davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19
That Checker.Board.

Up to three weeks ago such thing
as checker-board was never known in
Mr.. Grattan's house. He and his aged
partner have managed to psss the long
evenings very pleasantly, and he sup
posed they were happy enough until q
friend from the East paid them flying
visit and asserted over and over again
that the game of checkers was not only
all the rage there, but that it served to
quicken the perceptive faculties, en-
large the mind and render the brain
more active. After giving the subject
due thought, Mr.. Grattan walked down
town and purchased checker board,
and when evening came he surprised his
good wife by bringing it in from the
wood-shed, and saying: vs.4t glls
"Well, Martha, we'll have game or
two before we go over. to the social. l
expect to beat you all to finders, but
you won't care" ''- ~
"Of course not, and if I beat you, why
you won't care"
They sat down, and he claimed the
first move. She ut once objected, but
when he began to grow red in the face
she yielded and he led off. At the fourth
move she took man, chuckhng as she
raised him. .t e%t
II don't see anything to grin at," he
sneered as he moved man backward.
"Here! you can't move that wayl"
she called out
Il can't, eh? Perhaps I never played
checkers before you was born"
She saw a chance to jump two more
men and gave up the point. bit as she
moved he cried out:
PUT chem right back there! I've
concluded not to move backward. even
if Hoyle does permit It'll"
She gave in again, but when he
she cried out: .
Il didn't mean to move there; I was
thinking of the social"
Cant help the social, Martha we
must go by Hoyle."
In about two minutes she jumped two
men and went into the King row, shout.
ing: sf ..r.
"Crown him! crown himl I've got
king!"
One would think by your childish
actions that you never played a game
before!" he growled out.
"I know enough to beat you'll"
You do, eh? Some folks are awful
smart" . .#
And some folks ANTI" she snapped
as her king captured another man.
What in thunder are you jumping
that way for2"
"A king can jump any wayl"
No, he can't"
"Yes, he ca1l!"
"Don't talk back to me, Martha Grat
tan! was playing checkers when you
we're in your cradle!"
"I don't care. I can Jump two men
whichever way you moveP
He looked down on the board, saw
that such was the case, and roared out
You moved twice to my oncel"
II haven't"
"I'll take my oath you llavel I cant
play against any such blackleg prac
ticesl"
"Who's a b1ackleg? You not only
cheated, but you tried to lie out of it!
Board and checkers fell between
them. He could get his hat on quicker
than she could find her bonnet, and that
was the only reason why he got out ot
the house first. A Woodward avenue
grocer found him sitting ON basket o1
cranberries at the door as he was closing
up for the night, and asked him i
he was waiting for his wife to come
along. ... s..s.. Ia. e..r. q.
well, not exactly; I stopped here te
feel in my pocket for the key of the
barn. I shall sleep on the hay tonight
and see if it won't cure that cold in my
| head i"-DetyOit Free Press.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19
Making Lumber from Straw.

Mr.. s. II. Hamilton, of Bushnell, Ill,
has discovered a process for making
hardwood lumber out of common
wheat straw, with all the effects of pol
ish and finish which are obtainable on
the hardest of black walnut and mahog-
any, at as little cost as clear pine lumber
can be manufactured for. The process
of manufacture, as explained by Mr..
Hamilton, is as follows: Ordinary straw
board, such as is manufactured at any
paper mill, is used for the purpose. As
many sheets are taken as are required
to make the thickness of lumber de-
sired. These sheets are passed through
chemical solution, which thoroughly
softens up the fiber and completely sat
urates it. The whole is then passed
through succession of rollers, dried
and hardened during the passage, as
well as polished, and comes out
of the other end of the machine, hard,
dry lumber, ready for use. 1t is claimed
that the chemical properties hardening
in the fiber entirely prevent water
soaking, and render the lumber COM
bustible only in very hot fire. The
hardened finish on the outside also
makes it impervious to water. The
samples exhibited could hardly be
told from hardwood lumber, and in
saving thu difference could not be de-
tected. Tt is susceptible of very high
polish, and samples of imitation of mar
BILE, mahogany, etc, were shown which
might deceive the most experienced
eye. Not only does Mr.. Hamilton claim
a substitute for lumber in sash, doors
and blinds and finishing stuff, but also
as q substitute for black walnut and
other woods in the manufacture of all
kinds of fine furniture, coffins, ETC., and
also an excellent substitute for marble
in marble-top tables, mantelpieces, bu-
reaus, etc. He claims that it will not
warp in the Milling and Me-
chdnicdt Ne1Cs.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19
Spring Poetry.

There need be no doubt in the mind
of any reader of the Free Press that it
is eager to secure odes to spring, idyls
on April, poems on May, and blank
verse on green grass and budding vines.
In fact, we keep travelling man out all
the year round looking after such
things, and paying cash down in every
case. The trouble is to get enough of
such poetry to supply the demands of
our readers. Having said this much in
explanation, we call the attention of the
public to the following solemn facts:
In December, 1860, a lady in Kansas
forwarded us poem on spring, to be
laid away under brick until the 20th
of March. She died within fourteen
days after mailing the poetry. Comment
is needless. sa--.e ~ II -
In March, 1867, student at Ann Ar
bor forwarded poem of forty lines on
the return of the robin. Before the
robin had uttered three squawks, or the
poem could be printed, the student was
called home to see his sister die. Does
any explanation seem necessary? irt
In 1873, a lady in Elmira, N. T., sent
ON eight verses of beautiful poetry on
april Showers" About the time the
letter carrier was saying that there was
6 cents postage due on her letter she
was falling off bridge near her home.
She never spoke after being pulled
ashore and wrung out. Truly, the ways
of Providence are mysterious. -
Last year lawyer in Cleveland sent
us pound and half of blank verse on
the voice of the bluebird and the start
ing grass. His verses reached us one
rainy Thursday evening, when all ma
ture seemed bent on having good old
cry, and the voices of ward politicians
came up from the Sixth ward with hol-
low moan, and next morning the lawyer
was found dead in bed. The terrible
lock on his face showed that he must
have suffered for hours and hours. The
Coroner's jury returned verdict that
the Free Press must be held blameless
One short week ago a young lady in
Western Michigan mailed us beautiful
ode to dying winter. The old man who
buys all the waste paper from this office
had scarcely made an offer of a cent and
a half pound for the beautiful ode
when dispatch arrived saying that the
poor girl had been tossed on the horns
of a COW, and had gone to join the
angels.
As stated at first, the Free Press il
eagerly searching for spring poetry, an6
offering more pay than any other pub
ication in this country, hut it must 'bt
explicitly understood that we cannot bt
held responsible for the sudden deatf
of the writers.-Detroit Free Press.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

JANEss BURNS murdered a man at
Gainesville, Ga, two years ago, kut was
not suspected. he confessed the crime,
but nobody believed him, and he had
no meansof proving his own guilt. He
told where the body was hidden, and it
was found there; yet he was discharged
from custody, the, authorities. believing
that he wasinnoeent Of participation in
the deed Almost discouraged he still
set about collecting evidence against
himself, and had so far succeeded that,
when he lately reasserted his guilt on
his deathbed, he was believed.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

The Paris police adopted an ingenious
plan lately to find out how a certain
firm was being mysteriously robbed.
One day large box, or rather case, was
sent to the store and brought into the
back Office. Itwas marked |" Explosive
Materials." Air holes had been bored
in IL; and from this position the detect
ive-for one was inside-could over
look the store. he saw about noon,
when there was no" boss " to be seen,
that one, of the clerks went TO the door
to watch, aud the other to the till, from
which be took some money. ---
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

The camels taken to Arizona two
years ago did not come up to expecta-
tions, and were turned loose to roam
along the Gila Valley. This seems to
have been the one thing needed to secure
their welfare. They have thriven as
though they had been in their native
Africa; have bred literally, and seem to
have become domesticated 10 the region.
1t is thought that the new generation of
cimels will be thoroughly acclimated,
aud uSed to the alkaline waters peculiar
70 tb at sectien.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

ON board Mississippi river steamer
near Nashville, recently, Henry Nunr
provoked difficulty with Felix Comp
ton. They fought across the table for
some time with large case-knives. Num-
snatched handspike and struck at
Compton, who .parried the blow, and at
the same time plunged his knife to the
hilt into Num-, who fell over backward
and soon died.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

A JxwELER in South Royalston, VT,
spied onrthe finger of a highly-esueemed
young hoy who was shopping in his
store. q ring That had been stolen from
his stock. She told himoin respo Sc to
his inquiries, that il. had been given to
her by boyish suitor.5 This led to the
discovery Of a society Of thieves, sons of
respectable, parents. The boys had
secret signs, passwordsI and osths, after
the manner9of a body they had read
about in a dime novel, and had COM
mitted several burglaries.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

ACCORDING to the Paris Golos, the
plague Of locusts in the Caucasus is as
sumiDg alarming proportions. The
locusts are devouring whole districts,
and the price of bread in consequence
has doubled. At the same time, with
the setting in of warm weather, fears of
the plague assuming a more virdlent
form are entertained. Incendiarism
likewise continues, and panic grows
among the officials.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

The Librarian of the London Tnsti-
tuition thinks that in the course of time
the English language, like the old
Frank tongue, will acquire SO many To-
cal forms in the various countries in
which it is spoken that its unity will be
impaired.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

Mr.. II. V. BARCLAY has recently per-
formed an interesting piece of geograph-
ical work in the center of the Australian
Continent. Starting from the Alice
Springs Station, on the overland tele-
graph line, he has made his way east
ward, almost up to the Queensland Dor
der, thus opening out an entirely new
tract of country, of which his report is,
on the whole, favorable, though water
is not always as plentiful as could be
wished.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

CAPTAIN A. H. MARKHAM, r. N,
has Just started for an Arctic summer
exploring cruise, in the Ysbiorn yacht.
He intends to examine the physical
condition of the ice between Spitzber-
gen and Novya Zemlya, and, if posi-
BILE, to reach or sight Franz Josef Land.
chiefly with the object of considering
what prospects of success would attend
an Arctic expedition in this direction.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19
FOREIGN SUMMARY.

THE eruption of Mount Etna has ceased,
but the volcano continues to give forth
smoke.
A RIOT against the collection of taxes has
occurred in the District of Catalina. Several
soldiers and peasants have been killed.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

A WOMAN in Los Angeles, Cal, be-
came possessed of the notion that her
little girl might, by slow starvation, be
brought to such physical condition
that she would be translated to the spirit
world without dying. With that end in
view she fed the child on fruit only,
steadily diminishing the quantity, until
the victim ! was horribly emaciated.
Neighbors then interfered, much to the
displeasure of the mother, who declared
that the little one had reached point
where visions of spirit life betokened the
nearness Of the expected change.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19
As Surely MS the Seasons Roll.

Governor (desirous of explaining the
word enough" ")-"Now suppose, Fred
dy, that you gave pussy all the milk she
can lap, all the meat she can eat, and all
the sweet cake she cares for, what will
she have?" Freddy with surprising
alacrity)-"Kittens," Marion (Ohio)
Nfj,,ro,.I sl l.f ta.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

A CHICAGO man went up and down
the stairway of Bunker Hill Monument
the other day in minutes and l3a Sec
onds. This is the quickest time on rec
ord, and it is said that the trip was never
made before in less than 5 minutes.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

IN Paris and its suburbs there are
more than eighteen thousand people who
live by rag-pieking or rag-elling. There
are ten thousand chiffonniers who go
about collecting scraps of rags or paper,
and three thousand old clothes dealers
who buy rags, and who again employ
two thousand workmen.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

The government survey under Colo
mel Meigs, IL is said, has demolished the
theory that the lower interior portion
of Florida Is a basin not above the sea
level and only protected from inunda-
tion by kind of sand level on the
coast. There is now no doubt of this
interior portion having sufficient eleva-
rion for drainage and reclamation and
If thus treated it would furnish superior
sugar lands.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

TEXAS has enacted local option
bell-punch law. Each county in the
State may decide as heretofore whether
alcoholic beverages shall or shall not be
sold within its borders, and, should the
verdict be in favor of the sale, then the
county authorities may decide upon the
number of places to be licensed and
provided with bcll-punches. The Gal
weston Nesos estimates that two hundred
counties will adopt the bell-punch sys-
tenn, and that the number of punches re-
quired will be about four thousand. 1t
is a singular fact that, Notwithstanding
the prevaleuce of violence in Texas, the
sale Of liquors is strictly prohibited IN
many counties of that State.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

THREE Liverpool policemen con-
cerned in robbcries upon the docks
have been sentenced to seven years
penal servitude.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

The British Government has been
getting rid rapidly of its women tel
egraph clerks. For two years no
women have been engaged as clerks in
the telegraph department, and the
Government has closed the women's
branch Of its telegraph schools. 1t is
also stated in the London Ne,os that the
work Of women clerks who remain is
made increasingly severe. No publicity
has attended the changes made by the
Government in the clerkships, and
they are now brought to notice by COM
munications to the press. 1t would be
OF public interest to know why the dis
charges have been made and what are
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

SENATOR JONES, of Nevada, is 5 feet
8 inches in height, and weighs 100
pounds.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19
TOPICS OF THE DAY.
PRorrsson NoRpEssxJoLp has ar.

rived in his steamer, the Vega, at
Behring's Strait, demonstrating thereby
the practicability Of making a north
east passage from Europe to the eastern
coast of Asia. The professor will return
TO Europe by way of the Sues Canal.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-19

WHY are obstinate people like facts
because they are stubborn things.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-21
NEVER FAILS
RiDWiYS SiRSiPiRILLIiI RESOLVEYT.

% ingredients OF eItaOrdnarv
properes essential TO purify heal repair and invgorste ms
broken down and wasted bod QUICK, PLEASANT, SAFE
aud PERMANENT ia its treatment and cure.
sound flesh and healthy fibre or hard muscle ara
made from pure blood
NomafteI by what the complaint NAV he deqTnaef,
whether 10 d. -croula Consumption syphilis Ulcers sores,
IumoT+ Bos fIysipeas, or salt Rh-um diseases o tho
Lungs, kidneys Bladder, Womb SkIn LIVER stomach, or
Bowels either chronic constitutional the yrns OF the dis
IS in tn BLOOD which supplies tho and build3
and these wasted tissues
the blood Is unhealthy the OF repair be
sound.
The ~ r-aparilian Re-ovenf onlyis compromising
the action ~
establishes throughout The entire functional
harmony supplies the blood. vessels and
healthy 81 life The kim after few days Of
the SarsapaIi ham, becomes clear aud Deauit Pmples,
ROiches Back spots and SKIN Efnpii0us removed;
and cured Persons sucrng from Scrot
ula EuIpve u the Eyes. Mouth, Ears, Legs.
Throat Gands that have accumulated ana spread either
from uucure diseases mercury from The use % C0rros
Sfbifadfs rely N the -tr-hparllian -
sufficient time 20 make 1t. impression on the
system. PRICE ~ PER BOTTLE.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-21
TIE MIDBoN-SQCIRE cLUBBING CASE.

FORMAL CHARGES MADE AGAINST CAPTAIN
WILLIAMS AND OFFICER FILMING.
Formal charges against Captain Williams and
Officer Fleming. oi the Twenty-ninth Precinct, were
preferred Yesterday bv Superintendent Nalllng for
clubbing Charles ". Smith, Of Brooklyn. without
due provocatiou,n on the occasion of the Madison
.auare review. The charges are based on Samuel
WhitcluIchs affidavit which was filed Yesterday.
Ii In as follows.
cry AND tOUNTY OF NIW NOEK:
Mufhuich. residing a No g. Prospect place,
East Forty llrd -f, hclng duly sworn, saws: am
LAWYER: On ur 18Th uf October. INST, ~ about o'cork
In t. ilrrauOu. standing with number OF others
ON the sidewalk lhe east side 81 fith-aNe the west
side o Id-ou-sG Iwenty-iourii-st. looking
al "A soldiers review. when Captain Alexander :.
Williams, OF tho Iweutyn.nth Precinct, Ordered the
people Ia TALL back Fiepl ell back about foot I'm
mrdlutcly TIE captain stepped un the wa ana Struck
with hi club young man standing beside ana liitH
wnt bchind me turned slightly TO see where the cuh
.trck and tie Captains ciuh then neaiust mans
Firnu L. Twenty uutn Precinct, struck the man on me
riphl temple with CiuD. knocking nan down nnd
cutting han severely. The blood h"~rd pruiusci.
Inrrc l. reason Why the man should have been
-fruck either officer. ana no hticnN MhH made u
,tr,,t Tie man. SAMUEL NHTCnuRcn.
No. 80 Ihiri-tyc-
aworu 10 before me this 2Oh day IT Oc obri. 1870.
NJ. q. HALLENBECK utarb funhc.
The papers in the complaints against the two
officers will be served upon them to-day by the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-21


slNGUIAn CASE ~ TIM Y'rRvnIE POLICE COURT
Efforts TO HAVE WOMAN LOCKED Up As
AIUNATIC.
H. II. Marks of HE R,forncr and Jsirsi Times. ap-
piled 10 Police in ticc Smith sunday iorau order
# arrest against Mrs. Annie Koppel. whom he rep
re- cYtcd to hc insane. He admitted having been
intimate vi,h her and said tlat because he had Ie-
fused TO continue the intimacy longer she had
visited LII, Office IN October j. and con-
duc'cd herself i'm a most Gi-ordorN and insane
manner aud thnt lr believed she was unfit 10 take
charge of her family or hrr household affairs. The
charges were pu into the form OF affidavit, and
Yesterday morning Ms Koppcl was taken from
her home al No. 3l2 East Tweiih--t.. and araigHod
before Justice smith II ms private room. He COM
mittrd her temporarily for examination 10y two
physlcians Is 10 her mental condition.
SIZE af'crward sent for d.. Alexander lIaddcr. of
No. 100 Eist Fiity-iIst-st, her physician. lie
summoned DR.. ScnoOnovcr. of the Northeastern
u spcusary, and together they had talk with Mrs
Koppel. They found her rational. In the
afternoon, when Justice Smith came On the
fore Inn and submitted their report. Dr.
Allen Heath the cty ply ican for the district. was
called m. H. approved the report oi DIS MADDEN
and Schonnoycr, and Mrs. kOpp"l was discharged
Dr. Heath said that II was an outrage to nave com
miftel the woman. who. as any unprtJudiced person
could have seen, was far from being OF unsOund
mind. 1t required no doctor, hc SAID, To come To
that conclusion.
Mrs. kopp. intends To bring suit Tor false I'M
pr ,unn,nt. In conversation yesterday she alleged
Thai Mr. Marks had treated her YER badly. abused
her confidence and wronged her IN business matters.
Mr. Marks denies these statements, says That he has
papers signed by the woman which prove that lac
did not wrong her in business, and declares that the
He SAWS that his intimacy with her began three
weeks after her husbands death.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-21
- srnRY nE A nYING 49,.

The police o. the Eleventh Precinct are trying 10
frd ont the truth about the cause OF the death of
PischAl Cohen, "a tailor Of No. III Attorney-st.
Cohen came to le Delaney street Police Station
Yesterday morning, bleeding from wound on the
head which bee -aII, au ICc-Iian had luulctrd DN "a
l.. ,w with ms longs he did not know the ice
man. aud gave no pI0v0ctuJu for the assault. he
haid. Iii- wound. appatcnty shshi, Was dressed
and Coh.u went nome An nour inter hl~ SYMPTOMS
grow alarming. aud tie police were called anon 10
send mon ro Brilcyu- Hospital, where he dled -Oon
at,eI. luc story WAS current ihal "nIie ne was
,io.,lul inr street ais lcr-Nacon fau against INN,
aui tine pole struck nIn upon the head. Last night
IIucl- hutlerI. tlc dryer OF tue wagon, vas
found aud lo lcd up in the Union Market Station
t. Az ali ACTON oy tAc Coroner.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-10-21
LOSS OF A NORWEGIAN SNIP.

Captain Jorecnsen. and seventeen others compris-
ing the crew of the Norwegian ship Urania, which
the steamship Guy Of Richmond reported having
sighted on fire at sea- arrived IN port yesterday on
the steamship Otranio from Hall. Captain Jorgen-
sen sand that lis ss sailed from Quebec for Lon
don with a cargo # lumber on October 2. and when
eight days out encountered rough weather, lasting
three days. The cargo shifted. causing the vessel o
become unmauagrablc, the upper spaTs were carried
away and the suip began 10 leak. The pumps were
kent constantly at work for nearly forty-eighL
hours but 'he water gained until IT thirteen
feet IN depth in the hold, and the waves broke over
the decks with 50 great force that the crew Were
reed t. take refuge the Tgping, where they
malncd eighteen nours and were then r, scucd by
volunteer crew from the OtrintO After the men
were rescued the decks and houses were saturated
with K, roseue OIL aud the vcss. was set fire. Oh
account Of the fear that II he left to drift she
would iupeul passing vessels