of the slavetrader often
snfficed to develop the disease in that most
virulent form known as gallopng consump-
ton; and the brutal planters of the Spanish
Antilles made a rule of never buying an
imported negro before they had "tested
his wind" :. G., trotted him uphill and
watched his respirations. If he proved to
be 'rOarer,' as turfmen term it, they
knew that the dungeon had done its work
and discounted his value accordingly
If a perfectly sound man IS imprisoned
for life, says Baron d'Arbley, the Belgian
philanthropist, "his lungs, as rule, will
first show symptoms Of disease, and shorten
his misery by a hectic decline, unless he
should commit suicide"
Our home statistics show that the per-
centage Of deaths by consumption in each
State bears an exact proportion TO the
greater or smaller number Of inhabitants
who follow indoor occupations, and is highest
in the factory districts of New England and
the crowded cities cf our central states In
Great Britain the rate increases with the
latitude, and attains its miXimum height in
| Glasgow, where, as Sir Charles Brodie re-
marks, windows are opened only one day
for every two in Birmingham and every
three and half in London; but going
farther north the percentage suddenly
sinks from twenty-three to eleven, and
even to six, if we cross the fifty-seventh
parallel, which marks the boundary be-
tween the manufacturing counties of Cen
tral Scotland and the pastoral regions Of
the north.
1t is distressingly probable, then, to say
the least, that consumption, that most
fearful scourge Of the human race. is not {
"mysterious dispensation Of Providence,
nor product of our outrageous climate,
but the direct consequence of an outrageou!
violation of the physical laws Of God.-Dr
FcLlr L. OSrald il. Populor Science Monthly