davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

The custom IS we'll known in London Of
hiring fruit for dinner parties, all that is
not eaten being returned to the green.
grocer Some little time ago, at a certain
dinner party some gigantic pears were dis
played, which We're neither expected nor
intended to be eaten. However, the next
morning the lady Of the house informed
her husband OF the lamentable fact that
on" OF these pears, for winch a most ex.
travagant price would hr charged. had been
used. Who cut the large pral?" inquired
the master. " Mr.. So-,nd-So," rrplIcd Ij-
vile. 4" M!nd that he is never invited TO
dlne here again." was the ho>pitable re-.
J"lnder. And yet the cost of that wretcbed
pear, high as It doubtless must have been.
could not have equaIled halt the exuen~e
"t the mans dinner and wine, for which
not grudg sc was felt.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

HE LUXURY OF GRIEF-A pet grievance
becomes hobby with many men. In SET.
ting forth their grievances to the world or
even on brooding over it in solitude. they
are necessarily dwelling upon their own
virtues. And it is not surprising that. in
many cases, the habit should generate AN
unreasonable self-complacency. We shoulI
doubt, however, whether this doctrine i
VIDE enough to cover all cases. The most
familiar examples Of the luxury
griet seem to be but indirectly
connected with any form of vanity.
\ srntimentalist takes a pcrverse ple. surr
III cultlvating melancholy, after the fashion
OF Jacques, and delights in selfabasomcnt
and 'Xageration Of his own incapacjtv for
acton ; or widow chcriShes her grief fora
dead husband till she res4nts anv attcmrt.
at comfort and takes pride in selrtorturc.
In such cases, unfortunately familiar
enough, it is often almost impo>si}ln 70
say what are the ultimate compliments of
the passion. We have such marvellous XIII
n decelvlng ourselves that nothing is more
d'thcuIt than to give a fair account Of our
own emotlonS.-HomeJ JowaQl
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

Chicago is suffering severely from scarlet
lever and dIphthera. At a meeting ot
physicians to consider the epidemic and its
proper treatment resolution was offered
the purpose of which was sthatnomedicines
which could be administered would prevent
ilphtheria, and that the continued admin.
lstratlon of them for any great length of
time would be injurious. DR.. Beebce
declares that this was aimed at his recon-.
mendation of sulphocarbolate of soda.
which, he holds, will destroy the germ of
dlphtheria, the blood and tissues beinr
diSintected. lie thinks that the remedy
has fulfilled all expectations; and some of
his brethren, it appears, think otherwise,
Who shall decide when even Chicago
doctors disagree?
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

young man looking somewhat like a
Southerner and somewhat like an Oneidin
Indian, was discovered among a crowd of
snaw.shovelers at the Central Railway
station in Syracuse last week. While wait.
ing for the pittiance due him it was observed
that he seemed desirous of being by himself
wholly avoiding his late comrades. This
poorly clad but proud shoveler was Bnsh.
nell Forrest, second son of the neted CON.
frderate general, n B. Forrest of Fort Phi.
low memory.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

UNEXAMPLED DISTREss-Says the New
York Observer: From all the public and
private charities Of this city there comes
uniform and painful testimoney, that the
present season is one Of unexampled dis
tress among the poor, and the poor are in
numbers beyond any former year.
An absolute dependence upon charity is
now not only the lot of those born and
brought up in comparative poverty and
destltuti9n, but also of thousands of
families formerly prosperous, happy, and
comfortable. Men whose education, bust.
ness training and social standing should,
and formerly did, guarantee to them pros.
perity and even inhuence-merchants
book keepers, statesmen, clerks, and profes.
slonal men-are now compelled, after hav.
ing sold or pawned everything to keep their
families from starving, to overcome their
pride and solicit aims to save their wives
and children from starvation. There are
now IN this city thousands upon thousands
OF delicate women and children without
food or fire, sleeping on bare floors, with
nothing but the merest rags to cover their
nakedness, and with the prospect of n
painful death before them.
In some neighborhoods meetings are hold
with representatives of these families. and
their condition is carefully inquired into.
and the little relief that is afforded is made
to go as far as possible.
Many families, once in circumstances of
real comfort, are now grateful for fifty cents
or one dollar a week, to help them keen
soul and body together.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

Some one observing, in a time Of public
calamity and danger, that the inhabitants
OF certain district crowded the churches
as they had not done before. said: 1t re-
minds one Of the old Scotch lady at sea in
n storm, who asked tho captain what the
chances were. Madam. SAID the seaman.
>olemnly. 1--WE must trust in God" "Ech,
SIR, an has it come to that?" cried the
trightened dame.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

The WHEAT BELr-Thr st Louis R,1uJ.
I'rd'' claims that Tie wheat hrIt Is shifting
from the Northwestern to the Middle.
Western and Soutnwr-trrn States. and that
the Hour best suited t. foreign commerce is
made from wheat grown in southern hi.
nolS' Southern Missouri. Kentucky. Ten
ness"e and Kansas. and To this list Of States
there will he Speedily added Arkansas.
Texas, Colorado. New Mexico and the
Indian country.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

1t has been decided that man can
legally kiss the hired girl, if he can prove
that he mistook her for his wife, but how
shall that profit the man when he finds
himself with one eye closed up and no hair
on his head
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07
Popularity,

We seem to be more or less insane on
the subJ' ct OF popularity. From the smart.
bright grl III the grammpr school-who
would rule and lead 'the girls" in her class
TO the men who look with stcadilst raZc
AT the Presidential chair, calculating with
WelI-hldden diplomacy their chances of
Obtaining It's doubtful honors, we are MI
seemingly gone mad on this all important
su'GPct. lhere Is no setting about our task
lof the pleasure OF doing our duty. for the
satisfaction OF accomplishing something
sweet, Servlceable or beautiful There is no
separating our actions from the one all.
pervadIng question "What will lpeoule say -
We set our table for "looks," we spend our
money for" "Opinion, we dress for "ta> >bIon ="
we read nothing but what is the --latest .
we condemn with the general vcrdicr. we
admire, II the critic tell Us to. we dare moi
differ with the boOtblack in the street if
he has made song ''popular'' by whistling
1t While he shines our boots Whatever we
do, say-nay, think, is influenced hy the
TACT that we are utterly dependent upon
others.
When shall we acknowledge the no>,i.
bllty OF enjoyment without the applaIIse of
the crowd? When shall we berin 10 SOP
the wisdom of II liiespcnt unostentatiously?
hen shall we be content to refine our
whole who'll manners up to the love of simplicity?
w hen shall we, with steady persistence.
spend our incomes upon moderate and
rational ENJOYMENT, uninflupnced Ly Il love
OF display and show? Indeed, when shall
we return to the blessed 'old fogyism'
which will not allow anything to trouble
us, but lead us to forego "style" in expendi.
ture, "custom' in conversational u<ages.
fashion IN music, 'the rage" in art. the
sensation in the drama, "place" in politics.
and theory in religion?
When shall our use of language, which
more than anything indicates the tpnden.
cIes OF an age. drop the superlativcs and
become once again plain yea and nav?"
W hen this movement is once started. then
indeed may we all hope to win appreciation,
when We have abandoned our ambitions
and Strifes for worldly honOrs, we may all
hope to'win the best and most perfect sue.
cess possible.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

The London Globe credits the following
to the Philadelphia Ledgcr: A remarkable
musical organization is that of the convict
choir, at Auburn prison. The organist is
sentenced for grand larceny; the first
violin, first tenor, and double bass are all
murderers; the second tenor, bassos, and
sopranos are all burglars and the leader is
a torger' From the latter false notes some.
tine issue, while the murderers murder
music most creditably.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

New POSTAGE SrANPs-Thi, present con.
'f''t Tor supplying stamps will expire in a
short time, and some Improvements in
the materials used in their Manufacture and
IN IN" engraving Will be- provided for in
making the new contracts. i paper contain.
ing less sizing Will bcu>cd, and the adhesive
4u'lity OF the new stamps VIII hc greatly
approved, so that it vii! be almost impossi
Die TO remove stamp after it has
,een affixed to the envelope. General
Barrier has designed a change in the three
cent stamp, which adds greatly to its artistic
effect. The very dark green shading
around the medallion head will be replaced
"y iight background. Other changes will
be made when the plans are perfected
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

Philadelphia had circus wedding last
week-a ring within ring. The pei.
tormance opened with a "pad act" bv the
bridegroom, who is, so to speak, an eaues.
train artist, and when it was over the clown
presented him with handsome silver urn.
me bride then came forward with her
trick horse and delighted the audience.
receiving in her turn "a pyramid of flowers
lhen came performance of " Cinderella"
and music 10y the orchestra, and then thev
were married in full dress.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

A circus elephant eats two bales of hay
per week while in winter quarters, and you
can figure from this how necessary it is for
the man at the door to cast murderous
glances at dead-heads
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

-, Close observers say that all through
western Massachusetts, new forests are
growing up faster than the old ones are cut
on Especially in the hill towns is this the
case. Many locality that was improved
as iarm land 20 and 80 years ago, is now
covered with vigorous growth of young
lerest, the rapid decrease in the population
our outlaylng agricultural districts
having rendered such change inevitable.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07
WHOLE NO. l.I31
A WARMING.

Poor foolish worm, ifhc had lu.n
Snug in H., earthly Ted.
mat early fowl had rcycrlHadc
breakfast Of his head.
~ noon II" doubt the bir,., LaI >ouaI.
some distant iorc,tLoueL:
Ahd if the worm had !rrtt.Il then.
lie might have lived till nou.
lake warning carly r.-,rS, all,
And heed the lesson taught.
HE worm that lic~ il bed i, af,.--
The carly worm j. caught.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

Over the tiny grave Of the only body
that of an infant-washed ashore at Lvdd,
near Durgenness, England, from the ill.
fated emigrant slip NoU.&tet, has been
placed slab with the simple inscription,
God know" that having been the touch.
ing reply of the parish constable when he
was appealed to by the undertaken as TO
what name should be engraved upon the
coflin.platc.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

A dandy on Broadway wishing to be
witty, accosted an old ragman as follows !:
ou take all sorts of trumpery in your
carr, don't your "Yes; jump in--iump
in !" was the reply.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

Hungry journalists are TO plentiful iu,t
no" hy AN overwhelming m:jority Too
many young men iu-t escaped from the
colleges desire to instruct tie nla-.c,."
such Is the reasoning Of san Francisco
editor; and it Is sound. 1t i, muaoubtedly
true that the pressure Of hard time, !,
l"rcing many college graduate, inso the
"v'rcr"wdcd rulk>oi journalists. Many Of
thrm would prefer ucdicin. or the law.
""' cannot afford to undertake professional
I'u''i'N ana then t" wait for their practice.
y special training al i" professional school
! not required IN Joulnal,n: something
c'' De earned at once: and when an o. en-,
'il3 III Soihr other direction comes they can
step ont. The reporters room is thus made
a convenient strrpin. stone to .nmc O, her
calling.-N J.. T,Lon,.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

While Gov. Jewell was our Minister in
Russia he visited the tanneries of that
country and found out the secret of the
Russia leather, beloved of hook devotees.
The secret is the result of the use of birch
bark tar with which the skins are dressed
IN place Of tallow and grease, the latter
substances being so largely used as food
among the lower classes. This tar. which
Is carefully saved as it exudes from the
wood when burned, was first used as n
substitute for wheel grease in Russia. as il
Is to this day, and then for the filling and
dressing OF skins. BY system of careful
inquiry, and literally following his nose
during his visits to some of the great Rms.
ian tann"ries and curriers' shops. Mr.
Jew"lI found this compound in a crcat
Kettle ready for use, and thus the mystery
was solved. 1t is not expensive. cost.n
about $40 barrel, and he immediately
ordered ten barrels and sent them to various
leading leather manufacturers in this
country with instructions and the result is
that genuine Russia leather goods are now
made in America, and doubtless will soon
be sold at nearly fifty per cent below former
prices.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

some OF the West End ladies of Wash.
ington have formed cooking a club.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

TURKEY or NEwSpApuE.-A year ago last
Christmas manufacturing company Of
South Bend, Indians, gave to each of their
b1O workmen, for the usual Christmas
present, the cLoicr cf subscription to q
weekly newspaper for l>76, instead Of the
traditional turkey. This season. desiring
an expression Of "iinion on the utject, they
put il to vote wn,thcr il >hould be turkey
Tor Christmas or a newspaper for 1871. and
with Tn" exception Of three the whole force
voted for the paper.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

Among the more significant passages Of
Mr. Moodys first sermon in Boston was
TINS; " have been amused the past few
houfs to hear the Boston people talk. They
sud, Now. Mr.. Moody. YOU must not ey
pect 10 be as successful in all RESPECTS here
as you have been elsewhere: Boston is a
4, peculiar place 1t is thc>amt old gospel,
'"e same oId story: Boston is Just like
other places aftcra.i. The same Old Lpman
natur" i here that We have found wLerova,.
we have been The cnciny cannot L;ndo,
God from working. If We ,an c,t tI,is tr..
rble unhclirf out Of her. He will Shake
Boston a> mother shakes a little child ="
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

While he was sitting on the wood.b
and chewing the bitter cud of reflection,
a man with brass watch chain and a three
dollar set of glass diamonds entered the car,
and six of the women lifted their satchels
from the seats beside them and moved close
up to the side of the car. Such things
are not right, but they always will be done.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

the tn, gods, but they pray by machinery.
Ihey have square post eight feet long,
and near the centre is fixed vertically a
wheel, which can be reached by the hand.
and which moves in an axle passed through
the post. On each of the three spokes of
the wheel two small rings are strung.
Every person who turns this wheel as he
passes by is supposed to obtain credit in
heaven Tor as many prayers as the number
OF revolutions which are marked on the
post The object of the rings is that as
they jingle they are supposed to secure the
attention of the Deity, and the greater the
noise the more certainty that it will be
listened to. Some of the inscriptions are
worth knowing. One is, wise men and
fools are in the same boat whether pros
porous or afflicted, both are rowing over the
deep lake; the gay sails lightly hang to
catch the autumnal breeze; then away
they straight enter the lustrous clouds and
become partakers of heavens knowledge"
Still another: " As the floating grass is
blown by the gentle breeze, or the glancing
rlpples OF autumn disappear when the sun
goes down, or as the ship returns home to
her old shore. so is life; it is smoke,
morning tide
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

Anger has made many fools.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

His EXPERIENCE.-Toldby by Beecher: "No.
sir, | never regretted marrying Mollie,
here. She's been the making of me. |
was an idle dog when | met her, and
thought OF nothing but spending my money
at saloons Just as fast as earned It. She wa,
Il poor seanstress, but was industrious and
frugal In habits, for she'd had hard row
to hoe, poor girl! Well, for her sake |
grew saving and careful, and soon had a
little money III the bank. Finally we were
married, and after furnishing two rooms
had just hundred dollars left. 1t was not
much, but 1t was our own. That was four.
teen months back. Now we have this
little house. We have carpet on the floors
OF TWO rooms. nine pictures on the walls,
and nearly fifty books in that case of
shelves up there which made. Our house
IS small, but there is no envy, no fear of
the future, faulttinIing, or selfshness in il.
We have nearly a hundred dollars saved.
besides these things in the house. Our
rent Is paid for the entire year, till next
spring. We go to church regularly, attend
concerts and lectures and amusements
when the price is not too high. Sometimes
the prices are so high that we cannot afford
to 60. Then we stay at home, read to each
other, have visitors, or 90 out little while
to visit a few friends close hy. haven't
been in a saloon since was married. sir.
| had rather these books, pictures, carpets,
and that organ should be in our house than
IN the house of the man who makes his
saloon attractive so as to cnticP men there
to spend their earnings We find that this
life Is as we make it. We are helping each
other. And from the bottom of my heart
l wish thatall young men WHO are now travel
ing the road travelled two wears ago would
follow my example, for. sir, they'd never
regret it,"
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07

Every farmer should keep cash account
from which he can easily separate the
amounts received on account Of each crop,
and can at any time refer to il rs Il voucher
Tor moneys paid to hncd help, and for
other expenses, and on looking over il he
might often see where he has spent money
which could have been put to better use
The old farming lands of Maine are said
to be nearly or quite worn out beside. the
summers are short and the winters severe;
still we hear reports of more than one
hundred bushels Of corn having been raised
per acre IN the State the past summer,
which show that the northeast corner of
Uncle Sans farm is worth something vet.
Mr.. Montgomery Sears is the young Bos.
tonian who has much money that he
doesn't know what to do with it. After he
has been graduated at Yale he is going into
Il lawyers office to learn how to take care
of his property. He has just bought a
beautiful house in Boston for about $780,.
600.
French tourist, on visit to the Cen.
tennial last summer, wrote home: "Ameri-
cans live well up to their income, and
insure their lives for the balance"
The Nebraska legislature sits during the
winter in order to prevent its members
from attending the sessions in their shirt
sleeves and bare feet.
little California girl wanted the doctor
to vaccinate her pet white dog, because she
dill not want its complexion spoiled by the
mall pox.
1t is easy finding reasons why other folks
should be patient.
Smyrna times., 1877-02-07
One Way Of Enlivening Society.

DOVER, January 3Ist, 1877.
Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-07-19

it is superlatively absurd to be
classifying people, according to the
differences in the riches they pos
sess, or the vocations they pursue.
If boy prefers to be lawyer
or a doctor, and shows that his
preference is supported by an
especial fitness for such a vocation,
he ought to be trained for it, if he
can afford it. But, if he has a
natural aptitude for the mechanical
arts, whether he is rich or poor,
ambitious CT unambitious; whether
his great grandfather had fourth
cousin who was captain OF a volun~
tecr company in tic revolutionary
war, or his grand mother in her
girlhood danced at ball with a
gentleman who once dined with an
English nooleman, that boy ought
to be put to trade and kept at it
until he is a thorough master OF the
business. 1t is due to the boy him
self, to his parents, and to the com
munity in which he lives that this
should be so. Many an excellent
mechanic has been lost 10 the world
through the false pride Of wealthy
parents who thrught ''profession,"
not a trade, was the proper occrpa-
tion for their son. And many a
good lawyer ard doctor, many a
statesman, many man of science
has been lost to the world by max
ing mechanics of boys who should
have been in the s'professions,' and
would have been, if their fathers
had been able 20 educate them.
1t is to be hoped the day is not
distant when the means of acquiring
education will be within every
body's reach, and that boys, whcth
er rich or poor, will he trained TO
trades or professions according as
nature has fitted them for the one
or the other. A lawyer or doctor
is as respectable as mechanic, but
no more SO. In this country one
white man is as good as any other,
if he has moral worth, no matter
what may be his business. The
only other distinction that can be
consistently supported among the
American people is that ordained
directly by Deity between the two
races. The hammer. the saw and
the plane onght to be, and, sooner
or later, will be. aS nntnntinl :;
ononin,. - avenues to fame and
1drtunc as law books and lancets.--
The ''profcssions" arc we'll enough,
but they are no better than the
trades
Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1877-07-19

ing her husbands dwelling, and a
divorce is pronounced. Although
there is generally considerable
sprlnkling who come forward to
kneel down and put their faces in
the dust, it rarely happens that
they are not forgiven. A very
tragical case, however, is related
IN which the reverse took place.
A returning Cossack was informed
by a malicious neighbor before he
reached his home that his wife had
been unfaithful, without waiting to
see whether the guilty woman
would come forward and confess
her sins. The comrades of the
Cossack perceived that he had all
of sudden taken to drink and
dissipation, although he was not a
man given to these vices. When
he reached his village his wife. as
he feared, came forward. knelt
down, and put her face IN he dust
at his feet. The spectators saw
him look at her as she lay in the
dust for long time. Two or three
times he put his hand in his breast
for the white handkerchief, as ii
he were going to cover the repen-
tant woman's head-two or three
times the movement was restrained.
Finally, as if driven by q sudden
impulse, he all at once drew his
shashka, and with one stroke sew
cred her head from her body The
punishment for the crime was two
months' imprisonment, while the
malicious neighbor who bad taken
the trouble to inform him before
hand Of his wife's misconduct was
sentenced to Siberia for thre years.