davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05

Most OF US fritter away great deal Of
time We waste minutes as We waste
nothing else. Nothing is easier than to
fritter away time in matters of no use to
ourselves or to any one else. The habit
is readily formed. It grows upon US una
wares. Keep a strict account Of every
hour Of youi time for single week, set
ting down correctly the exact manner in
which every hour is spent, and See-When
you come to review it-whether you do
not find it full of admonition and instruc-
ton. In this simple way one can readily
understand the secret Of his want OF time.
He viii discover that he has given hours
to idle talk, to trifes or to Incidence,
which have yielded him neither profit or
pleasure.
What is the remedy? Arrange your
work in the order Of its comparative i'm
portance. Attend first, to the things
which are essential, and let the unessen-
tials take their chance aherward. The
difference in the amount of work accom-
plished will astonish you. Duty before
pleasure. Practice this preceptandyou will
have plenty Of time for pleasure, and en-
JOY far greater satisfaction than viii those
who reverse this rule--for there is pro-
found satisfaction in the performance Of
ones simple duty.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05
Remarkable Conduct Of a Dog.

A Broughty Ferry lady, writing to her
friends from Dublin, gives an account Of a
strange occurrence by which her husband
was saved from being run down in ferry
boat. The gentleman was just about to
step into the boat to cross the river, when
large retriever rushed upon him, caught
hold Of his trousers with his teeth and at
the same time kept up constant howl. 1t
was only after considerable difficulty that
he could get himself released, and by that
time the ferry-boat had been showed off
into the river. The gentleman naturally
felt much annoyed at being prevented
from crossing, but his feelings were
changed when a minute later, he saw the
ferry-boat run down by a steamer, which
had approached without noticing the boat
The passengers we're thrown into the wa
ter but, fortunately, the crew Of the
steamer were successful in saving them all,
some being very much exhausted. While
thinking Of the singular means by which
he had been saved from the accident, the
gentleman could not help noticing the
conduct Of the dog, which followed close
ly at his heels He tried every means to
get rid of it during the day, but in the af-
temoon the animal was still following him,
and he was obliged to take It home with
him. The dog has now been installed as
watchman Of the house, and has already
shown great attachment 10 the gentleman
and his family.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05

mind, he pulled his whistle sharply. But
still he was hurried onward and downward,
each moment with increasing velocity.
Again the whistle shrieked; they are now
within two miles, and with all its force the
engine ground the wheels backward upon
the slippery rails.
Still no answer, and as Parker looked
from his cab at the shower of sparks struck
from the heavy wheels of his long ira n
as it flew forward, and felt that if was be-
yond his power of control, he knew that
destruction and death stalked before for
at that rate of motion it was beyond a
possibility that the engine would keep to
the rails upon the curve, but she would
be pushed from the track and hurled over
the precipice below
On, on they flew. A mile was passed.
and already. a great wall Of rock stood
upon the one hand, while the chasm was
each instant deepening upon the other.
Three minutes more and they would be
at the Cape, and then Parker dared
not think as he looked into the horrible
gulf his side. There was but one chance
of escape-to spring from the train.
Turning to his fireman, the brave engi-
neer, who still retained his grip upon the
throttle valve, said, "Jim, we must jump
for it Take the rock side and wait until
she leaves the rails
The fireman nodded. But even at that
moment the engine gave furious lurch
and bound, and the increasing roar be-
hind them told the two men that they
were off the track and might at any in
slant be hurled upon the rocks beneath
Yet still they were pressed onward. With
great leaps like frightened deer the
mighty machine upon which they rode
was urged along, the steam escaping
from every point, the fire flying from the
box below, and the danger Of explosion
added to the horrors that threatened
them.
On, onl The long train, like great
snake, writhing in and out along the mar
row track, yet ever approaching that ter
rible curve, that fearful plunge that must
be made!
Nearer and yet nearer, closer and still
closer, until Parker's foot trembled upon
the step of his cab and his hand was raised
to give the signal to the fireman, when
with one furious spring the coupling broke,
the mighty engine threw herself directly
across the track, the tender hanging half
over the edge of the abyss, and stopped
at the very sharpest point of the cape !;
while with roar like pack Of artillery
the long train crashed onward, hurled itself
car after car over the precipice, and went
laundering down to the valley bottom,
half a mile below !
Ten minutes later the caboose, which far
up the grade had broken its connection
and fallen behind, came slowly and safely
down to where Parker stood awaiting it.
The engine and men were saved, but
the wreck of the cars cost the company
more than 100000.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05

regiment but adversely influence the re-
suit of battle. The penalty incurred by
cutting or otherwise injuring the lines,
was Immediate death--a penalty frequent
ly enforced by the Germans throughout
the campaign.
When the Bavarians surrounded Pithi-
viers, and subsequently entered the town,
they proceeded to the telegraph office, of
which Mademoiselle Dodu was the mis-
tress. She left the office in the hands of
the corps Of the Uhlans who entered the
town. But before abandoning the place
to the enemy, she took away the operating
instruments, and carefully hid them in the
vicinity of the office itself where she might
readily find them again. This she knew
would cost the penalty Of her life if dis
covered. Her official duties had taught
her to perfection the details Of telegraphy,
and she knew how to make the wires re-
veal the secrets with which the enemy
might seek to entrust it With rare cour-
age and selfdevotion, and notwithstand-
ing that the Office was in possession of the
enemy, she arose and deliberately sought
the operating room with her instruments.
At the risk of being momentarily dis
covered by the soldiers holding the sta
ton, she entered, tapped the lines for in
formation, and actually intercepted most
important dispatch from the German com
mander Then re-adjusting her insru-
ments she re-established communication
with the French headquarters for nearly
an hour telegraphed to the general COM
manding the nature and contents Of the
message intercepted, and thus saved from
destruction thousands of valuable lives
whom the successful execution of the Ger
man orders would have doomed to death
and destruction.
Mademoiselle Dodu only escaped the
punishment of death herself owing to the
cessation Of hostilities. The records of
female heroism contain few actions, either
as regards the courage implied in its con-
ception or the determined and effective
manner in which it was executed in the
face Of probable death, more signal than
this of Mademoiselle Dodu.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05
Seized By An AnemOne.

A diver engaged at the Moyne river
South Australia, in removing the reef, had
rather narrow escape from losing his life
some time ago. Itappears that Mr.. Smale
had fired off charge Of dynamite and
displs ced large quantity Of stone at the
bottom of the river. He went down to
prepare for lifting these stones, by aid of
chains, into the punt. While engaged in
rolling over large stone he saw some
thing which he supposed at the time was
a piece Of clean looking kelp moving about
in front Of where he was working. In a
few seconds this object came in contact
with the divers arm, about which it quick
ly coiled,partly holding him. Immediate
" Mr.. Smale touched what was wrapped
around his arm, he became aware Of his
position, and tried to extricate himself
from the grasp of a sea-devil," but found
far more difficult task than he had an
ticipated. Catching hold of the part hang
ing from his arm, he walked along the
river toward the end Of it, when he saw
he was firmly held by one Of the feelers
Of a large octopus, better known among
sailors as the devil-fsh." Mr.. Smale
tried to pull the anemone from its hold OF
the rocks but without effect for some time.
At last the animal perhaps thinking it had
not sufficient hold or power upon its prey,
looSend itself from the stones and quickly
transferred its feeler and arms around the
divers legs and body. In this position
Mr.. Smale thought the best thing for him
to do was to get up on deck as soon as
possible, and he quickly made tracks fol
the ladder, which reached from the deck
of the punt to the bottom Of the river
The diver was certainly a curious-looking
object when he came up. The huge ugly
looking thing appeared to be entangled
all over him, holding him in firm embrace
However Mr.. Smale's sfellow-workmen were
not long in freeing him from the unfriendly
hug of his submarine companion. The
body portion Of the octopus was only
about the size Of a soup-plate, with eyes
in its head like those Of a sheep, but il
possessed nine arms, each about four feet
in length, at the butt as thick as man.:
wrist, tapering at the end to as fine point
as that Of a pen-knife. Thus it could
spread over an area Of nine feet in diam
eter. All the way along the underneath
part OF each feeler are suckers every quarter
of an inch giving immense power. Mr.
Smale declares it was powerful enough to
keep three men under water.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05
SINGLE COPY ) CENTS.
NO. 10.
!. Wllkin, Ca,As" Of YeiIo u Fever.


A New Orleans physician in private
letter, writes us that he follows the old
treatments in yellow fever, and has had
over a hundred cases, with only sixteen
deaths. Two Of the latter were walking
cases" The term is technical one, un-
derstood in yellow-fever districts. A
g walking case is patient who refuses
to go to bed and keeps his feet until he
drops dead. Sometimes he refuses to ad
NIT that he has yellow fever, sometimes
he realizes that he has the dread disease
and despairs Of recovery from the start.
Sometimes the walking cases manifests
the most abject fear, and again he displays
the courage and indifference of spy led
out to execution. Sometimes the "walk-
ing is confined to the patient chamber,
and then again he roams the streets, with
the seal of death on his brow, the dread
full black vomit oozing from his lips-an
object of horror to all whom he encounters.
This stalking death is not an uncommon
features Of life in New Orleans during the
prevalence Of an epidemic. Many who
passed through the fearful ordeal Of 1858,
in which nearly eight thousand victims
perished will remember the case of John
| c., a Memphis printer. He was man
Of splendid physique and handsome pres
ence, but an unfortunate love affair made
him reckless. He developed walking
case," of yellow fever, and for two days
and nights roaming the streets and fire.
quented the drinking houses of the city,
in spite Of all his friends could do. hnally
falling on the street, and dying before he
could be conveyed to his lodgings. He
would wipe the black vomit from his lips,
holding up the handkerchief, critically ex-
anime the horrible exudation, and remark
with grim humor that his "coffee" didn't
agree with him that morning. Death IS
dreadful at best, but no disease presents
so great horror as a walking case" of yell
low fever
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05
Origin Of the Letter Stamp.

The origin of the stamp hada tinge ofro-
nance in it. Itwas thirty seven years ago
that Rowland Hill while crossing district
in the North of England arrived at the door
Of an inn where postman had stopped
to deliver letter. A young girl came
out to receive it she turned it over in her
hand and asked the price of postage
This was a large sum, and evidently the
girl was poor, for the postman demanded
a shilling. She sighed sadly, and said the
letter was from her brother, but that she
had no money, and 50 she returned the
letter to the postman. Touched with pity
Mr.. Hill paid the postage and gave the
letter to the girl, who seemed very much
embarrassed. Scarcely had the postman
turned when the young lnnkeeper's daugh-
ter confessed that it was trick between
her and her brother Some signs on the
envelope told her all she wanted to know
but the tier contained no writing. 'We
are both SO poor she added that we
invented this mode of correspondence
without paying for our letters The trav-
eler, continuing his road, asked himself if
a system giving place to such frauds was
not vicious one. Before sunset Row
land had planned to organize the postal
service on new basis-with what success
is known to the world.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05
SUMMERS DONE.

Thinner the leaves of the larches show,
Motionless held in the languid air;
Fainter by waysides the sweet briars grow,
Wide bloom laying their golden hearts bare
Languishing one by one;
Summer is almost done.
Deeper-hued roses have long since died;
Silent the birds through the white mist fly;
Down of the thistles by hot suns dried,
Covers with pale fleece vines growing nigh;
Little brooks calmer run;
Summer is almost done.
Later the flush Of the sunrise sweeps,
Shortening the reign of the slow-coming day;
Earlier shade of the twilight creeps
Over the swallows skimming away;
Crickets their notes have begun
Summer is almost done
Darkened to morning the sad-colored beech;
Empty the nests in its purple boughs lie;
So2aes1ing elusive we never can reach
Deepens the glory of days going by;
Aftermath lies in the sun:
Summer is almost done.
Child ! why regret that the summer must go?
Sweet lies the aftermath left in the sun:
Lives that are earnest more beautiful grow M
Ont of a chilhood in beauty began:
Harvests of gold bewon
Only-when summer is done?
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05
Learn Something.

4 young man stepped into the office Of
the indianapolis rolling mills not long
since and asked for work What can
you do ?" asked the president. "I don't
know" said the young man. z Have you
uadern " No SIR" "Where did you
come from?" From Pennsylvania. Are
you GermanP" No sir, am an Amer
can" III you were a German or an
Irishman, or a Frenchman, could set
you to work, because you would know
how to do something, but Americans
don't know anything about practical bust
ness"
This reply viii not apply to all Ameri-
cans, but it is lamentably true to 4 great
extent. In Germany the boy is brought
up where he sees something done, and
has some idea Of doing it. Very rev IT.
ishmen or Germans but know how to
turn over few rods Of ground and raise
something upon it. Most OF them have
some idea of mechanical operations, the
production and uses of material and Of
tools.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05
Rounding The Horn.

-Four years ago Edward Parker was a
freight engineer upon the Sacramento di-
vision Of the Central Pacific road, and,
once each day, dragging the lo g line of
loaded cars up the steep mountain side,
or with an equally long line sliding care
lessly down, he rounded the dreaded Cape
Horn. The up trip was safe enough, but
the return, with the immense weight and
momentum of score or more of heavily
ttaien cars combined to push the engine
onward, was dangerous indeed, and Par
ker knew it.
One morning in November, 1878, Par
ker started with his train from Truchee,
the station on top of the mountains, for
Sacramento. There were thirty cars to
draw, more than one half OF them loaded.
The train crew consisted OF fireman and
three brakemen beside himself.
As in the early dawn they switched from
the siding and moved out upon the main
line, the snow lay ten feet deep all about
them, while a heavy fog turned the tower.
ing trees upon either hand to gigantic
specters, and the overhanging rocks to
cloud-born castles, gloomy and grand.
But Parker cared little tor the beauty or
phantasmagoria of nature he knew that
before night, if all went well, he should be
in a land of fruit and flowers, and the
broad valley Of the San Joaquin would
spread in wide green beauty upon either
hand, while the soft air brought to him
delicious perfumes, and the snow-clad
mountains glistened in innocent purity far
behind SO great is the change from the
Sierra SUBMITS to the harpy California
below. Now, however, his only trouble
was the dense mist which filled the air,
choking even the engine, which wheezed
and coughed in clouds of half-condensed
steam, rendered it almost impossible for
him to see any distence ahead, or so far
behind as the caboose of his own train.
With great care, therefore he opened the
valves and slid down the ringing rails
The distance from Truckee to the Horn
is some sixty miles, and the day was al
ready half spent when, with every nerve
upon the alert, his head out Of the cab
window and his hand grasping the throt-
tie, Parker found his train at the summit
of the sleeper grade which would sweep
him around the the terrible cape, around
the double curve below, crossing the slop-
ing lrestle, and at last into the little
town OF c. II. Mills. Still the fog contin-
ued. As the rumbling cars passed one bv
one the point where the heavy grade
commenced, Parker, standing upon his
engine, could easily note the increasing
force with which he was urged forward.
until the entire train shot onward with
highly accelerate speed.
AT this point it was the duty of the
train hands, without warning from the en-
glneer, to set the brakes SO that before
, reaching the Horn the train would be
, moving at not more than six miles per
j hour. But upon this dreary morning this
duty was not performed, the brakes were
'inot set. AS this fact aased acoss Parker's
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05
The word ssHOme..

1t must be borne in mind that-so far as
the mere word is concerned-competition
ardent as it is, limited to relatively small
area. Neither the Slav nor the Latin
races take part in it, for the excellent rea-
sons that their tongues contain no term
equivalent to "home." The word Itself
the true word, the precise words the ex
elusive property of the British, German,
and Scandinavian nations Elseware they
are but shadows oft. But though it is
solely in the northwestern corner of Eu-
rope that we can detect the word, it is not
there alone that we can discover the idea
which the word represents. The quarrel
as to wherher Aeim of s'home," or any
other similar or dissimlar sound, expresses
best the full meaning of the thought, is
after all, an idle one. Itrests on nothing
and can lead to no good whatever. The
true interest Of the subject is not there.
1t lies, not in the relative merits of anala-
gous syllables but in the comparative in
tensties with which the sentiment itself is
exhibited by different peoples. Bafk-
asnoa's magazine.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05
A XOman's Sad Life.

People who cross City Hall square at
night have noticed a little old woman
dressed in an old brown gown, tight
sacque, and white frilled cap scrupu-
lously clean. She walks the square from
9 P. NJ. till past midnight, to and fro scan
ming every mans face, land after many dis
appointments every night goes slowly,very
late, up to her home in Mulberry street.
About four years ago John Reilly, her
husband, was employed in the press-room
of the Herald. About 9 O. clock every
night he met his wife, who brought down
his lunch and carried back the dishes.
One cold dark night he did not meet her,
ani as she did not know the way
way to the press-room, she waited some
time and then went home. In her room
she found his dead body upon the bed.
He had been killed by the falling of roll
of paper. She did not die, though she
was near dying, and she still waits every
night to meet her husband. Winter and
summer are alike to her, and no weather
delays her though she sixty years of age.
-Ne7o York Wotzd
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05

1t is those born in America who are
ignorant and idle. Il is the false notion
that man does need to labor, or that he
can get his living by his wits, that causes
large part of our idleness and distress
Begin at once to learn something no
matter your age, learn some practical
pursuit at once.
Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1878-11-05
MatrimOny in Russia.

Russian marriages are generally arranged
through priests A we'll bred bridegroom
must present gift to monastery and an
other to his parish church; the bride,
through her friends, is expected to clothe
some stature of virgin with gown Of
silver brocade, enriched with more or less
jewels, according TO the piety ofthe doner;
and in some barts of southern Russia she
adds a gift or two white doves to the Pope,
which looks rather like a relic of the wor-
ship of Venus. The consent Of parents is
necessary for marriage until the age of
thirty-si in the case of men; but young
people are at liberty to appeal to the civil
authorities if consent be arbitrarily with
held. In this event the parents are called
upon to show reason for their refusal. The
reason must not be mercenary, unless one
of the young people be heir to landed
estate; then the question is referred to
Marshal of the nobility in the district,
whose decisions are based upon expedien-
cy rather than upon fixed principles
These appeals are rare, because the Rus
slams are marrying people and dispose
of their children early In the middle
and lower classes men marry at 20 when
not drafted by the conscnption. In the
higher aristocracy young man goes the
"grand tour" before settling down, but
he is often betrothed before starting to a
young lady not yet out of the school-room.
There is no country that has SO few old
maids as Russia. When girl has reached
the age of Is without finding a mate, she
generally sets out on what she calls pill
grimage if poor, on round of travels if
rich, and IN either case she turns up some
years later as a widow Widows are as
plentiful as old spinters are scarce, and
widows whose husbands were never seen
are more numerous than the rest Ell
quette forbids illusions to a lady's dead
husband in her presence, and this is some
times convenient When a couple are
engaged, betrothal feast is held, and the
bride elect has lock Of her hair cut off
i'll the presence Of witnesses and given to
the bridegroom, wfo in return presents a
silver ring set with turquoise and, al
mond cake and gif. of bread and salt
From this moment the two are plighted;
nor can the relatives break the match ex-
eept with theconsent Of the parties them
selves, which signihed by a return Of the
ring and lock of hair. So much impor-
tance is attached to the ring that among
poor people who cannot afford silver and
turquoise, tin and bit of blue stoae are
substituted. These betrothal rings are
kept as heirloom S, bat must not be made
to serve twice-a son cannot give his bride
the ring which his mother received, for
instance, though why this should be SO is
a mystery which the clergy, who sells the
ring, could best explain. On the wedding
day the bride comes to church dressed in
white; but it is only among the highest
classes that the bridal costume is entirely
white, and that wreath of orange flower
blossoms is used.