davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
Country Roads.

We wonder whether it will ever
occur to some skilled st2tistician to
calculate the amount of wealth lost
to the people of these United States,
owing to the country roads. We
can imagine the incredulous looks of
our European cousins, were we to
inform them that in these flOurishing
States, at certain seasons of the year
the highways leading from various
towns and villages to the lines of
railroad, and lined for miles on either
side by farms in the highest state of
cultivation, teeming with all kinds
of agricultural produce, were even
more impossible to traffic than the
French LapadeS or Irish bogs.
Yet so it is, and we do not even
blush to own it. Where is our
American push and our Saxon ener-
gy that will permit such a state of
things ?
Our attention was lately called to
the letter of farmer which recently
appeared in one of our city papers,
in which he declared that, some ten
years ago, he had determined that
there should be proper road be-
tween his farm and Quincy. He had
persisted in his determination at the
risk, no doubt, of being voted bore
by all his eaSier-going neighbors, but
he had won the day, and for several
years he states, he has been able to
drive a wagon into town at any sea-
son of the year. No doubt such
persistence will always win the day;
but it is not so universally distribu-
ted as to afford a very firm basis for
the hope that within few years we
shall be relieved from the disgrace
1--WE call things by their right namss)
of having impossible roads after eve
ry few days rain with which we are
visited.
Improved roads will add to the
value of every farm bordering on
them. They will be worth millions
of dollars to the State at large. The
whole community, the merchant, the
railroad companies, the country
storekseper, and the farmer, will
reap the harvest Sown in good, dur
able road-beds. Let the State take
the matter in hand; let the tax for
road building be universal; let the
resident of town and city contribute
his pro rata to the general welfare,
in the shape of q road tax. Of
course people grumble at taxes, but
the experience of the past few weeks
has taught every merchant in the
country that poor roads are, every
year, though this year more than
others, taking away hundreds or
thousands of dollars from his annual
profits. Farmers are required to pay
q tax in the form of labor for this
purpose; but where is the material,
where are the supervision and in
spection of the roads to come from ?
If the farmer contributes his labor,
let the citizen of village, town, or
city, cheerfully pay such tax as may
be necessary to provide these other
requisites. = Farmers ReUteao.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
Postal saTings Banks.

Why may not the government,
which always has use for money,
and Is amply responsible for all its
uses, establish postal savings banks?
This inquiry is becoming general,
and daily grows in emphasis. There
seem to be at least three good rea-
sons why this question should re-
ceiye an affirmative answer. In the
first place, the government needs
more money, and by just the amount
borrowed from its own citizens
would decrease the necessity of
borrowing from foreign capitalists
and the consequent expectation of
gold tor the payment of interest.
In the second place, such a measure
would encourage thrift among the
people by placing the opportunity
before all alike to save securely, lit
tie by little, the surplus of honest
industry. How to help the working
classes place themselves above want
should be the careful study of all
governments, for security from want
is security from temptation and con-
sequeut crime. In the next place
such plan would tend directly to
foster an abiding attachment for and
personal interest in the prosperity
and perpetuity of the government
among that class whose loyalty is
of prime Importance.
Chicago Alliance.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
The Magic Bullet.

Many years ago, when the white
men who had seen the Rocky Noun
tains might still have been counted,
and only very few of the prarie
Indians knew the use Of firearms, a
hunter named Fitzpatrick had one
day got separated from his comPan-
ions and was persuing his game
alone in the wilderness when, as i'll
luck would have it, he was seen by a
war party of Indians, who immedi-
ately prepared to give chase. There
was not the smallest chance of Os-
cape for him; but the young huntSr
made feint of turning away, in or
der, if possible, to gain time. He
happened to know that these saw
ages, who, as yet, were very little
acquainted with the use of firearms,
had several times, when they had
taken white hunters prisoners, put
the muzzlss of their rifles close to
their breasts and fired them, by way
of experiment, to see what would
come of it. He, therefore, thought
it prudent to extract the bullet from
his, and then continued his flight.
The Indians followed and very soon
overlook him, and then disarmed
him and tied him to 3 tree. One of
the warriors, who, it appeared, un-
derstood how to pull trigger, seized
the rife, placed himself few PAGES
in front of the owner of it, took aim
at his breast and fired. But when
the Indians looked eagerly through
the smoke toward where Fitzpatrick
stood, they saw he was safe and
sound in his place, and he quietly
took out of his pocket the bullet he
had previously placed there and
tossed it to his enemies, who were
all amazement. They declared he
had stopped the bullet in its flight;
that he was an inVulnerable and
wonderful conjurer. and what was
more that some great misfortune
would befall the tribe if they did
not set bim free Immediately. They
therefore, cut his bonds and made
off as fast as possible, leaving Fitz-
patrick to 60 where he pleased.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
England's Strength.

The total number of Britishtroopl
available for 3 foreign war is esti.
mated at about 100000. Besides
this there are nearly 100000 men for
home protection, and nearly $4,000
of colonial forces, comprising militia,
volunteers and reserve troops, which,
though only available for local ie-
fense, would serve to release the
royal troops in their several locsli-
ties for active service elsewhere.
Add to these $4,000 Sepoys in In
dia, who, although not subject to
imperial service, could be easily sm-
ploYed as subsidized auxiliaries, and
we find a total force of 100000
men which England could call into
service in q case of urgent need
without resorting to consumption, a
means of raising troops which she
alone, of all the powers of Europe,
is independent of. In view of these
facts. Great Britain, it is seen, is no
contemplate military power. She
contributed only $4,000 of the allied
army that fought at Waterloo, the
remainder of the force of $1,000 men
being Dutch, BrunsWickers and Han
overians. In the Crimsan war the
allied armies of England, France,
Sardinia and Turkey only numbered
about 10000. Since those times the
military strength of all the great
powers of Europe has vastly inorSas-
ed, and it would appear that Great
Britain is also not unprsparSd fol-
any emergency that may arise which
might force her to take the field.
Washington Post.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
Sunday Evening in the White House.

Rev. DR.. Wheeler, of the Pitts
burg Christian AdUoeGte, has late
ly been visiting Washington, and
having spent a Sunday evening in
the Presidential mansion, he gives
an accouat of what he saw and
heard in the Presidents family,
which makes altogether agreeable
reading, He says:
"One of the institutions of the
White house is the Sabbath even
ing devoted to song; not gay, frivo-
lout song. We met there, upon the
occasion of our visit, the President
and Mrs. Hayes, their niScss Misses
Platt and Foot, their son Webb, the
Vice President, General Sherman
and daughter, Secretary Schurz, At
torney General Dsvens, Senator
Ferry, General Hastings, Congress
man Mckinley, Assistant Surgeon
General Woodward and wife, and MI
Dickinson, private Secretary OF the
Vice President, Mrs. Woodward
takes the piano and the first hymn
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
So in Advance.
w hole Number 1863.

can tell, who have flung their caps
or hats into the air, at some Indians
suggestion, only to have them pierced
by the unorring arrow. The grow
ing papooses, that is as soon as these
are able to toddle, are furnished
with bows and arrows of which the
points have been sharpened, and may
be seen about the reservations shoot
ing at marks, at small birds, or any
thing else that may happen to at
tract their attention. They gensr-
ally become expert at the ags of
about ten or twelve, but are not al
lowed to graduate into buek-age.
and all the pleasure of the chase. IN
til they are sixteen or eighteen.
Then is the time the real pleasure of
the Indian is found to culminate in
his first hunt after buffalo.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
AsHTABULA, OHIO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY %, 1878

With anguishsd heart he gazed
upon this, the wreck of his bro
ken hope, and bitter regrets stole
into his heart, lengthening the
chain of renorse that was drag
ging him dowd in missry.---Wlth
bony hand, she beckoned him TO fol-
low her.
Upon hoary clih that watched the sea,
Her babe was found-dead; on It's little
cheek
The tear that nature bade it weep had
turned
An ice-droD. sparkling in the morning
And to the turf its helpless hands were
For she-the woful mother had gone mad,
And laid 1t down, regardless of its fate
And ofner own"
The dew of heaven, mingled
with the spray of the fountain, cast
simmer as of diamonds upon the
snowy locks, bowed beneath the
spreading branches, now swaying
gently as the night breezes rock
them. List! the old man stirs and
murmurs in his troubled sleep,
'' 'Tis dream of my youth, too re
al, too reaIl" Then, as if the dove
of peace and love once more soothsd
his slumber, he sees an angel de-
Seend from heaven, and with wide
spread pinions, bear sloft their in
nocent burden.
"'Tis mine!" he cried; but they
have mounted the "golden stairs;p
and, as the jsweled gates of HsGY-
sn swing wide open, he catches 3
glimpse of the glories there, Sin
that home beyond the skies;" and
sweetest songs of welcome, from
that whits-robed threng, usher
within its portals the babe and
mother, whose hand, loosening its
hold on the "Withered stalks" that
have been her companions so long,
clasps instead the robe of Jesus, at
whose feet she kneels. Lifting the
dropping flower with tenderest care,
then taking the little birding that
first sought shelter in his breast, Je-
Eus places it beside its mother Pearl
IN his crown of jewels. Softly on
the evening air, steals the sound of
childish voices, singing,
There is happy land,
Far, far away,
Where saints in glory stand,
Bright, bright as day"
The sweet little wGrblers have
awakened the old man, and, shaking
the mist from his sifvered hair,
sigh quivers up from his heart, and,
as he realizes twas only a dream,
tears fall from eyes all unused to
weeping, and mingle with the mists
of night. All! twas only a dream
that came to an old man, that beau
tiful "midsummsr's night;" but
twas like an echo from the past
and the glory of its flight casts one
more shadow on his days.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
Osman Pasha.
From the london standard.

There has been so many funny
portraits Of Osman that l will ven
ture to give what I may call a cor
rect likeness of him, based upon two
months of intimate intercourse. He
is short of stature, with sallow COM
plsxion, dark hair and eyes, with q
quick, suspicious glance. Like all
Turks, he can maintain a reserved
and silent attitude, but at times he
indulges in conversation with great
freedom of manner, and though lg-
norant of any language but his own,
is quite du eOUrG1lt of general EU-
ropean politics. He is not a scien-
tifc officer in the ordinary aceepta-
ton of the phrase, but, unlike every
other Turkish commander ! have
met, possesses the rare merit of re-
cognizing merit in others, and was
the only Ottoman commander sur
rounded by fairly organized staff.
His chief of the staff, Tabir Pasha,
spoke French flusntly and correctly,
and had been educated abroad. But
it is to Trevfik Bey, now Pasha, that
much of the honor of the defense of
Plevna is due.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22

sung Is "Jesus, Lover, of nv Soul, {"
followed by 'Majestie Sweetness sit
enthroned, " "Jesus, let thy pittying
eye" 'Pass me not, o gentle Saw,
ior," ''My days are gliding swiftly
by, "Nearer my God to thee, 'sTell
me the old, old Story" The sing
ing of such hymns as these filed up
the hour, closing with:
"Blest be the tie that binds
Our hearts in Christian love"
A season of genial conversation
and the company breaks up. No
cant, no assumed solemnity marred
the hour. 1t was a time of Chris
tian cheerfulnsss. Nothing was
more pleasing than to see General
Sherman, the hero of 80 many bat
ties, whose name history will speak
in connsetion with Grant and Molt-
kes', join with evident relish in the
exercises of the evening.
We do not think any family ever
occupied the Presidential mansion
whose social and religious influences
was more salutary than that of the
family of President Hayes. This is
perhaps chiefly due to Mrs. Hayes.
She is and has been from her youth
member of the Methodist Episco-
pal Church, and all accounts agree
in representing her as devoted and
consistent member. We are glad
that she maintains that character in
her present exalted position. She is
one of the most cheerful and agrssa-
bic of ladies, and at once wins the
appreciation of all who enjoy her
society" Ia w
''The Bonner, in remarking upon
DR.. Wheeler's letter, says that the
Speaker of the House of Represents
tives, the Hon. Samuel J Randall, of
Pennslvania, ''is regular attendant
at the Presbyterian Church, of which
Rev. DR.. Chester, is pastor, and of
which his wife and daughter are
members. In Mr., Randal's home
the Sabbath is . day of Christian
rest and enjoyment. Vice President
Wheeler is well know as consist
ant Christian gentlemen. And
there are many such men in the pub
lie service at Washington.
Herald and Presbyter.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
THE FIRST GRAY HAIR.
BY GEORGE z. EAGLES.


'Tis gray, by Jove! gray as a badgers cresti
Thus unused /, as arlayed in boots and vest,
] stood with comb in hand one day last week
And viewed my first gray hair with blancn-
And what the d-what have I done, for
sOOth.
That these brown locks so soon should lose
their youth?
Why, I am young. yes, young, not old noI-
nay,
Not five-and-twenty, and this hair is gray.
So, filled TO overlooking with the thought,
Thinks /. I'll solve the cause, and straight
way sought
Ny pipe, and, as the soothing weed drew,
Sat myself down to think the matter
through.
As is my custom when sit and think
And fact to fact in loving fancy link,
l added to my garb OF boots and vest
An old straw hat. to give my thought more
and, thus arrayed, profound and grave with
I strove to read the writing on the wall.
1 never in nv life was chased by bears.
Nor tomahawked. and never unaWares
Was set upon by devil, beast or bird,
For all the wondrous stories had heard
OF fights and deadly trays by field and flood,
Where men had struggled, aye, and bathed
in blood.
No weary sorrow, grief nor crushing care
Had sown that thread of silver in my hair;
Nor was it hoard Of wealth or love Of gold,
Nor broad, rich acres that lODged to hold;
No, twas not fretting bout my ships at sea,
That brought that herald of the years to me-
Twas not my lover No. God forbid. That
So fair and winning in its blushing grace,
Upon whose cheeks the rose-tints fall and
Beneath the hazel of the soft, sad eyes,
Had brought me naught but trustulness ana
And that rare sweetness in maiden's kiss.
The more thought. the more completely
Did grow the meaning of the magic change
I never WrOnged a man beneath the sun,
/ had been virtuous, no fearful maid
For lovers Justice e'er to me had prayed.
Even in boyhood land tits strange as true
never fished on Sunday, as boys do;
But sadly went to church to sleep anddream
OF rod and hook and line and babbling
stream;
In fact, found my life from first to last,
In pleasant places had been kindly cast,
AS thus sat, and puffed and scratched my
/ thought, perhaps. the dull light might have
Ny vision wrong; and up from out my chair
1 rose to scan again that vexing hair.
But fruitless hoping, twas not gray, twas
As any ~ snow that ever met my sight.
Well, well, thought as in my dressing glass
i looked me over, "0ur days are as the grass"
'Tis truly said, and down sat again
To muse upon the changing lives OF men.
Thus as pondered on my fading youth,
A new light dawned; alas, the damning truth
Burst on me like a knell. Those wretched
rhymes,
That I'd been dabbling in since schoolboy
times.
Had turned their sting against me, and their
fruit.
Was that white hair I'd plucked out by the
root.
MORAL.
Ye youths who seek for fame, seek it Alright
Be heroes, gods, make anything but verses.
They waste good paper, ink, turn brown
hairs white.
And I'LL poor editors with groans and
curses.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22

When he reached the coast he
weighed but lis pounds. For ff-
teen days thereafter he gained half
pound of flesh daily with the most
curious regularity. He was COM
PEELED to be extremely careful with
regard to the use of food. The first
glass of wine which he took put
him to sleep, and anything like de-
cent meal seemed to. him the acme of
gluttony. For three months he and
his followers had lived on nothing
but cakes prepared from the cassava
root. For eighteen months they
had been from day to day uncertain
as to food on the morrow. Often
Obliged to fight for it, they wers
wont to make it the study of the
day, and to be profoundly thankful
when they received it.
Mr.. Stanley's hair had become
quite gray from the extreme fa-
tiguss to which he had been sub
jected, and his step is slow and
heavy, like that of a man aocus-
toned to carry q great load. But
not one jot or little of his immense
enthusiasm is in any sense abated.
He is Just as vivacious in conVersa-
tion, as earnest in action and alb
sorbed in his work as he was at the
eud of his first journey. l observe
with a certain sense of regret that
he mentioned, in his MarSailles adj
dress, delivered before the Geo
graphical Society there, the possible
ity of future return to Africa. The
vast unknown continent has fascina-
ted him; its wonders, which he has
unveiled at the expense of such
deadly peril, seem to tempt him
once more among thOm. In CONVEX
sation, however, he has not ex-
pressed any opinion az to a third
journey. To him for the present
everything is new and strange, and
he is getting acquainted with civil
ization once moro by slow degrees.
For three years previous to his ar
rival in Europe the other day, he
had not received a line of handwri-
ting, nor paper of any kind from
any person either in Europe or
America. The outside world was
an absolute blank to him. Some
times when struggling in the forests
or wandering along the banks of the
great stream which will be forever
associated with his memory, the i'm
age of the great world which he had
left behind him came up with start
ling vividness, and was so enchant-
ing that he was compelled resolut6ly
to put it away. Mr.. Stanley had
made up his mind to accomplish
all that the expedition had been plan
ned for or never to return alive.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
Stanley in Europe.

Paris Correspondent Boston Journal.
Stanley arrived in Europe in much
better condition than his friends had
expected. But he has grown old in
thought and feelings, as we'll as in
body, with great rapidity, during
his terrible journey. When he
came down to the mouth of the
great river, which he has so thor
Oughly explored, he could scarcely
stand alone, so weak was he from
constant privation aud from ankle
ty. There were thousands of wrink-
les in his face, which had grown so
thin that be was scarcely recogniza-
BILE. In his picturesque way he told
me, "You could have counted a
wrinkle for every second of my
life. My eyes were so heavy that
could not keep them open long at
q time; the eyelids persisted in
dropping" His hands were in 8
terrible condition, and still show
marks of the tremendous fatigue
which he had undergone, aud OF
the lack of proper nourishmsnt
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
Indian BOw-shOOting.

Indian archery is somewhat differ
ent from that practiced by the
young ladies and gentlemen OF more
civilized society. These latter take
the arrow between their fingers,
place it against the bow string, and
make it assist in bending the bow.
An Indian does not do this. He
takes the arrow between the
thumb and index finger, and pulls
the bow string with his middle I'm
ger; nor does he raise his arrow as
our boys and girls do; he shoots
straight out from the shoulder, and
appears to take no aim whatever.
He hits the mark, though, too often,
as the soldiers about the garrison
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22

An amateur detective in search of
two cattle thieves, found them at
church, at White Sulphur ny,
whsrSupon, pistol in hand, ne IN
formed preacher and congregation
that they were all under arrest.
While everybody looked aStonished,
he picked out bis men, marched
them out of the building at the muz-
zle of his weapon, and, turning on
the step. shouted to the minister
that he could go on with the bene-
diction.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22

Actual fact! A piOus man was
going through the commons one
Sunday, and came upon some young
stsrs i'playing marbles" "Boys,"
he said, ''boys, do you know what
day it isP" One of the imps turned
to bystander with: "Hsrs, can you
tell this man what day it is, he don't
know?"
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
ERIE RAILWAY,

AbStract o, Time Table adopted NoU. 12, 1877
DULLMAN'S best Drawing-room
L and Sleeping Coaches, combining all
modern improvements, are running through
without change from Rochester, Buffalo, Sus-
Chicago to New York, making direct connec-
ton with all lines of foreign and coastWise
steamers, and also with Sound steamers and
Ne York.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22

A gentleman, visiting an Irishman
observed 3 monster pig strutting
about the house, and asked how they
got "such a brute up those two
stairs" "May it please your honor,
said Paddy, at was never down to
be tux up"
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22

Everybody should learn 3 trade.
We know of a very wealthy citizen,
a bank cashier, who, although having
plenty of money, is now learning one,
He is learning to peg shoes at Sing
Sing prison.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22

A young lady asked a young man
in a music store, "Have you Happy
Dreams?" was astonished when he
replied, "No ma'am, Pm mostly
troubled with the night mare"
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
PAINTERS.

A. a. W. KYLE, House and Sign Painters,
Graining, Paper Hanging and Glazing: Kali
sOmining and Wall Painting a specially
29e Woodland Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. All
orders promptly attended to, and work exc
cuted in the neatest manner. 1907
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22

Let Young man be as much of
an utilitarian as is possible, he can
very seldom see the use of the old
folks in the parlor Sunday nights.
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
CABINET WARE.

JOHN DUORO, Manufacturer Of and Deal
er in Furniture Of the best descriptions, anL
every variety; also. General UnderJaR eF
and Manufacturer Of Collins TO order; Main
street, north Of South Public Square, Ash
tabula, Ohio. 49I
Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-02-22
FOUNDRIES.

TINKER q GREGORY, Manufacturers
Of Stoves, Plows and Columns, Window
Caps and Siils, Mill Castings, Kettles, Sinks,
Sleigh Shoes, &c, Phoenix Foundry Ashta-
buls, Ohio. 1921