davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-02-05

A PERIOD OF PESrILENCE.-W have
often been told Of 1.-THE good time coming"
but the following from the Providence
Journal indicates that what may be called
81 period of peslileuce" is at hand. With
its little telescope in one hand and an
almanac in the other the prophetic Journal
thus utters its baleful predictions: The
four great planets of the system, Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. have II
mighty influence in the solar economy,
even though they revolve at immense
distances from the centre of the scheme.
When one or more of these planets are
at their nearest point to the sun great
disturbances are sure to take place from
the increased attraction of the masses upon
each other. Agitation on the solar surface
is reflected to the systems remotest bounds,
and our planet bears witness to the solar
outburst in terrific storms or land and sea,
ng-continued drought, failure of crops,
and consequent disaster and pestilence in
myriad forms. Jupiter, being the largest
and nearest of the giant brotherhood, pro-
duces the greatest disturbances.
A much more lamentable period is also
near at hand; one of those eras that occur
at intervals counted by thousands of years
is about TO take place. The four great
planets reach their perihelia very nearly
together and the mighty planetary quar-
tette will pull upon the sun with one
accord. They will be at their nearest
approach in the year 1880, or soon after,
and the influence of their unwelcome
union may continue for several years Such
II conjunction Of forces has not occurred
since the Christian era. What will the
sun do, with his blazing surface tossed
into such fiery commoton? What will
the earth do as she responds to every
troubled pulsation of the great luminaryp
There is a fearful prospect ahead, and it
may be that the pestilence Of last summer
was but the shadow of events to follow in
its train. There is nothing for poor NOR
tails to do but take wise precautions and
await results.
A careful observer announces that the
perihelia of three of the grear planets took
place at the same time in the sixth and
also in the sixteenth century, and that the
epochs were marked by the occurrence of
the most pestilential periods on record.
1t is certain that our atmosphere and
temperature will be disturbed, and that
the disturbance will be unfavorable to
health and prosperity. This period we
shall probably enter upon before another
year closes, and we can only trust that
science and observation will do their best
to avert the caamities threatened by the
malignant influence of the sun and the
four remotest members of the system.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09

4 from the sun, the uncertainty is per
haps mot much more than per cent.
4 Il So much; hat IN the ease OF the pole
star, which is twenty times rs remote
according 10 the latest results, il is
really doubtful whether its distance
may MOI be rs small as only ten,fold
that OF Gtttlurl, pr IN the other hand
rs great rs forty or fifty fold, We do
not know, and cannot find out until
our present means and methods OF
measurement shall have been greatly
improved.
This uncertainty, however, is not due
to any coarsenesS or want at precision
ot astronomical as compared With other
scientific measurements; no moro deli
cate or refined methods Of observation
have ever been applied than those by
means OF which the stellar distances
have been investigated. The difficulty
Is double, the quantity to he measured
ls almost unlmaSiuably small; and the
measurement, from the nature Of the
case, cannot he made at the same time
and under similar circumstances, but
only ri intervals OF several months and
under widely different conditions.
Now what are The considerations
which will enable uS to decide, rs to any
particular star, whether it is probably
near or remeteg They are principally
two, and neither OF them is absolutely
decisive.
In the first place. since the nearer u
star iSto us the brighter il will seem,
we arc justified in assuming that the
brighter stars, as Il cldSs, are nearer than
the fainter, ST that If II star is brilliant
lis proximity Is to n certain extent
probable, but only probable, Tor d
moments inspection OF results thus lar
obtained shows that several stars, 50
faint rs to hoiuvlsihlc u tho naked eve
are really nearer than Sirius.
second, and On tho whole moro
valuable, Indication ot proximity y
found in the magnitude Of what is
technically called the proper motion"
of IL star. We find, Ivy comparing oh.
seIvatious made at wide Intervals of
time, that most stars drift to II very
observable extent in the course Ot II
century or two, tins dtlt being due in
part To the motion OF the sun itself in
space and partly 10 that of the star.
Now II is obvious, that, other things he.
ing equal, il II star were brought nearer,
its apparent motion in the sky would
hc greater. And hence, rice VISA, we
may infer That those stars which
show u rapid movement are, as .
class nearer than those which seem to
he sensihly stationary. AT the Same
time, when We come to- comparisons
between individual stars, il is impossible
10 say that Of two which appear 70 move
At unequal rates the faster IS the nearer;
Tor the nearer may he moving, SO TO
speak, head on OF at u really less
velocity than tho remotcr one,
In selecting stars for the investigation
of their pafallax we must, then, noocs.
sarily choose those which have others
apparently near them showing no signs
of proximity 10 our system, and we
should give the preference to- those
which are either very brilliant or nave
considerable annual DRIFT, There are
only few stars which iullill all the
conditions, but those which do have
not been investigated, and there ia
bore open M important field Tor the
labots Of any who will take NJ tho sub.
| ject.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09
WITHOUT MY APPROVAL.
Seven Ages Of Man.

All the worlds stage, and all the
men aud women merely players, some
of them most conloundedly poor
players, too; they have their exits and
their entrances, but large proportion
oil them would rather have whirkey MS
steady thing. And one man in his
time plays many parts-right field, cen.
ire field, catcher. short stop, etc. At
first the infant, mewling and pukng in
its nurses arms and yelling fire; and
then the school boy with lis dinner
bucket, and whining, mourning face,
creeping like a snail, unwilingly TO
school, with sheep skin, under his
jacket; and then the lover singing like
Il blast furnace, with woful ballad,
fearfully and wonderfully made, to his
mistress eyebrows, and his coat-tail
pockets filled with confectionery; then
soldier, full Of strange oaths and bugs,
jealous Of honor, sudden and quick in
quarrel, seeking the bubble reputation
even in the lannon's mouth At thirteen
dollars a month and found; and then
the alderman, with bay.wlndow on
his stomach, full Of wise sausage and
many other things 10 eat, who charges
two dollars for marrying man, and
kisses the bride without leave or license.
The sixth age shifts into the lean ana
slipnered panta looms, with Or without
RULES, Al tie care may be; Last scene
ihGt ends this strange, eyentful history
il second childhood aud more oblivion
s1,s teeth, sang eyes, s1ns taste, 21ns
everything, except wonderful faculty
Of lying about the hot summers and
cold winters Of his younger days.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09

A PARIS journal says: gentleman is
stopped on the street NJ midnight by u
thief Drawing pistol from his peck
ct he forces the man 70 walk quietly be-
fore him to the station. Arriving there
he tells the chief what has occurred.
very wel,' replies that officer, hut
have YOU permission TO carry afms?'
"No. sir" In that case must put
you under arrest But without the
arm which happened 10 have, | would
probably have been assassinated. "
"That il possible, bn. the police ordi'
nance exists, and il is necessary that
it be obeyed.r ''Is il allowable 10 car.
ny arms which are not Deadly Ger
tainly." "Then look at my pistol. IL
has no hammer. To oblige friend ]
was going to take il toa gun shop 10
have il repaired "oh, if bad only
known" cried the thief.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09
The Dl.tanc. of Tie Stars.

Every one knows that some stars
have had their distance measured, and
i is very commonly supposed that the
same is true Of many, il not the ma
jorily, and that the determination OF
the distance is reasonably accurate
Nothing could be more erroneous. In
the first place, astronomers have sue
ceeded In getting results only in about
twenty cases, and with all but the near.
est aalf.dozen the uncertainty ranges
from 10 to full 80 per cent. Of the whole
distance.
In the case of the neaTeststar known
Cnnl1i, the distance of WHICH. il
about 10000 times our distance
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09
Ingenious Isogucry.

Ingenious is the American rogue, a
poultry speculator in Warren county,
Pa, buys chickens in tie country and
writes out receipt for tho farmer To
sign. The point Of his pencil invar-
iably breaks oil just before the sigma
turt is reached, and he produces II
fountain.pen from his pocket. The
body of the receipt is written in pencil
and the farmers name in ink. When
the speculator goes to town he grasses
all the pencil marks and writes out In
INK promissory note for 800 or $3.50,
and has il discounted by bank.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09

ARklLRoAn conductor writes long
communication 10 combat the current
halluoina'ion that tho coming genera
non ot Americans will he puny, sickly
and PLAYED out, His experience OF
many years oonvinces nim that the
contrary is the case, and that the aver
aye American child OF "under twelve"
who travels ON n halt-lare ticket is rs
large rs boy or girl OF fifteen ar six
teen used to he in ante-railroaa days.
He thinks that am Instructive aud inter
eStinS article might be wriues 10y some
phys,ologist On the subject of the intlu-
enco of the invention OF railroads upon
the development of the infant Amer
lean,
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09
Stimulate the Sluggish Kidneys.

In addition 70 il. tonic and cAths &c properties,
Iosietter's stomach Bitters exercises beneficial
innuen upon the kiducys and bladder, when
they sre inactive. ~ stimulating. 40 u wue' .
sluiee for the escape Of impurities whose regular
channel of exit - the organs q nrlnauon.
Amoog these are certain abnormal and inaam-
maiory elsments, productive Of irrspsrabls In
Jury 10 e system n not entirely expelled. The
kidneys aud bladder the SELVES arc also bsnest-
ted BY this stimulus. a. their Inactivity 10 usually
a preliminary 10 their disease and disorgsnizatoD.
They also experience, 10 common with other por'
tions OF the ,yttsnI, the potent inv gofsilvs ei-
diso.dered CONDITIONS Of tne stgGlAen, boNeissnd
Hist' issa
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09
Indigestion.

The main cause Of nervousDcss il in
digestion. and that is caused by weak
uess OF the stomach. No one can nave
.ound nerves and good health without
nsing Hop Bitters TO strengthen the
stomach, purify ttS blood. and keep tue
assr and Kidneys active, 70 carry Of all
tie poisonous and waste matter oi tho
sSstem. zee other column.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09

PRICES of tho Mason & Hamlin Or.
gNns are somewhat more than those of
the poorest organs made; but they arc
not much moro, while tho quality is
vastly superior. THIS has been SO
thoroughly proved by the results at all
great worlds oxpesitous for many Yeas
that 1t Is no longer u question. AT the
prices, they arc the cheapest organs
ntlnaI
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09
Gnnl Idrlrn 10 Parents.

Many parents labor under tho mistaken impress
stou that thor chtiuten must all pass through the
ordeal known ~ ehildfcn's diseases, aud, rs they
sometimes express V, tho sooner tho better A
child 10 no moro subject 10 disease tin ct less SOY
than an adult IL tue proper precautions arc taken
10 regulate It's diet and keep the ~ stem clcanscd
by appropriate medicines, ny this we do not
mean an hahitual closing Win rNrgatives, such
that 10 could not resist the at aces of disease aud
would also pruNe fu,NouS ~ tts physical cnnsttu-
uOn, Hut n moderate occasional use " an ell.
ease, besides greatly ptomntlng iva gor and
strength. nr. fieroo's Golden Medical Discovery
is uueNcelled Rs an Alternative, aud viii prove
very oNaciuA preventive ~ these diseases.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09

A MoSTGomfRY, Co., o., woman has
in ten years Of wedioclt been mother OF
thirteen children. .ass Ii
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09

Here's chance for some ontcrprir.
ing paragrapher who wants Ia get mp u
poctical paragraph All you have TO do
Is 10 fill up thn blanks; wen furnish the
rhymes:
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09

"TuE Mondelssohn Grand shono re.
splondently through its elegancy ofcon'
siruotion and wonderfully superb tone,
Tho power and mlness Of tone Of the
treble was especially observable, Ns
these qualities arc SO sadly deficient in
the Instruments Of most other manufac.
turers. "--PaiHdeiphia Tree Press.
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09

We are not enterprising, but can fill
this out Tor you just as well M not, on
the condition that you will not size "
fof libel:
The G0HsiitufioHB out Of ,s.s ...,,.
lis hahis arc ~ Nely, -, .....,.
lie Photographer VIII tnkc...4...,...+
Whenever he can get no. t..
lie advocates thu ,.,.,t4... Z. 4.,...4.tt,,
And then for sin giSGE ...,.s.....#
Romr SeHihT
Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-09

THs COINS ia the British museum ARE
estimated Ia he worth - 100000.
, 1879-07-25

had 81 expended on il,em for fartfiizfuu. Those
in tho East WIN took mortgages On rocky w
lands md sandy wnstcs. na your Kansas ~,
very unfortunate, rs sucll lantls nto very fnfc,
The lnrgo majority bulng oycrlaid with rich
black soil from two to stx feet deep, II yoit Will
l!u with INC, Mr. Editor, fru1n Chicago west nf'-
ii. We rcacll Tic utatns, 200 mflca wcst III the
Missouri River, u distance Of SUI miles west Of
Chicago, then. from tie Nos!hern pa.
cino Ratlroad-kl,e greatest whcatpr0duclt,s
country Ii, tho United Stntes-south
fur 1850 miles, will slow sou q
trnct Of country which will produce enough 70
feed ,000, ,0G0 I,copc. The as,ninl f,rounet 81
this r,nntry now Is worth iron, 81 f,99R,01ut0u 10
$t.EoO Uo0 0O0, nnl tl,crc is not mora tt1a ot,e-
third Of 1t cultivated. Hero you will sec SUI.
etanttnl evidence Of iassns wealth, at!tl tllnt
wlligt will mako our country isa greatest On
the 1ace Of the Garth, VIZ: great tralnc;ihE
power. FREQ to MI. IN u climate which Is alike
productive of gAod health n1al tl!c highest Ut
Erec nj Intelligence. Whatever fot may shy hs
to unsafe un1 ulirrotttnble invcstMGnta through
agents, ,to nut claim tint the Wnet. on tte
merits, Is no. Eate place !uF lut!leiohs nnd
profitable Investments, and u you wish TO 90
humanity Il Euol which " !l 10 warth !t1c'
work, AMI from which tho thousands from thesr
frcc Elon1cs In The bre atmosphere OF tlc West
Will thank YOU. Ito Whnt you can to get to IN.
| boring people from the ovcr-popul4tch ciates oi
| tho EnRt, where tley nrc preg to sickness ma
! suffering uf every Kind, West OH turns, where
they rasl make good, independent living, ntitt
forever free themselves md their children from
tho slavery md uncertainty witch they nFc sub.
| tect to there. 4 READER OF THE TIMES,
, 1879-07-25

L9Hdon Ehl1fsy9ndeHct Asis lurk 7rthuHf.
Tie 1}uMupar4sts hero, nl,l their friends Ia
England, hayc llabtually represented thu Eth
press as NylNg In poverty at Chiseflsurst. Last
weeks t'Orirt, Journal belonging to, md. 10
far, inspired by NJ. Rouhert saht, III cxpatlasing
OIL tho moral iEto Of Prince Louis Napoleon,
that, oven hall his tastcs drawn hlul toward
life Of pleasuro, lIo would not have bcun able.
fur want Of mouuy, to crafty them. liz was
aebarrcd by the empalasls o! Its purse from III
dulglng in tho amusen,ents which soe!ety IL
agreed iu thinking Il young prluee ought to Iu~
t.u!se in, and he was too proud TO "spougc'' on
Eay, wealthy, aud illustrlous friends 1t was to
guaru against this Misrepresentation being
found out tt.at aIl the Imperial organa, In
obedience 10 II telegram Irom the ex.Empress
herself, did not, III giving "she Will" publls4s
the list of tho pslnce'4 .t,cquests, with the cx"
eep.iun ot hls legacy y prlaes Victor. Al
Cl!sclhurst they ieit lUw damaging It would b.
to the reputation ot tue Louis Eapoieun family
II 1t came uuk that tie Priuce could, alter b."
queathing tl.u bulk Of bis estate to ILLS lnatner,
leaYe SG5u,000 to cousins and petsonal f1tnds,
ulu $i.ON 4 year to ILLS two servants: The cou-
c!uslo1. they upuschrhocl which would ou druwn
In Fxancu WA thnt tho nest Of tbs
Empress was Tell featherea with plundeE. mud
, 1879-07-25
MICHIGAN WHEAT.
An. Increase of Fifty Thousand
Acres Over Last Years
Area,
The Probable Yield Of the State This
Yoar About Thirty-one Million
Bushels.
Statistics OF the Yield Along the
Various Railroad Lines.


A circular frum the Department OF Stnte nt
Lansing, under date OF tho 2lst Inst, showa
Tint in 1873 thcre wcro In Michigan f,511.020
atsrn In wheat, which produced 29,Aa0.lN
b,,.,cls,-au average Of 1874 bushels per acre;
Ead, iron, returns received from all but sixty
1or7nsaius In the State (which missing town
ships To placed ut lnst ycnr's figures), tho
nuu,l,us u acres iu wheat, In May, 1871, Was
1,Gi2,700.
TIE cRor or 1870. .....,
Tile acrcas., 1t will bo seen, is about $4,000
1nrger than In 1878. II the average yield were
the same as 1at year, tho total product for 1870
would bo 80, 77B4868 When tho returns were
sent by tho SUPERVISORS to thu Secretary Of
State II was too tarly TO mako any estimate
whatever upon tho average yield for this year,
and tho ofEetal document attempts no computa-
tion. 1t Is Jet too aarly 10 Riyo tile exact
average for any Of the counties or many Of the
townships, Much Of tie crop has been hur-
vested within tic past tn days, but coulpara-
lively little has been thrc.acd. We have, how
ever, by circuin1, made inquiries In nearly every
townshlp In the State plansify over $500 acres
in wheat, aud have received rcoiics from town
ships In twenty-five Of tho lcauing wheat
growing counties. In tic sottlicrn counties
the Weld Is generally better than last year, but
tn the counties above the third aer II hardly
comeB 10 to the enormous average OF 1873. In
thc following; tabtc re give the scrcaRo by
counties as re ported to tho secretart OF State,
the average ) leld according 2 tie he1,lniorna,
rte,l Tor The counties and the State. Our In
formation lias been derived mainly from farm-
eTs Situated ~, as to lu good Judges Of tll. crop
in tleIr respec tive townships, and Is probal'y as
n-nr n l1,rre, estimate Us ca1 he Obtnhetl
nrevo,ls to &C tuaI measurement. In couutcs
fro,n which v havo not heard We hayc takt,
1ass year's az rr1ge, which may il sotnc cnscI
vsry considerable from, thia years thrcalili';
But II IA safe to saf that the asgccghtu prod
rN4 OF The Stnto will not yary greatly from
9i.0O, 600 bush tls distributed nbo,,s as follows
, 1879-07-25

sucl circumstances n1onciarr tclorn. eotts' Only
l,o brought to n satisfactory result ~ n et,I-
siderable toss. Nnw, the Frcstdeft ot tIe naih,
Herr von DccfIcnl', who was n'WaYs opposcu ~
tilc rolti etnn}nr] llna stated these losses 10
haya amounted t., about NJ, 600, ,O00 ,narks on
lie eaic Of ts2N,nN0p Iic estimated ths ytlal,-
ttty Of thalers stit, 10 t'o sold at 1'b,oVo'9N.
whlcl, nj the present ratS would result ~ !oss
exaggerated. Herr ron DecllcINl considers every
eatr to he r1chr luss which does not
fetch tic rrieu OF 1S7!-rav l}fd; hut whnt
surety tns liz tt,al without terma, denionctiza,
jlo alan omitted to mention the profits which
jmrcrn1 Exclcuuer ob,nincd BY co!ntng the
new silver currctry at 10 per cent less tllan the
nominal yal,,e; II VIC deduct this profit from M
Ws 90 u's' II jnstcna @ 1ei Of ooo lie President
further omitted to mention ttiat IN tla esti-
mated quantity II aill circulating thalcrs tilrre
nro at least sn.NU.o03 Of Austrian tha!crs Which
thu aeriaan Government y certainly not honnu
hnzeiqtr l,as tinco acknowledged this anilssiu.
but naintains that Tor the rest the tres!dsna'a
cstEmate was rorsect. rs more thata oU'oN"to ~
mnrks, Of coined thnlcr and llat silver, are an
possession tlc exclcgucro md tnc bank, which
a,Iantity i,lcreaaes BY several millions weekly.
but, II this ts the case, it Is proof thht trndo
tries to get rkl VI the tfalcrs; md tl!a u per-
fcctiy IN harmony with w1snt Yo ece IN Fratiee.
There tho bark Ii constantly trying to stop tl1u
alllux OF silver by sending 1t 10 thu rrnvlnces;
hut it niwnys comes back. Now, II tl,c Govern.
incnt should try 10 reissue tkmt collection, III
thnlere the eItcct would bc very eerions. me
double estat,darl has been professionally ytnatntanct|
for thaIcr-rcccs; 80 that any one can paY any
sum either in ro1d or In thners, while no oilo u
Obliged TO ncccpt more than 40 marks III the nc~
silver coins. THIS provisional mcaaurn occa
stoned To great Inconvenience, since tue Gov
ernuent gradually Withdrew the thnlers from
circulation. hui, II they were relss|iet', tl,s con
seuucnce would le TINT every debt or world prc
fer to pny in thalcrs, mil TINT gold would soo'
| ba at premium. The leisBuo Of tho tllalers
would therefore be very different measure
| from increasing the ne,s silver conage, aud Il
would even be impossible to prevent the intro
ductton oil thalcrs Gained in foreign countries
linvtrg once decided for the gold standard Ger
many must earry thu reform to tin prorosct
| end, which docs not txclt1le Tic suspension
:fc sale If silver II there is q reasonable claurt
| Of getting hotter prices by WaisllE. But to *
back to the duubfc sta,Alard would be absurd
| without a..y compensation for the great eacrl
fees hitherto nnde for monetary reform.
, 1879-07-25

HaNfHdH tTff,1 T7f1fa.
There Is a little negro Etrl ah3nt ycnFs old
In this county bcar!us in H,agy respects Strslt-
iny resemblance to q lug.er!lrau turtle. Tito
nose IL hardly n0ru tllan I'LL idea. white tho eyes
haye tl.ut peculiar aud uutntelilgble stare US II
looking everywhere nl,,t soeing nothing. FFoM
The buck Of tllr l,eck downward un impression 10
cnsIly lBtt,Guishabiu resembling lF,u breast.
bone Of turtle. All tho limbs ato t!eforascd.
ending In web.footcl Claws, us II trawn up by
An application Of hot water. This u.onstrosi.y,
straigo 40 II NAV scen,. poascsscs tt.e powrr Of
specch, al,A shows u 4egrep oi intelligence en-
t,re'y at yarianrc viii, ali herutofors precon.
cetYed ugaa Of an Intelligent countcnance. An
appetie which Is Unsuitable In it, lon,1n.is, uls
q fununcss for raw meat, especially iish; a
collrsgG, or rather an uttur incaacltY to appTe-
ciats danger; love fur aquatic sports. aid .
Wild joy In the water, render tho negru glrl, II
equaled iu this or any other country.