davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-12

MANY ACCIDENTS ARE PREVENTED by a
lightning-like application of presence of
mind on the part of the engineer. A hun
dred instances of remarkable presence of
mind might be cited in this connection. A
passenger train on the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy road was roundinga sharp curve,
just under a patch of tall timber The
watchful engineer saw tree lying across til
track 60 feet ahead of the locomotive. The
train was running at a speed of 81 miles per
hour, and to check its momentum before
reaching the obstruction was out of the ques-
ton. The engineer took in the situation at
a glance. He threw the throttle wide Open
and the engine shot ahead with the velocity
of an arrow, aud with such tremendous force
that the tree was picked up by the cow
catcher and flung from the track as if it had
been only a weed or a willow withe. A man
with not so cool head would have made the
best possible use of those 60 feet in the way
of checking the speed of the train That
would have caused o disaster. Sam Brad
ford, one of the best engineers in the coun-
try, was bringing an express train over the
Kaukakce line from indianapolis. As the
engine shot out from deep cut and struck a
short piece of straight track leading to a
bridge Il herd of colts were discovered run
ming full tilt down the road. The distance to
the river was only 100 feet. Sam knew he
couldn't stop the train, and also knew that if
the colts beat the locomotive to the bridge
they would fall between the timbers, and the
obstruction would throw the train off and
probably result in a fearful loss of life 1t
took him only half a second to think of all
this. The other half of the second was util-
lied in giving his engine such a quantity of
steam that it covered that 100 feet of the
track in about the same time that bolt of
lightning would travel from the tip of a
lightning rod to the ground. The colts were
struck and hurled down the embankment
Just as they were entering the bridge.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-12

from the New York Times, Dec. 81
just twenty years ago to-day John Brown,
of Ossawattomie, was hanged at Charlestown,
Va, after trial and conviction for invading
that State-with twenty men-for the pur-
pose of liberating the slaves. His execution
was unquestionably one of the most memora-
bic executions that have occurred in history.
1t produced a profound impression through
out this country and Europe, and did much
to make John Brown one of the foremost fig
ures of the Western World. lie was the sixth
in descent from Peter Brown, carpenter
and Puritan of the sturdy band that reach
ed Plymouth on the Mayflower. Born at
Torrington, Conn, in 1900 his father remov
ed TO Ohio when he was a child, and from II
to 20 he worked there as q tanner and currier
He was made an Abolitionist and led to de-
clare eternal war against slavery, when
mere lad, by seeing the abuse heaped upon
negro boy, a slave of his own age, by man
whose hospitality he was sharing. He CON
ceved as early as 1889, the plan Of freeing
the Southern slaves and he never rested un-
til he had undertaken the rash expedition
which resulted in his death. He became gen
orally known in 1856 by the active part he
played in Kansas against the Border Ruflians,
as the pro slavery Mssourians were then des-
ignated His abolitionism was intensified
there by the killing of his son Frederick 10y
the Rev. Martin White who led the pro-slay-
cry party and who, after Boosting of his deed
in the Lecompton Legislature, was found
dead on the prairie with bullet through his
heart Nothing could have been more fool
hardy than Browns 'invasion" of Virginia
with a handful of men, but with 20 followers
he seized Harper's Ferry, and took 40 pris-
oners. Attacked by a large body of State
militia, he was captured only after he had
been severely wounded, and nearly all his ad-
herents, including two of his sons, had been
killed. No man was more intrepid than he.
He bore himself most heroically through the
trial and on the galows, evoking the admira-
tion of his bitterest foes He walked to the
scNfTod with n shining face and the air of
conqueror, and it has been remarked that his
was the ligh,est heart in ChRrlestown on the
day of his execution. As he passed out of
the jail, he observed near the door black
woman with a child in her arms, He stopped
stopped, and kissed the infant. The incident
has become historic. Another negress, also
carrying a child said, as he went by, 81 wish
l could help you, old man but l can't. God
bless you !" He looked at her ptyingy and
a tear stood in his eye. When the Sheriff
asked him if he would have handkerchief to
let fall as a signal for the drop, he replied,
with perfect oomposure, mo, am ready at
any time but do not keep me waiting need
lessly." Henry A. Wise declared that he was
the gamest man he had ever seen.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-12
stamp Collecting Not such Foolish
Pursuit After All.
BY JAMES Z. DAY.

There is no pastime of the present day so
popular, and certainly none more instructive
than that of collecting American and foreign
postage stamps. We all know that stamps
were invented and first used by Great Brit
ain in 1910, and have since been gradually
adopted by almost every country on the
globe, China being the last country to intro
duce them, though the first country to use
coined money. The idea of preparing the
charges on letters by stamps was first sug-
gested to the English government 10y Sir Row
land Hill, and as we write this we learn that
he has just died at the advanced age of -
years. We are frequently asked by different
persons, what is the use or sense Of collect
ing those dirty bits of paper Z" as they are
pleased to term them. 10 such we answer
what is the use of collecting oil paintings,
old china, pottery and bric-a-bpc of all
kinds There ale thousands Of persons who
do 80, and they derive no instruction from it
compared to what they would learn from
stamp collecting.
From the latter we learng geography, history,
language and arithmetic. Take for example
the one penny 500 stamp Of Bermuda We
see the name aud naturally ask, where are
the Bermudas? ? We take our atlas or geog-
raphy and find they are a group Of islands in
the Atlantic ocean, about 800 miles east of
Charleston, South Carolina; and SO take the
stamps of Gold Coast, Malta, HeHgoland
Sierra Leone, &c, &c. We the profile of
Queen Victoria on the above named stamps,
and thereby know that the islands and colon
les belong to Great Britain. The one penny
Cor or pence) next attract our attention.
How much is penny Equal to about two
cents in the United States. Thus We learn
where countries are situated their rulers, the
kind of money they use the numerals of
their language and also learn to make the
unest ulsunctiVn Uvswuen EVtOI5, .OH
steel engrayings from wood cuts or htho-
graphs, and many other useful items of
knowledge.
Now, parents aud guardians, when you see
your children and wards engaged in this use
full and mex pensiye amusement, do not dis
courage them from it, but give them every
assistance and encouragement in your power.
Buy of an honest and fair dealer, content
with making legitimate profit and one who
will not palm of reprints and cOunterfeits
for genuine stamps.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-12

The ATLANTIC MONTHLY is to contain more
good things than ever, and in more inviting
form. Beginning with the January number,
it is to be printed from larger type on page
considerably larger than the former, and will
be increased to IA pages. A new Serial Sto-
ry, by Mr.. Howells, begins in the January
number, and will run through six months or
more This is probably the most gratifying
announcement that could be made to Ameri-
can magazine readers. The life-size portrait
of DIR. Holmes, which Messrs. Houghton,
Osgood Il Co. offer for a dollar to the sub
scribers for the Atlantic, can hardly fail to
have very large circulation certainly not,
if the American people remember how much
the wise and witty "Autocrat of the Breakfast
Table" has contributed to the brightest and
best, and most entertaining portion of Amer
lean Literature
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-12

The PLANETS IN DECEMBER. will
be the morning star through the month"; and
will be especially beautiful on the 10th, when
il will be directly over the crescent moon.
Venus rises now about 3 a. m, and at the
end of the month just before four o'clock.
Mars, Saturn, Jupiter and Mercury are eve
ming stars. In the latter part of the month
Mars will be favorably situated for general
observation He now rises about 3, being
well above the horizon at sunset at the close
of the month rising about l. Saturn rises
now about . at the end of the month he ris-
es about midnight Jupiter now shines
brilliantly in the western sky, setting about
II o'clock, and disappearing earlier every eve
ming.
The moon will be full on the 2Sth, On
the 18th, the new moon Of the 18th will be
near Jupiter on the 2lst near Saturn, and
on the morning of the oath near Mars, pass
ing the planet at a distance of three degrees.
On the 2sth there will be partial eclipse of
the moon, the only one of the year. 1t will
be invisible in the United States, but will be
seen in Asia, Australia and the Pacific ocean
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-12

WORTHY OF ATTENTIoN.-W advise all our
readers whether they own foot of land or
not to supply themselves with that treasure
of useful, practical, reliable information, the
American Agriculturist, so named because
started 3s years ago as a rural journal, but
now enlarged to embrace great variety, OF
most useful reading for the Household, emil
dren included. for the Garden as well as the
Farm-for ali classes. Each volume gives
some 500 original engravings, with descrip-
gons of labor,saving aud labor-helping con
triyances, of plants, fruit, flowers, animals,
etc.. including many large and pleasing, as
vel as instructive, pictures for young and old
The constant, systematic exposures OF Hum
hugs and Swindling Schemes by the AgIicui.,
tuTist are of great value TO every one ana VIII
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-12

A JUMPING CITY.-Idaho furnishes a phe-
nomenon which would be possible in no other
civilization but that of the Great West. A
town now called Beaver, situated at the mouth
of Beaver canon. is sort of kangaroo city,
which has jumped along as the railroad ad-
vanoed, thirty or forty miles at time. A
year ago it was called Oneida, and was 120
miles from Ogden, since which time it has
changed its base aud name several times and
is now 40 miles from its former base. When
the town takes a spring, the hotels, saloons,
dwelling houses and shops are packed up and
moved along and are set down again just as
they started In each new locality the streets
and signs appear the same, 80 that visitor
at one place is at home without asking, in the
new. The inhabitants seem to take kindly TO
this municipal nomadie life, and Barney
O'Niel, the hotel keeper, says, Livery time
she jumps she jumps aisier." Nobody knows
where the town will finally bring up, for the
genius for moving has been so fully develop
ed, that it may be doomed to be forever
jumping about among the Rocky mountains.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-12

save to most persons many times its cost AL
together, it is one of the most valuable, as
well as cheapest journals any where to be
found The cost is only $1.5O q year, or 4
copies for 50. Single numbers 10 cents
subscribe at once for $780, and receive the
rest of this year free or send Scent stamp for
postage on a specimen copy. Address Orange
Judd Company, Publishers, 245 Broadway
New York
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-12
Even the bOotblaok says his business il

Even the bootblack says his business is
Frightening up.
sable citizen made bet that he could eat
fifty watermelons in fifty hours. He stopped
on the thirty-seventh. They inscribed on his
coffin ''Et thirty
An Irshman was accused of stealing q
handkerchief of fellow traveller but the
owner, on finding it, apologized to Pat, and
said that it was a mistake. "Arrah, my Jew
el, >" retorted Pat sit was two-sided mistake
you took me for thaif, and took you for
a gentleman.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-12

WEI DE MEYERS CATARRH
Cure, n Constitutional Antidoto for
this torrible lnalady, by Absorption.
Tho most Important Discovery sinoe
Vaccination. Other remedies may
roliove Catarrh, this cures ut any
stage before Consumption sets in.
Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-12-12
The Vermont Phoenix.
PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY
FRENCH ~ STEDNIAN.
once NOS Granite Row, Main street,
BRATTLEBORo, VT.

TEnMs.-To County subscribers, So 90 per annum
to subscribers outside Of Wmdham County, 50 20
payable in advance.
RATES OF ADVERTISING made known on application.
Births, Deaths and Marriages published gratis Obit-
uary Notices, Cards Of Thanks, etc, 1Oc per line Of
ten words.
Entered At the Brat,ieJoro Post office as second-cass
mail matter
O. l.. FRENCH. D. b. SrFpMAN.
The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-07-10
N. Y. Tribune.
Mr.. Thurman's Doctrine.

In the course of debate in the Senate
last Friday, Mr.. Blaine asked Mr.. Thur
man if he believed he was justified in
voting enforcing law merely because he
thought it unconstitutional. The leader
of the Democratic side of the Chamber
answered yes, and said he would perjure
himself otherwise. To vote against the
enforcement of law for the purpose OF
preventing its execution is an act restin G
on precisely the same moral plane as
open resistance to a law. Mr.. Thurman s
course is less manly than to assail the Of
ficers of justice with a club, or to intimi-
date them with shotgun, but there is
no other essential difference. The fact
that he is law maker only makes his
attitude as law.breaker the more repre-
hensible He does not like certain Sec
tons of the Revised Statutes of the
United States. Together with his party
associates he endeavored to repeal them,
but failed for want of enough votes to
overcome Presidential veto. Now he
says he will prevent the enforcement of
these sections if he can, and he seeks an
excuse for his conduct in belief in their
unconstitutionality. The plea would be
laughed at in a County Court. That a
lawyer of Mr.. Thurmaus reputation
should seriously advance it in the Senate
Chamber is new proof of the power of
partisan bigotry to muddle the clearest
inlellects.
What authority has Mr.. Thurman for
setting up his own opinion of the consti
tutionality of law as the only rule by
which he will be governed? He is a
Senator, it is true, but he is none the less
a citizen, and none the less bound to obey
all laws until they shall have been repeal
ed or set aside as invalid by the Supreme
Court. AS q Senator, his views of the
harmony of bill with the constitution
rightly govern his vote on its passage ;
and when the bill has become law and
a proposition is subsequently made for its
repeal, the same views, if unchanged are
his proper guide But so long as the law
stands unrepealed upon the statute book,
his former opposition to its enactment
and his effort to secure its repeal furnish
no justification for placing obstacles in
the way of its enforcement or for tying
the hands of executive branch of the
Government. This ought to be plain to
everybody. One of the first principles
upon which our Government is based is
| that all laws are binding upon all citizens,
unless decided to be unconstitutional by
the proper tribunal If this principle
were to be disregarded we should speedi
ly have anarchy in place of order. Every
man who chose to disobey any particular
law would set up in defence doubt as tc
its constitutionality, and according to the
plain logic of Mr.. Thurman's course
would be justified in SO doing.
Unfortunately for the peace of tn,
country in the past, Mr.. Thurman's doc
trine is not Of his own invention.
originated in South Carolina many year
ago, when the people Of that State deter
mined to resist the enforcement of tn
The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-07-10
Not a Fight but a Flight.

The Democrats in Congress have now
only single point to yield in their fgAt
for free elections. When they shall have
yielded that last point and adjourned to
seek retirement and rest in their respec-
tive homes, how will the result of the
battle stand?
Inc Democrats in Congress started out
teW months ago with loud blast of
trumpets to repeal and abolish certain
laws relating to elections, which were
hostile to the spirit of the Constitution,
hateful to all honest citizens who rightly
understood their tendency and effect.
and bristling with danger to the perma.
nence OF our free institutions. They de-
ciared, IN SO many words, that thew
should never give up the contest until
the great wrong was righted. They chose
their own time and place for the battle,
and deliberately began it, with every adj
vantage on their side.
1t was not as minority, striving
against odds to remedy an abuse, that
the Democrats of the House and Senate
opened the conflict. They had a work
ing majority of the members of both
Houses. They held the power of the
purse, for without their acquiescence not
cent could be voted to continue the
obnoxious practices against which the
attack was directed More than this,
they were backed by an overwhelming
majority of the people, and they enjoyed
the moral and material advantage which
rests with the party that has rig ght on its
side.
What have they gained2 They will 90
home leaving upon the statute book eve
ry election law that stood there four
months ago. Not one line or letter has
been wiped out by their efforts. The Re-
publicans openly boast that they are left
free to use the bayonet at the polls to
any extent that partisan exigencies may
require. The system of fraud and force
that has heretofore been used to defeat
popular suffrage, and which put Hayes
into the White House, remains in full
operation, under the control of its old
engineers.
The Democratic, organs object to the
use OF the word surrender in describing
this humiliating outcome. If there has
been no surrender, it is because there
has been no fght.-[N Y. Sun.
The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-07-10
Bourbon Ballads-No. 80.

lSung by General Chalmers and other Con-
federate Brigadiers who insist that the negroes
ought to be prevented from going down the
Mississippi with steamboat lest they should
run away.l
The niggers are happy lot and love the old
plantation
They eat peck of meal week-a very gaudy
ration;
They hoe the genial canebrake they join the
And never leave the Sunny south-unless they
have chance.
But if they should diskiver
boat upon the river
A-heading for the North Star, they'd like to
B-a-a-a-d Conway!
B-a-a-a-d Conway!
To help em forto git!
They love to play at hide and seek among the
blooming cotton,
They labor in the rice-swamp like lambkins
at their play,
And never leave the Sunny South-till they
can get away.
But if they should diskiver
A boat upon the river
A-steaming for the North Star, they'd try to
go with it;
B-a-a-a-d Conway
B-a-a-a-d Conway!
To help 'em for to git!
They laugh and laugh from day to day-it is
their occupat ion
The lightest-hearted peasantry existing in
like hall,
Or live as well as white folks who never work
at all;
And if they should diskiver
A boat upon the river
A-headiug for the North Star, they'd want to
go with it;
B-a-a-a-d Conway!
B-a-a-a-d Conway
To help 'em for to git
AT first the darlSies tried to vote, and form ed
''a band of brothers,"
But hundreds OF the voters died, and that dis
couraged others,
Till "cullud" politicians in their canvass al
ways cease
Wherever scarlet rifle-clubs acting as police.
And if they should diskiver
A boat upon the river
A-making for the North Star, they'd beg TO go
with it;
B-a-a-a-d Conway!
B-a-a-a-d Conway!
To help 'em for to git!
By night and day the darkey sings and saws
the jolly fiddle,
And bakes the festive hoecake upon the ashen
griddle;
He laughs and gurgles to himself and never
To mosey from the Sunny South-unless he
thinks he can.
But if he should diskiver
A boat upon the river
for the North Star, he'd pray to go
with it;
B-a-a-a-d Conway!
B-a-a-a-d Conway
To help 'em for to git
The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1879-07-10
JACKSON OHIO, THURSDAY, JULY TO- 1879.
Bourbon Ballads-No. 81.

lSwan-song of Tilden, Fernando Wood, Thur
man, Wade Hampton, Sunset Cox and Procto
Knott, in anticipation of the death of "the rea
Union" at the hands of the Republican party
'SWans sing before they die: 'twere no bat
thlng did certain persons die before they sing
o, wreathe the ballot-box in chainsl
With Grape feStoon the starry flag!
Alas! No freedom now remains
Of which we lately loved to brag!
For merely voting several times
A man is SeiZed-abused, in short,
As if he had committed crimes,-
By Little Johnny Davenport.
To Gesler let our caps be doffed!
When, that his party may prevail,
A man votes frequently and oft
They seize and chuck him into Jail.
When he repeats they call him rash,
And when he tries to vote quart
He quails beneath the tyrant lash
The lash of Johnny Davenport.
The jealous patriot loves to vote
AS happy thrushes love to sing;
Once and again-he takes no note
How frequently he does the thing.
Once, twice and thrice, and then, next day,
The tyrant drags him into Court
He looks behind and sees the bay
Onet of Johnny Davenport!
Who maketh several ballots grow
Where none hath ever grown before,
Is philant nthropist you know;
What will they persecute him for
If rapid voters in their zeal
Above the ballot-box cavort,
Why crush them meath the tyrant's heel
The heel ofJohnny Davenport?
Write ''slave" upon the freeman's brow
In mourning deck the holy fanes;
We Democrats are busted now
Wen never pick the public geese
BY 'lectionS of this crippled sort
Where men can vote but once apiece
The style of Johnny Davenport!