davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
Tall FisI, StOrles,

'I was at the wheol," said Mr.. Young,
Of the bark Kentish Tar, "some of the
men being Ill. 1t was bright, clear
day, and while was enjoying the fresh
breeze which was blowing at the time
heard some of the forecabin passengers
say, Tliere is a fish alongsidel Look
Ing out on the starbOard side | saw It
lying on the water lazily summing it.
self. It's eyes wero open and its fins
were going just enough to keep him it
the top OF the water. 1t was about six
feet by fourteen, and was the finest
specimen of that species Of fish any OF
us had ever seen."
''Six feet by fourteen," said tho re-
porter medltatively, trying to bring all
his arithmetical knowledge to bear
harmonizing this statement with that
contained OH the log.
~ could not see It all ut 0nce," said
Mr.. Thatcher, tivining the reporters
thoughts, "but as near as l could make
ont that was about the size Of it. l
don't think Mr.. Young's estimate ut all
exaggerated.p
81 ain saad hand with the har-
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
A uaIf Breeds Revenge.

Thanks mainly to u Metis or half
breed who is in the service of the Hud-
son Bay company, Sioux warrior was
found guilty of stealing horse, and
condemned to pay the animals value
by instalments at ono Of the conlpauy's
forts. On paying the last installment,
he received his quiLtance from the man
who had brought him to Justice, and
loft the office. a few moments later
the Sioux returned, advanced on his
noiseless moccasins within a space Of
the writing table, and leveled his mus
kct full at the half breeds head. Just
as the trigger was pulled, the Mctis
raised the hand with which he was
writing and touched lightly the muzzle
OF the gun; the shot passed over his
head, but his hair was singed off In
broad mass. The smoke clearing away
the Indian was amazed to see his enemy
still alive. The other looked him full
In the eyes for an instant, then quietly
resumed his writing. The Indian
silently departed being unpursucd;
those who would have given chase be-
"Go back to your dinner, and leave
the affair to me-"
When evening came, a few whites
curious to see how the affair would end
accompanied tho Metls to the Sioux en-
campment. At a certain distance he
babe them wait, and advanced alone to
the Indian tents. Befo.N one OF these
sat the batllcd savage, singing his own
death-hymn to the tom tom. He told
his friends In the spirit-land to expect
him that night, when he would bring
them al |, the news of their tribe. le
swung his body backward and forward
az he chanted his strange solfg, but
never once looked up-not evon when
his foe spurned him with his foot. He
only sang on and awaited his fate.
Then the half breed bent his head aud
spat down OH the crouchlng Sioux ,and
turned leisurely away-a crueler re-
vengo than If he had shot him dead.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
HG Wouldn't StOD

lie slid into the Office as if he was
creased. We knew the very minute,
that he came through the hole that
the carpenter had left that there was
going to be trouble, and we were not
mistaken.
He said that he was related to Adam
and Eve, and he looked so, and also as
If he hadn't washed himself since his
ancestor died. After he had sat down
Oh chair and placed his feet on the
desk, he Informed us that he had been
all his life collecting conundrums. lie
had about three hundred in his pocket
and would like to read them to us.
Then he pulled about Il pint and quart
of paper out of his pocket.
"Why is a baby like an oystcr?" nc
began.
We didn't know.
"Neither do l." said he. and then
he laughed 80 loud that the clock STOP
ped.
"Why is dead baby like half-past
six Z" was the next one he fired at us.
We told him we didn't know. and
S".HocA IN Nioh " wv, DuU ilc Sulu CIlnG
had fooled us again, for he did.
''Bccausc its almost hca ven," said he
and the snort that he gave knocked the
ink stand off the table and started tho
clock going again.
"Why Is q lamp-wick like three
dollar and half bull-terrior pup ?"
was the next one that reached us.
We didn't know. taE
Neither do l." said he, and he broke
the press with tho yell that he gave,''
"By gracious! I ketch you every
trip"
"Why am like Chinap" 81.
"Bocause you're near IIades!" we
shrieked.
"Fooled you agaln-you're.," i
'No, you didn't" said we; eve
guessed that one right"
lie insisted that we were wrong. but
unless that mans sins were forgiven
before ho entered our office, we were
right. 4.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
Street Life I'm Venice.

Venice's grea9tt, g9t, atimrrsSgsisg lsits sAest
llIe-"sov vHahG OF any other city. The
commonplace shows Of the guide-books
are flat and disappointing; the prisons,
dungeons, Bridge Of Signs and so forth.
The school girl glamour thrown over
these places is mainly traceable to By
ron's sentimental wash of verse. The
unbalanced poets judgment OH the his
toric events Of Venice is about as weak
and vicious as his dgmant on other
matters and his ignorance of fact is ap-
palling. The daily picture Of Venice.
however, is something of which one
never tires and which changes ever
with the hour. Gondola life is some
thing dcliciously dreamy and luxurious
In the soft light of day or under the
sheen of moon and starlight. Let dark
night come and rain, however, and
these long, narrow, deep black boats,
seen mysteriously from the faint point
of light on their Prov take to them
selves the likeness Of floating collins
steered by the shades. The effect Is
iHdescribably sepulchral. You seem to
be alone In the waters of Hades among
the spirits. The gondolas are all of Il
funeral black, with black draperies
over the dark cabin. Many centuries
ago Venetian law ordered this pattern
and color, for what reason 1 do not
know. The laws of Venice do not
change, and tho gondolns arc all black
and ghostly to this day. The streets
are narrow and blaze with light. Their
rowness--sometimes not over three
feet--makes very little light serve to
brilliantly illuminate them, and the
jets in the shop windows, kept open till
late OF night keep them bright and
blazing almost without the t-door
lamps. Through them tho people
surge in constant streams-all nations,
all classes, all colors. You study the
world, but even the Vcnctians them-
selves present some strong contrasts,
for they in time arc made up Of the
blood of many people. One striking
contrast, which you soon note, is that
the Venetian men as body are dark,
their women blonde. The sounds, too,
are polyglotta, and everything is inter-
national. 1t was my first sight,
for instance, of Greek money which
received several times in change.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
Mules In Mines.

Colliery mules so.lctimcs live many
years without seeing daylight, rs they
are only taken out of the mines when
work is entirely suspended. The mules
are used in hauling cars Of coal from
the various parts Of the mine to the
foot or slope of the shalt from where it
is hOlstcd to the surface by steam. The
mules 60 to work with the miners and
continue until evening. They are sta
bled in the mine and are carefully at
tended to. Strange to say, coats Of
mules working in collieres are singu-
larly smooth or glossy-and miners at
tribute 1T to the coal dust that settles on
the hair and polishes it. The lead
mule in q team always carries miners
lamp attached to his collar; but min
ers say that the lamp Is unnecessary US
the mules never get off the track in the
dark. In some places where 1t is not
convenient to haul the oars mules are
trained to push them, and it Is not un-
common TO see a dozen of the animals
working In that way. In pushing cars
the mule is provided with heavy
breast-pad instead Of the ordinary har-
ness. The ample time the mules have
for reflection does not however, seem
to improve their dispositions, as every
mining report contains accounts of men
and boys who have been kicked to dc ath
or severely injured by them. Owing to
the constant teasing Of the driver boys,
mules occasionally become so savage
that they cannot be approached.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
His Wish.

He stepped intoa green grocer's with
face.
"Do you want some potatoes p''
"I never eat them. can't remember
exactly what I came in for"
Perhaps you want some coffee ?"
"Ain't it funny can't remember ?''
remarked the stranger, as he scratched
his chin with the back of his hand, and
scanned everything behind the counter,
In wild but Intellectual effort to brush
up his memory.
'DO you want milk? ?"
ono, that amt it.''
els it macaroni mustard, ,chow- -ch ow, ,
soap or wine-Jclly2"
"None Of them, SIR" ..' ....
"Possibly you wait a small measure
OF beets p''
Indeed 1 do not. Then his eyes
sparklcd and he said:
81 have 1t now. remember what
came in for; it all comes back to me
like dream Of love-"
"What do you want2"
"Well, now, it's as plain as day.
Wasn't 1t funny didn't think Of it be-
fore?"
''lt was rather STRANGE; but what
will you have?" 'sn
"You won't got mad, will your"
"No, SIR" Mt
"Well, then, I'll tell you. / just
stepped In here to ask you If you'll
scratch my back n little for me, have
prickle heat.''
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
An American Jockey.

| There Is no dispute rs to who is the
best English jockey. His name is Fred
Archer, and his record is as follows:
In 1878 he won 229 races, out of Gl9 in
which he rode. Il his was the largest
number of races ever won by II Jockey
In single season, being in excess of
the total attained by Archer in 1877,
when he won 2l9 races, or in 1876,
when ho was successful 2O7 times.
This year, up to August Ist, he had
won 10Y races, In Il toatl Of 3l3 mounts
Or All average Of say onc-third. The
extraordinary victory Of tho horse
"Falsetto" has revealed the champion
jockey of America. who happens to be
Il colored boy with the decidedly Celtic
name Of Murphy. The New York
Times contends that he is quite the
equal Of Archer, and to prove this as
sertlon give the subjoin cd sketch Muv-
phys riding in the Travers Stakes race,
july 18, and in the Kenncr Stakes race,
August ~, were the two finest exhibi-
tions Of skill in the saddle that have
been seen i'll this country In many
years. Murphy has steady hand, II
quick eye, a cool head and bold heart
-four qualifications absolutely ncces-
sary to the success of every jockey.
That he Is very observant during the
progress of race, and is quick to per-
celve the weak points Of All adversary,
prompt to take advantage of them, was
signally illustrated in the run for the
Travers Stakes. Asked, soon after the
race, why he went up to Harold and
Jericho at the half mile, only to fall
away again, he replied: "W ell, dill
not care for Jericho, but, Will"
thought Spendthrift was th~ "'hscious
norsc, wanted to 3" up 10 l1afoid 10
see how no soiC: so l tapped l"isoCIo
with The spur one ms, went up W
them, felt Of harold, found him sprawl
ing over the course, and saw he was
out of the race, l fell back to keep
Feakes from thinking was At all dan
gerous." lie was then asked how he
happened to get between Harold and
the pole Oh the turn. 81 didn't intend
to go on the turn" was his reply; "but
when we started toward the stretch,
Harold was tired and unsteady, and lie
leaned away from the pole, and gave
me room to go in. | thought IL better
to run for the position than to have to
round him, so jumped at the chance,
and went between him and the rail. l
compel Harold to cover more ground
on the turn, and beat him good, for he
was very tired, and just before we got
to the stretch | lett him and went after
Spcndthritt." No explanation could
be better than that. Murphy has al
ready had thirty seven mounts tEis
year and has won twenty-five, besides
riding dead heat, anu this is Il much
better average than any English Jockey
can show. .. .....
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
Recovering Lost Timber.

| That timber In considerable quanti-
ty and OF substantial value is daily
found floating OH the surface Of the st.
Lawrence river is well known, but that
large deposits of timber lie sunken at
the bottom of the river ut various
points adjacent to Montreal is fact
that will by no means be so readily
credited. Such, nevertheless, is the
case, and daily the timber is brought to
the surface by gangs of inhabitants and
others, who sell it to dealers. The bot
tom of Longueuil bay, near the shore,
would appear to be literally covered
with timber, and during the past few
months number Of men in canoes .and
provided with chains and graphing
hooks, have been busily engaged III
bringing up the logs, floating them
ashore, Where they are hauled away by
horses and piled for sale. The timber
consists almost entirely Of white oak
and walnut. 1t has been estimated that
most of it has been in the river ut least
from thirty to forty years, and has
formed portions Of the numerous tim
Der RATS that, in transit from the West
to Quebec, have been wrecked or DAM
aged In or above the Lachine Rapids.
The length Of time it would require
even so dense wood as white oak to
become sufficiently soaked with water
as to sink to the bottom of the river
and cause it there to lie rs n stone, war;
rants the belief that il has been there
at least during the period named. Our
informant states that the timber Is in a
perfect state of preservation, the action
of the water or insects having in no
way impaired Its texture or affected its
value. Some Of the logs brought up Mt
Longueuil are TWO feet in diameter and
from thirty to sixty feet in length.
They command, when delivered in
Montreal, from thirty to thirty-llve
cents per foot. Timber bees Of similar
arc stated to exist ut many
points along the river below the city,
where logs like that Of Longucuil oc-
cur; indeed, it is difficult to know the
number or extent of layers OF valuable
wood resting on the bottom of the no.
bic water highway that flows past that
city, aud which n short time only may
IcFciOU.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
THE WIND AND STREAM,

A brook came stealing from the ground,
You scarcely saw it's silvery geam
Among tho horIs that hung around
The borders Of that winding stream
pretty stream, placid stream,
softly gliding, bashful stream.
A breoze came wandering from tho sky,
Light as the whisper OF a dream;
lie put tho o'orhanging grasses by,
And gaily stopped to kiss the stroam-
Tho pretty stream, the flattered stream,
Tho shy, yet unreluctant stream.
Tho water as tho wind passed. DER,
Shot upward many glanoing beam,
Dimplod and quivered more and more,
And tripped along lveIer stroam.
Tho flattered stream tho simpering stream,
Tho fond, delighted, silly stream
Away tho airy wanderor flow
10 where tho folds with blossoms tcou,,
10 sparkling streams and rivers blue,
And left alono that little stream
Tho Halter d'streanl. tho cheated stroam,
Tho sad. forsaken, lonely stream.
That careless wind no moro came back,
Ho wan,iors yet tho fields, doom,
but Oh it's melancholy track
Compla ming went that little slroam--
Tho cheated stream, tho hopeless stream
Tho cvor-murmnrlng, moaning stream.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
A Big jam OF Log.

The big jam OF 100000 logs, on
Carratunk Falls, Maine, ia broken
at last, 100000 logs goint out at
once, which was said to have been a
grand sight. 1t took sixty-fve men
thirteen days to break the JAM and get
the roar over Carratllnk Falls A por-
ton of the ledge was removed by blast
Ing. Omar Clark had a crew of fifty
men In charge from the time the first
log started on Moose river, the, on the
main river, until this time, AMI not an
accident of any kind has happened to a
man, not even the jan,ining f a toe.
This makes $4,000, 900 logs TINT have
passed down the river this scasin.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
Grinding Tools,

Edge tools are fitted up by grinding.
The sharp grit of the grindstone, be-
Ing harder than the iron or steel, cuts
very small channels in the surface of
the metal, and the revolving disk car
rios away all the minute PARTICLES that
arc detached by the grit. If we were
to examine the surface Of the tool that
has just been removed from the grind.
stone. under the lens Of powerful mi
croscope, 1t would appear, as it we're,
like the rough surface of u field which
has recently been sacrificed with some
Implement that had formed alternate
ridges and burrows. Hence, as these
ridges and burrows run together from
both sides ut the cutting edge, the
newly-ground edge seems to be formed
OF system OF minute teeth, rather than
to consist Of smooth edge. For this
reason tool is first ground on II coarse
stone, so as to wear tho surface of the
steel away rapidly; then it is polished
on wheel ofnuch finer grit and final
~, In order to reduce the scrrature as
much as possible, MILESTONE of the
finest grit must be employed. This
gives cutting-edge having the small
est possible scrration. a razor, tor
xample, does not have perfuc,
utttng edge, as one may perceive by
viewing it through Il microscope. Be
ginners are sometimes instructed,
when grinding edge tools, to have the
stone revolve toward the cutting edge,
and sometimes from it. When the first
grinding is being clone it is matter of
Indifference whether this is done or
not; but when the finishing touches are
applied n"Pr and ut the very edge, n
grinder can always complete his task
with more accuracy If the periphery of
the grlndstone revolvcs toward the cut
ting edge, as the steel that IS worn
away will be removed more easily:
whereas when stone runs in the op-
posite direction, the grinder cannot al
ways tell exactly when the side of the
tool Is fully ground up o the edge.
This is more especially true when the
steel has rather low or soft temper.
The stone, when running from the edge
will not sweep away every particle of
the metal that hangs as Il "feather" but
when the stone revolves toward the
edge, there will be no "feather edge"
to deceive the eye Of the grinder.
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
Their Bargain.

"Yonr folks gone anywhere this
summor?" inquired one bootblack of
another at the post office.
elias your'n Z" was the evasive re-
ply.
"Say, jim, what kind Of boy are
youg" asked the first, after long
pause. " rJtl #'%
"Me?" Well, never give fellow
away" " hi
"Thcn, If you won't let on that my
moShcr had to stay at home to wash
for her regular customers, won't say.
anything abont your father, who Is
taking his vacation In the Work
House,"
They shook hands over y and both
will keep mum, ;tI,
The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-02
a Professors 0uickness OF Retort.

DR.. B, who was for many years
associated with tho University of Vtr
giinia, was noted for his quickness o
retort and some of his repartecs, which
are fading out Of contemporary mem.
ory, are worthy Of preservation.
| once, many years ago, being on 6
visit to Washington, he thought he re.
cogniZed a friend In the man who was
Immediately before him.
"How are your" he said, clappine
the supposed friend familiarly on che
shoulder.
"My name Is Hull, SIR"
81 beg your pardon." said the Pro-
fessor. IL was looking for the Colo.
nel."
On another occasion, rs he was walk.
ing, looking lntently ut something in
the street, man coming In the oppo-
site direction, who was gazing with
equal earnestness into shop window
ran shoulder to shoulder against him.
The stranger drawing himself up in
extreme hauteur said:
Why did you run against me ?"
with equal severity the professor
answered in exact imitation Of his uues-
toner's tone and manner:
"for precisely the same reason that
you ran against me-" and tho encoun-
ter ended In good natured laugh.
a gentleman coming into his office.
ono day said:
Doctor, why do you keep your 70 ON
so hot9 1t is like an oven."
81 must" he answered promptlv
"for 1t is here that l make my bread"
Many years ago this incident was
told III one of the magazines, but the
point was somewhat missed, rs the con-
CrlDutor made it bake instead of make.
On a visit to Il New York publishing
house, against which he had II claim
for six hundred dollars, he was usher
ed into the office where one of the firm
sat on high stool, pompouslv shelfing
letters. The professor stood awaiting
recognition, but no notice was taken of
him. Finally the small business man
twisted himself around on his perch,
anu SAID In the most supercilous Of
tones:
"What?"
"That," said the professor, handing
the order for the money"
The business was settled without an
other word.
a very tiresomc civil engineer had
6fthSGNllStAeyr yriGfHHttG@asygSS, sew nof, 6l"a
joke and to rid himself Of the nuisance
sent him to DR.. b with his cngi-
neering schemes. as to cOngenial and
soul. lie therefore came
with high hopes, and unfoldcd his
schemes several times with wcarisonle
multiplication of details to the devoted
professor, when the listeners impa-
tlcnce made itself felt. The engineer
continued to say. "Just one moment,
Professor one thing more" Finally
his hearers much tired patience show
ed signs of utterly giving way, where
upon the patentee again said:
81 only want to show you one thing
more, Professor. I have invented a
short method of boring mountains,
which [ think will prove very valua-
ble."
"My dear SIR" burst forth the wear
led listener, elf you would only invent
a short method of boring individuals
you would confer lasting favor on
the race" The engineer departed.