davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15
Gobing and Gobang.

There was an interesting case before
Judge Wilson in Cincinnati the other
day. A man by the singular name of
Gobing was charged with committing
an assault and at the same time batter
ing an individual answering TO the re-
markable patronymic of Gobang.
The names having such a striking
similarity, the Judge had some diff
Guilty in establishing which was which,
and stupid witness in the case added
considerably TO the confusion:
"Now tell me-" said the Judge,
- who was the aggressor in this case:"
Witness" Whose he ?"
Judge Who's whoS"
Witness 4. Gressor?"
Judge mean the man who struck
the first blow"
Witness Gobing. He hit him Go
bang shifting his fists together TO
show how he did it.
Judge Did Gobang hit baek?'
Witness No, he didn't hit him in
the back"
Judge How did he hit him.:
WitEess-'' He hit him, Gobang ~
another fistic pantomime.
Judge Well, was that all ~
Witness. All of Gobing?"
Judge No-all of the fight"
Witness. With Gobang!"
Jndge-'.I'll GObang you if you don't
answer my questions properly. You
amt so stupid as you appear. Now
commence and tell what you know
about this fight, or an officer will Co
bing you down stairs and lock you up"
Witness Well, your honor. stood
talking with one of the men"
Judge With Gobing?"
Witness No, with Gobang; and
the other fellow came up and hit"
Judge Gobang:"
Witness No, this was Gobang that
came up, and then it was Gobing -
fists shifting together and Gobang" "
another smite-'' first one and ther
the other, and then they clinched and
went DOWN, he on top"
Judge Gobang?"
Witness-'No, Gobing. And then I
tried to pull the other fellow Off"
Judge" GObing:"
Witness" No, no, Gobang. Then
the police came up, and, your honor,
that is all know about It,"
Judge" And a very remarkable
story it is too. Case dismissed. Gobing
and Gobang can 60"
Witness And where shall | go,
your honor?''
Judge Go-haDg"
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15
The Playing of an Empress.

More than a hundred years ago the
great country east of Germany, known
as Russia, was ruled by the Empress
Anne. 1t is very cold country and
the winter is very long. The capital is
ST. Petersburg, and through it the river
Neva runs. This river freezes in winter,
and the ice is frequently so solid that it
will bear an army of several thousand
men with all their heavy guns and
mortars, and these be discharged with
out so much as cracking the ice.
At the close OF the year 1879, during
an extremely cold winter, the empress
ordered one of her architects TO build
an ice palace. The great square in front
of the royal palace was chosen for its
site. Blocks of the ciearest ice were
selected, carefully measured, and even
ornamented with architectural designs.
They were raised with cranes and care
fully placed in position, and were
cemented together by the pouring OF
water over them. The water soon froze
anu m3ut the DlOchs Que sOilu wall VI
ice. The palace was fifty-six feet long,
seventeen and one-half feet wide, and
twenty-one feet high. Can you imagine
anything more beautiful than such a
building made of transparent ice and
sparkling in the sun!
1t was surrounded by balustrade,
behind which were placed six ice cannon
on carriages. These cannon were ex-
actly like real metal ones, and were so
hard and solid that powder could be
fired in them. The charge used was a
quarter of pound ofpowder and ball
of oakum. At the first trial Of the
cannon an iron ball was used. The
empress with all her court was present,
and the ball was fired. 1t pierced a
plank two inches thick at distance Of
sixty feet.
Besides these six cannon in front OF
the palace, there were two mortars
which carried iron balls weighing
eighty pounds with a charge Of one
quarter of pound of powder. Then,
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15
The Hero Of Fifteen DueIs.

Paul de Cassagnac is the champion
swash-bUekler of the Paris press. His
recent duel with VI. Thompson was
his fifteenth encounter, but he has never
yet killed anybody. The author Of
The Member tor Paris" has kept a
record of these duels. from which il
appears that the fiery gentleman has
fought with Henri Rochefort, Aurelein
Scholl, Gustave Flourens, who was
killed under the commune; Lissagaray,
the historian of the commune; Arthur
Rane, ex-member for Paris, and Edou-
ard LockrOy, member for Aix-these
and other adversaries being all Repub-
licans. Among those with whom he
has declined TO fight are Lieutenant
Lullier, now in New Caledonia, who
publicly slapped his face; and NJ.
Clemenceau, one of the members for
Paris, who is renowned as a swords
man, and is the more dangerous from
being left handed. VI. Gambetta has
been challenged by VI. de Cassagnac,
but disdained even to answer him. In
1861, NJ. VermOrel raked up some un-
savory scandal about the elder Cassag-
nae, and published it day after day.
The son, burning to ayenge his father,
but finding he could get no redress.
waylaid his enemy at the door of the
latter's Office and spat in his face, for
which breach of the peace he was SEN
fenced TO Imprisonment.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15
Sunset In the Hartz Mountains.

Standing on the cliff, eight hundred
feet above the valley, we looked down
into its quiet shadows, where tiny cas-
cades went leaping over the stones to
swell the stream, and across TO HeXen-
tanzplatz-a broad open plateau still
higher than the Rosstrappe-and far
away we saw the weird form of Brock
er, dimly visible behind its misty veil.
Meadows and green pastures lay now
in sunshine, now in shade from the
light clouds floating above; level plains
studded with cities and villages stretch
ed away, and were lost in vapor. We
were hemmed in by mountains, some
of which were so gaunt and stony that
the smallest plant could not grow there
on, while others were gay with blossoms
and rich with foliage. Suddenly one
peak after another was lost in rain;
showers were falling all about US, the
drops glistening like gems IN the sun
shine. The valley lay in darkest gloom,
and we were in the midst of clear rays
from the setting sun. Soon the tops Of
the trees-the pale birch. the dark green
frs, pine, oak and beech-were brightly
, defined against the sky, when the
clouds burst into sudden glory of red
and gold, a rainbow rested on the
mountain tops, spanned the valley,
crept down the sides and was lost in
night far, far below
Elsewhere in the world there are
loftier heights, softer landscapes,
grander waterfalls; but In variety of
of tint and depth of color, none of them
can surpass a sunset on the Rosstrappe.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15

thought of throwing the girl off, but
before he could think of anything else,
the car took the leap, and as Hugh
O'Donnell sat smoking in his sentry
box, he saw the upturned faces, pallid
with agony, but pressed close together,
60 down with the hand-car to the deep
pools and cruel rocks of Fox Run, and
as he did so, he said:
"Curse YOU" and lighted another
pipe.
They found him there, but mad-not
raving mad, but in that lympathic state
of mania which is beyond reach. On
the shore below, held by the gnarled
roots of willow, were discovered the
bodies of George and Mollie. In the
moment of death she had thrown her
arms about him, and as the sunlight
filtered through the surging branches
and fell upon the upturned faces, they
seemed like bride and groom in the
sleep of happiness. So they were, but
Death had been the minister.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15
A Yankee Trick.

"What do you charge for board %
asked tall Green Mountain boy, as he
walked up to the bar of second-rate
hotel in New York; "what do you ask
a week for board and lodging?"
Five dollars"
Five dollars, that's too much, but
| s'pose you allow for the times L am
absent from dinner and supper?"
Certainly, thirty-seven and a half
cents each"
Here the conversation ended, and the
Yankee took up his quarters for two
weeks. During this time he lodged
and breakfasted at the hotel, but did
not take either dinner or supper, saying
his business detained him in another,
portion of the town. At the expiration
of two weeks he again walked to the
bar and said:
"S'pose we settle that account-l'm
roing in few minutes"
The landlord handed him his bill :
"Two weeks board at five doliars-ten
dollars"
.Here. stranger" said the Yankee,
.this's wrong-you'ye not deducted
the time | was absent from dinner and
supper-l4 days, two meals per day
2S meals at 371s cents each-SlO.5O. ii
you've not got the fifty cents that IS due
to me. I'll take drink and the balance
in cigars
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15

burning hoop. Another animal fires
off a pistol, from sack strapped at his
flank, and still another unties with its
teeth handkerchief tied alternately on
one of his fore and hind feet. But the
most difficult trick accomplished is the
act of ''see-sawing." A horse mounts
plank oscillating on fulcrum, and.
although the board is scarcely two feet
in width, balances himself in the centre
until it reaches horizontal position.
rest, he inclines toward one end, and
BY letting the other fall, enables a sec
Ond horse to mount. The equilibrium
is again established, and for some time
the two horses "see-saw' in the most
approved style. They then change
places without leaving the plank, and
ii:sally dismont separately.
The horse Flora rolls on barrel up
an inclined plane-a most difficult feat,
for tie hOofs of the animal are so con-
stituted as TO render impossible any
grip on the substance. But more ditii
cult still than this il the process OF roll
ing the barrel down the plank.
Nettie is the chief leaper of the Bron-
cho troupe, clearing four horses and a
fence at bound. All the horses arr
of great strength and grace of move
ment, and under most perfect training.
The attractions OF tue place are like
wise enhanced by a troop of educated
dogs. A dogs pantomime of the droll-
est description is enacted. One dog
steals brass collar from another;
third one goes in pursuit of the offender
and Overtakes him. Meanwhile, moose
has been slipped around his head Two
other dogs erect a gallows. The dog
who has hold of the end of the moose,
draws the thief after him, and by jump
ing over the cross-bar OF the gallows, is
enabled to pul! the rope taut and thus
raise the offender from the ground.
The thief is then let down, to all ap-
pearanee dead. Three dogs bring
wagon for hearse. The dead criminal
is deposited therein, and the funeral
cortege proceeds from the place OF exc
cution, while the brass collar is restored
TO its rightful owner. The intelligence
shown by these dogs is surprising.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15
= Revolutionary Relic.

B-idgelOn, y. j., boasts of a negro
inhabitant named Jeremiah Welles, who
is l12 years old. He was born in 1866.
in the old tavern kitchen at CantwelIs
Bridge, OF tine AppoquimininE Creek.
in 81. Georges Hundred, Newcastle
county, Del, and when mere babs
was sold a. a slave by his father to the
proprietor Of the tavern. AT the age of
nine he vas sold 10 a Mr.. Abey Cole.
with whom he lived in bondage for
twenty-six years. He remembers the
breaking out of the war of the Revolu
ton, and has perfect recollection OF
many occurrences of those stirring
times. During his slavery days with
Cole he married and raised four chill
dren, three of whom are living now.
In 1889 he married a Miss Susannah
Buck, he being seventy-three aud she
eighteen years of age, By whom he had
one daughter. With this daughter,
who is thirty-five years of age, he now
lives. The old negro shows the marks
Of his great age in his shriveled skin
and attenuated body. Although he has
drunk whiskey and used tobacco all his
life he does not betray sny marks of dis
sipation. He has deep chest, sinewy
limbs and sIrong, clear voice, while
the grasp of his hand is as firm and as
steady as il was half century ago. His
eyesight, however, is very poor. Twely e
years ago, the one hUndredth anniver-
sary OF his birth, he was made q citizen
of the United States.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15
A Champion Eatist.

The Reading Times and Dispatch.
claims the championship in this line
for an ex-Chester countian, who is a
resident of that city. 1t relates that he
an Omish festival in Lancaster county
some years ago, and at the meal put
under his vest the following inventory
of edibles: plates of bean soup, 4 large
slices of corn-beef, hunks of roast
beef, 6 slices of ham, 6 soft-boiled eggs,
10 potatoes with jackets on, 3 deep
plates of mashed potatoes, one dish OF
cold-slaw, one dish of cooked tomato
sauce, 16 young onions, one dish OF
boiled apple snitz, one dish of peas, one
dish of beans, one dish of turnip sauce,
one dish of prunes, one-half an oyster
pot-pie, bread aud butter, cottage
cheese, apple butter, peach butter. pot
cheese, apple pie. peach pie, blackberry
pie, cherry pie. ring cake, pound cake,
sponge cake, marble cake, oranges, ap-
pies, six cups of coffee, four glasses OF
milk, water, etc.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15

too, there were two ice dOlphins, from
whose mouths u flame of burning naptha
was thrown at nigat with most beauti-
| full effect. Between the cannon and
dolphins, in front OF tine palace, there
was a bslustrade of ice ornamented with
square pillars. Along the top of the
palace there was a gallery and balus-
trade which was oruamented with round
balls. In the center of this stood four
beautiful ice statues.
The frames of the doors and windows
were painted green TO initiate marble.
There were two entrances TO the palace,
on opposite sides, leading into square
vestiDuIe which had four windows. All
the windows were made OF perfectly
transparent ice, and ar night they were
hung with linen shades on which gro
tesque figures were painted, and illum-
mated by great number of candles.
Before entering the palace one natur-
ally stopped to admire the pots of flowers
on the balustrade, and the orange trees
on whose branches birds were perching
Think of the labor and patience required
10 make such perfect limitations of
nature ia ice!
Standing in the vestjbule, facing one
entrance and having another behind,
one could see door on either hand.
Let Us imagine ourselves in the room on
the left. Ii is sleeping-room ap-
parently, but if you stop to think that
every article in it is made of ice you
will hardly care TO spend a night there;
ally slept on the bed there for an entire
night. On one side is a toilet-table.
Over il hangs mirror, on each side of
which are eandelal,ra with ice candles.
Sometimes at night these candles were
lit by being dipped in naptha. On the
table is a watch-pOcket, and variety
of vases, boxes, and ornaments of curl
Gus and beautiful design. At the other
side of the room We see the bed hung
with curtains, furnished with sheets
aud eover-lid and two pillows, on
which are placed two night-caps. By
the side of the bed on a foot-stool are
swo pairs of slippers. Opposite the bed
is the fireplace which is beautifully
carved and ornamenJe1. In the gra g
lie sticks of wood also made OF ice,
which are sometimes lighted like the
candles b. having naptha poured over
them.
The opposite room is dining-rOom.
In the center stands table on which Is
a clock of most wonderful workman
ship. The ice used is so transparent
that all the wheels and works are visl-
bic. On each side of this table two
beautifully carved sofas are placed, and
in the corners of the room there are
statues. On one side we see sidebOard
covered with variety of ornaments
We open the doors and find inside tea
set, glasses and plates which contain
variety of fruits and vegetables, all
made OF ice but painted in imitation OF
nature.
Let us now go through the opposite
door and notice the other curious things
outside the palace At each end of the
balustrade we see a pyramid with all
opening in each side like the dial OF
clock. These pyramids are hollow, and
at night man stands inside of them
and exhibits Illuminated pictures at the
grand openings.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15
Shakspeare's Stage.

Shakspcare's stage was strewn with
green rushes. just as the private rooms
were in the richest houses, for carpets
were as yet seldom used. Sometimes it
was matted over as it was for the play
of Henry ILL.,, the night the Globe was
burnt down. The curtains of silk or
worsted did not draw up as they do
now, or let down as in the Roman
theatres, but opened in the middle, and
sliding with rings attached to an iron
rod, drew back like window or bed cur
tains of the present day. The boys OF
the theatre lent out stools at Cd each TO
those gallants who wished to dazzle the
groundlings who stood in the yard or
pit. Some lay on the rushes, and
PLAYED at cards or smoked; others
drank wine or beer. The 'prentices in
the cheap I'd gallery, cracked ruts and
nibbled apples just as they do now.
The prologue was generally spoken
by an actor who wore long black
velvet cloak, perhaps originally intend
ed TO indicate that a tragedy was TO
follow, and then worn indiscriminately
to usher in either comedy or tragedy; a
trumpet blown three times preceied his
appearance, and trumpet served also
as a signal for the music, that was not
placed, as now, in row before the foot
lights, but in stations over the stage
boxes.
In the rear of the stage there was
raised platform or balcony, and this
had also curtains which could be drawn
so rs TO conceal the actors who were in
it; here Christopher Sly would sit to see
the Td,aiRg Of the Shrelc, Julia receive
her adventurous lover and Henry VIII.
to watch the insults heaped upon
Cranmer.
There was never but one play per-
formed in the day, and that was acted
in about two hours. This, perhaps, Is
the chief cause of the Elizabethan
drama. Sometimes Tarleton or Kemp,
the best low comedians OF the day, came
on between the acts, dressed in russell
or motley, and danced a jig to the sound
of the pipe and tabor, singing as they
danced, either such long as Sir Topas
in the TUeltth Night, or squib extern
porizing on the events of the day those
who, after this, were still hungry for
amusement. could visit the beer-garden
or the cockpit. At the end of the
performance the actors fell upon their
knees and prayed for the health and
prosperity of their patrons, or the
Queen, a custom retained in the ''God
save the Queen" that forms the last line
of English playbills.
The play commenced at one or two.
PLAYS were exhibited on Sunday, in
spite of all the just denunciations of
Puritans. Elizabeth herself visited a
theatrical exhibitions at Oxford on Sun
day, and James |. allowed plays to be
acted at Court on the same holy day.
Sunday was favorite night for masks.
An indignant Precisian had once the
hardihoodto indict the Bishop of Lincoln
for allowing a comedy to be acted in his
house on Sunday, the night after con-
secraring a chapel.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15

The tragedy of King Lear is not un-
frequently played, in spirit if not in
letter, by those who never read the sad
representation of filial ingratitude.
Gen. Gesnola, the explorer, met with a
modern King Lear on the island of Cy-
prus. Ii is the custom of islanders for
a father, when too old to work in the
fields, to settle his whole fortune upon
his sons. IL often happens that the
son with whom the old man elects to
live, ill-treats his father, and compels
him to beg his daily food.
Hadji Jorghi, following the ancient
custom, settled all his property upon
his sons, and supported himself by dig
ging among the tOmbs for such eXplor-
ers a. employed him to hunt for trea-
sures of art. In the days OF his prosper
ity he had become surety for some rela-
tive. rhe debtor could not pay, and,
according to Turkish law, Hadji must
pay or go to prison. He had nothing;
his sons would not aid him, and so he
was arrested, marched fifteen miles and
thrown into prison. There he remained
two months, uncared for by govern
ment or sons, until a physician pro-
cured his release by representing that
the old man would die if longer con-
fined.
When released, he iourneyed slowly
broken down with grief. The next
day after his arrival he tottered to the
tombs. Not returning home search
was made for him. He was found
crouclred in an excavated tomb, his
knees drawn up and bis eyes fixed. He
had gone beyond the reach of filial in
gratitude.
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15
The Equine Wonders at the Aq uarium.

The current attraction at the Aquari-
am New York, is of more than general
public interest. 1t consists of a troupe
of ten Broncho horses. whose evolutions
constitute genuine novelty. The fas-
cination which pertains to ordinary
circus performances has been height
ened in this instance by the adoption of
a novel and ingenious plan. Briefly
stated, 1t is to present an equestrian
entertainment divested of the mere
mechanism of the 'ring." Extraneous
aids are disregarded. The horses appear
without riders. They are neither
checked" driven or directed, but per-
form evolutions which are wholly the
result of training, and perform them
without assistance.
These horses were originally wild on
the plains, and have undergone all stages
of subiection until they are now under
complete control. To what extent they
may be carried is shown in some of
their marvellous feats. The horses first
execute a military drill, forming Into
line, answering the roll-call and march,
ing in single and double file, and in
platoon, counter marching and execut-
ing other martial tactics. A handker-
chief is passed along the entire line
from mouth to mouth. At the conclu-
sion of this, Picconina, who is perhaps
,ba most snirited OF the ten cOmDels
the others to leave the ring in success
sive order, without word of direction
or assistance being uttered by any one.
Then two horses open a lid of box
and find a handkerchief concealed
therein, which is delivered to the owner
One horse makes choice among flags OF
different colors, such ones as the audi
ence select, and afterward leaps through
Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-05-15
THE TWO ARMIES.

The LIES unending column psurs.
Two msrshalled hosts are seen
Two armies on the trampled shores
That death flows back between.
one marches to the drum beats roll,
The wIde-mouthed clarion's bray,
And bears upon crimson scroll
.-Our glory is to slay."
one moves in silence by the stream,
With sad yet watchful eye.
Calm as the patient planets CLEAN,
That walks the clouded sky.
Along in front no sabres shine.
No blood-red pennons wave
It's banner bears the single line.
Our duty is 20 save"
For those no death-bed's lingering shade
At honor's trumpet call;
With knitted brow and uplifted blade,
In Glory's arm they fall
For these no flashing fAlchiOns bright.
Nor stirring battle-cry
The bloodless stabbers call by night
Each answers, Here am l :"
For those the sculptor's laureled bust,
The builders marble piles;
The anthems pealing DER their dust,
Through long cathedral aisles-
For these the blossom-sprinkled turf
That floods the lonely graves,
When Spring rolls in her sea-green surf
In fiowery foaming waves.
Two paths lead upward from below,
And angels wait above,
Who sount each burning life-drop's How.
Each falling tear of Love.
Though from the Hero's bleeding breast,
Her pulses freedom drew,
Though the white lilies in her crest
Sprang from that scarlet dew.
While yalor's naughty champions wait
TIL all their scars are shown,
Love walks unchsllenged through the gate
To sit beside the throne.