davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12
The Marriage OF the Midgets.

It has been finally arranged, says the
New York Sam, after many discussions
between their families, that the Midgets
are to be married. Lucie Zarate, the
prospective bride, is 10 years old, and
weighs trifie less than five pounds.
Her face is bright, but not prepossess-
ing. The bracelets she wears cannot
be buckled around the third finger Of a
man of ordinary size. Her shoes (made
to order) are two-and-a-half inches long,
and her gloves are about one inch from
the tip of the longest finger to the but
ton at the wrist. Her cap was made
originally for. q doll in a Broadway
show-window. and it is d good 'fit. In
the matter of jewelry she is profuse.
On each hand she wears q diamond
ring; her brooch is a, diamond, and she
has a fondness for dangling ornaments
on her ears-such, for instance, as a
small diamond supplemented by I Cali
ifornis gold quarter ofaa dollar. loa5 %
p Gen. Mite, whose real name is Fran
els ]. Flynn, weighs nine pounds and il
Ia years old. His face is. bright and
INTELLIGENT, and his conversation does
not belle il. 't'a-'"P 81 "''" "",
4" Ao YOU SoAH6 w HunIIJ AuCAOt
the reporter asked him. aa9 y2dl 3si
"Yes, we are going to be married"
"When?" ....isss...e .-.lay a1st
Next Saturday week." l. ,isa4,
"No," interrupted the female dwarf
next Sunday. I want it on Sunday
Il seems that the marriage is one Of
convenience as well as supposed affec-
ton. The dwarfs, belonging to differ,
ent families, are liable to be separated
at any moment. 1t is, thought best
therefore, to bind them by ties that
cannot be broken by show-managers OF
disagreeing parents. Gen. Mite is
twice the weight of his prospective
bride. I b. sg1.s l.a el. 80 saia So yeef
The preparations for the wedding are
going steadily forward. The bride is tc
wear a white satin dress studded with
seed pearls, Small as her form is, it is
estimated that the, bridal dress contains
no less than. 1000 pearls. The bride
groom is to wear the full dress suit, ex
cepting that his vest Of black cloth viii
be replaced by white vest.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12
some Odd Characters In Washington

= s-5t t-'sf flPftsburg Bfepatch.1
- DIR. Mary Walker and Citizen Cohen,
the Socialist are fair Representatives of
the reform element, while sold Pray
'ers," as the newspaper men irreverently
call the man who reIigiously plants him
self, day after day, in the same seat in
the House gallery to watch Congress for
some opportunityto call down upon it
the wrath of Heaven, is At the head of
the fanatics, Twice, within, rs many
months he has Interrupted the proceed
ings in loud voice to give his religious
admonitions, and twice he has been sum-
smarily yank edout Of the building by the
police, 90 Schneider,: the scommunistic
evangelist minister, is another of these
strange creatures. With, a voice like q
trumpet, and a, wild. sort of eIoquence,
this long hsired orator paradesh the
town week after week, exhorting people
at the street CORNERS to rise and divide
the propertyof,the rich. 90 But probably
the greatest fraud of all ISIS big, greasy
fellow with hair that falls over his
shoulders in a cloud of curls, who calls
himself Tacmcntus, the Greek. He APP
peared here about two years ago. His
chief support are the aims or loans he
can raise by means of 4 long yarn Of per-
secution that he retails, to benevolent
and justiceloving people, He claims TO
have madc great medical discovery IN
Greece and published 1t, but was
denounced NJ an impostot by the regular
physician, of the college, and is ., msm-
Der of Q secret society in Italy called the
Carbonari, king g-killing kind Of an
institution, something like the Nihilists.
This made him person of mistrust To
several governments, and they had per.
secuted him by secret agents. ever
since. To him the President and mem.
bers Of the Cabinet had been especial
objects Of ,rey, till he finally became
such an ahject bore that the police and
door-keepe'o were ordered to keep him
away.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12

IT is curious fact that the sale of
books in San Francisco is now as great
as 1t was when the population of the city
was muchsmaller. The San Francisco
State says that within the last two years
three of the largest retail book houses
have gone out of the business, and those
remaining complain of reduced sales.
1t is another curious fact that in the
goddess early days" the sales of reaig-
ious books in California were far greater
than they are now. Popular science, on
the booksellers shelves, seems to have
taken the place of religion.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12
Foreign Immigrants.

A correspondent writes that the lar
gest per cent. of foreign immigrants ar
irving in New York go to the States of
Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota and
Colorado, while the next largest go to
the older Western States of Ohio, Indi-
ana, Illinois and Wisconsin. Only II
per cent. of the whole go South, and the
most of this fraction to Texas. The
opinion is also expressed that more
white people have moved West from the
Southern States the past twelve months
than have moved into those States from
all quarters. Chicago Journal.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12

The Russian railroads are noted for
gross irregularities, and the Government
has appointed commission to investi-
g'Ite the subject. They are required to
report upon the management of all
railroads throughout the empire, to
suggest means Of preventing delays and
Irregularities, of securing order in the
transportation of goods and baggage
trains, of providing for the more rapid
conveyance of passengers, and, in short,
OF so improving the roads that they
may fully answer the demands of the
business of the country.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12

The cannibalism of the Australian
aborigines is undeniable. But it ha, its
limitations. The line must be drawn
somewhere. A father may not eat the
flesh of his child, nor the child mat of
its father. Yet mothers eat their
children, and children tneir mothers,
and in other degrees the same horrible
custom is followed. TIE reason assigned
for it by the natives is that relatives
are thereby enabled TO forget deceased
kindred, aud win not continue tc
mourn for then. too long.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12

A LADY in Madrid, Me-, was in a
house which was struck by lightning.
A valuable gold watch which she wore
stopped at the time, and, although
jewellers have repeatedly examined it
aud pronounced it perfect in every
particular, it cannot be made to move.
1t is so charged with electricity that
watchmakers say no part of it can ever
be made to do duty if taken out and pat
into another set of works.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12
TIE SUYDAYLA VS. OF THE STA TE.s

TIE SUNDAY Ia VS. OF THE STATES.
Every State in the Union, with the
single exception of Louisiana, has on
its statute books Sunday law of some
kind, and they are all more Of less
fashioned after the English statute of
Charles ii, passed in the year 1875, and
familiarly known as the Lords Day
Act. In general terms it may be said
that they prohibit labor "on the first
day of the week, commonly called Sun
day excepting works of necessity and
charity, the transaction of ordinary
mercantile business Except the selling
of medicfnes), the keeping open of dram
shops and travelling in vehicles for bust
ness or pleasure, with exceptions in
favor of ferrymen and mail-carriers.
In some of the Southern and Western
States there are special provisions.
Arkansas punishesindulgence in brag,
bluff, poker, seven-up, three-up, twenty
one, thirteen cards, the odd trick, forty
five, whist, or any other game of cards, :"
by a fine of from twenty-five dollars to
fifty dollars. California charges from
fifty dollars to five hundred dollars in
the shape of fine, for attending any
"bull, bear, cock or prize fight, horse
race or circus" or for keeping open any
gambling house, cor any place of bar
barous or noisy amusement, or theaters
where liquors are Sold" Florida, for
disturbing any congregation of white
persons, provides a fine not to exceed
one hundred dollars, or that the offender
shall be whipped not exceeding thirty.
nine stripes, or imprisoned not exceed
ing six months" South Carolina alone
of all the States, sticks to the old notion
of compelling attendance upon divine
worship. Her statute still provides
that all persons having no reasonable OF
lawful excuse on every Lords Day shall
resort to some meeting or assembly Of
religious worship, tolerated and allowed
by the laws of the State, and shall there
abide, orderly and soberly, during ths
time of prayer and preaching, on pai-
and penalty of forfeiture, for every
neglect of the same, of the sum of one
dollar" The Illinois Sunday Law il
much milder than the laws of most oI
the other states. 1t only prohibits tht
keeping open of tippling houses, ant
disturbing the peace and good order O
society by unnecessary labor, or amuse
ment or diversion, with exceptions il
favor of water-men and railroad com
panies. L
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

EVERY state in the Union except
Louisiana has now a Sunday law of
some kind. Many of them simply pro-
bibit labor. In South Carolina the
statute provides that all persons hav-
ing no reasonable or lawful excuse I"
shall attend some religious meeting
every Sunday.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12

THos. RoCTLEeDE, leading English
paper manufacturer, is endeavoring to
induce capitalists to utilize the jungles
of the bamboo in India AID British Bur-
nah. The young shoots of the jungle
grass yields fiber excellently adapted
to paper making, and at acost compared
with Esparto grass, in the proportion
OF $3.50 to $50 a ton. The latter grass
comes principally from Algeria and
other Barbary States, and, in addition
to being unsatisfactory in quality, a
sufficient quantity can not be obtained.
English paPermakers are, therefore,
often driven to manufacture with wood
fiber and China clay.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12

tant statements in his testimony at the
inquest. The Doctor was asked whether
or not six blows from rattan on either
hand would be excessive. He replied
that it would not be excessive for a
school pupil (under the existing sys-
tem), but in certain cases it might not
be safe. The Doctor considers this case
interesting, because it may lead to de-
cision concerning the discretionary
power of inficting corporal punish
ment now exercised by schoolmasters.
He thinks that no teacher is competent
to decide when corporal punishmear is
safe without special knowledge of med
ical subjects, and that such knowledge
is not possessed by the average school
teacher.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12

DIR. JOHN DxwELL, of Boston, who
was one Of the physicians that made a
post-mortem examination of William
Bagley, the pupil who died at Maiden
after the infiction Of corporal punish
ment by his teacher, made some impor-
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12


This Is the way fortunes are made in
Leadville Colorado. A. Cohen was one
of the .speculators who went there to
hook for silver mine. His money
dwindled rapidly until he had only
three dollars and fifty cents left, In
desperation he went TO Wholesale
grocery and boughta barrel of apples,
paying his entire capital ON account,
and remaining in debt one dollar and
dfty cents. Then he set up stand at a
busy street corner and offered his apples
for sale at ten cents apiece. Before sun.
down he had sold out, and was the
possessor of nearly thirty dollars. The
next day he'had 1 larger stock in trade
and did equally we'll. In a fortnight
he was weu-to-do man. His profits
had been immense. Now he has
large fruit, nut, and candy business, ant
has store full Of assistants.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12
FOREIGN SUMMARY.

BARON LIONEL NATHAN DE ROTHS-
CHILD. chief partner in the banking firm of
Rothschild & Co., is dead.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12


RUSSIA seems TO have the highest
death rate Of any courtry that collects
mortsiity statistics. The report for the
Medical Bureau For the year 1877 has
but recently 5een published, and it
shows thai n q population of eighty
millions, t.e deaths Of the year were at
the rate cflfrpm thirty to fifty per thou
sand. The rayages of diphtheris put it
first In the list Of diseases; next comes
typhoid fever, and next smallpox.
,fhere are about "A ZOO, 900 sectarians in
Russia who do not allow vaccination,
and this accounts for the Large mortal.
ity from smallpox. AS to the typhoid.
IL is called in Russia hunger typhus,' u
for its greatest ravages are always in the
famine stricken districts.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12

- THE Canadians are greatly incensed
Al finding that many of their merchants,
iust before the new tariff was brougns
forward, loaded their shelves with
American goods which have escaped the
duty, and are now retailed at an advance
of 10 or Is per centum. ..,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12

Tom HOOPS clever tale of Miss
Kilmansegg and Her Golden Leg" il
doubtless pure fiction, but story, which
is almost the exact counterpart Of it.
comes to us from Brussels by way OF
Australia and the Melbourne Argus,
spropos Of q lady with diamond eye,
which, having lost her natural eye, she
wore instead of glass one. The truly
brilliant orb sparkled so brightly and
was so suggestive of riches, that q
Partisan adventurer married the lady
on sight, took her to the gay city with
him, and there, having squandered al
her property, he one night decamped
carrying off her diamond eye, which
she used to keep in a glass of water b,
her bedside. The deserted wife is nov
suing the pawnbroker who advanced tn
money on it to her husband for the re
covery Of the Jewel.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12
n,,n ,r. p,..;.n Government discour,

THE Russian Government discour-
ares the travel of its subjects to foreign
Countries, for fear OF injury to their
moral or political views. In order to
retain them at home, the price OF the
pass, without which no Russian is al
lowed to leave his country, has been
lately increased from 5 rubles to loo
rubles for each year of life abroad.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12
A GREAT advance has Just been made

A GREAT advance has Just been made
n ire-proof costumes by M. Schalla,
an Austrian engineer, who has Just
given his sinvention public trial in the
Prater, Vienna, where a huge stage of
dry wood was built, and plentifully
soused with petroleum before being set
fire to. BY means of his costume, M.
Schalla remained long time in the
flames, which were 30 intense that the
spectators had to retSeat several PAGES.
The dress is similar in appearance to
that worn by divers, only it is double.
The space between the two layers is
continually supplied with fresh water
by means of a pipe. Another pipe sup
plies the wearer with the necessary air.
The inventor was warmly applauded
when at last he came out of the fire, ap.
pearing quite at his ease. a.
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12

IT costs "A, 1000, 900 annually to educate
the children of the United States,
The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-06-12
FALSE AND TRUE.

+.
The false is fairer than the true. Behold
Yon cloudy giant on the hills sup1ne!-- ii
The figure of falsehood that doth shines
Armored and helmefed in such gold
As in the marts was never bought or eoidf-
Giant and armor the exalted sign rlt-
OF shapes less glorious and tints less hne-
O, forms of truth cu,matched thousand foldI
Ah, Poesiei Thou chsrmer aud thou cheat
Painting for eyes that ill with happy tears,
In tints de uslve, pictures that repeat
Dull earthly forms in heavenly atmospheresi
How dost thou shame the truth, till II appears
Less lovely far tn an thy divine deceiti
SucKEss IL not allwase the true kriter-
ion to Judge things by, but it il dred-
phull hard thing to argy aginst. l hav
thought, between the two, it was best to
tell solid, lie than to tell half the truth.
The quickest thing, and at the same
time the most truthful thing, about a
man, liz hiE Conscience. When he begins
to reason agin his Conscience he is get,
ting reddy to lie. The CRATE art ov
kontentment kohsists in being perfekly
satisfied with what yer hsin't got. 81
( In a tavern in Calcutta there is a
notice hung on the halls, "Guests are
requested not TO, beat the walters and
servants" This recalls the supplication
in a london inn, Don't kiss the ser
wants on the stairs; it makes them drop
the dishes;' p and the solemn admonl-
tipn printed and stuck on the doors OF
the only "hotel'' in Blue Dog Gulch,
Arizona, "Gentlemen are earnestly re-
qpested to remove their boots before
retiring." .M4a So is -
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-10

A NOVEL LINsTITUTIoN.-There exists in
Denmark singular institution. establish.
ed mainly for the benefit of the daughters
of the nobility. When man of wealth is
blessed by the birth of daughter he
causes her to be enrolled at this institution.
paying very small sum, with fixed
annual payment of a moderate amount
When the young girl reaches the age oi
twenty-one she not only finds herself in
possession of very nice little income, but
she has right 10 occupy and enjoy fine
apartment, well furnished, in an elegant
house, with parks and gardens, and her
companions will be ladies, young or old
who are members of the association. II
is not obligatory upon member to reside
longer at the chateau or more frequently
than suits her convenience. If the father
dies and the young girl is unprotected she
has an asylum ut once, even ii the subse-
quent annual subscriptions are not liqui.
dated, and when she attains her majority
her annual income commences. If she
should die or contract marriage her inter.
est in the association passes to the general
fund. If she should be married when she
is twenty all that is paid in by her father
accrues to the association, and it is this
source of income that enables the institu
tion to demand only small annual sub
scription, which renders i easy for q
father TO meet the demand, with the as
surance that if his daughter cannot be
married without marriage portion. she
will at least be in the enjoyment of com
Portable bone for life. This institution ha!
been prosperous at Copenhagen for sixty
years. The features Of the plan are some
what singular, and not adapted to thi,
country in some particulars, but the plar
of commencing with the birth of daugh
ter to provide for the old age Of the infan
is rather commendable. II Is life insur
ance to the very letter.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-10
How a Russian Serf Bought His Freedom.

From recent volume entitled " Les
Russes Peints par EuXmemes," and
written by II Russian, l translate and
abridge the following story, which is said
to be literally true:
Count Scheremetieff, a descendant of
one of the most ancient Coyard families,
possessed more than one hundred thousand
male SoatS, AS serfs were then called in
Russia, the women not being counted
either in the census or tax lists. Among
these serfs there were many who had been
allowed to 20 into business for themselves.
Some of these had made fortunes; others
had even become millionaires. The con-
ditions of the counts Inheritance forbade
him selling any male serf his freedom.
Among the number there was one who had
established himself at Riga, and was at
the head of great banking house of that
cty-an ancient house which had existed
under German control for a century, and
was well known and highly respected in
all the European cities.
The serf who was now at the head OF
the house felt his humilating position very
keenly. His sons were excluded from
alliances with families who were their
equals in fortune and education, for no
daughter of these families would wed a
slave, even were he ten times million
aire, rs the Russian law compes the wife
TO accept the social position of her hus-
band.
The banker, who had almost despaired
of obtaining his own freedom, journeyed
every year to st. Petersburgh to sue for
that of his children. The freedom of the
daughter was cheerfully granted, for
Connt Scheremetief was one of those
chivalrous noblemon whose motto is mob
Jesse oblige. =.
There are many such in Russia, the
descendants of the old reigning houses OF
the empire. These mobiles lent an almost
unanimous support TO the project Of Alex
ander III. for the emancipation of the
serfs, although tho carrying out of that
measure cost them a large share of their
fortunes.
Upon the bankers last visit to St. Pc
tersburgh he had offered the count half
million roubles for the freedom OF his
sons The count had refused, as usual
but he had showed the banker great at
tention, inviting him to dine at his house
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-10

WATER IN THE EARs.-As this is the
season when arrangements are made for
summer vacations, word Of advice may
be of service to those who are seeking the
seashore. If you don't wish to run the
risk of becoming deaf, take a handful of
cotton along with your thin clothes, and
when you go in bathing. put plugs Of
cotton in your ears. This may save you
from ear aches, and perhaps from more
serious trouble. DR.. Sexton, surgeon-in-
chief to the New York ear dispensary, in
a recent communication to the Medical
Record. estimates that thousand people
of New York are sent TO their physicians
to bo treated for ear diseases. every year,
whose trouble had arisen from getting
water in their ears while bathing, or from
catching cold at such times by exposure
or neglect 1t appears from the Doctors
researches that salt water is peculiarly
irritating to the delicate structures of the
inner ear. Very cold water of the fresh
est kind may, however, be equally harm
fulz,
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-10

A WONDERFUL PARRoT.-A Baltimore
girl, summering in Vermont, writes as
follows of a parrot owned by Oscar Dix
of Dummerston: The charm of her talk
ing lies in her clear, distinct enunciation !;
and the veriest stranger could understand
what she says. She sings several songs:
" Shoe Fly" Little Brown jug" both
sings and whistles the tune of " Yankee
Doodle" and executes with great spirit
that old time round -" Scotland's
burning" She is a great imitator, cackles
like iirst-cass hen, and news as well as
the kittens themselves. She greets visitors
with " Hullo! how do you do?" and says
Good by when they leave. Her funniest
exclamation is There! pve just found
out" and she usually ends the expression
with a burst of laughter. A rap on the
cage will bring out the welcome Come
in!' She asks the question: :" Is it cold
out to-dayp" and then remarks: Polly's
cold out herew She will sob and cry in
the most heart broken way, and calls the
following names: "Uncle Oscar, Aunt
Marcia, Bert, Nellie, Lou, George. Lena,
Charlie" can sing up the "scale " with
the words, Pol-ly-is-a. pret-ty-bird!' "a
syllable for each note.) She counts, occa-
sionally missing a number, and says,
Polly wants her dinner, noW!" Polly
wants her breakfast" Polly wants
toast" )" cake or " APPLE" as she hap
pens to think. When she is very desirous
of obtaining anything, she praises herself
by saying, " Sweet, pretty Polly! in a
teasing, affectionate way. She calls the
COWS, 4" Boss! Boss! Boss" as distinctly
and loudly as aoy New England farmer.
When she climbs upon her perch in the
evening, she calls out, " Good night" a
number of times. She never says this in
the day time.