davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-13
BURNING OUT THE SNAKES.
Hundreds of Kissing Reptiles Scorched Out Of
an lee House.

On Sunday evening McDade's ice hOust
was burned and hundreds of snakes wiggled
and craWled ont and ran for the bay, creating
a continuous splash as one after another OF tht
reptiles went hCadlOng into the water The
snakes seemed to come from every nook AND
corner Of the building, and writing in agony
from the intense heat, instinctivcly made iOl
the bay direct, and, manned and burned Is
many Of them were, they plunged in promis
cuOuSly, throwing great volumes Of water nigh
| into the air
| The Waterman at one of the other ice house.
says that when he first saw the flames they en-
veloped nearly the entire building. 1t had
been accidentally set on fire by tramps, several
of whom were subsequently found lying near
the ruins fast asleep. One Of these very graph.
ically describes the rush Of snakes from the
burning building Out Of the doorway, through
the roof, through dense volumes of smoke, they
came bv scores, large snakes and small, of al.
most every species known to this latitude, their
eyes extended and their torked tongues darling
defiance at the blaze, they actually raced
through the air to a place of safety They
Missed with madness, and pounded the earth
with their tails in fury, and seemed to screech
in agony The number of them seemed to be
endless, until the whole structure was SO tar
consumed that no more could escape.
| Great ratleSnakes, blow snakes moccaslns,
garter snakes and water snakes were huddled
and hustled together rs they came forth APP
parently born of the flames. Wild with rage
and tossing venom into the fire, which seemed
only to increase ITS volume they colled on the
ground with arched necks ready to strike the
foe that approached them. Some of them even
seemed to stand on the edge Of the ice house as
If bidding defiance to the devouring elements,
and to lick up the flames with their tongues,
before giving up what had been their homes.
Some of the snakes took refuge in large pile
of lumber near the ice house.
The house was built with three boards, by
which Il vacant space was made in the siding,
creating an air chamber, and 1t is supposed
that the snakes had taken possession Of this
for home The tramps who endeavored to
stay in the ice house on Sunday night proba
bly, discovered some of the snakes and attempt
ed to smoke them ont, but the effort resulted
in the destruction of the bulding.-Quincy
WIjg
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-13
Natural Diffusion of Gold.

Mr.. Henry G. Hanks, in IA paper read by
him before the California State Geological So
cicty, on the Divsibility OF Gold" has re.
Gently added, Us the result of his personal oh.
scrvatIons, many valuable facts in addition to
what was already known on the subject, all
tending to give further evidence rs to the ON.
Iniprcscncc of the precious metal in the earth's
crust
OF all the interesting examinations that have
thus far been made to obtain information on
this subject, the most curious, perhaps, were
those that followed the Investigations of Mr..
ECkfeldt, the principal assayeI of the United
States mint at Philadelphia, II few years ago.
Underneath the paved city of Philadelphia
there lies deposit of clay whose area, by a
probable estimate, would measure over three
miles square, enabling us to figure out the
convenient sum of ten square miles. The
average depth is believed to be not less than
fifteen feet. The inquiry was started whether
gold was difiuscd in this earthly bed From Il
central locality, which might afford fair as
say for the whole, the cellar OF the new market,
in Market street. near Eleventh street some of
the clay was dug out at a depth of fourteen
feet, where it could not have been an artificial
deposit. The weight of 1870 grammeS was dried
and duiy treated, and yielded one eighth of Il
milligramme Of gold-a very decided quantity
on fine assay balance.
IL was afterwards ascertained that the clay
in its natural state loses about fifteen per cent.
of moisture IN drying. So that, us il lies in
the ground, the clay contains one part gold in
,224,000, This experiment was repeated upon
clay taken from brickyard in the suburbs of
the city, with the same result In order to cal
culate with some accuracy this body of wealth,
blocks of clay were cut out, and Il cubic foot
las it lies in the ground) found to weigh 100
pounds, nearly, making the specific gravity
l92. The assay gave scvcn-tcnths of Il grain
of gold Ia the cubic foot. Assuming the data
already given, it was asccrtaned that there
were 4, $50 millions of cubic feet of clay under
the streets and houses, in which securely lay
l2G millions of dollars; and if, as was pretty
certain, the corporate limits of the city afforded
eight times this bulk of clay, more gold lay
therein than had rs yet been brought from
California and Australia.
From these figures it is apparent that, every
time cart load ofclay is hauled out of cellar,
enough gold goes with it to pay for the cart
ing; and, according to Mr. Eckieldts calcula-
ton, if the bricks which front the houses of
the city could have brought To their surface.
in the form Of gold leaf, the amount of gold
which they contain. there would appear a git.
tering star Of two square inches on every brick
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-13

Physicians of Berlin have sent forth an ur-
gent warning against the use of the popular
babycarriage in which the little ones sit fac
Ing the nurse and are pushed backward. The
natural desire of the eye is to draw nearer TO
what it sees, and the practice of reversing this
normal order Of things and causing surround
ing objects 10 recede is liable To affect injuri-
ously the Development of both sight and brain.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-13

LUNAR NONsENsE.-If we accepted literal
ly every lunar prejudice the moon would rule
many things besides the weather Madmcn
and lunatics would be subject to her power
There are veterinary surgeons who say that
the sight Of certain horses becomes dim or
clear according to the phases Of the moon
Woodmen insist that if trees are fellcd with a
waning moon, the wood will speedily decay
Housewives declare that if you kill your pig
as you ought, with crescent moon, the bacon
will swell nicely in the boiling; if, on the con.
trary, when she is in the wanc, it will shrivel
shrink, and be hard and good for nothing. Fl
nally, all sailors in a mass, except the most
highly educated officers, attribute every change
of weather to the moon. Why? Nobody
knows. Suchikc prcjuCticcs must be accepted
and their truth taken for granted, without dis
cussiOn, There is no want of instances. 1t is
exactly because prcjudices are beyond the
reach Of discussion that it is so difficult to
bring them TO reason. Natural philosophers
have perfectly explained the phenomena ut.
tribued to La Lune Rouse, the Red Moon,
which are really caused by the state of the at
mosphcrc. Gardeners, nevertheless persist in
making the Red Moon the lunation between
the paschal and the Pcntecosta Moons re.
spOnsblc for the morning frosts which fire.
qucntly occur at that season. But the ancicns
never entertained the idea that the moons
phases were the cause of changes in the wealth
er: it was Jupiter's privilege to assemble the
clouds and to dart the thunderbols, The lucky
and unlucky days of the lunar month belong
to nstrOlOgy and not To meteorolOgy. BOuvarl.
AragO, and many others have proved, by long
series of observations, that the moon does not
affect the weather Labor in vain. The ma
jority of sailors interpret the moons age, each
according TO his own private rule Of belief
The only cllcctual retutation would be to strike
at the root of the evil in early youth, and make
school children repeatedly recite and copy
truthful sentences such as, at is ridiculous to
believe in SOrcercrs, witches, wCre-wolves, and
Red Moons" at is not true that the new
moon changes the weather, that the full moon
eats up the clouds, that thundcrbols are made
of stone" and other items of the vulgar creed
Accurate knowledge of facts might thus be
promoted bp catechism OF things not to be
bclieved.-LoHdOa Soctdy
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-13
A Fifteen-POund Rat.

Dangling from the grating on the front WIN
dow of a saloon on Minor street was to be seen
yesterday sign with this request; "Gentlc
men will please not fool with therat." Inside
the grating an animal good deal larger than
a ull-grown hedgehog was lying fast asleep
It's hair was brown and sleek, with a sprink
ling of white along the side. "What d'yoa
think of 'im?" asked the -aloon-keeper.
THAT isn't the rat"
That's him.
"Whcre did he come FROM
From South America. The fact is he
doesn't belong to me. I'm keeping him tor
another party
Then the saloon-kccper went on to say that
the right title and interest to the rat was vested
in slow going, goOdnatured Dutchman. who
brought HIM from South America, and was
dwelling with him in obscurity, from which
he was rescued about a week ago by saloon
keeper, who said that he thought he might
as well take him and advertise him rs have
him stay with his owner where nobody'd ever
see him?'
what does he weigh?"
"Fittecn pound"
as he savagc?'
The rat now opened his jaws to cape, dis.
closing four long tangs, two in each jaw, rs
though he understood the question and took it
upon himself to answer in his own way.
The proprietor said that the rat slept great
deal in daytime and at night was generally II
ritable and savage.
"IIow would he come out from a tussle with
a dog?' asked a bystandcr.
well, he got away with only three dogs
during the last week. said the proprietor, un-
conccrnedly, as though it was hardly worth
mentioning.
Hurt them badly" queried the bystander.
"Only tore the side out Of one Of them, Il
terrier; tore the nose nearly oft Il bulldog,
and would have killed the third another ter
rier if we hadn't taken HIM Off"
The rat is about fourteen inches high and
eighteen inches long. 1t is said that there is
only one other such specimen in the country
in Central Park, New York. lie eats peanuts
bread and crackers Peanuts being his favor
lite diet, he devours a large dIshful of them
daily. In South America these rats run wild
in the woods.-Ihiiadelphi0 Times.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-13
CARVING THE TURKEY.

An ancient Turkey weak and gray,
AN faucibus mortis" helpless lay,
BY the banks of the dark Bosporus
And gazed with feeble, fading eyes
At the fitfu light in the Western skies
That cleaned like cleaning phosphorus.
Bull and Bear sat close by his side
And watched his life blood's ebblng tide,
With faces sad ana pathetic.
The Bull administered lotion loans
To brace his nerves and strengthen his bones,
The Bear gave him Tartar emetic.
He had been in his time game old cock,
And stood 'ganst his foes like granite rock,
As true MS the truest Roman.
And now, though his life was ebbing fast,
lie raised himself and he died at last
With his face to his cruel ioemen.
'-Our brother has gone, do declare"
Said brother Bull to brother Bear;
II almost feel like crying.
Our friend was SO valiant, good and meek,
With only one failing, SO to speak,
He was rather too long in dying.
..And now. brother Bear, wen cut him in two
And divide his flesh like Christians true,
One half for me, one half for you,
Carving him neatly and prettily,
Joint by Joint and piece by piece,
Leaving the tail for sister Greece,
And the Pope's nose for brother Italy"
so they ran the knife in up to the heft,
They carved him right and carved him left,
And carved him down the middle;
But they could not find a single piece
OF meat or flesh, or fat or grease
Sufficient to grease the griddlc.
II was Turkey only in name,
With no true inwardness, only a frame,
Like fifth Of July rocket;
II was thin as a wafer, thin as ghost,
Thin as diet Of water and toast,
Thin as a speech Of Congressman when
Hc talks about honor and honest men,
With both hands in his Uncle's pocket.
MORAL.
For Mss Co'tnbia'S Bemf
When you see a sister lying low,
Like Canada, Cuba or Mexico,
And hardly able to hobbc,
Don't wait for the tedious hem and haw
Of that slow old coach the National law,
But swoop like an eagle, on her pounce,
Gobble her down and gobblc at once,
While there's something left to gobble.
G. II. AVERY, in v. Y. Sun.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-13

College professor Ito Junior who has been
taking advantage of his Observation-Disclosures ,
young man, i find on looking over the re.
cords that this makes the fifth time in two
years that you have been granted leave of alb
sence to attend TO your grandmother's funeral"
-Hd1peT's Bdzdr.
The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-13

Another Mammoth Cave has been discover
ed in Kentucky, which las been explored six
teen miles one way and twenty-three another
Great rivers were found and a broad track
over which wagons could he driven for four.
teen miles Several mummiiied corpses were
found in coflins Of an unknown people
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02
Communism and Despotlsm.

Extremes meet. We would especially
call this truth to the earnest attention of
our Communist friends. In speaking thus
we do not refer to the red flag brigands
who if they could, would subjugate society
to the reign Of torch and sword, but to
certain enthusiastic philRnthropists who in
all sincerity bewail the haIdships of pow
erty, and in all kindness seek to invent
some human scheme for social ameliora-
tion. All these plans seem to tend to one
grand centre, in fact, we might say, head
centre-and that is increased government
authority. They would take away from the
citizen and give to the ruler. The authors
contend that under the individual sys-
rem, where each man may get what he can
and keep it, the rich grow too rich, aud the
poor too poor, and that the proper remedy
for this is to prevent the acquisition, to put
all things in common and have administra-
tors-wise and upright men-who shall see
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

ION REFORM IT ALTOGETHER !"-We know
how ungraoious is the part of q soold; hence
our repugnanoe to undertake the role especial.
ly In regard to an enterprise 30 prAiseworthy
rs the Taticdn Library Norels, whose cheApnees,
convenient form and judioious selections are
most admirable: but really, II the publishers
continue to permit go many dropped letters "
rs appear in their number and some Others,
we shall feel obliged, reluctantly, to publicly
call attention to their omissions ! Messrs H.
81 Co. will understand that this hint is given
In the joint interest of themselves and their
numerous readers.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

ST. THEREsAs CHURCH. - last Thursday
morning, at the half past six O'Clock Mass, St.
Theresa's Church presented q most beautiful
spectacle. The altars were chastely decor
ated and brilliantly illuminated, and the nave
of the edi6ce was filled with the children
who were about to make their First Com
munion and the young ladies of the several
societies, all beautifully dressed in white.
Father Massardier concluded his onerous
labors of preparing the children for the recsp-
ton of the Bread of Life, by delivering elo-
quent addresses both before and after they had
received their First Communion. The number
of frat oommunioants was 167, all of whom
weresconfirmed the same evening by His Grace,
the Most Rev. Arehbishop.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

Mr.. Webb, the Oarpet,bagger from England,
who desires to succeed Mr.. ODonnen as repre-
sentative for DnnGarvan, and to whom the
Very Rev. DR.. Cleary wrote the soorching letter
which appeared in our last Issue, has published
o reply in the Dublin FreenGn's Journal Mr..
Webb impeaches the accuracy of Dr.. Cleary's
statements, denies that he had any corrupt
motive in offering his charitable donation, and
tells the Very Rev. Canon that he will ask
him to verify his charges aud insin nations in
9 court of justice.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

Some days after having sent his letter of
submission to the Pope, Father Curc visited
Cardinal Franohi, Secretary of State, and ask
ed permission to be received in audience by
His Holiness. The Cardinal made the appli.
cation to the Holy Father, and received q
reply that Father Curoi must first be recon-
oiled with Father Beokx, the General of the
Society of Jesus, and, after undergoing re-
treat Of ten days duration, he might again
make his application. Father Curci received
this answer with great resignation, and pro-
mised the Cardinal to act precisely as the Holy
Father desired.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

The gas war has broken ont way of in Baroe-
Iona, Spain. The agitation grew out of the re-
sistance of the people to q municipal tax on gas
which the gas company assessed on consumers
Private and public establishments. ceased to
burn gas for fcrty-three evenings, and the
shops closed at sunset. Crowds collected in
front of the fsw houses which continued to use
gas. The losses Of two gas companies amount
to several thousand dollars daily. The city
authorities endeavoEed to compel the shops to
keep open, and the Governor issued procla.
nation to that effect.
Local journals are fined and suspended for
protesting and ten are under prosecution.
The Minister of the Interior supports the
municipal authorities. The agitation lie in
orsasing. The Opposition in the Cortes
attacked tho Governments policy.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

OF late years, and since the difficulties be.
tween the ecclesasticsl authorities and the
Ancient Order of Hibernians assumed propor-
tions of magnitude, the several conventions of
the Order have changed their constitution in
manv important respects. Among the rules
adopted Tor the organization Of Divisions are
the folio wing:
2. These Catholic Associations, by their own
nature, are subj sct to the ecclesiastical sutho-
rity, and consequently their rules, constitu-
tions and alterations to be made, as from time
to time any may be deemed proper, are to be
subjected to said appreciation.
5. In order, however, that all may be done
with justice, Christian charity and edification,
there will be in each County Chaplain ap.
pointed by the Ordinary of the Diocese, to be
consulted by the Divisions before determining
Ianythipg relating to morality or religion.
. 6 The Chaplain in each county shall see
that nothing be done or couatenanced by the
Society which might be contrary to the Ia ws
o. the Church, the decree0 of the Council of
Baltimore, the synodioal constitutions of the
Diocese, or the depositions of the Ordinary, to
whom he shall refer any difficulty or doubt
which he maybe unable to solve.
Each and every Division of the A. o. Il.
established or to be established throughout
the United States shall adopt the foregoing
rules as preliminaries to the constitution and
bylaws which they may adopt for their gov
ernment as most suitable to their objects !;
provided that they may be in accordance sVih The
same and approved by the Ordinary.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

At the Convent of Mercy, Vioksburg, on the
oath of May. Misc Kate Nelson, of Pass Chris
tian, as Sister II. BorRis, aud Miss Mary A.
Murray, of Dubuque, Iowa. As Sister NJ. Bsr
nardine, received the white veil of novioes
from the hands Of Rev. P. Huber. The Rev.
Father delivered an appropriate discourse on
the occasion, assuring the young ladies about
to be received into the Order of Mercy of the
happiness promised to those who persevered
faithfully unto the end in the service of their
Divine Master.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

Nine Catholic Churches in Philadelphia have
been entered within al month by burglars, who
carried of silver altar vessels, the contents of
poor boxes, and other portable things worth
taking In one instance they fred the edifioe,
but the hame was quickly discovered and ex-
tinguished. They also wantonly destroyed
vestments in such manner as to indicate that
they were actaated by fanatioism.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

CoNFIKMATIoNs.-His Grace, the Most Rev.
Archbishop, was 80 unwell last Sunday ss to be
unable to visit the Churches of st. John the
Baptist and Oar Lady of the Sacred Heart, to
administer the Sacrament of Confirmation
according to promise. On Tuesday, however,
feeling much better, he confirmed 81 persons,
nearly oil of whom were converts, at the Con-
vent of the Good Shepherd, and on Thursday,
Feast of the Ascension, he administered the
sAme Sacrament to 167 persons in st. Theresa .
Church, about fifteen of the number being
adult converts.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02
communicated

The May Festivals in St. Stephens Hall, Ma.
poleon avenue, for the benefit of Sf Stephens
Church, are continued with increased interest
and success. The entertainments each night
have pleased exceediugly-even beyond all
expectation. Tonight the Mitchell Rifles will
open with a Grand Military TabIeAu and give
representations of outpost duty by the Irish
skirmishers in the Donegal Mountains-the
Irish soldier at the camp bivouac-cooking z
aud serving rations-Attack and rspulse of the
enemy-the prisoners-exeoution of a spy
conclude with camp. song and chorus.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

THE HIBERNIA INSURANCE COMPANY. - In
another column will be found tbs ann ual state
ment of this Institution. Tnat it's management
has been marked by .hst courtesy and liber-
slity which are so essential to the success Of
public institutions, is proved by the fact
that its earnings were 10 per cent greater than
the year before, while the handsome profits d.
vided among the shareholders, amounting to
10 per cent on paid up capital and per cent on
premiums (making total, with the rebate, of
20 per cent on premiums) have won the
grateful acknowledgment to of the stockholders,
who gave the old officers the most emphatic en-
dorsement possible by re-electiDg them for
another term. Besides the character of its di-
rectors as men of the highest standing in com.
meroial Circles 1922 s9s in assets guars sntee the
solidity of the Company.
The Board of Directors of course re. elected
Mr.. John Henderson to his old position as
President, thereby testifying their high appre-
cistion Of the characteristic energy, tact and
broad liberality displayed by him in the man
agement of the interests oonfded to his care,
MIR. T. F. Bragg, whose experience ard efici-
ency have been no less valuable to the Company
than his promptitude and courtesy have been
pleasing to its patrons, was retained as Secre-
tary. The Vice Presidency, vacated by the
death of Mr.. Irwin, was filled by the election
of our well-known fellow citizen, Mr. ]. 81
Hanna.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

The President of st. Jarlath's College, Tuam,
the Rev. Uliok Canon Bourke, NJ r la, has
published. we observe, the sermons in Irish
Gaelic preached by the Right Rev. james
O'GAllagher, the Lord Bishop of Rsphoe, with
n literal idiomatic translation on the opposite
page, together with an Irish. Gaelic Vocabu-
larry, as we'll az q Memoir of that true hearted
Bishop aud his times.
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

That the manly and pstriotic courss of Mr..
F.H. ODonnell in Parliament, is fully endorsed
by his constituents was proved by the enthu-
siastio reception accorded him on his arrival
in Dungarven on May 5tb. He was met by q
large crowd, consisting of the leading citi.,ns
and the clergy, five miles from town, the
horses were taken from his carriage. and it
was drawn along by hundreds of stal lwart men
through an immense concourse, sll cheering
and shou{in0 for " "ObstructionU
The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-06-02

The beautiful and touching devotion of the
Way Of the Cross is believed to have originated
with the Blessed Virgin, who was accustomed
to visit every day the places which were sano-
tined By the incidents of the Passion; and it
is thought that her practice suggested Chris.
tian PROFESSIONS.