davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-11-06

SOUND FOUNDATION,
without which business can have no healthy
development, and the prosperity of the people
will always stand upon Volcano ready to ex-
plode at any time, three things are of the first
necessity A good national and individual
credit based upon national and individual hon
esty second, a sound currency, of real and
stable value and third, safe and reliable
banking system as the depository Of business
fluids and the machinery Of business ex-
changes. In discussing these subjects shall run
against some popular cries industriously used
by demagogues and repeated by unthnking
men, which are fraught with mischief and dis
aster as well as disgrace l shall speak of
them without reserve, for at moment when
from a period OF distress we have at last a
chance to emerge upon solid grounds again,
and that chance seems in danger of being
thrown away by acts of dishonesty or foolish
ness, it is time to call things by their right
names.
First as to credit Our national credit rests
upon faithful discharge of our national obi,
cations, and l shall show that in great meas.
ure the individual credit and the interest of
most OF US rests upon the same thing. 1t has
become the fashion of many politicians and
pubic agltators to cry out against
THE BoNDHoLDERs,
and thus to excite prejudice against the bond
which IS an embodiment of national faith.
The bondholders are represented as set of
''bloa,ed" individuals residing down East or
IN foreign countries, who bought their bonds
at 80 or 40 cents on the dollar, and now de-
mand 100 cents and high interest in gold. Thus
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-11-06

iuhN'uiS Jul Pei CcIl UOHuS IulO SSCuNACS
bearing interest only at S, Al, and 4 per cent.
In 1865 our annual interest charge was $3.50,
977,6o7,S7 In 1873 our interest charge is
se+5s4,473. Thus we have got rid of about
two hfths of the annual interest in the same
period of thirteen years. In a still greater
ratio the debt and interest has been reduced in
proportion to population. Thirteen years ago
our debt was s78.25 per capita. To-day 1t is
$4I57 per capita. Thirteen years ago the
interest was s.. 20 per capita 1t Is now $I.97
per capita. And if our credit remains intact
the funding process will 60 on rapidly, and
we shall soon be rid Of further tens OF mil
lions Of our annual burden.
Disturb that credit by any act or attempt
weakening the confidence of the world at home
and abroad in our ability to pay or In our hon.
est purpose, and the funding process will
cease, and with it the benehcent results flow
ing from it.
Thus you see in this, as in other things, 1t Is
not only most honorable, but
1T PAYS BEST TO BE HONEST.
The most expensive thing a nation can do is to
attempt to get rid of its obligations without
honestly discharglng them. The next expen
sive thing is to bubble about them. The ruin
from which it is most difficult to rise, is the
ruin of credit caused by reputation. The
next worst thing for nation is to render itself
suspected of lurking desire to repudiate.
And thus do hope. wherever you hear that
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-11-06

pICCtdtC d. " dIueICS you WGIt W OuJ WIN
them. '.But what of that p answers the FIAT
money doctor, ''that does not mean deprecia-
ton, but it means that things grow dearer in
price. When it takes two fiat dollars TO- buy
an article which cost but one ellar before,
then the Government can issue double the
amount of fiat money for the accommodation
Of the people, for ii costs nothing, and the
wealth of the country will be ample security
for couple of thousand millions more.'' And
so it goes on and on; and, IN this case, under
the lead OF the flat-money doctors, it will 60
on quickly, until the story may be repeated Q:
the wheelbarowful of money carried to marke,
and the purchase carried home in your vest
pocket. But the idea that, by banishmg the
precious metals from our money system, we
can cut loose from the money system Of the
world and avoid all comparison of the value OF
our paper money with gold, is amusingly alb
surd. We are commercial nation, and have
large dealings with the world abroad.
OUR IMPORTS ANB ExPoKTs
go into the hundreds of millions they will 70
into the thousands Our exports, especially
are increasing beyond al anticipation. All We
sell and all we buy abroad is paid and settled
for on the gold basis The prices of our prm-
cipal articles OF export, Of our agricultural
staples, are virtually determined in the foreign
markets. Now, while We are doing this inn
mense business with the world abroad on the
gold basis, must it not be evident to the dulless
understanding that, although the last gold com
may have been banished from cur domestic
transactions, the value Of the fat dollar in
comparison with gold Will be quoted ,as' as
the greenback dollar was, ard that 1t Will be a
matter Of daily concern and anxiety to every
Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-11-06


plished, and, as firmly believe, we can man-
tain it, provii led always We act like sensible
people and abstain from foolish and mischiev-
Gus legislation But now A,5-..i-
WHAT DO WE BEHOLD?
AT the very moment when this great achieve
ment for which the country has been signing for
years appears assured, portion of the people
growing wild with preposterous schemes and
propositions attempt to undo il all and to return
to chaos again. A set Of physicians, when the pa
tient is on the point of recovery and requires only
repose and the quiet working of natural forces,
prescribing medicines, throw him into fits once
more 1t is the most curious spectacle people
ever presented. 1twould seem only laughable
did it not threaten serious consequences.
What are those schemes and propositions !?
Let us examine them. Candidly, we find, first,
the proposition to replace the money system
based upon the precious metals, by the so-called
absolute fat money. During the FIVE years OF
depression and distress since 1873 many people
CROPPED frantically about for means of relief.
Not inquiring into the true causes of their diffi-
Guilty, or not understanding them, they though,
there must be some artificial remedy to cure il
within the reach of human ingenuity. Tha,
the results of the unproductive consumption,
the improvident wasting Of wealth, can be cured
only by the production Of real wealth in slew
anS steady way, did not strike them as proms-
ing in their case. They wanted some quicker
and more ingenious method of getting rich
again. Like the alchemists Of the Middle Ages
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-18

"SQUARING IT."-A good story has
been told of lisping officers having been
victimized by n brother officer-who was
noted for his cool dcliberation and strong
nerves-and of his getting square" with
him in the following manner. The cool
joker, Captain Blakeney Was always quiz
zng the llsping officer, u lieutenant, for his
nervousness, and said one day at mess,
why, nervousness is all nonsense; | tell
you. no brave man is ever nervous
WE'LL" inquired his lisping friend, how
would you act thpothing thell with an
inth futhee thould drop itthelf in q walled
angle in which you had taken thelter from
company of tharpthooterth, and where it
wath thertain if you put out your nothe
you'd get it peppered?" -" How" said
the captain. with look at his brother Of
icers. Why, take it coolly. and spit on
the fusee." The party broke up, and all
retired.
The next morning q number of soldiers
were assembled on parade; when along
came the lisping lieutenant. Lazily open
ing his eyes, he remarked to cluster of
officers, e" want to try an ekthperiment
thith morning, and see how ektheedingly
COOL lO1U Dldhcuef Gill Dc. Oily my ltllS,
he walked deliberately into the captain 8
quarters, where a fire was burning on the
hearth, and placed in its hottest part n
powder canister. and instantly retreated.
There was but one door of egress from the
quarters, and that opened upon the parade
ground; the occupant gave one look at
the canister, comprehended the situation,
aud in moment made for the door, but it
was fastened on the outside. " Charley,
let me out, if you love mel" shouted the
captain. Thpit on the canithter" shout
ed he in return. Not u moment was 10 be
lost; the captain had at first snatohed up a
blanket to cover himself with; but soon
dropping it, he raised the window, and out
be bounded, sans everything but very
short under garment, and thus, with hair
almost on end, he dashed on to full pa
rade ground. The shouts which hailed
him brought out the whole of the occu
pants of the barracks to see what was the
matter, and the dignified captain pulled 6
sergeant in front Of him to hide himself
why didn't you thpit on itP' inquired
the lieutenant. " because there were nc
sharpshooters in front to stop a retreat,
answered the captain. " ALI I've got t.
thay, then, ith,'' said the lieutenant, tina
you might safely have done it; for II
tbwars there wathn't a thingle grain o
powder in il"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-18

WHY JOSEPH Cooks FATHER DID Nor
MAKE A FARMER OF HIM-A Journey of
two and half miles brought me to Cliff
Seat, the residence of Joseph Cooks fi,
lher, where the distinguished lecturer and
author is rusticating. Mr.. Cook, senior.
though entirely unlike his son in personal
appearance, is Il gentleman of somewhat
commanding presence. He is very intel
ligent. well read, and is well informed
upon the prevailing topics of the day. He
is very free to talk upon the success which
attended his only boy, and stated to me
that he had spent seventeen thousand dol
lars on Joseph's education, not one cent of
which he would recall
When boy. said the father, tried my
best to make him work on the farm. |
resorted to every expedent, without sue
cess. He would conceal book under his
arm when ordered out into the lot to work,
and steal away under some tree to read.
II Il small cloud appeared in the Heavens
he thought it might rain, and would make
it an excuse to leave his work for study.
This occurred so often that my men would
say that the appearance of Joseph in the
field was a signal for rain. When nine
years of age, district school library was
advertised to be sold at auction. He was
very anxious to attend and purchase. l
gave him money and told him he might 90
and buy what books he wanted. He did
SO. and bid off all the best books; those
that were left were almost worthless. He
bought also small bookcase. and probab-
" never felt prnudGr in his life than when
he came marching into the yard with the
. II
became convinced that it was my duty to
give him an education. sent him to
school, to Andovor, to Germany, where he
studied two years, and you see the result.
When he graduated from school told him
| would give him Il nice watch or an ency-
copedit. He chose the latter.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-18
VOL. XXXV.
Something To Think or.

1here Is great deal of school and col
iceSe education that is aimless, diso-opor-
uohate and cumbersome. There are too
many mediocre professional men-law.
yels, doctors, ministers, school teachers
writers; too few skilled artisans-f,rmers
gardeners, Intelligent laborers technically
I"nc"ttu lor various spheres that are fun
damental to well ordered society. Socie.
" Is top-heavy, with too much top and
100 little bottom. Agriculture, the great
producing interest out of which all other
PROFESSIONS and employments must live, is
desplsed. There is bad tendency 10
crowd the cities and large towns, and by
JoSlllng competition to Join IN a mutual
pull-down, and race in which eyerybodv
gets out OF breath. Our girls and bows
ueem 1t the right thing to live genteely
ana oY ones wits, rather than the hands.
mere are altogether too many college
students who DRIFT into college aimlessiy.
because they don't know what else 10 do.
and because their parents don t know what
else TO have them do. With no earnest or
dehnlte aims. they float along through sue.
cesslve years OF school and college, and
then, whatp The learned professions are
over-full; they are educated beyond any
drudgery of common business; they can
not think OF soiling their hands or their
clothesi they are untitled to become pro-
ducers where production is available. in
their own way and in everybody else's.
An aimless and disproportionate ed1ea-
tlon has cost altogether more than it ever
comes to.
There is too much high school dabbling
that Is not thorough enough for mental
gymnastics, moi paactical enough for the
utllltarlan necessities of those who must
graduate into the hard wol k of the com
mon and laborious pursuits which ballast
society. The great law will assert itself,
and all true tducatian must lay its account
with it, that by the sweat of the brow We
must eat Our bread. That is not good
American education which would spoil Il
farmers boy for the old homestead, or the
farmers girl for housekeeping, There is
90 large II crowd of unfit female school
teachers. There are too many useless,
thlr'l-rate lawyers hankering after office;
too many goodish ministers, unskillful doc
tors and ignorant apothecaries; TOO many
Scllbbers. There are too many meatmen,
milkmen. fi>hmen, dry goods de lers and
grocerymen. The rush is for the easiest
employment that can be set up, without
skilled labor, technical education, or an,
apprenticeship of patient industry, on bor.
rowed capital, with u bankrupt law for
refuge. Meanwhile there is large range
of handicrafts, finer manufactures, decora
tive arts, demanding skillful labor, which
our American methods of education have
hardly thought of or laid any plans for.
Hence there are multitudes of our girls
and boys who are over educated, in the
same sense that they are untitled by an
aimless and merely bookish education for
any patient and earnest life-work which
will utilize them as producers, and develop
their individuality into the manly or
womanly consummation of stanch char
acter and robust and useful life.--Sprtng-
field Republican.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-18

Compressed leather is now produced OF
quality said to be harder, closer and
more compact than the natural hide. The
manufacturing process is entirely simple,
consisting in the reductions of cuttings or
waste of shoemakers into fue filaments,
and these are combined with the cuttings
or refuse of OK and similar hides, when un-
fit to tan, these being reduced to fibrous
mass. The whole Is combined together
with water, to which is added one part OF
sulphuric acid to one hundred parts Of
water, until it assumes n plastic mass, when
it is pressed into moulds Of the size and
thickness required. When dried in a
steam heated room, they are passed
through heavy pulp rollers. glazed on one
side and rough on the other. to represent
the grain and flesh sides of the leather.
The addition of the raw fibre with the
tanned filaments is in certain proportions,
according to the quality Of the leather re-
quired, from five to twenty per cent be-
ing safely employed; it gives vitality to the
tanned tibres by agglutinating them and
imparting the abumen and gelatine de.
stoyed by the tannic acid. To render the
leather more supple or flexible, about one
pint of glycerine may be incoi porated with
each hundred weight of the mass. Th,
fact, as stated, that this kind Of leather Il
much less permeable than ordinary sol,
leather gives it IL superior value for certain
purposes, especially when it is considered
how large an amount of inferior stock is y
present employed in manufactures pre-
! sumably of pure leather.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-18

POWER OF A SWEET VoICE.-There is
no power of love so hard TO get and keep
us kind voice. A kind hand is deaf and
dumb. 1t may be rough In flesh and blood,
yet do the work of n soft heart, and do it
with u soft touch. But there is no one
thing that love so much needs as Il sweet
voice to tell what it means and feels; and
it is hard to get and keep it in the right
tone. One must start in youth, and be on
the watch night and day, at work and at
play, to get and keep voice that shall
speak at all times the thoughts of n kind
heart, But this is the time when a sharp
voice is most apt to be got. You often
hear boys and girls say words at play
with quick, sharp tone, as if it were the
snap of whip. When one of them gets
vexed you will hear voice that sounds us
if it were made up of snarl, whine,
and bark. Such voice often speaks
worse than the heart feels. 1t shows more
ill-will in the tone than in the words. 1t
is often in mirth that one gets q voice or
tone that is sharp, and sticks to him
through life, and stirs up ill-will and grief,
and falls like drop of gall on the sweet
Joys at home. Such rs these get sharp
home voice for use, and keep their best
voice for those they meet elsewhere, just
as they would save their best cakes and
pies for guests, and all their sour food for
their own board. would say to all boys
and girls, " Use your guest voice at home.
Watch it day by day, as pearl of great
price, for it will be worth more to you in
days to come than the best pearl hid in the
sea. A kind voice is lark's song to q
hearth and home. 1t is to the heart what
light is to the eye. 1t is light that sings
as we'll as shines. Train it to sweet tones
now, and it will keep through life."-
Yoatk'S ComrGtle.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-18

WHAT BECOMES OF WEALTH.-A boot
and shoe dealer has hanging in his store a
pair of boots worth seven dollars. They con-
stitute a part Of his wealth, and portion ol
the wealth of the world. A man buys
them and begins to wear them by friction
against the pavement little particles of the
leather are rubbed off, and thus separated
from the rest of the sole. Every particle
that is thus removed takes out portion oI
the value of the boots, and when the boots
are entirely worn out, the seven dollars oil
wealth which they formed is consumed.
The wheat, corn, ETC., which was raised
by our farmers last summer is being eaten
up. No particle of matter is destroyed BY
this process, but the value which was in
the grain is destroyed.
AS, while men are wearing out clothing
and eating up food, they are generally
busily employed producing wealth of some
kind. the wealth of the world is not usual.
ly diminished by the consumption. but it
is changed. This applies, however, only
10 personal property; town lots and farms
generally retain their value, but persona
property is subject to perpetual destruction
and renewal. As the several particles oi
water which constitute river are forever
rolling away to the ocean, while theiI
places are being supplied from the spring,
and fountains, SO the movable wealth o
the world is constantly being consumed tc
crafty human wants, and constantly be
ing renewed by the restless activity of hu
man industry.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-18

The present methods employed to rem
der glass opaque are likely to fall into dis
use when the new process, recently invent
ed by NJ. Aubriot, becomes better known;
for muslin glas$, as it is termed, can be
produced in II variety of colors. and in II
number Of pleasing designs, which will
compare flvorably with the dull monotony
of the present ground glass, and even with
the etched or embossed glass. A sheet Of
the material to be covered is lloated with
II vitritiable pigment dissolved in gum WA
ter, and when dry the stencil pattern is
laid on, and the exposed parts are cleaned
with stiff brush. The sheet of glass is
then placed in u furnace, an the remain
ing color is burnt in. When simple
Opaque glass is desired, plate is covered
with gum water and dried; it is then plac-
ed in frame, and Il piece Of tulie, mus
lin or other suitable substance is stretched
over it in close proximity to the gummed
surface The frame is then placed in Il
box containing a quantity of tie powdered
pigment, which is forced against the mus
lin by an air blast, and, passing through
the nterstices, adheres to the gummed
glass. In this way the patterns of the
lace or muslin are reproduced, and the
powder being first caused to adhere firmly
by placing the plate in steam chamber
for IA few minutes, is burnt in, rs before
described, in special furnace. BY means
of stencil plates of different designs, and
muslin and lace of different patterns. to-
gether with pigments of various hues,
some very beautiful glass screens have
been produced, which for many purposes
| L. H..
glass at present manufactured.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-18

SATURDAY NIGHT.-How many n kiss
has been given, how many Il curse, how
many II caress, how many kind word
how many promise has been broken,
how many kind heart has been wrecked
how many q loved one has been lowered
into the narrow chamber, how many IL
babe has gone from earth to Heaven-how
many II crib or cradle stands silent now,
which last Saturday night held the raresl
of all treasures of the heart? A week is
II life. A week is history. A week
marks events of sorrow or gladness OF
which people never hear. Go home to the
family, man of business! Go home. you
heart-erring wanderer! Go home to cheer
that all-wronged waif of life's breakers.
Go home to those you love. man of toll,
and give one night to the Joys and COM
forts fast flying by. Leave your books with
complex figures, your dirty workshop,
your busy store. Rest with those you love
for God only knows what the next Satur-
day night may bring you. Forget the
world of care and battle of life which
have furrowed the week Draw close
around the family hearth. Go home to
those you love, and as you bask in the low.
ed presence, and meet to return the loved
embrace of your hearts pets, strive to be
Il better man and bless God for giving his
weary children so dear stepping stone in
the river to the eternal Saturday night
Methodist Protestant.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-09-18
ALiCE's SUPPER

ar down in the valley the wheat grows deep.
Auu tne reapers are making the cradles sweep;
ana this is the song that hear them sing.
"nl'e CHEEKY and loud their voices ring:
It's the finest wheat that ever did grow.
ANA II is for Alice's supper-Hol hoi"
ar uown by the river the old mill stands,
anu the miller is rubbing his dusty old hands;
Anu these are the words of the millel's lay,
as ne watches the mll-stOnes grinding away,
LIS the hnest nour that money can buy,
anu II IS Tor Alice's supper-Hiihil
Down stairs, in the kitchen, the llre doth glow.
ana COOK is kneadlng the soft white dough;
AND this is the song she is singing TODAY.
AS merry and busy she's working away:
lis the finest dough- whether near or afar
ana tits for Allce's supper-HaI hat"
10 the nursery now comes mother at last
ANA what In her hand is she bringing SO fast?
lis plateful of something all yellow and white,
And she sings as she comes, with her smile s
bright;
"'ris the best bread and butter / ever did see.
And it is for A Ices supper-Hel hel