davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23
The English Navy.

In speaking of the prospects of Eng
land in the case of a war with other Eu-
ropean nations, great stress is always
laid upon the magnificent fleet of war
vessels which she possesses, and the
strength which she could thus WELD upon
the seas everywhere. Powerful indeed is
her navy, and it would be difficult for
any nation to cope with her upon the
ocean, but recent discussions in the
House of Commons show that perfect
satisfaction and confidence is not felt in
the way in which these splendid ships
are built. The London Times, last year,
two or three times astonished the English
public by declaring that a ship then con-
structing, at cost of $2,600,0OO and de-
signed to be the most powerful war ves-
sci atloat, was so raodeled as to possess
the least amount of stability possible,
and the running out of her guns at a
time when the waves were rolling high, or
sudden effort to turn in an angry sea,
would result in her being capsized, espe-
ciaaly if she had been injured in the un-
armored ends. This ship had been
started upon the principle that as the
power of guns had increased SO much
more rapidly than the power of armor, it
was necessary to make the central cita-
del Of certain thickness of armor, with
out regard to the state of the ends of the
vessel"
About the middle of last month, Par
lament began to give its attention to the
matter. In the course of the stirring
debates that have since taken place,
many interesting facts regarding the
English Navy have been given to the
public. Among other things, it was
stated that of thirty-nne iron. clads built
between October, 1861, and April, 1876,
only fifteen were in good working order.
The first cost of the useless twenty four,
added to what had been expended for re-
pairs, reached the sum of $4O,00O,O0O,
which was, in effect, total loss to the
nation. 1t was also shown that these
great ships, with so deep IL draught, could
not be depended upon for coast opera
tons, and the building of monitors SINH
lar to those SO efiectually used by the
United States during the rebellion, was
strongly recommended. In view of the
present unsettled state OF affairs, the fur
Their discussion of the matter has been
postponed for the present, but since the
attention of the British Government has
been so thoroughly aroused by the recent
terrible accident to the Eurydice off of
the Isle of Wight, and by the facts
which have been made known for its con-
sideration, some steps will be taken to
remedy existing defects as soon as posi-
ble.-Toledo Blade.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23
The Hearts Deception.

Be still, oh, yearning heart, be still;
l will not to your teachings bark;
For when no JOY my pulses thrill,
You tell me all the world is dark.
While reason whispers all is fair
As when no sorrow filed my breast,
That summers fruits are rich and rare,
And earth is still in beauty drest.
You chill me with your dark forebodings,
And tell all is gloom without;
Yet when sit in reasons tea chings,
find that you are prone to doubt
All, heart, you are an erring preacher;
will no more contide in you;
Wisdom shall henceforth be my teacher,
The life will wear a SUMMER hue.
All ioy from earth has never fed,
Though youth and summer must depart
Fen when the flowers we love are dead,
Ills winter only in the heart.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23

TURKISH Losses IN THE WAR.-From
recent published official returns it ap-
pears that between the day on which war
was declared and the signing of the ar
mistice the Russian army of the Danube
captured fifteen pashas, $4,000 officers
and men, six hundred and six guns of
different caliGers, 5000 tents, 200
muskets, and "a, 600 horses. In addition,
100000 small arms, yataghans and pis-
tolls we're taken from Turkish irregular
troops, and also - 900 lances and dag
gers. The Russian army in Asia cap
tured during the war fourteen pashas, and
10000 officers and men, six hundred and
sixty-two guns, 10000 tents, $4,000
muskets, $4,000 horses, and immense
stores of ammunition and provisions of
all kinds. The number Of firearms and
miscellaneous weapons taken from the
Asiatic Irregular troops of the Porte was
also, it is stated, exceedingly large, but
no details are given. In Europe, as in
Asia, vast quantity of rice, bread and
salt was siezed, as well as an immense
number of cartridges ard great quanti-
ty of loose powder. The Servian troops
also acquired large booty during the
short time they were engaged, their tro-
plies being returned as two hundred and
thirty-eight guns, ten thousand muskets,
and thirty seven standards, besides am
munition, provisions and horses.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23
Josh Billings on Beer.

hav finally cum to the conclusion that
lager beer as beverage is not intoxi-
eating.
l hav been told by German who said
he had drunk it all mite long, just to try
the experiment, and was obliged to 60
home entirely sober in the morning. l
have seen this same man drink eighteen
glasses, and if he was drunk 1t was IN
German, and nobody could understand it.
1t is proper enuff to state that this
man kept lager beer saloon, could have
no object in stating what was not strict
ly thus.
| believe him to the full extent of my
ability. l never drank but three g lasses
of lager in my life, and that made my
head outwist rs tho it was hung on the
end of sting, but l was told that it
was owing to my bile being out OF place !;
and l guess that it was So, for l never
billed over wus than l did when l got
HON that mite. My wife thot l was goin
to die, and l was afraid that shouldn't,
for it seemed as tho everything l had
ever eaten in my life was coming to the
surface; and | believe that if my wife
hadn't pulled off my boots just as she
did, they would hav cum laundering up
too.
o, how sick l wuz IA years ago, and l
can taste it now.
never had so much experience in so
short time.
If any man shad tell me that lager
beer was not intoxicating I.shud believe
him; but if he should tell me that /
wasn't drunk that mite but that my STUN
mick was out of order, shud ask him
to state over few words just how man
felt and acted when he was set up.
If warn't drunk that mite, l had some
ever had and kept sober.
In the first place it was about 80 rods
from where drank the lager beer to mi
house, and was jest over two hours on
the road, and hole bustid through each
one of my pantaloon neez, and didn't
hav any hat, and tried to open the door
by the bell-pull, and hiccuped awfully,
and saw everythin' in the room trying to
get round on the back side of me, and,
sitting down on chair, did not wait
long enough for it to get exactly under
INC WHICH L WuL SoluS iouHu, ahu se'
down little too soon and missed the
chair about twelve inches, and couldn't
get up soon enough to take the next one
that come along; and that amt awl, my
wife sed wuz as drunk as beest, and,
NJ sed before, began to spin up things
freely.
If lager beer is not intoxicating it
used me most almighty mean, that l
know.
Still hardly think that lager beer IL
Intoxicating, for l hav been told so; and
am probably the only man living who
ever drunk eny when bis liver was not
plumb.
l don't want to say anything against
harmless temperance beverage, but if ever
| drink cny more, it will be with mi
hands tied behind and my mouth pried
open.
don't think lager beer is intoxicating,
but if l remember rite, think it tasted
to me like glass of soap suds that a
pickle had been put tew soak in.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23
A WE'LL KNOWN Oxford man, who was

A WILL KNOWN Oxford man, who was
Mt the same time fellow of his college
and head maste. of = prosperous gram
mar school, was once detected by an old
pupil skating on Sunday afternoon. 81
think, DOCTOR" was not the unnatural OBJ
servation, you once flogged me for boat.
ing Sunday" YES, my dear boy, !"
was the reply, "and did quite right. If
n man really likes boating, one day to
him is the same as another. Skating is
entirely different. 1t may freeze hard
on the Saturday night and then thaw
again before day break on Monday morn
ing"
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23

forest at moonlight felt their hearts grow
weary; but as all eyes turned towards the
wood there came forth from it white
horse which all knew to he Sir Olafs.
1t was ridden by a knight who seemed
to be frozen in his saddle; he was white
to the lips; his wide-open eyes stared at
nothing. The horse came on and paused
in their midst, and as though some unseen
thing had until that moment supported
him, the knight fell forward upon his
face. 1t was Sir Olaf.
ale is deadw shrieked the bride.
dead deadl" shrcked the mother.
"Dead!' chorused the guests.
And they wept over him as he lay in
their midst, and cried, There will be nc
wedding, but "a funeral-the funeral OF
the bravest and best beloved knight in
Denmark.
Then the bride tore her hair and scat
tered her jewels upon the ground, but
there uprose in the midst of the guests an
old, wise woman, who had lived more
than hundred years.
Her long, gray hair fell down on either
side of her head bands, her cheeks were
wrinkled, and she was bent double; but
her shrill voice filled all the place.
Listen to me, oh, friends" she said.
81 know what you know not. The brave
young knight, Sir Olaf, has met the Ell
maidens in the wood, and has had the Eli
stroke TO every man who rides through
the wood after night, do the Elf maidens
call, Come and dance they cry. Come
and dance
"And whether they dance or not, they
give them the Eff stroke over the heart.
Only there is this difference: 1t is well
known to all wise people, the man who is
untrue to his wife or his love is dead, and
all the doctors in Denmark cannot re-
store him. But one who is quite true,
who, there in the darkness of the wood,
with the Elf maidens only to look upon
him, and the beautiful eyes of the Elf
Kings daughter locking into his, is ut
terly true, and neither kisses her soft
lips, or dances with her, or takes from
her gift or ring, him the lips of his true
love may bring to life again.
"The bride has but to kiss him, and he
lives again. Only said the old wise
woman, shaking her head, "in my time
none have come to life again. All have
died who have had the Eff stroke"
"But if thy words be true, old woman,
Sir Olaf will breathe once more" cried
the bride; "for he is true as steel. | know
my knight. Ihave no doubt of him."
And she knelt beside her pallid lover,
trembling and weeping, and showered
kisses on his lips, while all stood about
in silence, scarcely daring to breathe.
And under these kisses the white lips
grew red again; the pale cheeks flushed,
life sparkled in those frozen eyes.
The bride felt her knights breath upon
her cheek.
"Wise woman, thou hast spoken the
truth" she cried; seven the Elf stroke
cannot harm the true heart, and my Olaf
is true as the steel of his own good
blade"
Then up rose Sir Olaf, strong and fair
as ever, and took his bride by the hand,
and far in the Elf wood were heard
strange, wild sounds, the Elf Kings
daughters shrieking with rage; for they,
like the old wise woman, had never be-
fore known one so true as to refuse their
l. and tb.,ir oo16
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23
A STUBBORN Recently NJ

A STUBBORN FEMALE.--Recently Mrs.
Ann NJ. Gready and her daughter Mary,
who were arrested on the preceding day
for breach of the peace in repeatedly an
noyipg John b. Coahan, a lawyer, went
to prison in default of bail Mrs. Gready
and her daughter are the females who
caused considerable excitement by
screaming and attempting to throw them
selves on the sidewalk while being taken
to the Central Station. at the time Mr..
Gready, her husband, died, he was sup
posed to be worth something over $780,
900. When the estate came to be adj
ministered upon, it was found that the
amount coming to Mrs. Greatly would
be only 100000 This sum was placed
to her credit by the Orphans Court, but
this she persistently refused to accept.
She believes herself cheated by the ad.
ministrators and lawyers engaged in
settling the estate, and has been arrested
four times previous for wronging and an
noying them. At least twenty persons
offered to go her bail, but she refused all
offers, and declares she will remain in
prison until justice is done her. Persons
acquainted with the case say that Mrs.
Gresdy is undoubtedly insane.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23
Where the Treaty Was Made.

The house where the Treaty Of San
Stefano was signed is described by Il
Standard correspondent as standing upon
the brink of precipitous cliff, into
whose cave-eaten base the waves seemed
to boom constant protest against peace.
The Penipotentiaries met in an elc-
gantly furnished room, about twenty
five feet square, upholstered in blue with
yellow flowers and stripes, and carpeted
with the produce of the looms of Smyrna
in green and red. Porcelain vases of ever
green stood in each window. At the OPP
posite side of the room was divan, in
front of which stood large table covered
with maps. Ignatieff and NJ. de Nelidotf
took their seats with their backs to the
window, so that they could scrutinize every
play of feature which at this supreme
moment must surely break through the
impassive stoldity of the two represen-
tative Turks commissioned to ratify the
defeat Of their nation and its conse-
quences. Safvet sat on IgnatieHs right,
there being small round table between
these two functionaries. Sadullah was
nearer the centre of the room in a large
fauteuil bordered with heavy gilt fringe.
The other occupants of the room were
Prince Cherofteii, NJ. BAIL, and two
Turkish secretaries. When all was ready
Ignatieff aid Safvet signed Simultaneous
~, the latter holding the document on
his hand as he wrote, after the Turkish
manner; the Russian writing on the table.
Each then took the others paper aud
signed again, and the Treaty of San Ste
fano was completed.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23
Contraction and Expansion 4.

The rural idea of contraction and ex-
pansion is peculiar. Here it is. Charles
Augustus was with Julia the other even
ing, when she observed:
"Charles, dear, what Is all this talk
about contracting and expanding the cur
reucy. and which do you believe in9"
"Well, my sweet said Charles, pull
ing up his collar, "that depends upon
circumstances. In some cases should adj
vocate contraction of the currency, and in
others an expansion Of it. 1t is according
to the circumstances-that il, the condi-
ton of things"
"But what is the difference between
the two, and how does circumstances af-
feet them2 That's what l want to know,
Charles"
"Oh, that's easily explained" said
Charles, in tone of great cheerfulness.
"For instance, when we are alone we both
sit on one chair, don't wei'
"Yes."
"Well, that's contraction. But when
we hear your pa or ma coming, we get on
two chairs, don't WEI"
~ should say we did"
well, my love, that is expansion. So
you see it is according to circumstances. y
"Charles," said she, very softly, bur
rowing under his ear, 1--WE are contracting
now, amt wet"
you bet," said Charles, with increased
cheerfullness.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23

NEw DEFISITIoN--A famous Roman
ecclesias,ic was making his periodical
tour Of inspection in the Dublin Sunday
schools. "Kate Molony," said he to an
intelligent looking girl, explain the
meaning Of the holy Sacrament of Mat
rimouy." A pause. "Please, yer honor,
il is sad state of existence before enter
ing purgatory." go to tho bottom Of
the class, you ignorant girl" cried out
the local clergyman, very much ashamed
Of his pupil. But the archbishop stopped
him. mot so fast, Father Patrick, not
so fast. The lass may be right, after all.
What do you or know about itf'
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23

THE LAST OF THE SIX NATIoNs.-There
was council of the Six Nations at On
ondaga Castle, last week, and the Indian
citizenship bill, recently introduced by
Senator Herman, in the United States
Senate, was warmly discussed. A cor
respondent of the Utica Republican, who
sat by the council fire, writes that the
drift of the argument was against any
law that would allow or compel them to
become citizens, as such a course would
withdraw the protecting arm of the Gov
eminent and open wide the door to the
grasping avarice of the white man. They
would have nothing to gain and every
thing to lose; it would be for their true
interest to remain as they are. In the
evening the young men entertained their
guests with u war dance, in which they
appeared in full Indian costume and war
paint, with tomahawk and scalping knife
and as the war-whoop rang out from hill
to valley it required but slight stretch
of the imagination to take one back to
the time when that cry struck terror to
every white settler who heard it. Keep
ing step to their native music, these war
riors chanted the proves and valor OF
their forefathers, when they were the
dominant race; the wrongs which they
had endured in following the course
which the Great Spirit had marked out
for them.-N. Y. Tribune.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23

TRouGHT SHE WAS A TRAMP.-An old
lady named Curtis, living in Stctson,
with An old coat over her head, went past
the barn door Friday evening while a
young man named Kimball was feeding
the cattle: He thought it was u tramp,
aud plunged the pitchfork into the old
lady's side, one tine penetrating the lung
and inflicting fatal injuries.
The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-05-23

Another buried city has been discov-
cred in Italy. At the foot of Mount
Gargano buried town has been laid
bare, the houses being twenty feet below
the surface. A temple of Diana was first
brought to light, then portico composed
Of columns without capitals, and finally
a metropolis covering nearly four acres.
The Italian Government has taken meas
ures Ia continue the excavations On II
large scale, and has already discovered a
monument erected 10 honor of Pompey
after his victory over the pirates. The
town is the ancient Sipontum, of which
Strabo and Livy speak. and which was
destroyed by an earthquake.
A YOUNG apprentice to the shoe making
business asked his master what answer
he should give to the often-repested
question, docs your master warrant his
shoesf' Answer, Thomas" said the mas
ter, "thst warrant them To prove good,
and if they don't III make them good for
nothing"
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-12-06
An Enormous Tree.
OLD MOSES, The MAMMOTH TREE OF CALL
FoKNIA-THE LARGEST TREE ON THE
FACE OF THE EARTH.

In the sand lot on Market street, says the
San Francisco Post, encircled by circus tent
of ample dimensions is a section of the
largest tree in the word-exceeding the di-
ameter of the famous tree of Calaveras by
five feet. This monster of the vegetable
kingdom was discovered in 1874 on the Tule
river, Tulare county, about seventy.fve mil
es from Visala. At some remote period, its
top had been broken off by the elements of
some unknown forces, yet when discovered it
had an elevation of two hundred feet. The
trunk of the tree was one hundred and ele-
ven feet in circumference, with diameter
Of thirty-ive feet and four inches. The sec.
ton on exhibition is followed out, leaving
about foot of bark and several inches of
wood. The interior is one hundred feet in
circumference and thirty in diameter, and
it has seating capacity Of about two hum
dred. 1t was cut off from the tree about
twelve feet above the base, and required the
labor of four men for nine days to chop it
down. In the centre of the tree and extend
ing through its whole length was a rotten
/ core dUOuJ TWO lteI III partially
filled with the soggy, decayed vegetation
that had fallen in from the top. In the GEN.
tire of this cavity was found the trunk of a
little tree of the same species, having per-
feet bark on it, and showing regular growth
1t was of uniform diameter, an inch and a
half all the way, and when the tree fell and
split open, this curious stem was traced for
nearly one hundred feet, usually strait but
occasionally gnarled and twisted as though
it had met impediments in its growth. 1t
is believed to have sprung from a seed in
the bottom, grown the whole length of the
trunk, and supported by green, living tor
at the summit The rings of this monarch
of the forest show its age to have been S4(
years. Centuries after it had reached its tai
head heavenward, old Nimrod went out tt
rule Babel, and built Nineveh the grea
pyramid of Gizeh had not been conceived
by the ancient Egyptians the slow process
of evolution had not even brought forth tn,
germ of Frank Pixley's mule, and Baby
Ions site was not located.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-12-06
The Difficulty Of Building a Railway in China.

Foreigners hold land in China by treaty
stpulatons, under the title deeds, in both
Chinese and English, registered at consul
late; usually but yet by no means necessarily,
that of the nation to which the owner be-
longs. This title is in the nature of a perpe-
tual lease. Could such title be obtained for
a strip of land embracing the old road, it
seemed reasonable to assume that if there
were interference with any construction
thereupon, the tenure of every hong and 9TH
er piece of real estate in Shanghai would be
affected, snd the railroad projectors would
have the whole community at their back.
Purchases we're therefore cautiously begun
and carried on, and registry obtained, not in
the British or United States consulate, where
attention wonld be attracted to it, but in
Continental bureau, OF course there we're
I numerous and troublesome obstacles, such as
are not unknown in Western lands. Farm
ers claimed many times the value of their
holdings for small corners old women Of
horrible aspect, and mistresses of the choice
est Chinese bllingsgate, cursed the en-
gineer and the interpreter by their false
gods, and vowed that Confucus himself
should not have an iota of their patrimony;
and the deiunct natives gave the mcst troub-
lie of all. 1t should be stated that in this
favored land the rude foreiathers of the ham,
let who departed this life are disposed of in
sundry aud promiscuous ways, according,a ,ap-
parently, to the means of c9price or their
friends. Some are interred Others, packed
in boxes, are deposited in the fields; and
others, again, placed in barrel.like earthern
receptaclts (happiiy described By British
i officer as Jars Of potted ancestors, by Jove !
= you know
= When it came to disturbing these, opposi-
ton eliminated as the ideas of buyers and
sellers different materially as to the market
e value OF 'potted ancestors, and crisis soon
n came. Ven zey is me- savs the poor French
I. actor, q do not mind i'm m1och but ven it
,e COON to - or-7n-ge-2set, c'est autre chose p
h So when scoldng old women were re-eufor-
ced by barbaric hordes with uplifted hoes
lie and shovels, the surveying party retreated in
IN good skirmishing order, and reported at head.
al quarters-A. A Hayes, in Harper's Magas
mr. inc for December.
The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-12-06
Two Kinds of Young Ladies.

One young lady rises early, rolls up her
sleeves, goes into the kitchen TO get break
fast, or insists upon doing SO, and afterwards,
with cheerful and sunny smiles, puts the
house in order without the assistance Of
Mother She will make good wife, and
render home paradise. Young man, get
her Another young lady is parlor beauty,
pallid from company, dissipation and want
of exercise, reads novels and almost dies of
laziness, while the poor old mother does her
washing. She is useless piece of furniture,
she is an annoyance to the husband she may
chance to "rope in and will go willingly to
her grave. Young man, let her alonep