davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

THE FfnsF RATLROAD.-Just forty
nine years ago--the first passenger rail-
road in England, the Liverpool and Man
chester Railway, was opened with great
ceremony. A year before nrfze ol
$500 had been offered for the best loco
motive engine. which had been won BY
RobertSlephenson' Rocket upon which
were subsequently, modelled the old
grssshopper engines of The Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad. their appearance be-
ing suggestive Of their name. EsghI
locomotive engines had been completed
aud placed upon The line. and ~ bad
been tested With entire sisceess. Ic
brsfg EN- zips $50 4tfA4ls& Az -
ger carriages, each containing twenty
persons. The first engine. the Nor
ihnmbrian, drew the most distinguished
guests--the Duke Of Wellington. Sir
Robert Peel and other members of the
Ministry. II had one line of the double
track TO itself. The other seven loco
motives with their carriages, followed
each other on ihe-other line. The pro-
eession started from Liverpool al sley-
en- O'Clock, with flags, music, fine wealth
er and great enthusiasm. Seventeen
miles from Liverpool they stopped to
take water, and in order TO afford the
Duke OF Wellington an opportunity OF
seeing the procession. the seven loco
motives, with their carriages, were or
dered to pass slowly by. the Northum-
brian standing on its track. Several
gentlemen had alighted while the loco
motives were taking in water, and one
Of them, Mr.. Huskisson. member oi
Parliament for Liverpool, and an earn
est supporter ofthe railroad cause. catch
ing sight OF the Duke Of Wellington. be-
tween whom and himself there had
been some political coolness, ran eager
Iy across the track 10 shake him by the
hand. At that moment the order was
given for the seven engines to move
forward. Mr.. Huskisson was bewil-
dered. The Rocket. which was the
leading engine, struck him while he
was still in doubt where 70 fee. The
wheels went over his leg and thigh,
and he expired that evening. The ac-
Shucut SaSt uCNP Ssoon O'et VIC Nef
festivity. The trip was concluded, that
people waiting along the line might not
be disappointed, but all rejoicing and
gayeiy were at an end. The next day
the railway was opened for passenger
traffic, and carried 40 persons from
Liverpool to Manchester in two hours.
The original calculations of the con-
siructIon had been based on probable
returns from heavy merchandise traffic
coal, cotton and iron. They had
formed no high expectations of any
greatemolument for Transporting passen-
gers. But the railway was hardly opened
before an average of !, 200 persons dali
ly were willing to trust il with thea
lives. In few years IL was found that
the enormous trafic was too heavy for
the original rails, and il became neees-
sary to relay the road at considerable
expense.-Erch0ngs.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

A correspondent Of the Philadelphia
Times was greatly impressed with the
wcaders Of the cave discovered at Luray.
Va, some time ago. and writes about
Il in the following strain: II 10 pos
sible that some people may form
some sort Of an sdea what q cave - be-
fore they visil one. II is possible they
NAV have a clearer idea when they
come out. I didn't. Il is a wondrous sf-
fair, of course, but Just where :he thing
begins and just where the things ends,
and where the sides are, if there are
any, don't koos. AL IkEow is with
four or Eve others ! wandered around
1T tlIe rate OF a mile an hour for three
hours and didn't know where | was any
Of the time. There are .stalactites end
stalagmites on every side, and any guam
tity Of curious formations ct all soTss.--
You go through passages with low roofs.
IL is worse than the cstacombs them
selves. You go into large chambers and
small chambers and caveTns and gulchcs
and all sorts Of things. They will show
YOU the Washington column and the
spectre column, which looks exactly
like big white ghost rising out OF
q chasm. Then they will allow you TO
drink line water out of The Crystal lake
and take anotherdrink out ofthe Devils
lake. They will take you to the fish
market, where there Is goodly collee-
ton Of curious rocks resembling species
of the tinny tribe. They viii show you
stony dug ls9gi ssOny uuissssl- IS -~li eeskss
leather made out of stone, and " hole
patch Of potatoes of the same material.
They viii take you to the natural bridge
and play tune for you on an organ Of
stalactiies or stalagmites or something
or other. A beautiful angels wing nits
before your eyes, and the slender rid
ing whip you want to steal asa memen-
20 OF the visit. You look over into The
bottomless PIT and believe, il you care
to, the story that no one has yet been
able TO find its depth. Then you can
climb down into skeleton gulch and see
the bones. A good many people don't
care TO undertake the trip, as Il is rath-
er dangerous, but saw afady 90 down
into The chasm in safety the other day
and then laugh at her companions be-
cause they did not dare to follow her.
About The time you enter the ball. room
you conclude that you don't know where
you are. Il is large chamber with
vaulted roof and plank floor, and every
body that enters the cave has 10 come
here and dance. When il 10 illumina-
ted il is very beautiful. II Is some
where in the direction Of the center Of
the earth, but just where the guides
cant tell you; cant. The caveis. in
deed, a wonderful affair. There is
something new at every turn, and when
tie open air is reached you are about
ready 10 turn around and 60 down into
that dark hole again.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

TIE Srzi or ouR GREAT LAKES
The latest measurment OF our fresh wa
ter seas are rs follows:
The greatest length Of Lake Superior
is 335 miles; its greatest breadth ls 160
miles; mean depth. 6SS feet; elevation,
627 feet; area. $4,000 square miles.
The greatest length OF Lake MIchi-
gan " 800 miles; is greatest breadth,
10S miles: mean depth, 900 feet: eleva-
ton, 500 feet; area, $4,000 square
miles.
The greatest length Of Lake Hurca is
100 miles; It's greatest breadth is 169
miles; mean depth. 900 feet; elevation,
274 feet; area, 10000 square miles.
The greatest length Of Lake Erie is
$50 miles; It's greatest breadth is so
miles; its mean depth is 81 feet; eleva-
ton, $50 feet; area. 5000 square miles.
The greatest length Of Lake Ontario
is $50 miles; is greatest breadth, 65
miles, its mean depth is 500 feet; ele-
walton. 26l feet, area, 5000 square.
miles.
: The length Of oil Eve is 1855 miles.
covering an area upward Of $4,000
square miles.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

CONCERNING THE MEMoRY.-The Me-
deal Press and Circular gives some en-
tertaining statistics of memory from Mr..
Delaunay. The inferior races of man.
kind, such as negroes. the Chinese, etc,
have more memory than those ofa higher
type Of civilization. Primitive races
which were unacquainied with the art
of writing had wonderful memory, and
were for ages in the habit Of handing
down from one generation 10 another
hymns as voluminous as the Bible
Prompters and professors ofdeclamation
know that women have more memory
than men. French women will learn
foreign language quicker than their hus-
bands. Youths have more memory
than adults. 1t is well developed 10
children, attains its maximum about The
fourteenth or fifteenth year, and then
decreases. Feeble individuals ol lynn
phatic temperament have more memo
ry than she strong. Students who OBJ
tain the prize Tor memory and TecIta-
ton chiefly belong to the former class.
Partisan students have also less memo
ry than those who come from the pro-
vinces. At the EcOie .NormaLe and 9th
er schools the pupils who have the best
memory are not the most intelligent.
The memory is more developed among
the peasantry than among citizens. and
among the clergy than among the laity.
The memory remains intact in diseases
of the left side of The brain, and is much
affected in those OF the right, from
which IT may be inferred that the right
side il more the seat of this faculty than
the left.
From a physiological point Of view
memory is diminished by over-feeding.
by physical exercise, and by education.
in this sense that the ilIiterste have Po-
tentially more memory than those who
know how TO read and write. We re-
member, moreover, better in the morn
ing than in The evening, in the Summer
than in the Winter, and better IN warm
than in cold climates.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

How NApeERox I. Was BUR-ED.--
An Old newspaper saws: On Sends
the 6fh of May, 1921, was sent icr.
while attending divine service, 10 make
Tin coffin Zoe GeneTal Maj oleon Bona
parte. On Monday. the 7th. was or
dered 10 attend at I.ongwCo House sor
lhr puFpose a. soldering up the hodT Of
General Honnafle in The lin coffin,
which was performed in The following
manner. in the presence Of General BeF-
tFand and MontholOn, Madam Bertrand,
the French chaplain, the French sur.
geon, mr.. a. Darling. DR.. Rnshop, u.
d. Tweaiieth rrglmeut OF font, several
oEihe Freneh doniessics, and Samuel
Ley, private IN The Z TWentieth reg gstneht.
The body of the late General Bona
parte. in inll dress, was deposited IN .
tin coffin, which was lined with white
silk and cotton. His cooked hat Iay
across his thighs, and on the lett breast
OF his coat was a gold star and a cross,
and several other medals OF the same
metal; several pieces Of coin OF various
sizes and different value were also put
into the coffin. His heart was dsposi-
ted IN a silver urn or tnreen filed with
spirits, TO which soldered lid or COW
er Of the same material, which was
placed between the small parts Of his
legs. His stomach was deposited IN q
silver mug in which there was spirits,
which was also pot in the collin. a
silver plate, knife, fork and spoon and
a silver cup were also deposited in the
coitin. Subsequent 10 placing the body
ofthe General an the coffin, the lid Of
the coffin, being lined with a white silk
and stuffed with white cotton, was put
in its place, and soldcred il on the cof-
I'm inelosing the late General Napoleon
BonapaFte and all the above mentioned
articles. This tin coffin. with ats con-
tents was then inclosed in a u aho any
coffin, and they were inclosed in lead
coffin, which made in all three cofFins.
-.f6raAam .lhiiihgfOn, Sergeant So.
Helena .4rfilsry.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

LANGUAGE OF THE STAMPs.-The
language Of postage stamps, instead Of
flowers, has just been invented. Thus,
when a postage stampis placed upside
down on the left corner Of the letter,
il means. 81 love you" In the same,
crosswIse, "MY heart is anogher's;"
straight up and ddown, "GOod-by, sweet
heart. good-by;" upside down IN the
right hand eorner'f Write no more" in
the centre at the top, YES" oppo-
site, "No," on the right hand corner at
a right angie "Do you love me - in The
left hand corner. "I.shate YOU top cor
ner on the right, 81 wish your friend
shIp;" bottom corEer on the left, 81 seek
your acquaintance" on a line with the
surname, Accept nv loves; the same
position upside down, 81 am engaged"
at a right angie in the same place. II
long 10 see you;' in the middle al the
right hand edge, Write Immediately"
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

esise here Your plan was cunningIy
lsids b., anloekiIy lor you, il has not
socceeded.
It wss shrewd drvier Of yours to
sham intoxication night before last, and
Lake ah eposed seal in the park. From
concealed spot saw thief approach
aud pick yuur pocket ofa watch. ~ yop
designed should Be done. As BE- hur-
RED away yon rose and followed ssealshi-
ly. whilst {. nnobserved. kept in sight
81 y0u both. We al three sauHtered
np and down I'LL morning came and the
shops began 70 open. sax you and
aisf rqan ester ! pawnh4oker's places
eSB ~ sGz thmI 4 was Dir
Zsne's watch which was offered 10 be
pledged, and quite as little that il is the
same which saw taken frum your
pocket by the thief whom you would
now bring 10 the gallows with the dou-
bic purpose Of screening yourself and
securing the profered reward. The
object Of your present journey, doubt
less, is to convey to place of safety
the rest Of your ill-gotten gains.
The new prisoner was taken to a pri-
vate room and searched, and on bis per-
son were found number Of articles
readily identified as having belonged 10
Mr.. Zane.
And so, alter all, il was our model
detective who was tried and hanged,
an not the wretched pickpocket who
had been purposely enticed into steal
ing the tell-tale watch, that he might
suffer for another crime Of which he
was not guilty, and enable the real cul-
prit to escape aud pocket the reward.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

RIcHREIEU's RELAxATIoN.-Cardi-
nal Richelieu, We are told, spent bis
hour Of relaxation in leaping over the
furniture. and on one occasion he was
discovered jumping with his servant. TO
try " hich could reach the high side Of
a wall. De Grammont. knowing The
Cardinal to be jealous OF his powers. Of
fered 10 jump him Tor wager--a pro-
posal which shows the courage, as much
as the event showed the diplomacy, OF
the .courtier. The offerwas accepted.
but De Grammont took care thar bis
leaps should never quite reach those oi
bis Eminence, and thus he lost few
louis, but gained speedy and high pro-
motion hy the favor Of his triumphant
and gratifed oppanenl.- CAamters Jour-
nal.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

SociErv or THE DAMNEDs--A curi-
Gus Institution still exists in Paris. the
Society Of the Damned. These damned
are dramatic authors, and they meet
once . month and diae a. Brrbant'>.
Their number has no fixed limit. only
every member to be eligible must has z
been Kissed. An eminent dramatist l.
selected as chairman. and holds the
post for three months. His election
generally follows close on splendid
failure. NJ. Neil eac, III. Dumas. Jr..
nc. Zola and nj 0Henbach have ali
iilled the chair aud presided al The
monthly dinner. These dinners. are
given on the last Friday Of the month.
and are extraordinarily hilarious The
T'teesre.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

A GENIUS AT FIGURE[-Mr. Leon
ard Gardner of South Weymouth, a
mechanic, who never had more than
ordinary schooling, 1devotes the most Of
his time to astronomical calculations,
bv methods which he has taught him
self. and has attracted the attention Of
the scientists al Cambridge and Wash
Ington By the accuracy OF his computa-
tions in some cases having pointed out
and corrected the errors in those of
more learned men. He spent some
time last year in computing the limits
of visibility of the recent transit Of Ve-
nus on the earth. with the time OF be-
ginning and Of the transit at Ill places
on the globe, at The suns altitude and
azimuth at the beginning and at the
end The work filed a closely lined
book OF large psperand over 400 pages,
which was bound and presented as a
curiosity 10 the public library of Hing
ham, OF which town Mr.. Gardner was
a native. The library was burned last
year. and the book shared the same
fate, but. although Mr.. Gardner had no
other record OF his work. he determined
to replace the volume, and has again
completed the computation. and had il
substantially bound by Groom of Bos-
ton. Il is understood that the govern
ment Of the observatory at Cambridge
are desirous Of securing ]; for the libra
~, not only for its value as d mathe-
matical work, but as curious speci-
men OF work done by mechanic who
never enjoyed special culture. Mr..
Gardner has offered to furnish for the
library at Weymouth . drawing Of the
coming transit OF Venus, 1882. with the
time Of ITS beginning and end in that
Globe.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

Co. PreauIt dined with miserly
painter. who gave him TO eat soft
boiled egg and little vinsigretie,
washed down with some Suresnes OF q
bad year. ave viii repeat tins fittIe
debauch, said his hszt; folding up his
napkin, ewheHever you ike" All
right, SAID Preault, glaring at bis en-
tertainer wIth hangry eyes. "Suppose
We repeat it right now.s
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

@. Once m travelling. the Rev. DIR.
Bledsoe was exceedingly annoyed BY q
pedantic bore " no forced himself upon
him, and made a great parade or has
shallow learning. The Doctor bore 1t
as long as he could, and at length. look
ing at him gravely said: "My friend.
you and know all that - 20 be known. :"
How Is that = ssid the man. pleased
with whai be thought very corppli-
niea;ary association. You ka0w eTe-
rything except that you are : fcoi, aad
4 kaow that
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

A JUDcE ABOVE RRsENTNEHr.-In
the latter half Of the last century, the
Lord Justice CLARK Of Scotland, who
had fine avenue OF trees leading 70 his
country house, though not growing on
ground which he could call bis own,
happened to displease the pfoprietor,
who caused all the trees to be cut down.
The damage was irreparable, but his
lordshIp, who was Of mild and amsa-
bic disposition, submittedt 70 il inalence.-
Two or three years aitermard u hap
lsss.-.i ai4i- -ai.@-iaIrd's whole estate was
put in jeopardy By the next heir si law
producing PRIOR win, though II had
long lam dormant, appeared so plain
and genuine that the laird nearly gave
up his right, and abandoned all hope
when ke found il must be decided by
the man he had 50 deeply injured. The
strict integrity Of the Judge was, how
ever, sufficient guarantee that justice
would be impariially administered
The Judge, when the cause came be-
fore him. siited il with indefaiigable in-
dustTy and zeal for public justice. when
he discovered that the will was for
gerry, and thus, contrary 10 al expecia-
iions, the laird gained his cause lie
then waited on the Judge with shame
and confusion aud acknowledged that
he would never have recovered the suit
had il not been for his lordship. a. his
own counsel had given IT up. "You
have nothing 10 thank me ior," said The
judge, ''but my having taken due pains
20 do you Justice. This was duty
owed 10 myself, and should have been
unworthy Of The place occupy il suf-
fered any injury done 10 myself 10 inaU-
ence me in the administration Of JUS
iice."
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

FKcTs ABOUT 1SS0.-We compilethe
following facts sDOut the year 1880,
which sill no donbt interest our read
eTs:
The frat day OF the year and Of April
will tall on Thursday, the Fourth Of
July comes on Sunday. and Christmas
on Saturday. II is leap year. and
February has 29 days; and as the girls.
will then be privileged 10 go courting.
they will have the opportunity 70 DO
plenty Of il, as The Almanac maker was
considerate enough 10 put FIVE Sundays
in the month OF February. Easter
comes within a week OF as early AZ o.
ever comes--on the 29th day Of March,
The year 1880 will have six eclipses :.
four Of the sun and two Of The moon;
but only one Of them viii be visible
here, namely, the sixth, which j. par-s
tial eclipse Of the sun on the last day
Of the year very early IN the morning.
A very unusal circumstance about these
eelipses is that three Of them occur IN
December-a circumstance that will
not again occur 10 many years. A to-
tai ecliTe. Of the sDB on January H..
vii b. wholly visible 10 California and
partially in Missouri. Both eelipses ef
the moon will be total, but invisible in
North Amenca. About the middle OF
the summer Of 1880, Winneck's comet
wIll make its appearance in the heaEF
ems after an absence Of fye years and,
seven months. The moon will be the
ruling planet Of 1850, and TIE year viii
be generally more humid than Cold
that II. the almanac ssys 50. The yeaE
Of 1881. Of course, goes out on Friday.
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

0sr"This is The healthiest place in
America" said the landlord Of Nag
ara hotel TO the tourist. Nobody ever
dies here" NO" replied The travel
er, in the tone Of a man who was thor
oughly convinced oft. "No, Ireckon
NOT. Nobedy would stay here long
enough to die"
Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-11-13

esp What j. The matte. AIGTedi
What do You find 20 interesting IN the
riyer that you stare at IL 30 6xedly -
'My wife j. 10 bathing. and took dive
from that boat oOt there. and she IIss
been under such q long time that am
getting uneasy-" How Icng hssslt
been uadf.r - About two hoaTs--it
Wa qsile three O'Clock shen she weat :
The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-09-04
Black Silk Goods,

Ladies who wear black silk will be
interested in the result of an analysis of
French and American silks, lately made
by an expert:
The best silks should contain but
about II per cent. of dye in weight, and
this is about the amount which the
table shows that the American silks
contain.
When we come to the French silks,
it is found by the analysis that the
samples lost weight by the removal of
the dye from 33 to so per cent, when,
if the silks had been good, the loss
should not have exceeded II per cent.
Some samples were much more
stuffed than others, but all had been
adulterated.
The principal article used in weigh
ing the silk is iron. 1t is repeatedly
inserted in a solution of the nitrate OF
iron until it acquires the desired weight
of that metal. Then it gets blue tint
from the prussiate of potash, followed
by several baths in gambler, and q
treatment with acetate of iron.
At this stage the silk is lusterless,
but is made bright by logwood bath
and the addition of large quantities OF
soap. To make the silk soft and satin
like, little oil and soda are added
while, to make them stiff and rustling
acid is added.
The two cardinal defects in black silk
are the wearing shiny" and the crack.
ing. The former comes from the natu.
raj action of the soap and alkali, which
together develop sort of grease under
friction; the cracking is simply the in.
ability of the little silk to carry Its
great load of the ether products thai
are spread upon it.
The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-09-04
Am Orioles Hatred of a Dog.

An incident, interesting to students
of natural history, occurred few days
ago at a residence in this city. In front
of the house small tree is growing, in
which an oriole, some time ago, took up
its abode, building nest and evincing
an intention to raise a family. The
owner of tie house has spaniel, over
which he has shot innumerable game
birds within few years past. From the
time the oriole began to build its nest it
exhibited a marked antipathy to the
dog, flying at him boldly whenever he
came in front of the house and pecking
him until he retired from the field. This
occurred several times, the bird always
coming off victorious. Of late the oriole
has shown more objection than common
to the dog, perhaps because there are
now some young ones in the nest. On
Sunday last the unhappy spaniel came
out to lie on the front steps, but was
not allowed to enjoy his rest unbroken,
for the oriole swept down on him,
pecked his back, tapped his wings in
his eyes, and made it so uncomfortable
for him that the dog ran into the house.
But his trouble did not end there, for
the bird went into the house after him,
beating him continually. - Rochester
Union.