davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16

crown jewels, Sevres porcelain, Gobe-
lin tapestry, and the Prince of Wales
Indian collection. 1t then passed
through all the sections, the Commits
sioners of each country greeting it at
the door, and next inspected the mill
tary school, where all the exhibition
workmen were stationed, and lastly
traversed the machinery annexes.
The scene after the official declara-
ton of the opening was imposing in the
extreme. From the heights of the Tro-
cadero the thousands of guests assem-
bled could see crowds ON the surround
ing streets, the banks of the Seine, and
at Passy, both on the right and left.
In front lay the immense area crowded
with the Exposition buildings gayly
decorated with the flags of differ
ent Nations, the grand cascade
and rows of statues illustrating the
countries participating. Long lines of
cquipages filled the road to the Champs
Elysees and Tuilleies, interspered
with detachments of mounted guards
of Paris, magnificent escorts of visiting
Princes and the military household Of
President MacMahon.
The dazzling facade of the palace on
the Champ de Mars was richly orna-
mented with National emblems, and in
every assignable space the thousands of
spectators were held in place by lines
of infantry.
The workmen had made extraordi-
nary efforts during the past three days
in the preparation of the various Sec
tions. The English, American and
Belgian had been specially pushed,
and present creditable appearance.
The American, though unfinished, COM
pares favorably with the others. The
Department of Manufactures shows the
least progress. The Agricultural and
Alimentary Departments will be better
than at any previous foreign EXPOSE
ton. The Machinery Department is
very rich in labor-saving machinery of
the light class already. Though incom-
plete. it compares favorabiy with the
English, while occupying only one
sixth of the space allotted the Brit
ish exhibit. Ths display Of machine
tools is inferior to the American
exhibit at Philadelphia, but superior
to any other at this Exhibition. Agri-
cultural, sewing and weighing ma
chimes make fine display. The text
lies are not yet arranged, but promise
very well. The drugs, chemicals, pub
fishers exhibits, chromos and cutlery
are superior to the competing ex-
hibits in other sections. The American
Art Department is nearly ready. It
will be the best ever shown abroad by
America. The hall is too small, but it
is beautifully arranged, and contains
100 paintings and few water-colors.
American artists residing abroad rep
resented here include Bacon, Bridg-
man, Dana, Dubois, Ward, Bunce,
Maynard, Lippincott and Mayall.
Places of honor are occupied by Bridg-
man and Dana. Rome is represented
by Benson and Vedder, and Dusseldorf
10y Shode. Munich is not represented.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16
A Diamond Story.

A STORY published this week in the
French sporting journal, LIE Sport, is
going the rounds, respecting q South
American gentleman, in Paris, who
lost, the other evening, at the house of
one of our cOuntrymen, diamond
valued at 1900 francs $2,400). The
next morning groom found it in the
courtyard and carried it back to its
owner. That parsonage sent for the
honest groom into his smOking-room,
and showed himself very much pleased
at getting his jewel back again. He
laid il tenderly in drawer of his toilet
table, and then, putting his hand in his
pocket. he pulled out two cigars, which
he offered to the groom. The honest
fellow accepted them, but went off
somewhat discounted. He told the
story on getting home. His master
heard it, and sent for him. "Have you
smoked the two cigars?' said he. mo,
monsieur "r1 give you 500 francs
for them" "Will you, indeed, STRIP
Eyes; here is the sum. You are an
honest lad, and I am glad to pay pre-
MUM for having you in my service.
Now, 60 back to the gentleman who
owns the diamonds and say TO him.
Monsieur, 1 told my master of your
generosity, but he is afraid you may
deprive yourself of the pleasure of
smoking to-day, to make up for the two
cigars you have given me. He told me,
therefore, to bring them back again. "
May I mention the 500 francs, sir?''
" Certainly not.''
The servant brought back to his mas
ter the following letter: :" My dear sir,
l was very glad to get back my diamond.
l have six alike, and intended to have
them set for waistcoat buttons. That
is why was so sorry to lose one Of
them. As to the cigars, I can well af-
ford to give two to your servant, for ]
have 5000 drying in my secretary.
Yours, with great regard, x. T." The
signer of this precious epistle is bach
elor, and has an income of $40, O00.-
Paris Cor. Baltimore american.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16
Song Birds Of the West.

The wild western portion Of our
country is as well supplied with feath-
cred s0ngsters as the more civilized
eastern section, and that in secluded
dell or on dreary desert, where, seldom
heard by human ear, they nevertheless
sing as gayly and with as much enthu-
siasm as if solely for the entertainment
of us vain beings, who, in our conceit,
are apt to imagine that all that is beau
tiful in nature was created simply for
our amusement.
The principal songsters of the West
are not in all cases those of any partic-
ular locality, for the mountain forests,
the desert valleys and the rocky can
yons have alike their own character
istic species, and it is difficult to decide
in which those most entitled to the first
rank are found. The more fertile val
leys ring with the loud, clear song of
the Western lark and the passionate
trills of the lark-sparrow; the dreary
sage-brush wastes are rendered less in
hospitable by the tender, soothing
chants of several sparrows; among the
cottonwoods in the river valleys are
heard the mellow warbling of the
blackheaded grossbeak, the meander-
ing chant of the house-finch and the
merry gable of the wood-wren; while
on the mountains the pine forests and
the varied shrubbery Of the canyons
resound with the lively ditty of the
Louisiana tanager and the silvery har-
mony of the thrushes. OF the latter,
most of the species, except those of the
Southern border, are common also to
the East; but as they are nevertheless
conspicuous among Western songsters
by reason of the melody of their notes.
they deserve prominent place.-Robert
Ridgesoay, in Harper's Magazine for
Mnw.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16

AMONG the Alban Hills, which are
situated some miles from Rome, lad
was tending his fathers goats, when
his eye caught the glitter Of arms in the
distance, and he knew at once that the
King of Etruria, who had threatened to
make war upon the Roman Republic,
was about to carry out his threat.
Without waiting to communicate with
his friends, he set of at the top Of his
speed toward the great city, to warn its
inhabitants of their danger, and bid
them prepare for the coming foe.
1.-the and active, the little brown
mountaineer went bounding down the
slopes, and across the wide marshy plain,
bestrewn with huge fragments Of rock,
and intersected by sluggish streams and
reedy mOrasses, amid which the red
eyed buAaloes lurked. On he sped, as
fast as his sinewy legs would carry him,
but he had q long way to go; the sun
was scorching-there was no pleasant
shade of leafy trees to shelter him from
its fierce glare, nor any sweet cool water
to refresh him, for all about it was unfit
to drink, being brackish and muddy.
Through dreary desolate region he had
to 60. His limbs were ready 20 sink un-
der him, his thirst almost intolerable;
yet the lad 8 courage did not fail-he kept
bravely on. and at length entered the
city gate, through which he passed, and
assembled the hin to the Capitol, where
the Senate of the Republic held its sit
tings. He was just able to whisper the
fatal news; than he sank down, and
complained of q sharp pain in his foot,
on examination of which it was found
that thorn had penetrated very deep
ly beneath the skin. It was necessary
that this should be extracted, and the
lad died under the operation. Grateful
for such noble deed of devotion to his
country, the Senate decreed that hence
forth all the gate-keepers should come
from Vitrochiano, the boys native vii
lage, and that they should be called
Fedele-the faithful.
How imperishable is the memory Of
q good deed! In the beautiful City OF
Florence there is marble bust of this
lad Vitrochiano, in the act of extract.
ing the thorn from his foot; this is NOT
strictly in accordance with historic
trIth-he was too much overcome by
fatigue to attempt this; it was done fol
him, with q fatal result.-N +. Oh
ScT1,cf
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16
The Paris Exposition.

PARIS, May l.
THE ceremony of the opening of the
International Exhibition took place to-
day with great pomp and success. The
ceremony began at 2:3O in the after
noon, at which time it was showery, but
at three o'clock the sun was shining
brightly again. The crowd was inn
mense and enthusiastic, in spite of al
formations of rain throughout the pro-
ceedings. Cries were everywhere heard
of "Vive la Republique," "Vive la
France"
Marshal MacMahon arrived in the
State carriage escorted by his military
household, the troops being drawn up
all along the route from the Elysee. A
procession was then formed, which
marched from the Grand Arcade to a
platform overlooking the fountain and
commanding view of nearly all the
buildings and grounds. Here Trisserene
de Bort, Minister of Commerce, vel
coined the Marshal in a short speech.
The Marshal then declared the Exhibi-
ton opened.
One hundred and one guns from the
Invalides, Mont Valericn, and an island
in the Seine followed the announce
ment. At the same time two military
bands struck up, all the fountains
played, and the soldiers stationed
by the aagstaffs hoisted the flags
of all Nations on the roofs of
the two palaces and ahnexes. The
Marshal then reascended the Trocadero
Palace, the procession reforming be-
hind him, and, after completing the
round of the building, crossed over the
river to the Champ de- Mars. The
troops were drawn up on and near the
bridge. The terrace of the Champ de
Mars Palace was occupied by Senator'S,
Deputies, Council of State, Magistrates,
Academicians, military staff and French
Commissioners. Entering by the cen.
trail door, the procession went through
the grand vestibule. decorated with
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16
An Extraordinary Psint Of Law.

The Manchester Guardian is respon-
sible for very laughable account Of
lawsuit which was decided last week
before the JUICE de paiz of q village near
Toulouse. As narrated by our cOntem-
porary the facts would seem to be
these: A certain peasant in the vicin-
ity of Toulouse bought COW from one
of his neighbors for the sum of ECO.
The bargain having been made the
two Spectators repaired to quiet
nook to complete the transaction-the
one to give the money and receive the
COW, the other to give the COW and re-
ceive the money. The buyer, with an
amount of caution which would argue
Scottish descent, held his new purchase
by rope, while he carefully counted
down upon wooden log or stump
twenty pieces of twenty francs gold and
q bank note of 100 francs. At this
point the cow, being of an enterprising
and speculative turn of mind, suddenly
interfered in the matter, and, to use .
diplomatic phrase q good deal used of
late, altered the situation by max
ing totally unexpected "dive'' at the
stump and swallowing the bank note.
Naturally row at once got up between
buyer and seller. the one maintaining
that he had paid for the COW, and the
ether as stoutly asserting that he had
not received the price of her, clinching
his argument with the crushing state
ment that as the COW now belonged to
the buyer and had pocketed the note
in her way, the said document was
still in possession of the purchaser.
The unfortunate Judge to whom they
appealed has asked for time to think
the matter out, and do his best to cut
the Gordian knot. As our contempo-
rary remarks, the learned Judge will
find it even more difficult to decide
than the dialecticians of the Middle
Ages-or, as a gentleman of our &C
quaintance was once heard to call
them, the middle-aged dialecticians-
found the celebrated dispute of porous
ct saccus. The question was this: A
sack containing q pig was carried to
market by peasant, and it was sought
to know whether the sack or the man
carried the pig. For fifty years, at
least, the scholastics wrote numerous
folios on the subject without being able
to settle the problem. And yet that
was trifling matter compared with
the present cow and bank-note case
N. Y. Graphic.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16
The Old.FSshiOned Rifle.

In the by-gone days of Der Frei-
schultz, rifle-sh0Oting was . very differ
ent affair from the routine business
now so well known to all of us-thanks
to the volunteer movement. The old
fashioned rifleman, Kuno, head-ranger
to the Grand Duke of Schloss-Wind-
beutel, used a rifle as unlike the Mar
tint Henry or the Snider as could well be
imagined. Into the nature of Caspar's
gun and bullets it is needless to inquire;
but it is perfectly well known how Ku-
nos weapon was constructed, and what
he did with it. 1t was aheavy grooved
rifle, with rather sharper twist than
that now in fashion. Kuno carried
with him a quantity of apparatus be-
side his flint-lock gun. He had two
powder-horns, one for loading and the
other for printing; he had a store of
wadding and of creased circles Of leath-
er, and a little hammer. When he
loaded his gun he gave his mind to a
very serious operation. First of all he
wiped out his gun carefully, then
poured in his coarse powder and wad,
and rammed all down. He next took
a creased piece of leather, or, in de-
fault of leather. of linen, and placed
this over the muzzle of his gun. In
this creased disk was laid the old-fash-
toned spherical bullet, too large to en-
ter the barrel without persuasion. This
he applied with the hammer before
mentioned, driving the ball by main
strength into the muzzle, and then fore
ing it down with the ramrod. He then
primed his gun with some very fine
powder, and if his hand were steady,
and both flint and steel were in good
condition, all went well. Excellen,
shooting was made with these old rifles,
within, of course, a far more limited
range than that of the last new i'm.
provements. Whatever may be thought
of the comparative merits Of breech and
muzzle loading in the case of artillery,
there is little doubt that the breech'
loader has, as a small arm, completely
superseded its sometime rival.-AU tn
Year Round.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16
BLOWN UP.
frlghtiul Explosion In q FIGURING
Mhl at Minnca polls Great Dcstruc.
ton Of Property and Loss Of Life.

Will AT NlnOc0 polls threat Dcstfucs
lion Of Property and Loss Of Life.
MINNEAPOLIS. Mimi. May 2.
At seven o'clock this evening the city
was shaken. rs by IN earthquake, by i
terrific explosion, which was promptly
traced 10 the groups of great ilourlng-
| mills, in what is known rs the plat
form, just above St. Anthony's Falls,
where the entire Touring district Of the
city is concentrated.
The explosion came from the great
Washburn Mill, from which column
of flame was seen to shoot up several
hundred feet, followed by crash,
which crushed the immense structure
like an egg-shell. Other explosions in
stantly destroyed the Thompson, Hoyt
and Humboldt Mills, and flames inn
mediatelv burst out, communicating to
the galaxy of mills, and other struct-
ures down the bank of the river nearly
to the Minneapolis & St. Louis Rail-
road shops. The destruction from the
shock of the explosion extended much
farther, glass being wrecked for sew
eral squares, and buildings shaken
throughout the city. The Immediate
theory of the explosion is that it took
place in gas generated in the patent
middlings purifier process.
There were many thrilling incidents
and narrow escapes. Daniel Day was
blown the whole length of Petit s. Rob-
inson's Mill, out through rear win
dow, and escaped. One poor fellow,
who could not be recognized, had es-
capped alive from the explosion, and
was observed crawling through the
darting, hungry flames toward the
track Of the Minneapolis & st. Louis
Road, directly in the rear of the Wash
burn Mill. He managed to reach the
rail, and there evidently became ex-
hausted and fell back into the raging
hell behind, where his agonies instant
ly ended. It now appears that most of
the day force had gone home, and only
the smaller night force remained.
The loss to property is enormous, but
the confusion is too great for an intelli-
gent estimate at present. A rough cal
culation places it at 81, 500, 900, Of
which 100000 will fall cpon the
milling interest. The loss throughout
the city by the breaking of glass, etc.,
is $4,000. Five mills and planning
mill were destroyed, beside adjoining
property, including eighty-seven out Of
the 1917 runs of stone in the city.
The five Touring mills, which were
involved in the disaster, form q group
which comprises the heaviest concerns
in the State. Chief among them were
the two Washburn Mills, the property
of ex-Gov. c. c. Washburn, of Wis
consin, of which the one in which
the explosion occurred was the largest
Touring mill in the country, and the
largest but one in the world. 1t was
built in 1870, included forty-one run OF
stone, and was worth $500, 900. 1t is
now smoking mass of ruins with its
companion on the platform.
The destruction is complete, so far as
the limits above named, and serious
within much wider bounds. The
flames are still raging in the ruins, but
are under control, and no farther ex.
tension is feared.
1t is now hoped the dead will be con-
fined to fourteen mentioned as in the
Washburn Mill.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16
The Old Eagle-A Fable.

In the very center of the great swamp
there stood tall, dead and dry pine.
The top was broken of, the bark was
all gone, the limbs mostly gone, and
the poor old tree had evidently been
battling with time and storms for at
least hundred years. On the very
huge eagles nest. At distance it
looked like great corn basket. 1t had
been there many years. On the return
of spring the same eagles, apparently,
came back, repaired and re Tilted the
nest, and in it raised a new family.
One bright day the old eagle, father of
all, stood on the tree near his eyry, now
looking into the eyes of his young fam
lily, and now pecking and pluming his
dress, and ever and anon casting his
glance to see if any enemy was coming,
or, what was more likely, if any NOV
ing thing was in sight out of which he
could find supper. Was that q rab-
bit Just skipping in the edge of the
woods? Was that a young fawn near
red bush? The mother eagle had gone
off hunting for her family, and he was
to watch till she returned.
Father, are you there?'' cried q
sleepy eaglet.
would you have?''
"Ain't it very high where you standp
Amt you afraid of falling?"
mo. it don't seem high to me, and
I have no fear of falling"
Why! once looked over the nest,
and it seemed very high to me. It
made me afraid to look over"
Every likely. But if you live to be
as old as am, there will be nothing
high and nothing great"
What do you mean. sircP"
The old eagle was silent few mo-
ments, and then said:
"When I was a young eagle, just
leaving my home on the side of the
blue mountain, everything was great
and bright and beautiful. The trees
seemed very tall. The lake near by
seemed as large as an ocean. I won
dered if anybody went to the other side
of it. Yonder mountain seemed at
vast distance. l wondered if anybody
ever got nearer to it. The little brook
seemed q river. I flew to the next eagle
tree, and it seemed as If 1 must be lost
before I got back again. The little
meadow seemed wild prairie. 1 at
tended a gathering of eagles. What
old eagles they were! How wisely they
talked! I felt that was nothing among
them. But all this is changed now.
There are no more tall trees; / have
flown over them all. There are no
more great lakes now; have passed over
them SO often that now it seems to take
no time to cross one. That mountain
is close by. I have hunted twenty
miles beyond that. The river seems
like little brook now. The sun is not
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16
THE EASTERN CONTROVERSY.

A San Stefano dispatch of the 3Oth
ut. says the substitution of Gen. Todlcben
for the Grand Duke Nicholas, as Commander
OF the Russian forces in Turkey, portended
strife.
An ARRAY between Russian and Turk
fsh soldiers occurred, on the 18th ult.. about
two miles be, Ond the COnstantinople fortifica-
lions. Eighty men were wounded on both
sides. The Seraskierate has consequently pro-
hibited the Russian soldiers from crossing the
line OF demarcation between the two armie,
A Belgrade telegram of the 3Oth ult.
says the friendship between Russia and Servia
had been completely restored. It had been
arranged that Servis, in the event of an
Anglo-Russisn war, should only observe the
stfpulations Of the San Stefano Treaty SO LONG
as the Turks remained neutral.
A Constantinople dispatch of the LIST
says Gen. TOdleben had not succeeded in mr..
ranging for the simultaneous withdrawal of
the English vessels and the Russian troops,
A st. Petersburg dispatch of the I'd
says the principle of q direct exchange of views
between London and the former city, on aues-
tiOns interesting England, had been agreed
upon. 1t was stated at Vienna, on the same
day, that the negotiations would be based
upon larger concessions than had been pre-
viOusly acceded to by Russia.
A Berlin dispatch of the Sd says the
Gar Of Russia had himself undertaken to con
duct affairs during the illness of Prince Gort-
schakO6.
Orders have been issued to concen-
trate q 900 men on the frontier between Aus
tria and Bosnia.
Prince Bismarck has declared that
Germany will observe strict neutrality in case
OF war between Russia and Great Britain.
The British Government has ordered
a million pounds weight Of lint and other ap-
pliances for wounded soldiers.
An Alexandria egypt dispatch of
the 5th says preparations were making to dis
embark Indian troops at Port Said and Suez.
The Grand Duke Nicholas reached
st. Petersburg on the 5th.
The British Parliament reopened, on
the 9Th. Inreply to the questions Of the leading
Liberals, Sir Stafford Northcote Chancellor
Of the Exchequer. said that negotiations with
Russia continued, but declined to discuss them
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16

Edward Wheeler, late of Nashua,
N. H.. who had all his life been . most
economical person, lately astonished
everybody by the directions he left for
his burial. He had saved Oil, 900, and
directed his executors to spend o., 900
ON his funeral, including the cost of
fitting up his burial lot. Before his
death he had gold cofRnp plate made at
. cost of 800.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16

One may study Nature all his life
time and yet never be able to explain
why the man who misses one step in
going down stairs is certain to miss
three or four more before he brings up.
Detroit Free Press.
The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-05-16

"A new version of the cause of the
death of Representative Leonard, of
Louisiana, appears in the New Orleans
Times. which says that the Cuban lady
with whom he fell in love did not fully
reciprocate his attachment, and after
reluctantly consenting to marry him.
finally, at the last moment, rejected
his suit. The Tines intimates that he
did not die of yellow fever, but COM
mitted suicide. Others think that he
was murdered. Judge Leonard was .
great favorite among the ladies of
Washington.