davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
Advertising Deaths.

In Munich there is curious custom,
obedience 70 which fills large portion
of the newspapers. 1t is the advertising
of deaths after the following style:
1t has pleased God the Almighty, in
His inscrutable providence, to take away
our innermost loved, best husband,
father. grandfather, uncle, brother-in-
law and cousin, Herr -. dyer OF
cloth and silk. yesterday night at eleven
o'clock, after three weeks of severe
suffering, having partaken Of the holy
sacrament in his sixty-sixth year, out
of. this earthly abode of calamity into a
better beyond.
Those who knew his good heart, his
great honesty, as well as his patience in
Suffering. will know how Justly to esti-
mate our grief. =.
This is signed by the "deep. grieving'
survivors-widow, son, daughter, and
daughter-in-law, in the name of the
absent relations. After the name of the
son is written, "dyer in cloth and silk" "
The notice closes with an announcement
of the funeral at the cemetery, and a
service at the church the day after. 1t
is common to engrave upon the monu-
ment the business as well as the title G
the departed.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
A Reyengeful Son.in.Lnw.

The German criminal code contains
some laws that have no counterpart in
American statute books. Such is that
which prohibits, under heavy penalties,
the use of insulting language about the
emperor, law under which there have
been very many prosecutions in the past
year. Another is the curious statute
prescribing punishment for behavior in
violation of the respect due the dead.
This law is said to have been rarely
made the occasion for prosecution, but a
case has Just been before the circuit court
nj Berlin in which it has been applied.
Several months ago the widow I4angen-
helm was inferred in the churchyard at
Wcissensee. She had been possessed of
ample wealth, but her numerous chill
drcn, with one exception, were greatly
disappointed in their expectations, the
bulk of her property having been be-
uueathed to one daughter. Unable to
restrain the rage and disgust aroused by
this discovery, one of the sons-in-law of
the widow, provision dealer named
Hackmeister, presented himself at the
interment, and as the grave was about
to be closed stepped up to it, and, in the
presence of the priest and the assembled
mourners, with loud expressions of con-
tempt, spat upon the coffin. He was ar
rested and prosecuted, the attorney for
the government demanding that he
should be sentenced to six months i'm
prisonment. The court was merciful,
however, In consideration of the rarity
of such an offence, and imposed fourteen
days. confinement,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
The Horse Pleads His Own Cause.

NV dear ladies and gentlemen, remem-
er that we, like yourselves, have MOODS,
and cannot always be friskv and cheer
full, You do not strike your grand
mother in the face, because this morn
ing she does not feel as usual; why,
then, do you strike us? Before you
pound us, ask whether we have been up
late the night before, or had our meals at
irregular hours, or whether our spirits
have been depressed by being kicked by
drunken hostIer. We have only about
ten or twelve years in which to enjoy
ourselves. and then we 60 out to be shot
into nothingness. Take care of us while
you may. Jobs horse was clothed
with thunder" but all we ask is plain
blanket. When we are sick, put us in
horsepital. Do not strike US when we
stumble or scare. Suppose you were IN
the harness. and I were in the wagon, l
had the whip anc you the traces. what
an ardent advocate you would be TOR
kindness to the irrational creation! DO
not let the blacksmith drive the nail
into the quick when he shoes me, or
burn my fetlocks with q hot file. DO
not mistake the "deadeye" that nature
put on my foreleg for Il Wart to be cA-
termined.' Do not cut off my tail short
in fy-time. Keep the north wind out OF
our stables. Care for us at some other
time than during the epizootic, so that
we may see your kindness is not selfish.
My dear friends, our interests are mu-
tual. am a silent partner in your
business. Under my sound hoof is the
diamond Of national prosperity. Be-
yond my nostril the worlds progress
may not 20. With thrift and wealth
and comfort, / daily race neck and
neck. Be kind to me if you want me to
be useful to you. And near be the day
when the red horse Of war shall be
hooked and impotent, and the pale horse
of death shall be hurled back on his
launches, but the white horse of peace
and joy and triumph shall pass on, its
rider with face like the sun, all nations
following.-Home Magazine.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
Words OF Wisdom.

It is always safe to learn, even from
our enemies; seldom safe to venture 10
instruct even our friends.
A quarrel, qine times out OF ten, IS
merely the fermentation Of q mlsunder''
standing.
Every man throws on to his surroy,ns-
ings the sunshine or the shadow that eA-
lists in his own soul.
II is extraordinary how long a man
may look among the crowd without dls'
covering the face Of a friend. :,
There is q great deal of unm"ppeo
country within us which would have 70
be taken into account in explanation VI
our gusts and storms.
Honorable age is not that which
standcth in length Of time. nor that Is
measured by number of years. But WIS
dom is the gray hair unto men, and an
unspotted life is old age.
Good intentions are at least the seed
of good actions; and every man ought To
sow them, and leave it to the coil ana
seasons whether they come up or no. or
whether he or any other gathers the
fruit.
Nature seems ia exist for the excel
lent. The world is upheld by the YER
acity of good men they make the earth
wholesome. Life !s swcr. nnd to!er,
able in our belief In suoli society; and
actually or ideally. NO Nr-nsEe to ~"
~!theas ANpef!drs,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
How a Dog Fooled his Master.

A newspaper that IS printed IN the
town of Palmyra, Wisconsin, the Enter
prase, tells a story about dog which it
says is true, every word of it. The dog,
whose name is Tiger. belongs to sur
vey6r, now at work in the eservice OF the
United Stats government in that part
of the country. One day not long ago
the surveyor saw that Tiger was asleep
near the edge of a thicket, and he thought
he might have some fun with him. So
the surveyor shouted out: "!Catch him.
Tiger; at him, old dog" and jumped
into the thicket, rs if a deer, or at least
rabbit, had been seen. Tiger, ofcourse,
went bounding and barking in, but very
soon returned with his tail between his
legs, seeing tl:at trick had been played
upon him. Now comes the good part ol
the story. Tiger made believe that he
was going to sleep again. In auout three
hours he all at once sprang up, set his
ears and eyes in the direction of the
thicket, gave loud bark and leaped
forward. The surveyor followed, think.
ing that Tiger had found some game
When Tiger saw his master parting the
bushes curiously, he gave a peculiar
"Ah wooh," and went back to hi!
sleeping place wagglng his tail, and
satisfied that he had paid the surveyor
back for fooling him.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
Life In SYpdpn.

A correspondent of the London Times,
travelling in Sweden. speaks OF the gene
raj well-to-do con dition of the country.
Each Of dozen small towns which he
visited had its school house, its church,
its newspaper and most of them had its
public garden; the streets were paved
and lighted with oil lamps swung across
,.s they were in old Paris; the houses
were trim and neat. The people were as
neat as their houses. He did not meet
half dozen beggars since he had been
in the country Even in Stock ,olm he
ssw no signs of poverty, while n crowd.
ed opera house, overlooking cafes and
brilliant shops betokened mn easy opu'
lence. There is n general level of com.
fort in Sweden without any violent con-
trasts. The army and navy of Sweden
cost only trifle. The national debt is
only S5O,Oo0. 1000, and has been solely
employed in the construction ofrailways'
All the children go to school and over
ninety per cent. Of the people can read
and write. The subdivision of property
| is such that in the country the greater
part of the population own their OWL
farms. Near Gothenburg friend point.
ed out from a hill near his house forty
properties, thirty-six OF which belonged
to present owners, themselves the cult
yaSors Of the soil.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
. Mistaken Identity.

The other day an omnibus full OF pas
sengers drove up town from the Union
depot. Side by side sat a commercial
traveller named William McCaby and
Mrs. Winnie G.. Dumbleton, the emil
nent lady temperance lecturer. When
the omnibus reached the Barrett House
the commercial missionary seized his
yalise and started out. The lady made
q grab after him and he halted.
II beg your pardon" she said, but
you have my valise."
"You are certainly mistaken,
madam" the traveller said, courteously
but firmly, "this is mine."
"No, SIR" the lady replied firmly: "it
is mine. I would know it among q
thousand. You must not take it,
But the traveller persisted and the
lady insisted, and they came very neal
ouarreling. Presently one of the pas.
sengers pointed to q twin valise in the
omnibus and asked:
"Whose is that?"
ut isn't mine," said the traveller; il
is lust like it, but this is mine"
''And it isn't mine," said the Lady
"he has mine, and I want it or I'll have
the law on him. It's pity if lady
can't travel alone in this country with:
out beingrobbed other property in broad
daylight" Finally, the traveller said he
would open the valise to prove hi
property. The lady objected at first
saying she did not want her valist
opened in the presence of a crowd o.
strangers. But IS there was no olhel
means of settling the dispute she al
length consented. The traveller sprung
the lock, opened the vaise, and the
curious crowd bent forward to see:
On the very top of everything lay 8
big fiat flask, half full of whisky, deck
of cards and one or two things that no.
BODY knows the name of.
The traveller was the first to recover
his self-possession and speech.
MADAM" he said, "you are right
The valise is yours. I owe you thou
sand apollo"
But the lady had tainted, ard the
traveller relocked his valise with Il quiet
smile. Early in the afternoon Il sign
painter down town received not; in a
feminine hand, asking him to c. me to
the Barret House to mark red / ather
valise in black letters q foot and hall
long.-Burlingto', HGrkeue.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
How q Texan Caught q Bear.

H. P. Fancher was trying to catch a
horse, and was rapidly riding after him
through Il thickee of mesquite when ne
sudde My came upon q huge bear. A
chase at once commenced, Mr.. Fancher
attacking with his pistol, and bruin,
probably nearly overcome by heat, try
in to make a successful retreat. Mr..
F.. fired five shots without bringing down
his game, and having only one charge
left concluded to change his tactics.
Uncoiling the rope rs lariat, which
was tied to his saddle. he made a lasso
and attempted to rope the bear. The first
attempt was unsuccessful. the rope get
ting into the animals mouth. The next
proved successful throw, the rope get
ting on the bears neck. A quick move
ment on the part of the bear lerked the
rope out of Mr.. F's hand. and the bear
resumed his retreat, closely followed by
his pursuer on horseback. Finding II
difficult to approach the bear. sufficiently
near to catch hold of the rope Mr.. F.
dismounted and commenced the chase on
foot. Seeing this tho bear slackened his
speed, evidently not caring il his pursuer
did come I'D with him. He occasion
ally stopped and looked back as if e1-
peciing company. Declining a hand,to-
hand encounter with a large bear. Mr..
F. returned!to his horse, and calling to his
cousin, Mr.. T. Fancher, resumed the
chase. With the aid of stick he pos
sessed himself of the end of the rope,
which was about thirty feet in length,
and fastened it to the saddle. Now
commenced the frantic actions Of the
bear in his savage efforts to release him
self. He plunged in every direction,
nearly throwing the horse and showing
evident intentions to free himself at all
hazards. But his captor managed to re-
tain his prisoner and at the same time
keep his horse out OF the way OF the saw
age brute until shot from the six
shooter of bis cousin put the bear hors
de combat. The fore-paw exhibited BY
Mr.. Fancher and left with us is the
largest ever seen in this section and in
dicates, so old hunters tell US, that the
owner, in good condition. would have
weighed 600 pounds.-Bayler (lsS,
Hroeeot
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
Dead Letters.

1t is stated that the daily average of
money found in dead letters in the
Washington office, amounts to about
two hundred dollars. Last year more
than eighty thousand dollars was re-
turned to the owners though this office.
Sometimes money is enclosed in AMEN
velope without any letter accompanying
it, or, what is just as bad, without
any proper signature. In such cases,
another effort is made to reach the per-
son to whom it was addressed, and, fail
ing in this. the money is deposited at
the department, to be delivered to the
rightful owner, whenever he shall come
forward to establish his claim. Another
class ofvaluable letters contain notes OF
of hand, draft, checks, bills Of exchange,
deeds. mortgages, insurance policies,
and other papers that are or may. be-
come representatives of money value;
and beside these, great many articles
of more or less value, including jewelry,
pictures, etc. All letters of this class
are re.enveloped and endorsed by the
clerks who open them, and after being
carefully registered are sent to another
office to be returned to the owners.
Many letters are received ct the depart
ment making anxious inquiries for
money or valuables sent through the
mail and known to have failed in reach
ing the persons addressed. These let
ters cannot expedite their return. The
lost letter must remain two months ad-
vertised at the local Office before it is
sent to Washington, and then it must be
found before it can be returned to the
owner. Formerly there was quite a col
ection of curiosities at the department,
composed of articles found in dead let
| tiers without any one to claim them.
This has been dispensed with, and every
letter containing anything of value Is
returned to the owner if it is ut all prac-
ticable. The third class Of letters con-
sists of such rs contain stamps, coin in
less sums than one dollar, receipts for
money or property, legal documents,
etc. These being of less value, are not
formally registered, with q description
of thcir contents, but special clerks de-
vote their time in returning them to
their owners. Last, but not least in
number of the preserved letters. are
those which contain no valuable in.
closure, but are SO dated and signed that
it is possible to return them to thell
owners. These constitute about one
half of all the dead letters returned tc
the general postoffice. The other hal
ofthis great multitude of stray epistles it
composed Of such as are not dated at any
post town or office (the postmark itscl
being frequently illegible) and have nc
proper signature. These and some Others
of an utterly worthless class, are frs
torn to shreds by machine, to render
them illegible, and then sold to thu
paper makers. There is great number
of clerks engaged in opening and re-
turning dead letters. They dispose o.
over fifteen thousand day, amounting
to several millions in tbs course of I
wear
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
A Mangled Doctors Fortitude

The New York Herald has the follow
ing account of the shocking death of DR..
Eugene Peugnet, one of the ablest ply
sicians in the United States: -
DR.. Peugnet was !tun over and had
both his feet cut eff by q train of the
Harlem railroad, ear the West Mount
Vernon station, 8 nd died about six
o'clock the next me ,rning. On being, g,re-
moved from under the train it was found
that he was perfee ;tly conscious, and he
remained so until. within fifteen minutes
before his death. Immediately after the
the residence of DR.. A. NJ. Campbell, in
Sixth avenue, Mount Vernon, but the
jolting of the carriage proved too severe,
and by his directions he was taken to
Smiths hot cl, near by. Here he direct
ed q telegr I'm to be sent to DR.. II. B.
Sands, Of New York, to come and ampu-
tate his ir abs. He also sent for other
medical friends, and by about nine
o'clock TO arteen Of them were at his side
rendering their professional services.
While waiting for their arrival he
took his lance and made incisions in his
arms and injected with his own hands
brandy and morphine into them with
view of counteracting the effect of the
shock to his nervous system. He also
gave directions in regard to the manner
in which the bandages should be adjust
ed, and regulated with his own hands
the doses of brandy and ether necessary
under the circumstances to allay his ex-
cru ciating pains. He recognized the host
of friends who called to see him, and
conversed freely with them, especially
with some of whom he had performed
operations, remarking that he himself
was past saving. He likewise gave di-
rectionssto Rev. Father Coles, pastor of
the Catholic church in the village, lin
respect to the obsequies he wished to be
observed after his death. When his son,
youth of fabout seventeen years old, ar
rived and knelt down beside him and
placed his hand in that of his fathers, the
latter expressed his dying request to his
son in regard to the future of the youth in
words that moved all present to tears.
After remarking to him that he had
thus far lived without blemish upon
his character he urged him to maintain
that spotless character to the end of his
life; and upon him rested a great respon-
sibility, that the care of the young men,
bers of the family would devolve upon
him. that they would naturally emulate
his example, that his mother would
have to depend wholly upon him, that
he would not be only her son, but also
her adviser; that one of the highest
characteristics of manliness that could
be displayed by him was a devotion to
his mother.
Shortly after this touching scene was
for DR.. Peugnet were offered on the op-
posite side of the avenue and accepted.
Here the amput alton of the two limbs
was concluded shortly after midnight,
the patient b; ;mself giving directions at
what points he desired the amputations
to be made. He bore the ordeal with
heroic fortitude.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
Five Thousand Idols.

Some years ago the province OF Yu-
nan, almost exclusively populated by
Mohammedans,; rose in open revolt
against its sovereign, cast off the Celes-
tial yoke. and declared its independence.
The Chinese government having subju-
gated the Yunanites, set to work to con-
vert them from Islam to the state wor-
ship Of the 'flowery realm. The Yunarl-
ties have hitherto withstood persuasion,
theological argument and torture with
stolid resolution; so the astute man.
darins entrusted with the task of wean-
ing them from their dogmatic. errors
have adopted the cunning expedient OF
making it worth their while to become
idolators. A recent imperial decree
ordains that every Mohammedan pub
licly rnaouncing his faith shall be en-
franchised from taxation, and that this
privilege shall be extended to his de-
scendants for the peiiod of 100 years
The actual convert, moreover, shall b
distinguished by mark Of imperiu
favor-a peacock's feather or cap but
ton, according to his condition in life
Meanwhile the Chinese government has
caused 5000 idols, Of every orthodox
VaEleGy, W Ue llltlluldCIulCu III VuS
especial benefit of the Yunan metropolis
alone. These deities have been set up
by the police in the porches and court:
yards of every house in the town, and
the heads of families are compelled to
burn incense once day before their un.
welcome Lares, as well as to provide
them with new clothes from head to foot
at certain stated periods. The Chinese
police is instructed to lock up" any
householder proving q defaulter in the
performance of any of these obligatory
rites, and to stimulate him to the fulfil
ment of his duties by every convenient
inducement. Thus caught in cleft
stick, one section of which represent:
the certain advancement of his persona
interests and the other all the mechan
ical ingenuities of the Celestial torture
chamber, it is considered highly proba
BILE that. ere long, the Yunanite Moslen
will enthusiastically recognize the in
trinsic merits of the Chinese form O
Buddhism us the best of all possible
religious creeds.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-05
An Extraordinary People.

At the meeting of the British associa-
ton ut Sheffield, the we'll known Afri-
can explorer, Commander Cameron,
who was received with applause, apollo
gized for not having his paper prepared,
but he did not believe, in detailing the
manner and customs Of the people of
Urua, in Central Africa, this would be a
draw back. Urua was one Of the largest
native states in Africa. Itwas bounded
on the east by Tanganyika, on the north
by independent tribes in Manguema, on
the west by Ulunda, and on the south by
mountains south of the lake Bangueola.
The great chief was Kasongo, and the
race was perhaps the most civilized in
Central Africa. The chief claimed
divine honors. On his death all his
wives save one were slaughtered at the
grave, and the one whose life was not
taken was handed over to the chiefs
successor. The spirit of the deceased
prince was supposed to pass into the
body of the successor. Authority was
maintained by mutilation. Hands, feet,
ears and noses were mutiiated, and the
natives did not seem to mind it much.
One woman had cut of her own ears.
This woman was one of Kasongo'swives;
he had about 1000 of them. She asked
permission to mutilate herself, and did
it at once. The body-guard OF the chief
was composed to great extent Of mutt
lated people, whose affection for the
chief seemed in no way decreased; in
deed, it would appear that mutilation
STRENGTHENED their regard for their chief.
The name of the idol was Kungwe 8
Banza, and profound reverence was
shown to it. Fire was obtained by fric-
tion from q fire block, and in one case a
chief used the shin-bone of one OF the
other chiefs who had been conquered.
The dress of the people was very simple,
consisting of an apron. Members OF the
royal family wore three large skins, and
Junior members of the family wore
aprons of green monkey skins. The
hair-dressing of this people was cur1ous,
varying more with districts than with
rank. In some cases it was worked up
into four ring plaits, crossing at the top
OF the head like a crown, and su rrounded
at the bottom by band Of cowries or
other shells. Skewers were inserted in
the hair, one end of which could be used
in tattooing. The people were not hairy
race, but they managed to grow their
boards, and plated them like China
mans pigtail, usually putting at the end
of each a lump of mud to weigh it.
Some of the boards reached to the waist.
The women, not having boards to amuse
themselves with, were tattooed extern
sively. Tattooing generally commenced
at the age of seven, and might be COM
pleted about the age OF twelve or iour-
teen, which was the age for marriage.
Beautiful patterns were used, and the
tattooing was done in raised cuts.
Sometimes a husband, when he was dis
pleased with his wife, cut off all these
raised pieces, and the woman could not
appear in public again she was not re-
ceived into society until she was retat-
tooed. Times.