davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
Opposed 10 Swearing.

Among the many anecdotes told of
George W. Blunt, the New York pilot
commissioner, rs one in connection with
his reproynl uf the Woe of Hwoaring in
the Office of the pilot commissioners. Az
ono time IL was common 10 hear oath
upon oath ia the outer Office, where were
gathered number Of rough pilots and
H5niaring men. Mr.. Blunt, although
not free from tho habit, believed that It's
uvur-iudulganoe was anything but re-
spectacle, and thought that lac could
stop the abuse and at the same time
make it beneficial. He therefore placed
in the outer office, against one Of the
windows, IA tin box, and AZ he did 80 lac
said Now this IN for swearers. Every
one who swcars IN this Office must put ten
cents in the box, and II l am caught
swearing, / will pay twenty" This rule
was enforced on all occasions, and one
/ day gentleman Of rehpectability came
| into the os1ce, and almost without know
/ ing il he began 10 utter oaths. Commits
sioner Blunt stepp d from his private
room, and said that ho would have 10 put
( ten cents into the box. What for 2"
said the gentleman. " For swearing, ="
answered Blunt. "WhAt is done with
Z the money thus collected p asked the
gentleman. 4" IL is divided between the
Pilots Charitable Fund and the New
York and Sandy Hook Pilots Benevolent
/ Association for the benefit OF the
widows and orphans" The gentleman
reflected moment, aud taking "a 50 bill
out of his pocketbook, put IL in the box
with smile. and said Z" | will take that
out in swearing some other time.
On another occasion prominent yacht
owner entered Mr.. Blunt's Office, and
while conyersing with him let drop an
oath, which was Immediately caught by
Mr.. Blunt with demand for ten cents.
An explanation followed, similar 30 the
one given above, when the yacht owner
retired, apparently very indignant at the
ngid rules thus enforced. but without
paying the fine. Mr.. Blunt was not at
all pleased with what he thought 30 be
T the meanness AS well as the yiciousness
Of the Yacht owner; but next morning he
was surprised at receiving check for
! 81 900 as "a "swearer' " \ contribution 10
/ the two funds mentioned, 20 be equally
divided between them.
+ During the war Of 1912. the water Of
. the East river came up Burling slip some
distance. and George W. Blunt. who was
then boy, wonld with others 60 down
10 see the vessels in the slip. These
were two armed vessels, called the
Z United We Stand, and the Divided We
Fall. Blunt often told the tale that
when these vessels went out and returned
without prizes, he with other boys would
60 ont 10 the slip and shout:
/ United We stand divided We fall
. Been out thirty dAys, and got nothing AZ all
I II is needless 90 say Blunt and the
other boys kept out Of the reach Of the
captains Of both craft, and the appear
ance Of the latter was enough for gene
mi akrlallle
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
A nneer SnmnnmhnIisf.

At midnight, recently. a young man
with pale face and open eyes walked
into the Fifth street police station in
New York and stepping up 10 Sergeant
Hagerty, announced I've come TO
surrender myself I've killed my girl,
and want 10 give myself mp.
Who il your girl 2 asked the ser
geAnt.
" Eliza Gleason Of 5l6 East Four
teenth, and / cut her throat, answered
the young man.
How did YOU cut her throat p
IL got her head through a pane Of
glass and then cut il from ear 10 ear, "
replied the youth. The sergeant de-
spatchei detective Vissart 20 the young
womAn's house, and there Vissart con-
fronted her. She was the picture of
life. and she laughed AZ him heartily,
thinking he had been fooled. just as
the officer went from the police station,
however, the young man turned 30 go
also, but Sergeant Hagerty told
him he was prisoner. No notice WAS
paid 10 this suggestion. The young
man started on. Sergeant Hagerty
jumped over the railing and put his
hand onlthe youths shoulder. On be-
ing touched be jumped. startled. and
glazing about him asked him where he
was. II was plain then 20 the sergeant
that the Young man was a somnambu-
list, and had just been awakened. He
was conducted 10 the waiting room.
The detective returned IN a towering
rage at what Ao considered his fooling
He was soon Rllowed by Mr.. Gleason,
who explained that the young man was
given 10 walking in his sleep. He EN-.
phatically combated Sergeant Hagerty's
suggestion that the young man may
have been drinking by asserting he did
not drink. His name was Peter CODY.
and his age was eighteen. He Is en-
ployed 10y and lives with Mr.. Gleason.
He was taken the mex. day before
Jnstica Flammer at Essex Market
police court. The Justice took consid-
erable interest in him, having been a
somnAmbulist himself. Numbers of
young Coby's friends testified that he
was in the habit Of going about in this
semi CONSCIOUS state and accusing him
self OF all manner of crimes. He was
taken away by his friends.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
SaYed for Greatness.

Madame de Maintenon, who became
the wife of Louis XIV. Of France, and
for the last thirty years of his life exer-
cised controlling influence over his
opinions and policy, had a narrow es-
cape from premature burial in childhood
Her parents migrated from France TO
the Isle of Martinique when she was
ten years old. On the voyage she was
taken i'll, and the sickness ended in ap-
parent death. The funeral rites were
over the last look taken of the body
about to be dropped into the sea ; a
cannon was loaded to be fired over the
corpse; when the mother, ordinarily
unloving, insisted on seeing her child
once more. To her surprise, she found
the heart still beating, and in delirum
of Joy, declared that the child was not
dead, but would recover. The hope,
born of rapture, proved a true prophecy |;
and the little girl, 70 nearly given TO
burial in the ocean, was spared to be-
come one of the r2ost distinguished
women in French history.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
Singular Phenomenon,

There was once found, saws the Inyo
(Cal.) Independent, pair of field glas-
ses In the desert near what Is known as
Death Valley. The glasses are supposed
20 have belonged to Hahn, lost guide
Of Wheeler's expedition. They were
brought into one Of the interior towns
by an Indian, and purchased from him
The most singular fact connected with
them is that every object within range
OF where the glasses had been lying for
a wear or moreis distinctly photographed
upon them. We have heard OF such
phenomena before, but this is one of the
most remarkable instances we remem-
Der. Both object glasses are covered
with perfect and beautiful photographs
or etchings Of desert shrubs, stems,
branches, leaf stalks. Leaves and leaf
let's are distinctly marked, as If laid on
by a master hand. There is no mixture
or confusion Of one plant with another.
each having a clear border of unmarked
glass, rendering il probable that the sun
or lightning photograph, or whatever il
may be, was received through the eye
glass. These pictures seem 10 occupy
a position about in the center OF each of
the object glasses, but little nearer the
plane than the convex side.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
A Celestial Fairy Tale.

That snakes contain in their heads
certain precious stones is an old belief
common 10 most branches of the human
family. A story in n Chinese book OF
anecdotes relates how n foreigner pass
ing n pork-butcher's shop asks the mas
ter what he will take for the bench on
which the pork is exposed. The answer,
given in fun. is " fifty taels." The for
eigner offers 20 pay the money. This
convinces the butcher that there must
be something valuable in tho bench, so
he declines 10 sell it, and carefully puts
IL by. The foreigner leaves the place
and returns after years absence. See
ing the butcher, he asks after the bench,
and in answer to n very natural inquiry
why he deems il 80 valuable, informs
him that lodged in a cavity within it is
n snake, holding in its mouth aprecious
gem. He further adds that the snake
lives on the blood that soaks through
the wood from the raw meat exposed on
it, and that when this supply is cut of
the snake will die and the gem become
worthless. Cursing his own stupidity.
the butcher seizes hatchet and splits
the bench open, finding the snake dead,
while the jewel il undoubtedly holds in
its mouth is of the same color as the eye
of dried fish.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
story of an Apron.

And OF all little aprons that hung upon
the line that windy March day, Nainsook
was the very proudest. She Haunted
her ruffles, flung out her long ties,
dipped, dived and scared higher in the
breeze than anv other.
And when blue Gingham snapped
against her she screamed:
Keep away, Ginghy; you'll leave
blue mark on me If you don't take
care I"
Don't be so proud, Nainsook; I'd
rather be myself any day than poor
armless thing like you. It's Nellie and
| thRt love fun. It's Nellie and | that
play in the sand, and it's Nellie and /
that make real make-believe cookies out
Of -four, too When she has you on,
you are ~ stuck up and afraid your
starch will get out, or ruffies unhuted,
that she has to sit in chairs, and hardly
dAres to wiggle her toes"
Him Arms are very unstylish for
aprons, and | have rufiles instead. As
TO dirt, my taste don't run 10 playing in
it, and when / come out Of the drawer,
Nellie is going to have company or go
a-visiting."
"For my part, said the cambric with
the pink buds, 81 think Nellie and /
have the best of times. We are together
afternoons after she has been washed
up. We play with our dolls then, or
build block houses"
Then the plain white linen made
some sensible remarks, the calicoes
spoke, and the braided pique, but Main
sook said no more, for she WIS very
busy.
Only think, she had got one clothespin
off her shoulder if she could only
wrench free from the other, what a
grand time Away from these common
aprons, whose company she hated 10 be
seen in Of with the breeze TO find
some little princess who would be glad
TO see her
A Jerk and she was free Floating
high for one glad moment, the next cast
down into the muddy lane, trampled
upon by horses, nosed over by pigs,
dirty and miserable.
At last came a boy along who fished
her out on the end of stick, and car
ried her home in that way.
"What yer got, Jim?" asked his
mother.
Er flag of liberty"
"Give her to me; she's al apurn an
will do fur one of the gurls; pity she
amt got no sleeves"
So it came that very day, as Nellie
and Blue Gingham we're chasing down
the lane after stray kitten, they saw a
ragged little girl playing in the mud,
and on her, all dirty and forlorn, poor
Nainsook.
"That's my apron" cried Nellie.
"'Tain't either" said the girl.
"What1l you give for her ?"
"What do you want2"
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
Immigration from Germany

A report just presented to the German
Reichstag gives some particulars Of the
number and destination Of the persons
who immigrated last year. The total
number of persons who left the German
ports OF Bremen and Hamburg in 1877
amounted to Al. 759, being considerably
less than in 1876, when so, ,577 persons
immigrated from the same ports. or
those who left Hamburg 1858 were
destined for New York, 274 for the West
Indies, 1920 for Brazil and the River
Plate, / ,295 for the Cape of Good Hope,
thirty-eight for Chill, and ,405 for
Australia. OF the total number sailing
from Bremen ID, ,357 went to New York,
8. $50 10 Baltimore, 85S to New Orleans
and Havana. 1,613 TO Brazil, and 7s1 to
the river Plate OF the whole number,
however, who thus sailed from the Ger
man ports, 21,6ls, or about one-half,
were foreigners, 3, 005 coming from Rus
sin. 4, 1888 from Austria, 1,2l9 from Den
mark, and S,37S from Sweden, Norway
and other countries.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
Rich Without Money.

Many man is rich without money.
Thousands of men with nothing in then
pockets. and thousands without even n
pocket are rich. A man born with a
good sound constitution, a good stom-
ach. a good heart, and good limbs, and
a pretty good headpiece, is rich. Good
bones are better than gold; tough mus
cles than silver; and nerves that flash
fire and carry energy to every function
are better than houses and land. 1t is
better than landed estate to have the
right kind of father and mother.
Good breeds and bad breeds exist among
men as really as among herbs and
horses. Eduoation may do much to
check evil tendencies or to develop good
ones: but it is great thing to inherit
the right proportions of faculties to
start with. The man is rich who has
good disposition-who is naturally kind,
patient, cheerful, hopeful, and who
has a flavor of wit and fun in his COM
position.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
San Stefano.

San Stefano, where the peace negotia-
tions between Russia and the porte ware
conducted, is under the shadow Of the
old walls, which have not been besieged
for four hundred years. Close by are
the Seven Towers, within whose massive
keep a Russian ambassador has often
been imprisoned, and the walled-up gnte
through which the Moslems expect that
the Christians will re-enter Constantine
pie when they recapture il. Here, too,
according 10 n London Standard CORES
pondent; il the chapel in whose dovoutly
worshipped wells live the miraculous
fish which jumped out Of the fryingpan
on the day Of the taking OF Constantine
pie, and have lived on until now with
one side cooked, and the other waiting
until, in the fullness of things, IL can in
it's turn be submitted TO the fire. Dur
ing the massacre OF Chic, n number OF
Greek children who had been carried off
by tho Turks were rausomed and after.
ward educated by philanthropic socie-
ty. One Of the boys who was ransomed
and educated by Americans, has become
a wealthy householder at San Stefano.
It was under the roof of this Chiote
exile, who had been trained by Ameri-
can missionaries, that the conqueror of
Turkey, the Grand Dixie Nicholas,
received shelter while the dipiomatists
were chattering over the conditions Of
Dpnce
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
HOmesickness as a Disease.

Tho last published volume of the
"Dict. de Medicine" has an interesting
article on nostalgia, by DIR. II. Rey. He
regards it as a form of insanity. 1t is
not often observed in childhood nor in
advanced age, and Is much less frequent
in women than in men. Ii IL most COM
mop in the young conscript drawn from
the country, who enters the infantry; the
town lad is too much accustomed to
change and the hustle of life; while the
cavalry soldier is too much occupied 10
hsve time to think over his separation
from the place where his affections are
centered. NJ. Rey states that the men
of Bretagne are most liable TO hOmesick-
ness, as many cases occurring in those
from this district as from the whole OF
the rest of France put together. The
symptoms of nostalgia are, that the pa
tient becomes sad and taciturn, forbears
TO eat, retires to weep alone, and gives
himself up TO long reveries OF home.
After a time, if he goes beyond this first
stage, he begins to bear the aspect Of
i'll health, and suffers from headache
and sleepiessness; and if the disease still
advances, delirium, prostration, diar-
rhea, and marasmus come on, terminal
ing N death. Sometimes, he SAYS, even
old soldiers do not escape the malady.
II is in hard times that this occurs,
when fighting has to be done in retreat,
and when othe5 troubles are added to
the bitterness Of defeat; when he feels
himself forsaken; when he is exposed
TO cold, is hungry, has to sleep on damp
soil, and is suffering frightful thirst
from his wounds; perhaps is taken pris-
oner, or droops under the diseases that
spring from misery-scurvy, typhus, or
dysentery; under these circumstances,
thefRemembrance Of the country he has
left behind him, of the mother, the wife,
or the home, awakens and brings tear
into the eyes of the bravest.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
ISHPO

Now the curiosity Of the boys had
been excited for long time 10 discover
the meaning Of "ishpo, or what other
letters put al the beginning and ending
of "ishpo," could make that ontlandish
word into anything possible 10 under
stand
Many times the boys at the academy
had p0ndered over the enigma; even
men, in passing through the lane, would
look with some curiosity on the black
patch on the old red barn, and ~ they
hurried along into the city would say 70
themselves:
Ishpo;" and what is that, wonder
Every boy in the Greenyille Academy
had thumbed Webster's Dictionary
nearest at hand in search Of "lshpO;"
and left the book no wiser for the search.
But the mystery Of he old red barn
WAS 10 be unaveled al last. As year
after year went by and the boys had be-
come used 10 the strange word, and
some Of them entirely forgotten il, new
idea ACQUIRED 10 Dick.
He was enjoying half holiday and
was lying on the grass under the trees
on a very hot day, when his eyes hap
pened 10 rest on the mysterious word.
Ii seemed 10 have new meaning to
the boy, now. He had gazed on It for
wears, but he now wondered why he had
never thought before 10 tear of the old
patch, and see if there were other letters
with ishpo. But how 10 accomplish that
task without being seen by the owner OF
the barn, who WAS a sour-tempercd old
man, he had vet 70 discover. Going
back to the school buildings he found
his comrades, and confded 10 them his
plan and asked their aid. All readily
Joined in the undertaking, and they
formed themselves into a society for the
express purpose Of discovering the on
gin aud meaning OF the word "ishpo. ."
They were 10 wait for IA dark night.
and then meet at the old barn, where by
the united strength OF the party, they
could tear the old patch from the red
boards and examine the side nailed TO
the barn.
That very night was favorable for the
enterprise, for il was dark. and so very
close and uncomfortable within the
buildings that permission was given the
boys by the professor 10 take stroll
down the lane, before retiring for the
night.
Eagerly they all set out for the old
ruin, but had scarcely gained the shelter
when the storm that had been gathering
for hours, burst in all its fury OF wind
and lightning, and the loose boards and
trash around the barn were thrown
about in great confusion, and the boys
escaped TO the open lane.
The old red barn was blown down IN
the gale
The next morning in the beautiful
sunshine the BOYS hastened to the spot,
and there, still nailed 20 the barn, was
the old patch with its mysterious letters.
A few minutes and the old board WAS
torn from the door and eagerly examined
by the boys.
The letter T was found, very bright
from its long imprisonment, TO head the
word "ishpo," and the two letters nd
ended the mysterious word.
Nothing but a fishpond, " said the
boys, as they went back 10 school for
he day. .-Nst0 York Tribune.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
Words Of Wisdom.

Truth is simple, requiring neither
study nor art
A good man is kinder 10 his enemy
than bad men are TO their friends.
Sinful pollution is much easier COM
municated and sprcak than holiness.
Wrong none by doing injuries, or
omitting the benefits that are your duty.
When a man is happy, every effort to
express his happiness mars It's complete
ness.
Dignity is expressive, and without
other good qualities, is not particularly
profitable.
Men do not have their choice whether
they will accept life or not, but they can
choose how they viii live.
There is hidden thunder IN the stores
Of heaven, ready 10 burst with burning
wrath, and blast the man who owes his
greatness to the ruin Of his neighbor.
BE not proud Of riches but afraid Of
them, lest they be a silver bar 10 cross
the way 10 heaven. You must answer
for riches, but riches cannot answer for
you.
Lost. yesterday, somewhere between
sunrise and sunset, two golden hours,
each set with sixty diamond minutes
No reward is offered, for they are gone
forever.
There is a beautiful precept which
he who has received an injury, or whp
thinks that he has, would Tor his own
sake do well 10 follow: Excuse half,
and forgive the rest.
Love is secondary passion in those
who love most, n primary in those who
love least. He who is inspired by il in
high degree is inspired 10y honor in n
higher; il never reaches its plentitude
of growth and perfection but in the most
exalted minds.
Frugality is good, if liberality he
joined with it. The first is leaving off
sHPerhuous expenses; the last is be
slowing them TO the benefit of others
that need. The first without the last be
gets covetousness, the last without the
first begets prodigality.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09
DIsaHrecabIs Habits.

1t is easy 60 form "a disagroeable habit.
but not 80 easy 10 drop il again. Per-
sisted in, they become q second nature,
Stop and think before you allow yourself
10 form them. There are disagreoable
habits Of the body, like soowling, wink
ing, twisting the mouth, biting the nails,
continually picking at something, twirl-
ing kew, or fumbling at chain, drum
ming with the fingers, scrowing and
twisting a chair, or whatever You can
Law your hands on. Don't do any Of
these things. Cultivate calm, quiet
manner. Better be statue than a
jumping jack. There are much worse
habits than these, 10 be sure, but We
are speaking only OF very little things
that are only annoying when persisted
in. There are habits of speech, also,
such as beginning every speech with
you see, or lyon know" nova, ."
(" / don't care. "tell YOU now" Indis-
tinct uttarance. sharp nasal tones, slow
drawl, avoid them all Stop and think
what you wish 10 say, and then let every
word drop from your lips just as smooth
aud periect rs "a new silver coin. Have
A care about your ways Of sitting, and
standing, and walking. Before you
know it, YOU viii find your habits have
hardened into coat Of mail that you
cannot get rid Of without a terrible
etfort-habits which render You obnox-
ious 20 all around you.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-05-09


With this all are somewhat acquaint-
ed. it is u condensed compound which,
ON the application ut heat, springs into
a large volume of gas Tor Kind uf air)
with great power Half u gill Of powder
will suddenly produce gas enough to fll
barrel. or >, 900 half gills. Powder III
very fine grains burns 80 fast and ex-
pands SO quickly as 30 burst "a cast iron
gun; hence very coarse powder II used
for cannon and large guns. GunpoWdcr
Is a mixture Of about nix ounces uf inter
,saltpotcrl with aue ounce of sulphur,
and one ounce of charcoal, The charcoal
used, is made Of small willows carefully
burned or heated IN close vessels. The
inter, sulphur aud charcoal, arc ground
separately, then together moist, and
aftcrwarl pressed into solid cakes and
dried These cakes are broken into
small fragments, which are put into
cylinders and kept revolving until the
nharp corners are worn OF and the sur
face Of the grains is polished. when they
are passed through sieves 10 assort the
coarse and fine grains-the fine being
used for small guns, and the large for
cannuns, for blasting rocks, etc The
fine dust, II packed in a solid mass 80
that the flame can not spread easily
through il, burns slowly upon one side, 4,
aud is used for fuses IN bOmb-shells and
in blasting, for fireworks, etc.