davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
A Brideeroom Among Sharpers.

A young German from Cincinnati,
freshly married and exceedingly happy,
set out with his pretty bride for a honey
moon in Rochester, N. Y. A few hours
before the train reached Cleveland,
Ohio. well-dressed man asked him If
he would not take cigar and play few
hands of euchre in the smoking car.
The bridegroom assented, promising to
return to his little dear very soon. AZ
ter few hands, in which he invariably
held good cards, one of the travellers
suggested that they should put up a
penny or two to make the game lively.
Wonderful luck the bridegroom had at
the outset, and then it turned, and he
began to lose-first, $3.50 in his wallet,
next his watch and chain, and finally
his wife's watch. His partner asked
him to call at hotel in Cleveland, and
inquire for Joseph Geisenheimer, and
the players separated as the cars trund-
led into the depot. The bridegroom
called repeatedly at the hotel during the
evening and asked for Geisenheimer,
the aforesaid, but could not find the
gentleman. The bridal pair were penni.
less before the honeymoon was day
old, but luckily they had bought tick
cts to Rochester, and could go on to
their journeys end and borrow money
of their relatives.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
Torture of the Widows,

In the interior of New Caledonia,
which is east of Vancouver's Island and
north of Columbia, among the tribe
called "Taw-wa-tins," who are also Ba-
bines, and also among other tribes in
their neighborhood, the custom pre-
walls of burning bodies, with circum-
stances of peculiar barbarity to the
widows of the deceased. The dead body
OF the husband is laid naked upon a
large heap of resinous wood his wife is
then placed upon the body and covered
with skin the pile is then lighted,
and the poor woman is compelled to re-
mained until she is nearly suffocated,
when she is allowed to descend as best
she can through the smoke and flames.
No sooner, however, does she reach the
ground, than she is expected to prevent
the body from becoming distorted by
the action of the fire on the muscle and
sinews; and whenever such an event takes
place, she must, with bare hands, restore
the burning corpse to its proper posi-
tion her person being the whole time
exposed to the scorching effects of the
intense heat. Should she fail in the
due performance of this indispensable
rite, from weakness or the intensity of
her pain, she is held up by some one
until the body is consumed. A continual
singing and beating of drums is
kept up throughout the ceremony,
which drown her cries. Afterwards she
must collect the unconsumed pieces of
bone and ashes, and put them in a bag
made for the purpose, which she has to
carry on her back for three years re-
naming for the time a slave to her hus-
bands relations, and being neither al
lowed to wash nor comb herself for the
whole time, so that she soon becomes a
most disgusting object. At the expira-
alton of the three years, a feast is given
by her tormentors, who invite all the
friends and relations of her and them
selves.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
LOng.Sighted Ones.

1t is an interesting fact that there are
very few persons in the world possessing
peculiar keerness of vision enabling
them to 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. M.
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 so small and
simple help as four-inch telescope.
In this country, Mr.. s. 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 Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
A Notable Auction Sale.

A recently written letter from Wash
ington contains this item: A very pecu-
liar auction sale was commenced in this
city to-day of most extraordinary lot of
stereoscopic views. There are in the lot
over Ill 900 views. 1t is the collection
of well-known but somewhat eccentric
gentleman, who has devoted over twenty
years in making the collection. He
gathered the views in all sections of the
world, and it is believed that he has q
copy of every stereoscopic view that has
ever been placed on sale. 1t got to be a
mania with him, and he spent good
sized fortune upon it. Putting the cost
of each at twenty-five cents (the ordinary
price,, they cost him 1927, $50, but as it
is known some cost him as high as five
dollars each, no reliable estimate can be
made on their actual cost. Among the
lot are over 1000 giving scenes in vari-
GUS parts of France, but particularly in
Paris. Many of them are illuminated.
Pictures of every singer that ever ap-
peared on the operate stage of any note,
whose pictures could be obtained, are
also among the lot. 1t is hard for the
owner-now an old man-to consent to
dispose of them, but he found that the
wants of his family were pressing, and he
felt that it would be unjust to them for
him to keep them any longer. Under
the circumstances, he finally decided to
sell them. For two or three days, while
the views have been on exhibition in
boxes at the Corcoran building, he has
guarded his pets as if they were dia-
monds, and refused to show a single one
of them until the auction began this
evening. They will not bring one tenth
of what they cost, being without doubt
the first and largest in the world.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
How the Danube Feeds the Aach.

The American architect says: Some
time ago dispute arose between the
German government and certain manu-
facturers on the river Aach, which in
volved the determining of the source of
the river, which has it's immediate source
in spring, one of the largest in Eu-
rope, as it discharges 1,86O gallons a
second. The bed of the Danube is cal
careous, and its inclination IS the same
as that of the ground from the Danube
to the source of the Asch, which is at a
level eight hundred feet below. For a
number of years it had been noticed that
ut certain place the Danube lost por-
ton of its waters through holes and
crevices in its bed; this loss was 30 great
that in times of drought it caused great
inconvenience to manufacturers on the
Danube, who attempted to prevent it
by filling up these holes. This caused
great outcry from the manufacturers
on the Aach, who maintained that the
Aach was fed by the Danube, and that
filling up the holes was an interference
with their Just and natural privileges.
Hence investigations an experiments.
First, twenty tons of salt were put into
hole in the bed of the Danube, and
the water at the source of the Aach was
analysed for several days, and did give
evidence of containing salt. To obtain
more certain proof, advantage was taken
of the wonderful coloring power OF
fuorescine, Which is the first of series
of superb coloring substances, which
vary as there is introduced into its COM
position bromine, iodine, or chlorine.
Its power may be judged from the fact
that one part of huorescine to twenty
million parts of wafer can be detected.
In this experiment fifteen gallons of Q
solution OF fuorescine were thrown into
the Danube at the suspected point, OF
October 8, at five o'clock. On October
IL, sixty hours after the solution hat
been thrown into the Danube, the
watchers at the source of the Aacf
noticed the first discoloration of the
water; this discoloration increas ID unit
The evening, and it did not wholly dis
appear for more than twenty-four hours
1t is said that when the discoloratior
was most marked, the water gushing
from the spring presented truly mag
niticent appearance, varying in colo
from the most intense green through
light green to brilliant yellow. Thi,
test established the fact that the mill
owners on the Aach were in the right.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
Highland Rev eHge.

On the shores of Null, one of the
western islands of Scotland, crag over
hanging the sea is pointed out as the
scene of tradition which would form
an excellent subject for either picture
or apoem. Some centuries ago, the
chief of the district, Maclean of
Lochbuy, had great hunting excur-
sion. To grace the festivity.. his lady
attended, with her only child, an infant
then in the nurses arms. The deer,
driven by the hounds and hemmed in
by surrounding recks, fed to narrow
pass, the only outlet they could find.
Here the chief had placed one of his
men to guard the deer from passing, but
the animals rushed with such impetuosi-
ty that the poor forester could not with
stand them. In the rage of the moment
Maclean threatened the man with IN
stant death, but this punishment was
commuted to fogging in the face of
his clan, which in those feudal times
was considered degrading punishment,
tit only for the lowest of menials and
the worst of crimes. The clansman
burned with anger and a fierce desire
for revenge. He rushed forward,
plucked the tender infant, the heir of
Lochbuy, from the hands Of the nurse,
and bounding to the rocks, in moment
stood on an almost inaccessible cliff pro-
truding over the water. The cries of
the agonized mother and the chief at the
awful jeopardy in which their only child
was placed may be easily conceived.
Maclean implored the man to give him
back his son, aud exposed his deep
contrition for the degradation he had,
in moment of excitement, inflicted on
his clansman. The other replied that
the only condition on which he would
consent to the restitution was, that
Maclean himself should bare his back
and consent to be fogged as he had
been. In despair the chief consented,
saying that he would consent to any
thing if his child were but restored. To
the grief and astonishment of the clan,
Maclean bore his insult, and when it
was completed, begged that the clans
man might return from his perilous
position with the young chief. The
man regarded him with a smile of de-
moniac revenge, and, lifting the
child above his head, plunged with him
into the waters below. The sea closed
over them, and neither, it is said, ever
emerged from the tempestous whirl-
pools and basaltic caverns that yawned
around them, and which still threaten
the inexperienced navigator on the
shores of Null.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
Workers i'm Deem Mines.

Not many men who see the miners of
the Savage lifted out at the top of the
shaft at change of shift have the courage
to descend into the lower regions of that
mine. Very few even of the old resi-
dents of the Comstock would care to
descend into the steaming regions below,
and not one eastern man in thousand
could be induced TO make the trip after
seeing the men popped out at the top of
the shaft, steaming as though just lifted
out of q cauldron of boiling water.
Though they are shirtless-naked as at
birth from the waist up-and wear only
cotton overalls, they are dripping as If
but a moment out of pond of water;
yet this is from steam and perspiration.
In all this great heat men must work.
The wonder is that they are able to do
anything but gasp and pant. 1t is a
place better fitted for salamanders than
for men. At the head of the main in
cline it is as hot as in the hottest vapor
baths at Steamboat Springs. One would
think that men in such place would be
quite secure against the rheumatism.
On making inquiries in this regard of an
underground foreman, he said he never
knew any of the mel working below to
have the rheumatism. Some of our
sufferers from this disease might try this
cure-might procure themselves to be
lowered into the depths of the mine,
there to sit and steam through one shift
per day. But for the immense quanti-
ties of ice water they drink, the men
could not endure the great heat in which
they are placed or the floods of perspira-
ton pumped from their pores. They
swallow gallons on gallons of it, and it
never hurts them in the least Virginia
City (Neu.) Enterprise.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
WashingtOn's Prediction.

In the March number of HarDer's s
Nea0 Monthly Magazine B. Phillips
prints paper on "Some Unpublished
Letters of Washington, and among the
letters there for the first time printed is
one written by Washington himself, but
for and in the name of his wife. In it
he playfully speculates upon the time
of his own death, and curiously enough
guesses within sixteen days of the
actual date, although the letter was
written in the year 1897. We copy the
passage:
81 am now, by desire of the general
to add few words on his behalf which
he desires may be expressed in the
terms following, that is to say that
despairing of hearing what may be said
of him, if he really shall go off in an
apoplectic, or any other fit, (for he thinks
all fits that issue in death are worse
than love fit, fit of laughter, and
many other kinds which he could name)
he is glad to hear beforehand what
will be said of him on that occasion =
conceiving that nothing extra will
happen between this and then to make
change in his character for better, or
for worse-and besides, as he has enter
ed into an engagement with Mr.. Morris.
and several other gentlemen, not to quit
the theater of this world before the year
1900, it may be relied upon that no
breach of contract shall be laid to him
on that account, unless dire necessity
should bring it about, maugre all his
exertions to the contrary. that case,
he shall hope they would do by him as
he would by them-excuse it. At
present there seems to be no danger of
his giving them the slip, as neither his
health, nor spirits, were ever in greater
flow, Notwithstanding, he adds, he is
descending, & has almost reached, the
bottom of the hill ;-or in other words,
the shades below"
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
California MarYels.

According to correspondent, the
California coast is full of marvels.
Every year brings something new to the
surface. Things extraordinary in size,
character and mystery are turning up
every day. When California was first
settled, gold was the great thing. The
soil appeared to be heap of dust. 1t
took long season to find out how rich
this country was in everything that per.
talns to agricultural life. A single
nights rain will turn these dust hills
into verdant pasture. The grasses are
annual. They must be re. sown every
year, unless the seed hidden in the earth
is sufficient for a new crop. Even in the
absence of rain, cattle turned out on
what seems to be plain or hillside, dry
as ashes, pick up a good living on what
is known as the dry crop. The valleys
are hot-beds of vegetation. This is true
of the San Jose valley, the Napa valley
and the Sonoma valley. Fields are laid
out by the mile. The wheat fields are
small when they embrace only one
hundred acres. They are large when
they are thirty miles long. The taste
here is for huge farms. The land is
worked by machinery. The world don't
show such inventions to aid in agricul-
ture as are found here. 1t is common to
see eight horses, four abreast, drawing q
gang of plows. Without machinery
these immense fields could not be culti-
waited. One of the machines takes off
the heads of wheat and leaves the stub
BILE to be burned or plowed in. Before
the machine has done with the crop the
grain is threshed and bagged, ready for
the market, before it leaves the field.
The sheep and cattle are kept in i'm
mense quantities, and one thousand
head of each is small allowance.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
Cosent Reasons for Grand Success.

CoUEs,ein;o,s CNOEeini; MeHsons Ior SrnnI SrnnI succcGs.
success which the present century can chow is
Hostetter's Stomach Bitters. The record OF i,s
triumphs over disease is to be traced in the
written acknowledgements of thousands who
have experie ced its benefcent effects, and
the evidence of its popularity is to be found in
the vast and growing demand for the article in
North and South America, Mexico, Guatemala
the West Indies, Australia and Europe. The
reasons for its unparalleled success are cogent
ones. The accumulated evidence OF nearly
thirty years shows that it is certain remedy
for malarial disease as well as its surest pre-
ventive that it eradicates dyspepsia, constipa
ton, liver complaint and nervousness, counter
acts tendency to gout, rheumatism, urinary
and uterine disorders, that it imparts vigor tc
the feeble, and cheers the mind while it invig
crates the body.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28

The Greatest Discovery of the Age is DR.
Tobias celebrated Venetian Linment 30 ears before
the public and warranted to Darrhea, Dysentery,
Colic and Spasms taken internally and Group, Chronic
Rheumatism, Sore Throats Outs, Bruises, Old Sores,
and Pains in the Lmbs, Back, and Chest, externally.
1t has never failed No family will be without it
after giving fair trial Price. 40 cents. DB.
TOBIAS VENETIAN HORSE LINIMENT, in Pint
Bottles at One Dollar, is warranted superior to any
other, NO PAY for the of Collie, Cuts Bruises,
Old Sores, etc. Sold by all Druggists Depot-1O Park
Place, New York
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28

From john Flagg. Esq, Of Bennington, N.
H.: Three years since 1 was very much re-
duced with dreadful cough, which resulted in
Bronchitis affecting me no severely as to rem
der it difficult to speak in an andibie voice. To
this was added severe night sweats, and was
fearful of going into decline After recourse
to various remedies, to no purpose made use
Of sDr. Wistar's Balsam of Wild Cherry, few
bottles of which fully restored me to health.
Since that time 1 have had several severe at.
tacks Of cough, but the Balsam has always re.
moved them. always keep it by me, and
should not know how to do without it,
30 cents and 81 bottle. Sold by all drug
pists
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
VEGETINE
For Kidney Complaint and Nervous
Debility.
IsLRBoRo, Me-. Dec. %, 1877.

IsLEBoRo, Me-, Dec. %, 1877
Mr.. STEVENS:
when commenced taking the VEGETINE. was very
low, my system was debitated by disease. I had tho
Kidney Complaint, and was very nervous-Oough bad,
and Lungs sore. When had taken one bottle found
it was helping me; it has helped my cough, and It
strengthens ms l am now able to do my work Never
have found ANYTHING like the VEGETINE. know it
is everything it is recommended to be.
MRS. A. j. PENDLETON.
VEGETINE is nour shng and Strengthening puriHes
the blood; regulates the bowels; quiets the
system acts directly upon the secretons, and
the whole system to action.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
VEGETINE
FOR SICK HEADACHE.

NJ EVANSVILLE, Ind, Jan. ], 1873.
Dear Sir-I have used your VEGETINE for Sick
Headache, and been greatly benefited thereby. have
every reason to believe it to be good medicine.
Yours, very respectfully,
MRS. JAMES OONNOR, All Third Street.
HEADACHE. VEGETINE can be said to be
remedy for the many kinda of headache, as 1t aots
directly upon the various of this complaint
Nervousness, Indigestion, Costivensss, Rheumatism,
Neuralgia, Biliousness. etc. Try the VEGETINE. You
will never regret it,
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
THE SCIENCE OF LIFE

OR SEIIF-PRESERVATIO
Two hundreth edition, revised and enlarged just pub
lished IT is standard medical work the best in the
English languages written physician of eat eIpe
rence, to whom was awarded gold and jsweled media
by the National Medical Association. 1t conta ms beau
tiul and very expensive steel plate engravnRs Three
hundred pages, thai fifty valuable prescriptions
all of prevailing diseases, the result of many
years of extensive and successful practice Bound in
French cloth price only sent by mail The London
Lancet says: mo person should be without this vau
able book The author is q noble benefsctor." An
postage. Address DR.. w. II. PARKER. No. Bufnch
Street, Boston. The author may be consulted on a
diseases requiring skill and experience.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28

The former private secretary of Presi-
dent Polk has been discovered, old
and poor, in Santa Fe. He was we'll
acquainted with Andrew Jackson, and
relates how he once saw him praying
at the grave of his wife.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
GOOD Old
STANDBY
MEXICAN MUSTANG LINIMEIf
FOR MAN AND BEAST.

EsTABLIsHrD 35 YEARS. Always Away
ready. Always handy. Has never yet failed Tnirfs
millions havs tested Il. The whole world approves th
glorious old Mustang-the nest and Cheapest Linimsu
in existence. 25 cents notle. The Mustang Linimsn
ourss when nothing else will.
SOLD BYyALL MEDICINE VHNDERs
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28

Some people don't know that they are being
swindled every time they buy an inferior,
short-weight, baking powder. 1t would be far
better to buy and use the old reliable Dooley's
Yeast Powder. Every package Of the Dooley
Powder is warranted absolutely pure, and
strictly full weight Sold by grocers.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28

The editor Of an agricultural paper says tn re
Sheridan's Condition Powders, given occasion
ally, will certainly prevent it. Be sure to gel
Sheridan's. The other kinds in large packages
are trash.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28
VEGETINE
FOR DROPSY.

CENTRAL FALLS, r. l., Oct l9. 1877.
DIR. II. r. STEVENS:
Iii pleasure to give my testimony for valuable
medicine was sick for "a long time with Dropsy
under the doctors care He said it Water between
the Heart and Liver. received benefit until COM
menced taking the VEGETINE-in fact, was growing
worse have tried many remedies; they did not help
me. VEGETINE is the medicine for Dropsy began
to feel better after taking few bottles. have taken
thirty bottles in all. / am perfectly wel-never felt
better. No feel more thankful than do.
am, dear sir, gratefully yours.
A. d. WHEELER.
VEGETINE. When the blood becomes lifeless and
stagnant either from change of weather of climate,
want of exercise irregular diet from any other
the VEGETINE will renew the blood carry of the
putrid humors, cleanse the stomach, regulate the
bowels, and mpart tone of vgor to the whole body.
The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-02-28

DIR. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery will
cure cough in one-half the time necessary to
cure it with any other medicine and it does it,
not by drying it up, but by removing the cause,
subdulng the irritation, and healing the af-
fected parts. Sold by druggists.