davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-30
PlOiIghing by Steam.

The steam plough which represents a svs-
TEN that has been in practical use for some
twenty years or more, has been undergoing
constant improvement and is gradually work
ing itself into favor and overcoming one bv
one the array of objections raised TO its en-
ployment. Its use il rapidly increasing from
year to year not only in Great Britain and Ire
land, but in the colonies as well. The few
trials that have been made with it in this
country were undertaken mostly before the
system had reached its present completeness
and do not count for much. Heretofore it
has confined its operations to great farms
where hundreds of acres are broken up an
nually, but there are now associations of far
mers in various portions of England which
own one or more sets of apparatus, to be
hired out for the convenience of small cult
vators who by this means may have their
plOughing done at cost less than that of do
ing il by horse labor.
1t would seem from all accounts that the
large amount Of capital required is the great
id almost only drawback to the general in
PRODUCTION Of steam ploughs. Its absolute re-
quirements appear to be absence of large
stones, and large Enclosures not less than ten
acres and preferably more Whether the
land be plain or rolling matters not
The speed of the steam plough it is claimed
gives much more thorough pulverization to
the soil and CORES pondingly improves the
land when the subsequent operations of har-
rowing, rolling and drilling are accomplished
by steam.
This system of ploughing will not be re-
ceived with favor in the United States so long
As horses mules and cattle can he a. cheaply
raised and fed As at the present time, and
steam ploughs represent the present amount
Of capital; steam in this direction will be
generally accepted only when a machine is
perfected for the purpose which can be used
a. substitute for draught animals at the
same or less cost, and without extra skilled
labor TO operate it. How long this NAV be
depends largely upon the progress made by
inventors who are every year making i'm
provements in their apparatus and lessening
attending expenses.
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-30

Senator Dawes, while sleighing with his
wife in Pittsfield, Mass, on Tuesday after
noon, was turned out into ditch by his horse
taking taking fright but chung to the rcin,,
and no injury was done, although he wa,
dragged some distance
Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-30

a brief telegram from Rio .Ianeiro indi-
Gates deporable state of things in Ceara.
one of the northern Provinces of Brazil In
the capital Of the Province, also named
Ceara, and town of not more than 20. 600
inhabitants, the deaths from smallpox are re-
ported at 800 daily. and among the agricul-
tural population of the interior, numbering
probably 10000 people the distress is said to
be 80 great that carrion and even corpses are
being converted into food
, 1878-03-09

An unregenerate heathen lately play
ed it upon the ladies of three counties
in Western Pennsylvania in q way that
they despise. 1t appears that some
months ago the ladies were visited by q
slight. graceful and unassuming young
woman, who announced that she was
the agent of s.Woman's 3 Dress Reform
Benevolent Association, and that she
desired to call their attention to new
invention Of immense hygienic value
The new invention consisted of the ap-
plication of the six>button glove prin-
ciple to hosiery. The cheapness of the,
article induced liberal purchases, the
agent booking all the orders and invar-
iably producing tape line, with which
she measured the customers UNDER
standings and noted the proportions
thereof. Finally, at the last town she
went and got drunk, whipped bar
keeper and was arrested. acknowledged
herself to be man out on lark, with
no stockings to sell and no philanthro>
pic association behind him. Then there
was Mysteries and demand for sal vol
atils all over those three counties.
, 1878-03-09
Josh Billings.

This life is like game of cards.
e e must play the hands dealt to
as, and the credit is not so much
in winning as in playing u poor
hand we'll.
Don't despise your poor rela-
tions. They might be rich
sometime, and then it would be
SO hard to explain things.
The reputation a man gets
from his ancestors wants about
as much altering to fit him as
their clothes would.
There is no woman stationed
on the face Of the earth who
tries so hard to do right and
fails oftener than the average
mother-in-law.
An enthusiast IS an individu-
al who believes about four times
as much as he can prove, and
can prove four times as much as
anybody else will believe.
Falling in love is like falling
down stars; it's hard work to
find out just how the thing was
done.
A man who has been waiting
for the last fifteen years for
something to turn up is still in
the same business.
The worst tyrant in this world
is a woman who is superior to
her husband and let's everybody
know il.
Love is like the measles, you
can't have it but once, and the
later in life we have it the
tougher it goes with US.
Great thinkers are not apt to
be great whistlcrs. When a
man can't think of anything he
begins to whistle.
, 1878-03-09

Plants sleep at night, as is
we'll known, but their sleeping
hours are a matter Of habit, and
can easily be disturbed. A
French chemist recently expos
ed a sensitive plant to a bright
light at night and placed it in a
dark room during the day. The
plant, at first, appeared much
puzzled. 1t opened and closed
its leaves irregularly, in spite of
the artificial sun beaming upon
it at night, and, in the daytime,
it sometimes awoke. It finally
submitted to the change, unfold
ing itself regularly at night, and
closing in the morning.
, 1878-03-09
A Ferocious Duel.

At Bodie, Mono County, on
Tuesday afternoon, Jack Bra
sian and a man named Blair,
who have for some time been in
partnership in their business
of mining and prospecting, met
in the barroom Of Pollock's
boarding house, and commenced
an angry dispute concerning the
terms OF a location they had re-
Gently made. They were both
under the influence of liquor,
Brasian more so than Blair. Af-
ter quarrelling for some time
Brasian exclaimed that he was
"chief," which claim Blair dis
puted, saying that he was will
ing to fight him at any distance,
from handkerchief length to
forty PAGES. This challenge
Brasian-whose pistol and belt
were lying on the floor a short
distance from him-accepted,
asking for time to "heel him
SELF which he proceeded to dc
by buckling on his belt. The
two men went out in the street,
appearing more pleasantly dis
posed toward one another than
they had been at any other time
during the day. Placing them
selves at less than eight feet
apart, at signal from one they
both fired effectively, Blair be-
ing struck in the shoulder and
Brasian in the side. After the
first shot they both fired rapid
ly, until their revolvers, each a
six-shooter, had been entirely
emptied. After the smoke Of
the twelve rapidly fred shots
cleared away, both men appear
ed riddled with shot, blood from
their wounds crimsoning the
snow at every step they took.
Neither appeared to have been
satisfied with the result, each
starting for fresh pistol. Bra
sian returned to the barroom
and Blair started around the
corner Of the house, where he
secured another revolver from
an acquaintance, with which he
returned to the barroom and
shot Bfcs sain in the abdomen,
inflctine a wound Of which
. died in about fifteen
minutes. After firing the last
shot Blair fell to the floor from
tie ereat loss of blood. He was
ed to the cabin of friend,
where, upon examination, he
was found to have been shot III
four different piaces.-Nerada
Transcript.
, 1878-03-09

DR.. Glenn. large farmer in Colusa
county. lost 10000 sheep and 5000
acres of wheat by tie food. The main
wheat lands of Calusa county are five
miles from the river and are safe,
About 20 per cent. of the wheat crop of
that county is ruined and the same
amount damaged. The loss between
Sacramento ard Monroeville in levees,
buildings, stock and crops will reach
$500 COO, besides decrease in the value
of property. In some localities there
is. however, prospect of an enormous
harvest, and much sediment has been
deposited which will renew the land.
The flood has caused comparatively few
cases of personal suffering and want.
, 1878-03-09

After the funeral services for
King Victor Emanuel, Saturday,
an Orsini bomb was thrown
among the returning crowd.
Five persons were slightly
wended. The police with diff
ficulty prevented the lynching
of the person who threw the
bomb-who is probably insane.
Fully twenty five hundred
deer were killed in Green Bay
peninsula during the season just
closed, and two-thlrds of the
meat spoiled owing to warm
weather.
According to the census held
on the 1st of January last, the
population of Madrid is 404,5SS
persons; according to the States
mans Yearbook it was, in 1864,
475,5S5.
In Meriden, Conn, a German
woman belongs to the corps of
laborers who ditch the street for
gas-pipe, and she handles the
pick and shovel as skilfully as
any of them.
At Oban, West Highland Of
Scotland, last year, it rained on
POI days out Of the 365, and yet
the people complain that the
crops were not good.
At the instance of Gen. Tod
leben Russia was, before Ger
many, a patron Of Krupp, pay
ing him $4,000, $4,000 and
even $4,000 for single gun.
Prison life is wearing upon
Gilman, the forger. HIS cheeks
are blanching and his eyes sink
ing. His hair is streaked with
silver and he looks 60.
There has been 80 much rain
in Southern Iowa this Winter
that the conductors of the B and
N freight trains take rank with
rear admirals.
LADIES are respectfully invited to
attend the address in Yssler's Hall
this evening.
Do not forget the lecture before
tho Y. N. G. A. in Yesler's Hall TO-
morrow night.
, 1878-03-09

The Wisconsin Assembly
passed a series of resolutions on
Thursday, by a vote Of 81 to 81,
declaring that the public debt is
payable in gold or silver, at OPP
ton, and that if "after a full and
unconditional restoration Of the
law relating to the silver dollar
it should be found there was any
considerable difference between
the value Of dollars in gold and
silver, we should regard it as a
wise policy to readjust the
weight Of the two coins, either
by increasing the weight Of sill
yer or decreasing the weight Of
gold"
, 1878-03-09

Five hundred and fifty mil
lion gallons of petroleum was
exported from this country from
1866 to 1871, which brought an
average price of "a cents per
gallon, amounting to S1S7, ,00U,-
900. From 1871 to 1876, cover
ing the same period of five years,
there We're shipped !, 100, 900, 600,
or twice as much oil, which sold
at the average price of Is cents
per gallon, realizing s165, ,000,-
600 The increased exports
netted less money by $22,000,-
900 than the shipments Of the
first named period.
, 1878-03-09

A few weeks ago, says the
Virginia Chronicle, u man from
Boston arrived on the Comstock
to inspect its novelties. What
ever he saw, however, did not
astonish him in the least. Moth
ing could be shown him that he
would not gravely remark upon,
saying, "Boston has one just
like it, only bigger" Last eve
ming he was passing the Inter
national Hotel, on B street, just
at dusk, when the cap of a chm
ney was blown down by the
wind. The cap was circular
piece ofsheet-lron, painted black
and slightly convex. The four
supports which connected it
with the chimney were like legs,
which held it q few inches from
the ground. AS it fell it struck
just a few inches in front IF him,
rebounded a few times in the
air, and then, blown by the wind,
went skimming along the walk
like living thing.
"What's that the Boston
man asked, somewhat astonished.
GA bedbug from the botel,''
replied a wag, "just coming
down for little exercise"
by George!" exclaimed the
stranger, [ never saw anything
like that in my life and then
recollecting his home in Boston
added" Outside of Boston,
, 1878-03-09

A. II. Sinner of Wilkesbarre
was, last fall inferred in Pike
county, Pa, With him was
buried very valuable pin, set
Of studs, and 3 ring heavily set
with diamonds. The coffin plate
was Of solid gold and unusually
large. It has now been discov-
cred that the grave has been
opened and the valuables re-
moved.
, 1878-03-09

The term of 'is;ck man" WAS origiE-
ally used with reference to Turkey by
the Emperor Nicholas. the predecessor
of Alexander. the present monarch of
Russia. In conversation of Nicholas
with tie British Minister, Sir George
Seymour. in 1854, the Emperor said:
s'We have on our hands sick man, a
very sick man. 1t viii! be great mis-
fortune, l tell you frankly, if one of
those days be should happen to die be-
fore the necessary arrangements are
all made. But this is not the time to
speak to you Of that"
, 1878-03-09

The French Society of Colon
ial Explorers lately held its first
meeting in Paris. Ferdinand
de Lesseps, Michel Chevalier
and Admiral La Romiere de
Noury Quatrefages are among
the members. The object is to
explore all regions Of the globe
which have not yet been visited,
with the exception Of Africa,
which has been taken in hand
by the Belgian association, OF
which the King of the Belgians
is ut the head. Among the ex-
ploring parties will be civil en-
gineers, geologists, chemists,
and others competent to give. .
full estimate of the resources OF
the countries visited. One par
ty is already at work IN Sumat-
ra, with headquarters in Deli.
, 1878-03-09

1t IS no joke to get into the
hands of the Belgian gendarm-
erie. A hapless prisoner brought
from Vilvorde Jail to Bruges
lately to give some evidence,
complained bitterly, after max
ing his deposition, that he was
actually famishing, having been
taken from Vilvorde the pre-
vious evening and not having
tasted food since. The magis-
trate asked the gendarme what
was the meaning Of this, and he
at once replied that though he
was told to bring the witness to
Bruges, he was not told to feed
him. The magistrate thought
this was carrying passive obe-
dience rather too far, and sur
prised the intelligent officer by
a severe scolding, and ordering
that the witness should instant
ly be supplied with a hearty
meal.
, 1878-03-09

Experience may be a dear
teacher, but she isn't any dearer
than a pretty schoolma'am.
In Benoit, Canada. a woman has
given birth to twins joined as
Chang and Eng were. They are
living.
A billposter in An Ohio town coy-
cred the tombstones in q graveyard
with circus cuts.
Joseph JsHersoa, tie actor il .
spiritualist.
, 1878-03-09

The vintage song in Mendels
sohn's "Loreiey" is regarded by
the Salem (Mass) Oratoria Soci-
ETY. as only fit for drunken
careusal, and that organization
has voted not to sing it.
1t is stated that the postage
stamps which some people so in
defatigably collect, are sold to
decorate the whitewashed walls
Of Japanese houses in fanciful
devices.
The Pacific Cornet Band have
volunteered to play this evening at
Yesler's Hall.
, 1878-03-09
A Mr.. Davis Of Medford, Mass,

A Mr.. Davis Of Medford, Mass,
short time ago, while shaving,
fell backward upon the floor,
and was pronounced dead. AS
he had expressed fears that he
might be buried alive, the body
was kept several days in the
house and carefully watched.
The remains were finally buried
at Maiden. After the funeral
the widow and daughter, who
reside in different houses, on a
certain night dreamed that the
deceased was buried alive and
was trying to release himself
from the grave. They told
their dreams to each other, and
finally caused the grave to be
opened. To the horror Of all
the corpse was found lying on
it's side, and the top of the cask-
ct broken, showing that the
man had made strenuous efforts
to escape death by sutfocation.
, 1878-03-09

1t is said Of Spurgeon that in
his pointed way he cried out
from hepulpit, "There's S a shoe
maker. Last Sunday he sold
shoes that amounted to nine
pence, and there was fourpence
profit on it." In the audience
there was shoemaker who had
donc that very thing. The mys-
iefy bothered him all tho week,
so on the next Sunday, he had
his girl open the shop while he
again went to church. "Ah, sin
ner,' Spurgeon began, SHINING
by proxy is just as bad as though
you had sinned yourself. 1t is
no use for you to come here and
leave your daughter to keep
shop" The shoemaker was
dumbfounded. 1t set him think
ing, and he was converted.
Sturgeon, hearing of the circnm-
stance, said he believed the Ho-
ly Spirit inspired his words.
, 1878-03-09

Virginia once had q native African
for Governor. Alexander Spots
wood, Who filed the chair 1760, was
born in Tangier while his father. >
British ofdcst, vss there oD duty.
, 1878-03-09

A religious paper out west addresses
its readers in the following pathetic
strain: Your mother read the Advocate
before you were born, and read i: many
a day as she rocked aud hummed you
to sleep. She has gone home to eaver
This years Advocate may guide your
feet safely to the same heaven. Broth
or. can you afford to hush these memo
ries and quench this light for 49, .70?"
, 1878-03-09

Civilization in St. Louis is il
lustrated by a dog fight, in
which two fierce brutes amused
a large assembly for two hours,
and killed each other.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-24

What will the Board Of Education do with
the report of the HERALD inspection Of
some of the public schools? The inspec-
ton was made only for the purpose Of dis
covering the real condition of the schools
it was done without Partially or prejudice,
but in the interest Of the health Of q hun
dred thousand children. 1t demonstrated
the correctness of the HERALD's previous
statements, and developed new facts, even
worse than any previously given, and it
traced very large proportion Of the
trouble directly to its source-to ignorant,
lazy janitors. Will this report be quietly
pigeon holed by the Board because il did
not come through official channels, or
will the Commissioners make hon
est use of it, as in their private
business capacities they would do of
any important information that came un-
asked before their eyes? The incompetence
of janitors, as janitors, is notorious fact.
The parent who would consult one Of them
as physician would be considered crazy
Yet they have unlimited control Of physical
influences more constant and powerful than
almost any medicines that physicians pre-
scribe. The men whose neglect and stu
pidity were alluded to yesterday should not
be retained, no matter how useful they may
be to leading politicians. If they really
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-24
Christmas.

During the past two weeks our avenues
and streets have been full of the glad
sounds and signs of the Christmas season.
In all our business establishments, from the
monster palaces Of marble and iron down to
the humblest of sidewalk stands, the intiu-
ence Of the sweetest festival Of the Christian
year has been felt in quickened trade and
activity. With to-day the purely secular
preparation for the observance of the
great feast will come to close, and
tomorrow the churches will take up
the task Of celebration, each in its own
appropriate way. 1t will be seen by another
page that this year the churches have,
as usual, prepared superb musical pro-
grammes. especially those Of the Catholic
and Episcopalian denominations. In the
former the grand masses Of the most emf
nent composers will be sung, while the
latter will content itself with the simpler but
no less impressive hymns which its ritual
prescribes. As rule the sermons will be
short, which will not be their least merit.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-24

the Western cities have grown SO won
derfully by the operation Of the same
causes. The great local markets of the
West have served as reservoirs for collect
ing the streams which have been poured
forward to swell the commerce OF this met
ropolitan city. Her great fields for enterprise
and talents have been, and will continue
to be, New York and the vast, fertile and
rising West, which feeds our commerce
Enterprise and abilities 60 into the fields
where they can gather the richest har-
vest, and the most vigorous New
England blood is now flowing in
the veins Of Western citizens New
England having exported SO much of her
best talents and of her native energy OF
character must expect to see them repro
duced in the great and expanding and majes-
tic West, which is destined to become not
only the centre of population but Of politi-
cal influence. If another Webster should
be born to her he would seek his fortune
either in New York city, like Mr.. Evarts, or
in the West, like Chief Justice Chase. Her
ultimate fame will be that of strong
mother of powerful race of distant sons,
whose influence will grow as her own
declines
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-24

must be cared for between political cam
paigns at the expense Of the city they can
be more cheaply and effeetually accommo-
dated on Blackwells Island. Their places
can easily be filled by competent men, Tor
thousand dollars year and free rent Is
compensation that thousands OF educated,
scientific men would jump at Mean
while. as water costs nothing, some one
should see that the foul closets and other
denominations alluded to in the HERALD re-
port are kept as inoffensive rs frequent
flushing can make them, until they can be
remade and brought up to at least the
cleanliness of common stable drain.
Money should undoubtedly be spent in
remedying defects of construction, and we
shall be glad to see the Board get 1t and
expend it judiciously but now, while there
is supposed to be no money on hand, is the
time to make Inexpensive improvements,
and q thorough wedding out Of janitors is .
work which not only will cost nothing, but
will save both money and life. And let
school authorities everywhere, both public
and private, high and low, avail themselves
at once of the hint which is given by COM
parison of the HgRALD's sanitary report with
the Boards statement that the sanitary con-
dition Of the schools is perfect.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-24
More Wonders i'm, avirgfnia.o /,

NVOTc WO40cES An ~ 1S8AnhOsS 4F't
Our recent descriptions Of the wondbFftT
hole in the ground known as Luray CXSe!s
in Virginia, were calculated to make less
favored States .envious Of s'the Mother Of
Presidents" But now comes o statement,
the truth of which is vouched for by most
respectable witnesses, that o more impor-
tant and perhaps more interesting cavity
has been discovered in the State-nothing
less than o crack in the Blue Ridge Noun
tains, which extends, as estimated, for
fourteen miles, from the Shenandoah VAL
ley to the Rapidan River. The fissure, we
are told, is about one foot wide, but Of
unmeasured depth, and has been followed
by o herder tor over four miles. If
the bottom is going to drop out
of Virginia we ought to know it as
as soon as possible, because there are ma
tional to say nothing Of financial interests
in that State which need looking after be-
fore she disappears in the abyss. We do
not suppose that this strange receding of the
mountains is renewed effort at secession,
q reopening Of ''the bloody chasm" or o
dodge to scare off the States creditors If
Virginia intends to play gopher" with us
it won't work, because in such a case all we
would have to do would be to annex New
foundland, tow it round to the mouth Of
the james River, break it up and dump it
into the hole and make things level again.
The fishery rights that 60 with the island
could be cut up and divided among the
Atlantic coast States, and then we could
reasonably demand the refunding of the
award money from John Bull. So, Virginia,
don't