davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14
jolly TarS on a Land Cruise.

During the autumn Of 1896, a first
class frigate was paid of at the Washing
ton navy yard-an unusual thing, be-
cause il was not depot. The city was
taken by storm by the discharged men,
and one may say that business was sus-
pended for a week. A party would
hire a hack, ill il, and two or three climb
upon the roof. or as they termed II, the
deck, and ride about town occasionally
stopping at a grcggery TO "stow ballast "
OF course they attended the theatre.
The old National, now no more. was then
in its glory Ono evening the play was
"The Bleeding Nun" When she come
upon the stage, and, alluding TO the
murderer, exclaims: "Alas, he has es-
capped r." No !" sang out sailor in
the pit. "there he is behind that door
well catch him for you T. and with that,
leading forlorn hope, he rushed on,
captured. and dragged the trembling
disciple of Thepsis to the footlights, and
the interference OF the manager only
prevented them from summarily punish
ing him.
President John Quincy Adams was
warm friend of the drama. At this time
he was a nightly attendant The tars
found ont, some how or other, that he
was in the house, and cheers were pro-
posed. The cheering lasted an hour;
when, 10 a commotion was heard at the,
door. and in comes Jack with waiter
covered with cakes and all sorts of con-
fectionery-after him another. with n
waiter of ices-then four or five. bearing
walters with every kind of liquors, all
of which were passed up to the Presi-
dents box. The old man declined as
long as he could, but had to partake
Then the provisions were passed around
the audience; the play was disregarded,
and loud cheering for the crew of the
- followed. Mr.. Adams slipped
out as soon as possible, but the theatre
was not closed until three O'Clock in the
morning.
That evening the danseuse came very
nigh making her fortune, from the
showering of gold pieces on the stage.
She danced between the pieces, and was
encored thirteen times The night will
never be forgotten in Washington.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14
LOng-SIghied Ones.

II is an interesting fact that there are
very few persons in the world possessing
a peculiar keerness OF vision enabling
them 10 see certain planets with the un-
aided eye. People with the ordinary
power of sight usually see six of the stars
of the Pleiades; Kepler mentions one
person, who, with the naked eye, could
see fourteen, and Littrow another who
saw sixteen. DIR. Dawes, an English
clergyman and astronomer, was remark
able for his powers of distinguishing
very faint spots of light; and Mr. Q. NJ.
Ward, an amateur astronomer, in the
north of Ireland, is known among scien-
tific men for having viewed two of the
four moons of Uranus with 80 small and
simple help as a four-inch telescope.
In this country, Mr.. 8. w. Burnham, Of
Chicago, is noted for the particularly
acute vision which reveals to him double
stars. The astronomers of other lands
often call upon him to decide veXed
questions relating TO these stars.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14
Legal CourteSieS,

They had very interesting trial Al
the United States land Office. in Los
Angeles. Cal, tho other day, the case
being Kotchum vs. The State oi
California. with Messrs. Gould A
blanchard as attorneys for plaintiff,
and Judge Widney for defense. Mr.,
Gould cnlled Ketchum and asked:
"What became Of Lachenais p
"He was hanged 10y Judge Widney
and some other persons. said the wit
ness.
Judge Widnev quickly arose and drew
pistol from his pocket, and holding
the muzzle down, addressed ketchum
substantially as follows
"Ysu say murdered man. Yon
lie, You purjurcd villain ! was in the
county courtroom trying q case at the
time I,achenais was hanged, and knew
nothing whatever about IL. III your
crowd are armed 10 assassinate or mur.
der me. draw your pistols and go on"
eve are not armed, said Mr.. Gould
"Then I will put away my weapon,
said Judge Widney, " as ! will not use
il on an unarmed man.
The case then proceeded without in.
terruption until the noon adjournment
when Judge Widney asked Mr.. Gould il
his party intended coming armed or un.
armed in the afternoon, as he would be
governed by their action. He said hC
only wanted fair show, but did not in.
tend that any one should get the droT
on him. Mr.. Gould made no definite
promise
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14
Wonders of the American Continent.

The American Enquirer thus cata-
locues a few OF the wonders OF the
American continent: The greatest cata-
ract in the world is the Falls of Niagara,
where the water from the great upper
lakes forms q river Of three-fourths of n
mile in width, and then being suddenly
contracted, plunges over the rocks in
two columns 10 the depth of 175 feet.
The greatest cave in the world is the
Mammoth cave, of Kentucky, where any
one can make voyage on the waters OF
subterranean river, and catch fish
without eyes. The greatest river in
the world is the Mississippi, 1000
miles long. The largest valley in
the world MS the valley of the Mis-
sissippi. It contains 5000, 900 square
miles, and is one OF the most fertile re-
gions Of the globe. The largest city
park in the world is in Philadelphia. 1t
contains over 2,700 acres. The greatest
grain port in the world is Chicago. The
largest lake in the world is Lake Supe-
rior, which is truly an inland sea, being
490 miles long and 1000 feet deep. The
longest railroad at present ia the Pacific
railroad, over 8, 900 miles in length. The
greatest mass of solid iron in the world
is the Pilot Knob of Missouri. 1t is $50
feet high and two miles in circuit. The
best specimen OF Grecian architecture in
the world is the Girard college for orph-
ans, Philadelphia. The largest aqueduct
in the world is the Croton aqueduct,
New York. It's length is forty and one
quarter miles and it cost S12, 500. 900.
The largest deposits of anthracite coal
in the world are in Pennsylvania, the
mines of which supply the market with
millions of tons annually, and appear to
be inexhaustible.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14

SIGH, which was immediately echoed
behind me, and turning. ! saw Nellie
laying the table for dinuer. with most
woe begoue expression on her round
rosy face and as turned toward her,
two frightened implaring gray eyes met
mine For mament forgot my own
trouble.
why, Nellie, what is the matter
with You ?" l asked.
''Oh dear oh dear how san | tell
you? And out OF this house | mast 60
as soon aS you know. And love ynur
ma, and almost love your pa, and |
adore all the rest of You. Oh oh oh -
bursting into suhs and tears.
Take down your apron this minute, ~
said i, firmly, "and tell ne what You
have been doing this time. A"
well, miss, said Nellie. giving a
great gulp, aud coming aud standing
before me. "you know. miss, last eve
ming went 10 the village, and II was an
elegant moonlight night, miss and, OF!
miss '-twiuiug and untwiuiug her
fingers nervously v" | can't bear to 60
ont into cold and hemtless world
What shall do what shall do?"
Go ON, " said |.
And | got my paptr-Iht HccEly
Rogrsr Avis. vou know. whore they're
printing The Vow of the Glass kiend /.
or, the Glittering. Cleaning Girantolc
And oh miss, whot shall dot'
"Gu on, said |.
And opened tue paper in the store
just to see how Stephanyer Alyeretter
got out Of the enchanted cave, and !
came out into the r&l a-reading IT,
Oh, miss, It's most awful interesting T.
And Nellie, completely carried away 10y
her subject. unclasltrl her hands, and
continued in as bass a voice As she could
assume, "The dragon belched forth
streams Of fire" And then suddenly
changing 10 a high. shriil tone. "Ru-
dolier sprang between her and the mon-
ster.r-r. 'Saved. saved saved, she
cried, cried Nellie, at the top of her
voice, entirely LIST 20 everything but the
most awful interesting" story.
Good heavens Nell, said /, you
viii have ma tumbling down stairs,
thinking it's tramps Forget the Glass
Fiend, or whatever il Is, for a few mo-
ments, and finish your own story"
The frightened lock cam" back into
Nell's face well. MISS" she s1ii.
slowly. - got my paper, and, oh :
miss"
"Go on - said l, stamping my foot.
| had made up my mind never - stamp
my foot again. but the girl Was - pro.
vuking.
And. miss with desperate calm
ness" / forgot to post your letter.
flung my arms aroaud her and gave
her a hug and kiss. promised her
whole years subscription b. the village
library, and left her with
round ewes and month wide open IN
wonder, while / hew to the door to
answer the ring Of
Barbara Darling, said he.
Anthony Ditto, said L. -Harpgr's
Weekly.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14

Her vas, territory contains not less
than $780, 600 square miles, or
more than one-six'h part Of all the
land OF the globe. Russia is connected
with the commerce OF the world by the
Baltic sea with Europe and all countries
bordering on the Atlantic eastward to
Japan, China, the Pacific islands, and
the entire western shores OF our own
continent Her vast territory ia ira
versef with rivers, lakes. and inland
seas, through which the commerce OF
the outer world NAV he transported into
the verv heart of the country. 4 dis
tinguished writer has said, 1T is ap-
parent that nothing more is wanting
but the possession OF Constantinople,
and the control Of the Dariancllcs, 10
complete a territorial outline Of the
most imposing character that earth has
ever seen in possession OF a single
power.
"She now sustains a population 81
one hundred millions. In an interest
ing calculation Of Sir Archibald Allison.
in which he rejects two-thirJls OF Asiatic
Russia as unproductive, he proceeds
10 show that il Russia in Europe were
peopled "a Germany now is. IL would
contain 80, 900, 600 souls; IL rs dense "a
Great Britain. the number would hc
81 .00O, ,0O0. That portion Of Asiatic
Russia which is capable OF cultivation,
If populated as densely ns Great Britain.
will sustain population Of 50O. 0O0, ,000
Thus there is sufficient good territory in
Russia 10 sustain a population. il "a dense
ly settled as Great Britain, Of more than
SOC, 900. 000 Her vast forests and
mines will furnish timber for her ships,
aud iron to bind them together, and
fuel for her population for generations
10 come. The Muscovite empire is in
the hands of one dominant race, whose
social affinities are strong enough to
produce one compact national unity
Russia's military and naval powers, her
educational institutions. her rapidly adj
vancing civilization, and the immense
influence OF the Russian Church in
molding the great empire of the north,
present the spectacle of an empire
hardly equale1 by any in ancient or
modern times. - FrchQnQC.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14
The Rain Tree.

Among the many virtues Of the euca-
lyptus or blue gum tree is the property
of absorbing moisture, and instances
are related in which moist and marshy
places have been made comparatively
dry by planting trees of this species
upon them, although the method of
draining has not yet come into general
use. There is another tree whose prop
critics are as wonderful as the blue gum.
1t is the rain tree Of Peru ! and it is said
that moisture drops from ita leaves and
branches all the time, and that in some
instances the ground around III becomes
q swamp. 1t would appear from these
facts that BY q judicious use Of these
trees, which are SO opposite ID nature,
the wet places OF the earth can be made
dry and the dry places wet-that deserts
may DO turned into swamps and swamps
into deserts. The rain tree, whose pc
culiar property Is said TO increase IN the
dry season, might be made useful Tor
irrigation in this 6tate.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14
British India.

A statistical abstract relating 10 Brit
ish India, just issued by order of Parlia-
ment, shows that the area under British
administration is 900, 834 miles, with n
population of 191, ,065, 445. The native
states comprise 573, 052 miles and popu-
lation of 4S, S,233, ,978 Including the
French and Portuguese possessions, the
total area of all India is 1, 4S4, $50 square
miles, with population of 239. $40, ,595
OF the 191, 900. 900 inhabitants of British
Indie, the religious denominations are
given rs follows: Hindoos, 139, 343, $40;
Sikhs, LIZA, 436; Mohammedans, 40,-
867, 125; Buddhists and Jams, 2, s32, ,851
Christians, 879, ,682; others, 5,417, ,304,
and "religion not known, 532, ,227.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14
The Way Of the W-rld.

Inc way OF tue .Tlu'
whone'er we see man
Who's wise beyond the rule;
We ask who is there can,
We ask who is there who'N
Take his place another day,
When his sonl has passed AWAY
Out Of all this world % clay
When the weird faies his life thread sever
Aud he is lost 20 Us forever
To us il saeTs as thonGh
The world could scarcely siSud
The course Of things scAre so
Without his guiding hand;
Strong the Wide world IL q rest,
Reconcihus every sect,
Keeping ell courses checked
A hand that's strong enoagh, and clever,
To keep the worlds course straight forever
Bu; when he gains the hound.
When runs his earthly race.
Another man is found
S,rAiShtwsy 70 al his plsos.
Just IS though II wee 70 prove
Others can the world make move
In It's oll accustomed SgooVe-
The world. tia, would survive him never,
sun rolls on Just the same as ever.
We learn leSson here
We find we, after all,
Who think ourselves 50 dear.
Arc only very small.
Though we do car best to-day
That our praises men may say,
And we rer2emOerrd ave;
Yet, notwithstanding our endeSvor,
Our deeds sud We are missed scarce ever.
domestic NrR.h.y.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14
The Organ Grinder.

An organ droneth high aud low
Above the sounds that ebb and GOV,
And faint through all the pale aud din,
It's planning comes to me within.
I" In the Sweet By-and-by that hymn
We used 20 sing when day grew dim;
Fit song 70 icer me with-whose life
Expectant only is Of strife,
And as | list, see again
The pathway OF an orchard lane,
Where lags little brook at ease
Under the blossom-laden trees.
know not II il be dream;
almost see the winding stream,
Aud hear one voice-oh. heart Of mine
Crouch down, nor think what once was
thine
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14

Matrimony among deaf mutes has its
disadvantages as well as its sweets-at
least 80 thinks the husband in Lafayette,
Ind, who, returning home late, found
his door locked against him. No amount
Of pounding was loud enough to arouse
his sleeping spouse, and he was forced
to smash q window and crawl into bis
dwelling.
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14
Ages OF Prominent Poets.

DIR. Frederick r. Marvin, himself a
poet, lecturer and preacher. has pre-
pared table, which we give below, of
the ages Of Che poets:
The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1878-03-14

FoR ISvALIDs. Crust coffee is an ex-
cellent substitute for tea and coffee;
brown the crIistS in the oven, pour hot
water on, and let il stand for an hour on
the back Of the range; use milk same as
for other coffee.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-12-05

good order would Immediately reassert
themselves. In 1876 this revolution was
accomplished, and the late campaign du-
ring the present administration fully
vindicates the justice and truth.ulness OF
our claim in that event, and should
silence forever the libels and ISLANDERS to
which the character of the citizens Of the
State has been 80 long, so unjustly and
so shamefully subjected. We as peo-
pie are entitled to rejoice at our redemp-
tion from, governmental misruie and its
consequences, and 7 feel sure that good
men everywhere, when they come to un-
derstand the situation, will join with us
in our rejoicing, and will sympathize
with us in our struggle for the perma-
press the hope that nothing will occur
our people throughout the State will
unite together in the preservation of the
public peace and the continued suprem-
acy of the law.
I have purposely refrained from dis
cussing any matters connected with the
Federal government, for several reasons;
among the most prominent is the fact
that, while the State and Federal govern
ments are closely connected with each
other, and while the happiness of the
people of this State is much dependent
upon both, yet the orbits of these two
governments are entirely separate and
distinct, and the harmony of their move
ments can be best preserved by each con-
fining itself to the discharge of its own
functions as defined and limited in the
Constitutions of this State and Of the
United States.
This was certainly the intention Of the
founders of our system, and could that
be strictly carried out, home rule and
non-interference on the part of the gen.
eral government, except as to those mat
ters embraced in the Constitution, and
which are the foundation stones OF that
system, would be the grand result-a re-
suit which would be hailed with Joy,
opening, as it would, bright future to
the people of this State.
In closing this communication, permit
me, gentlemen, to invoke the blessings
of Almighty God upon your delibcra-
tions. May he give you wisdom from on
high, and may the performance OF your
arduous and responsible duties be marked
with that harmony which so eminently
distinguished the General Assemblies of
the olden past in South Carolina, reflect
ing honor upon yourselves and lasting
benefits upon your people and State.
w. d. SIMPSON.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-12-05
Paying In Promises.

~ brought up some cotton to-day and
sold it, but had TO pay taxes, buy some
provisions and settle up my guano ac-
count and am dead broke. had in
tended calling round and paying for my
paper, but haven't got the money just
now-wll be in town again some day
and see what can do for you."
''Iiope deferred maketh the heart
SICK" and we are tired Of such empty
promises as this-the very east wind of
indefinteness. Why have we to wait
until every store account, guano bill and
tax execution are satisfied? If the paper
amt worth the subscription price nobody
will force you to take it, but don't call
around at the Office and say you want it
and that you will pay for it and then
never do it. Our subscription money,
although it is but two dollars, is of as
much consequence to us as the mer-
chants store account or the guano agents
bill. Publishing q newspaper is no
child's play. 1t is constant, steady ex.
pense. 1t takes time and talent and
money. 1t is an everyday, all-year job,
through storm and sun, week in and week
out. The profits of the business, even
under the most prosperous conditions, are
very small. Come up, then, and pay
your subscription, pay it promptly, pay
it in full and pay it in money. Sell your
wood to somebody else and bring us the
cash, turn your potatoes into money,
drive your ducks to some other market.
You wouldn't think of paying your ply
sician in pindcrs or q lawyer in 'possum
grease-why bring such trash to publish
ers and try TO palm it off on them for
money they have worked for and honest
ly earned. II will pay you in the falP
and "I'll call round again" ain't worth
n cent. You can't buy box of blacking
or pound of cheese with any such cur
rency.-AJJeriWe Medium.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-12-05

a REVOLUTION INDEED.-During
slavery l owned one of the blackest as
well as meanest negro men in South Ar
kansas. He was known in the neighbor-
hood rs Crow Sam. l used to thrash
Sam about twice week. Steall he'd
steal from himself and then deny it.
Well, when the wa- cams Oil he was one
of the first to turn against me. He went
into the army and served till the sur
rende-. After peace was made l moved
over into an adjoining county and went TO
work, trying to repair my broken fortune.
One day negro that had working for
me knocked down one of my horses.
which 80 enraged me that struck him
several times with my cane. he went
away and returned with constable who
summoned me &c :pPeaI next day before
magistrate. Officers were not quite so
numerous then as now, and the magis-
trate's office was several miles away.
We'll, sir, when l got there who should 1
see on the bench but old Crow Sam. He
was fat and greasy and had on an enor.
NOUS pair of spectacles. When every
opened, and old Sam, giving me search
ing look, remarked:
Pears that I've seed you afore."
Look here, SAM" said, az don't like
to be mixed M This way. Try 10 settle
this affair without malice"
DE law is gwin to hab its direck
course said Sam. Things hab kinder
changed since we was in business togeth-
er, but the principle of de niger havn't
revoloted. Dis niger is as big rascal
as used to be, so Marse John Pll dis
charge you, finging de black ape in de
ost."-Lihle Rock (Ark.) Gazette.
The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-12-05
Modern Samsons.

In the last century there lived in Eng
land man named Thomas Topham, who
was renowned for his muscular power.
He could, with ease, roll up in his fingers
the pewter platters which were in fashion
at that time, or strike an iron poker upon
his arm until he bent it at right angle
He took bar of iron and, placing it be-
hind his neck, holding the two ends in
his hands, ho brought these ends forward
until they met in front, then-a feat
which required still more dexterity-he
brought it straight again in similar
manner. lie is said 10 nave lifted with
his teeth, and held out for g time, q
wooden table six feet long, and with half
{: hundred woigiit attached TO one ex-
tremity. These performances are record.
ed by DIR. Dcsaguliers, French scien-
tfic writer, who made it his business to
investigate the subject personally, while
collecting material for one of his works.
In 1744, being then thirty years of age,
Topham went to Derby and obtained
permission of the authorities to display
his prowess in public. A stage was erec-
ted for him, and on this stage, among
other performances, he raised three casks
filled with water, the total weight of the
three being 1926 pounds, and it will be
observed that in doing it he brought the
muscles of his neck and shoulders par
ticularly into requisition. The muscular
strength of his legs had been affected by
an injury he sustained during an incau-
tious experiment. He had undertaken
to pull against two horses from the tr.. ak
of a tree, but, being unscientifc in his
mode of ezertion, and placing himself
disadvantageously, he was defeated, and
his knee-pan was fractured. 1t was the
opinion of Desaguliers that, had he gone
properly to work, Topham nigh. have
| pulled successfully against four horses
instead of two. The two-horse feat was
accomplished in the last century by n
powerful individual, German named
Non Eckeburg. This man sat down on
an inclined board, with his feet stretched
against fixed support, and two strong
horses were unable to remove him from
his position. Standing on n platform,
like Topham, he sustained the weight of
large cannon round his waist, and, at
another time, bending his body in the
form of an arch, lie allowed stone of
mere than a foot in thickness to be
broken upon his abdomen by the blow of
n sledge-hGmEler
OF Marrice, of Savoy, son Of the Elec-
tor Augustus H., it is recorded that his
strength of finger was SO great that he
could snap iron horse.shoes between his
fingers like pieces Of glass, and, on one
occasion, finding himself III want of
cork-screw, he took long nail and with
his fingers, twisted it round into the
shape of the implement he required.
Such are some of the feats which the
human body is able to accomplish by
muscular eXertiOn