davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
How Birds Oil their Feathers.

A writer in London Land and Water
says: "Perhaps the reader has never
considered how all birds obtain the glose
on their feathers which makes them
proof against water. Water fowls are
Of course supplied with a thicker coating
of feathers than land birds, but all have
the faculty of procuring the oily matter
to cover their feathers and resist the
water getting in between. Have you
never noticed, when bird was Plucxed,
a small protuberance over the tail,
furnished with a pencil.like tuft of
feathers? 1t is here that the ointment is
hidden, and the bird has the power to
raise the thicker feathers that cover this
spot, and, passing its head over it, obtains
enough matter at time to communicate
it to the rest of its plumage. And it is
truly interesting to watch duck plum
ing itself and covering itself with the
oil that is required for keeping out the
water. As this part of the body is liable
to give an unpleasant flavor to the flesh,
it ought to be cut of before cooking.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
To See Through Your Hand.

Rollupa piece of paper, pamphlet, to
make tube about nine or twelve inches
long and an inch or so across. Put this
tube to your right eye, and look through
at some object, attentively keeping both
eyes open. Now hold up your left hand
with its back toward you, and bring it
near the lower end of the tube, looking
at your hand with the left while the
right eye is fixed on something through
the tube. IF you hit the right position,
which you can do, putting the edge of
the hand against, not over, the lower end
of the tube, you will be surprised to see
very clearly the things beyond. It is a
very easy, but most surprising little ex-
pertinent and will please old as well as
young people. You will, of course, wish
to know why this is so; why there seems
to be hole where there is none. The
scientific journals are talking about this,
but their explanations would hardly suit
youngsters. We usually look at the same
thing with two eyes, and the two images
make one in our mind. Here we separate
the two eyes in an unusual manner and
the mind brings together the circle made
by the tube for one eye and the hand seen
by the other, and makes one of them.
You can vary this in several ways. If
when looking through the hole in the
hand, you stretch out the left thumb,
so that it will be seen by the right eye
through the tube, the thumb will appear
to be directly across the hole in your
hand. Instead of looking at your hand
use card; make black spot on the card
as big as half-dime, and look at it as be.
fore; the black spot will appear to be
floating in the center of the hole, with
nothing to hold it there. Another varia
ton is to make round hole in the caro-
of the size of the half dime; look at this
hole with the left eye, so that the real
hole will be- within the imaginary hole
the hole will appear exceedingly bright
and surrounded by ring of shadow
american Young Folks.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
Wonderful Things in Leather.

"OA<S0AAOA AAAA6o IL Ao0S0o1s
The Mckay Sewing Machine company,
which is now having a fight in congress,
sewed $4,000, 900 pairs of shoes last year,
and there were pegged upon the peg
ging machines, 55,000,000 pairs last
year. And those machines have entire
ly revolutionized the business. There
are 100000 bushels of loose pegs made
in New England, and those pegs sell
from 65 to 70 cents per bushel; yet q
patented peg-wood "a strip or ribbon of
wood cut across the grain, and of q
width just equal to the length of a peg)
has so superseded the loose pegs that
last year there were 5000, 900 pairs of
boots and shoes pegged with it. The
whole expense of this peg.wood averages
about one-fourth of a cent per pair.
Nearly one thousand of these pegs are
driven into the shoe in minute, and
there are about four to six pegs to an
inch, or about twenty-five inches Of peg
ging to shoe. Over 200 varieties Of
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
C0ynDOund Interest.

The following from Novelties and
Curiosities for 1868 merits the attention
Of some of our curious readers: "The
simple interest Of cent al per cent.
per annum from the commencement of
the Christian era to the close of the year
1868, would be but the trihing sum of a
little over E3; but if tie same principle
at the same rate and time, had been
allowed to accumulate at compound in.
terest, it would require the enormous
number of 81, s4O,O 600, 600, of globes
of solid gold, each equal to the earth in
magnitude, to pay the interest; and II
the sum were equally divided among the
inhabitants of the earth, estimated at
1000, 100000, every man, woman and
and child would receive $3.50 golden
worlds for an Inheritance. Were all
these globes placed side by side in a
direct line it would take lightning itself,
which can girdle the earth i'll q wink of
an eye, $4,000 years to travel from end
to end. And if a parrot gun were dis
charged at one extremity, while man
was Stationed at the other-light travel
ing 10000 miles in a second, the initial
velocity OF cannon ball being 1900
feet per second, and sound moving
through the atmosphere l,l20 feet in a
second-he would see the fash after
waiting 1000 years; the ball would
reach him in "A 600, 100000 of years:
but he would not hear the report till
the end of 1,00O,00O,000 Of centuries,
Again, if all these masses Of gold were
fused into one prodigious ball, having
the sun for its centre, would reach out
into space in all directions 1888, 100000
miles, almost reaching the orbit Of Her.
schel and Uranus. And if the interest
were continued till the end of the pres
ent century it would entirely fill up the
solar system and even encroach
500, 100000 miles on the domnions Of the
void beyond the planet Neptune, whose
orbit, at the distant of 2,850,O00,000
miles from the sun, encircles our whole
svstam 0f WOrlds.'
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
ASTONISHED RESTAURANTER
How he Was Taken in by Hungry
Traur. - .-sEp : -ts.--e-

Low Ao was 1aKen In Dy = auuB1y
Tramp. '''''' = ''s '=''.
A long, attenuated individual, with
two weeks growth Of beard on his face,
paused before the window of Chatham
street six cent restaurant. He didn't
gaze upon the old letters of the legend
ary signboard as though he was very
hungry-in fact, he scarcely noticed it
at all.
Presently he took out huge roll of
bills and began to unroll them slowly, as
though about to declare dividend in
his own favor. He had no sooner com.
menced than the proprietor stepped out
smile:
"Good morning-fne weatherl'
"Yes," responded the pedestrian, in
differently.
chad your breakfast YETI"
" Not yet"
After a few minutes more OF profound
silence the restauranter, with an eye to
business, continued:
CHOW, Pve just got the best place
around here; won't you just step in and
have breakfast?'
IL think l will" murmured the stran-
ger, as he sutfocated smile of prospec-
tive rapture.
Then he entered the saloon, took seat
at table pretty near the stove, rubbed
his hands together, and carOlled:
CHOW, then, tor dejeuner la four
Ghetto; just favor me with synopsis of
the dainties"
He was soon the possessor of pro.
gramme.
els this porter house steak reliable?"
"The best in the market"
"Then let me have one pretty rare.
am always very particular about my
diet at this season Of the year. [ re-
ceived some very valuable hints on eat
ing from the Duke Of Clarendon while l
was his guest last fall. You may also
bring me some fried potatoes, coffee, and
a plate of buckwhear cakes and fresh
napkin"
The afore- mentioned things were soon
placed before him, and he set to like a
grist mill. The steak eyaporated in a
manner which left no doubt in the mind
of the restaurateur OF its merit.
"Another cup of coffee, please, and
don't put any milk in it; don't care to
endanger my life by drinking the ques-
tionable milk of a great metropolis
at if perfect pure, sir"
"Never mind; I prefer it black. l
got into the habit Of slipping cafe noir
while lounging in the gilded saloons of
Constantinoplep'
Here the tourist buttoned his coat up
around his throat to conceal the fact
that he had no shirt on.
The coffee was brought to him and he
finished his breakfast with a tooth pick.
"You keep good things, sir, and | am
highly obliged to you for entertaining
me. Good day"
"Sixty-fve cents" roared the eating
house man Indignantly.
II guess not; you invited me in. You
said come in and have breakfast; SO it
was you treat, wasn't it?"
Then be got out as quick as he could,
and left the restauranteur in frame OF
mind that beggars description.
When he arrived at the next corner he
so]iloquized:
~ knew he'd want my trade when he
saw the roll Of bills in my hand. There's
nothing like a wad of Canton flannel
rolled up in Confederate bill to make
people respect you."-New York Star.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
Footsteps of the Dead.

Is there anything that will soften the
human heart as quick as the sight OF an
old man waiting on the shores of the
dark river, his gray hairs and trembling
hands proof of his allotted days, his
gentle voice speaking as one standing on
the beach of time and looking out
across the deep, wide current, whose
wavelets lap the banks of eternity?
And when men say to these gray haired
relics of the past that their fate in
Heaven is but childish whim, and that
the God of whom they have prayed
through all these years is only a myth,
they exhibit keener cruelty than the
Indian with his knives and fre-brands.
If you had seen this old man as he
sat in the corner where the spring sun
fell brightest. If you had heard his
words Of faith, you would know that
faith can become second life, as it
were, never wavering or doubling
through years and years, and dying only
when the heart ceases its beatings. He
had said:
"Those who died long years ago are
ever with me in the spirit. Icannot see
them, because I am mortal, but when I
am called to 60, be it night or day, |
shall hear their footsteps, and they will
lead me over the dark river into Heavens
bright sunlight beyond"
The other day he sat alone in the sun
light. No one dreamed that his end
was near, or soft arms and gentle words
would have sought to bind him to earth
a little longer. When soft footsteps
entered the room to see if he still slept
the old mans pale, dead face had such
a smile as his children had never seen
before, and his hands were held out az if
to give greeting. While the house was
still the old man had heard the footsteps
of his fate. For more than a score of
years he had waited and listened and
never doubted. Had men told him that
there was nothing beyond earth but
dust and darkness it would have broken
his heart. Softly fell the footsteps
along the hall, as if children were creep.
ing in to give grandpa surprise, and
when the old man raised his head and
turned, that smile, which even death
could not fade, was brought to his face,
and he stretched out his arms to those
whom he knew would come. The vision
which the eyes behold when human feet
stand on the dividing line may not last
a second, but what this good old man
saw was reward sufficient for all his
years of loneliness and sorrow, and those
whose tender hands smoothed back bis
hair and closed his eyes whispered to
each other:
"Who but the loved ones gone before
should have been sent to lead him from
earth to Heaven? What greetings but
theirs would have brought that smile?"
Free Press
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20

l. II the passenger n going to or from any point
I'm tho entire West and Northwest. he can buy his
tokets via some one Of this Compsnys lines and be
sure OF reaching his destination 81 II Oh 1rs con-
3. Ths greater part Of it, lines no laid with
ehesl Rails it, road bed n perfect.
;. It - tho Ghoxt limo between al important
potnts.
49, Air Brale. M1uers Platform and Oouplefs
anA the latest improvements for comfort. safety
.. Il Il 10 only Road In the West running the
oslsbeabed Pulnan Hotel Cars between Chicago
and OoUnul Buns.
G Il = q only Road running the Pullman Pal
aoo 0oeqtAg Cars either way between
:CAseoeo a1A ". Paul, 0reen Bay, Free
port, Ia ORossa, Wlnena, Dubuque, Nc.
G1oGOr, Milwaukee,.
Z, No rod offers equal facilities in number Of
th1eagA trains, equipped with Pullman Palace
n Il nskss oso.ectioos with al lines crossing
attntsensdiate petats.
Tho popaiaxs1y ol tAsss lines II steadily inoress-
Inn md IaDeneseU shouh consult their interest by
pc1cAasG t3eksts Va this line.
- TiooeD1D OVUe EE1O IoQS0 ore sold BY oil Coupon
T1okst Agents In the Uniksd States and Oansdaa.
1euDoRbee, yoa aak for your Tickets via the
Ol6moo & Noe4A- Wssesen Railway, and take mono
Toe,nseenatin, ToaAsss, Mas, &C., not obtain:
eabao 6 Hs@e T1ckse Ofhce, address any agent OF
- - WI. srEHNEIT
- :: ~. 0en1 PasA Ag't Chicago, III.
HA1Vu = Uu11.
0se1 1naaoR. oAisago. III.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
Selling Chinese Women.

The Chinese are, as is we'll known, in
the habit of selling their women in
their own country, and they con-
tinue the pleasant custom, though
not openly, after migration to our
shores. Women are so plentiful in the
Celestial Empire as to be constantly in
excess of the demand; the market is,
therefore, regularly glutted, and the Or
binary article brings nothing; indeed,
cannot in many instances be given away.
The contrary is true here, because John,
on quitting his native land, leaves his
saffron sister behind as needless incum-
brance; but he often regrets it after
arrival, owing to their feminine scarcity,
and the consequent demand at very fair
prices. All Chew, commercial Mongo-
liam in San Francisco, is anxious to get
rid of his wife-the reason he assigns is
his inability to keep an unproductive
luxury on hand-and declares that he
will sell her for $3.50 to anybody, unless
some of her relatives promptly furnish
that amount. A Chinese woman will
not command such fgure for any hon.
est purpose, and the unfortunate
creature, fearing the fate she is threat
ened with, has appealed to an American
family to buy her, promising to render
domestic service for the advance. 1t is
said that the Chinese sell their wives in
every town and city on the Pacific slope
(their own race being the purchasers)
where they have gained a foothold as
soon as they grow tired of them or want
to raise money. In some cases it is re-
ported that they hypothecate their
women, paying q certain rate per day
for the accommodation, and the lender
keeping the petticoated collateral until
redeemed. Only the young and com.
paratively good-looking can be pawned,
as the capitalists know that no other
kind will be ransomed. Many of the
California newspapers are justly ella NOR
ing for the abolition of this Chinese
slave trade.-Ne,0 York Times.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20

shoe machines are now in the market.
The man who invented this peg-wood
had to borrow money to enable him to
perfect his device and pay the fees Of
the solicitor and patent Office, besides
having borrowed $780, in order to in
troduce it into the market. 1t cost the
parties who invested and introduced in
to the shoe shops the cable screw.wire
machine" 100000. Six hundred pairs
of pegged shoes can now be made in a
day by gang of ten men. Where be-
fore, shoe shops existed throughout New
England, now shops have become large,
labor is classified, and receives larger
compensation (strikes to the contrary
Notwithstanding; wages have advanced
so to 100 per cent. to the laborer, and
the shoe in quality is rs per cent. better
than twenty-five years ago.-Boston Ltt>
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20

REV. E. B. FUTILE, the author of the
report about the cause of difference be-
tween Dickens and his wife, says that he
received his information from Cruik-
shank, vino ssid that the sole cause of
tie trouble was that Mrs. Dickens per-
sisted in criticising and making sugges-
tons concerniog his writings. Finally
he insisted on her occupying separate
apartments in the house. She declined
and left the house, with her son, and
went to live with Mrs. Cruikshank.
There was no immortality anywhere in
volved. Dickens and Cruikshank parted
solely on the temperance question, Cruik-
shank being an extreme radical, while
Dickens punished all the brandy. The
allusion to Dickens naughty manner
WAS not Mr. Tuttle's
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20

the imperial cognizance was adopted by
Austria and by Russia, which claimed
through" the~sfemalo@line~ the honors~ of
the Palmologi. Prussia and Poland had
their eagles, and it was only natural that
Napoleon, who considered himself the
successor Of Charlemagne, and the
Caesars, should have adopted the bird of
JOve as the emblem of his empire.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
THE REBEL FLOWER.
BY NORA PERRY.

Across tho garden paths she led
Her tory guest v ita stately tread
A Boston beauty in her prime
With courage equal to tn time
That tried mems souls; her loyal neTt
cried out against TIE craven part
IT was her irksoule fate to play
rs courteous hostess on that day.
y gracious, gallant air he wore.
gracious. gallant rank he bore,
7 his tory guest; yet well she knew
Feneath the air, the rank, perdue,
\ crafty, treachefous purpoye hih,
AS poisons lurked beneath the lid
~ jeweled Baskets long ago,
When every friend might prove foe.
The garden beds were gay with bloom
e'air treasures which have given room
Long since ~ Fashions stern decree
10 splendorS from across thu sea.
For close beside the stately rose,
Notyranny can Ger deFoss,
The sturdy camomile did lit
its myriad blossoms Snowy drift.
:" What flower is this?" The tory guest
Eialf paused to ask in idle quest.
\ moments thought, then sweet and clear,
- The Rebsl Flower We call it here"
She answered him, this R,soA dame
~ lovely mein and II bti fame.
How's tEis?" he laughed; and laughing sent
keen look At the fair face bent.
III modest musing on the flower
she newly named within that hour,
Hows this, sweet dane, and why, pray tell,
- fair q nower = name SO fell
Saould win and wear?" 4 swift smile sped
Across her face then slow she sIid
" Because, my lord, this flower that's won
our need OF praise when trampled on
Springs from the dust and th1iyes anew
In fresher vigsr than it knew
B'tore such blows of fortune came
thus rightly winning name and fame
All, ha! v laughed out he rorv guest
At this bold speech, "a p-esty JEST
L faith, sweet dame and bravery sail,
When next We meet, perhaps tread
vi weightier heels may have crushed out
These boosted claims, aud pat to rout
Your rebel bowers. till name and famo
tre lost beneath the dust If sname'
She laughed him b,vs, with laughter born
Ut gay disdain and sparkling scorr-
- y hen next We meet, my lord" she said,
- Iais rebel flower viii, III. lis h,ad
IN lustier vjgor than before,
And name and fame iorevermore
Shall flourish bravely in the land
Despite tn eppressor's heel OF hand!'
When next they met my lord had laid
HIS sword beneath the 1eb u blade,
AMI she who prop.esed the fate
tt british valor, stood in a'e
"a British s>il, an honored guest,
Wearing upon her lovely breast,
Ia smiling triumph for that hour,
4 p:sy called g The Rebel F1o,rer."
~ The Mosque OF the Poets.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
tn l0RSuMPTiVES,

The advertiser, having been permanently cured
of that dread disease, Consumption, by simple
sufferers the means Of cure To all who desire it..
he will send copy of the prescription used, Gree
of charge,) with the directions for preparing and
using the same, which they will find sURE CURE
for CONSUMPTION, ASTHMA, BRONCHITIS, &c. Par
ties wishing tue Pre- cripton, will please address,
E A. WILSON, l94 Penn ST., Williamsbu.gh, y. Y.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
The Eagle al q Military Emblem

How old the eagle is as a military en-
blem-who knows? The eagles Of the
Tenth legion had landed in Albion long
before the embroidered raven tapped its
wings ON the Northmen's standard; the
eagle superseded the lark, which was the
.cognizance of the Gallo levies, and out
lived all the birds and beastsof theearly
Roman militia, as the woodpecker Of
the Piceni and the wolf of the Hirpini.t
The division Of the empire gave the
eagle two heads, one for Rome and one
for Bysantium, and when tho empire fell
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20

"HA!. Hal there is blood on the
moon," be cried, striking an attitude in
imitation of the tragedian he had seen
1T the theatre the night before. "What,
shol 70 black and midnight hag," when
his mother suddenly walked into the
bedroom and spoiled the whole first act
with Z trunk strap. VIZ ..s2. = ::
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
SPECIAL NOTICES.
0CS1Ce, 1uU 7teVe7 .0ttt15v % "@te"''v
RHEUMATISM.
PIMPLES,

will mail <Free) the recipe for a simple vEGETA
BILE BALM that will remove TAN, FRECKLES PM
PIES and BLo1CHEs, leaving the skin soft, clear
and beautiful; also instructions for producing
luxuriant growth of hair on q bald head or smooth
face. Address, inclosing Sc. stamp, BEN. VAN
DELI & CO., 20 Ann Street, n. Y.
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20

Are the most CT
fective and congo
NAL purgativc ever
discovered. They
are mild, but ef-
fectual in their
operation. moving
the bowels surely
and without pain.
Although gentle
in their operation.
they are still the
most thorough and
saarchin0 catI,ar-
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
MENDElSS0HN

F1auO SCaQQS "1CUOUC du GQ Ua4.
These Pianos made Of the finest displays at The
Centennial Exhibition, and were unanimously recon-
men1ed I'd the HIGHEST HoSoRs. o.,
Pianos sent trial, and sold on installmenta Don't
fail write for Illustrated and Descriptive Catalogue
mailed FREQ g.
Caution.-Tkc MENDELssoRNi is regularly inoor.
porated manufacturing company and the only house
which makes the entire piano, and sells direct to the
pianos offered by dealers who pretend tob, manu-.
factarers We refer you to the New y" Commercial
Agencies. which will give you reliable information
in regard TO thern we'll asto integrity, char
acter and responsibility. ~
xEHDE1ssoHN PLANO co.,
Ne. Fl Fast 18th Street,
Dear Union Square. NEW vo0Hs
Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-03-20
Ayers Cathartic Pills.

For all the purposes Of a Family Physic,
and for curing Costiveness, Jaundice,
Headache, Erysipelas, Rheumatism,
Eruptions and Skin Diseases, Bill
iousness, Dropsy, Tumors, Worms,
NEURALGIA, as q Dinner Pill,
for Purifying the Blood.